Commanders Have Cut, Traded All 2019-2023 1st-Round Draft Picks After Forbes ReleasePICTORIAL: Ex-VP Atiku Hosts Peter Obi In Adamawa
Snowflake EVP Christian Kleinerman sells $2.7 million in stockAidan O'Connell threw two touchdown passes, Daniel Carlson kicked four field goals, Ameer Abdullah had the first 100-yard rushing game of his career and the visiting Las Vegas Raiders defeated the New Orleans Saints 25-10 on Sunday afternoon. Abdullah, playing in the 141st game of his 10-year career, finished with 115 yards on 20 carries. O'Connell completed 20 of 35 passes for 242 yards as the Raiders (4-12) won their second straight after a 10-game losing streak. Brock Bowers added seven receptions for 77 yards, giving him 1,144 receiving yards, which broke the NFL single-season record for a rookie tight end, set by Mike Ditka with 1,076 yards in 14 games in 1961. Rookie Spencer Rattler passed for 218 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions and fell to 0-5 as the starter for the Saints (5-11). Las Vegas's first possession of the third quarter resulted in Carlson's 54-yard field goal, which increased its lead to 16-10 at the end of the period. Carlson's 25-yard field goal pushed the lead to 19-10 on the third play of the fourth quarter. O'Connell added an 18-yard touchdown pass to Tre Tucker to complete the scoring. The Raiders received the opening kickoff and held the ball for 17 plays before stalling. Carlson kicked a 31-yard field goal and the 3-0 lead held up through the end of the first quarter. On the first play of the second quarter, Rattler threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to former Raiders tight end Foster Moreau and the Saints took a 7-3 lead with their first points in the first half in three games. The ensuing possession ended with Carlson kicking a 39-yard field goal that trimmed the lead to 7-6. O'Connell threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jakobi Meyers to give Las Vegas a 13-7 lead with 57 seconds left in the second quarter. Rattler completed 5 of 7 for 54 yards in driving New Orleans to Blake Grupe's 34-yard field goal as time expired that trimmed the lead to 13-10 at halftime. --Field Level Media
49ers WR Deebo Samuel speaks on his deleted tweet: ‘A little frustrated, for sure’
Enanta Pharmaceuticals' chief product strategy officer sells $18,400 in stockThe New York Rangers called up goaltender Dylan Garand today as starting netminder Igor Shesterkin had to take a leave of absence from the team. Shesterkin is obviously one of the most important players if not the single most important player to the Rangers, but some things in life are more important than hockey. That is exactly why he is currently away from the team. Shesterkin and his wife are currently expecting their second child. This morning, his wife Anna went into labor so obviously Igor had to be there with her. As such, the team recalled goaltender Dylan Garand from the Hartford Wolf Pack. The move put the team over the 23-man roster, which would normally be a violation of NHL rules. However, the Rangers would not need to make an additional move if Garand was recalled on an emergency basis. It is not clear if that is the case or not though. Quick got the net this afternoon and got lit up by Seattle, giving up 6 goals on 21 shots. The Kraken would add an empty-netter to seal the game by a final score of 7-5. If Shesterkin is not able to return to the team tomorrow, which seems somewhat likely, the team would be forced to start a 38-year-old Quick on back-to-back days, or give the 22-year-old Garand his first taste of the NHL. Garand was a 4th round pick of the Rangers back in 2020. In 11 games at the AHL level this year he has a 7-2-2 record, a 2.42 goals-against-average, and a .917 save percentage. Be sure to tune in tomorrow to see if he makes his NHL debut against the Chicago Blackhawks . This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad fled to Moscow on Sunday, Russian media reported, hours after a stunning rebel advance took over the capital of Damascus and ended the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule . The Russian agencies, Tass and RIA, cited an unidentified Kremlin source on Assad and his family being given asylum in Moscow, his longtime ally and protector. The Associated Press was not immediately able to verify the reports but contacted the Kremlin for comment. RIA also said Moscow had received guarantees from Syrian insurgents of the security of Russian military bases and diplomatic posts in Syria. Assad reportedly left Syria early Sunday, and Syrians have been pouring into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire after a stunning rebel advance reached the capital, ending the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule . The swiftly moving events have raised questions about the future of the country and the wider region. Russia has requested an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council discuss the situation in Syria, Russia’s first deputy permanent representative to the U.N., Dmitry Polyansky, posted on Telegram. Joyful crowds gathered in squares in Damascus, waving the Syrian revolutionary flag in scenes that recalled the early days of the Arab Spring uprising, before a brutal crackdown and the rise of an insurgency plunged the country into a nearly 14-year civil war. Others gleefully ransacked the presidential palace and residence after Assad and other top officials vanished. Abu Mohammed al-Golani , a former al-Qaida commander who cut ties with the group years ago and says he embraces pluralism and religious tolerance, leads the biggest rebel faction and is poised to chart the country's future. In his first public appearance since fighters entered the Damascus suburbs Saturday, al-Golani visited the sprawling Umayyad Mosque and called Assad's fall “a victory to the Islamic nation.” Calling himself by his given name, Ahmad al-Sharaa, and not his nom de guerre, he told hundreds of people that Assad had made Syria “a farm for Iran’s greed.” The rebels face the daunting task of healing bitter divisions in a country ravaged by war and still split among armed factions. Turkey-backed opposition fighters are battling U.S.-allied Kurdish forces in the north, and the Islamic State group is still active in some remote areas. Syrian state television broadcast a rebel statement early Sunday saying Assad had been overthrown and all prisoners had been released. They called on people to preserve the institutions of “the free Syrian state.” The rebels later announced a curfew in Damascus from 4 p.m. to 5 a.m. The rebels said they freed people held at the notorious Saydnaya prison, where rights groups say thousands were tortured and killed . A video circulating online purported to show rebels breaking open cell doors and freeing dozens of female prisoners, many of whom appeared shocked. At least one small child was seen among them. “This happiness will not be completed until I can see my son out of prison and know where is he,” said one relative, Bassam Masr. "I have been searching for him for two hours. He has been detained for 13 years.” Rebel commander Anas Salkhadi later appeared on state TV and sought to reassure Syria's religious and ethnic minorities, saying: “Syria is for everyone, no exceptions. Syria is for Druze, Sunnis, Alawites, and all sects.” “We will not deal with people the way the Assad family did," he added. Celebrations in the capital Damascus residents prayed in mosques and celebrated in squares, calling, “God is great.” People chanted anti-Assad slogans and honked car horns. Teenage boys picked up weapons apparently discarded by security forces and fired into the air. Revelers filled Umayyad Square, where the Defense Ministry is located. Some waved the three-starred Syrian flag that predates the Assad government and was adopted by the revolutionaries. Elsewhere, many parts of the capital were empty and shops were closed. Soldiers and police left their posts and fled, and looters broke into the Defense Ministry. Videos showed families wandering the presidential palace, some carrying stacks of plates and other household items. “It’s like a dream. I need someone to wake me up," said opposition fighter Abu Laith, adding the rebels were welcomed in Damascus with “love.” At the Justice Ministry, where rebels stood guard, Judge Khitam Haddad said they were protecting documents from the chaos. Outside, some residents sought information about relatives who disappeared under Assad. The rebels “have felt the pain of the people,” said one woman, giving only her first name, Heba. She worried about possible revenge killings by the rebels, many of whom appeared to be underage. Syria’s al-Watan newspaper, which was historically pro-government, wrote: “We are facing a new page for Syria. We thank God for not shedding more blood.” It added that media workers should not be blamed for publishing past government statements, saying it “only carried out the instructions.” A statement from the Alawite sect that has formed the core of Assad's base called on young Syrians to be “calm, rational and prudent and not to be dragged into what tears apart the unity of our country.” The rebels mainly come from the Sunni Muslim majority in Syria, which also has sizable Druze, Christian and Kurdish communities. In Qamishli in the northeast, a Kurdish man slapped a statue of the late leader Hafez Assad with his shoe. Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali said the government was ready to “extend its hand” to the opposition and turn its functions over to a transitional government. A video shared on Syrian opposition media showed armed men escorting him from his office and to the Four Seasons hotel on Sunday. Anwar Gargash said Assad's destination at this point is a “footnote in history,” comparing it to the long exile of German Kaiser Wilhelm II after World War I. Calls for an orderly transition The rebel advances since Nov. 27 were the largest in recent years, and saw the cities of Aleppo, Hama and Homs fall within days as the Syrian army melted away. Russia, Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group, which provided crucial support to Assad throughout the uprising, abandoned him as they reeled from other conflicts. The end of Assad’s rule was a major blow to Iran and its allies, already weakened by conflict with Israel . Iran, which had strongly backed him throughout the civil war, said Syrians should decide their future “without destructive, coercive, foreign intervention.” The Iranian Embassy in Damascus was ransacked after apparently having been abandoned. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meanwhile said Israeli troops had seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established in 1974, saying it was to protect Israeli residents after Syrian troops abandoned positions. Israel's military later warned residents of five southern Syria communities to stay home for their safety, and didn’t respond to questions. Israel captured the Golan in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed it. The international community, except for the United States, views it as occupied, and the Arab League on Sunday condemned what it called Israel’s efforts to take advantage of Assad’s downfall occupy more territory. The rebels are led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS , which has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and the United Nations. Al-Golani, has sought to recast the group as a moderate and tolerant force. “Golani has made history and sparked hope among millions of Syrians," said Dareen Khalifa, a senior adviser with the International Crisis Group. "But he and the rebels now face a formidable challenge ahead.” The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, called Saturday for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” The Gulf nation of Qatar, a key regional mediator, hosted an emergency meeting of foreign ministers and top officials from eight countries with interests in Syria late Saturday. They included Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Turkey. Majed al-Ansari, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, said they agreed on the need “to engage all parties on the ground," including the HTS, and that the main concern is “stability and safe transition.” Sewell reported from Beirut. Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue, Sarah El Deeb and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut; Samar Kassaballi, Omar Sanadiki and Ghaith Alsayed in Damascus; Jon Gambrell in Manama, Bahrain; Josef Federman in Doha, Qatar; and Tia Goldenberg in Jerusalem, contributed.Notwithstanding the economic issues faced by it back home, the Pakistan Army is fully backing the terrorist infrastructure as 60 per cent of terrorists killed in Jammu and Kashmir this year were Pakistanis. ET Year-end Special Reads What kept India's stock market investors on toes in 2024? India's car race: How far EVs went in 2024 Investing in 2025: Six wealth management trends to watch out for The local recruitment of terrorists in the Pakistan-sponsored terror groups ia also very low as only four locals have joined these groups this year, Army officials told ANI. In different encounters and operations, the security has been able to eliminate around 75 terrorists in different regions of the state including the Jammu region and the Kashmir valley along with the firefights that take place during infiltration attempts by terrorists on the Line of Control, they said. Notably, Pakistan has traditionally been seen as one of the biggest hubs for exporting terrorists to almost all parts of the world with a main focus on India. Islamabad has tried to give a strong push to terrorism in the Jammu region since last year but the activities of the Pakistterrorists in this area of Jammu region including districts in Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar, Kathua and Reasi govern been curbed with additional deployment of troops and filling up of the vacuum created thereafter withdrawal of the Uniform Force of Rashtriya Rifles from there for the China border deployments. 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During the presidential campaign of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, hailed as the golden boy of the party, repeatedly emphasized the urgency of addressing Nigeria’s power challenges. At various public events, including the 7th Annual Colloquium in Lagos, Fashola asserted that the ineptitude of the previous administration should not be repeated, boldly stating that “Any serious government can fix the power problem within six months.” Nigerians placed their trust in him, influenced by the transformation witnessed under his leadership in Lagos between 2007 and 2015. In 2014, during a significant ceremony held at the Blue Roof, Lagos Television premises, to mark Mr. Fashola’s 2,600 days in office, he made a bold assertion: “The only way to get uninterrupted electricity supply in the country is to vote out the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming 2015 general elections.” This statement was backed by his notable achievements, including effectively handling the Ebola crisis and creating approximately 500,000 jobs for the citizens of Lagos State over eight years. Mr. Fashola’s administration also left a lasting legacy with the construction of three bridges, including the iconic Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge, and the completion of five (5) Independent Power Projects, notably the one at Alausa, which significantly reduced reliance on generators. Given his impressive track record, it’s understandable why many believed in Fashola’s assurance that the ruling party would address the national power grid issues and ensure adequate power supply to the people. The country is in dire need of an immediate solution to its power supply issues. Many young citizens possess the drive and passion to contribute to the nation’s development, yet they are hindered by the lack of adequate power supply. Without reliable electricity, aspiring entrepreneurs find it exceedingly difficult to establish and sustain businesses, such as operating POS services, due to frequent power outages and the inability to charge devices. The current state of total darkness or erratic power supply significantly hampers the growth of small and medium-scale enterprises. It’s crucial to recognize that no nation can achieve sustainable growth and development without ensuring reliable access to power. The Egypt Megaproject stands as a testament to Siemens’ historic achievement, delivering 14.4 GW of power capacity to Egypt’s grid in a record-setting 27.5 months from financial closure. This monumental endeavor not only alleviated persistent power shortages but also propelled Egypt toward long-term power security, crucial for industrial growth. Additionally, the swift completion of two simple cycle power plants in Assiut and West Damietta, totaling 1,500 MW, within just eight months in 2015, further exemplifies the efficacy of visionary leadership and practical implementation. While comparing ourselves to China’s Belt and Road Initiative may seem ambitious, studying such initiatives could offer valuable insights into addressing our own challenges with consistent power shortages. It is evident that effective leadership is paramount in driving the reform agenda for our country, and the support of the people is crucial in this journey towards a greater Nigeria. The Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy deserves commendation for its proactive measures, including the introduction of the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Program. This initiative has been well-received by Nigerians as it offers a promising platform for success in the IT sector. However, to truly maximize the impact of such programs, reliable electricity is indispensable. Access to power is essential for powering up gadgets and enabling active participation in training programs. Therefore, it is imperative that efforts to improve electricity supply align with the goals of the ministry to ensure the success of initiatives aimed at empowering Nigerians in the digital age. When the current minister was appointed, his first initiative was to start a weekly political socio-event, capturing all his former political associates from his former political party. This went on for months, neglecting the core mandate given to him by the presidency. It raises questions about the minister’s understanding of the urgency and uniqueness of the ministry’s challenges, as evident in his preoccupation with political mandates extending far beyond his current tenure. The current minister is not in sync with the presidency’s renewed hope agenda. The country needs an urgent solution but often times when we see the minister appear in a gathering, it has always been in a political setting which wouldn’t have a positive impact on the general populace. The will and experience aren’t there and neither of the two can be forced into a man’s ability. Given the critical nature of this ministry, it was a mistake to treat it as a trial-and-error endeavor. It is evident that the current minister is completely bewildered. This calls for a reassessment of our approach. Despite numerous challenges, the Transmission Company of Nigeria has failed to fulfill its mandate of efficiently transmitting power from generating stations to the people. Presently, the country boasts an installed power capacity of 12-16,000MW, yet even if we assume we’re generating 50% of this capacity, roughly 7GW, the transmission network has only managed to transmit about 4-5GW of power over the last eight years. This stagnant performance underscores the dire need for structural reforms within the agency. Given the pressing necessity for change, the co-ordinating minister should prioritize a comprehensive overhaul or restructuring of the agency. Egypt’s energy strategy has evolved beyond thermal stations, with a concerted effort to diversify into renewable sources. Beginning in 2016, the government prioritized solar, wind and conventional power, incorporating gas turbines while halting the development of hydropower stations. During the period from 2010 to 2022, significant progress was made, adding 16GW of power, largely attributed to wind and solar energy. Given the immense potential and demand in this sector, it is crucial to appoint a leader who not only comprehends the role but also possesses a resolute and non-controversial demeanor. The advancement proposed could significantly benefit small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), but it is essential for the president to take decisive action and assume control of the ministry. The progressives, typically afforded considerable leniency, have expressed dissatisfaction with the ministry’s performance thus far. It’s crucial to communicate the citizens’ discontent to the presidency promptly. There’s still ample opportunity to enact meaningful changes and rectify the course. However, failure to address the shortcomings of the ministry could have dire consequences. The country has been experiencing total grid collapse since time immemorial, however, between 2017 and 2023, the nation witnessed 46 grid collapses. It is accounted that in 2023 alone, the grid collapsed 12 times, accounting for 26%. The data received in performance hasn’t improved and if proper analysis of the Disco’s are examined also, it will equally give the same retrogressive output. No nation that is desirous of progress can actually achieve such with the present state of things. In the latest data released by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, most Discos have low performance in cash collection with very high billing efficiency, which has a very adverse effect on the AT & C losses of the companies. Oftentimes, there are regulations to improve the performance of the distribution companies but the major stumbling blocks are still with the government. If urgent action is not taken, we will continue to drag the same issues in 2027. Tunisia with a vision has recently concluded a plan to embark on a special power project called Tunisia-Italy Interconnector (ELMED). The ELMED Interconnector Project is a planned bi-directional power exchange link between Italy and Tunisia. The 600MW capacity project will be the first direct current connection between Europe and Africa. These are the kinds of initiatives that we know President Asiwaju for but unfortunately, no one can drive it in the Ministry of Power. Solutions to each of the various value chains in the power sector must be itemized and implemented as soon as possible, to guarantee adequate and uninterrupted power supply to the country. The citizens of the country want to stay back and develop their nation, which will give them the chance to compete with the rest of the world, but they need an adequate power supply. The only hope that they have is the belief that your capability is undoubted to deliver the renewed hope agenda. The young Nigerians who will benefit through the enormous jobs are counting on you while the SMEs don’t want to lose hope either. *Opeyemi writes from Lagos (Twitter: EquityOyo)The Transportation Security Administration has some reminders for those heading to airports during the holidays. “People seem to forget some of the more common and routine steps that they need to take when packing for a flight or when they are going through a checkpoint, perhaps because they’re focused on being at their destination and not focusing on what needs to happen before getting there,” said TSA officer Christopher Kirchein of John F. Kennedy International Airport. “Travelers sometimes ignore the advice that we give them,” said TeaNeisha Barker, a TSA uniformed adviser. “We are providing guidance so that they get through the checkpoint as simply and conveniently as possible. Not every airport has the same technology, so listen to the guidance we are offering.” “Passengers forget that knives and other weapons are not allowed through our checkpoints. It’s shocking to see so many people with knives,” said TSA officer Aisha Hicks of Philadelphia International Airport. “Weapons of any kind are prohibited through a TSA checkpoint.” TSA officers shared this list of the common things that travelers forget and should remember when coming to a security checkpoint. Ten things that travelers need to remember when preparing to go through the security screening process: • Remember that you cannot bring bottles of water, energy drinks, juice, coffee, soda or any filled insulated reusable container through a security checkpoint. However, they can finish their beverage and bring the empty bottle or container with them. • Remember to bring your ID to the checkpoint. • Remember when TSA officers remind you to remove everything from your pockets that it does not only mean metallic items such as keys and mobile phones, but it means everything, including non-metallic items such as tissues, lip balm, breath mints, etc. • Remember that you cannot bring a firearm through a checkpoint. Instead, pack your unloaded firearm in a locked hard-sided case and declare it at your airline check-in counter and the airline will ensure it is transported in the belly of the plane where nobody has access to it. • Remember that you need to remove your shoes when getting screened and then end up barefoot on the floor. It’s probably a good idea to wear socks. • Remember that children 12 and under are allowed to travel through a TSA PreCheck screening lane with a parent who has TSA PreCheck on their boarding pass. In addition, don’t forget that children up to the age of 18 can also come into the TSA PreCheck lane with their parent if they are on the same airline reservation as their parent. • Remember that passengers that appear 12 and under or 75 and older do not need to remove their shoes and light jacket. • Remember, if you are putting a lock on your luggage, make sure it is a TSA compatible lock so that if TSA officers need to open your luggage, they can unlock it and relock it. If the lock is not TSA compliant, TSA officers who need to open your luggage will cut off the lock, rendering it useless. • Remember that you can bring medications through a security checkpoint, even liquid medication. Just let the TSA officer know that you have liquid medication with you so it can be screened separately. • Remember to get a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license sooner rather than later because REAL ID goes into effect on May 7.
Imbert’s word play and deflectionNone
Opinion polls suggest the country may be in for another upheaval, with support for the three governing parties plunging. Reykjavik (Iceland): Icelanders are electing a new parliament Saturday after disagreements over immigration, energy policy and the economy forced Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson to pull the plug on his coalition government and call an early election. This is Iceland's sixth general election since the 2008 financial crisis devastated the economy of the North Atlantic island nation and ushered in a new era of political instability. Opinion polls suggest the country may be in for another upheaval, with support for the three governing parties plunging. Benediktsson, who was named prime minister in April following the resignation of his predecessor, struggled to hold together the unlikely coalition of his conservative Independence Party with the centrist Progressive Party and the Left-Green Movement. Iceland, a nation of about 400,000 people, is proud of its democratic traditions, describing itself as arguably the world's oldest parliamentary democracy. The island's parliament, the Althingi, was founded in 930 by the Norsemen who settled the country. Fierce weather in the sub-Arctic nation threatened to hamper some voters getting to polling stations on Saturday, with heavy snow blocking roads in many areas. The weather could also delay the delivery of ballot boxes to counting centres after polls close at 10 pm (2200GMT). Here's what to look for in the contest. How does the election work? Voters will choose 63 members of the Althingi in an election that will allocate seats both by regional constituencies and proportional representation. Parties need at least 5% of the vote to win seats in parliament. Eight parties were represented in the outgoing parliament, and 10 parties are contesting this election. Turnout is traditionally high by international standards, with 80% of registered voters casting ballots in the 2021 parliamentary election. Why now? A windswept island near the Arctic Circle, Iceland normally holds elections during the warmer months of the year. But on Oct 13 Benediktsson decided his coalition couldn't last any longer, and he asked President Halla Tómasdóttir to dissolve the Althingi. “The weakness of this society is that we have no very strong party and we have no very strong leader of any party," said Vilhjálmur Bjarnason a former member of parliament. “We have no charming person with a vision... That is very difficult for us.” Why is Iceland's politics so fractured? The splintering of Iceland's political landscape came after the 2008 financial crisis, which prompted years of economic upheaval after the country's debt-swollen banks collapsed. The crisis led to anger and distrust of the parties that had traditionally traded power back and forth, and prompted the creation of new parties ranging from the environment focused Left-Green Alliance to the Pirate Party, which advocates direct democracy and individual freedoms. “This is one of the consequences of the economic crash," said Eva H Önnudóttir, a professor of political science at the University of Iceland. “It's just the changed landscape. Parties, especially the old parties, have maybe kind of been hoping that we would go back to how things were before, but that's not going to happen.” What are the issues? Like many Western countries, Iceland has been buffeted by the rising cost of living and immigration pressures. Inflation peaked at an annual rate of 10.2% in February 2023, fuelled by the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While inflation slowed to 5.1% in October, that is still high compared with neighbouring countries. The US inflation rate stood at 2.6% last month, while the European Union's rate was 2.3%. Iceland is also struggling to accommodate a rising number of asylum-seekers, creating tensions within the small, traditionally homogenous country. The number of immigrants seeking protection in Iceland jumped to more than 4,000 in each of the past three years, compared with a previous average of less than 1,000. What about the volcano? Repeated eruptions of a volcano in the southwestern part of the country have displaced thousands of people and strained public finances. One year after the first eruption forced the evacuation of the town of Grindavik, many residents still don't have secure housing, leading to complaints that the government has been slow to respond. But it also added to a shortage of affordable housing exacerbated by Iceland's tourism boom. Young people are struggling to get a foot on the housing ladder at a time when short-term vacation rentals have reduced the housing stock available for locals, Önnudóttir said. Stay informed on all the latest news , real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in india news and world News on Zee News.NEW YORK — Eager to preserve President-elect Donald Trump's hush money conviction even as he returns to office, prosecutors suggested various ways forward — including one based on how some courts handle criminal cases when defendants die. In court papers made public Tuesday, the Manhattan district attorney's office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books. The proposals include freezing the case until Trump is out of office, or agreeing that any future sentence wouldn't include jail time. Another idea: closing the case with a notation that acknowledges his conviction but says that he was never sentenced and his appeal wasn't resolved because of presidential immunity. Former President Donald Trump appears in Manhattan criminal court May 30 during jury deliberations in his criminal hush money trial in New York. The last is adopted from what some states do when a criminal defendant dies after being convicted but before appeals are exhausted. It is unclear whether that option is viable under New York law, but prosecutors suggested that Judge Juan M. Merchan could innovate in what's already a unique case. People are also reading... "This remedy would prevent defendant from being burdened during his presidency by an ongoing criminal proceeding," prosecutors wrote. But at the same time, it wouldn't "precipitously discard" the "meaningful fact that defendant was indicted and found guilty by a jury of his peers." Expanding on a position they laid out last month, prosecutors acknowledged that "presidential immunity requires accommodation during a president's time in office," but they were adamant that the conviction should stand. They argued that Trump's impending return to the White House should not upend a jury's finding. Trump wants the case to be thrown out in light of his election. His communications director, Steven Cheung, called prosecutors' filing "a pathetic attempt to salvage the remains of an unconstitutional and politically motivated hoax." Trump has fought for months to reverse his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records. Prosecutors said he fudged the documents to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier. Former President Donald Trump returns to the courtroom May 30 at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York. He claims they didn’t and denies wrongdoing. Trump portrays the case as a political attack ginned up by District Attorney Alvin Bragg and other Democrats. Trump's legal team argues that letting the case continue would present unconstitutional "disruptions" to his upcoming presidential term. Trump's attorneys also cited President Joe Biden's recent pardon of his son Hunter Biden, who was convicted of tax and gun charges. Biden complained that his son was unfairly prosecuted for political reasons — and Trump's lawyers say he was, too. Trump's lawyers argued that the possibility of a jail sentence — even if it's after he leaves office — would affect his presidency. Prosecutors suggested Merchan could address that concern by agreeing not to put him behind bars. It's unclear how soon Merchan could decide what to do next with the case. He could grant Trump's request for dismissal, go with one of the suggestions from prosecutors, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump's parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court, or choose some other option. Trump, a Republican, takes office Jan. 20. Former President Donald Trump gestures May 31 as he leaves a news conference at Trump Tower in New York. He was scheduled for sentencing late last month. After Trump's Nov. 5 election win, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed the former and future president's sentencing so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case. Merchan also delayed a decision on Trump's prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. A dismissal would erase Trump's conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office. The hush money case was the only one of Trump's four criminal indictments to go to trial. Since the election, special counsel Jack Smith ended his two federal cases, which pertained to Trump's efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and allegations that he hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate state election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia, is largely on hold. Trump denies wrongdoing in each case. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.
Nov. 30—Despite widespread claims on social media from conservative activists, Amish voters cannot be credited with winning Pennsylvania for President-elect Donald Trump, according to vote returns. While there looks to be marginal increase in the number of Amish people who voted this year, experts said they do not expect major shifts in Amish turnout this year, according to early analysis of vote returns in Lancaster County precincts with high Amish populations. The large Amish community in Lancaster County and across the state — many of whom dress plainly, minimize their technology use, and keep to their insular, self-sufficient communities — has long been seen as an untapped voting bloc for Republicans. Many of Pennsylvania's Amish do not vote, with some who view it as in conflict with their religious beliefs of serving God's kingdom by engaging with earthly government. But that has been slowly changing in recent years, with the largest jump occurring four years ago, when Amish turnout more than doubled from 7% in 2016 to 17% in 2020 of the approximate 20,000 Amish people who are of voting age in Lancaster County, or about 3,400 votes. Experts won't know exactly how many Amish voted until final voter rolls are available, when academics will then make the painstaking process of comparing names, addresses and birthdays of voters with those in Amish church directories. The Amish experts, based out of Elizabethtown College's Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies, do not digitize or scan the directories, because Amish leaders oppose it. "I do not expect to find a large jump in Amish voters," said Steven Nolt, an Amish expert who runs the Young Center. "In 2020, the overall data suggested something different between 2016 and 2020. That's not the case this time as we eyeball up 2020 and 2024." The push for more Amish voters Republicans wanted to turn out even more Amish voters in Pennsylvania this year, in an election that was expected to be just as close as the last two presidential cycles. President-elect Donald Trump won Pennsylvania by more than 121,000 votes by increasing his vote share across the state, including in Democratic strongholds like Philadelphia. Elon Musk, the world's richest man, said America PAC, the political action committee he launched to boost Trump, organized rides to the polls for Amish, who often do not drive motor vehicles but are allowed to be passengers. Billboards and mailers targeted the Amish community specifically to turn out to vote for Trump. One grassroots group held weekly voter registration drives at Amish markets in Lancaster and Mifflin Counties. Philip Habegger, who grew up Amish in Kentucky as one of 11 children before leaving his community at age 27, said his family "would not have considered voting at all," though they were informed and interested in politics. Habegger, now 31 and living in Lancaster, volunteered with the Trump campaign. The Trump campaign never thought it would quadruple turnout like some pundits claimed, but knew it could convince more Amish people to vote in Pennsylvania in this election. They share many of the same beliefs as Republicans: a focus on religious freedom, economic opportunity, or in other words, want to "mind their business," Habegger said. "As far as efficiency goes, the Amish are much better at these things than the government," Habegger said. Scott Presler, a conservative activist who runs grassroots group Early Vote Action, which hosted targeted weekly voter registration drives and moved to Pennsylvania to flip the state back to red, said his organization is here to stay and is preparing to hire 19 full-time staff next week. And he's doubling down on their engagement with Amish voters, hiring a state director who will be specifically tasked with courting the votes of Amish and Old Order Mennonite communities. "We're not going away. This is a real concerted effort, not just every presidential year," Presler said of his organization's effort to engage more Amish people to vote in Pennsylvania. It's part of his group's larger strategy for incrementally running up the numbers in every county in Pennsylvania: Turn out 500 to 1,000 new voters for Trump, and win the state — which is exactly what Trump did. Presler noted that all counties with large Amish populations produced more votes for Trump this year than in 2020, but he acknowledged these increases were not all attributable to Amish voters. There are more than 90,000 Amish and Old Order Mennonite people living in Pennsylvania, which is the largest population in the country, with the highest population centered in Lancaster County. There are approximately 400,000 Amish people living in the U.S., mostly in Pennsylvania and the Midwest. The population continues to grow at a rapid rate, nearly doubling every 20 years and families have six to nine children on average — which will mean even more voters, Presler added. State Rep. Dave Zimmerman (R., Lancaster), who represents a district with Amish and Old Order Mennonite populations, said these groups were engaged and concerned about the outcome of the election. "The Amish are going to be most concerned about being able to be free to be Amish," Zimmerman added. "Any issue that's out there that is kinda interfering with their lifestyle, it's going to be a concern," such as invasive regulations or restrictions on their religious freedoms. "For the most part, they want to be left alone to raise families, send their kids to school, be down on the farm or be part of their construction business," Zimmerman said. (c)2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer Visit The Philadelphia Inquirer at www.inquirer.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Path of Exile 2 early access players think Titan’s Treasure is bugged because of its absence in Titan’s Grotto. The second act of Path of Exile 2 has players exploring Titan’s Grotto, the same area where they’ll face off against the Zalmarath, the Colossus boss. Those who take some time to explore may stumble across optional objectives and Points of Interest that deepen the experience. However, players have found that one item in particular does not appear on the map as expected. Path of Exile 2 players baffled by missing Titan’s Treasure Since the sequel entered early access, users in Path of Exile forums and Reddit threads have pondered the conspicuous absence of the Titan’s Treasure, which should appear in Titan’s Grotto. One person in a forums post commented, “Has anybody found out where the titan’s treasure in Titan’s Grotto? I’ve checked twice but did not find any.” Dozens of other users have chimed in to say that they, too, haven’t had any luck finding Titan’s Treasure, even after completing the Titan fight. Multiple runs through the Grotto do not appear to yield any results either. Several people have pointed out that a stone Titan with a sword lodged in its throat may be the answer. It’s located near a checkpoint, but nothing of consequence happens when interacting with the stone. The consensus among Path of Exile 2 players is that Titan’s Treasure is bugged, not unlike Tinker’s Tools which are visible on the world map but never appear in real-time. Unfortunately, developer Grinding Gear Games has yet to address either of these issues, so there’s no official word on when players should expect a fix. Path of Exile 2’s early access went live on December 6 and immediately suffered from technical and server issues. Many of the launch woes have since been resolved, enough that POE2 became one of Steam’s most popular games in a day.
Meet Duke and Dexter - Humberside Police's two newest good boys with a nose for techBy MICHELLE L. PRICE and ROB GILLIES NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s recent dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his visit to Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral were not just exercises in policy and diplomacy. They were also prime trolling opportunities for Trump. Related Articles National Politics | Trump names Andrew Ferguson as head of Federal Trade Commission to replace Lina Khan National Politics | Biden issues veto threat on bill expanding federal judiciary as partisan split emerges National Politics | Trump lawyers and aide hit with 10 additional felony charges in Wisconsin over 2020 fake electors National Politics | After withdrawing as attorney general nominee, Matt Gaetz lands a talk show on OANN television National Politics | What will happen to Social Security under Trump’s tax plan? Throughout his first term in the White House and during his campaign to return, Trump has spun out countless provocative, antagonizing and mocking statements. There were his belittling nicknames for political opponents, his impressions of other political figures and the plentiful memes he shared on social media. Now that’s he’s preparing to return to the Oval Office, Trump is back at it, and his trolling is attracting more attention — and eyerolls. On Sunday, Trump turned a photo of himself seated near a smiling first lady Jill Biden at the Notre Dame ceremony into a social media promo for his new perfume and cologne line, with the tag line, “A fragrance your enemies can’t resist!” The first lady’s office declined to comment. When Trudeau hastily flew to Florida to meet with Trump last month over the president-elect’s threat to impose a 25% tax on all Canadian products entering the U.S., the Republican tossed out the idea that Canada become the 51st U.S. state. The Canadians passed off the comment as a joke, but Trump has continued to play up the dig, including in a post Tuesday morning on his social media network referring to the prime minister as “Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.” After decades as an entertainer and tabloid fixture, Trump has a flair for the provocative that is aimed at attracting attention and, in his most recent incarnation as a politician, mobilizing fans. He has long relished poking at his opponents, both to demean and minimize them and to delight supporters who share his irreverent comments and posts widely online and cheer for them in person. Trump, to the joy of his fans, first publicly needled Canada on his social media network a week ago when he posted an AI-generated image that showed him standing on a mountain with a Canadian flag next to him and the caption “Oh Canada!” After his latest post, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Tuesday: “It sounds like we’re living in a episode of South Park.” Trudeau said earlier this week that when it comes to Trump, “his approach will often be to challenge people, to destabilize a negotiating partner, to offer uncertainty and even sometimes a bit of chaos into the well established hallways of democracies and institutions and one of the most important things for us to do is not to freak out, not to panic.” Even Thanksgiving dinner isn’t a trolling-free zone for Trump’s adversaries. On Thanksgiving Day, Trump posted a movie clip from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” with President Joe Biden and other Democrats’ faces superimposed on the characters in a spoof of the turkey-carving scene. The video shows Trump appearing to explode out of the turkey in a swirl of purple sparks, with the former president stiffly dancing to one of his favorite songs, Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” In his most recent presidential campaign, Trump mocked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, refusing to call his GOP primary opponent by his real name and instead dubbing him “Ron DeSanctimonious.” He added, for good measure, in a post on his Truth Social network: “I will never call Ron DeSanctimonious ‘Meatball’ Ron, as the Fake News is insisting I will.” As he campaigned against Biden, Trump taunted him in online posts and with comments and impressions at his rallies, deriding the president over his intellect, his walk, his golf game and even his beach body. After Vice President Kamala Harris took over Biden’s spot as the Democratic nominee, Trump repeatedly suggested she never worked at McDonalds while in college. Trump, true to form, turned his mocking into a spectacle by appearing at a Pennsylvania McDonalds in October, when he manned the fries station and held an impromptu news conference from the restaurant drive-thru. Trump’s team thinks people should get a sense of humor. “President Trump is a master at messaging and he’s always relatable to the average person, whereas many media members take themselves too seriously and have no concept of anything else other than suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome,” said Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director. “President Trump will Make America Great Again and we are getting back to a sense of optimism after a tumultuous four years.” Though both the Biden and Harris campaigns created and shared memes and launched other stunts to respond to Trump’s taunts, so far America’s neighbors to the north are not taking the bait. “I don’t think we should necessarily look on Truth Social for public policy,” Miller said. Gerald Butts, a former top adviser to Trudeau and a close friend, said Trump brought up the 51st state line to Trudeau repeatedly during Trump’s first term in office. “Oh God,” Butts said Tuesday, “At least a half dozen times.” “This is who he is and what he does. He’s trying to destabilize everybody and make people anxious,” Butts said. “He’s trying to get people on the defensive and anxious and therefore willing to do things they wouldn’t otherwise entertain if they had their wits about them. I don’t know why anybody is surprised by it.” Gillies reported from Toronto. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.
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China has made diplomatic inroads in Latin America, where trade concerns have led some countries to end relations with Taiwan. The South American nation of Paraguay has expelled a Chinese diplomat on the grounds of alleged “interference in domestic affairs”. Paraguay’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that the visa of Xu Wei, a Chinese envoy, had been cancelled. The country gave him 24 hours to leave, declaring him persona non grata. Xu allegedly told lawmakers that they must choose between relations with Taiwan and China after a surprise appearance at Paraguay’s Congress. He had been in the country to attend an annual conference for UNESCO, the United Nations body for international cooperation in culture, sciences and the arts. “This gentleman had a parallel agenda. He came to do internal politics that were not appropriate,” said Juan Baiardi, the deputy minister of administration and technical affairs for Paraguay’s Foreign Ministry. Paraguay is part of a dwindling number of countries that maintain diplomatic relations with the self-governing island of Taiwan. China, which claims the territory of Taiwan as its own , requires countries to choose between recognition of Taiwan and maintaining ties with its government in Beijing. Only 12 countries choose to recognise Taiwan — and Paraguay is the only one to do so in South America. On Wednesday, Xu skipped the UNESCO meeting and instead met with officials in Paraguay’s capital of Asuncion, where he called on lawmakers to ditch Taiwan and bolster ties with China. “It is either China or Taiwan,” he said. “I recommend that the government of Paraguay make a correct decision as soon as possible.” Xu added that relations with China would come with increased opportunities for trade, along with “thousands of other advantages”. Speaking to the press afterwards, Xu repeated his argument that forging diplomatic ties with China, instead of Taiwan, would pay economic dividends. “Currently, there is almost no direct trade or exports from Paraguay to China,” he said. “It’s a great shame. Paraguayans are giving away their profits to intermediaries. But with diplomatic relations with China, you can earn more.” As countries like Brazil and Argentina enjoy robust exports of products such as beef and soybeans to China, some members of Paraguay’s Congress have suggested that making the switch could be beneficial. In recent years, a number of Latin American countries — including Honduras , Panama, the Dominican Republic and El Salvador — have cut ties with Taipei in favour of Beijing, whose influence in the region has expanded alongside trade agreements that offer lucrative access to its huge markets. Xu urged Paraguay’s officials to likewise choose China over Taiwan, saying the matter cannot be negotiated. “It is not an option to choose both China and Taiwan. No, it’s ‘or’. Either China or Taiwan,” Xu said. “In my case, I recommend that the government of Paraguay make the right decision as soon as possible.” For its part, Taiwan has reacted angrily to Chinese efforts to roll back its diplomatic recognition abroad, and it responded forcefully to Xu’s petition in Paraguay. “He infiltrated Paraguay with an unknown purpose, to undermine the firm friendship between Paraguay and Taiwan,” the Taiwanese embassy in the country said in a social media post.