MAKURDI – Arc Asema Achado, member, representing Gwer West/Gwer East, Federal Constituency, Benue State, at the House of Representatives (HoR), has called on the people of the state to advise the state Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, to desist from actions that were detrimental to the socio-economic progress of the state. The lawmaker who also called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) not allow the Police in Benue to be used as tools of oppression and intimidation, appealed to the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to caution Governor Alia, against the governor’s “onslaught” on APC leaders in Benue, unless he was counting on leaving the APC for another political party. Achado disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Makurdi on Thursday, over what he termed the “Unlawful closure of the (his) business premises and sustained harassment by the Benue State Government” on his person and other APC leaders in the state by the Governor. Other business premises that experience a boom in sales during this season that were shut down, include Balcony, situated at George Akume way, Precious Events center located opposite Benue hotels, Makurdi among others. He lamented that the closure of one of his business concerns, City Bay among other ventures on 23rd December, 2024, has rendered the businesses owned by tenants at the facility, comatose and without a means to erk a living during this yuletide season, adding that most of the tenants in the place had already made purchases of perishable items that have gone back over the closure of the facility. The lawmaker who noted that he and others were a target of witch-hunt by the governor explained that the long holiday granted civil servants was to ensure that the facility, including his Microfinance Bank, Benysta, remain under lock and key in order to frustrate his businesses. He stressed that worse still is that before the closure of the recreational center, the management was asked to pay a sum of N20,000, for registration of the premises and another N219,000 as default fees, which it did promptly, adding that the facility was later reopened but on the 23rd some government agencies in other security agencies came back in gestapo style and locked up city bay. According to him, “I address you on critical developments that affect the socio-economic well-being of our dear Benue State. This briefing has become imperative to clarify misinformation and provide factual account of recent events concerning the actions of the Benue State Government under the leadership of Governor Hyacinth Alia. “Before my election to the House of Representatives, I established the Archtik Group, a conglomerate comprising subsidiaries with interest in hotels, recreational parks, banking and educational institutions. These enterprises were designed to contribute to the socio-economic growth of Benue State and Nigeria by providing employment opportunities, enhancing economic development and aesthetics of their locations. “Upon assuming public office as a member of the House of Representatives in 2023, I relinquished all executive roles within the organizations, delegating leadership to my son, Dr. Edward Achado. “Two key subsidiaries of Archtik Group, namely —City Bay Park, a recreational facility, and Benysta Microfinance Bank, both situated in Makurdi—have been the focal points of this controversy. These businesses employ numerous Benue citizens and contribute significantly to the local economy. “From its commencement, Benysta Microfinance Bank has given out loans to over 1,000 small scale enterprises in Benue State, worth more than N5 billion. In City Bay Park, many indigenous people hold and operate businesses at the park. Many of the businesses are owned by people whom the Governor fondly calls the ‘masses’. Some of them purchased frozen fish and chicken and other perishable food items, preparatory for the Christmas, with most of the items sadly now rotten as a result of the forceful sealing of the park by the government.” Therefore, Achado, who spoke at the press briefing said, “The people of Benue State should advise Governor Alia to cease actions detrimental to the socio-economic progress of the state. “The Inspector General of Police to ensure that the Police in Benue State are not used as tools of oppression and intimidation but for the maintenance of law and order. “Also, the National Leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to caution Governor Alia on his onslaught against APC Leaders in Benue State, unless he has concluded plans to move to another political party.” He further explained that some of the side effects of what the closure of the recreational facility has done is that there were “Significant financial losses by the sub-tenants within City Bay Park, particularly those dealing in perishable goods; psychological trauma: weddings and other events which were scheduled to be held at the park were altered, grossly affecting the people involved leading to psychological trauma and loss of huge resources; the disruption of the livelihoods of employees and sub-tenants have been severely impacted. Efforts by the company’s management to resolve the matter with relevant authorities have been futile, as both premises remain sealed. “These actions are not only a gross abuse of power but also politically motivated. Governor Alia’s administration has consistently threatened key APC stakeholders, including myself, who were instrumental in his election victory. We finances his elections and made sure he won the election. This pattern of oppression raises serious concerns about his commitment to good governance. “The actions of the governor suggest a calculated attempt to silence dissent and undermine our contributions to the state’s development”, he stressed. Narrating on the incidences which led to the closure, Achado explained that “On December 23, 2024, officials from the Benue State Internal Revenue Service, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, alongside law enforcement agencies, forcibly entered and sealed the premises of City Bay Park and Benysta Microfinance Bank. They presented demand notices dated December 12 and 13, 2024, regarding business premises registration fees. “Despite City Bay Park’s status as a government property, which arguably exempts it from such fees, the management of the park swiftly paid ₦20,000 for registration and ₦219,000 as default charges to avoid conflict. These payments were made on the 23rd December, 2024 and receipts of these payments duly issued by Benue State Internal Revenue Service, which copies are available for reference. “Shockingly, after an additional ₦20,000 was demanded and paid to unseal City Bay Park, a more aggressive enforcement team arrived and resealed both premises. This second operation was marked by excessive force, harassment, including the use of tear gas, which caused injuries and distress among customers, including children and the elderly. Some individuals fainted, while others sustained serious injuries in the process. “The arbitrary and heavy-handed sealing of these business premises by the state government is executed without authorization from any competent court of law empowered to issue such an order. This action constitutes a blatant violation of the principles of democracy, the fundamental rights of the people operating therein, reflecting the highest degree of abuse of power, suppression, and persecution by the state. “The sealing of City Bay Park and Benysta Microfinance Bank and other business centres owned by members of APC is emblematic of a broader issue threatening democratic principles, economic stability, and the rights of citizens in Benue state. I urge all patriotic Nigerians to join in advocating for justice and fairness to preserve the socio-political harmony of our state”, the lawmaker appealed. End.Elway: Remorse over passing on Allen mitigated by play of Nix
As it turns out, more than just Americans were curious to check out live football games and a Beyoncé peformance on Netflix. The streamer’s big “NFL Christmas Gameday Live” stunt drew a broadcast network-level audience in the U.S., and it prompted subscribers in more than 200 countries to check out some part of the nearly nine-hour telecast, which started with the Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers followed by Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans. At the halftime of the latter game, Houston-born superstar Beyoncé performed a short set of tunes from her “Cowboy Carter” album. It was a heavily promoted appearance by Queen Bey designed to draw attention to the fact that the games were on Netflix — making its debut as a NFL live game partner — and to bring more casual viewers to the streamer’s big Christmas Day experience. Netflix cited Nielsen measurement showing that the Ravens-Texans game averaged 24.3 million viewers while the earlier Kansas City Chiefs-Pittsburgh Steelers bout brought in 24.1 million viewers. Those are more than respectable numbers for Netflix’s first outing and on the high end of what CBS, Fox, NBC or ESPN might garner with a highly anticipated NFL or college football game. Those numbers do not include the entirety of Netflix’s coverage, which began at 11 a.m. ET with pregame coverage and ran through the post-game forensics on the Texans’ 31-2 pounding by the Ravens. And the reinging champ Chiefs made quick work of the Steelers with a 29-10 victory. “Bringing our members this record-breaking day of two NFL games was the best Christmas gift we could have delivered,” said Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s chief content officer. “We’re thankful for our partnership with the NFL, all of our wonderful on-air talent, and let’s please not forget the electrifying Beyoncé and the brilliant Mariah Carey.”best Christmas gift we could have delivered,” said Bela Bajaria, Netflix Chief Content Officer. “We’re thankful for our partnership with the NFL, all of our wonderful on-air talent, and let’s please not forget the electrifying Beyoncé and the brilliant Mariah Carey.” “We’re thrilled with our first Christmas Gameday on Netflix with NFL games being streamed to a global audience,” said Hans Schroeder, NFL executive vice president of media distribution. “Fans in all 50 states and over 200 countries around the world watched some of the league’s brightest stars along with a dazzling performance by Beyoncé in a historic day for the NFL.” Netflix has laid out $150 million to carry Christmas Day NFL games for three years. The deal guaranteed the streamer two two games in year one and at least one game for 2025 and 2026. The agreement is risky for the NFL given the chance for blowback from passionate football fans who don’t have access to Netflix. That sentiment was prevelant on social media during Wednesday’s daylong telecast. But Netflix made it through eight hours-plus of live game coverage as well as pre-and post-game shows without a major tech meltdown, which in and of itself is a victory for the streamer. Netflix is increasingly leaning into live sports and events as its overall business evolves and as sponsorship deals become a priority for the ad-supported tier. At the same time, Netflix offers the NFL easy, uniform access to high-end TV consumers around the world in one fell swoop. The league has invested significantly in recent years in efforts to make American football more popular in Europe, Latin America and other key territories, with a schedule of regular-season games played in such cities as London, Munich, Frankfurt, São Paulo, Mexico City and Toronto in recent years. The global nature of Netflix’s platform and subscriber base makes it hard to compare the audience turnout on Wednesday to other NFL telecasts. Last year, NBCUniversal’s Peacock streamer grabbed about 10 million viewers with its exclusive Dec. 23 telecast of a Buffalo Bills-Los Angeles Chargers game, which aired on a Saturday night with less promotion than Netflix showered on its experiment. More to come Sign up for . For the latest news, follow us on , , and .Knicks vs. Pelicans Injury Report Today – December 1What's On Tap in Chicago Bulls news ? Welcome to the 61st edition of "Tasting Flight," a daily newsletter to keep fans updated on all the latest news in Bulls Nation. Bulls at Home Against the Brooklyn Nets The Bulls welcome the Brooklyn Nets to the United Center on Monday for the second head-to-head matchup of the season. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. CT and the game will air on Chicago Sports Network (CHSN)+ . We got Brooklyn in the house. ⏰: 7:00 pm CT : https://t.co/dLgvAjeEdl : @670TheScore pic.twitter.com/dn6finzcct Bulls Have High Asking Price for Veterans Michael Scotto of HoopsHype provided insight on potential trade candidates for all 30 NBA teams. Scotto explained the Bulls have a high asking price for Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic . Story: Who are the top trade candidates for the 2024-25 season? Reporting on all 30 NBA teams, including intel on Brandon Ingram, Jimmy Butler, Jonathan Kuminga, Walker Kessler, Cam Thomas, Cam Johnson, Dennis Schroder, and more on @hoopshype . https://t.co/2RHOeTd5il Could Nikola Vucevic Make the 2025 NBA All-Star Team? Nikola Vucevic playing like an All-Star to begin the campaign. It’s not far-fetched to think that he could be in consideration for a 2025 NBA All-Star Game selection if he maintains his current level of production. Vucevic is one of only two players averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per game while shooting 55% from the field and 45% from three-point range. The other player is the reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. One two NBA players are currently averaging 20 points, 10 rebounds and 2.0 threes per game while shooting 55% from the floor and 45% from three: Nikola Jokic Nikola Vucevic pic.twitter.com/8lwZdlJl7t Efficiency Leaders (Among top 50 PPG) What stands out? https://t.co/hYkfMkt8yN pic.twitter.com/cK907kzSth Wild Speculation: Maybe Lonzo and LaMelo Ball Want to Be Teammates Mild social media buzz brewed this past Friday when Lonzo Ball's father, LaVar, commented on a live stream, "Don't worry help is coming," while attending LaMelo Ball's game. lavar ball has such a good aura around him and what he says. its like everything he says you can trust. https://t.co/QbPMyjmS3h While it could be written off as a casual statement, Lonzo posted on Snapchat a cryptic photo of himself alongside LaMelo accompanied by the text, "I knew this day would come." Maybe it's nothing, maybe it's something. Either way, it's worth noticing. Lonzo Ball posted this on his Snapchat pic.twitter.com/PKT7ESkl1u This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.Penn State’s Tyler Warren adds two more incredible records to his 2024 haul vs. Maryland
Membership of UK's anti-immigration Reform party surpasses Conservatives
Telus Corp. T-T is challenging a federal order for a CRTC review on whether Canada’s Big 3 telecom providers should be able to access each other’s wholesale fibre internet networks. Telus is asking a federal court to quash the cabinet order, accusing the federal government of trying to overturn an independent CRTC decision, improperly entertaining submissions from select internet service providers, and failing to adequately consult with the provinces. “The CRTC recently issued a decision after 17 months of expert review that was designed to increase competition and lower prices for home internet services,” Telus Consumer Solutions president Zainul Mawji said in a statement. “Now, when Canadians are already struggling with affordability and cost of living, the federal government is seeking to overturn the CRTC’s decision and instead reduce choice and increase prices for consumers. Telus is asking the court to allow the CRTC’s decision to stand.” A series of recent CRTC decisions allow smaller internet providers to sell their services through fibre networks owned by companies such as Telus and BCE Inc. BCE-T Late last year, the regulator announced it would temporarily require Bell and Telus to allow competitors to access their fibre-to-the-home networks, only in Ontario and Quebec, in exchange for a fee. That decision, which took effect this past May, was meant to stimulate competition for internet services in the provinces where the regulator said independent companies were struggling the most. Following a broader review, the CRTC announced in August those rules would apply to networks owned by telephone companies nationwide. Bell had appealed the initial decision that applied to Ontario and Quebec, asking the federal cabinet to overturn it. The company had argued the rules reduce its incentive to continue building out its fibre network. Last month, Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said cabinet had denied Bell’s appeal. However, Ottawa requested the CRTC “reconsider a discrete aspect” of the new rules – whether major carriers such as Bell, Telus and Rogers Communications Inc. should be prohibited from using each other’s fibre networks to sell internet service to customers. Champagne said the government had concerns about the viability of smaller internet service providers to act as alternatives to the big players. He also said the government wants to ensure companies can maintain their investments in internet infrastructure, particularly in underserved areas. The CRTC opened a consultation into the matter last month in response to cabinet’s direction. But Telus said incumbent telecoms should also be allowed to sell their services to customers using rivals’ networks, as long as their ability to do so is limited to regions outside of their traditional internet-serving territories. The company argued in its court filing that outside B.C., Alberta, and eastern Quebec – regions where it has built its own fibre infrastructure – its ability to act as a wholesale provider would give local consumers more internet options. “Historically, Telus’ entry into other regional markets has promoted competition, affordability, consumer interests, and innovation,” the filing stated. “The size of an internet service provider is not an indicator of its market share in any particular region in Canada. While Telus may be disproportionate in size in certain regions, it is not in others, and in some regions has significantly fewer subscribers than regional internet service providers.” But some of the smaller providers say allowing the Big 3 to access wholesale fibre internet would decrease competition. The Competitive Network Operators of Canada, an industry association representing independent internet service providers, accused Telus of “deploying another delay tactic.” “By closing a loophole that allows the Big 3 to get even bigger, the CRTC can ensure real competition at fair prices for Canadians across the country,” Paul Andersen, chair and president of the association, said in a statement. “That is what people want to see: real competition, not more of the same from the Big 3.” A joint letter written to the CRTC last month by the association, along with Halifax-based carrier Eastlink and Cogeco Communications Inc., said the large carriers could exploit wholesale access rules. The letter said the Big 3 could undermine competition by leveraging their national wireless brand recognition and “massive” marketing and sales budgets. They also warned the Big 3 could use their “ability to lure customers” by offering cellphone and internet bundles – an advantage the big carriers have over some standalone independent internet providers. “There is a significant risk to the viability of regional facilities-based and service-based competitors and, as a result, to competition itself,” they said.
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 — 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. While immigration officials have used the tech for years, an October letter from the Department of Homeland Security obtained exclusively by The Associated Press details how those tools — some of them powered by AI — help make life-altering decisions for immigrants, including whether they should be detained or surveilled. 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. The letter, sent by DHS Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer Eric Hysen to the immigrant rights group Just Futures Law, revealed that the score calculates the potential risk that an immigrant — with a pending case — will fail to check in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The algorithm relies on several factors, he said, including an immigrant’s number of violations and length of time in the program, and whether the person has a travel document. Hysen wrote that ICE officers consider the score, among other information, when making decisions about an immigrant’s case. “The Hurricane Score does not make decisions on detention, deportation, or surveillance; instead, it is used to inform human decision-making,” Hysen wrote. Also included in the government’s tool kit is a mobile app called SmartLINK that uses facial matching and can track an immigrant’s specific location. Nearly 200,000 people without legal status who are in removal proceedings are enrolled in the Alternatives to Detention program, under which certain immigrants can live in the U.S. while their immigration cases are pending. In exchange, SmartLINK and GPS trackers used by ICE rigorously surveil them and their movements. The phone application draws on facial matching technology and geolocation data, which has been used before to find and arrest those using the app. Just Futures Law wrote to Hysen earlier this year, questioning the fairness of using an algorithm to assess whether someone is a flight risk and raising concerns over how much data SmartLINK collects. Such AI systems, which score or screen people, are used widely but remain largely unregulated even though some have been found to discriminate on race, gender or other protected traits. DHS said in an email that it is committed to ensuring that its use of AI is transparent and safeguards privacy and civil rights while avoiding biases. The agency said it is working to implement the Biden administration’s , but Hysen said in his letter that security officials may waive those requirements for certain uses. Trump has publicly when he returns to the White House in January. “DHS uses AI to assist our personnel in their work, but DHS does not use the outputs of AI systems as the sole basis for any law enforcement action or denial of benefits,” a spokesperson for DHS told the AP. Trump has not revealed how he plans to carry out his promised deportation of an estimated 11 million people living in the country illegally. Although he has proposed invoking wartime powers, as well as military involvement, the plan would face major logistical challenges — such as where to keep those who have been detained and how to find people spread across the country — that AI-powered surveillance tools could potentially address. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump, did not answer questions about how they plan to use DHS’ tech, but said in a statement that “President Trump will marshal every federal and state power necessary to institute the largest deportation operation” in American history. Over 100 civil society groups sent a letter on Friday urging the Office of Management and Budget to require DHS to comply with the Biden administration’s guidelines. OMB did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Just Futures Law’s executive director, Paromita Shah, said if immigrants are scored as flight risks, they are more likely to remain in detention, “limiting their ability to prepare a defense in their case in immigration court, which is already difficult enough as it is.” SmartLINK, part of the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program, is run by BI Inc., a subsidiary of the private prison company The GEO Group. The GEO Group also contracts with ICE to run detention centers. ICE is tight-lipped about how it uses SmartLINK’s location feature to find and arrest immigrants. Still, public records show that during Trump’s first term in 2018, Manassas, Virginia-based employees of BI Inc. relayed immigrants’ GPS locations to federal authorities, who then arrested over 40 people. In a report last year to address privacy issues and concerns, DHS said that the mobile app includes security features that “prohibit access to information on the participant’s mobile device, with the exception of location data points when the app is open.” But the report notes that there remains a risk that data collected from people “may be misused for unauthorized persistent monitoring.” Such information could also be stored in other ICE and DHS databases and used for other DHS mission purposes, the report said. On investor calls earlier this month, private prison companies were clear-eyed about the opportunities ahead. The GEO Group’s executive chairman George Christopher Zoley said that he expects the incoming Trump administration to “take a much more aggressive approach regarding border security as well as interior enforcement and to request additional funding from Congress to achieve these goals.” “In GEO’s ISAP program, we can scale up from the present 182,500 participants to several hundreds of thousands, or even millions of participants,” Zoley said. That same day, the head of another private prison company told investors he would be watching closely to see how the new administration may change immigrant monitoring programs. “It’s an opportunity for multiple vendors to engage ICE about the program going forward and think about creative and innovative solutions to not only get better outcomes, but also scale up the program as necessary,” Damon Hininger, CEO of the private prison company CoreCivic Inc. said on an earnings call. GEO did not respond to requests for comment. In a statement, CoreCivic said that it has played “a valued but limited role in America’s immigration system” for both Democrats and Republicans for over 40 years.Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment on Thursday took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military later said it wasn’t aware that the WHO chief was at the location in Yemen. An uneasy calm settles over Syrian city of Homs after outbreak of sectarian violence HOMS, Syria (AP) — Syria’s new security forces checked IDs and searched cars in the central city of Homs a day after protests by members of the Alawite minority erupted in gunfire and stirred fears that the country’s fragile peace could break down. A tense calm prevailed Thursday after checkpoints were set up throughout the country’s third-largest city, which has a mixed population of Sunni and Shia Muslims, Alawites and Christians. The security forces are controlled by the former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which led the charge that unseated former President Bashar Assad. The US says it pushed retraction of a famine warning for north Gaza. Aid groups express concern. WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say they asked for — and got — the retraction of an independent monitor's warning of imminent famine in north Gaza. The internationally Famine Early Warning System Network issued the warning this week. The new report had warned that starvation deaths in north Gaza could reach famine levels as soon as next month. It cited what it called Israel's “near-total blockade” of food and water. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, criticized the finding as inaccurate and irresponsible. The U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the famine-monitoring group, told the AP it had asked for and gotten the report's retraction. USAID officials tell The Associated Press that it had asked the group for greater review of discrepancies in some of the data. Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen ATLANTA (AP) — Republicans in Congress plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nation’s voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. They want to push through long-sought changes such as voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. They say the measures are needed to restore public confidence in elections. That's after an erosion of trust that Democrats note has been fueled by false claims from Donald Trump and his allies of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Democrats say they are willing to work with the GOP but want any changes to make it easier, not harder, to vote. Americans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they're tuning out NEW YORK (AP) — A lot of Americans, after an intense presidential election campaign, are looking for a break in political news. That's evident in cable television news ratings and a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll found nearly two-thirds of Americans saying they've found the need recently to cut down on their consumption of political and government news. That's particularly true among Democrats following President-elect Donald Trump's victory, although a significant number of Republicans and independents feel the same way. Cable networks MSNBC and CNN are really seeing a slump. That's also happened in years past for networks that particularly appeal to supporters of one candidate. New York to charge fossil fuel companies for damage from climate change ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Large fossil fuel companies would have to pay fees to help New York fight the effects of climate change under a bill signed by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. The governor signed the new law Thursday. It requires companies responsible for substantial greenhouse gas emissions to pay into a state infrastructure fund for repairs or projects that help avoid future damage from climate change. Lawmakers approved the bill earlier this year. It's meant to make big oil and gas companies contribute to the cost of repairs after extreme weather events or for resiliency projects. Such projects may include restoring coastal wetlands or upgrading roads, bridges and water drainage systems. Legal challenges to the new law are expected. Aviation experts say Russia's air defense fire likely caused Azerbaijan plane crash as nation mourns Aviation experts say that Russian air defense fire was likely responsible for the Azerbaijani plane crash the day before that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured. Azerbaijan is observing a nationwide day of mourning on Thursday for the victims of the crash. Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 was en route from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus on Wednesday when it was diverted for reasons yet unclear and crashed while making an attempt to land in Aktau in Kazakhstan. Cellphone footage circulating online appeared to show the aircraft making a steep descent before smashing into the ground in a fireball. Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy battlefield losses KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy losses in Russia's Kursk region and face logistical difficulties as a result of Ukrainian attacks. The intelligence agency said Thursday that Ukrainian strikes near Novoivanovka inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean units. Ukraine's president said earlier this week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in the Kursk region. It marked the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties several weeks after Kyiv announced that North Korea had sent 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia to help it in the almost 3-year war. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze. Why this Mexican American woman played a vital role in the US sacramental peyote trade MIRANDO CITY, Texas (AP) — Amada Cardenas, a Mexican American woman who lived in the tiny border town of Mirando City in South Texas, played an important role in the history of the peyote trade. She and her husband were the first federally licensed peyote dealers who harvested and sold the sacramental plant to followers of the Native American Church in the 1930s. After her husband's death in 1967, Cardenas continued to welcome generations of Native American Church members to her home until her death in 2005, just before her 101st birthday.
Buggs' 15 lead East Tennessee State over Austin Peay 79-57
MacroGenics to Participate in Upcoming Investor ConferenceMembership of Britain's upstart anti-immigration Reform UK party has overtaken that of the centre-right Conservative Party for the first time, the party said Thursday, as Tories disputed the numbers. Party leader and Brexit figurehead Nigel Farage hailed the figure as a "historic moment". Immigration was a major issue at the ballot box at the UK's July general election which saw the Conservatives ousted after 14 years in power. The digital counter on the Reform website showed a membership tally ticking past the 131,680 figure declared by the main opposition Conservatives during its leadership election earlier this year. "The youngest political party in British politics has just overtaken the oldest political party in the world," wrote Farage on X. "Reform UK are now the real opposition." Party chairman Zia Yusuf said the milestone showed the long "stranglehold on the centre-right of British politics by the Tories has finally been broken". The last declared Conservative Party tally was the lowest on record and a drop on 2022, when there were around 172,000 members. New Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, however, questioned the figures, accusing Farage of "fakery". She said Reform's counter was "coded to tick up automatically". Farage responded by saying he would "gladly invite" a firm to "audit our membership numbers" if the Tories did the same. Reform won five seats in the 650-seat UK parliament in July, though it received roughly 14 percent of total votes cast. Reform maximised the damage to the Conservatives by splitting the right-wing vote and picking up former Tory supporters in key constituencies. The Labour Party won by a landslide although Prime Minister Keir Starmer has had a bumpy first five months in power. An Ipsos opinion poll this month found that 53 percent of Britons said they were "disappointed" in what the Labour government had achieved so far. British politics has been dominated by the two main parties -- Labour and the Conservatives -- for decades but commentators have warned that major parties have seen irreversible downturns in their popularity in the past. In the years after World War I, a divided Liberal Party found itself supplanted by the Labour Party as the main opposition. The party of 19th-century political giant William Gladstone and World War I leader David Lloyd George never again regained its status as a party of government. Farage, a supporter of US President-elect Donald Trump, said earlier this month that he was in talks with tech billionaire Elon Musk about donating to his hard-right party. har/js
TODAY, dignitaries from across the world will gather to marvel at the gleaming restoration of Paris’s magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral. But as French President Emmanuel Macron proudly shows off the £580million rebuild, his country is crumbling around him. Stroll for half an hour along the banks of the Seine from the historic place of worship and you will come to the National Assembly where, on Wednesday night, politicians staged a revolt against their two leaders. Michel Barnier became France’s shortest-serving Prime Minister, lasting just three months before a no-confidence vote forced him to resign. It was a total humiliation for Macron , who had picked the former European Union chief Brexit negotiator to push his controversial policies through the parliament. The President must now find his sixth PM in seven years at a time when France is in the midst of a deepening crisis. The second-biggest economy in Europe has €3.2trillion of debt — twice the EU limit. Barnier’s fall is set to push up interest rates and bond markets are jittery. On Thursday, much of France was crippled by another public sector strike, with hospital workers and air traffic controllers among the staff walking out and demos on the streets. That evening, Macron dismissed calls for his resignation in a TV address. He blamed the “extreme right and extreme left” for the crisis, adding that they had come together “not to do things but to undo them”. Today, he is sure to be all smiles as he welcomes US President elect Donald Trump to Notre Dame , which is reopening after a terrible fire destroyed its roof and spire in 2019. But many French people are tired of their President’s showboating and want a leader who can rescue the nation from impending disaster. Polling reveals two thirds of the population thought that Macron should resign if Barnier lost the confidence vote. Both left-wing and right-wing politicians, who formed an alliance to oust the Prime Minister, want Macron out. The far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen called for Presidential elections, saying: “Emmanuel Macron has attacked the foundation walls of the nation for the past seven years.” And Jeremy Corbyn-style, far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon , of France Unbowed, said: “Even with another Barnier every three months, Macron will not last another three years.” Macron has only himself to blame. His snap parliamentary election in June initiated the crisis — and it is one that is not going away. The result was a hung parliament, with the far-left, far-right and centrist blocs not gaining enough votes for an outright majority. This meant Macron had to appoint a Prime Minister. And even though the centre-right Barnier was not elected, Macron made him PM — but there was always the danger the far left and far right could unite to block his policies. Barnier, 73, was used to governing without the people’s mandate, having been appointed a European Commissioner in 1999. Known in France as Babar, after the unflappable cartoon elephant, he displayed incredible hypocrisy when he unsuccessfully ran for the Presidency of France in 2022. One of the key reasons the UK voted to leave the EU in 2016 was that many wanted to regain control of its borders. Commissioners had turned down requests by then PM David Cameron to restrict which of their citizens came into Britain. Having been deeply critical of Brexit, Barnier then called for France to end freedom of movement because immigration had become “out of control”. No pragmatism. Just ideology. All the speeches were about values, extremes. Our whole discourse is disconnected from reality There was outrage this week when he proposed running roughshod over democracy again. The vote of no confidence was called because neither far-right nor far-left deputies agreed with the PM’s £50billion budget cuts. Veteran journalist Eric Brunet branded the debate “jaw-droppingly French”, adding: “No pragmatism. Just ideology. All the speeches were about values, extremes. Our whole discourse is disconnected from reality.” After losing the vote by 57 per cent, Barnier said Macron could simply pass through his economic policies by presidential decree. That would lead to more protests. This week’s industrial action is over cuts to public sector workers’ sick pay. Next week, farmers plan two days of action against a squeeze on their income. Both Le Pen and the leftists opposed Barnier’s Budget because it was going to put off an inflation-linked increase to state pensions. Even the smallest changes provoke a lively reaction. Taxi drivers set off smoke bombs and fireworks during their “drive slow” protest against patients being asked to share rides to hospital. But with government spending accounting for 57 per cent of France’s GDP, in comparison to 45 per cent in Britain, Macron is likely to continue with his plan to rein in public expenditure. Some commentators have spoken of a debt crisis similar to Greece’s in the 2010s if austerity measures are not imposed. Macron cannot call another election until July 2025 and will struggle to find a PM who will please enough MPs. The crisis has serious implications for the EU, too. With Germany holding elections in February after its coalition collapsed, Europe’s two major powers are deeply distracted from important world events. The EU needs strong leadership to deal with the advent of President Trump, the Ukraine war, Putin and the rise of Russia-sympathising leaders in Hungary, Slovakia and Romania. But its focus is weakened by domestic troubles. In the meantime, the President has asked Barnier to stay on in a caretaker capacity, even though he has resigned as PM. There is talk of Macron going further by imposing a “technocrat” government, which would do his bidding no matter what parliament thinks. That would lead to a repeat of the so- called “yellow vest”, cost-of-living protests of 2018, when there were violent clashes between the police and citizens wearing high-visibility jackets. One man, describing himself as a “yellow jacket”, was waiting outside the National Assembly for the result of the confidence vote. Salvat, 55, from Chartres, near Paris, who didn’t give his second name, said: “I want Macron to go, but what we are witnessing today is just theatre. They are not taking care of the people.” Unemployment in France is at 7.4 per cent, far higher than Britain’s 4.3 per cent, and is sure to keep rising. Last month, tyres went up in flames when it emerged the famous manufacturer Michelin was to close two factories in France employing 1,250 staff. The no-confidence vote has only made matters worse. French bonds and stocks were being sold off at an alarming rate, and borrowing costs spiralled. Even before Barnier went, business confidence had fallen to its lowest in four years. Macron can remain as President until 2027 and few people think he will fall on his sword. Outside the Assembly, lawyer Marie Merger, 49, from Paris, predicted: “Macron will stay until the last minute.” Macron will stay until the last minute Le Pen is unlikely to push too hard for Presidential elections as the electorate knows she faces being barred from government. The firebrand politician and some 20 party members are accused of creating £2.5million worth of fake European Parliament jobs. She denies embezzlement charges but has to wait until the end of March for a court verdict. That leaves Macron free to play the international statesman at Notre Dame. His guests are sure to be impressed, but security will stop the 50 heads of state from seeing homeless people huddled in doorways. Macron, who wooed Trump when he was US President the first time, is hoping to win him over again. For that reason, Barnier’s resignation is problematic. Le Parisien’s front page on Thursday summed it up with the headline, “The Great Unknown”. One source told The Sun: “It would be extremely embarrassing for France not to have a Prime Minister in place during such an important diplomatic weekend for the country.” Not that you would know it from Macron, who only flew back into Paris from Saudi on the evening that Barnier became the first French PM to lose a no-confidence vote in 60 years.NoneMusk's millions for Trump make him biggest US political donorA Tennessee man is convicted of killing 2 at a high school basketball game in 2021
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