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Boise’s homeless shelters are facing greater demand for resources and increased strain on staff as hundreds seek refuge from freezing temperatures. Winter weather has established itself in the Treasure Valley in recent weeks and community members who don’t have permanent refuge face serious threats to their health and survival. Boise’s homeless shelters spoke of the burden that is being felt throughout their operations. BOISE RESCUE MISSION Boise Rescue Mission has the largest shelter operation in the Treasure Valley, with shelters and transitional housing facilities in Boise and Nampa. In an August interview, the Rescue Mission told the Idaho Press that it had 400 guests across its shelters. As of now, the shelter serves about 450 in its facilities and an additional 50 in its transitional housing operations, Jean Lockhart, Boise Rescue Mission’s chief operating officer, said. Beyond the uptick in individuals served, however, there has been a marked shift in demographics in recent months, with “big increases” in elderly and women and children coming through the Rescue Mission’s doors, Lockhart said. “For the first time ever in our 66-year history, we have more women and children than we do men in shelters,” Lockhart said. As of Thursday, Dec. 12, the shelter population comprised 58% women and children and 42% men, something “completely different than we’ve ever seen,” Lockhart said. The Rescue Mission is also offering those not within its shelter system refuge from the cold. Though everyone is encouraged to come to the shelter if they are seeking refuge from the weather, Lockhart said there are some limitations to ensure that the shelter operations maintain a high standard of safety. “If anyone has assaulted a staff or guests in the past, we cannot accept them in our shelters,” Lockhart said. “But that’s pretty much the limit.” With hundreds coming through the shelters’ doors, whether it be to stay overnight or to just have a warm place during the day, ongoing donations are essential to meeting the needs of the community. Lockhart said that, in the colder weather, winter coats and snow boots are always a significant need, but this year in particular has brought fewer donations than normal. A typical shelter room at Boise Rescue Mission’s City Light Home for Women and Children in Boise on Dec. 13. “We had fewer coats donated this year than we’ve had in a long time,” Lockhart said, adding that as grocery prices have risen, she has also observed food donations declining. Even with rising demands and lower-than-normal donations, Lockhart underscored that their shelters still have room for the most vulnerable members in the area. “Our doors are open, we’re not full and if people need shelter, we’d love for them to come stay with us,” Lockhart said. CORPUS COMMONS Corpus Commons — which rebranded from Corpus Christi House earlier this year — operates a day-time shelter at 525 S Americana Blvd., adjacent to Interfaith Sanctuary in Boise. Jessica Abbott, executive director of the shelter, said they have seen an uptick in demand as colder weather sets in for the valley. Corpus Commons serves many who aren’t in the shelter systems, whether they’re living in an outdoor encampment or their car, Abbott said. “We’re getting scared, because it’s going to start getting colder and colder,” Abbott said. Regardless of the arrangement, not being in a shelter during the winter presents mortal risk and the small shelter is tasked with accommodating as many as possible. According to the U.S. Forest Service, hypothermia can set in at just 40 degrees Fahrenheit if an individual becomes chilled from rain, sweat or otherwise being submerged in cold water. This reality is reflected in the shelter’s demand. “We’re wall-to-wall in the morning, it’s standing-room only, almost,” Abbott said. On average, about 150 to 200 enter the shelter throughout its daily operation hours from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Their doors are open an hour longer than normal so those staying at Interfaith Sanctuary don’t have to wait in the cold before entering for an overnight stay, Abbott said. In terms of demographic shifts, the primary increases have been in younger individuals — ages 17 to 24 — as well as in younger families with children or infants. While the shelter is able to ensure that families are fed, they are quickly led out of the shelter to an environment that can accommodate them, Abbott said. A Christmas tree stands in a common area at Boise Rescue Mission’s City Light Home for Women and Children in Boise on Dec. 13. Boise Rescue Mission’s City Light Home for Women & Children, at 1404 W Jefferson St. in Boise, as well as the Red Lion Hotel on Fairview Avenue — whose homeless operations started during the COVID-19 pandemic and will be winding down in March of next year — are two of the options that provide housing for these families. Visitors who are working, but are financially unstable, have also come in increasing numbers, Abbott said. “They’re on that precipice,” Abbott said. “They’re having to make a choice between rent or food.” This group utilizes the variety of services offered at the shelter including its mail service, computer lab, clothing offerings and bus passes — 600 of which are provided each month. Requests for IDs and birth certificates, which are needed to secure employment, have “tripled” in recent months, Abbott said, adding that continued fundraising will help these services remain afloat. “All the services are down here,” Abbott said. “This is their community, this is where they come to feel safe and warm — we just try and ease that burden.” INTERFAITH SANCTUARY Interfaith Sanctuary provides overnight shelter services adjacent to Corpus Commons. The shelter serves about 170 on a nightly basis with room for 160 within the building and about a dozen between a military tent and outdoor portable office. To determine who gets a spot each night, the shelter uses a waitlist. Individuals who stayed the previous night have their bed reserved for them until 8 p.m. Individuals who aren’t able to stay at Interfaith on any given night are recommended to alternative shelters, Jodi Peterson-Stigers, Interfaith Sanctuary’s executive director said. On Dec. 12, more than two dozen were at the shelter’s waitlist area in search of a bed. Though the shelter works to accommodate all who arrive each night, there can be difficulties as winter months bring higher tensions at the shelter. There are more arguments and, in turn, more pressure on the staff to be accommodating compared to the summer when there were less weather-related concerns about turning guests away, Dylan Scott, Interfaith Sanctuary’s evening co-director, said. “I’ve been feeling the weight of those decisions more and trying to give even more leeway there,” Scott said. Sickness is another aspect of the winter season that further complicates the shelter operations. When one person falls ill, sickness can quickly spread throughout the shelter and to staff. A higher volume of individuals seeking shelter services in the winter reduces proximity between guests and adds to the ability for viruses to spread, Peterson-Stigers said. A meal and study area at Boise Rescue Mission’s City Light Home for Women and Children in Boise on Dec. 13. Over-the-counter medicine to soothe symptoms such as Pepto Bismol, Imodium, ibuprofen and seasonal flu medication are donations that might not come immediately to mind when thinking of shelter needs but can be impactful to health and safety for those who are vulnerable, Peterson-Stigers said. The changing weather presents additional challenges for Interfaith Sanctuary, which lacks the capacity to store seasonal items. Though Peterson-Stigers lauded the community’s “fierce and rapid response” whenever donation requests are posted to the shelter’s Facebook page , not being able to get ahead of weather changes makes these requests more frequent, even if they are being met by the community, Peterson-Stigers said. “One of our problems is, we don’t have an abundant amount of storage,” Peterson-Stigers said. “So we can’t stock up for seasons, we can’t hold winter donations ... we have to get what we need when we need it.” DONATION OPPORTUNITIES Local homeless shelters spoke of the importance of having available funds and donations during the winter as well as the need for a continued flow of resources following the conclusion of the holiday season, as Boise enters its coldest months at the start of the new year. A fundraiser for the city’s housing and shelter organizations is being hosted by Avenues for Hope and is running through Dec. 31. A full list of homelessness and housing organizations open to donations is available on the Avenues for Hope website . The fundraiser remains integral to Corpus Commons being able to offer food, clothing and its myriad services to guests throughout the year and is what will ensure the shelter is “open the next six months,” Abbott said. “It’s what will keep us open the next six months,” she said. Individual donations can also be made at each shelter organization. Abbott emphasized that while contributions tend to increase in the holiday season, they are relied upon throughout the totality of the Treasure Valley’s winter season. “It’s not just about keeping warm, it’s about keeping their spirits up,” Abbott said. “It gets cold, it gets depressing, all the giving kind of goes away a bit. It’s not so front and center, because it’s not the holidays, and that’s some of the times that they struggle the most.”
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California, home to some of the largest technology companies in the world, would be the first U.S. state to require on social media sites if lawmakers pass a bill introduced Monday. The legislation sponsored by state Attorney General Rob Bonta is necessary to bolster safety for children online, supporters say, but industry officials vow to fight the measure and others like it under the First Amendment. Warning labels for social media gained swift bipartisan support from dozens of attorneys general, including Bonta, after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called on Congress earlier this year, saying social media is a contributing factor in the mental health crisis among young people. “These companies know the harmful impact their products can have on our children, and they refuse to take meaningful steps to make them safer,” Bonta said at a news conference Monday. “Time is up. It’s time we stepped in and demanded change.” State officials haven’t provided details on the bill, but Bonta said the warning labels could pop up once weekly. Up to ages 13 to 17 say they use a social media platform, and more than a third say that they use social media “almost constantly,” according to 2022 data from the Pew Research Center. Parents’ concerns prompted Australia to banning social media for children under 16 in November. “The promise of social media, although real, has turned into a situation where they’re turning our children’s attention into a commodity,” Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, who authored the California bill, said Monday. “The attention economy is using our children and their well-being to make money for these California companies.” Lawmakers instead should focus on online safety education and mental health resources, not warning label bills that are “constitutionally unsound,” said Todd O’Boyle, a vice president of the tech industry policy group Chamber of Progress. “We strongly suspect that the courts will set them aside as compelled speech,” O’Boyle told The Associated Press. Victoria Hinks’ 16-year-old daughter, Alexandra, died by suicide four months ago after being “led down dark rabbit holes” on social media that glamorized eating disorders and self-harm. Hinks said the labels would help protect children from companies that turn a blind eye to the harm caused to children’s mental health when they become addicted to social media platforms. “There’s not a bone in my body that doubts social media played a role in leading her to that final, irreversible decision,” Hinks said. “This could be your story.” Common Sense Media, a sponsor of the bill, said it plans to lobby for similar proposals in other states. California in the past decade has positioned itself as a leader in regulating and fighting the tech industry to bolster online safety for children. The state was the first in 2022 to bar online platforms from using users’ personal information in ways that could harm children. It was one of the states that sued Meta in 2023 and for deliberately designing addictive features that keep kids hooked on their platforms. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, also in September to help curb the effects of social media on children, including one to prohibit social media platforms from knowingly providing addictive feeds to children without parental consent and one to on school campus. Federal lawmakers have held hearings on child online safety and to force companies to take reasonable steps to prevent harm. The legislation has the support of X owner Elon Musk and the President-elect’s son, . Still, the last federal law aimed at protecting children online was enacted in 1998, six years before Facebook’s founding.
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Tweet Facebook Mail The Israeli ambassador has described a terror attack that destroyed parts of a Melbourne synagogue as "shocking and sad". The Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea, located in Melbourne's south-east, was left gutted after a suspicious blaze on Friday morning, leaving the Jewish community in deep shock. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to visit the synagogue in the coming hours, just a day after announcing a "flying squad" of law enforcement to address antisemitism . READ MORE: Yumi Friedman was studying religious texts inside a Melbourne synagogue. Moments later, it was engulfed in flames Israeli ambassador Amir Maimon has visited the Melbourne synagogue today. (Nine) Speaking outside the synagogue after witnessing the damage from the fire, Israeli Ambassador Amir Maimon expressed shock at the extent of the destruction but was encouraged by the resilience of the community. "I am shocked after visiting the interior and the places that were attacked by terrorists," he said. "This is not the time for me to speak but I am also sad. I am encouraged by the strength of the community, the president, and community leadership. "They are strong, they are united and the synagogue will be open in the very near future." READ MORE: Popular swimming spot shut after deadly brain-eating bug detected The Israeli ambassador (middle) met with community leaders today. (Nine) Maimon declined to speak about the three suspects who are believed to be behind the attack. AFP Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett revealed yesterday that the attack had transitioned into a counter-terrorism investigation. The declaration will give police extra powers including the ability to stop, search and seize people without a warrant. Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton also confirmed officers were pursuing three suspects in the case, but did not give further details. Dozens of additional police will patrol places of worship and surrounding streets across the city's south-east following the fire. Anyone who witnessed the incident, has dash cam/CCTV footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers. DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP : Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play .Man United coach Amorim says argument between Hojlund and Diallo a 'very good sign'
As PTI convoys from across the country were en route to Islamabad on Sunday for the party’s much-touted power show — despite a court order and government warnings against it — the party claimed its workers were being arrested and dispersed using teargas. On Nov 13, Imran Khan issued a “ final call ” for nationwide protests on Nov 24 (today), denouncing what he described as the stolen mandate, the unjust arrests of people and the passage of the 26th amendment, which he said has strengthened a “dictatorial regime”. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ruled that PTI’s planned protest is unlawful and directed the federal government to take all necessary measures to maintain law and order in Islamabad without disrupting public life, particularly as the Belarusian president is scheduled to arrive over the weekend with a high-profile delegation. As PTI supporters, who had set off on their journey earlier in the day, began reaching Islamabad despite government warnings of arrests, the party claimed the police was detaining its workers and using teargas to disperse them. In a post on X at 7:10pm, the PTI shared what it said were “visuals of the extreme shelling by fascist regime against own citizens at Islamabad Express”. Earlier, a Dawn.com correspondent in Islamabad said mobile internet services were down across the city, while major roads, including motorways, were blocked with containers. Pictures shared by the correspondent showed mostly deserted roads and people on motorbikes making their way from a narrow corner of a road blocked by trucks. Trucks block a road in Islamabad. — photo by Umar Bacha “These constant protests are destroying the economy and creating instability ... we want the political leadership to sit together and resolve these matters,” Muhammad Asif, 35, a resident of Islamabad told Reuters in front of a closed market. Separately, in a notification seen by Dawn.com , the office of the district magistrate in Islamabad ordered the closure of all public and private educational institutions in the capital territory tomorrow. The PTI, in a post on X , claimed that the convoy of National Assembly opposition leader Omar Ayub was targeted near Taxila and shells were fired at it. PTI MNA Sher Afzal Marwat shared a video of his brother Khalid Latif Khan saying his convoy was stopped at Daud Khel and was fired at with “strict teargas shelling”. However, he asserted, “We will reach D Chowk in any circumstance.” In another video , Khalid said that police had been shelling the convoy for over an hour and a half. “We had to face heavy shelling for an hour-and-a-half to two hours,” he said. “Thankfully now, the path has been cleared and we should leave (for D Chowk) within an hour-and-a-half to two hours.” Earlier today, the PTI claimed a “family that had reached D Chowk last night” had been arrested, sharing a video of a woman speaking from inside a prisoner van while another was taken inside too. The woman asked for the reason for being detained, saying, “Okay, we can say sorry that we should not have come to this area.” In another post, the PTI shared a video without specifying the location, saying: “The fascist regime has started, as expected, tear gas shelling against peaceful Pakistanis.” A Dawn.com correspondent present at D-Chowk reported that protesters had not entered the capital until midnight. The PTI posted an update on social media stating that all convoys from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have entered Punjab through different motorways. Senior PTI member and former KP minister Shaukat Yousafzai told Dawn.com that his convoy had managed to reach Taxila via GT Road, but the police blocked the motorway at Burhan. He said that his convoy will turn around to join Gandapur’s. “Opposition leader Umar Ayub, Ali Asghar and others from Kohistan, Mansehra, Battagram, Torghar, Abbottabad and Haripur are in their convoys but they have to join the Gandapur rally to ... reach D Chowk in [a] peaceful manner,” he said. Yousafzai added that the Punjab Police are ready to clash but maintained that the PTI “have one agenda — to hold our peaceful rally”. He also warned that if anything happened, the Punjab Police would be responsible. Meanwhile, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza posted on X that his convoy had reached Sargodha. “Proceed towards Islamabad. Overcome all hurdles from management,” he wrote. Speaking at D-Chowk, the final destination of PTI’s main convoy, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said, “One option is that we let them come and [...] paralyse Islamabad. The other option is to protect Islamabad. View this post on Instagram “The area where they (the PTI) have called the protest is a protected area of Islamabad, monitored by the IG and DIG,” Naqvi said, referring to the Red Zone. “Any protesters who enter that area will be arrested,” he warned. View this post on Instagram Despite the security apparatus in place, Naqvi maintained that the blockades were “not as bad as last time” and that the government was trying to give as much relief as possible to those inconvenienced. Referring to the arrival of a Belarusian delegation in the capital, Naqvi said PTI supporters were coming on to the route through which the delegation was supposed to pass. He criticised the PTI for organising protests today instead of attending the funerals being held in Kurram, referring to violent clashes there in the past few days. Addressing the PTI demonstrators, he said: “If you wish to protest, that is your right, but you know exactly who is coming and you have been blocking off roads and causing trouble.” Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi said a “comprehensive security plan” had been formed to prevent mischief. Police personnel align before being deployed near a Red Zone area blocked with shipping containers to hinder a rally by members of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s PTI demanding his release, in Islamabad on Nov 24, 2024. — AFP “If a road is closed, a lane has been kept open along it,” the IG said while speaking to the media, stressing that the purpose of the security plan was to secure the people’s lives and property. “There are obstacles, but the movement of people has not been stopped,” he claimed, adding that action would be taken against people carrying weapons or prohibited items. In a post on X earlier today, the Islamabad police said Rawat T Cross was closed for traffic on both sides and only one lane was open at Chungi No.26 for traffic heading both ways. “However, internal roads are partially open for traffic in Islamabad which can be used in case of extreme need,” the police said, urging citizens to avoid unnecessary travel. In a separate post , the police shared pictures of its personnel stationed at various points to “ensure the imposition of Section 144”, which prohibits gatherings. State broadcaster PTV News shared a post on X pointing out how there were “neither any people nor any flags” on Lahore’s Liberty Chowk, compared to previous instances “when the PTI used to hold its musical shows every other night”. Punjab, especially Lahore, came to a grinding halt on Saturday after the entire intercity bus operation — particularly routes leading to Islamabad and Rawalpindi — were suspended. The security at the Lahore railway station was also beefed up after a huge number of passengers thronged it in a bid to reach their destinations. Internet tracking monitor Netblocks said WhatsApp backends have been restricted in Pakistan, according to a post on X at 1:07am. “Live metrics show WhatsApp backends have been restricted in Pakistan corroborating reports of media sharing issues; the measure comes as authorities tighten security ahead of protests planned by opposition party PTI calling for the release of former PM Imran Khan,” Netblocks said. View this post on Instagram Addressing the media later today, interior minister Naqvi said: “Mobile services are working. The internet has been shut down.” A day ago, the interior ministry said that WiFi and mobile internet services would be suspended only in areas with “security concerns” and remain operational as normal in the rest of the country. In a televised statement, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar termed the PTI responsible for Islamabad’s closure and for “causing damage to businesspeople and the economy”. He asserted that while some routes in the city were closed, others were still open. “The main highway is closed, but despite that people are out and about,” Tarar said. The minister added, “When a party tries to spread division, they do so through violence and property damage. We saw it during the 2014 sit-in, PTV was set on fire and the gates of Parliament were broken down.” Separately, while speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said “PTI’s act will be exposed today”. “I am sure their act will be exposed today [...] why are they spreading anarchy? “Barrister Gohar said [the protest was to] release Imran Khan but he hasn’t been arrested by a deputy commissioner, [through] detention orders or any administrative orders [...] the cases are in the courts and he will have to get himself cleared in those cases.” “If he thinks he is innocent that doesn’t mean you start causing destruction, it means you face your cases in court and tell your lawyers to get the cases disposed quickly,” he said, referring to Imran’s legal challenges. Rallies from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the PTI is in power, left for Islamabad early in the morning, according to the Dawn.com correspondent. MPAs and MNAs of their respective constituencies were leading their convoys and would join the rallies at Burhan near Hazara interchange, the correspondent said, citing PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai. View this post on Instagram However, a heavy police contingent was present on GT Road and motorway at Attock’s Hassanabdal to stop the procession from reaching Islamabad. Several convoys are en route to the capital, PTI shared in multiple posts on X. According to a post on X , a main convoy led by KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur departed from CM House in Peshawar. CM Gandapur, expected to lead the largest convoy into Islamabad, earlier called on people to gather near the entrance of the city’s red zone, known as “D Chowk”. And aerial view of the PTI convoy led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on November 24. — Photo by Umar Bacha Another video posted by the PTI showed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s convoy approaching Colonel Sher Khan Interchange outside of Mardan. The video showed a top-down view of the convoy which stretched over some distance. Islamabad’s red zone houses the country’s parliament building, important government installations, as well as embassies and foreign institutions’ offices. “[Imran] Khan has called on us to remain there till all our demands are met,” he said in a video message yesterday. A post on PTI MNA Asad Qaiser’s X account said his convoy will reach Swabi’s Ambar Interchange, where it will join CM Gandapur. Supporters led by Omar Ayub also set off on their journey from Haripur, the PTI said. Rehana Dar , mother of former PTI leader Usman Dar and who contested the Feb 8 general elections against PML-N’s Khawaja Asif, also set off with her convoy from Sialkot. Other convoys include those of PTI’s Peshawar president Irfan Saleem , KP health minister Pakhtunyar Khan’s convoy from Bannu, KP minister Dr Amjad Ali and law minister Advocate Aftab Alam . In a post on X , former KP minister Taimur Khan Jhagra said: “To assume that unjust laws should just be followed, that try to protect state capture and make the judiciary subservient, is wrong.” However, he appealed to all protesters: “Stay peaceful. At all costs. Do not let anyone sabotage your protest.” Another post showed a convoy led by PTI South Punjab president Senator Aoun Abbas and MNA Zartaj Gul had departed for Islamabad. A video shared by the party showed Gul standing atop a vehicle, waving a white flag and chanting “Imran Khan Zindabad. Release, release Imran Khan”. A convoy led by the president of PTI’s Balochistan chapter was also on its way to Islamabad. View this post on Instagram A convoy led by PTI leaders Usama Mela and Ansar Iqbal Haral also departed from Sargodha’s Kot Momin. A post by the PTI on X called for protesters to carry signs and placards in English “in order to amplify our message globally.” “Let our voices echo loud and clear as we stand united for justice, democracy, and a constitutional Pakistan!” PTI leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, the Punjab Assembly opposition leader, had earlier said protesters would not leave Islamabad until their demands were accepted. Since Imran’s arrest in August 2023 on several counts, his party has been holding protests across the country for his release and against the alleged rigging of the Feb 8 elections. The last protest in Islamabad by the PTI in early October turned violent with one policeman killed, dozens of security personnel injured and protesters arrested. Both sides accused the other of instigating the clashes. Also on Saturday, the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) issued an alert for possible terrorist attacks during the PTI’s march towards Islamabad, reliable sources told Dawn . According to sources, the alert was issued after “technical and human” intelligence gathered by the apex counter-terrorism body revealed that terrorists were planning “major activities” in big cities of Pakistan. Multiple sources confirmed “necessary preparations” by the terrorists in Afghanistan, who “entered into Pakistan” on the night between Nov 19 and 20. They were expected to station themselves in big cities, the sources added. The terrorists, whom the government and the military refer to as Fitna-al-Khawarij , will possibly target the PTI’s protest “for their vested interest”, as per the sources. Nacta has suggested authorities ensure extreme vigilance and heighten security measures to prevent the attack. The government has vowed to suppress the power show with full force, deploying massive security forces, enforcing a sweeping ban on gatherings, blocking highways and motorways and launching a crackdown on leaders and workers of the opposition party. Paramilitary soldiers stand guard at the Red Zone area blocked with shipping containers ahead of a protest rally by PTI in Islamabad on November 24. — AFP The capital police have prepared a list of over 1,500 PTI leaders and workers in Islamabad and constituted 27 teams to arrest them so they could not participate in the protest. The police also arrested 350 other workers of the party, including leader Nafisa Khattak as well as a nephew and brother-in-law of the party’s Islamabad chapter president Amir Mughal. An overnight crackdown was also launched in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, where some elected councillors were among those held. Besides Muzaffarabad police arresting 26 people , the houses of various leaders were also raided, including of AJK Assembly’s opposition leader Khawaja Farooq Ahmed. The government has also put all public sector hospitals in Islamabad on high alert in order to meet any emergency situation. Among methods to curtail the protest is the closure of various motorways and key arteries of Punjab, severing paths to Islamabad at multiple points. The National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) announced that six key motorways would be closed for all types of traffic “due to maintenance” from Friday night, advising travellers to avoid unnecessary travel during this period. The motorways closed to traffic are: M1 from Peshawar to Islamabad, M2 from Lahore to Islamabad, M3 from Lahore to Abdul Hakeem, M4 from Pindi Bhattian to Multan, M11 from Sialkot to Lahore, and M14 from Yarik to Hakla. Meanwhile, local authorities blocked bridges over the Chenab and Jhelum rivers in Gujrat district to restrict PTI protesters’ movement towards Islamabad. The closure caused significant inconvenience to commuters who found themselves stuck in long queues of trucks and other vehicles on both sides of the rivers. Heavy containers and trolleys were parked on both sides of the bridges. More to follow Additional input from ReutersFive free initiatives for jobseekers from careers in coffee to creative skills and energy conservation
Baltimore (8-5) at New York Giants (2-11) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS BetMGM NFL Odds: Ravens by 16. Against the spread: Ravens 6-6-1; Giants 4-9. Series record: Ravens lead 5-3. Last meeting: Giants beat the Ravens 24-20 on Oct. 16, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. Last week: Ravens had a bye; Giants lost to Saints 14-11. Ravens: overall (1), rush (2), pass (5), scoring (3) Ravens defense: overall (22), rush (1), pass (32), scoring (23) Giants offense: overall (26), rush (15), pass (28), scoring (32) Giants defense: overall (16), rush (29), pass (6), scoring (T14) Turnover differential: Raven plus-2; Giants minus-8. Ravens player to watch K Justin Tucker is having the worst season of his outstanding career, and the potentially windy conditions in East Rutherford could post another challenge for him. Baltimore would love to see some signs that he's rounding into form as the playoffs draw closer. Giants player to watch QB Tommy DeVito. He is probably going to get his second start of the season with Drew Lock in a walking boot. The New Jersey product didn't do much in a 30-7 loss to Tampa Bay in his first start. He was 21 of 31 for 189 yards and no touchdowns. Key matchup Playing without Pro Bowler Dexter Lawrence and fellow defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches, the young line held its own against Alvin Kamara and the Saints last week, limiting the team to 92 yards rushing on 33 carries. Slowing down the league's No. 1 offense and No. 2 running game led by Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry will be a lot tougher. Key injuries Ravens: WR Rashod Bateman (knee) practiced this week, and Balticmore is generally pretty healthy following its open date. NT Michael Pierce (calf) and LB Kyle Van Noy (hamstring/neck) practiced as well. Giants: CB Deonte Banks (ribs), ILB Bobby Okereke (back), Nunez-Roches (shoulder-neck), T Chris Hubbard (knee), CB Dru Phillips (shoulder), LT Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) all missed last week and could be out again. ... QB Drew Lock (heel), LG Jon Runyan Jr. (ankle) and CB Tre Hawkins (back) were hurt in the game. Hawkins and S Tyler Nubin (ankle) were placed on injured reserve. Runyan is week to week. Lock is unlikely. T Evan Neal (hip-ankle), T Josh Ezeudu (knee), S Dane Belton (knee), WR Malik Nabers (hip), DL Jordon Riley (knee) are on the injury report. Series notes The Giants have won the past three games, including the most recent one in Brian Daboll's first season as coach. The Ravens won the biggest game, beating New York 34-7 in the Super Bowl in Tampa, Fla., on Jan. 28, 2001. Stats and stuff The Ravens are coming off a bye week. ... Baltimore averages an NFL-leading 422.5 yards of offense. ... Jackson has had an NFL-best eight games of two or more touchdown passes and no interceptions. He's had no picks in 6 of 7 road games this season. ... WR Zay Flowers leads the team with 74 catches. ... Mark Andrews is tied for second among NFL tight ends with seven touchdown receptions. ... LB Roquan Smith aims for his fourth game in a row with at least 11 tackles. He is tied for fifth in the league with 121 tackles. ... LB Kyle Van Noy recovered a fumble for touchdown in his only game against the Giants. ... LB Odafe Oweh has had a sack in his past two road games. ... Nabers leads the Giants with 80 catches, 819 yards and three touchdown receptions. Fellow rookie RB Tyrone Tracy leads the team with 664 yards rushing and five TDs. ... WR Wan’Dale Robinson is second behind Nabers with 67 catches. The Giants are the only team with two players with at least 67 receptions. ... The Giants have an NFL-low eight touchdown receptions. ... Nubin led all rookies with 97 tackles before going on IR. ... Hawkins had an interception last week, the Giants' first since the season opener. ... OLB Brian Burns had a sack, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble against the Saints. .... ILB Micah McFadden had a team-high 11 tackles, including five for losses last week. He is the fifth player in the past five seasons with five TFLs in one game. ... OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux had sack and two TFLs last week. Fantasy tip Ravens RB Derrick Henry. He rushed for 170 yards and two touchdowns in only road game against the Giants. He is tied for the NFL lead with 15 overall TDs, 13 rushing. The 30-year-old is second in the league with 1,407 yards rushing and 1,532 yards from scrimmage. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl The Associated Press
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos' usually stout defense has been rocked ever since losing second-year cornerback Riley Moss to an MCL injury against Las Vegas in Week 12. Without Moss there to capitalize on opponents shying away from star cornerback Patrick Surtain II, the Broncos (9-6) have had to largely abandon their preferred man coverage in favor of zone strategies and the results haven't been pretty. They allowed 32 points to the Cleveland Browns when former teammate Jerry Jeudy caught nine passes for a career-best 235 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown. Only Jonathan Taylor's fumble at the goal line as he was about to score a 41-yard touchdown and give Indianapolis a 20-3 lead saved the Broncos in Week 15 and allowed Denver to seize momentum and get the victory. They couldn't stop Justin Herbert , who led the Los Angeles Chargers back from a double-digit third-quarter deficit for a 34-27 win last week that prevented the Broncos from ending their eight-year playoff drought. It also put more pressure on the Broncos to win Saturday at Cincinnati, where the Bengals (7-8) cling to hopes of catching the Broncos and denying Denver a wild-card berth. Moss returned to practice last week and the Broncos will determine this week whether he’s ready to return to the field or if it’s better to keep him out until their season finale against Kansas City. But all signs point to Moss being on the field to help thwart Cincy's offense led by Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. “It's great to have him back,” Surtain said after practice Tuesday. “I mean, you talk about a guy who was playing lights-out before the injury, but to see him back out there with confidence, out there practicing, getting his mojo back, it brings a lot of confidence to the team, as well. So, it's good to see him back out there in action, for sure.” Moss has enjoyed a breakout season in Denver with 71 tackles, eight pass breakups and an interception in 12 starts. He played in 14 games as a rotation player his rookie season after recovering from core muscle surgery that relegated him to special teams and spot duty in 2023. “We were and have been super excited" about the third-round pick out of Iowa, coach Sean Payton said. "Obviously, the guy that plays opposite of Patrick is going to get a lot of business. All throughout training camp, he really rose to the occasion, battled, competed and throughout really a good portion of the season. Story continues below video “He’s a big reason why we were playing so well defensively,” Payton added. "The sooner the better when we can get him back in the lineup. Hopefully it can happen this weekend.” In Moss' dozen starts, the Broncos allowed 16.8 points per game. Without him, they've been allowing 26.3 points a game. Burrow and Chase pose a bigger challenge to the Broncos than Jeudy and Jameis Wiston did for Cleveland or Herbert and Ladd McConkey did for the Chargers. The medial collateral ligament is on the inside of the knee that connects the thigh bone to the shin bone. It’s one of four major ligaments that stabilize the knee and allow it to rotate. It typically takes a month to recover from an MCL sprain and the Broncos had their bye week earlier this month, meaning Moss might only have to miss three games. If the Broncos reach the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 in Hall of Famer Peyton Manning's last start, they'll likely need to have a healthy Moss opposite Surtain to have any realistic hopes of avoiding a one-and-done appearance. The Broncos got a scare when Surtain injured an ankle against Indianapolis two weeks ago and limped off the field in the closing minutes. However, he was a full-go at practice last week and had no issues against the Chargers. NOTES: The Broncos waived veteran CB Levi Wallace, who had been inactive the past two weeks after giving up several big plays to Jeudy on Dec. 2. Denver also designated RB Tyler Badie to return from a back injury he sustained against the Jets in Week 4. Payton said he hopes to sign Wallace to the practice squad if he clears waivers. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflNew California Sen. Adam Schiff wants to be more than a Trump antagonist
Dear Eric: When my only son and his wife got married and had kids, I was informed that Christmas Day would just be for them to celebrate. I said OK. For decades, I have given my son and his family (wife and two kids) really nice gifts for Christmas. We are talking about hundreds of dollars. For a while, I would receive a small gift, such as a bottle of homemade vanilla, a rose-scented tin of salve made by a friend of the wife or a coffee cup or some such as a gift from the family. Same with my birthday. I have never received a gift from the grandkids. Last year, I let them know I would no longer be “exchanging” gifts with the parents but gifts to the grandkids (who are now teenagers with jobs) will continue. That year, I got them electronics and hoodies. I got nothing from anyone. Not even an acknowledgement from the kids. I have always had to deliver the gifts or call to see if they received them. This year, it is only going to be a Christmas card. Am I being overly sensitive? — Empty Stocking Dear Stocking: No, you are not being overly sensitive. Every family has their own traditions and needs. And no one is obligated to give — or accept — a gift. But it sure does make me sad that your desire to make this holiday special isn’t being reciprocated. Part of it may be a misalignment of expectations. You’ve given generously, into the hundreds of dollars. I’m curious if your son and daughter-in-law have different values or wants around gifting that are either not being expressed or not being heard. They should tell you clearly. Similarly, when you decided to stop giving gifts to the adults, I’m curious if your expectations were that your son would realize that you weren’t getting what you wanted and make a change. It’s worth talking it through a little more but try to focus on the want behind the want. I suspect that what you’re craving is connection — and perhaps an invitation to the family Christmas. It makes sense that you’d try to show your love from a distance through gift-giving and it makes sense that it would hurt not to have it reciprocated. But perhaps the tradition of gifts is getting in the way on both sides. If you’d like to be invited or would like to find an alternate way of celebrating and being together, that’s a great gift to ask for. Dear Eric: I was riding my bicycle when, unbeknownst to me, my wallet fell out of my pocket. My driver’s license, credit cards and about $200 in cash were in the wallet. Later that day I received a telephone call from a cyclist who found my wallet on his ride and told me that I could come over to pick it up. What, if any, reward would be appropriate? I gave a $30 bottle of wine. — Grateful Cyclist Dear Cyclist: How lucky that your path crossed with such a good fellow citizen! Etiquette experts agree that the amount of a reward in situations like this is really up to you. So, the bottle of wine you gave works. My only suggestion, however, would be that, if this ever happens again (fingers crossed your wallet stays in your pocket from now on), you check with the recipient to make sure that they drink wine. It’s the thought that counts, but you don’t want your grateful efforts to put someone else in an uncomfortable or dangerous situation. Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com . Get local news delivered to your inbox!
After an exhaustive six-month search that saw the names of Hedi Slimane from Celine, Jacquemus founder Simon Porte Jacquemus and former Louis Vuitton creative director Marc Jacobs tossed around the front row like empty goody bags, the house of Chanel has settled on 40-year-old Matthieu Blazy to run its fashion business. “I am thrilled and honoured to join the wonderful house of Chanel,” Blazy said in a statement. “I look forward to meeting all the teams and writing this new chapter together.” Blazy arrives at Chanel with the respect of the industry, having made the Italian label Bottega Veneta a flattering bright spot in the fashion conglomerate Kering’s portfolio, with sales rising by 4 per cent in the first nine months of 2024 to €1.23 billion ($2 billion). Mathhieu Blazy takes a bow in Milan following his ready-to-wear collection for Bottega Veneta in February. Credit: AP With his trompe l’oeil collections of elevated basics, such as T-shirts and jeans rendered in leather and hit Kalimero, Andiamo and Sardine-style handbags, Blazy has also gained a celebrity following that includes Kate Moss, Jacob Elordi, Greta Lee and Julianne Moore. Becoming only the fourth creative director of the house founded by Coco Chanel in 1910 is a major step up for the French-Belgian who has worked at Calvin Klein, Celine and Raf Simons. Chanel is more than 10 times the size of Bottega Veneta, with revenue in 2023 of $US19.7 billion ($30 billion). Blazy will oversee 10 collections a year spanning haute couture, ready-to-wear and resort shows. “I am convinced that he will be able to play with the codes and heritage of the house through an ongoing dialogue with the studio, our ateliers, and our maisons d’art,” said Bruno Pavlovsky, president of Chanel Fashion, in a statement. “His audacious personality, his innovative and powerful approach to creation, as well as his dedication to craftsmanship and beautiful materials, will take Chanel in exciting new directions.” It’s the audacity that Chanel bosses are focusing on, with Blazy’s predecessor, Virginie Viard, attracting negative press during her five-year tenure as creative director, which followed the death of Karl Lagerfeld in 2019 at the age of 85. Viard’s collections helped Chanel achieve record profits, but low-key runway shows, compared to Lagerfeld’s extravagant sets, and social media roasting of house ambassadors Margot Robbie and Margaret Qualley on the red carpet led to her exit. Blazy will join the brand next year, Chanel said in a statement on Thursday, without specifying when. He is expected to present his first Chanel collection in October. A model on the Chanel runway for the spring 2025 collection in Paris, in October. Credit: Getty Images Even with one of the top seats in fashion now taken, the game of musical chairs is not over. Controversial designer John Galliano this week announced his departure from Maison Margiela, prompting rumours of a return to Christian Dior, and Fendi is still looking to replace Kim Jones, who resigned as creative director in October. For the time being Blazy can sit comfortably, with Chanel having said the appointment is a long-term commitment. And Chanel knows how to commit, with Lagerfeld occupying the top job for 36 years. Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter . Get it in your inbox every Monday .
MADRID (AP) — Spanish King Felipe VI used his traditional Christmas Eve speech to remember the victims of the catastrophic Valencia flash floods , and urged the country to remain calm while addressing hot-button issues such as immigration and housing affordability. In a pre-recorded speech that usually reviews the year's most relevant issues, Felipe said Spain “must never forget the pain and sadness" the floods caused. The Oct. 29 floods killed more than 225 people in eastern Spain, damaging countless homes and leaving graveyards of cars piled on top of each other. In some towns, the heavy downpours that caused the floods dropped as much as a year's worth of rain in just eight hours. In early November, as Spaniards' shock at the wreckage turned into frustration, a political blame game began, directed especially at regional authorities who failed to send timely emergency alerts to cell phones on the day of the floods. The frustration of residents in hard-hit Paiporta near Valencia was on display when people tossed mud and shouted insults at the king and government officials in early November when they made their first visit to the town. “We have seen — and understood — the frustration, the pain, the impatience, the demands for greater and more effective coordination," Felipe said about how the disaster was managed. He also addressed the country's housing crunch and high rents, which have become a leading concern in the southern European country that is the eurozone's fourth-largest economy. Fast-rising rents are especially acute in cities like Barcelona and Madrid, where incomes have failed to keep up, especially for younger people in a country with chronically high unemployment. Felipe urged that “all the actors involved reflect” and "listen to each other” so that they facilitate bringing access to housing under “affordable conditions.” Spain's immigration debate should keep in mind the country's European partners and immigrants' countries of origin, Felipe said, warning that “the way in which we are able to address immigration ... will say a lot in the future about our principles and the quality of our democracy.” Felipe said Spain needed to remain calm in the public sphere, even in the face of a “sometimes thunderous” contest in its politics.Congress MLA Sajid Khan Pathan’s Supporters Assault Policeman, 8 Arrested
Ebonyi: Don’t Stiff Opposition’s Voice, Change Your Govt’s Direction, Group Tells Nwifuru
Amazon plans to donate $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugurationWASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday voiced his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports, saying that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. The incoming president posted on social media that he met Harold Daggett, the president of the International Longshoreman's Association, and Dennis Daggett, the union's executive vice president. “I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it,” Trump posted. “The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen. Foreign companies have made a fortune in the U.S. by giving them access to our markets. They shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. At the heart of the dispute is whether ports can install automated gates, cranes and container-moving trucks that could make it faster to unload and load ships. The union argues that automation would lead to fewer jobs, even though higher levels of productivity could do more to boost the salaries of remaining workers. The Maritime Alliance said in a statement that the contract goes beyond ports to “supporting American consumers and giving American businesses access to the global marketplace – from farmers, to manufacturers, to small businesses, and innovative start-ups looking for new markets to sell their products.” “To achieve this, we need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains,” said the alliance, adding that it looks forward to working with Trump. In October, the union representing 45,000 dockworkers went on strike for three days, raising the risk that a prolonged shutdown could push up inflation by making it difficult to unload container ships and export American products overseas. The issue pits an incoming president who won November's election on the promise of bringing down prices against commitments to support blue-collar workers along with the kinds of advanced technology that drew him support from Silicon Valley elite such as billionaire Elon Musk. Trump sought to portray the dispute as being between U.S. workers and foreign companies, but advanced ports are also key for staying globally competitive. China is opening a $1.3 billion port in Peru that could accommodate ships too large for the Panama Canal. There is a risk that shippers could move to other ports, which could also lead to job losses. Mexico is constructing a port that is highly automated, while Dubai, Singapore and Rotterdam already have more advanced ports. Instead, Trump said that ports and shipping companies should eschew “machinery, which is expensive, and which will constantly have to be replaced.” “For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries,” Trump posted. “It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!” ___ Josh Boak, The Associated Press
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Sunday held a nearly two-hour “ Public Durbar ” in the Marheen block under the Hiranagar sector of the Kathua district as part of his ongoing drive to reach out to the public directly to listen to their issues and concerns. Several issues raised by individual citizens and delegations were resolved on the spot, while instructions for immediate action were issued in several other cases. The entire district administration, led by Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Minhas, along with senior officers from PWD, PDD, NHAI, Police, Revenue, and other departments, was present during the “ Public Durbar ” to ensure instant intervention and follow-up. Advertisement This is the third such “ Public Durbar ” held in different parts of Kathua district in recent months. Dr Jitendra Singh said that elected representatives have the obligation not only to address the genuine requirements of the electorate but also to assure them that they are heard and cared for. A “ Public Durbar ” like this serves that purpose, he added. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh asserted that the NDA government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is committed to serving common citizens and reducing public inconvenience. He added that the government is focused on delivering public services at their doorsteps, to ensure ease of living and rise above narrow political, caste, creed, and regional considerations. During the “ Public Durbar “, Dr Jitendra Singh was briefed by the administration on the status of issues previously raised by the public . While interacting with the delegations, Dr Jitendra Singh assured them that he would personally monitor the status of their issues and ensure the district administration addressed them in a time-bound manner. Lately, the Union Minister has been extensively touring districts within his Udhampur-Doda- Kathua parliamentary constituency as part of his public outreach initiative. This initiative brings numerous public delegations together under one roof, with the aim of addressing and resolving their issues through the local administration. Dr Jitendra Singh travels to the interiors of these districts to engage with a cross-section of the public , leveraging the direct interface of the “ Public Durbar ” to address citizens’ issues, guided by the motto of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas”. AdvertisementTrump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn't install more automated systems