WASHINGTON — 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, a top White House official said Friday. Biden 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, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, told reporters 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. The update from Neuberger is the latest development in a massive hacking operation that has alarmed national security officials, exposed cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the private sector and laid bare China’s hacking sophistication. The hackers compromised the networks of telecommunications companies to obtain customer call records and gain access to the private communications of “a limited number of individuals.” Though the FBI has not publicly identified any of the victims, officials believe senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures are among those whose whose communications were accessed. Neuberger said officials did not yet have a precise sense how many Americans overall were affected by Salt Typhoon, in part because the Chinese were careful about their techniques, but a “large number” were in the Washington-Virginia area. Officials believe the goal of the hackers was to identify who owned the phones and, if they were “government targets of interest,” spy on their texts and phone calls, she said. The FBI said most of the people targeted by the hackers are “primarily involved in government or political activity.” Neuberger said the episode highlighted the need for required cybersecurity practices in the telecommunications industry, something the Federal Communications Commission is to take up at a meeting next month. “We know that voluntary cyber security practices are inadequate to protect against China, Russia and Iran hacking of our critical infrastructure,” she said. The Chinese government has denied responsibility for the hacking.
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Christmas did not come early for Diddy . The disgraced mogul was denied bail on Wednesday, which means he will remain in jail during the Thanksgiving holiday. People confirmed that Diddy was denied a third time by Judge Arun Subramanian. He cited a number of different reasons as to why the court feels the mogul should stay locked up. "The Court finds," Subramanian explained. "That the government has shown by clear and convincing evidence that no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of the community." Diddy's dubious track record was not, in Subramian's opinion, something that could be excused when considering bail. The Judge pointed to allegations in which the mogul used firearms and various threats of violence to coerce victims into keeping quiet. He also pointed to instances in which Diddy's alleged criminal actions were supported by text messages. There were also seized firearms with defaced serial numbers. The prosecution also claimed that Diddy attempted to influence witnesses from behind bars. They felt the Bad Boy founder had made "recent efforts to influence the jury pool." They cited a social media campaign organized by members of his family as proof. Read More: TD Jakes Attributes Medical Emergency To Alleged Stress From Diddy Accusers’ Lawyer Judge Subramanian took these different allegations into account. He pointed out that Diddy has been using the phone access codes of other inmates to make calls from MDC in Brooklyn. It doesn't look good for the Bad Boy mastermind, given that he's been denied twice before. His criminal trial is tentatively set for May 2025. Diddy may not have the chance to go home for the holidays, but his family continues to support him. The mogul's family issued a joint statement to Instagram. Diddy's children, in particular, made it clear that they will be behind him no matter what. "We stand united, supporting you every step of the way," the children wrote. "We hold onto the truth, knowing it will prevail, and nothing will break the strength of our family. Quincy, Justin, Christian, Chance, Jessie & D'Lila." The family also dismissed the charges against Diddy as being inaccurate. "Many have judged both him and us," they added. "Based on accusations, conspiracy theories, and false narratives that have spiraled into absurdity." Read More: Diddy Case At Standstill After U.S. Attorney Announces ResignationJudge rejects request to sideline a San Jose State volleyball player on grounds she’s transgender
Among the 30 bills elbowed through in the Parliamentary rush were 3 bills agreed by the Government and Opposition targeting refugees. Human rights lawyer Alison Battison says Australia is criminalising refugees. In the last Parliamentary session of 2024, the Labor Party pushed through over 30 pieces of legislation, including three bills targeting refugees, asylum seekers, stateless and non-citizen Indigenous people. This rushed suite of legislation was not drafted in response to any pressing concern of national importance. Instead, it’s overriding purpose was and is to secure votes, so Labor can claim they are even more strict on border control and community safety than the Coalition. The legislation, however, does not address these areas in any cohesive manner. Instead, it creates great uncertainty for thousands of people who are worried they will be ripped away from their families and homes, detained and removed to places they have never been and have no connection to. Just weeks before this suite of legislation was passed, I had self-funded travel to the UN in Geneva for meetings with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD). The WGAD is a specialist body within the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly. The WGAD personally invited me to address them and civil society on developments in Australia regarding the arbitrary detention of refugees, asylum seekers, stateless and non-citizen Indigenous people in Australia’s immigration prisons. These are the very people the new suite of legislation targets. Being a legal expert in this area I have submitted scores of complaints to the WGAD over the years. Australia has a terrifying record of its treatment of these vulnerable people, in particular for the conditions of, and length of time refugees and others are subject to administrative detention. I have clients who were detained for over 10 years, with the longest being over 13 years. This is administrative detention at the whim of the Government, the administrative equivalent of being detained at the “Governor’s pleasure.” Despite a landmark judgment handed down in November 2023, which finally set down the Constitutionally permitted limits of administrative detention, I was at the UN to inform them that situation had not dramatically improved and was likely to deteriorate further. The passing of the suite of legislation (meant to address the fall out of the 2023 High Court decision) has unfortunately proven my point. I told the UN and civil society that instead of pro-actively identifying detainees caught by the High Court judgment who should have been released immediately, the Government had left it up to lawyers such as myself to find and identify such people in the detention network and then threaten legal action for unlawful imprisonment. More than 12 months later, I am still identifying multiple people every month who are unlawfully imprisoned, including very vulnerable young and queer people. Given their detention is a breach of our Constitution, this is a terrible indictment of the Australian Government’s commitment to our separation of powers. I had expected better of a Labor Government and had expected they would reduce the ease at which people could be administratively detained. I was wrong. I told civil society (to audible gasps) that Australia’s immigration prisons are not centres in which a person can come and go – they are prisons with high levels of security and monitoring, with razor wire, internal movement restrictions and handcuffing if anyone needs to leave, including for medical or legal appointments. Distressingly, the new suite of legislation includes measures to further limit the contact people have with the outside world, by allowing guards (who are presumedly not trained in forensic analysis) to confiscate, check and ban phones from people they believe are committing crimes. I told the UN that when people are released, they are fitted with electronic monitoring ankle devices and are subject to nighttime curfews. If they breach their visa conditions, they are liable for 12 months minimum prison time. These people, where they have criminal convictions, have already served their terms of imprisonment and are subject to the same monitoring as any other person in Australia. Their treatment is the very definition of criminalising immigration. They are tagged like cattle for administrative, not criminal, purposes. The same suite of legislation also makes it lawful for the Australian Government to pay other countries to take these people, and if the person doesn’t assist with their removal to a place they have never been, they are liable for another round of administrative detention. This means that Australia, a wealthy Western country has legislated to use taxpayer funds to pay poorer nations to take the people our Government deems too unworthy to be in our country – including mothers of young children with no criminal records. Given Australia’s history as the place the British Empire sent its convicts, the people it didn’t want, this move is the height of hypocrisy. Some of my ancestors are Luddites and were sent to Australia for their political crimes. They were unwanted and inconvenient in their homeland. History is repeating itself. The legislation to send refugees to other nations is built on the “Pacific Solution”, in which Australia sent thousands for regional processing to Nauru and Manus Island, PNG. The irony of this is that remote processing in remote prisons has not stopped irregular migration – it does not address the push factors that cause people to leave their homes. It doesn’t work. And there is no evidence that the new legislation will work either. Instead, Australia is merely feeding the billion-dollar industry of publicly funded private contracts – it is Australia’s own industrial prison complex. I am fielding scores of calls from petrified people who worry they and their families will be pulled apart by the new legislation. People with Australian citizen partners and young children. People with no criminal record. There appears to be no human right the Government won’t trample on in its race to prove its potentially vote winning cruelty has no bounds. The WGAD is coming to Australia in 2025. The Government has already delayed its visit due to the forthcoming election. When they eventually arrive, I can’t imagine I will be providing the UN with an update that is anything but a rendition of the steps taken to win votes by victimising some of the most vulnerable in the Australian community.LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Austin Seibert choked back tears taking responsibility for missing the extra point that would have tied the score in the final minute. Jeremy Reaves choked back tears blaming himself for a missed assignment that led to a kickoff return touchdown. And John Bates choked back tears talking about moving forward from his costly fumble. All of those late mistakes contributed to the Washington Commanders' third consecutive loss , 34-26 to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in a game that was wholly unremarkable until fourth quarter chaos. The teams combined to score 31 points in the final four minutes, the most in an NFL game in more than a decade, and the Commanders (7-5) came out on the wrong end of it in a defeat that further endangers their playoff chances. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.No ruling by 9th Circuit in Ex-Councilmember Mark Ridley Thomas’ appeal
1 2 Ludhiana: The long-awaited Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC) elections have been scheduled for December 21, sparking political uproar over the compressed timeline for filing nominations. With only four days allotted for nominations, opposition parties are questioning the fairness of the process, while scrambling to finalize their candidates for the 95 wards. The announcement has prompted parties, including Congress, BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), to expedite candidate selection. Congress began screening applicants on Sunday, while SAD and BJP are still in discussions. SAD leaders expressed dissatisfaction, alleging the schedule disregards the Sikh community’s religious observances in December, particularly the martyrdom days of Guru Gobind Singh’s sons. Opposition Cries Foul SAD’s former MLA Ranjit Singh Dhillon criticized the ruling party, accusing it of orchestrating hasty elections to suppress voter outreach. “They inaugurated multiple development projects just days before the announcement and gave no regard to constitutional propriety or religious sentiments,” Dhillon said. He urged voters to elect a party capable of driving genuine development. BJP district president Rajnish Dhiman echoed similar concerns, calling the four-day nomination window “unjust.” He highlighted logistical challenges for candidates, such as obtaining mandatory no-objection certificates (NOCs) from MC offices. “We will fight against this injustice and announce our candidates shortly,” Dhiman said. Congress, while preparing its candidate list, also criticized the schedule. Former MLA Sanjay Talwar said, “This is not the way to conduct elections. Candidates won’t have enough time to engage with voters in their wards.” He expressed confidence that voters would back Congress councillors and secure the mayoral position for the party. AAP defends timing Punjab AAP leaders dismissed opposition claims, arguing that the protests reflect political insecurity. MLA Gurpreet Gogi said, “Earlier, they accused the government of delaying elections. Now that the schedule is announced, they are finding excuses. They know AAP is poised to win and elect its own mayor.” We also published the following articles recently BJP leader Pravesh Ratan joins Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) In a political shake-up, BJP leader Pravesh Ratan, a former Patel Nagar constituency candidate, switched allegiances to AAP on Wednesday. He joined the party in the presence of senior AAP leaders at their headquarters. This move follows former AAP MLA Raaj Kumar Anand's recent defection to the BJP. Former AAP MLA and rights lawyer Phoolka set to join SAD Harvinder Singh Phoolka, a former AAP MLA and prominent rights lawyer, declared his intention to join the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Saturday. He aims to help the party rediscover its core values and encouraged others to participate in the Akal Takht-led membership drive. Phoolka will join as a volunteer without seeking any specific position. AAP considers BIP, Congress turncoats as winnable candidates Veteran Delhi politicians from Congress and BJP are likely to contest the upcoming elections as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidates. Several former legislators have already joined AAP, hoping to bolster the party's position and provide experienced leadership. AAP is expected to change several sitting MLAs to combat anti-incumbency, potentially favoring these seasoned politicians. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .Judge issues ruling as delays plague Puerto Rico election certification process
Israel cracks down on Palestinian citizens who speak out against the war in Gaza UMM AL-FAHM, Israel (AP) — In the year since the war in Gaza broke out, Israel's government has been cracking down on dissent among its Palestinian citizens. Authorities have charged Palestinians with “supporting terrorism” because of posts online or for demonstrating against the war. Activists and rights watchdogs say Palestinians have also lost jobs, been suspended from schools and faced police interrogations. Palestinians make up about 20% of Israel's population. Many feel forced to self-censor out of fear of being jailed and further marginalized in society. Others still find ways to dissent, but carefully. Israel's National Security Ministry counters that, “Freedom of speech is not the freedom to incite.” Israel says rabbi who went missing in the UAE was killed TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel says the body of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who went missing in the United Arab Emirates has been found, citing Emirati authorities. The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Sunday said Zvi Kogan was killed, calling it a “heinous antisemitic terror incident.” It said: “The state of Israel will act with all means to seek justice with the criminals responsible for his death." Kogan went missing on Thursday, and there were suspicions he had been kidnapped. His disappearance comes as Iran has been threatening to retaliate against Israel after the two countries traded fire in October. Hezbollah fires more than 180 rockets and other projectiles into Israel, wounding at least 7 BEIRUT (AP) — Hezbollah has fired at least 185 rockets and other projectiles into Israel, wounding seven people in the militant group's heaviest barrage in several days. The attacks in northern and central Israel happened Sunday in response to deadly Israeli strikes in central Beirut on Saturday. Meanwhile, negotiators pressed on with cease-fire efforts to halt the all-out war. Lebanon's military says an Israeli strike on a Lebanese army center in the southwest killed one soldier and wounded 18 others. Israel's military has expressed regret and said its operations are directed solely against the militants. Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister condemned the latest strike as an assault on the U.S.-led cease-fire efforts. The rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump's promises on growth and inflation WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has big plans for the economy. He also has big debt problem that'll be a hurdle to delivering on those plan. Trump has bold ambitions on tax cuts, tariffs and other programs. But high interest rates and the price of repaying the federal government’s existing debt could limit what he’s able to do. The federal debt stands at roughly $36 trillion, and the spike in inflation after the pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will easily exceed spending on national security. After Trump's Project 2025 denials, he is tapping its authors and influencers for key roles WASHINGTON (AP) — During the campaign, President-elect Donald Trump had hailed what would become Project 2025 as a conservative roadmap for “exactly what our movement will do." Trump pulled an about-face when Project 2025 became a political liability. He denied knowing anything about the “ridiculous and abysmal” plans, even though some were written by his former aides and many allies. Now, after winning the 2024 election, Trump is stocking his second administration with key players in the effort he temporarily shunned. Trump has tapped Russell Vought for an encore as director of the Office of Management and Budget; Tom Homan, his former immigration chief, as “border czar;” and immigration hardliner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of policy. Forecasts warn of possible winter storms across US during Thanksgiving week WINDSOR, Calif. (AP) — Forecasters in the U.S. have warned of another round of winter weather that could complicate travel leading up to Thanksgiving. California is bracing for more snow and rain this weekend while still grappling with some flooding and small landslides from a previous storm. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for California's Sierra Nevada through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at high elevations. Thousands remained without power in the Seattle area on Saturday after a “bomb cyclone” storm system hit the West Coast earlier in the week, killing two people. Parts of the Northeast and Appalachia also began the weekend with heavy precipitation. Pakistan partially stops mobile and internet services ahead of pro-Imran Khan protest ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan has suspended mobile and internet services “in areas with security concerns” as supporters of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan gear up for a protest in the capital. The government and Interior Ministry made the announcement on X, which is banned in Pakistan. Sunday's protest is to demand Khan's release. He has been in prison for more than a year but remains popular. His supporters rely heavily on social media and messaging apps to coordinate with each other. Pakistan has already sealed off Islamabad and shut down major roads and highways connecting the city with Khan's power bases. Here's what to know about the new funding deal that countries agreed to at UN climate talks BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — In the wee hours Sunday at the United Nations climate talks, countries from around the world reached an agreement on how rich countries can cough up the funds to support poor countries in the face of climate change. But it’s a far-from-perfect arrangement, with many parties still unsatisfied but hopeful that the deal will be a step in the right direction. Japan holds Sado mines memorial despite South Korean boycott amid lingering historical tensions SADO, Japan (AP) — Japan has held a memorial ceremony near the Sado Island Gold Mines despite a last-minute boycott of the event by South Korea that highlighted tensions between the neighbors over the brutal wartime use of Korean laborers. South Korea’s absence at Sunday’s memorial, to which Seoul government officials and Korean victims’ families were invited, is a major setback in the rapidly improving ties between the countries. The Sado mines were listed in July as a UNESCO World Heritage Site after Japan moved past years of disputes with South Korea and reluctantly acknowledged the mines’ dark history. Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of 'Love Connection' and 'Scrabble,' dies at 83 NEW YORK (AP) — Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19, has died. He was 83. Mark Young, Woolery’s podcast co-host and friend, said in an email early Sunday that Woolery died at his home in Texas with his wife, Kristen, present. Woolery, with his matinee idol looks, coiffed hair and ease with witty banter, was inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in 2007 and earned a daytime Emmy nomination in 1978. He teamed up with Young for the podcast “Blunt Force Truth” and became a full supporter Donald Trump.
PHINMA raises P1 billion in stock rights offeringSyria's ousted president Bashar al-Assad and his family are in Moscow, a Kremlin source told Russian news agencies, hours after he fled the country as Islamist-led The announcement comes as Russia, a key Assad ally, called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the fast-changing situation on the ground in the war-torn country. "Assad and members of his family have arrived in Moscow," the source told the TASS and Ria Novosti news agencies. "Russia granted them asylum on humanitarian grounds," he added. Asked whether Assad was confirmed to be in Moscow, a Western official said they believed that was likely the case and had no reason to doubt Moscow's claim. The Kremlin source also said the rebels who ousted Assad in a lightning offensive "guaranteed the security of Russian army bases and diplomatic institutions on Syria's territory". Russia, Assad's biggest backer along with Iran, holds a naval base in Tartus and a military airfield in Khmeimim. Moscow's forces became militarily involved in the Syrian conflict in 2015, providing support for Assad's forces to crush the opposition in the bloody civil war. "Russia has always been in favour of a political solution to the Syrian crisis. Our starting point is the need to resume negotiations under the auspices of the UN," the Kremlin source added. A Russian representative to the United Nations announced that Moscow had requested an emergency closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in Syria for Monday afternoon. "The consequences (of the events in Syria) for this country and the whole region have not yet been measured," the official said on Telegram. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.
Red tape and fine print won't make the world a better place for not for profitsJalen Hurts threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as Philadelphia outlasted upset-minded Carolina on Sunday while Minnesota routed Atlanta as both 11-2 teams neared an NFL playoff berth. Hurts completed 14-of-21 passes for 108 yards and ran eight times for 59 yards to hold off stubborn Carolina, which fell to 3-10. He scored on a 1-yard plunge early in the second quarter, connected with DeVonta Smith on a 4-yard touchdown pass 14 seconds before half-time for a 14-10 lead. After the Panthers grabbed the lead on Chuba Hubbard's 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, the Eagles answered with 75 seconds elapsed in the fourth quarter on a 4-yard Hurts touchdown pass to Grant Calcaterra and a 2-point conversion run by Saquon Barkley, who ran 20 times for 124 yards. At Minneapolis, Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold completed 22-of-28 passes for 347 yards and five touchdown to power Minnesota over the Atlanta Falcons 42-21. The Vikings spoiled the return of ex-Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins, who threw for 344 yards but was intercepted twice. Minnesota needs losses by the Arizona Cardinals to Seattle and the Los Angeles Rams to Buffalo in later games to clinch a playoff berth. The Eagles need only an Arizona loss to secure their spot in the post-season. Later games also include the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs (11-1) entertaining the Los Angeles Chargers (8-4). Tua Tagovailoa threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jonnu Smith in overtime to give the Miami Dolphins a 32-26 home triumph over the New York Jets. The Pittsburgh Steelers improved to 10-3 as Russell Wilson threw for two touchdowns and Najee Harris ran for another in a 27-14 home victory over Cleveland. Baker Mayfield threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns to spark the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over visiting Las Vegas 28-13. Derek Carr threw for 219 yards and a touchdown as the New Orleans Saints edged the host New York Giants 14-11 while Tank Bigsby's 8-yard touchdown run with 6:46 remaining gave Jacksonville a 10-6 victory at Tennessee. js/bspShould the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers?
Five years ago, hundreds of people crowded the halls of the state Capitol protesting legislation that sought to tighten California’s vaccine rules. Outside, music blasted something about a revolution and people carried signs that read “Vaccine mandates violate bodily autonomy.” From the sea of red-clad protesters emerged a familiar face idolized by the anti-vaccine activists : Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He was the guest of honor in one of the biggest public health showdowns the state has seen in recent years. Ultimately, he and his followers lost — the Legislature passed a law to clamp down on fraudulent or inappropriate medical exemptions for required childhood vaccines. Today, Kennedy finds himself on a bigger stage with potentially far more influence and power. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated the former environmental lawyer turned controversial vaccine critic to oversee the nation’s health policy as secretary of Health and Human Services. He has been known to make false, and at times dangerous, claims about medicine and public health. Perhaps most infamously he linked vaccines to autism — a claim that has been debunked over and over again. Now with Kennedy in the running to lead the federal health department, health leaders and advocates in California and across the country are voicing their concerns and preparing to combat a potential wave of medical disinformation. Having a vaccine skeptic at the helm of the U.S. Health and Human Services agency, some say, could lead to more Americans refusing to be vaccinated and potentially put lives at risk. It could also embolden the anti-vaccine movement in California. Dr. Richard Pan , a pediatrician who as a state senator authored the 2019 medical exemption law and a separate law that eliminated personal belief exemptions for childhood vaccines, said having a health secretary who casts doubt on vaccines is “a danger” and “disturbing.” “I imagine we’re going to see a lot more direct attacks on individual scientists, individual people. I’m anticipating that I’m probably gonna be hoisted somewhere by those guys as well. I don’t think RFK Jr. has forgotten about me yet,” he said. Pan said he’s met Kennedy twice when Kennedy traveled to Sacramento to oppose his bills. Carrying those laws made Pan the subject of harassment and attacks, and at one point an anti-vaccine activist shoved him while Pan was walking in a Sacramento street. At protests, anti-vaccine activists plastered Pan’s face on posters with the word “LIAR” in red letters. Now, people who rallied against his vaccine bills are celebrating Kennedy’s potential spot on Trump’s cabinet, and calling for “justice” via social media posts. In one of their last quarrels, Pan publicly called for Kennedy to be banned from social media platforms when Kennedy promoted COVID disinformation. In response, Kennedy told the Sacramento Bee that Pan’s request for censorship was anti-American. More recently, Kennedy has taken a more measured approach when responding to questions about vaccines. Following Trump’s win he told NBC News that he isn’t looking to take vaccines off the market, but rather is advocating for informed choice. “If vaccines are working for somebody, I’m not going to take them away,” he said. If Kennedy is confirmed as head of Health and Human Services, he would oversee a $1.7 trillion budget and about a dozen agencies. He would be responsible for managing pandemic preparedness, and would be in charge of issues ranging from health insurance to food safety. Experts say that any controversial changes would likely be met with litigation that could slow or derail Kennedy’s proposals. Still, there are several ways anti-vaccine sentiment in the federal government could undermine public health gains in states. For example, school immunization mandates are issued by states and while the federal government cannot directly change those, it could decide to withhold public health funding, such as grants sent to states to help fund vaccination efforts, said Dorit Reiss, a professor at UC Law San Francisco. As health secretary, Kennedy would also have the power to appoint members of an advisory committee that makes recommendations on immunization practices to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reiss added that the health secretary also has the power to expedite or limit access to new vaccines, which would become especially important in the case of another pandemic. It is the secretary of Health and Human Services who declares a public health emergency and issues emergency use authorization for unapproved vaccines. When COVID shots were first made available to the public in December 2020, they were allowed under this emergency designation. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration fully approved the vaccine for people 16 and older nine months later. A secretary hostile to vaccines could block or remove the emergency use authorization. That means the vaccine manufacturer “would have to either apply for full approval at the moment or not sell the vaccine,” Reiss said. Kennedy told NBC that he wouldn’t have “directly blocked” the emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines had he been secretary at the time, but rather would have made sure that “we have the best science.” Yet at the height of the pandemic, Kennedy helped fuel mistrust of the coronavirus vaccine. In 2021, he called it the “deadliest vaccine ever made ” in opposition to a Louisiana proposal that would have required school children to be vaccinated against the virus. In 2010, the California Legislature passed a law that added a booster of the pertussis vaccine , which protects against whooping cough, to the immunization schedule for teens to attend school. Catherine Flores Martin, the executive director of California Immunization Coalition, a nonprofit that advocates for vaccines, remembers when lawmakers were considering this bill, roughly about 18 people or so showed up in opposition, she said. Fast-forward to 2015 and 2019, opposition to vaccine legislation evolved into mass protests of hundreds of people. “It’s gotten wild,” Flores Martin said. “The vast majority of parents still vaccinate their children,” she said. “We hear a lot about hesitancy, but hesitancy doesn’t convert into not vaccinating.” In the 2021-22 school year, 94% of California’s kindergarteners had received the required vaccines, the state’s public health department reported. But Flores Martin acknowledges that it has become more challenging to pass vaccine legislation as opposition has become louder in California. She attributes this in part to the growing role of misinformation shared on social media platforms. State public health officials did not respond to an interview request by deadline. The year 2014 was notable in public health for a couple of reasons. That year whooping cough infections peaked, with more than 11,000 cases reported in the state , the most ever. Also, in December of that year, a measles outbreak at Disneyland contributed to the highest number of measles cases reported in the U.S. in two decades. Most of the cases were among unvaccinated children. The outbreak resulted in hospitalizations but no deaths were reported. In California, the vaccine that protects against measles, mumps and rubella is among the required doses for kids to attend school. So is the polio vaccine and the Hepatitis B vaccine, among others. It was this measles outbreak that led the Legislature in 2015 to remove personal belief and religious exemptions for required shots. Then in 2019, lawmakers came back and approved a second law that allowed the state’s Department of Public Health to review and revoke inappropriate medical exemptions . Medical exemptions have to be made by a physician and are reserved for small groups of people, such as those who are allergic to vaccine ingredients. Following the 2019 law, the rate of kindergarteners with medical exemptions decreased to the lowest levels since 2015-16 , according to the state’s public health department. However, research shows that because of disruption in routine doctor visits during the pandemic, the number of kindergarteners who were not up to date on their immunizations ticked up. Health advocates and experts say that it is now more important than ever to instill confidence in vaccines and proven public health measures. Flores Martin said doctors and health advocates will have to band together and push vaccine education to maintain high immunization rates. The messaging matters, she said.Syria latest: Syrians celebrate in the streets as Russian media says Assad has arrived in Moscow
Syrians poured into streets in celebration on Sunday after a stunning rebel advance reached the capital, ending the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule . Russian state news agencies were reporting that President Bashar Assad and his family had arrived in Moscow and were given asylum. Russia said Assad left the country after negotiations with rebel groups and that he had given instructions to transfer power peacefully. Joyful crowds gathered in central squares in Damascus, waving the Syrian revolutionary flag. Others ransacked the presidential palace and residence. Abu Mohammed al-Golani , a former al-Qaida commander who cut ties with the group years ago leads the biggest rebel faction in Syria and is poised to chart the country’s future. He made his first public appearance since fighters entered the Damascus suburbs Saturday, at the capital’s sprawling Umayyad Mosque, and called himself by his given name, Ahmad al-Sharaa. He said Assad’s fall was “a victory to the Islamic nation.” The rapidly developing events have shaken the region. Lebanon said it was closing all its land border crossings with Syria except for one that links Beirut with Damascus. Jordan closed a border crossing with Syria, too. Israel has issued warnings to villages in southern Syria and its forces seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights. Here's the Latest: The Israeli military said on Sunday it was reinforcing a barrier along its border with Syria as part of its “enhanced preparedness” in the area following the fall of the Assad regime. Israel released images of the construction, which showed bulldozers digging what appeared to be a trench. The army said in a statement that the barrier was named “New East.” Satellite images analyzed by The Associated Press show that as early as September, Israel began building what could be a new road right along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria . The United Nations confirmed that Israeli troops entered the demilitarized zone during the work. Over the weekend, the Israeli military sent additional troops to the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights to bolster Israel’s presence along the border with Syria. Russian state news agencies reported that ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad has arrived in Moscow with his family and been given asylum. The agencies, Tass and RIA, cited an unidentified Kremlin source. The Associated Press was not immediately able to verify the reports but had contacted the Kremlin for comment. CAIRO — The Arab League on Sunday condemned Israel for taking advantage of Syrian President Bashar Assad's downfall by moving into more Syrian territory. Hours after Assad’s overthrow, Israel announced it had seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights that was established by a cease-fire agreement with Syria in 1974. In a statement, the Arab League said Israel illegally sought to occupy more territories. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the 50-year-old agreement regarding Syrian territory had collapsed and that Syrian troops had abandoned their positions, necessitating Israel taking over as a “temporary defensive position.” UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations secretary-general is marking the “fall of the dictatorial regime” in Syria and says the future of the country is “is a matter for the Syrians to determine.” A statement by Antonio Guterres also called for calm and the protection of the rights of all Syrians as well as of diplomatic and consular facilities in Syria. He said there is much work ahead to ensure an “orderly political transition to renewed institutions,” and he called on the international community to ensure that “any political transition is inclusive and comprehensive and that it meets the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria, in all their diversity.” KYIV, Ukraine - Ukraine’s top diplomat on Sunday responded to Assad’s ouster by describing him as a “dictator” who relied on Russia to prop up his rule - a reference to the military campaign Moscow has waged in Syria since September 2015, teaming up with Iran to allow Assad’s government to fight armed opposition groups and reclaim control over most of the country. "Assad has fallen. This has always been and will be the case with all dictators who bet on Putin. He always betrays those who rely on him,” foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X. In a separate update on the social network, Sybiha said Kyiv was ready to take steps towards restoring relations with Syria, severed months into Russia’s full-scale invasion of the neighboring state. Kyiv broke off diplomatic ties after Damascus in June 2022 recognized Kremlin-occupied parts of eastern Ukraine as independent territories, in a move welcomed by Moscow and decried by the West as a clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. JERUSALEM — The Israeli military has issued a warning to residents of five villages and towns in southern Syria to stay inside their homes for their safety. “The fighting in your area is forcing the IDF to act,” the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman said on X. The military didn’t respond to questions. Earlier, Israel said its troops had seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established in 1974, saying it was to protect Israeli residents after Syrian troops abandoned their positions. Defense Minister Israel Katz said on X that the IDF has been instructed to “seize the buffer zone and control points to ensure the protection of all Israeli communities in the Golan Heights – Jewish and Druze – so that they are not exposed to threats from the other side.” Israel captured the Golan in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed it. The international community, except for the United States, views it as occupied. BEIRUT - The leader of the largest insurgent group in Syria visited the Syrian capital’s sprawling Umayyad Mosque and declared that the victory against President Bashar Assad “is a victory to the Islamic nation.” Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, made his first public appearance and remarks since fighters entered Damascus. He told hundreds of people at the historic mosque that Assad had made Syria “a farm for Iran’s greed.” He added that Assad made Syria a base for the illegal amphetamine Captagon that brought cash to Assad’s circles. Al-Sharaa, the leader of the jihadi Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, said Sunday that the victory was achieved because of “God and the blood of martyrs.” He said that he left Syria 20 years ago and since then his heart has longed for this movement. AMMAN, Jordan — The vast majority of the Jordanian people are welcoming the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the success of the Syrian revolution. “There is no doubt that I felt overwhelming joy at the fall of the Assad regime," said Badi Al-Rafaia, Engineer, union activist and member of the Islamic Action Front. "There is no doubt that we are happy with what happened in Syria, happy with the success of the revolution, happy with the Syrian people getting rid of an oppressor and criminal who treated the Syrian people and made the Syrian state a failed state.” Al-Rafaia said that Jordan is benefiting from what happened in Syria, and "we hope that Jordan will help the revolution succeed and not work against it.” Amman resident Muhab al-Majali said the fall of the Assad regime is “The end of every unjust and tyrannical rule, and more than that, it mortgaged the country and its people to the Iranians, who abandoned it in minutes... I believe that the future is beautiful and prosperous for the Syrians.” BERLIN — The International Committee of the Red Cross is calling for safe humanitarian access and protection of civilians in Syria after the fall of Bashir Assad’s government. “Our teams in Syria, including in Damascus, have been closely monitoring the fast-evolving security and humanitarian situation in coordination with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent,” the ICRC’s head of delegation in Syria, Stephan Sakalian, said in a written statement Sunday. The ICRC is “responding wherever possible, with further efforts underway, as hundreds of thousands of people need care and humanitarian assistance,” he said. Sakalian called “on all parties to urgently enable safe and unhindered access for medical and humanitarian workers to reach those in need, to protect civilians, and to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law.” BAGHDAD — The Iraqi government said in a statement Sunday that it “supports all international and regional efforts seeking to open a dialogue” for Syria “leading to the adoption of a pluralistic constitution that preserves the human and civil rights of Syrians, and supports cultural, ethnic and religious diversity.” The statement from government spokesperson Bassem al-Awadi, said that Iraq understands “the necessity of respecting the free will of all Syrians, and stresses that the security of Syria, the unity of its territories, and the preservation of its independence are of utmost importance, not only for Iraq but also for its connection to the security and stability of the region.” It cautioned against “interfering in Syria’s internal affairs, or supporting one party for the benefit of another.” Iraq, which has a close relationship with Iran - once a strong ally of former Syrian President Bashar Assad - has taken in some 2,000 Syrian army soldiers who fled the country amid the advance of armed opposition groups. CAIRO — The head of Yemen’s internationally recognized government welcomed the fall of the government of President Bashar Assad of Syria. “It’s a historic moment,” Rashad al-Alimi, who chairs the ruling presidential council, wrote on X platform of Assad’s downfall. “It’s time for the Iranian regime to stop meddling in Yemen, respect its sovereignty and identity.” Al-Alimi, who is backed by Saudi Arabia, was referring to Iran’s support of Houthi rebels who are at war with Yemen’s internationally recognized government for a decade. DAMASCUS — Families wandered through the high-ceilinged halls of the presidential palace in Damascus on Sunday, along with some armed men. Some paused to take family portraits or selfies on the few remaining couches against the backdrop of mosaiced walls, while others walked out with chairs and other items under their arms. On the massive parking lot out front, cars drove in circles honking ecstatically. In central Damascus’ Umayyad Square, drivers passing by also honked jubilantly, while young men piled onto a tank abandoned in the square. But for some the celebration was bittersweet. “I am very happy, but this happiness will not be completed until I can see my son out of the prison and know where is he is,” said Damascus resident Bassam Masr. “I have been searching for him for two hours - he has been detained for 13 years.” TEL AVIV, Israel – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israeli forces have seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established by a 1974 ceasefire agreement with Syria. He spoke from an overlook near the border between Syria and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, after Syrian rebels tore through the country and dramatically ended Assad’s rule on Sunday morning. Netanyahu said the 50-year-old agreement had collapsed and that Syrian troops had abandoned their positions, necessitating the Israeli takeover as a “temporary defensive position.” Israel captured the Golan Heights in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it. The international community, except for the United States, views it as occupied Syrian territory. Satellite images analyzed by the Associated Press show that as early as September, Israel began construction of what could possibly be a new road right along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria . The United Nations confirmed that Israeli troops entered the demilitarized zone during the work. The United Nations maintains a peacekeeping force in the demilitarized zone called the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, or UNDOF, with around 1,100 peacekeepers from Fiji, India, Kazakhstan, Nepal, and Uruguay. After the 1973 Mideast war, the U.N. Secretary Council voted to create UNDOF to patrol a roughly 400 square kilometer (155 square mile) demilitarized zone and maintain the peace there. DAMASCUS, Syria — An Associated Press journalist in Damascus reported airstrikes in the area of the Mezzeh military airport, southwest of the capital Sunday. The airport has previously been targeted in Israeli airstrikes, but it was not immediately clear who launched Sunday's strike. The Israeli military refused to comment on the airport strike. Israel often does not publicly claim responsibility for attacks in Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, reported that Israeli warplanes also targeted warehouses belonging to the Syrian army’s Fourth Division and another former military site outside of Damascus Sunday. On Saturday and Sunday, the Israeli military sent additional troops to the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights to bolster Israel’s presence along the border between Israel and Syria. Agricultural areas along the border were declared closed military zones and some schools shifted to online classes in anticipation of unrest.1 2 Ludhiana: The long-awaited Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC) elections have been scheduled for December 21, sparking political uproar over the compressed timeline for filing nominations. With only four days allotted for nominations, opposition parties are questioning the fairness of the process, while scrambling to finalize their candidates for the 95 wards. The announcement has prompted parties, including Congress, BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), to expedite candidate selection. Congress began screening applicants on Sunday, while SAD and BJP are still in discussions. SAD leaders expressed dissatisfaction, alleging the schedule disregards the Sikh community’s religious observances in December, particularly the martyrdom days of Guru Gobind Singh’s sons. Opposition Cries Foul SAD’s former MLA Ranjit Singh Dhillon criticized the ruling party, accusing it of orchestrating hasty elections to suppress voter outreach. “They inaugurated multiple development projects just days before the announcement and gave no regard to constitutional propriety or religious sentiments,” Dhillon said. He urged voters to elect a party capable of driving genuine development. BJP district president Rajnish Dhiman echoed similar concerns, calling the four-day nomination window “unjust.” He highlighted logistical challenges for candidates, such as obtaining mandatory no-objection certificates (NOCs) from MC offices. “We will fight against this injustice and announce our candidates shortly,” Dhiman said. Congress, while preparing its candidate list, also criticized the schedule. Former MLA Sanjay Talwar said, “This is not the way to conduct elections. Candidates won’t have enough time to engage with voters in their wards.” He expressed confidence that voters would back Congress councillors and secure the mayoral position for the party. AAP defends timing Punjab AAP leaders dismissed opposition claims, arguing that the protests reflect political insecurity. MLA Gurpreet Gogi said, “Earlier, they accused the government of delaying elections. Now that the schedule is announced, they are finding excuses. They know AAP is poised to win and elect its own mayor.” We also published the following articles recently BJP leader Pravesh Ratan joins Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) In a political shake-up, BJP leader Pravesh Ratan, a former Patel Nagar constituency candidate, switched allegiances to AAP on Wednesday. He joined the party in the presence of senior AAP leaders at their headquarters. This move follows former AAP MLA Raaj Kumar Anand's recent defection to the BJP. Former AAP MLA and rights lawyer Phoolka set to join SAD Harvinder Singh Phoolka, a former AAP MLA and prominent rights lawyer, declared his intention to join the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Saturday. He aims to help the party rediscover its core values and encouraged others to participate in the Akal Takht-led membership drive. Phoolka will join as a volunteer without seeking any specific position. AAP considers BIP, Congress turncoats as winnable candidates Veteran Delhi politicians from Congress and BJP are likely to contest the upcoming elections as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidates. Several former legislators have already joined AAP, hoping to bolster the party's position and provide experienced leadership. AAP is expected to change several sitting MLAs to combat anti-incumbency, potentially favoring these seasoned politicians. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .Fifty five million people will be drinking purified recycled water in the next 25 years. or signup to continue reading Research by the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) shows more than 100 cities could be using purified recycled water as part of their drinking supplies and the number of people consuming it is expected to double by 2050. WSAA's Danielle Francis said the research considered how different water utilities were managing the " ". "When you look around the world, what you see is that pretty much all the water utilities are facing the same challenges," she said. "They've all got growing populations and they all have varying rainfall to different degrees. "So they're all working out how to best address that ... we're finding that we're in a bit of a transition period." Australia has always been reliant on rivers and dams for its water which Ms Francis said will "always be the backbone of our water supplies". "We've kind of realised that can leave you quite vulnerable in times of low rainfall because you're really depending on rain." Rain-independent solutions have begun to be adopted around the world to create . "You're seeing a lot of places adopt desalination and purified recycled water to help complement their traditional sources of supply. "It's a philosophy of we don't put all our eggs in one basket by having a diverse water supply." The purification process for recycled water involves three additional treatment processes. Ultrafiltration removes micro-organisms, suspended particles, and large molecules, reverse osmosis removes viruses, and most chemicals before UV disinfection and advanced oxidation eliminates any remaining chemicals. The water is then blended with raw water in natural waterways and flows into dams and reservoirs. Eighty per cent of Sydney's water supply now comes from dams but introducing a desalination plant and a new purified recycled water discovery centre was a nod to the future. "I think it's a great thing for communities to be aware of this option and realise how well proven it is around the world, it's incredibly safe," Ms Francis said. There are now 35 cities worldwide with purified recycled water schemes in place with a full map . "If you hear your water utility is doing their planning, make that they're including this option," she said. Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, covering the local community. Got a tip? Send it through to me at joel.ehsman@austcommunitymedia.com.au. He/Him Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, covering the local community. Got a tip? Send it through to me at joel.ehsman@austcommunitymedia.com.au. He/Him DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. 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DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement Advertisement( ) CEO Elon Musk, co-head of President-elect Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, ridiculed F-35 fighter jets on his social site X. That hit shares of ( ) and key F-35 contractors ( ) and ( ). Elon Musk, in a Sunday post, showed a video of drone swarms, writing, "Meanwhile, some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35." Lockheed stock fell 3.75% to 521.89, a four-month low. Northrop stock declined 2.3%, also setting a four-month low and testing the 200-day moving average. RTX sank 1.8%, after hitting resistance at the 50-day line on Friday. Given his role at the nongovernment advisory board DOGE, Musk's comments about government spending are having a big impact on stocks. Still, Bernstein analyst Douglas Harned expects defense stocks to do well under Trump. "We expect Trump to seek a strong defense as he did in his first term, even if he seeks to avoid involvement in overseas conflicts," Harned wrote in a Nov. 25 report.