ace of spades wildcard

ace of spades wildcard Located on the 34th floor of its Chulia Street headquarters, OCBC’s premier private client centre caters to high net worth clients – those who have at least $1 million in deposits or investments with the bank. It also hosts high-fliers of another kind: a pair of peregrine falcons, who have set up their home in a recess 10m above the centre’s balcony. The peregrine falcon is the fastest animal on earth, able to fly at speeds of more than 320kmh when diving for prey. The subspecies which resides in Singapore, Falco peregrinus ernesti, can be identified by its solid black head. It is smaller than the migrant Falco peregrinus calidus, which has a thin black facial stripe and flies to the tropics during the winter months in the northern hemisphere. The bird, with a wingspan of up to about 1m, typically mates for life. A biodiversity record compiled by researchers from the National Parks Board (NParks) was published in scientific journal Nature in Singapore in August. It reported that a pair of eggs had been spotted in the recess above OCBC’s premier private client centre, believed to be the first locally documented sign of breeding for the peregrine falcon. Researchers document rare sight of two pangolins fighting The eggs, however, appeared to have been abandoned by the bird that laid them. To retrieve the eggs, NParks enlisted the help of robotics researchers from the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). Though initially intending to use a drone for the task, the five-member team opted instead to use a device consisting of a telescopic pole and a claw controlled by cables on the ground. Taking inspiration from the falcon’s scientific name, the device was named Ernest, which is short for Egg Retrieval and Nesting Enhancement Support Tool. The apparatus was inspired by the claw machine games found in arcades, said SUTD’s Associate Professor Foong Shaohui, who leads the team. The two eggs were taken to the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, where it was found that the lighter egg had a small crack and a sulphurous smell, indicating that it had decomposed. While the heavier egg was intact, examinations found that it was viable but likely non-fertile. “These observations suggest that the eggs may have been abandoned by the parents due to shell damage,” said Dr Malcolm Soh, principal researcher for wildlife management research at NParks. A research team from NParks installed on Nov 22 a nesting tray with loose gravel in the recess, to assist the falcons in creating a better home and helping them breed. The birds will be able to dig a small scrape in the loose gravel where eggs can be laid, providing them with a softer, more suitable surface for nesting, said Dr Soh. A CCTV camera system was installed to allow researchers to monitor the progress of the falcons’ breeding cycle. The nesting tray will be left in the recess to allow the falcons to familiarise themselves with it ahead of their nesting period which stretches from around end January to early February. If nesting is successful, the eggs are expected to hatch in March 2025, with chicks fledging, or developing the feathers and wing muscles necessary for flight, the following month. The research team will continue to monitor the nest site for subsequent breeding cycles and maintain it if needed, such as by removing debris and replacing the nesting tray substrate. Dr Soh, who leads the research, noted that while the peregrine falcon is one of the most widespread species in the world, most research has been focused on temperate subspecies. The data collected will help bridge the “significant gap” in the understanding of the peregrine falcon’s breeding behaviour in the tropics, he said, adding he believes there are just a “handful of breeding pairs” here. In a natural environment, the falcons would typically nest on limestone cliffs, said Dr Soh. The skyscrapers in the central business district provide a man-made alternative to these cliffs, he added, noting however that the birds will not just choose to nest in any tall building. “The OCBC Centre is quite nice for nesting because they have this very nice overhang shelter, and there’s also a recess where they can feel quite safe when they go in to nest or to rest,” he noted. Pigeons in the CBD also provide an abundant food source for the falcons, Dr Soh added. For staff at the OCBC Centre, the birds have become a familiar sight, with the bank donating $10,000 to support the installation of the nesting tray and CCTV system. OCBC group brand and communications head Koh Ching Ching said the bank is “embracing the wonders of this surprise right outside our office windows”. “Given our longstanding relationship with NParks, we are happy to play a small part in their quest to learn more about this rare breed of peregrine falcon,” she added. “It is sometimes said that when a bird chooses to nest at your home, it can bring good luck to the owner.”None

UCF, LSU face off with improved focus in mindI Got a "Vajacial," and It Was Nothing Like I Expected-- Shares Facebook Twitter Reddit Email CNN panelists weren't happy with the excuses made for ' loss by top campaign staffers this week. A who's who of the Harris campaign stopped by the podcast "Pod Save America" for an episode released on Tuesday that attempted to serve as a post-mortem of the election and an explanation of Harris' stunning loss. Commentator Bakari Sellers and national affairs correspondent Jeff Zeleny both came away from the talk feeling that Democratic Party strategists had no interest in taking the blame for their own decisions. "It was disappointing at best, hearing their lack of self-awareness, their lack of self-reflection," Sellers said, laying into the staffers for a lack of clear messaging and for covering up flagging numbers . "[They showed an] inability to figure out a way in which you could win this race. Simply providing messaging and saying that we’re up whereby you don’t believe that in your heart of hearts to be true." Zeleny was equally harsh in his critique of the campaign staffers' analysis. "You can’t explain your way out of this loss," he said, before laying into the campaign's lack of clear answers. "This did not answer a lot of the questions. They're right it was a short campaign, but was it a winnable one with Donald Trump as the opponent?" Related Picking through the debris of the 2024 election, Democrats are left soul searching The lack of soul-searching clearly rubbed CNN panelists the wrong way, as the Democratic Party's army of consultants appeared to be running away from their results before the ink dried on their checks. The Harris campaign raised more than a billion dollars and ended the campaign $20 million in debt. One critic called the Harris campaign's focus on paid media a "skim at every level” while speaking to Salon earlier this month. President-elect Donald Trump gloated over how effectively Democratic Party insiders bled the campaign coffers, offering to pay the Harris campaign's outstanding bills on social media. "Whatever we can do to help them during this difficult period, I would strongly recommend we, as a Party and for the sake of desperately needed UNITY, do,” Trump tweeted. “We have a lot of money left over in that our biggest asset in the campaign was 'Earned Media,' and that doesn’t cost very much. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Read more about Harris' campaign No, progressives should not embrace conspiracy theories — it won't win elections How Democratic consultants cashed in on Harris' losing campaign The path forward for progressives is a return to PR basics: Put personality before policy MORE FROM Alex Galbraith Advertisement:

Hidalgo leads No. 6 Notre Dame over JuJu Watkins and third-ranked USC 74-61 in big matchup out West

Richards added five rebounds for the Mocs (5-3). Trey Bonham shot 4 of 11 from the field, including 2 for 8 from 3-point range, and went 5 for 7 from the line to add 15 points. Sean Cusano went 5 of 7 from the field (3 for 4 from 3-point range) to finish with 13 points. Earl Timberlake led the Bulldogs (4-4) in scoring, finishing with 18 points, six rebounds and six assists. Bryant also got 16 points from Rafael Pinzon. Jakai Robinson finished with 12 points, six rebounds and two blocks. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

WASHINGTON (AP) — As a former and potentially future president, Donald Trump hailed what would become Project 2025 as a road map for “exactly what our movement will do” with another crack at the White House. As the blueprint for a hard-right turn in America became a liability during the 2024 campaign, Trump pulled an about-face . He denied knowing anything about the “ridiculous and abysmal” plans written in part by his first-term aides and allies. Now, after being elected the 47th president on Nov. 5, Trump is stocking his second administration with key players in the detailed effort he temporarily shunned. Most notably, Trump has tapped Russell Vought for an encore as director of the Office of Management and Budget; Tom Homan, his former immigration chief, as “border czar;” and immigration hardliner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of policy . Those moves have accelerated criticisms from Democrats who warn that Trump’s election hands government reins to movement conservatives who spent years envisioning how to concentrate power in the West Wing and impose a starkly rightward shift across the U.S. government and society. RELATED COVERAGE Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of ‘Love Connection’ and ‘Scrabble,’ dies at 83 What to know about Brooke Rollins, Trump’s pick for agriculture secretary Trump’s Republican Party is increasingly winning union voters. It’s a shift seen in his labor pick Trump and his aides maintain that he won a mandate to overhaul Washington. But they maintain the specifics are his alone. What to know about Trump’s second term: Staffing the administration: Here are the people Trump has picked for key positions so far. Plus, a look at recess appointments and how could Trump use them to fill his Cabinet. Follow all of our coverage as Donald Trump assembles his second administration. “President Trump never had anything to do with Project 2025,” said Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt in a statement. “All of President Trumps’ Cabinet nominees and appointments are whole-heartedly committed to President Trump’s agenda, not the agenda of outside groups.” Here is a look at what some of Trump’s choices portend for his second presidency. As budget chief, Vought envisions a sweeping, powerful perch The Office of Management and Budget director, a role Vought held under Trump previously and requires Senate confirmation, prepares a president’s proposed budget and is generally responsible for implementing the administration’s agenda across agencies. The job is influential but Vought made clear as author of a Project 2025 chapter on presidential authority that he wants the post to wield more direct power. “The Director must view his job as the best, most comprehensive approximation of the President’s mind,” Vought wrote. The OMB, he wrote, “is a President’s air-traffic control system” and should be “involved in all aspects of the White House policy process,” becoming “powerful enough to override implementing agencies’ bureaucracies.” Trump did not go into such details when naming Vought but implicitly endorsed aggressive action. Vought, the president-elect said, “knows exactly how to dismantle the Deep State” — Trump’s catch-all for federal bureaucracy — and would help “restore fiscal sanity.” In June, speaking on former Trump aide Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast, Vought relished the potential tension: “We’re not going to save our country without a little confrontation.” Vought could help Musk and Trump remake government’s role and scope The strategy of further concentrating federal authority in the presidency permeates Project 2025’s and Trump’s campaign proposals. Vought’s vision is especially striking when paired with Trump’s proposals to dramatically expand the president’s control over federal workers and government purse strings — ideas intertwined with the president-elect tapping mega-billionaire Elon Musk and venture capitalist Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a “Department of Government Efficiency.” Trump in his first term sought to remake the federal civil service by reclassifying tens of thousands of federal civil service workers — who have job protection through changes in administration — as political appointees, making them easier to fire and replace with loyalists. Currently, only about 4,000 of the federal government’s roughly 2 million workers are political appointees. President Joe Biden rescinded Trump’s changes. Trump can now reinstate them. Meanwhile, Musk’s and Ramaswamy’s sweeping “efficiency” mandates from Trump could turn on an old, defunct constitutional theory that the president — not Congress — is the real gatekeeper of federal spending. In his “Agenda 47,” Trump endorsed so-called “impoundment,” which holds that when lawmakers pass appropriations bills, they simply set a spending ceiling, but not a floor. The president, the theory holds, can simply decide not to spend money on anything he deems unnecessary. Vought did not venture into impoundment in his Project 2025 chapter. But, he wrote, “The President should use every possible tool to propose and impose fiscal discipline on the federal government. Anything short of that would constitute abject failure.” Trump’s choice immediately sparked backlash. “Russ Vought is a far-right ideologue who has tried to break the law to give President Trump unilateral authority he does not possess to override the spending decisions of Congress (and) who has and will again fight to give Trump the ability to summarily fire tens of thousands of civil servants,” said Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, a Democrat and outgoing Senate Appropriations chairwoman. Reps. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico, leading Democrats on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, said Vought wants to “dismantle the expert federal workforce” to the detriment of Americans who depend on everything from veterans’ health care to Social Security benefits. “Pain itself is the agenda,” they said. Homan and Miller reflect Trump’s and Project 2025’s immigration overl ap Trump’s protests about Project 2025 always glossed over overlaps in the two agendas . Both want to reimpose Trump-era immigration limits. Project 2025 includes a litany of detailed proposals for various U.S. immigration statutes, executive branch rules and agreements with other countries — reducing the number of refugees, work visa recipients and asylum seekers, for example. Miller is one of Trump’s longest-serving advisers and architect of his immigration ideas, including his promise of the largest deportation force in U.S. history. As deputy policy chief, which is not subject to Senate confirmation, Miller would remain in Trump’s West Wing inner circle. “America is for Americans and Americans only,” Miller said at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally on Oct. 27. “America First Legal,” Miller’s organization founded as an ideological counter to the American Civil Liberties Union, was listed as an advisory group to Project 2025 until Miller asked that the name be removed because of negative attention. Homan, a Project 2025 named contributor, was an acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director during Trump’s first presidency, playing a key role in what became known as Trump’s “family separation policy.” Previewing Trump 2.0 earlier this year, Homan said: “No one’s off the table. If you’re here illegally, you better be looking over your shoulder.” Project 2025 contributors slated for CIA and Federal Communications chiefs John Ratcliffe, Trump’s pick to lead the CIA , was previously one of Trump’s directors of national intelligence. He is a Project 2025 contributor. The document’s chapter on U.S. intelligence was written by Dustin Carmack, Ratcliffe’s chief of staff in the first Trump administration. Reflecting Ratcliffe’s and Trump’s approach, Carmack declared the intelligence establishment too cautious. Ratcliffe, like the chapter attributed to Carmack, is hawkish toward China. Throughout the Project 2025 document, Beijing is framed as a U.S. adversary that cannot be trusted. Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, wrote Project 2025’s FCC chapter and is now Trump’s pick to chair the panel. Carr wrote that the FCC chairman “is empowered with significant authority that is not shared” with other FCC members. He called for the FCC to address “threats to individual liberty posed by corporations that are abusing dominant positions in the market,” specifically “Big Tech and its attempts to drive diverse political viewpoints from the digital town square.” He called for more stringent transparency rules for social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube and “empower consumers to choose their own content filters and fact checkers, if any.” Carr and Ratcliffe would require Senate confirmation for their posts. ___Richards' 17 help Chattanooga beat Bryant 84-76

Democrat Bob Casey concedes to Republican David McCormick in Pennsylvania Senate contest

Hidalgo leads No. 6 Notre Dame over JuJu Watkins and third-ranked USC 74-61 in big matchup out WestHigh rate of violence

RICHMOND, Va. , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Corporation (NYSE:UVV) ("Universal" or the "Company"), a global business-to-business agriproducts company, today announced that, as expected, on November 19, 2024 , it received a notice (the "NYSE Notice") from the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") that the Company is not in compliance with Section 802.01E of the NYSE Listed Company Manual as a result of its failure to timely file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2024 (the "Form 10-Q") with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") prior to November 18, 2024 , the end of the extension period provided by Rule 12b -25 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The NYSE Notice has no immediate effect on the listing of the Company's common stock on the NYSE. The NYSE Notice informed the Company that, under NYSE rules, the Company has six months from November 18, 2024 , to regain compliance with the NYSE listing standards by filing the Form 10-Q with the SEC. If the Company fails to file the Form 10-Q within the six-month period, the NYSE may grant, in its sole discretion, an extension of up to six additional months for the Company to regain compliance, depending on the specific circumstances. The NYSE Notice also noted that the NYSE may nevertheless, in its own discretion, commence delisting proceedings at any time during such period. As previously disclosed in the Company's Notification of Late Filing on Form 12b-25, filed on November 12, 2024 (the "Form 12b-25") with the SEC, the Company was unable to file the Form 10-Q on a timely basis due to an ongoing internal investigation. As a result of the additional time required to complete its internal investigation, the process of finalizing financial statements for the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 could not be completed on a timely basis. The Company is committed to completing a deliberate, thorough investigation while diligently working to fulfill all reporting obligations and currently expects to file the Form 10-Q within the six-month period granted by the NYSE Notice; however, there can be no assurance that the Form 10-Q will be filed within such period. About Universal Corporation Universal Corporation (NYSE: UVV) is a global agricultural company with over 100 years of experience supplying products and innovative solutions to meet our customers' evolving needs and precise specifications. Through our diverse network of farmers and partners across more than 30 countries on five continents, we are a trusted provider of high-quality, traceable products. We leverage our extensive supply chain expertise, global reach, integrated processing capabilities, and commitment to sustainability to provide a range of products and services designed to drive efficiency and deliver value to our customers. For more information, visit www.universalcorp.com . CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Among other things, these statements include statements regarding expectations about the Company's filing of its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 . These forward-looking statements are generally identified by the use of words such as we "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "could," "should," "may," "plan," "will," "predict," "estimate," and similar expressions or words of similar import. These forward-looking statements are based upon management's current knowledge and assumptions about future events and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any anticipated results, prospects, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the uncertainty of the ultimate findings of the ongoing internal investigation, as well as the timing of its completion and costs and expenses arising out of the ongoing internal investigation process and its results; the impact of the ongoing internal investigation on us, our management and operations, including financial impact as well as any litigation or regulatory action that may arise from the ongoing internal investigation; the impact of the internal investigation on our conclusions regarding the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting and our disclosure controls and procedures; our ability to regain compliance with NYSE listing requirements; success in pursuing strategic investments or acquisitions and integration of new businesses and the impact of these new businesses on future results; product purchased not meeting quality and quantity requirements; our reliance on a few large customers; our ability to maintain effective information technology systems and safeguard confidential information; anticipated levels of demand for and supply of our products and services; costs incurred in providing these products and services including increased transportation costs and delays attributed to global supply chain challenges; timing of shipments to customers; higher inflation rates; changes in market structure; government regulation and other stakeholder expectations; economic and political conditions in the countries in which we and our customers operate, including the ongoing impacts from international conflicts; product taxation; industry consolidation and evolution; changes in exchange rates and interest rates; impacts of regulation and litigation on its customers; industry-specific risks related to its plant-based ingredient businesses; exposure to certain regulatory and financial risks related to climate change; changes in estimates and assumptions underlying our critical accounting policies; the promulgation and adoption of new accounting standards, new government regulations and interpretation of existing standards and regulations; and general economic, political, market, and weather conditions. Actual results, therefore, could vary from those expected. Please also refer to such other factors as discussed in Part I, Item 1A. "Risk Factors" of Universal's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 , and related disclosures in other filings which have been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . All risk factors and uncertainties described herein and therein should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements, and all of the forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein and therein. Universal cautions investors not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements as these statements speak only as of the date when made, and it undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made, except as required by law. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/universal-corporation-receives-nyse-notice-regarding-filing-of-form-10-q-for-the-fiscal-quarter-ended-september-30-2024-302314579.html SOURCE Universal Corporation

Hidalgo leads No. 6 Notre Dame over JuJu Watkins and third-ranked USC 74-61 in big matchup out WestMichigan aims to cap lost season by beating Ohio StateIncels in Australia—Exposing An Inconvenient Truth "Incels," short for involuntary celibates, are mostly young men who feel locked out of romantic or sexual relationships despite a deep desire for connection. Many in this community share feelings of rejection, loneliness, and profound self-loathing, and rather than seeing these as personal challenges to overcome, they blame society or external forces. A pervasive sense of anger and despair unites these men. Online forums dedicated to incel culture often act as echo chambers, amplifying these emotions and creating a shared narrative of victimhood, where women, society, or “chads” (stereotypically successful, attractive men) are seen as responsible for their isolation. The media, especially in places like Australia, has focused increasingly on incels as a serious threat to society. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), for example, has subtly aligned incel values with right-leaning politics by highlighting ideological themes commonly associated with far-right extremism. An ASPI report published last year focused on "male-supremacist" and "misogynistic" values within the incel subculture, which it frames as resistant to social progress and equality - concepts often linked to conservative backlash. Additionally, the ASPI report underscores the incel adoption of “red pill” ideology - a metaphor often associated with awakening to the supposed dangers of feminism. The authors suggest that this ideology unites various misogynistic groups, creating a nexus where incels intersect with right-leaning extremist views. This framing fosters a perception of incels as ideologically conservative. Trumped up terror In the US, meanwhile, the narrative goes even further: left-leaning outlets often depict incels as a violent, women-hating bloc whose underlying beliefs align with Trumpian conservatism. In fact, some lefties even suggest their resentment and anger played a part in Donald Trump’s re-election. The Guardian, in all its infinite wisdom, claims his re-election has somehow handed incels “enormous power”. You see, this narrative twists reality in several ways. While incels do exist and some have indeed committed acts of violence, the notion of a homogenous, conservative, incel-driven political movement is not based on solid science. First off, many incels are not politically conservative - in fact, a significant number identify with leftist ideologies. Psychologist Andrew G. Thomas, who has studied incel culture in extensive detail, reveals that over a third of incels are non-white, and most don’t identify with conservative values. As Thomas points out, “some of the stereotypes about the makeup of incels are inaccurate” -a phrase that understates just how far off the media portrayal can be. This might be intentional or just poor research. Either way, it’s a bad look. The incel threat is also widely overstated. This isn’t to say that incel-linked violence hasn’t happened or that it doesn’t deserve scrutiny. Since 2014, researchers estimate that violence tied to incel culture has resulted in around 60 deaths worldwide. This is tragic, but it’s also worth noting that, as researcher William Costello said, this is roughly equivalent to “a bad day in Afghanistan”. It’s clear that while some incels are indeed a menace, most are not extremists waiting to attack innocent people. Instead, they are isolated individuals caught in cycles of frustration and rejection, most of whom never leave the confines of their online worlds. In fact, for many, these forums and communities act more like digital sedatives, trapping them in virtual cycles of despair rather than inspiring them to take any real-world action. Separating fact from fiction Yes, they are dangerous, but the greatest danger they pose is to themselves. Men are far more likely to end their lives than women - the statistics on male suicides are staggering. This is particularly true in Australia, where more than 3,000 lives are lost to suicide each year. Men account for approximately 75 per cent of these deaths. And while society points fingers and obsesses over potential threats, it largely ignores the silent collapse of millions of men lost in an abyss of loneliness, self-hatred, and despair. For these men, the lethality isn’t found in weapons or violent outbursts but in a deep-seated anguish that quietly consumes them. Every unspoken frustration, every crushing rejection, every sneer or smirk they perceive becomes another step closer to a personal implosion. Society has little patience for their struggles, branding them as “toxic” while simultaneously denying them the compassion, support or outlets that might prevent their descent into darkness. The mainstream media has spent years building and amplifying a noxious narrative around "toxic masculinity," creating a caricature of male frustration and isolation that’s both callous and shortsighted. With each headline and exposé on incels and “angry men,” they’ve poured fuel on the fire, turning an already vulnerable group into a societal punching bag. Ironically, many of the men they demonise, misrepresent, and ridicule share the same progressive beliefs. They lean left politically and voice the same frustrations about inequality, isolation, and societal hypocrisy. Believing that conservative-leaning men have a monopoly on universal emotions like anger, hate, and sadness is idiotic and irritating. Just like many on the left, incels often score high on neuroticism and low on conscientiousness, a psychological profile that fuels cycles of anxiety, frustration, and disillusionment. High neuroticism means they’re wired to experience intense emotions - resentment, shame, loneliness - with little ability to process or channel them constructively. Low conscientiousness, meanwhile, keeps them from forming the disciplined habits or stable frameworks that might pull them out of this mental mire. It's a double-bind that makes them deeply vulnerable, perpetually trapped in cycles of self-doubt and dissatisfaction, and prone to magnifying grievances without finding the resilience to address them. What we’re left with is a social issue far more complex than the bogeyman depicted in the media. Incel culture should be understood as a symptom of wider social alienation, a mental health crisis among young men who feel left out and hopeless. The focus on conservative incels as a potential extremist threat serves to obscure the fact that these men - of all skin colours and backgrounds - are primarily driven not by ideology but by the painful feeling of being unheard, unloved and utterly useless. John Mac Ghlionn is a researcher and essayist who writes on psychology and social relations. He has a keen interest in social dysfunction and media manipulation

Ruben Amorim impressed with Arsenal’s corners after first defeat as Man Utd bossWASHINGTON — Special counsel Jack Smith moved to abandon two criminal cases against Donald Trump on Monday, acknowledging that Trump’s return to the White House will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him for retaining classified documents or trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. The decision was inevitable, since longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Yet it was still a momentous finale to an unprecedented chapter in political and law enforcement history, as federal officials attempted to hold accountable a former president while he was simultaneously running for another term. Trump emerges indisputably victorious, having successfully delayed the investigations through legal maneuvers and then winning re-election despite indictments that described his actions as a threat to the country's constitutional foundations. “I persevered, against all odds, and WON," Trump exulted in a post on Truth Social, his social media website. He also said that “these cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless, and should never have been brought.” The judge in the election case granted prosecutors' dismissal request. A decision in the documents case was still pending on Monday afternoon. The outcome makes it clear that, when it comes to a president and criminal accusations, nothing supersedes the voters' own verdict. In court filings, Smith's team emphasized that the move to end their prosecutions was not a reflection of the merit of the cases but a recognition of the legal shield that surrounds any commander in chief. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” prosecutors said in one of their filings. They wrote that Trump’s return to the White House “sets at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: on the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law.” In this situation, “the Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated,” they concluded. Smith’s team said it was leaving intact charges against two co-defendants in the classified documents case — Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira — because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” Steven Cheung, Trump's incoming White House communications director, said Americans “want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country.” Trump has long described the investigations as politically motivated, and he has vowed to fire Smith as soon as he takes office in January. Now he will start his second term free from criminal scrutiny by the government that he will lead. The election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing Trump as he tried to reclaim the White House. He was indicted for plotting to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden in 2020, an effort that climaxed with his supporters' violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But the case quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The U.S. Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Smith’s team in October filed a lengthy brief laying out new evidence they planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will of voters after he lost to Biden. In dismissing the case, Chutkan acknowledged prosecutors' request to do so “without prejudice,” raising the possibility that they could try to bring charges against Trump when his term is over. She wrote that is “consistent with the Government’s understanding that the immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office.” But such a move may be barred by the statute of limitations, and Trump may also try to pardon himself while in office. immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office. The separate case involving classified documents had been widely seen as legally clear cut, especially because the conduct in question occurred after Trump left the White House and lost the powers of the presidency. The indictment included dozens of felony counts accusing him of illegally hoarding classified records from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and obstructing federal efforts to get them back. He has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. The case quickly became snarled by delays, with U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon slow to issue rulings — which favored Trump’s strategy of pushing off deadlines in all his criminal cases — while also entertaining defense motions and arguments that experts said other judges would have dispensed with without hearings. In May, she indefinitely canceled the trial date amid a series of unresolved legal issues before dismissing the case outright two months later. Smith’s team appealed the decision, but now has given up that effort. Trump faced two other state prosecutions while running for president. One them, a New York case involving hush money payments, resulted in a conviction on felony charges of falsifying business records. It was the first time a former president had been found guilty of a crime. The sentencing in that case is on hold as Trump's lawyers try to have the conviction dismissed before he takes office, arguing that letting the verdict stand will interfere with his presidential transition and duties. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office is fighting the dismissal but has indicated that it would be open to delaying sentencing until Trump leaves office. Bragg, a Democrat, has said the solution needs to balance the obligations of the presidency with “the sanctity of the jury verdict." Trump was also indicted in Georgia along with 18 others accused of participating in a sprawling scheme to illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election there. Any trial appears unlikely there while Trump holds office. The prosecution already was on hold after an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Four defendants have pleaded guilty after reaching deals with prosecutors. Trump and the others have pleaded not guilty. Associated Press writers Colleen Long, Michael Sisak and Lindsay Whitehurst contributed to this story.

State blasts bid by Dem power broker George Norcross to toss racketeering case

U.S. Bancorp stock underperforms Wednesday when compared to competitorsFashionistas descend on Telfar’s Soho flagship opening — waiting in line for hours to shop: ‘A memory to be created’Police hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's masked killer after 'brazen, targeted' attack on NYC street