Jeremy Allen White Joins Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu CastDetroit Pistons @ Sacramento Kings Current Records: Detroit 13-17, Sacramento 13-17 When: Thursday, December 26, 2024 at 10 p.m. ET Where: Golden 1 Center -- Sacramento, California TV: FanDuel SN - Detroit Follow: CBS Sports App Online streaming: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.) Ticket Cost: $44.44 The Detroit Pistons' road trip will continue as they head out to face the Sacramento Kings at 10:00 p.m. ET on Thursday at Golden 1 Center. The Pistons pulled off an upset win in their last outing, and are hoping to pull that off once more against the 5.5-point favorite Kings. The Pistons will bounce into Thursday's match after (finally) beating the Lakers, who they had gone 2-8 against in their ten prior meetings. The Pistons narrowly escaped with a victory as the team sidled past the Lakers 117-114. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win Detroit has posted since November 25th. Meanwhile, the Kings' recent rough patch got a bit rougher on Sunday after their fourth straight loss. Their bruising 122-95 defeat to the Pacers might stick with them for a while. It was supposed to be a close game, and Sacramento was supposed to come out on top, but clearly nobody told Indiana. Even though they lost, the Kings smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 15 offensive rebounds. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as the Pacers only pulled down six. Detroit has been performing well recently as they've won three of their last four contests, which provided a nice bump to their 13-17 record this season. As for Sacramento, their loss dropped their record down to an identical 13-17. The Pistons beat the Kings 133-120 in their previous meeting back in February. One of the biggest obstacles the team faced in that game was the Kings' Domantas Sabonis, who dropped a double-double on 30 points and 12 rebounds. Now that he's got a second chance to win this matchup, will the Pistons still be able to contain Sabonis? Check CBSSports.com after the match to find out. Sacramento is a solid 5.5-point favorite against Detroit, according to the latest NBA odds . The oddsmakers had a good feel for the line for this one, as the game opened with the Kings as a 5-point favorite. The over/under is 227.5 points. See NBA picks for every single game, including this one, from SportsLine's advanced computer model. Get picks now . Sacramento has won 6 out of their last 10 games against Detroit. Feb 07, 2024 - Detroit 133 vs. Sacramento 120 Jan 09, 2024 - Sacramento 131 vs. Detroit 110 Dec 16, 2022 - Sacramento 122 vs. Detroit 113 Nov 20, 2022 - Sacramento 137 vs. Detroit 129 Jan 19, 2022 - Detroit 133 vs. Sacramento 131 Nov 15, 2021 - Sacramento 129 vs. Detroit 107 Apr 08, 2021 - Detroit 113 vs. Sacramento 101 Feb 26, 2021 - Sacramento 110 vs. Detroit 107 Mar 01, 2020 - Sacramento 106 vs. Detroit 100 Jan 22, 2020 - Detroit 127 vs. Sacramento 106
Australia, Nauru announce landmark security treatySyrian rebels overthrew President Bashar Assad on Dec. 8, ending his family’s more than 50 years of rule in the country. Assad reportedly fled to Russia, where he was granted political asylum. One image shared across social media appears to show Assad and his wife arriving in Russia after fleeing Syria. A video shared thousands of times appears to show the aftermath of his plane after it crashed. A graphic image of a man being tortured has been shared with claims it shows a real scene from inside one of the notorious prisons in Syria. Does this image show Assad and his wife arriving in Russia? Syria Stream video from Feb. 10, 2023 RevEye , a reverse image search tool No, this image doesn’t show Assad and his wife arriving in Russia. It’s from February 2023 and was taken in Syria. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed to TASS, a Russian news agency, that Assad and his family were granted political asylum in Russia, but VERIFY has been unable to find any photographic evidence of their arrival in the country. The image being shared is nearly two years old. Using RevEye, VERIFY conducted a reverse image search and found the image was lifted from this video posted to YouTube on Feb. 10, 2023 by Syria Stream , a channel that posts Syrian news footage. The video shows Assad visiting a hospital in Aleppo, Syria, on Feb. 10, 2023, after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the region. When comparing the viral image and the 2023 video, Assad and his wife are wearing the same outfits, standing with the same people and walking through the same hallway. Does this video posted on social media show the aftermath of Assad’s plane crash? Video posted to X on Sept. 3, 2024 Indian Air Force X post from Sept. 2, 2024 InVid and RevEye , video and photo forensics tools No, this video doesn’t show the aftermath of Assad’s plane crash. The video predates Assad’s ousting from the Syrian government. This video doesn’t show the aftermath of Assad’s plane crashing. It shows a different plane crash and is unrelated to the recent events in Syria. Using InVid , a video forensics tool, VERIFY analyzed the video and conducted a reverse image search of each frame. The same video was posted to X on Sept. 3, 2024 , appearing to show an Indian Air Force plane crash near the Indian border with Pakistan. The original post says, “A MiG-29UPG of the #India 's Air Force crashed last night near the border with #Pakistan , tallying at the 6th crash of the IAF in 2024 till date.” The Indian Air Force confirmed the crash , saying the IAF MiG-29 crashed after a malfunction and the pilot was able to eject safely. TASS, a Russian news agency, reported that Assad and his family members arrived in Moscow, and did not die in a plane crash. Does this image show a real scene of torture under Assad’s reign in Syria? Dana News and Akharin Khabar , Persian news sites Egrat Museum’s Instagram page RevEye , a reverse image search tool No, the image doesn’t show a real scene of torture under Assad’s reign. It is actually a wax museum exhibit in Iran. Human rights organizations have long accused Assad and the Syrian government of torture, but this image does not show that. It’s actually an image of an exhibit at the Ebrat Museum in Tehran, Iran. The museum, a former prison, uses wax mannequins to portray human rights abuses carried out by the SAVAK, Iran’s pre-revolution intelligence agency. Nearly identical images from the exhibit, featured in Persian news articles about the museum, match the scene falsely claimed to depict Syria. The museum has posted images of similar wax figures on Instagram. What we can VERIFY about the ‘TikTok ban’ bill Yes, an Italian village is offering $1 homes to Americans following the election What we can VERIFY about Enron’s return to the internet The VERIFY team works to separate fact from fiction so that you can understand what is true and false. Please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter , text alerts and our YouTube channel . You can also follow us on Snapchat , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok . Learn More » YouTube Snapchat Instagram Facebook TikTok Text: 202-410-8808
Apple's iPad 10th-Gen is $70 off at Walmart ahead of the holiday shopping rush
5 brunch recipes to have on hand for entertaining seasonBy CHRISTINE FERNANDO CHICAGO (AP) — As Donald Trump’s Cabinet begins to take shape, those on both sides of the abortion debate are watching closely for clues about how his picks might affect reproductive rights policy in the president-elect’s second term . Trump’s cabinet picks offer a preview of how his administration could handle abortion after he repeatedly flip-flopped on the issue on the campaign trail. He attempted to distance himself from anti-abortion allies by deferring to states on abortion policy, even while boasting about nominating three Supreme Court justices who helped strike down the constitutional protections for abortion that had stood for half a century. In an NBC News interview that aired Sunday, Trump said he doesn’t plan to restrict medication abortion but also seemed to leave the door open, saying “things change.” “Things do change, but I don’t think it’s going to change at all,” he said. The early lineup of his new administration , including nominations to lead health agencies, the Justice Department and event the Department of Veterans Affairs, has garnered mixed — but generally positive — reactions from anti-abortion groups. Abortion law experts said Trump’s decision to include fewer candidates with deep ties to the anti-abortion movement could indicate that abortion will not be a priority for Trump’s administration. “It almost seems to suggest that President Trump might be focusing his administration in other directions,” said Greer Donley, an associate law professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Karen Stone, vice president of public policy at Planned Parenthood Action Fund , said while many of the nominees have “extensive records against reproductive health care,” some do not. She cautioned against making assumptions based on Trump’s initial cabinet selections. Still, many abortion rights groups are wary, in part because many of the nominees hold strong anti-abortion views even if they do not have direct ties to anti-abortion activists. They’re concerned that an administration filled with top-level officials who are personally opposed to abortion could take steps to restrict access to the procedure and funding. After Trump’s ambiguity about abortion during his campaign, “there’s still a lot we don’t know about what policy is going to look like,” said Mary Ruth Ziegler, a law professor at the University of California, Davis School of Law. That approach may be revealed as the staffs within key departments are announced. Trump announced he would nominate anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Health and Human Services Department, which anti-abortion forces have long targeted as central to curtailing abortion rights nationwide. Yet Kennedy shifted on the issue during his own presidential campaign. In campaign videos, Kennedy said he supports abortion access until viability , which doctors say is sometime after 21 weeks, although there is no defined timeframe. But he also said “every abortion is a tragedy” and argued for a national ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy, a stance he quickly walked back. The head of Health and Human Services oversees Title X funding for a host of family planning services and has sweeping authority over agencies that directly affect abortion access, including the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The role is especially vital amid legal battles over a federal law known as EMTALA, which President Joe Biden’s administration has argued requires emergency abortion access nationwide, and FDA approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. Mini Timmaraju, president of the national abortion rights organization Reproductive Freedom for All, called Kennedy an “unfit, unqualified extremist who cannot be trusted to protect the health, safety and reproductive freedom of American families.” His potential nomination also has caused waves in the anti-abortion movement. Former Vice President Mike Pence , a staunch abortion opponent, urged the Senate to reject Kennedy’s nomination. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the national anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said the group had its own concerns about Kennedy. “There’s no question that we need a pro-life HHS secretary,” she said. Fox News correspondent Marty Makary is Trump’s pick to lead the FDA, which plays a critical role in access to medication abortion and contraception. Abortion rights groups have accused him of sharing misinformation about abortion on air. Russell Vought , a staunch anti-abortion conservative, has been nominated for director of the Office of Management and Budget. Vought was a key architect of Project 2025 , a right-wing blueprint for running the federal government. Among other actions to limit reproductive rights, it calls for eliminating access to medication abortion nationwide, cutting Medicaid funding for abortion and restricting access to contraceptive care, especially long-acting reversible contraceptives such as IUD’s. Despite distancing himself from the conservative manifesto on the campaign trail, Trump is stocking his administration with people who played central roles in developing Project 2025. Trump acknowledged that drafters of the report would be part of his incoming administration during the Sunday interview with NBC News, saying “Many of those things I happen to agree with.” “These cabinet appointments all confirm that Project 2025 was in fact the blueprint all along, and the alarm we saw about it was warranted,” said Amy Williams Navarro, director of government relations for Reproductive Freedom for All. Dr. Mehmet Oz , Trump’s choice to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is a former television talk show host who has been accused of hawking dubious medical treatments and products. He voiced contradictory abortion views during his failed Senate run in 2022. Oz has described himself as “strongly pro-life, praised the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade , claimed “life starts at conception” and referred to abortion as “murder.” But he also has echoed Trump’s states-rights approach, arguing the federal government should not be involved in abortion decisions. “I want women, doctors, local political leaders, letting the democracy that’s always allowed our nation to thrive to put the best ideas forward so states can decide for themselves,” he said during a Senate debate two years ago. An array of reproductive rights groups opposed his Senate run. As CMS administrator, Oz would be in a key position to determine Medicaid coverage for family planning services and investigate potential EMTALA violations. Related Articles 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 attorney Alina Habba, a Lehigh University grad, to serve as counselor to the president National Politics | With Trump on the way, advocates look to states to pick up medical debt fight National Politics | Trump taps forceful ally of hard-line immigration policies to head Customs and Border Protection As Florida’s attorney general, Pam Bondi defended abortion restrictions, including a 24-hour waiting period. Now she’s Trump’s choice for attorney general . Her nomination is being celebrated by abortion opponents but denounced by abortion rights groups concerned she may revive the Comstock Act , an anti-vice law passed by Congress in 1873 that, among other things, bans mailing of medication or instruments used in abortion. An anti-abortion and anti-vaccine former Florida congressman, David Weldon, has been chosen to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which collects and monitors abortion data across the country. Former Republican congressman Doug Collins is Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs amid a political battle over abortion access and funding for troops and veterans. Collins voted consistently to restrict funding and access to abortion and celebrated the overturning of Roe v. Wade. “This is a team that the pro-life movement can work with,” said Kristin Hawkins, president of the national anti-abortion organization Students for Life.Hilton Cartwright has revealed he had fears of being left paralysed while laying prone on the Optus Stadium turf in the BBL season opener. Cartwright sent a scare through Australian cricket last week, after falling awkwardly in the field in the Melbourne Stars' season-opening loss to Perth. He was taken from the field in a neck brace and medicab, before being quickly cleared of any serious damage in hospital and being released back to Melbourne. Incredibly, the former Test representative returned to play for the Stars just three days later against Brisbane, and has not missed a game yet this season. Speaking for the first time since the injury, Cartwright admitted his mind had spiralled quickly while laying on the turf with what was ultimately a case of whiplash. "It was an extraordinary series of events. It looked worse because there was no information surrounding it," Cartwright said. "My neck pain had subsided quite a lot by the time I was on the sidelines, it was all on one side. Needless to say the doctors did a great job with how they handled it. "But my mind spun to the worst-case scenario about being paralysed, or strokes. "My mind was completely spinning. But thankfully I was home that night and I haven't had any serious repercussions from it." After diving for a ball in the outfield, Cartwright's neck snapped back quickly and he was left to lay on the ground for close to five minutes while receiving medical attention. Adding to the concern was that the 32-year-old became a father for the second time in October, with another toddler also at home. "As soon as all that pain subsided I started thinking around all the short-term side effects," the West Australian said. "Am I going to be in a neck brace for a couple of months whilst we have a newborn? "It would not only be tough on me, but tough on my partner. Thankfully everything got cleared and there were no issues. So far so good." The batting allrounder said he had been able to class the incident as a "freak" accident, helping it not play on his mind while in the field since. Cartwright's comments came as the Stars slumped to a fourth straight loss to start the season, with the Sydney Sixers chasing down 195 against them with 11 balls and two wickets to spare at the SCG. The Melbourne club will now likely need to win at least five of their last six to have any hope of making the finals, beginning with Saturday night against Brisbane. Otherwise, they risk missing for a fifth straight season. "If we're being true to ourselves we want to win all six games to give ourselves a chance," Cartwright said.Danica Patrick Applauds Walmart For Controversial Business Announcement
"Ek Hai Toh Safe Hai": PM's Swipe At Defeated Alliance MVA In MaharashtraNoneStock indexes drifted to a mixed finish on Wall Street Thursday, as some heavyweight technology and communications sector stocks offset gains elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 fell less than 0.1% after spending the day wavering between small gains and losses. The tiny loss ended the benchmark index's three-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%. Trading volume was lighter than usual as U.S. markets reopened following the Christmas holiday. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, slipped 0.2%. Meta Platforms fell 0.7%, and Amazon and Netflix each fell 0.9%. Tesla was among the biggest decliners in the S&P 500, finishing 1.8% lower. Some tech companies fared better. Chip company Broadcom rose 2.4%, Micron Technology added 0.6% and Adobe gained 0.5%. Health care stocks were a bright spot. CVS Health rose 1.5% and Walgreens Boots Alliance added 5.3% for the biggest gain among S&P 500 stocks. Several retailers also gained ground. Target rose 3%, Ross Stores added 2.3%, Best Buy rose 2.9% and Dollar Tree gained 3.8%. Traders are watching to see whether retailers have a strong holiday season. The day after Christmas traditionally ranks among the top 10 biggest shopping days of the year, as consumers go online or rush to stores to cash in gift cards and raid bargain bins. U.S.-listed shares in Honda and Nissan rose 4.1% and 16.4%, respectively. The Japanese automakers announced earlier this week that the two companies are in talks to combine. All told, the S&P 500 fell 2.45 points to 6,037.59. The Dow added 28.77 points to 43,325.80. The Nasdaq fell 10.77 points to close at 20,020.36. Wall Street got a labor market update. U.S. applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week , though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years, the Labor Department reported. Treasury yields mostly fell in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped to 4.58% from 4.59% late Tuesday. Major European markets were closed, as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar. Still, U.S. markets have historically gotten a boost at year’s end despite lower trading volumes. The last five trading days of each year, plus the first two in the new year, have brought an average gain of 1.3% since 1950. So far this month, the U.S. stock market has lost some of its gains since President-elect Donald Trump’s win on Election Day, which raised hopes for faster economic growth and more lax regulations that would boost corporate profits. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Even so, the U.S. market remains on pace to deliver strong returns for 2024. The benchmark S&P 500 is up 26.6% so far this year and remains near its most recent all-time high it set earlier this month — its latest of 57 record highs this year. Wall Street has several economic reports to look forward to next week, including updates on pending home sales and home prices, a report on U.S. construction spending and snapshots of manufacturing activity. AP Business Writers Elaine Kurtenbach and Matt Ott contributed.
Stock market today: Wall Street rises with Nvidia as bitcoin bursts above $99,000ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Justin Staffone got home from work, settled into his Orchard Park home and showed off some of his finest gametime 'fit.' "This is the first jersey that I bought from the store with my best friend Brandon, and he bought a Jordan Poyer jersey," Steffone said pointing out a Micah Hyde jersey laid out on the living room table. "This is the only jersey that I can wear and not mess it up, because the other two that I have are signed." The jersey for any closet is a given, if you tuned into the Buffalo Bills - Kansas City Chiefs game, you might recognize these. "I got these originally just for the 4th of July. The home opener against the Cardinals, I wore these with nothing else. Just just the overalls," he remembered. "Everyone stopped me for photos. A New York State Sheriff came up to me after I got on the jumbotron and gave me the nickname 'Big Sexxy.' So that's how that came along." So a nickname was born, an iconic outfit and Justin's positive attitude staked out the CBS broadcast booth. "I'm an extrovert. I can make friends easily, you know, I'm just here for a good time and to make some, some good memories with people that I don't even know," he said. One thing lead to another. "This is me and Matt Ryan, this is a photo of me and Nate before the bet was made, and this is a styrofoam container of Matt Ryan's. Be fun to work. He gave me his leftovers," he scrolled through photos and videos from the game on his phone. And then what most people who tuned in or saw on social media will remember for years to come. "So the bet happened. I'm just sitting there and we're just. I'm chirping back and forth with everyone," he said. The bet was a quality coat from analyst Nate Burleson for a Bills win. But Justin didn't have a ticket so he went to go collect. "So I went around this way to go to the stadium, and apparently Nate came around this way and we just missed each other," he remarked. Never fear, two days later the box came. "A bet is a bet. I'm a man of my word. So here is my coat, as promised," Justin read from a note that came with the red jacket. Since then Justin's been on a relative tour to show it off. "Here's a photo of me in the jacket at the Townhouse, holding a plate of chicken wings and a Twisted Tea," he said, showing off his favorite local wing spot. But he'd love to wear this jacket in a few months to show nobody should bet against the Bills. "To wear all this on Super Bowl Sunday, especially if the Bills make it, I think I would cry," he said. "That would, that would be the icing, the cherry on top to, not only a birthday and this jacket as a late gift, but to a team that deserves it more than anyone right now in the league." It might need a bit of tailoring, but the legend of this jacket is just beginning.
Two prototypes for China's future stealth strike fighter took the skies in broad daylight. Both appear to be advanced flying wing designs useful for attack missions. China watchers buzzed about the possible roles of a fighter that could rival US aircraft. Two prototypes for China's future stealth strike fighter took the skies in broad daylight in recent days, showcasing China's growing aerospace might as it tries to match the US. Advertisement The designs appeared intended to make a splash. One showed a triangular aircraft similar to America's retired F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter , with some notable differences. The prototype by Chengdu Aerospace Corporation lacked a tail and fin-like vertical stabilizers and was powered by three engines; a new video shows it in a low-altitude turn accompanied by a J-20 Mighty Dragon stealth fighter. Photos and videos also recently captured a stealth prototype, attributed to Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, fueling speculation the aircraft may be rivals. Advertisement pic.twitter.com/IZ9BlwjoOc — Justin Bronk (@Justin_Br0nk) December 26, 2024 The sightings immediately prompted questions among aviation watchers about whether these designs were stealthy strike aircraft (designed to ground-attack areas guarded by air defenses ) or contenders for a leap-ahead sixth-generation air superiority fighter , of the sort the US is struggling to define. Related stories "Fascinating that the [People's Liberation Army Air Force/Chinese Communist Party] have chosen to fly this prototype in daylight now," Justin Bronk, an airpower expert at the UK's RUSI think tank, said on X. "I suspect more likely to be the 5th Gen regional bomber/strike fighter project sometimes called J/H-XX." A Defense Department report released in mid-December said that China "is developing new medium- and long-range stealth bombers to strike regional and global targets." Advertisement Some more better-resolution images of CAC‘s 6th generation fighter prototype/demonstrator pic.twitter.com/FzQFyCg7AA — @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) December 26, 2024 Both prototype aircraft appear to be flying wing designs, which more efficiently distribute an aircraft's load and reduce drag. These aircraft are more inherently unstable and require automated fly-by-wire systems that constantly change the aircraft's flight controls. The US Air Force has leaned into this design with its Northrop B-2 Spirit and Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider bombers. By eliminating a tail and vertical stabilizers, the flying wing reduces the number of angled surfaces that can produce radar returns. These types of aircraft may be able to strike defended areas before being detected on radar.Jessica Hamilton, a clinical psychologist at University of Kansas Health System, said people concerned about bitter political arguments during Thanksgiving gatherings could opt out of those conversations. She said holiday dinner hosts could set boundaries for guests to forbid quarrels about the November election. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from KU Health System YouTube channel) TOPEKA — Personal political agendas, social-media inflamed partisanship and tough-to-swallow outcomes in the 2024 election are likely to simmer as families with divergent perspectives gather around dinner tables for annual Thanksgiving meals. Instead of settling whether it was acceptable to substitute lasagna for turkey as the main course, folks were likely to argue about attributes and shortcomings of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Rather than consider whether the menu should include fried apples, braised collard greens, macaroni and cheese or roasted broccoli, relatives could slide into debate on the potential of tariffs igniting inflation. In lieu of conversation about whether pecan pie should be displaced by English toffee for dessert, diners might bicker about implications of Republicans simultaneously controlling the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. Clinical psychologists Greg Nawalanic and Jessica Hamilton, of the University of Kansas Health System, said supper-time strife could be reduced by taking a healthy approach to political differences. They recommended families and friends strive to set boundaries, be courteous, actively listen to others, express curiosity and focus on the big picture of a holiday associated with counting blessings. “If you are on the winning side, then that’s great for you. Have those feelings. Celebrate it. Maybe keep it inside of you. Talk to like-minded people about that,” Nawalanic said. “But when you have friends or family who were opposing, try to be gracious about it. Remember, they were just as invested as you were ... but now are very disappointed.” He said that during the two weeks after the Nov. 5 election about 90% of his counseling sessions were tied to ballot-box results. Hamilton said some of her patients were suffering anticipatory anxiety because they understood their personal political ideas didn’t align with others in the family. Some clients, she said, were experiencing political grief because a majority of voters didn’t see national, state or local candidates in the same way or took a contrary position on taxation, gambling or abortion questions. She said the desire of people to stand up for personal values made it difficult to accept the political opinions of rivals. One option on Thanksgiving was to not participate in political dialogue at the dinner table, she said. Those who do ought to take a deep breath before commenting to avoid escalating a rhetorical quarrel, she said. “If you want to engage, I would say engage in a way that is true to the kind of person that you want to be,” Hamilton said. “Are you wanting to be ‘right’ as far as politics go? Or, do you want to be understanding and recognize that there is a difference and be respectful?” She suggested individuals direct conversations toward poignant or humorous family stories and histories rather than squabble about political events capable of driving people apart. Hamilton said it would be acceptable for a Thanksgiving host to set ground rules in advance that precluded back-and-forth friction on political topics. Adults and children might be well-served by looking at election results through the lens of good sportsmanship, she said. “We teach our kids this,” she said. “Why aren’t we displaying that as adults? How can we be good sports and appreciate one another?” Nawalanic said the environment of some Thanksgiving gatherings could be compared to a visit to a dentist. It might not be pleasant, he said, but the agony was of limited duration. He said individuals consumed political news in different ways with some remaining glued to social media and others taking passive interest until Election Day. He said social media amplified discord during the 2024 elections. In the end, he said, technology played a larger role in this election because messaging left little room to calmly consider the range of candidates and issues. “We have to understand that when we go into these conversations there’s been an echo chamber that is so reinforced and impregnable,” Nawalanic said. “If you try to talk or communicate at your dinner table the way you’re doing it online — if you’re one of those little snipers who wants to nail you — let’s not do that.” He advised people to resist the temptation to sever family relationships based on results of November’s voting. Perhaps it would be best to explore more substantive reasons for contemplating closure of those doors, he said. “If you’re considering ending a relationship because of politics, it’s probably less about the politics and more about personality attributes in the way they’ve gone about it,” Nawalanic said. Nawalanic said it could be useful to snack before arriving for the big Thanksgiving meal, because hunger could trigger what he referred to episodes of “hanger” when controversial topics were broached. He said consumption of alcoholic beverages ought to be minimized at dinners where discord could arise because “wine is not adaptive coping.” He said it was important to remember this year’s snapshot of people around the dinner table was certain to change by next year. “Do you want to look back on this Thanksgiving and think, ‘It was such a nice, lovely family time together and a great meal,'” Nawalanic said. “Or, do you want to remember, ‘I burned her with that comment. When I said that, she felt it.'”
Two Northern Irish players praised for ‘quality’ as their goals condemn Rangers to shock defeat
BSS recently dropped a video for “Teleparty.” The theme was about taking back one’s youth, with the video showing BSS as politicians leading the charge. Crowds held up banners in support of their “party.” Jeans represented the slogan “ youth is now ,” which forms an acrostic for “ jeans ” in Korean. “Voters” gathered for the big rally hosted by BSS. While the theme had already been planned since earlier in 2024, it seemed to have some parallels with recent politcal strife in South Korea with the president being impeached. Protests went on in December to call for the president’s impeachment. This resulted in BSS’s video including an unexpected disclaimer! They reiterated that the video had been planned in the first half of 2024, and was unrelated to any events. The coincidence did not fly over fans’ heads. this is so funny because it immediately opens with a political type rally and dk saying "is your youth hard" after weeks of protest by sk youth https://t.co/8BGEWCCygg — 🌸7 (@minimincheeki) December 26, 2024 Many were proud that the boys stuck to their plans. so glad that bss decided to push through with this concept 😭💖 https://t.co/EwRK5Yh8By — ❄️🐣💎 (@flyingaaaahgase) December 26, 2024 Although the timing is unfortunate, the boys dealt with it in the perfect way! They really didn't want to get cancelled today bsbsbsbs https://t.co/WUDxOTYTsd — || ANCU || MET SVT x2 AB6IX AHS & DIGNITY || (@Ancu___) December 26, 2024 You can watch it below. They really didn't want to get cancelled today bsbsbsbs https://t.co/WUDxOTYTsd — || ANCU || MET SVT x2 AB6IX AHS & DIGNITY || (@Ancu___) December 26, 2024 SEVENTEEN The Handsome Rising Actor Who Makes SEVENTEEN’s Mingyu Look “Small” SEVENTEEN Goes Viral For Their Reaction To BIGBANG SEVENTEEN’s Comments Leave Their Translator In Tears Fan Unexpectedly Gets A Private Shopping Experience With SEVENTEEN’s Dino See more SEVENTEENFlorida State pounds Charleston Southern for second victory of season
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‘Dictatorial’ father of Sara Sharif said daughter ‘brings smile to my face’When Nathan Hecht ran for the Texas Supreme Court in 1988, no Republican had ever been elected to the state’s highest civil court. His election foreshadowed a coming transformation of the court, civil legal procedure and Texas itself. Hecht is the longest tenured Supreme Court justice in Texas history. He won six reelections and led the court as chief justice for more than a decade. He heard more than 2,700 oral arguments, authored 7,000 pages of opinions, and retires now not because he’s had enough, but because state law requires him to. Late on a Friday afternoon, just two weeks before he hung up his robe, he was still in his office, his mind mired in the work that was left to be done. “This is always a really busy time for us, because the opinions are mounting up to be talked about,” he said. “It’ll be busy next week.” Hecht began as a dissenter on a divided court, his conservative positions on abortion, school finance and property rights putting him at odds with the Democratic majority and some moderate Republicans. But as Texas Republicans began dominating up and down the ballot, his minority voice became mainstream on one of the country’s most conservative high courts. In his administration of the court, Hecht has been a fierce advocate for the poor, pushing for more Legal Aid funding, bail reform and lowering the barriers to accessing the justice system. “If justice were food, too many would be starving,” Hecht told lawmakers in 2017. “If it were housing, too many would be homeless. If it were medicine, too many would be sick.” Hecht’s departure leaves a vacancy that Gov. Greg Abbott , a former justice himself, will get to fill. He may elevate a current justice or appoint someone new directly to the chief justice role. Whoever ends up in the top spot will have to run for reelection in 2026. In his typical understated manner, so at odds with the bombast of the other branches of government, Hecht told The Texas Tribune that serving on the court has been the honor of his life. “I have gotten to participate not only in a lot of decisions shaping the jurisprudence of the state, but also in trying to improve the administration of the court system so that it works better and fosters public trust and confidence,” he said. “So I feel good about the past,” he said. “And I feel good about the future.” Born in Clovis, New Mexico, Hecht studied philosophy at Yale before getting his law degree from Southern Methodist University. He clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and returned to Texas, where his reputation preceded him. As a young lawyer, Tom Phillips, a former chief justice and now a partner at Baker Botts, reached out to a Dallas law firm that had promised to hire him the next chance they got. “I called them a few months later and said, ‘So I assume you never got a vacancy,’” Phillips recalls. “And they said, ‘Well, we did, but we had a chance to hire Nathan Hecht, so you’ll understand why we went ahead and did that.’” Hecht was appointed to the district court in 1981 and quickly made a name for himself, pushing the court to modernize their stenography practices and taking the unusual step of writing opinions as a trial judge. He was elected to the court of appeals in 1986, and ran for Texas Supreme Court two years later. This race came at a low point for Texas’ judiciary, after a string of scandals, ethics investigations, eyebrow-raising rulings and national news coverage made several sitting Supreme Court justices household names — and not in a good way. Seeing an opportunity, Hecht challenged one of the incumbents, a Democrat who’d been called out in a damning 60 Minutes segment for friendly relationships with lawyers who both funded his campaigns and argued before the court. Hecht teamed up with Phillips and Eugene Cook, two Republicans who had recently been appointed to the court, and asked voters to “Clean the Slate in ’88,” separating themselves from the Democrats by promising to only accept small donations. “Party politics were changing in the state at the same time, but the broader issue on our court at the time was to ensure that judges were following the law,” Hecht said. “That was a driving issue.” Since Phillips and Cook were incumbents, Hecht was the only one who had to take on a sitting Supreme Court justice. And he won. “It really was a sea change in Texas political history,” Phillips said. “He was the first person ever to do that in a down ballot race, to defeat a Democrat as a Republican.” Republican dominance swept through the Supreme Court as swiftly as it did Texas writ large. The last Democrat would be elected to the court in 1994, just six years after the first Republican. But even among Bush-era Republicans filling the bench, Hecht’s conservatism stood out. In 2000, he wrote a dissent disagreeing with the majority ruling that allowed teens in Texas to get abortions with a judge’s approval if their parents wouldn’t consent, and a few years earlier, ruled in favor of wealthy school districts that wanted to use local taxes to supplement state funds. His pro-business bent stood out next to the court’s history of approving high dollar payouts for plaintiffs. Alex Winslow, the executive director of Texas Watch, a consumer advocacy group, told the New York Times in 2005 that Hecht was “the godfather of the conservative judicial movement in Texas.” “Extremist would be an appropriate description,” Winslow said. “He’s the philosophical leader of the right-wing fringe.” The only other justice who regularly staked out such a conservative position, according to the New York Times, was Priscilla Owen, who President George W. Bush appointed to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2005. Hecht and Owen, who now goes by her maiden name, Richmond, wed in 2022 . Wallace Jefferson, Hecht’s predecessor as chief justice, said Hecht’s sharp intellect and philosophical approach to the law improved the court’s opinions, even when he ultimately didn’t side with the majority. “He was a formidable adversary,” said Jefferson, now a partner at Alexander Dubose & Jefferson. “You knew that you would have to bring your best approach and analysis to overcome Nathan’s approach and analysis ... You had to come prepared and Nathan set the standard for that.” Hecht briefly became a national figure in 2005 when he helped Bush’s efforts to confirm Harriet Miers to the U.S. Supreme Court. As her longtime friend, Hecht gave more than 120 interviews to bolster Miers’ conservative credentials, jokingly calling himself the “PR office for the White House,” Texas Monthly reported at the time . This advocacy work raised ethical questions that Hecht fought for years, starting with a reprimand from the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. Hecht got that overturned. The Texas Ethics Commission then fined him $29,000 for not reporting the discount he got on the legal fees he paid challenging the reprimand. He appealed that fine and the case stretched until 2016 , when he ultimately paid $1,000. Hecht has largely stayed out of the limelight in the decades since, letting his opinions speak for themselves and wading into the political fray mostly to advocate for court reforms. While Democrats have tried to pin unpopular COVID and abortion rulings on the justices in recent elections, Republicans continue to easily win these down-ballot races. Hecht is aware of the perception this one-party dominance creates, and has advocated for Texas to turn away from partisan judicial elections. In his 2023 state of the judiciary address , Hecht warned that growing political divisions were threatening the “judicial independence essential to the rule of law,” pointing to comments by both Democratic politicians and former President Donald Trump. But in an interview, Hecht stressed that most of the cases the Texas Supreme Court considers never make headlines, and are far from the politics that dominate Austin and Washington. “There’s no Republican side to an oil and gas case. There’s no Democrat side to a custody hearing,” he said. “That’s the bread and butter of what we do, and that’s not partisan.” Unlike its federal counterpart, the Texas Supreme Court is often a temporary port of call on a judge’s journey. Many, like Abbott, Sen. John Cornyn and U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett , leave for higher office. Others, like Owen and 5th Circuit Judge Don Willett, leave for higher courts. Most, like Phillips, leave for higher pay in private practice. But Hecht stayed. “I didn’t plan it like this,” Hecht said. “I just kept getting re-elected.” Hecht had been considering retirement in 2013, when Jefferson, the chief justice who replaced Phillips, announced he would be stepping down. “He wanted me to consider being his successor,” Hecht said. “So I did, and here I am. I didn’t say, ‘Let’s spend 43 years on the bench,’ but one thing led to another.” In 2013, Hecht was sworn in as chief justice by then-U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, another great dissenter whose views later became the majority. While the Texas Supreme Court’s political makeup has changed largely without Hecht’s input, the inner workings of the court have been under his purview. And that, many court watchers say, is where his greatest legacy lies. Hecht ushered in an era of modernization, both to the technology and the rules that govern justice in Texas. He led a push to simplify the appellate rules, removing many of the trapdoors and procedural quirks that led to important cases being decided on technicalities. The court scaled back how long cases could drag on by limiting discovery, including how long a deposition can go. And he ensured every case was decided before the term ended, like the U.S. Supreme Court. “I think people generally don’t understand the impact the rules can have on the equitable resolution of disputes, but they’re enormous,” Jefferson said. “Nathan recognized that at an early juncture in his career.” Hecht pushed Texas to adopt e-filing before many other states, which proved prescient when COVID hit. Hecht, who was then president of the national Conference of Chief Justices, was able to help advise other states as they took their systems online. Hecht also dedicated himself to improving poor Texan’s access to the justice system, pushing the Legislature to appropriate more funding for Legal Aid and reducing the barriers to getting meaningful legal resolutions. He helped usher through a rule change that would allow paraprofessionals to handle some legal matters like estate planning, uncontested divorces and consumer debt cases, without a lawyer’s supervision. “Some people call it the justice gap. I call it the justice chasm,” Hecht said. “Because it’s just a huge gulf between the people that need legal help and the ability to provide it.” Hecht said he’s glad this has been taken up as a bipartisan issue, and he’s hopeful that the same attention will be paid even after he leaves the court. “No judge wants to give his life’s energy to a work that mocks the justice that he’s trying to provide,” he said. “For the judiciary, this is an important issue, because when the promise of equal justice under law is denied because you’re too poor, there’s no such thing as equal justice under the law.” Despite the sudden departure of their longtime leader, the Texas Supreme Court will return in January to finish out its term, which ends in April. Among the typical parsing of medical malpractice provisions, oil and gas leases, divorce settlements and sovereign immunity protections, the high court has a number of more attention-grabbing cases on its docket this year. Earlier this year, the court heard oral arguments about the Department of Family and Protective Services’ oversight of immigration detention facilities, and in mid-January, they’ll consider Attorney General Ken Paxton’s efforts to subpoena Annunciation House, an El Paso nonprofit that serves migrants. They’ll also hear arguments over Southern Methodist University’s efforts to cut ties with the regional governing body of the United Methodist Church. Other cases will be added to the schedule before April. Phillips, who has argued numerous cases before the Texas Supreme Court since leaving the bench, said Hecht’s loss will be felt, but he expects the court to continue apace. “It’s not a situation like it might have been at some point in the past where if one justice left, nobody would know what to do next,” he said. “It’s an extremely qualified court.” As for Hecht, he’s tried to put off thinking too much about what comes next for him. He still has opinions to write and work to finish. He knows he wants to stay active in efforts to improve court administration nationally and in Texas, and he’s threatened his colleagues with writing a tell-all book, just to keep them on their toes. But beyond that, he’s waiting for the reality of retirement to sink in before he decides on his next steps. “We’ve got 3,200 judges in Texas, plus adjuncts and associate judges and others,” he said. “I really think it’s such a strong bench, and I am proud to have been a part of it. I look forward to helping where I can.” This story was originally published by The Texas Tribune and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.
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Kamikaze drones, or loitering munitions, are revolutionizing modern warfare with their unique blend of stealth, accessibility, and deadly precision. These drones are difficult to detect, inexpensive to produce, and disturbingly easy to deploy, allowing even smaller groups to access cutting-edge military technology. Designed to loiter in the air before targeting and striking with explosive payloads, they can blend seamlessly into civilian areas, making them particularly hard to counter. This combination of factors has made them a growing threat on the battlefield and a challenge for global security forces. To combat this rising threat, military organizations are developing a range of defensive measures, from advanced radar systems to detect drones early, to electronic jamming technologies that disrupt their communication and navigation. AI-driven defense networks are also being implemented to identify and neutralize drones more effectively. Despite these advancements, the rapid evolution of drone technology and the relative ease of their acquisition mean the threat is far from under control. The race to develop countermeasures is ongoing, as nations strive to adapt to the growing use of kamikaze drones in conflicts around the world.