US homelessness up 18% as affordable housing remains out of reach for many people Federal officials say the United States saw an 18.1% increase in homelessness, a dramatic rise driven mostly by a lack of affordable housing as well as devastating natural disasters and a surge of migrants in several parts of the country. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said that federally required tallies taken across the country in January found that more than 770,000 people were counted as homeless. That increase comes on top of a 12% increase in 2023, which HUD blamed on soaring rents and the end of pandemic assistance. Among the most concerning trends was a nearly 40% rise in family homelessness. An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalition WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump’s supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in the president-elect’s political movement into public display. The argument previews fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare tensions between the newest flank of Trump’s movement — that is, wealthy members of the tech world who want more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump’s Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. A 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House says WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official says a ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies, as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, a deputy national security adviser, said Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks. Israeli troops burn northern Gaza hospital after forcibly removing staff and patients, officials say DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza's Health Ministry says Israeli troops have stormed one of the last hospitals operating in the territory's north on Friday and forced many of the staff and patients outside. Then they had to remove their clothes in winter weather. It was the latest assault on Kamal Adwan Hospital. Parts of it were set on fire. Staff say it has been hit multiple times in the past three months by Israeli troops waging an offensive against Hamas fighters in surrounding neighborhoods. Israel's military says Hamas uses the hospital as a base. It did not provide evidence, and hospital officials have denied it. Azerbaijani and U.S. officials suggest plane that crashed may have been hit by weapons fire U.S. and Azerbaijani officials have said weapons fire may have brought down an Azerbaijani airliner that crashed on Wednesday, killing 38 people. The statements from Rashad Nabiyev and White House national security spokesman John Kirby on Friday raised pressure on Russia. Officials in Moscow have said a drone attack was underway in the region that the Azerbaijan Airlines flight was destined for but have not addressed statements from aviation experts who blamed the crash on Russian air defenses responding to a Ukrainian attack. The plane was flying from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to Chechnya on Wednesday when it crashed, killing 38 people and leaving all 29 survivors injured. Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case ATLANTA (AP) — A judge has ruled that the Georgia state Senate can subpoena Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. It's part of a inquiry into whether Willis has engaged in misconduct during her prosecution of President-elect Donald Trump. But Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shukura Ingram is giving Willis the chance to contest whether lawmakers’ demands are overly broad before Willis responds. A Republican-led committee was formed earlier this year and sent subpoenas to Willis in August seeking to compel her to testify during its September meeting and to produce scores of documents. Willis argued that the committee didn’t have the power to subpoena her. In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee has a nearly total abortion ban and a porous safety net for mothers and young children. GOP state leaders in Tennessee and other states that banned abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 argue that they are bolstering services for families. Recent research and an analysis by The Associated Press has found that from the time a Tennessee woman gets pregnant, she faces greater obstacles to a healthy pregnancy, a healthy child and a financially stable family life than the average American mom. Maryland sues maker of Gore-Tex over pollution from toxic 'forever chemicals' Maryland is suing the company that produces the waterproof material Gore-Tex. State officials say the company's leaders kept using so-called “forever chemicals” long after learning about serious health risks. The federal complaint alleges Delaware-based W.L. Gore & Associates polluted the air and water around 13 facilities in northeastern Maryland with chemicals that have been linked to certain cancers, reproductive issues and high cholesterol. They’re nearly indestructible and can build up in various environments, including the human body. The company stopped using the harmful chemicals in 2014 and says it’s working with state regulators on testing and cleanup efforts. Man indicted in burning death of woman inside a New York City subway train, prosecutors say NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of burning a woman to death inside a New York City subway train has been indicted on state charges. A prosecutor announced Sebastian Zapeta’s indictment at a court hearing Friday. The development comes days after Zapeta’s arrest and subsequent police questioning in which they say he identified himself in photos and surveillance video showing the fire being lit. The indictment will be under seal until Jan. 7. He remains jailed. Federal immigration officials say the 33-year-old Zapeta is from Guatemala and entered the U.S. illegally. Authorities are continuing to work to identify the victim. Alex Ovechkin is on track to break Wayne Gretzky's NHL career goals record Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is chasing the NHL career goals record of 894 held by Wayne Gretzky. Ovechkin entered the season 42 goals short of breaking a record that long seemed unapproachable. He is set to play again Saturday at the Toronto Maple Leafs after missing more than a month with a broken left fibula. Ovechkin was on pace to get to 895 sometime in February before getting injured. At 868, he his 27 goals away from passing Gretzky.Brighton were booed off after their winless run was stretched to six Premier League games by a frustrating goalless draw against away-day strugglers Brentford. Albion dominated for large periods on a foggy evening at the Amex Stadium and hit the woodwork inside four minutes through Julio Enciso. Bees goalkeeper Mark Flekken also made a string of important saves before being forced off injured in the 36th minute, albeit his replacement Hakon Valdimarsson was rarely tested on his Premier League debut. Brentford, who remain without a top-flight away win this term, had an early Yoane Wissa finish ruled out for offside following VAR intervention but barely threatened, despite an improved second-half showing. The Seagulls remain 10th ahead of Monday’s trip to Aston Villa, with Thomas Frank’s visitors a position and two points below moving towards their New Year’s Day showdown with Arsenal. Brighton have plummeted from second place to mid-table amid a poor run of form which has increased scrutiny on head coach Fabian Hurzeler. Seagulls chief executive Paul Barber called for perspective from fans in his programme notes after revealing he revealed emails “full of doom and gloom” following the recent 3-1 home defeat to rivals Crystal Palace. Enciso, one of two players recalled by Hurzeler following Saturday’s 1-1 draw at West Ham, almost gave Albion a dream start. A poor pass from Bees goalkeeper Flekken was intercepted by Carlos Baleba and, following a neat layoff from Joao Pedro, Paraguay forward Enciso curled against the right post. Brentford arrived in Sussex with the worst away record in the division, having previously taken a solitary point from 24 available this term. Flekken saved well from Baleba and then collected a tame header from the unmarked Enciso before the away side thought they had snatched a 13th-minute lead. After being slipped in by Mads Roerslev at the end of a swift counter-attack, Wissa thumped high into the net beyond Seagulls keeper Bart Verbruggen only to be ruled marginally offside. Flekken made further saves from Brajan Gruda and Matt O’Riley before hurting himself keeping out a deflected Kaoru Mitoma cross and being replaced by 23-year-old Iceland international Valdimarsson. Brentford remained on the back foot and, aside from Wissa’s disallowed effort, offered little going forward in a one-sided opening period which somehow ended level. Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke produced a crucial block to deny Wissa as the west London club began the second half brightly before Christian Norgaard’s ambitious effort deflected wide amid groans from increasingly restless home fans. Hurzeler responded with a triple change, introducing Yasin Ayari, Simon Adingra and Yankuba Minteh in place of O’Riley, Gruda and Mitoma. Albion forward Pedro then escaped punishment in the 76th minute after swinging an arm at Bees substitute Yehor Yarmoliuk without making contact before defender Ben Mee became the second visiting player to depart injured. The introduction of Solly March in the 88th minute for his first appearance since suffering a serious knee injury in October last year briefly lifted the mood on the terraces. But, following a frantic five minutes of added time, some Seagulls supporters vented their displeasure at full-time as their club’s wait for victory goes on.
NEW DELHI: The BJP's relentless efforts to unseat Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren have ended in failure, as JMM-led alliance secured a decisive victory in the state assembly elections. Despite facing multiple crises, including cases by the ED and CBI, Soren has emerged stronger, cementing his position as a leader deeply rooted in the state's tribal identity. This victory underscores the enduring influence of the JMM among tribal groups and marginalized communities, a legacy inherited from Hemant Soren's father, Shibu Soren. The alliance comprising the JMM, Congress, and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) garnered significant support across key regions like Chhota Nagpur, Kolhan, Koyalanchal, Palamu and Santal Pargana. The elections witnessed a record voter turnout of 67.74%, reflecting heightened political engagement among the electorate. Hemant Soren and his wife, Kalpana Soren, led a vigorous campaign, addressing over 200 rallies and emphasizing their commitment to tribal welfare and grassroots development. Factors behind the victory 1. Tribal support: The backing of tribal communities proved to be the cornerstone of JMM's success. 2. Welfare schemes: Initiatives like the 'Mukhyamantri Maiya Samman Yojana', which provides ₹1,000 per month to women, struck a chord with voters. 3. Sympathy wave: BJP's campaign, marked by allegations of political vendetta, backfired, with CBI and ED cases against Soren generating public sympathy. 4. Kalpana Soren's leadership: During Soren’s legal battles, his wife Kalpana emerged as a prominent face, rallying public sentiment against the BJP. 5. Misfired BJP strategies: BJP's focus on national issues and its campaign to deport Bangladeshi immigrants failed to resonate with the electorate. 6. Defections backfire: Efforts to bring key JMM leaders like Champai Soren and Sita Soren into the BJP fold did not yield the desired results. The BJP faced a leadership vacuum in its Jharkhand campaign, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of Assam, tasked with overseeing the strategy, failing to deliver. Sarma’s focus on infiltration issues did not align with the priorities of Jharkhand’s voters, further weakening the BJP’s position. Hemant Soren attributed his victory to the unwavering support of the people and his family. Sharing a photo with his wife Kalpana and sons Nithil and Biswajit on social media, he captioned it “My Strength,” symbolizing his reliance on family values and public trust. Kalpana Soren, too, celebrated the victory by sharing a family photograph after winning from the Gande constituency.
East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr., a potential first-round pick, declared for the 2025 NFL Draft on Friday. Revel, who sustained a torn left ACL in practice in September, had one season of eligibility remaining. "After an incredible journey at East Carolina, I am officially declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft," the senior posted on social media. "... Pirates nation, thank you for your unwavering energy and support every game. Representing ECU is an honor, and I look forward to continuing to do so on Sundays!" Revel recorded two interceptions in three games this season, returning one 50 yards for a touchdown on Sept. 14 against Appalachian State. Over three seasons with the Pirates, Revel had three interceptions, 15 passes defensed and 70 tackles in 24 games. He was a second-team All-American Athletic Conference selection last season. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranked Revel as the No. 2 cornerback and No. 23 overall prospect in the 2025 draft class. --Field Level Media
I can admit that I was wrong. I didn’t think the "Wicked" movie could yank my heart into my throat with the force of the stage musical. I also thought the two-part split betrayed a lack of faith in moviegoers’ imaginations. Theater audiences have been sitting through both acts with just a concessions break, while Hollywood is serving up a whole year. But the most intoxicating element of "Wicked" - the affection between the good and green witches of Oz - has already been magnified tenfold in the first installment. The movie is essentially "Mean Girls" meets "Harry Potter," with an abrupt swerve into political espionage that will likely be better served in the sequel (more on that later). Glinda and Elphaba’s bond, and its lessons in kindness, understanding and forgiveness, form the glittering heart of "Wicked: Part I ." The film also deepens engagement with themes the show only has time to gesture toward: overcoming prejudice, decrying injustice and developing a moral compass over the objections of authority figures. Though it has taken over 20 years to make the movie(s), the story’s morals feel even more resonant today. Much of the film’s poignancy comes from Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, who many pundits agree are storming the Oscars race. Individual performances aside (Grande could stand to be even zanier; Erivo is a marvel of emotional transparency), the movie focuses on the rivals-turned-besties dynamic with a touching naturalism that goes beyond what’s possible onstage. Onstage, Glinda is endearing for her frilly cartoonishness, while Elphaba - despite her lizard-like complexion - is more relatable and down-to-earth (ironic, given her gravity defiance). Director Jon M. Chu and screenwriters Dana Fox and Winnie Holzman (the musical’s book writer) draw viewers into closer sympathy with both heroines by flashing back to Elphaba’s childhood in more detail and amplifying the tenderness of their budding friendship. When a green girl turns up at Shiz University in the first act of "Wicked," all we know is that she was born this way due to a dalliance of her mother’s. (The show is loosely based on the novel by Gregory Maguire.) By spending time on Elphaba’s formative years, the film introduces a young version of her (Karis Musongole), who comes to represent her inner child - the one whose wounds shape the woman she becomes and ultimately propel her into flight. The movie doesn’t turn Elphaba’s verdancy into an allegory for Blackness, but there are echoes of racial discrimination beneath the juvenile taunting she endures. (The character’s styling also beautifully incorporates Black textures, including natural curls as a girl and microbraids as a young adult.) When Elphaba’s on-screen peers shun her at Shiz, their small-mindedness stings more because we know what she’s been through. In this school-days movie, the emotional climax naturally occurs at Oz’s version of prom, where Elphaba is publicly humiliated for wearing the pointy hat Glinda gifted her out of spite. Onstage, the shindig marks a quick pivot: Glinda regrets her prank, steps in to dance with her former foe and the two start to get along. Cue the “Dancing Through Life” reprise. But Chu slows and expands their pas de deux - a teary, goofy, graceful game of mimicry - into the film’s touching centerpiece. It’s the moment that solidifies their loyalty for good. The potency of that love scene lays emotional groundwork for their parting duet (before Elphaba becomes a broomstick-riding fugitive) and the betrayals to come in the next film. Revisiting the Broadway production recently made me realize how spoiled I’ve been by the privilege of spending so much screen time with the frenemies, whose relationship onstage seemed rendered in shorthand. The second act, packed with cockamamie twists and turns as the plot intertwines with "The Wizard of Oz," will also benefit from more breathing room. "Wicked: Part II" is likely to be a soapy action-adventure, hopefully one that continues to elaborate on the story’s tangle of timely themes. I already have tissues ready for their final parting ballad, “For Good.” The first time I saw "Wicked," two slips of paper in the Broadway playbill made me well up before the curtain rose on the first flying monkey. I was assisting at a talent agency where two of our young clients were leading-lady standbys. This was their first performance opposite each other, and my co-worker and I had begged our bosses for tickets. I alternated between beaming and bawling for most of the two hours and 45 minutes. (I was 22.) Was "Wicked" the best musical ... maybe ever? It had lost the top prize at the 2004 Tony Awards just a few months prior, but rooting for the actors - and watching their careers literally lift off the ground - supercharged my first impression. It didn’t hurt that the relative unknowns were Shoshana Bean (in green), a Tony nominee last season for "Hell’s Kitchen" and Megan Hilty, currently hamming it up in "Death Becomes Her." I didn’t know bragging rights would be my souvenir. It’s a perfect theater memory because it could only happen once. But I’ll be watching "Wicked: Part I" again and patiently gnashing peanuts until the lights dim on intermission.
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Canada PM Justin Trudeau faces immense criticism after a video of him dancing at a Taylor Swift concert in Toronto went viral amid protests in Montreal, which he represents in Parliament. Montreal : Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced immense criticism after a video of him dancing at a Taylor Swift concert in Toronto went online amid protests in Montreal, which he represents in the country’s Parliament. In the video that has gone viral, Trudeau can be seen singing along to “You Don’t Own Me” in the event on on Friday. This was at a time when anti-NATO protesters were wreaking havoc in Mostreal, close to 300 km from where the event took place. The protesters not only set cars on fire but also clashed with police. Protesters burnt Palestinian flags and effigy of Israeli PM As per the report published in Montreal Gazette, the protesters burnt Palestinian flags and an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They also used small explosive devices and smoke bombs against police. Metal objects were also reportedly hurled at officers during the unrest. Criticising the Canadian PM, Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament from Toronto constituency, took to X and wrote, “Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances. This is the Canada built by the Liberal government. Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved. What Trudeau said on Saturday on protests Meanwhile, while talking about the unrest on Saturday, Trudeau had observed that what was witnessed on the streets of Montreal was appalling. He had also called the incidents as acts of antisemitism and intimidation and observed that violence must be condemned everywhere. Click for more latest World news . Also get top headlines and latest news from India and around the world at News9. Subhajit Sankar Dasgupta has nearly 18 years of experience. Currently, he is serving as Associate Editor with news9live.com, a part of Associated Broadcasting Company Pvt Ltd. He started his career with The Pioneer and went on to work in a number of media organisations, including IANS, Financial Express Online, The Political and Business Daily, among others. Apart from online media, he has also worked in print media. Among the beats he covers include politics, sports and infrastructure. He has a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambeshwar University. During his free time, he likes to read books and play table tennis. Latest News