Jae Crowder is nearing a return to the league. The veteran forward is close to striking a deal to join the Sacramento Kings this season, . Specifics of that deal are still unknown. He is, however, expected to be available as soon as Wednesday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis. Crowder, 34, spent the last two seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks. The 13-year veteran, who was first selected in the second round of the 2012 draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, will join his ninth team in the league once his deal with the Kings is official. He averaged 6.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game last season in Milwaukee. Crowder helped lead both the Miami Heat and the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals in back-to-back years, though he’s yet to win a championship. Crowder became a free agent this past offseason, and he worked out with the Kings over the summer, though he was unable to strike a deal to land with any team. The Kings are dealing with significant injuries, and have lost seven of their last 10 games entering Wednesday’s contest in Minnesota. Forward Trey Lyles is out for at least three weeks with a right calf strain, which he sustained in Monday’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. DeMar DeRozan will also miss Wednesday’s game with lower back muscle inflammation, though it’s unknown how long he’ll be sidelined. Third-year coach on Tuesday after he chased down an official in their loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, too. Though it’s unclear what his role will be with the franchise just yet, Crowder should be able to provide some much-needed depth in the frontcourt behind Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis at least in the near future. We’ll see if he’s the missing piece to lift the Kings out of their slump.TSS Inc.'s CEO Darryll Dewan sells $1.51 million in stock
Gary O’Neil accepts criticism from Wolves fans after heavy defeat at Everton
CLEVELAND (AP) — Shortly after doing a face-down snow angel, firing a few celebratory snowballs and singing “Jingle Bells” on his way to the media room, Jameis Winston ended his postgame news conference with a simple question. “Am I a Brown yet?” he asked.
Lagos – As the Nigerian Family Planning Conference (NFPC 2024) approaches this Monday, the spotlight will be on the critical need for sustainable funding, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and rights-based quality services to meet the FP2030 Goals. Making this assertion were experts at a media roundtable ahead of the eighth Nigeria Family Planning Conference who called for long-term funding for family planning initiatives amid the country’s population surge. The conference projected that Nigeria’s population would reach 450 million by 2050 without urgent action to address the escalating population through sustainable funding, advocacy, and resource mobilisation, drive multi-stakeholder accountability, and advance rights-based quality services. Specifically, the conference, themed, themed, “Sustaining commitments for family planning within the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative; advancing progress toward achieving FP2030 goals,” called for funding to provide broader choices and access for women and adolescents who need them. The experts urged the federal government to release the N2 billion outstanding in this year’s budget meant to execute intervention programmes across the country amid minimal progress so far attained in the family planning targets. Speaking, Dr. Ejike Orji, Chairman, Management Committee, Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP) in Collaboration and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee NFPC, called for a release of the outstanding N2 billion allocated for family planning commodities in the 2024 budget. Though Orji lauded the release of $4 million counterpart funding for the procurement of essential family planning commodities, he stressed the need for the government to release the N2 billion budgetary allocation before the end of this year. Nigeria has not met the financing expectations for family planning commodities and services despite the bold pledge made in 2021. A report of the Development Research and Project Centre (dRPC) titled, ‘Funding for Family Planning at National and State Level,’ showed that Nigeria did not allocate any funds for contraceptive commodities between 2021 and 2023. In 2024, the federal government allocated two billion naira for family planning commodities. However, this falls short of what is required to achieve the National Family Planning Blueprint (2020–2024) targets and Nigeria’s FP2030 commitments. The funding deficit has grown steadily, increasing from $12.1 million in 2021 to $25 million in 2022. In response, national guidelines on state-funded procurement of FP commodities were introduced to encourage state-funded procurement of family planning commodities, urging states to allocate their domestic resources to family planning as there was a $32 million funding gap that remains a critical challenge.” Similarly, statistics show that state governments need to prioritise family planning services. In 2024, only two states, Kebbi and Lagos, allocated one percent of their health budgets to family planning, with Kebbi dedicating 1.18 percent and Lagos committing 1.69 percent. Although these states are leading in family planning financing, with Lagos allocating N2.73 billion in 2024, much more work needs to be done. The significant funding gap between Lagos and other states also underscores the need for other states to contribute financially to comprehensive family planning services. Borno State has allocated N1.12 billion for various healthcare interventions in 2024. This includes funding for nutrition, family planning, reproductive health programmes, financial support, and management of infectious disease outbreaks. Furthermore, a counterpart fund for the Primary Healthcare Memorandum of Understanding and BHCPF exists throughout the state. Worrisome Fertility Rate, Development Crisis Nigeria’s development is strongly linked to its population increase. Rapid population increase, fuelled by a high fertility rate and restricted access to family planning, may impede the country’s progress. On this, Orji said, Nigeria’s fertility rate is high and there is a need to reduce the rate to four per cent. Orji stated, “If we continue with the same fertility rate that we have now, our population is going to be driven to 450 million by 2050. “If we do not bring down our fertility rates, by the year 2050, we will be 450 million, based on the yearly percentage increase. Every year, we add about four million people to our population. So if you look at that, you know that it’s going to be a lot of problems for us. “Remember that the increase is geometric. It’s not that it will stop at four million because there’s a percentage driving it. It’s four million this year; next year, it might be 4.2 million; the following year, it might be 4.5 million; it may get to a point where it might be five million or 10 million every year. Nigeria’s Imminent Population Crisis, Impending Challenges While drawing historical analysis, Dr Ejike Orji said: “Nobody is in doubt that Nigeria is facing a national crisis, unless people who refuse to agree, is not in which they can decide. “In 1960, when we got independence from the British, our population was just about 42.5 million, while the British people that colonized us was about 50 million. “Our income per capita then was higher than the British people. In the last census we did in 2007, we were 140 million. Now Britain has just 60 million, while we have well above 230 million. “If you look at the two major populations in the world, which everybody is pointing at, India and China. China is the second-largest economy in the world, followed by China. They were very poor countries 50 years ago. But they turned the tide by cutting down their fertility rates and then investing in their young population. Nigeria has that opportunity. If we miss it now, if we don’t bring our fertility rate down to four per cent, by the year 2030, we’re going to be in serious trouble.” “If we do not bring down our fertility rates, by the year 2050, we will be 450 million, based on the yearly percentage increase. Every year, we add about four million people to our population. So if you look at that, you know that it’s going to be a lot of problems for us. “Remember that the increase is geometric. It’s not that it will stop at four million because there’s a percentage driving it. It’s four million this year; next year, it might be 4.2 million; the following year, it might be 4.5 million; it may get to a point where it might be five million or 10 million every year. “If you look at the two major populations in the world, which everybody is pointing at, India and China. China is the second-largest economy in the world, followed by China. They were very poor countries 50 years ago. But they turned the tide by cutting down their fertility rates and then investing in their young population. Nigeria has that opportunity. If we miss it now, if we don’t bring our fertility rate down to four per cent, by the year 2030, we’re going to be in serious trouble.” Orji who is also the Nigeria CSO Focal Point FP 2030 stated that the fertility rate has, however, reduced from 5.3 percent to 4.8 percent. Sustaining Commitments For Family Planning The expert said the forthcoming conference, themed “Sustaining commitments for family planning within the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative; advancing progress toward achieving FP2030 goals,” will reemphasise the importance of family planning. Also, Dr Martin Migombano, Managing Director of FP 2030 North, West, Central Africa Hub, warned about the risk of Nigeria’s escalating population. Migombano said, “Also, 28.5 percent of maternal mortality in the world happens in Nigeria. So there is still a lot that needs to be done by our partners, religious leaders, the government, financial partners who are donors, and others. “They are all coming to the conference to pledge again and make sure that whatever investments are being made are going to the grassroots, where women actually should access family planning. “But the key one is how can a woman get access to family planning? How about commodities? How about the education of the population? So, we need all the partners. It’s a collaborative way of working. And again, after two years, we’ll come and assess whether we have made progress again or not, or we are still stagnating,” he said. Contributing, Mr. Jakes Apelle, President of the Albino Foundation, who spoke on behalf of the Persons With Disabilities, PWDs, urged Nigerians to remove minds from the religious and cultural inhibitors to family planning and highlight the health and economic benefits therein. On her part, Mrs. Ifesinachi Eze consultant at Amref International, said disruptions in family planning and reproductive health services in humanitarian settings leave women with unmet family planning needs, as the disruptions strain the health systems and require collaborative solutions. “Governments and the private sector need to work together to create the regulatory frameworks, financial incentives, and infrastructure that allow the health sector to thrive,” she added. The NFPC, a biennial event, organised by the AAFP in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and other family planning stakeholders will be held from December 5 to December 6, 2024, in Abuja.
Titans' 1st-year coach Brian Callahan focused on future, not job security after latest lossWolves head coach Gary O’Neil insists he is happy to look fans in the face and take the criticism which comes his way after his team were jeered off after losing 4-0 to Everton at Goodison Park. It was the fourth time this season they had conceded four or more and the performance showed why they have the Premier League’s worst defence. When O’Neil and the players went over to acknowledge the visiting supporters there were boos for a run of two wins in 14 league matches. “Whatever the fans think of me, there is definitely no-none working harder than me and I will continue to do so until someone tells me not to,” said O’Neil, who is under increasing pressure with his side second bottom of the table. “I go over there to see them because I appreciate every one of the Wolves fans. They have given me unbelievable support since I arrived at the football club,” he said. “We managed to produce some unbelievable stuff last season with a team that was heavily tipped by most of the nation for relegation. We managed to enjoy it together. “Now it is tough. I was happy to go over there and look them right in the face and take any criticism they want to throw at me. “I accept responsibility for my part in that. Whatever criticism they want to throw at me will not change how I feel about them. “Everyone at this football club needs to do more. We will get back to be ready to fight again on Monday (another crucial game against West Ham, whose manager Julen Lopetegui’s tenure is hanging by a thread). “I will work with everything I have. I will back myself to get the most out of the group. I understand the drive for change (but) you never know how much of a percentage of supporters it is.” Veteran Ashley Young ended Everton’s 370-minute wait for a goal with a 10th-minute free-kick, his first league goal for more than two years, and on-loan Lyon midfielder Orel Mangala blasted home his first for the club to establish a 2-0 half-time lead. Two Craig Dawson own goals secured Everton’s biggest home league win since April 2019, but manager Sean Dyche insisted their issues up front were far from sorted. He said: “It’s our fifth clean sheet in the last eight so the consistency has been there in one degree, we just haven’t been scoring goals. That’s been the hardest thing to find consistently and we haven’t solved it yet. “Goals change everything, they change opinions. That’s what football is like.” The victory was hugely important in a month in which, having been hammered 4-0 at Manchester United, they face top-six sides Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest and undoubtedly eased some of the pressure on Dyche and his players. “I’ve told them how proud I am of them,” he added. “The challenges come thick and fast on and off the pitch and they just keep going. “It’s only a step and there are many more to go but it’s a good step and a positive step. “It’s a temporary moment in time because the next one is a big one (Saturday’s Merseyside derby).”
Article content OTTAWA — The head of Canada’s diplomatic service briefed international envoys on foreign interference last month as the intense focus on the issue across the country created confusion among some diplomats about where their work might cross the line from influence into meddling. Recommended Videos David Morrison, the deputy minister of Global Affairs Canada, told The Canadian Press in an interview that there is a difference between interference and influence, the latter of which is the job of a diplomat. “The public inquiry and the coverage of it may have created some uncertainty,” he said. “Diplomats had legitimate questions as to where we draw the line in Canada, and we tried to be very clear on that.” The Liberals called a commission of inquiry into foreign interference last year following media reports and pressure from opposition parties. A final report is due by the end of January. An interim report released in May said foreign meddling by China, India, Russia or others did not affect the overall results of the 2019 and 2021 general elections. Commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue said it was possible — but not certain — that outcomes in a small number of ridings were affected by interference. In his interview on Tuesday, Morrison stressed that “Canadians can have absolute confidence in the integrity of our last two general elections.” During his testimony at the inquiry in October, Morrison mentioned he planned to brief diplomats about the matter, and he held that briefing on Nov. 21. Ahead of each of the last three federal elections, Global Affairs Canada sent what’s called a diplomatic circular, essentially a formal notice to all accredited diplomatic missions, outlining that Ottawa expects them not to endorse or finance any political parties or groups. At the Nov. 21 briefing, Morrison told foreign diplomats that they can publicly endorse or oppose a Canadian government policy, but they can’t spread disinformation to discredit a particular party or “undermine public confidence” in Canadian democracy. A slideshow shared at the briefing notes that concerns about interference since 2021 “are broader than only elections” and the “strained geopolitical context ... heightens vulnerabilities” for Canada, with its many diaspora communities. The slideshow encourages “overt engagement” with Canadians and officials, such as hosting events or taking a position on Canada’s national priorities. But it says that “clandestine influence” such as influencing a nomination race or running an online disinformation campaign is out of bounds, as is “clandestine, deceptive or threatening behaviour.” Also wrong would be “obfuscating foreign-state involvement in activities,” funding candidates directly or through in-kind contributions, and “deception meant to manipulate individuals in Canada.” Larisa Galadza, who helps run the department’s democratic resilience bureau, told foreign diplomats that more public awareness of interference makes clear that it is important to avoid even the perception of crossing the line. Her speaking notes, which Morrison provided, say that Canada is “increasing our efforts to set expectations.” “This briefing is an indication of how seriously we are taking this issue,” Galadza’s notes said. She noted that “seeking to control or unduly influence members of a diaspora community” is unacceptable, and that immigrants have the right to be vocally critical of their homeland. Her notes say diplomats can lobby an MP but cannot “convey threats or offer rewards in exchange for their support.” And all of these activities, she noted, are just as unacceptable if done through proxies. Morrison said such communication is necessary, as the international agreements governing the roles of diplomats apply everywhere but aren’t consistently understood. “There’s a wide range of opinions as to what is influence and what is interference,” he said, noting some countries see the limit of what’s acceptable as measures beyond what Canadians would tolerate. “In some national contexts, interference is taken to mean monkeying around with ballot boxes,” he said. Morrison said the session started by “acknowledging that the definitions were not agreed, but that this was our home turf, and we wanted to make certain everyone understood the rules” in Canada. “We made it very clear that, having now given fair warning, if accredited diplomats engage in the kinds of behaviour that we described as being outside of the lines, they could expect to hear from us.” Global Affairs does not monitor the behaviour of foreign diplomats in Canada, but the department’s regional teams are in frequent contact with diplomatic missions and security officials alert the department whenever they find concerning activity. Morrison said his department uses a range of approaches to have foreign states understand Canada’s perspective on acceptable activity. While a formal summons gets media attention, the department can also call in an ambassador to meet with someone ranking from Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly down to a junior desk officer, based on how serious the situation is. Global Affairs Canada can expel diplomats or close embassies abroad, but it can also try making its point in an informal chat at a cocktail reception. “The essence of diplomacy is to be constantly communicating and that happens classically in diplomatic circles at social events and dinners,” he said. In February, senior diplomat Weldon Epp testified to Parliament that the Justice Department and the RCMP have undertaken workshops with the Indian government, “to explain what our standards legally would be” for extraditing people to India for terrorism charges. “How India defines extremism or even terrorism does not always compute in our legal system,” Weldon Epp told MPs at the time. Looking ahead to the next federal election, Morrison said he’s most concerned about emboldened hostile states using artificial intelligence in their attacks. He particularly worries about deepfakes, which are spoof videos and images that can dupe people into thinking politicians said or did certain things they didn’t. “The foreign interference that we have seen is continuing to evolve,” he said. “Our defences against it will need to continue to evolve as well.”The jokes are writing themselves with the New England Patriots right now. New England announced on Tuesday that they have released guard Michael Jordan. The move is to make room for fellow guard Lester Cotton , whom the Patriots just claimed off waivers from the Miami Dolphins . Naturally, the roster move led to some great jokes on social media. Many X users started referencing the (slightly more popular) guard Michael Jordan of basketball fame. This is why LeBron is the GOAT — JaguarGator9 (@JaguarGator9NFL) November 26, 2024 For the football-playing Jordan to be released is actually somewhat of a surprise. The former fourth-round pick had started 11 of 12 games for the Patriots at left guard this season while Cotton still has yet to make a single start in 2024. But the 3-9 Patriots have decided to make a change regardless. That means these will be the last Air Jordan jokes in New England for a while to come (though there have been plenty of other jokes to get off about the Patriots this season ). This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.
Trump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it?Gary O’Neil accepts criticism from Wolves fans after heavy defeat at Everton
Australia's House of Representatives passes bill banning children younger than age 16 from social media
Trump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it?No game Wednesday at The Buffalo Bridge Center, 60 Dingens St., off Exit 1 of the I-190, because of the New Year’s Day holiday. Otherwise, the club offers a regular schedule of in-person and online games five days a week, with special games on the weekends, unusually one each month. For more info, visit the Buffalo Bridge Center website or call 716-424-0014. The Bridge Center reminds members that dues for 2025 are $80 and can be paid now, cash or check. Fee for games beginning Jan. 1 will be $8 for members and $12 for non-members. In case of heavy snow, the club abides by what the Buffalo Public Schools do. If the schools close, the club will be closed. Lessons for beginners are being held at the Buffalo Bridge Center from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays. For more information, call Ruth Nawotniak at 716-949-7574 or email ruth2250@outlook.com . Don’t want to clean up the house for kitchen bridge? The Bridge Center also hosts a social game in its lessons room on Tuesday mornings during the regular 10:30 a.m. game. Players can go at their own speed and style. Fee is $5 to cover expenses. In-person games: Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. For players with fewer than 1,600 points. Simultaneous game for players with fewer than 99 points if there are enough tables. Free lesson at 10. Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. Open to all players. Simultaneous game for players with fewer than 99 points if there are enough tables. Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. Upgraded to now include players with up to 2,000 points. Simultaneous game for players with fewer than 99 points if there are enough tables. Free lesson at 10. Fridays, 10:30 a.m. Open to all players by pre-registration only. Call 716-424-0014. Virtual games on Bridge Base Online: Mondays, 7 p.m. For players with fewer than 750 points. Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Delaware Wednesday game for players with fewer than 2,000 points. For info on this game, call Ed Harman at 716-480-1666 or email eharmon@roadrunner.com . • • • More access to virtual games on Bridge Base Online is being offered by the Airport Bridge Club, which currently is not holding face-to-face games. It has affiliated with a new group of clubs, the SE Club of Clubs Online Bridge Collective, where most games are $5. For more info, click this link . The Airport Club also continues to be part of the Alliance Bridge Club, which offers more than a dozen games every day. Anyone who has played at the Airport Club is automatically a member. For more info, visit alliancebridgeclub.com or call Airport Club manager Bill Finkelstein at 716-603-6943. • • • The East Aurora Bridge Club begins play at 10 a.m. Wednesdays in the Aurora Senior Citizens Center, 101 King St., East Aurora. Attendance is generally three or four tables. For more info, email director Dave Larcom at dmocral@verizon.net . • • • The Bridge Centre of Niagara (BCON) in St. Catharines, Ont., offers a mix of online games and in-person games at its club in Tremont Square opposite the Pen Centre shopping plaza off Glendale Avenue. Face-to-face games open to all players are offered at 1 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. There is also a face-to-face game for 499ers (players with fewer than 500 points) at 1 p.m. Monday and Friday, a beginner game with a mini-lesson at 6 p.m. Monday, mentoring at 1 p.m. Tuesdays (register by 9 p.m. Sunday), a 299er game at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday (pre-registration requested); and a 999er game at 1 p.m. Thursday. The club currently hosts two virtual games on Bridge Base Online. There’s one for players with fewer than 750 points at 10 a.m. Tuesdays, and an open game at 7 p.m. Thursdays. For more info, click here . BCON also has begun an affiliation with SE Club of Clubs Online Bridge Collective, which appears as SE Carolina on Bridge Base Online. Games run throughout the day. A full lineup of games can be seen at SE Carolina On-line Bridge . • • • Face-to-face play in non-sanctioned clubs is offered at the Tonawanda Senior Center on Wednesday afternoons and at the Amherst Senior Center on Monday and Friday afternoons. The Tonawanda Senior Center will not have a game on New Year's Day. • • • Tournament calendar 2025 Toronto Non-Life Master Regional – Sheraton Centre, 123 Queen St. West, Toronto, Ont. Next Friday, Jan. 3, to Sunday, Jan. 5. For more info, click this link . Toronto New Year's Sectional – Sheraton Centre, 123 Queen St. West, Toronto, Ont. NextFriday, Jan. 3, to Sunday, Jan. 5. For more info, click this link . Cleveland Rock & Roll Regional – Embassy Suites Hotel, 5800 Rockside Road, Independence, Ohio. Wednesday, Jan. 8, to Sunday, Jan. 12. For more info, click this link . Niagara Sectional – Holiday Inn & Suites, 327 Ontario St., St. Catharines, Ont. Friday, Feb. 7, to Sunday, Feb. 9. Buffalo Spring Sectional – Buffalo Bridge Center, 60 Dingens St., Buffalo. Friday, March 28, to Sunday, March 30. Toronto Easter Regional – Sheraton Centre, 123 Queen St. West, Toronto, Ont. Tuesday, April 15, to Sunday, April 20. For more info, click this link . Finger Lakes Regional – Louis Wolk Jewish Community Center, 1200 Edgewood Ave., Rochester. Tuesday, June 9, to Sunday, June 14. Cleveland All-American Regional – Embassy Suites Hotel, 5800 Rockside Road, Independence, Ohio. Tuesday, June 24, to Sunday, June 29. For more info, click this link . South Western Ontario Regional – St. George Banquet Hall, 665 King St. North, Waterloo, Ont. Tuesday, July 1, to Sunday, July 6. For more info, click this link . Buffalo Summer Sectional – Buffalo Bridge Center, 60 Dingens St., Buffalo. Friday, July 11, to Sunday, July 13. Niagara 499er Sectional – Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Center, 14 Anderson Lane, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. Friday, Aug. 15, to Sunday, Aug. 17. Pittsburgh Labor Day Regional – Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center, 3579 Masonic Way, Pittsburgh, Pa. Wednesday, Aug. 27, to Monday, Sept. 1. Great Lakes Sectional – Erie Bridge Club, 1221 Grant Ave., Erie, Pa. Saturday, Sept. 6, and Sunday, Sept. 7. Buffalo Fall Sectional – Buffalo Bridge Center, 60 Dingens St., Buffalo. Friday, Sept. 12, to Sunday, Sept 14. Buffalo Regional – Millennium Hotel, 2040 Walden Ave., Cheektowaga. Tuesday, Oct. 21, to Sunday, Oct. 26. Niagara Regional – Holiday Inn & Suites, 327 Ontario St., St. Catharines, Ont. Tuesday, Nov. 11, to Sunday, Nov. 16. • • • Bridge club websites: Click names for links. Bridge Center of Buffalo . Western New York Unit 116 . The Airport Bridge Club, which continues to be on hiatus, does not have a website. For info, call 716-603-6943. • • • Duplicate scores from ACBL Live for Clubs Week of Dec. 16 to Dec. 22 ACBL Affiliated Clubs Buffalo Bridge Center Monday evening – 0-750 game online. Fran Schmidt and Richard McGowan, 66.67%; Karen Dearing and Joyce Frayer, 62.04%; Fran Holmes and Leslie Deich, 59.26%. Buffalo Bridge Center Tuesday morning – 0-1,600 game. Marilyn Wortzman and Jim Easton, 67.20%; Ilene Rothman and Carol Licata, 57.20%; Jeannine Dupuis and Joyce Frayer, 53.40%; Brian Fleming and Dennis Daly, 52.50%; (tie) Betty Metz and John Brennan, Judy Zeckhauser and Pat Haynes, 50.80%. Buffalo Bridge Center Thursday morning – 0-2,000 game. Maryann Szafran and Pat Haynes, 62.50%; (tie) Joanne Nover and David Schott, Marilyn Wortzman and Jim Easton, 60%. Buffalo Bridge Center Friday morning – Open game. Jay Costello and Bud Seidenberg, 63%; Judy Graf and Mike Ryan, 57%; Davis Heussler and Fred Yellen, 51%. Bridge Club of East Aurora Wednesday morning – Open game. Mary Terrana and Gordon Crone, 56.55%; Maureen Cancilla and Kathy Donnelly, 55.95%; Linda and Paul Zittel, 55.36%. Delaware Wednesday evening – 0-2,000 game online. Richard Berger and Richard Burkhart, 64.44%; Richard McGowan and Bill Rich, 59.44%; Wendy Zimman-Smith and Cookie Melanson, 56.11%; Marilyn Wortzman and Jim Easton, 55.56%. Other clubs Amherst Senior Center Monday afternoon – North-south, Shirley Cassety and George Mayers, 68%; Joe Huber and Fritz Schweiger, 52%; east-west, Nancy Wolstoncroft and Pat Radtke, 61%; Dan Blatz and Bruce Brown, 59%. Amherst Senior Center Friday afternoon – North-south, Shirley Cassety and George Mayers, 57%; Nancy Wolstoncroft and Rolene Pozarny, 54%; east-west, Ruth Nowatniak and Bill Rogers, 63%; Karen Synor and Jeff Peters, 56%. Tonawanda Senior Center Wednesday afternoon – Ed and Mike Rupp, 65.2%; Judy White and Fritz Schweiger, 58.3%; Rose Bochiechio and Edna Fill, 51.4%. • • • Unit 116 Master Point Leaders for Play in All Venues Jan. 1, 2024, to Nov. 30, 2024 0-5 Points – Mike Rupp, 7.32; John Brennan, 3.09; Alice Cooley, 2.56; Cathy Hetzler, 2.02; Elaine Rinfrette, 0.66;Maxine Seller, 0.59. 5-20 Points – Zakie Nohra, 14.89; Dennis Daly, 13.37; Fran Holmes, 6.91; Anthony Girasole, 6.38; Jeannine Dupuis, 4.44; Barbara Kaye, 3.43; Devon Marlette, 3.07; Joan Nigrelli, 1.84; Chris-Elaine Santilli, 1.79; Bill Duax, 1.65; Shrikant Joshi, 1.12; (tie) Melanie Skalski, Carol Li, 0.92; Marie Aaron, 0.90. 20-50 Points – Brian Fleming, 31.80; Ilene Rothman, 26.74; Michel Dupuis, 12.64; Molly Morris, 10.34; Donna Starnes, 8.73; Pepe Justicia-Linde, 7.97; Kathleen Voigt, 6.35; Phyllis Stasiowski, 5.53; Gini Sicignano, 5.48; Maxine Johnson, 4.83. 50-100 Points – Maria Schory, 34.71; Howard Epstein, 28.93; Mike Meacham, 19.32; John Houghtaling, 17.96; Susan Cardamone, 16.26; Gary Keenan, 15.52; Maureen Cancilla, 13.63; Mike Metzger, 12.90; Cynthia Tashjian, 12.24; Candace Graser, 10.48. 100-200 Points – Carol Licata, 39.65; Jim Hassett, 20.47; Joan Ciszak, 15.04; Fran Schmidt, 13.62; Betty DeFeo, 13.49; Judith McDermid, 11.64; Jim Greno, 9.04; Susan Levy, 7.72; Betsy Greno, 7.09; Janet Desmon, 3.95; Tiger Li, 3.82. 200-300 Points – Maria Amlani, 58.13; David Whitt, 29.94; Ethan Xie, 17.98; Laura Houghtaling, 17.96; John Scott, 5.25; Judy Babat, 5.15; Barbara Scott, 3.47; Laurie Foster, 3.32; Patty Porter, 1.68; Stuart Caswell, 0.75; John Fiegl, 0.58. 300-500 Points – Pat Haynes, 91.53; David Schott, 91.95; Joanne Nover, 65.70; Jim McClure, 31.30; Linda Milch, 29.89; Kusum Phadke, 29.43; Ruth Nawotniak, 23.77; Bob Ciszak, 23.11; Margaret Zhou, 21.39; Maryann Szafran, 19.12. 500-1,000 Points – Larry Himelein, 152.79; Martha Townson, 105.11; Terry Hamovitch, 71.66; Bram Hamovitch, 70.34; Joyce Frayer, 62.52; Linda Zittel, 53.02; Paul Zittel, 52.31; Mary Terrana, 46.83; Andrei Reinhorn, 43.89; Gordon Crone, 42.11. 1,000-1,500 Points – Jim Lanzo, 200.25; Kamil Bishara, 151.45; Vic Bergsten, 75.50; Mary Ball, 61.34; Betty Metz, 48.72; (tie) Marilyn Wortzman, Jim Easton, 47.72; Sue Neubecker, 44.45; Terry Fraas, 43.69; Joanne LaFay, 36.68. 1,500-2,500 Points – David Colligan, 89.59; John Bava, 57.27; Tova Reinhorn, 48.90; Pinky Regan, 50.21; Paula Kotowski, 46.92; Walt Olszewski, 36.79; Joyce Greenspan, 27.89; Sandi England, 27.17; Rajat Basu, 24.69; Judy Kaprove, 12.89. 2,500-3,500 Points – Linda Burroughsford, 193.33; Fred Yellen, 90.81; Art Morth, 31.42; Bill Rushmore, 21.95; Dale Anderson, 20.52; David Turner, 10.54; Mike Silverman, 9.07; Elaine Kurasiewicz, 6.05; Pat Rasmus, 1.89; Joanne Kelley, 1.71. 3,500-5,000 Points – Davis Heussler, 256.89; John Ziemer, 88.99; Donna Steffan, 82.54; Judy Graf, 69.64; Judy Padgug, 56.53; Chongmin Zhang, 51.97; Martha Welte, 49.31; Jim Gullo, 42.19; Mike Ryan, 36.31; Brian Meyer, 7.88. More than 5,000 Points – Saleh Fetouh, 960.74; Jay Levy, 159.73; Chris Urbanek, 156.62; Glenn Milgrim, 141.78; Dian Petrov, 112.58; Bud Seidenberg, 104.96; Jay Costello, 80.69; Kathy Pollock, 64.27; Sharon Benz, 27.77; Dan Gerstman, 7.88. • • • The Duplicate Bridge column is compiled weekly by Buffalo News Staff Reporter Dale Anderson. The print version stopped appearing Saturdays in The News in March 2020 when the pandemic forced local bridge clubs to halt face-to-face play. These days you can find it in two places online. Google “Duplicate Bridge” plus the current Saturday date and that should bring up a link to it on buffalonews.com , the Buffalo News website. Another place to find it is on Dale Anderson’s bridge blog at http://newsdupli.blogspot.com/ Deadline for submission of scores and notices is Tuesday night. Email danderson@buffnews.com or dahotwings@aol.com . Office phone is 716-849-4420. • • • A Gold Life Master , Dale Anderson has a career total of more than 2,980 master points. He occasionally writes about his quest for the next measure of achievement, Sapphire Life Master (3,500 points), and other bridge adventures here . Email danderson@buffnews.com . Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.The vice president of the Philippines, Sara Duterte, has claimed to have hired someone to assassinate the president in the event that she herself is killed. Duterte is the daughter of Rodrigo Duterte, president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022 who was then succeeded by Ferdinand Marcos Jr . She told a press conference on Saturday that her threat was "no joke" and that it also included Marcos's wife and cousin, who is speaker of the house of representatives. "This country is going to hell because we are led by a person who doesn't know how to be a president and who is a liar," Duterte said. The broadside was the latest "dramatic sign of a widening rift between the country's two most powerful political families", said The Guardian . 'Fiercer, nastier, and more personal' Duterte remains vice president despite resigning from the Marcos cabinet in June amid the collapse of what had been a "formidable political alliance". The so-called "UniTeam" – which paired her with Marcos, the son and namesake of the late dictator who was ousted from power in 1986 – secured an electoral landslide in 2022. From the start, however, analysts had predicted a "divorce between the two most powerful Philippine political dynasties", said the BBC . "The likelihood only increased amid public spats and growing differences over political agendas." Marcos and Duterte have increasingly clashed over foreign policy (most notably over the pivot away from China towards the US), the war on drugs and accusations of corruption. Tit-for-tat briefings have been slowly intensifying since the start of the year but in recent weeks, the political rivalry has become "fiercer, nastier, and more personal", said The Diplomat . Duterte's most recent remarks, which the president's communications office said constituted an "active threat", marks a "new low in relations between the two leaders, underscoring the deepening divide within the ruling coalition", said Turkish news site AA . 2026 'litmus test' The political feud is likely to come to a head with the approach of the 2026 midterm elections. They will be seen as a "litmus test" of Marcos's popularity and a "chance for him to consolidate power and groom a successor" before his term ends in 2028, said The Guardian. Many had expected Duterte to be the frontrunner but the increasingly untenable situation "could hurt her chances", said the BBC. Filipino voters do not like to see their president and vice president fighting, Cleve Arguelles, president of polling firm WR Numero, told the broadcaster. The last two VPs lost their presidential bids after falling out with the presidents they ran alongside, meaning there "is a practical necessity for them to stay together", at least until the midterms. Both sides will be hoping to win the parliament and local bodies, which will "boost their respective political agendas" and help them gain the upper hand in the power struggle, said the BBC.
CONWAY — The stores at Settlers Green are stocked and ready for Black Friday and the holiday shopping season. It all kicks off on Friday with extended store hours, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Expect in-store promotions of up to 70 percent off. Locallyowned stores like North Conway Olive Oil, The Soapery Off Main and The SoakingPot Infusion Spa will have great gift packages made and ready to go for any holiday occasion. Pajamas seem to be everywhere this season including many stores with matching pajama sets for the entire family at stores like Gap Outlet, Old Navy Outlet and JCrew Factory Store. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Early childhood educators and childcare workers have been recognised for their work after years of being underpaid and undervalued. Login or signup to continue reading More than 200,000 childcare workers will receive a 15 per cent wage increase over two years, after the pay bump passed parliament late on Tuesday night. This means those on the award rate will take home an extra $155 every week by the end of 2025, which was a first step towards ensuring the sector's workers are fairly compensated for their work. "This is what our early educators do: it's not baby sitting, it's early education.," Education Minister Jason Clare told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday. "It's not about changing nappies, it's about changing lives." To ensure costs are not passed onto parents, the federal government will cover the price of the pay bump for childcare providers that agree to limit fee increases. The law has been broadly welcomed with Jay Weatherill, the Minderoo Foundation's lead on its universal childcare campaign, noting it was an important first step. "Educators are the backbone of the early childhood education and care sector," he said. "Australia's children and families will also benefit from this reform by getting the best start to life from a high-quality early education delivered by early educators whose value to our nation is truly recognised. The Greens have argued the measure is "woefully inadequate" and say Labor should have increased wages by 25 per cent. "This is not a pay rise; this is a two-year pay bump," Greens senator Steph Hodgins-May said. "We can't fix our childcare system with half-hearted measures." The laws are part of the federal government's efforts to tackle workforce shortages in the early childhood education sector. About 21,000 more qualified professionals are required to address the current shortfall, and another 18,000 are needed to meet future demand, according to Jobs and Skills Australia. Australian Associated Press DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. WEEKLY Follow the Newcastle Knights in the NRL? Don't miss your weekly Knights update. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!MONTREAL — Montreal Canadiens defenceman Mike Matheson was not available for Tuesday's game against the Utah Hockey Club due to a lower-body injury. The Canadiens announced his injury half an hour before puck drop. Jayden Struble took his place in the lineup as Montreal (7-11-2) faced Utah (8-10-3) for the first time. Matheson participated in the morning skate but missed practice on Monday. The 30-year-old from nearby Pointe-Claire, Que., leads all Montreal blueliners with 13 points (one goal, 12 assists) in 20 games as the lone defenceman on the team's top power-play unit. Struble has one goal and three assists in 15 games this season. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2024. The Canadian Press
THE drums of war are beating. Vladimir Putin is threatening to incinerate all of us in a nuclear conflagration. In response, the feeble, cash-strapped European Union is struggling to raise an army after decades of feasting on an imaginary peace dividend. 11 Donald Trump wants to turn the world order on its head Credit: Getty 11 Ukraine’s war is now unwinnable for President Volodymyr Zelensky Credit: Getty 11 Even Mad Vlad Putin is not mad enough to go nuclear Credit: Reuters Alarm bells are sounding for the first time since the Cold War as Ukraine unleashes UK and US missiles deep inside Russia, raising the risk of pan-European conflict. Scary times. But are we really facing World War Three? To quote Dad’s Army’s Lance Corporal Jones: “Don’t panic!” Read More on World News EMPTY THREAT Ukraine vows to SHOOT DOWN Vlad’s new missile that he's used to threaten UK ROCKET BLAST Moment Brit pilot films Russian ROCKET soar past his plane en route to space At least, not yet. Still, frontline states such as Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland are taking the threat seriously. Peacenik Germany has finally woken up to the Russian menace and invited 800,000 Nato troops to carry out war games on its soil. In America, you can buy “affordable bunkers to survive the apocalypse now — fallout shelters that won’t break the bank” — at $140,000 a pop. Most read in The Sun CASE RULING McGregor sexually assaulted rape accuser in Dublin hotel, civil case jury rules LIGHTS OFF Scots city cancels annual Christmas festival amid amber weather warning TAN CAM RAID Scots Turkish barbers raided after 'sunbed spy cam' discovered in shop SNATCH PLOT Shocking moment man escapes being bundled into white van by thugs in kidnap bid Here in Britain, an online newspaper captures the mood with survival tips such as: “How to stop your skin melting” and “Why you should keep your mouth open so your eardrums don’t burst . . .” One misstep away from global conflict Nothing sells better than a horror story. Watch explosive moment 'British Storm Shadow missiles strike inside Russia' The truth is that the world is paying dearly for the absurd 76-day power gap between Donald Trump’s election as US President on November 5 and his inauguration on January 20. The vacuum is being filled by sabre-rattling as both sides in the Ukraine conflict strive to make irreversible gains before Trump enters the White House . The crisis has been stoked by doddery Joe Biden, who belatedly handed Ukraine the long-range missiles it might have previously used to end the war. Instead, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s attacks deep inside Russia have provoked the Kremlin into threatening nuclear retaliation. On Thursday, after hitting the Ukrainian city of Dnipro with a nuke-capable hypersonic Oreshnik missile, Putin declared the UK and US could now be targets for Russia. We need to calm down. Even Mad Vlad is not crazy enough to nuke the West. And if he were, China wouldn’t let him. Moscow and Beijing may be joined at the hip in seeking to hobble the mighty American colossus. But Beijing dictator Xi Jinping intends to achieve this by stealth and coercion — not by letting his junior partner unleash Apocalypse Now. This is not to understate the unnervingly sinister risk to world peace. We have learned from two catastrophic world wars — and the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis — that we are always just one hideous misstep away from global conflict. Amid this crisis, we find ourselves in the hands of the most unpredictable and erratic world leader of modern times. Donald Trump has stoked tensions by threatening to turn the world’s economic, diplomatic and military order on its head. 11 11 Beijing dictator Xi Jinping wants to KO the US by stealth and coercion Credit: AFP 11 Doddery Joe Biden took too long to OK the missiles to Ukraine Credit: Getty 11 Why is Sir Keir Starmer axing defence projects? Credit: PA He is ready to crack heads together in the Middle East, sink China’s exports and launch trade wars with Europe. But first up, Ukraine. The 47th President-elect is ready to walk away from a European conflict which he insists has absolutely nothing to do with the US. Yet while European Union leaders have dithered and wrung their hands, American taxpayers forked out £140BILLION in aid and arms to Ukraine. Enough is enough, says Trump. This might be a bluff by the world’s biggest bluffer. But only a fool would call it. Which explains why Kyiv leader Zelensky is grabbing every weapon he can lay hands on to beat off the Russian bear while he still has time. They include the long-range American ATACMS and, thanks to PM Keir Starmer , Britain’s lethal Storm Shadow cruise missiles , already deployed with devastating effect this week. And yet, admirable as this may be in defence of brave Ukraine, it merely prolongs an unwinnable war. Putin, himself a formidable negotiator, has raised the stakes by insisting foreign-made weapons used against Russia are grounds for nuclear retaliation . This leaves the EU dangerously exposed. Despite the overlapping membership of Nato, the EU’s 27 member states have become flabbily impotent. For half a century, taxpayers’ trillions have been lavished on social-welfare spending while mere pennies have been set aside for the military. Armies are depleted while naval and air defences are running on fumes. In the face of the biggest threat to peace since World War Two, Europe today stands effectively defenceless. During his first term of office, President Trump put a bomb under EU leaders, making them cough up more cash for military spending. But not enough. Germany, which once armed its troops with broomsticks instead of rifles, is the worst culprit. Despite its role as the EU’s economic dynamo, the Ukraine conflict has shown it was totally dependent on Russian oil and gas. Now, with the heat on, Berlin is offering to host 800,000 Nato troops on its soil to defend the Fatherland if Russia invades Finland or the Baltic states. Under Article 51 of the Nato alliance, an attack on any of its 32 member nations is deemed an attack on all. Formerly pacifist regimes now understand the only way to preserve peace is to prepare for war. In 1960s, we practised diving under the table Late in the day, Europe’s liberal elites in countries such as Sweden and Holland have ordered industrial and agricultural interests to stockpile food, fuel and vital equipment including diesel generators. Which underscores the madness of Keir Starmer’s declaration of war on Britain’s hard-pressed farmers. We may soon need every acre to plant crops and dig for victory. Nor can Labour now justify its decision to mothball our coal, gas and oil resources at a time of soaring energy prices in pursuit of Ed Miliband’s insane Net Zero deadline. Voters will also ask why this Government is scrapping five Royal Navy warships, dozens of military helicopters and drones and perhaps even our two brand-new aircraft carriers. If our plodding PM has learned anything from his never-ending overseas meetings with world leaders, it is surely that socialism is no substitute for a proper defence policy. We have been through similar crises in the past, not least the decades-long Cold War when the Kremlin really did pose a nuclear threat to our survival. In the 1960s we lived with the possibility of imminent attack, heralded only by a “four-minute warning” on old war-time sirens. 11 Government advice booklets from the 1970s Credit: Alamy 11 A nuclear device known as The Badger, a 2,000-kiloton bomb, tiny by today’s standards, detonated at the US Defense Dept’s Nevada test site in 1953 Credit: Alamy 11 Zelensky is grabbing every weapon he can lay his hands on to beat off the Russian bear while he still has time including the long-range American ATACMS Credit: Alamy 11 Britain’s lethal Storm Shadow cruise missiles have already been deployed with devastating effect this week We practised diving under the dining room table, or standing in doorways which are more likely to survive a blast. The best-selling book On The Beach portrayed Aussies awaiting their “last days on Earth” after a nuclear war in the northern hemisphere. Peter Sellers made us laugh nervously in Dr Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb. Women protesting against Polaris missiles camped out for years at RAF Greenham Common, while “Red Ken” Livingstone fatuously declared London a “nuclear-free zone”. By the 1980s, East-West negotiations reached the basis for an uneasy truce. It was literally MAD — “Mutually Assured Destruction”. Press the red button and we all die. In my early days as The Sun’s Political Editor, I accompanied PM Margaret Thatcher to Moscow for various talks with Soviet leaders. I had a ringside seat at one of the most significant disarmament summits between Russia’s Mikhail Gorbachev and American President Ronald Reagan . The superpower leaders agreed on huge, if symbolic, missile cuts, captured on Page One of The Sun by an image of nukes launched harmlessly into the Pacific Ocean. “We reaffirmed our solemn conviction that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought,” said the two world leaders in 1988. The Berlin Wall fell one year later, marking the so-called End Of History. But nuclear weapons cannot be disinvented. Mutually Assured Destruction remains the only bulwark against Armageddon. Luckily, Donald Trump is a master of The Art Of The Deal. Putin is desperate to be treated with respect on the world stage, not as a global pariah. For all his bombast, he knows his country has suffered disastrous losses in blood and treasure from his blundering assault on Ukraine. Tough call for so-called European superstate Sanctions have blocked Russia’s stagnant economy from Western advances in technology. A permanent ceasefire is negotiable, but only if Putin is not humiliated. There could be deals which revive Russia’s lucrative trade in oil and gas. Putin will want to be re-admitted to the top table of the world’s most powerful economies, making the G7 into the G8 once again. Brave Ukraine cannot fight on without allied support. Nor should it be abandoned to exist in a “frozen war”, perpetually intimidated by Russia. Which is where the European Union must step in. Ukraine is now Europe’s responsibility, not America’s. The EU’s member states must find the resources to guard their own borders. They can rely on Nato — which includes the US and UK — but only if they raise defence spending by billions. This is a tough call for the so-called European superstate, which has spent the past five decades effectively disarming. Read more on the Scottish Sun COMIC'S CASTLE Still Game star takes £150,000 hit to offload luxury £4m Scots castle HITTING THE HIGH NOTES Much-loved pub named best music bar in Scotland A failure of will at this crucial point would be disastrous. If Putin digs his heels in on Ukraine, we might yet find ourselves buying “affordable bunkers to survive the apocalypse”.Are DWTS’ Brooks Nader and Gleb Savchenko Still Hooking Up? What We Know
By REBECCA SANTANA WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has promised to end birthright citizenship as soon as he gets into office to make good on campaign promises aiming to restrict immigration and redefining what it means to be American. But any efforts to halt the policy would face steep legal hurdles. Birthright citizenship means anyone born in the United States automatically becomes an American citizen. It’s been in place for decades and applies to children born to someone in the country illegally or in the U.S. on a tourist or student visa who plans to return to their home country. It’s not the practice of every country, and Trump and his supporters have argued that the system is being abused and that there should be tougher standards for becoming an American citizen. But others say this is a right enshrined in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, it would be extremely difficult to overturn and even if it’s possible, it’s a bad idea. Here’s a look at birthright citizenship, what Trump has said about it and the prospects for ending it: During an interview Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Trump said he “absolutely” planned to halt birthright citizenship once in office. “We’re going to end that because it’s ridiculous,” he said. Trump and other opponents of birthright citizenship have argued that it creates an incentive for people to come to the U.S. illegally or take part in “birth tourism,” in which pregnant women enter the U.S. specifically to give birth so their children can have citizenship before returning to their home countries. “Simply crossing the border and having a child should not entitle anyone to citizenship,” said Eric Ruark, director of research for NumbersUSA, which argues for reducing immigration. The organization supports changes that would require at least one parent to be a permanent legal resident or a U.S. citizen for their children to automatically get citizenship. Others have argued that ending birthright citizenship would profoundly damage the country. “One of our big benefits is that people born here are citizens, are not an illegal underclass. There’s better assimilation and integration of immigrants and their children because of birthright citizenship,” said Alex Nowrasteh, vice president for economic and social policy studies at the pro-immigration Cato Institute. In 2019, the Migration Policy Institute estimated that 5.5 million children under age 18 lived with at least one parent in the country illegally in 2019, representing 7% of the U.S. child population. The vast majority of those children were U.S. citizens. The nonpartisan think tank said during Trump’s campaign for president in 2015 that the number of people in the country illegally would “balloon” if birthright citizenship were repealed, creating “a self-perpetuating class that would be excluded from social membership for generations.” In the aftermath of the Civil War, Congress ratified the 14th Amendment in July 1868. That amendment assured citizenship for all, including Black people. “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside,” the 14th Amendment says. “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.” But the 14th Amendment didn’t always translate to everyone being afforded birthright citizenship. For example, it wasn’t until 1924 that Congress finally granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the U.S. A key case in the history of birthright citizenship came in 1898, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Wong Kim Ark, born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrants, was a U.S. citizen because he was born in the states. The federal government had tried to deny him reentry into the county after a trip abroad on grounds he wasn’t a citizen under the Chinese Exclusion Act. But some have argued that the 1898 case clearly applied to children born of parents who are both legal immigrants to America but that it’s less clear whether it applies to children born to parents without legal status or, for example, who come for a short-term like a tourist visa. “That is the leading case on this. In fact, it’s the only case on this,” said Andrew Arthur, a fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, which supports immigration restrictions. “It’s a lot more of an open legal question than most people think.” Some proponents of immigration restrictions have argued the words “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” in the 14th Amendment allows the U.S. to deny citizenship to babies born to those in the country illegally. Trump himself used that language in his 2023 announcement that he would aim to end birthright citizenship if reelected. Trump wasn’t clear in his Sunday interview how he aims to end birthright citizenship. Asked how he could get around the 14th Amendment with an executive action, Trump said: “Well, we’re going to have to get it changed. We’ll maybe have to go back to the people. But we have to end it.” Pressed further on whether he’d use an executive order, Trump said “if we can, through executive action.” He gave a lot more details in a 2023 post on his campaign website . In it, he said he would issue an executive order the first day of his presidency, making it clear that federal agencies “require that at least one parent be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident for their future children to become automatic U.S. citizens.” Related Articles National Politics | Trump has flip-flopped on abortion policy. His appointees may offer clues to what happens next National Politics | In promising to shake up Washington, Trump is in a class of his own National Politics | Election Day has long passed. In some states, legislatures are working to undermine the results National Politics | Trump taps his attorney Alina Habba to serve as counselor to the president National Politics | Donald Trump doesn’t appear to measure up to Prince William’s 6′ 3′′ Trump wrote that the executive order would make clear that children of people in the U.S. illegally “should not be issued passports, Social Security numbers, or be eligible for certain taxpayer funded welfare benefits.” This would almost certainly end up in litigation. Nowrasteh from the Cato Institute said the law is clear that birthright citizenship can’t be ended by executive order but that Trump may be inclined to take a shot anyway through the courts. “I don’t take his statements very seriously. He has been saying things like this for almost a decade,” Nowrasteh said. “He didn’t do anything to further this agenda when he was president before. The law and judges are near uniformly opposed to his legal theory that the children of illegal immigrants born in the United States are not citizens.” Trump could steer Congress to pass a law to end birthright citizenship but would still face a legal challenge that it violates the Constitution. Associated Press reporter Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this report.OpenAI its text-to-video AI model, Sora, back in February and hasn’t provided any meaningful updates on when it will be released since then. Now, it looks like some artists leaked access to the model in protest of being used by the company for what they claim is “unpaid R&D and PR.” On Tuesday, a group of Sora beta testers claimed to have leaked early access to Sora with a working interface for generating videos. , a public repository of AI models, they say that people were able to create — all of which resemble OpenAI’s own — before the company intervened to shut down access. ( first reported on the alleged leak.) From the group’s open letter: The letter goes on to say: The authors say that OpenAI’s early access program to Sora exploits artists for free labor and “art washing,” or lending artistic credibility to a corporate product. They criticize the company, which billions of dollars at a $150 billion valuation, for having hundreds of artists provide unpaid testing and feedback. They also object to OpenAI’s content approval requirements for Sora, which apparently state that “every output needs to be approved by the OpenAI team before sharing.” I’d love to chat. You can reach me securely on Signal @kylie.01 or via email at kylie@theverge.com. When contacted by , OpenAI would not confirm on the record if the alleged Sora leak was authentic or not. Instead, the company stressed that participation in its “research preview” is “voluntary, with no obligation to provide feedback or use the tool.” “Sora is still in research preview, and we’re working to balance creativity with robust safety measures for broader use,” OpenAI spokesperson Niko Felix said in a statement. “Hundreds of artists in our alpha have shaped Sora’s development, helping prioritize new features and safeguards. Participation is voluntary, with no obligation to provide feedback or use the tool. We’ve been excited to offer these artists free access and will continue supporting them through grants, events, and other programs. We believe AI can be a powerful creative tool and are committed to making Sora both useful and safe.” Former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati in March that Sora would be available by the end of the year but that, “we will not release anything we don’t feel confident on when it comes to how it might affect global elections or other issues.” And in , CPO Kevin Weil said Sora hadn’t been released yet because OpenAI still needed to “scale” the compute required to power it and “get safety/impersonation/other things right.” /Ask Rusty – Can my wife claim SS now and get half my benefit later?