FILE PHOTO: Aug 6, 2023; Frisco, TX, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) reacts after scoring in the second half against FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo Lionel Messi has been named the 2024 Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player following a campaign in which he captained Inter Miami to their first-ever Supporters' Shield as top club in the regular season, the league said on Friday. In his first full MLS season after joining Miami in July 2023, Messi had 20 goals and 16 assists in 19 matches while his club set a league record with a 74-point campaign before a stunning first-round elimination from the playoffs. "I would have liked to receive this award in another situation, being able to play the final (on) Saturday," Messi said in comments provided by MLS from MVP ceremony. "We had a big dream of being MLS champions this year. It didn't happen, but next year we'll come back stronger to try again." For Messi, the MVP award is yet another accolade in an illustrious career that includes a World Cup winner's medal and a record eight Ballon d'Or awards as the world's best soccer player. The 37-year-old Argentine is the first player in Inter Miami history to earn the MLS's highest individual honour, which was renamed in 2015 after former MVP Donovan, who played a key role is establishing the league. The Miami captain also joined Mexico's Carlos Vela in 2019 (LAFC, 34 goals, 15 assists) and Italy's Sebastian Giovinco in 2015 (Toronto FC, 22 goals, 16 assists) as the only players in MLS history with at least 20 goals and 15 assists in a season. Messi beat out Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernandez, Portland Timbers midfielder Evander, D.C. United’s Christian Benteke and Miami teammate Luis Suarez to take home the award. "Leo, congratulations. On behalf of our entire league, all of our country, and everybody that loves the game here and throughout the world, we're honoured to have you in our league," said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. "To have the best player in the world be the best player in Major League Soccer is something that dreams are made of for all of us." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now
Jeeno Thitikul makes late charge to catch Angel Yin in the LPGA finalePete Hegseth, president-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of Defense, has close ties to an Idaho-based Christian nationalist church that aims to turn America into a theocracy. Hegseth is a member of a Tennessee congregation affiliated with Christ Church, a controversial congregation in Moscow, Idaho, that has become a leader in the movement to get more Christianity in the public sphere. In an appearance last year on the Christ Church-connected streaming show “Crosspolitic,” Hegseth talked about how building up fundamentalist Christian education systems is important in what he sees as a “spiritual battle” with the secular world. He sees Christian students as foot soldiers in that war and refers to Christian schools as “boot camp.” “We’re in middle phase one right now, which is effectively a tactical retreat where you regroup, consolidate and reorganize and as you do so, you build your army underground with the opportunity later on of taking offensive operations — and obviously all of this is metaphorical and all that good stuff,” he said on the show. Hegseth did not immediately respond to requests for an interview. Hegseth has spoken positively about Christ Church Pastor Doug Wilson’s writings Christ Church is led by Pastor Doug Wilson, who founded the Calvinist group of churches called the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, or CREC. CREC has congregations in nearly all 50 states and several foreign countries. Hegseth’s church is a member of CREC, and Hegseth has spoken positively of Wilson’s writings. Wilson and his allies have a rigid patriarchal belief system and don’t believe in the separation of church and state. They support taking away the right to vote from most women, barring non-Christians from holding office and criminalizing the LGBTQ+ community. Recently, Wilson has increased his influence nationally as he’s built a religious, educational and media empire. His Association of Classical Christian Schools has hundreds of fundamentalist schools around the country, and his publishing outfit Canon Press churns out dozens of titles a year as well as popular streaming shows that highlight unyielding socially conservative ideals. In the recently released podcast, “Extremely American” (created by this reporter), Wilson says one of his goals is to get like-minded people into positions of influence. In an emailed response for this story, he said he’s closer to that post-election and that he supports Hegseth’s nomination, though he downplayed any influence he has on him. “I was grateful for Trump’s win, and believe that it is much more likely that Christians with views similar to mine will receive positions in the new administration,” he said. Hegseth nomination could threaten cohesion, diversity of U.S. military, experts say That’s what worries Air Force veteran Mikey Weinstein, who is the president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. Weinstein says Hegseth, if confirmed as secretary of Defense, would threaten the cohesion of a religiously and racially diverse U.S. military. “Pete Hegseth is a poster child for literally everything that would be the opposite of what you would want to have for someone who’s controlling the technologically most lethal organization in the history of this country,” he said. Weinstein sees Hegseth’s nomination as an example of the dangers of Project 2025, a 900-page policy paper written by far-right political activists. It lays out a plan to gut the federal government and install Christian nationalist ideals. “Christian nationalism is an absolute fatal cancer metastasizing at light speed (for) the national security of this country,” he said. “It is a Christian version of the Taliban.” Matthew D. Taylor, senior scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian and Jewish Studies, said Hegseth is “one of the most extreme far right figures ever nominated to a cabinet post, at least in modern memory.” Taylor said he’s broadly concerned about Christian nationalists, who tend to take a dim view of democracy, potentially having a lot of sway in this administration. “I think we should expect a profound degradation of our democratic norms of the rule of law, and I think we are edging closer to a de facto Anglo Protestant establishment, of the kind where Anglo Protestant Christianity as the de facto official religion in the United States,” he said. Hegseth faces some headwinds in his nomination process due to multiple marital sex scandals and the recent revelation that he paid a woman who accused him of sexual assault in exchange for her not speaking about it. He denies he assaulted her but admits he paid her. He’s also gotten criticism for tattoos that are symbols of the Crusades and wrote a book titled “American Crusade,” where he derides Muslims. Before becoming a TV personality, Hegseth led the conservative veterans group Concerned Veterans for America, which advocated for increased privatization of veterans’ health care. He has also said that women should not be allowed to serve in combat roles in the military, and has complained about what he terms “woke” policies in the military.
...As SystemSpecs lauds Nigeria’s tech strides By Henry Uche The Director-General of Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Dasuki Arabi, has affirmed that with the right technology and innovation, President Tinubu’s administration would not only fulfil the mandates of the Renewed Hope Agenda, but would also create a more inclusive and prosperous society for all Nigerians. The DG made this known at the Nigeria GovTech Conference and Awards, put together by the Bureau, held recently in Abuja, with the theme: “Digital Innovation as a Catalyst for the Renewed Hope Agenda,” “Collaboration between the public and private sectors is essential. The private sector can introduce innovation, technology, resources, and talent. However, the government remains the largest player in our economy, hence, it is in the private sector’s best interest to work closely with the government. “The government sets the rules, manages the processes, and controls many aspects of what we do, while the private sector brings expertise, technology, and resources. When both sectors collaborate effectively, it creates a mutually beneficial partnership that drives progress and fosters a win-win outcome for all. Fintech relies heavily on robust infrastructure. Network reliability is crucial for seamless transactions, and government investment in this area will significantly enhance operational efficiency,” he added. In a panel, the Managing Director of SystemSpecs Technology Services Limited (STSL), Mr. Demola Igbalajobi, hailed Nigeria’s financial technology (fintech) sector as one of the most advanced globally. Igbalajobi who represented Dr John Obaro, Group Managing Director of SystemSpecs Holdings, told government representatives, industry leaders, and technology experts to explore emerging trends in ICT and the country’s burgeoning tech talent base, to drive public service delivery and improve the lives of Nigerians. “The Nigerian payment system is one of the most advanced in the world. Instant payments and multi-bank applications, like those we see with Remita, offer functionalities that many developed countries have only recently begun to implement. We often take these advancements for granted, but they are a testament to Nigeria’s innovative fintech landscape,” Igbalajobi remarked. He added that to provide a seamless user experience and effectively address the challenges faced in the government budgeting process, SystemSpecs Technology Services Limited also developed an e-budgeting and warranting solution. This reiterates the firm’s commitment to delivering solutions that contribute to the overall development of the nation and Africa at large. He further emphasized the importance of collaboration between banks and fintech companies, stating that such partnerships are essential for the growth of both sectors. “Fintech firms may not hold funds, but they build solutions that leverage the infrastructure of banks. A healthy collaboration benefits both sectors and ultimately improves customer experience,” he noted.No. 2 UConn falls again in Maui, losing 73-72 to Colorado on Jakimovski's off-balance layup
Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah agree to a ceasefire after nearly 14 months of fighting JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel has approved a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militants, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire is set to take hold at 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday. Israeli warplanes have carried out the most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs since the start of the conflict amid a record number of evacuation warnings. At least 42 people were killed in strikes across Lebanon, according to local authorities. President Joe Biden said his administration now would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza. What both sides are saying about the ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah A ceasefire deal that could end more than a year of cross-border fighting between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group won backing from Israeli leaders. The truce that is set to take effect early Wednesday raised hopes and renewed difficult questions in a region gripped by conflict. Hezbollah leaders also signaled tentative backing for the U.S.-brokered deal, which offers both sides an off-ramp from hostilities But the deal does little directly to resolve the much deadlier war that has raged in Gaza since Hamas militants attacked southern Israel last October. Cheap Ozempic? How millions of Americans with obesity may get access to costly weight-loss drugs WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of obese Americans would get access to popular weekly injectables that would help them shed pounds quickly if a $35 billion proposal from the Biden administration is blessed by President-elect Donald Trump. The rule, unveiled Tuesday by the Health and Human Services Department, would require Medicare and Medicaid to cover weight-loss drugs like Wegovy or Zepbound for a large segment of Americans who are obese. But it’s unclear if the proposal, which would not go into effect until after Trump takes office, will have support from his new administration — including from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an opponent of the drugs who has been tapped by the president-elect to serve as head of HHS. Trump vows tariffs over immigration. What the numbers say about border crossings, drugs and crime. WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is threatening tariffs on Mexico and Canada as he seeks to portray them as responsible for illegal immigration and drug smuggling. Over its tenure, the Biden administration has struggled with growing numbers of migrants arriving at the southern border. But this year, the number of people crossing the border without documents has actually been falling. That's due in part to stricter enforcement by Mexican authorities as well as asylum restrictions announced earlier this year by the Biden administration. When it comes to fentanyl smuggling, much of the deadly supply comes from Mexico though statistics show more than 86% of those sentenced for fentanyl trafficking crimes in the 12 months ending September 2023 were U.S. citizens. AP finds that a Pentagon-funded study on extremism in the military relied on old data Early this year, Pete Hegseth told a Fox News audience a new, Pentagon-funded study proved that the number of military service members and veterans involved in the Jan. 6 insurrection did not indicate a wider problem in the armed forces. Hegseth, Donald Trump's pick to head the Department of Defense, wasn’t alone. The Wall Street Journal’s opinion page highlighted the same report as evidence that extremists in military communities were “phantoms” created by a “false media narrative.” The X account for Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee posted that the study showed the focus on extremism in the military was a “witch hunt.” But The Associated Press has found that the study relied on old data, misleading analyses and ignored evidence that pointed to the opposite conclusion. How Trump's bet on voters electing him managed to silence some of his legal woes WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Jack Smith move to abandon two federal cases accusing Trump of endangering American democracy and national security does away with the most serious legal threats Trump was facing as he returns to the White House. It was the culmination of a monthslong defense effort to delay the proceedings at every step and use the criminal allegations to Trump's political advantage, putting the final word in the hands of voters instead of jurors. The move just weeks after Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris underscores the immense personal stake Trump had in the campaign in which he turned his legal woes into a political rallying cry. Walmart's DEI rollback signals a profound shift in the wake of Trump's election victory NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart’s sweeping rollback of its diversity policies is the strongest indication yet of a profound shift taking hold at U.S. companies that are re-evaluating the legal and political risks associated with bold programs to bolster historically underrepresented groups in business. The changes announced by the world’s biggest retailer on Monday followed a string of legal victories by conservative groups that have filed an onslaught of lawsuits challenging corporate and federal programs aimed at elevating minority and women-owned businesses and employees. The retreat from such programs crystalized with the election of former President Donald Trump, whose administration is certain to make dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs a priority. Brazil’s Bolsonaro planned and participated in a 2022 coup plot, unsealed police report alleges SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro was fully aware of and actively participated in a coup plot to remain in office after his defeat in the 2022 election, according to a Federal Police report that has been unsealed. Brazil’s Federal Police last Thursday formally accused Bolsonaro and 36 other people of attempting a coup. They sent their 884-page report to the Supreme Court, which lifted the seal. Bolsonaro called a meeting in December 2022, during which he presented a draft decree to the commanders of the three divisions of the armed forces, that would have declared the vote fraudulent, to justify a possible military intervention. Bolsonaro has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. New rule allows HIV-positive organ transplants People with HIV who need a kidney or liver transplant will be able to receive an organ from a donor with HIV. That's according to a new rule announced Tuesday by U.S. health officials. Previously, such transplants could be done only as part of research studies. The new rule takes effect Wednesday. It's expected to shorten the wait for organs for all, regardless of HIV status, by increasing the pool of available organs. The practice is supported by a decade of research, during which 500 transplants of kidneys and livers from HIV-positive donors have been done in the U.S. Surveillance tech advances by Biden could aid in Trump's promised crackdown on immigration President-elect Donald Trump will return to power next year with a raft of technological tools at his disposal that would help deliver his campaign promise of cracking down on immigration — among them, surveillance and artificial intelligence technology that the Biden administration already uses to help make crucial decisions in tracking, detaining and ultimately deporting immigrants lacking permanent legal status. One algorithm, for example, ranks immigrants with a “Hurricane Score,” ranging from 1-5, to assess whether someone will “abscond” from the agency’s supervision.In a closed-door trial Tuesday, a Russian court sentenced a journalist to four years in prison for her work with foreign media outlets. Nika Novak was arrested in December 2023 on accusations of “preparing inaccurate materials” to discredit the Russian armed forces. The FSB security service said that Novak’s work was "aimed at causing reputational damage” to Russia and an attempt to destabilize the country and its war in Ukraine, according to the Interfax news agency. The court, which is in the Siberian region of Zabaykalsky Krai, did not say which foreign media outlet Novak is accused of working for. Novak worked previously for the Russian news websites Chita and Zab.ru, and had been a freelance reporter at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty or RFE/RL. A sister network to VOA, RFE/RL is an independent U.S.-funded media outlet. Moscow designates RFE/RL a so-called foreign agent. RFE/RL President Stephen Capus on Tuesday condemned the sentence handed to Novak. “These politically motivated charges are intended to silence individual reporters and cause a chilling effect. We call for Nika's immediate release to her family,” Capus said in a statement shared with VOA. Russia has ramped up its arrests and harassment of independent journalists since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Shortly after, the government issued directives on how media could report the war, and legislators enacted a law to penalize anyone authorities deemed to be spreading false news or information that could discredit the military. Russian authorities have also issued several arrest warrants in absentia. In October, authorities ordered the arrest in absentia of a CNN correspondent who had reported from Russia’s Kursk region as Ukraine forces made advances. The Memorial human rights group described Novak as a "political prisoner." It added that the journalist appeared to “hold anti-Ukrainian views," based on social media posts, but had criticized local authorities for supporting the offensive, according to AFP. The Coalition for Women in Journalism has also condemned Novak’s detention. In a statement at the time of her arrest, the group said, “The Kremlin is continuously abusing legislation to target journalists and activists. This must stop.” “The serious charges and lengthy prison term facing Novak are deeply worrying,” the statement said, adding that the coalition called on Russia to drop the charges and release the journalist. This report contains information from Agence France-Presse.
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Columbia, a perennial football loser, wins Ivy League title for first time since 1961
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2 convicted in human smuggling case after Indian family froze to death on US-Canada borderJAKARTA: Millions of Indonesians will head to polling stations on Wednesday (Nov 27) to elect 545 regional leaders across the world’s third-biggest democracy, an event analysts say will shape Indonesia’s political landscape over the next five years. Indonesians will elect 37 governors, 93 mayors and 415 regents after an official campaigning period that began on Sep 25 and ended on Nov 23. The candidates largely hail from two political factions: President Prabowo Subianto’s 11-party Advance Indonesia Coalition or KIM Plus, and former president Megawati Soekarnoputri’s Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). A minority are independent candidates. For Mr Prabowo, the elections will likely determine how well his policies and programmes are implemented on the ground, which ultimately translates to his re-election chances when his term ends in 2029, should he decide to seek a second term. “If a (regional) leader comes from the opposition camp, then there is a high chance that region will not support decisions and programmes made (by the Prabowo administration) on a national level,” Mr Hendri Satrio, a political analyst from Jakarta’s Paramadina University, told CNA. For the PDI-P, the elections are a chance to make a comeback and stay relevant after its candidate Ganjar Pranowo – a former governor of Central Java – came in last in the presidential election with 16.5 per cent of the vote. Mr Prabowo won with 58.6 per cent of the vote in February while former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan was second with 24.9 per cent. The PDI-P, however, managed to secure the most votes in the legislative election held on the same day, Feb 14, and retain its title as the country’s largest party in parliament. “The PDI-P will fight very hard not to lose the regional election, particularly in provinces known to be PDI-P strongholds,” Mr Hendri said. Another former president’s shadow looms large. The election will be a test of Mr Joko Widodo’s king-making ability after he successfully helped his defence minister, Mr Prabowo, ascend to the presidency. Mr Prabowo’s vice-president is Mr Widodo’s eldest child Gibran Rakabuming Raka. Mr Widodo, known as Jokowi, was a member of the PDI-P before he decided to go against the party by not supporting Mr Ganjar’s presidential bid. Jokowi’s son-in-law Bobby Nasution is running for governor of North Sumatra against the PDI-P-supported incumbent Edy Rachmayadi. “QUICK COUNTS” COULD BE IN BY 6PM LOCAL TIME The polls will open from 7am to 1pm local time, after which votes will be tallied. Indonesia has three time zones. Independent pollsters and the country’s General Elections Commission will start compiling the results from 3pm local time. Vote-counting usually takes a few hours and Indonesians should know unofficial “quick count” results by around 6pm. The official results will not be out until one or two weeks later as they involve lengthy verification processes. Wednesday's regional elections come after a two-month campaigning period that saw candidates staging rallies, visiting impoverished neighbourhoods and lobbying community leaders and religious figures in hopes of tipping the odds in their favour. SCENARIOS THAT COULD EMERGE Experts say the populous provinces of West, East and Central Java – with 49.8 million, 41.8 million and 37.8 million people, respectively – will be key battlegrounds. Indonesians will also be watching the gubernatorial contest of the country’s biggest and most important city, Jakarta. The Jakarta governor position is considered one of Indonesia’s most prestigious political posts, with Jokowi and Mr Anies previously occupying the position. In the West Java gubernatorial race, the Prabowo coalition-backed candidate Dedi Mulyadi has been soaring in latest surveys, which suggest he may secure up to 71.5 per cent of the vote, far ahead of his three rivals. In East Java, the Prabowo coalition-backed incumbent Khofifah Indar Parawansa is predicted to beat two other candidates with around 55.1 per cent of the vote. The Central Java gubernatorial election is a tighter race, with various pollsters saying it could go to either Prabowo- and Jokowi-backed Ahmad Luthfi or PDI-P-supported former military chief Andika Perkasa. In a reflection of the stakes involved, Mr Prabowo endorsed Mr Ahmad on Nov 3 despite earlier pledges that he would remain neutral during the regional elections. In Jakarta, the PDI-P- and Anies-backed Pramono Anung is predicted to have a slight lead over the Prabowo- and Jokowi-supported Ridwan Kamil . If KIM Plus’ candidates win in most, or all of these battlegrounds, Mr Prabowo’s implementation of policies such as the free-meals programme is likely to be smoother. The PDI-P, however, will face an uphill battle to regain dominance. If the PDI-P and KIM Plus win their share of the key provinces, the power struggle between Mdm Megawati, and Mr Prabowo and Jokowi, is set to continue. The race for Jakarta governor will extend to 2025 with a run-off between the top two candidates, if no single candidate wins more than 50 per cent of the vote on Nov 27. GOVERNOR'S ARREST CREATES SHOCKWAVES; MANY VOTERS UNDECIDED The regional elections have been blighted in recent days by the arrest of Bengkulu governor Rohidin Mersyah and two aides for suspected corruption on Sunday. Rohidin is seeking re-election in the Sumatran province and is accused of extorting money from subordinates by threatening to remove them from their positions if they do not contribute to his campaign. He has been charged with extortion. Investigators seized banknotes in various currencies worth 7 billion rupiah (US$440,000) from the suspects, said Corruption Eradication Commission deputy chairman Alexander Marwata. Mr Alexander reportedly said Rohidin’s case reflected a larger trend of vote-buying ahead of the elections, and the commission has received other tip-offs. Rising cost of living, high unemployment and a dwindling middle class are expected to be top of voters’ minds when they cast their votes. For Jakartans, issues like the city’s crippling traffic, floods and worsening air pollution could be the deciding factor. “No one seems to be offering viable solutions to these problems. That’s why the number of undecided voters is high,” Mr Adi Prayitno, a political science lecturer at Jakarta’s Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic University told CNA. Several pollsters put the proportion of undecided Jakarta voters at between 11 and 15 per cent. Meanwhile in West Java, undecided voters stand at around 17 per cent, with even higher figures reported in East and Central Java. According to two separate surveys conducted by Kompas newspaper this month, 22.8 per cent of voters in East Java and 43.1 per cent of voters in Central Java are undecided. Experts say the high figures could also be the result of election fatigue, which could translate to low voter turnout on Wednesday. The Indonesian General Elections Commission (KPU) is more optimistic. “Given the situation, there is potential for a decline in participation. Hopefully, the voter participation rate can reach 82 per cent,” KPU commissioner Idham Holik said on Saturday, as quoted by Antara news agency. The participation rate for February’s presidential election was 81.7 per cent.
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