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Tbilisi, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Dec, 2024) Thousands of pro-Europe protesters rallied in against the 's decision to shelve accession talks, marking the 11th consecutive day of demonstrations amid a post-election crisis. The country's pro-Western and the president rejected the ruling Georgian Dream party's claimed victory in 26 parliamentary polls and tens of thousands had taken to the streets against alleged electoral fraud. Irakli Kobakhidze's shock decision last week that EU-candidate will not seek the opening of accession talks triggered a fresh wave of protests, which met with a tough response. Kobakhidze has labelled the protesters as opposition-controlled "violent groups", claiming their attempted revolution "has failed" and -- using language reminiscent of Kremlin rhetoric against its political opponents -- to punish "liberal fascists". But the largely peaceful protests have shown no signs of abating, even though turnout by the end of the week was slightly lower compared to previous days. Riot used tear and cannons to disperse the rallies and the said that 402 protesters had been arrested since 28, including "more than 30 on charges" and the remainder for administrative offences. The Georgian Dream 's critics accuse it of creeping authoritarianism and of steering the country back towards . - 'Can't scare us' - On evening, thousands of people gathered outside the building in the capital , some demonstrators banging on the metal barriers blocking the 's entrance, waving EU flags and loudly blowing horns and whistles, an AFP reporter witnessed. City authorities began setting up a giant tree on the pavement outside during the day, but the installation quickly became a symbolic battleground for protesters. Demonstrators hung on the tree's metallic framework photos of individuals reportedly beaten by -- their faces swollen and bruised -- alongside fliers "Bloody tree." "It's not time for celebrations now," said Nino, 27. The authorities "can't scare us... we are not going to stop." As thousands rallied on Saturday outside , dozens of unidentified masked men stormed the offices of the For Change , brutally assaulting figure Koba Khabazi. The attackers then severely beat two journalists the independent station Pirveli as officers stood by without intervening during the incident near the venue. The Georgian Dream 's security forces had faced persistent accusations of deploying plainclothes security agents to target and political opponents. Kobakhidze announced on Saturday the 's "plan to introduce legislation prohibiting participants at gatherings concealing their faces using any means". The measure "is crucial for preventing violence", he told a conference. - 'Alarming repression' - 's pro-Western President Salome Zurabishvili -- at loggerheads with the ruling party -- said on Saturday that she had had an "in-depth discussion" with US president-elect and French leader Emmanuel Macron in . She said they had discussed the "stolen and extremely alarming repression against the people of ", adding: "The Georgian people have a friend in ." 's leader Volodymyr Zelensky - who has warned of influence in for months -- said Saturday he fully backed 's anti-government protesters. Zelensky urged to stop "surrendering" to in a meeting with Zurabishvili in . Zurabishvili has alleged widespread fraud in 's parliamentary polls, branding the freshly elected legislature and "illegitimate". With both sides ruling out a compromise, there appeared to be no clear route out of the crisis. The , and are among the Western countries to have denounced the crackdown on protests, but the has refused to back down. Thousands have also staged daily protests in other parts of , including the cities of , , , Zugdidi, and Telavi, local reported. Critics of Georgian Dream are enraged by what they call its betrayal of the country's bid for EU membership, enshrined in the constitution and supported by around 80 percent of the population. Georgian Dream, in power for more than a decade, has advanced controversial legislation in recent years, targeting and independent and curbing LGBTQ rights. has warned that such policies are incompatible with EU membership, while domestic detractors accuse the of copying 's playbook. ub-im/rlp
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump attends a meeting with Britain's Prince William (not pictured) at the residence of the British ambassador to France, on the day of the reopening ceremonies of the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral following the 2019 fire, in Paris, France, December 7, 2024. Aaron Chown | Via Reuters In an exclusive interview with Donald Trump on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, the president-elect told NBC News' Kristen Welker that Ukraine will "possibly" receive less military aid once he takes office. "We're in for $350 billion, and Europe is in for $100 billion. Why isn't Europe in for the same as us?" Trump told Welker of support that has gone to Ukraine since the war began in February 2022. "The one thing that should happen is that Europe...should equalize," he added. On Saturday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced a $988 million aid package of new arms and equipment to Ukraine to help in the ongoing conflict following Russia's invasion. All told, the U.S. has committed more than $62 billion in assistance to Ukraine since the conflict started nearly three years ago. "I think [Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy] is maybe the greatest salesman of any politician that's ever lived," Trump previously said of the Ukrainian leader in June. The comments suggest that Zelenskyy's diplomatic skills were to credit for the tens of billions of dollars in U.S. military aid packages, rather than the country's actual needs. Like his stance during his first term in the White House, Trump said that NATO needs to "pay their bills" as a condition of the U.S. remaining part of the military coalition. The incoming president has previously threatened multiple times to withdraw the country from NATO — an alliance that has been in place since World War II, with a primary mission of protecting against the growing power of Russia. "Europe is in for a fraction, and war with Russia is more important for Europe than it is for us," Trump told Welker. "We have a little thing called an ocean in between us." When asked whether he had been in touch with Putin since winning office, Trump would not deny that he had spoken to the Russian president. France's President Emmanuel Macron (C) walks with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump (R) and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (L) after a meeting at the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris on Dec. 7, 2024. Julien De Rosa | Afp | Getty Images The incoming president met with Ukraine's Zelenskyy during a 35-minute meeting hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Saturday. The three were in Paris for a ceremony to reopen the Notre Dame Cathedral, which has been under repairs since a fire in 2019. Following Trump's conversation with Zelenskyy in France, the incoming president took to social media to call for an end to the conflict in Ukraine. "There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin," Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform Truth Social. He added that the "war that should never have started, and could go on forever." Trump has said before that within a day of taking office, he would broker an end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, crediting his strong ties with Putin. "I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The World is waiting!" Trump added in his social media post . Trump also highlighted his "good relationship" with Chinese President Xi Jinping , noting they have been communicating with one another since he was elected and as recently as three days before his interview with NBC's Welker. When asked whether he would defend Taiwan if China invades the island nation-state, Trump said that while he prefers China not to do it, he refused to say whether he would have the U.S. intervene, noting that he has to "negotiate things." During his recent call with President Xi, Trump said that the topic of Taiwan "didn't come up." The U.S. president-elect also spoke about Russia's role in the Syrian conflict. Following a 13-year civil war, Syrian rebels took control of the capital city of Damascus on Sunday and said they had successfully ousted President Bashar al-Assad. There are reports that the plane Assad took out of the country is missing. "Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer. There was no reason for Russia to be there in the first place. They lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine," Trump added on Truth Social. watch now VIDEO 7:43 07:43 Pete Hegseth would be a great secretary of defense, says former Pentagon official Elbridge Colby Squawk Box
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AMMAN — The Edom Lowlands Regional Archaeology Project (ELRAP), directed by Thomas E. Levy and Mohammad Najjar, is a deep-time investigation of society in the Faynan region of Southern Jordan, said Assistant Professor of Anthropological Archaeology Matt Howland at Wichita State University, in Wichita, Kansas. "This means that we are interested in the long- term occupation of the region, ranging from the Neolithic period, to the region’s peak occupation and copper production during the Iron Age, to the Middle Islamic period, when copper was also produced," Howland said A lot of the excavations conducted by the ELRAP were focused on the relationship between copper production and social complexity, and helped show how the mining and manufacture of copper helped a local complex society develop in the Early Iron Age in Jordan, Howland continued. The professor added that his research focuses mainly on the use of spatial and 3D technologies to investigate the ancient past and share results of this research with the public. Howland worked with Levy during his undergraduate studies at Penn State University and his PhD studies at the University of California San Diego. "I developed research projects using GIS, a technology used for digital mapping, to investigate Iron Age societies in the Southern Levant. In my Ph.D. dissertation, I investigated Iron Age trade networks based in the Faynan region of Southern Jordan, and how high-status elites in Faynan controlled the manufacture and export of copper across the entire Southern Levant and beyond," Howland said. Since the team no longer actively excavates, it is interested in sharing some of the results with the general public, especially including the people of Jordan, who have always been very hospitable hosts and partners in the project. Several years ago, the ELRAP team developed an Arabic-language StoryMap to share some of the results relating to the Iron Age archaeology and heritage of Faynan with Jordanians. "Now, our new project shares 3D models that help tell the story of the Iron Age and Middle Islamic archaeology of Faynan on the website Sketchfab. Users can explore the models on this website in Arabic according to their own interest in the history and archaeology of Faynan," Howland elaborated. "We want users, especially Arabic-speaking Jordanians, to be able to explore the 3D data we have collected in the field during years of archaeological survey and excavation in the region without having to look through English-language and pay walled journal articles," the professor added. In this work, the team found it very important to work collaboratively with Jordanians to help tell the story of the archaeology of Faynan, and, luckily, they were able to collaborate with not only co-director Najjar, but also a librarian Samya Kafafi from American Centre of Research and a Jordanian student Omar Khalil from Wichita State University. The link between Faynan and Howland goes back to 2012 when he spent two months excavating the site. Howland immediately found the Faynan region to be extremely beautiful and the Bedouin people who live there to be very hospitable and friendly. Also, the archaeology of Faynan is very exciting, and is an underappreciated cultural heritage resource. "The many amazing archaeological sites in Faynan help to tell an incredible story about the development of a local complex society that was at the centre of a flourishing trade network in the Iron Age, just like the Nabateans later on in history, the professor said. "Since my own career and research has benefitted so much from research in Faynan, I want to share some of what I have learnt with the people of Jordan, and collaborate with them to help raise awareness about their amazing cultural heritage. Digital projects in Arabic, like our current project on Sketchfab, are one small way of doing that," Howland underlined.Norman Cook's mum has died, his son has confirmed. Norman - who is also known as Fatboy Slim - shares 24-year-old son Woody with radio presenter ex-wife Zoe Ball . And Wood shared the tragic news in a heartbreaking post on Instagram . He wrote: "Ups and downs of the year. My Granny Ros passed away on Christmas Day, She was an amazing woman and ‘was ready to start her next life.’ That kind of optimism and mentality really inspires me. Losing two Grandparents this year has really made me grow and made me focus a-lot more on family. "The ups: i’m having a blast in New York, was homesick on my Birthday and Christmas but i’ve been working really hard on music and it’s really paying off. My friends over here are so lovely and feel like family. Life always goes on x New year’s resolution is to make every second count... Safe travels Ros and thank you for everything" He shared an image of him reflecting and also a family snap alongside his thoughtful words. The death marked the second grandmother of Woody's to have died this year. In April, former Radio 2 host Zoe announced her mum, Julia, had passed . At the time, the DJ posted a series of final photos of her mum during a New Year's break in the Caribbean four months before her death. Zoe confirmed her mother's death after announcing her pancreatic cancer diagnosis in March. Captioning a picture of Julia on Twitter (X), following her death, Zoe wrote: "sleep tight dear Mama. thank you for teaching us how to love unconditionally, to always show courage and empathy, and how, even in the darkest of days, laughter is the greatest of gifts. we are bereft without you but will hold so tight to each other." Zoe and Woody recently spent time together following her exit from her Radio 2 breakfast show. Zoe was beaming as she shared a glimpse of her 'fairytale' Christmas in New York City with her daughter Nelly and son Woody. Zoe had flown over with Nelly to join her son overseas, with Zoe arriving only hours after she said goodbye to her fans on live radio. In images shared on her social media, Zoe had a ball as she went ice skating with her two children in Central Park. She also shared images of her with her kids in a restaurant as she smiled for the camera. Zoe wrapped up warm in black trousers, a cream-coloured sweat, a thick overcoat and a green scarf. She completed the cosy look with a beanie. Follow Mirror C elebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .
Since its introduction into the Islamic world, philosophy has faced relentless opposition and negative criticism throughout its history. This opposition, arising from disparate intellectual and theological concerns, was primarily expressed by three prominent groups: the religious scholars engaged in the study of jurisprudence (fiqh) and its foundational principles (usul), theologians, especially the Ash’arite school, and some mystics (Sufis). The intensity of this opposition was such that some equated the study of philosophy with apostasy and atheism, arguing that its core principles were fundamentally incompatible with the foundational tenets of Islam. While opponents of philosophy have been many, al-Ghazali emerged as the most significant among them. With intellectual rigour and theological acumen, he effectively dismantled the secular intellectual environment within the Islamic world that had once allowed Muslims to engage with diverse scientific and philosophical debates. The culmination of this intellectual rupture was epitomised in his seminal work Tahafut al-Falasifah ( The Incoherence of the Philosophers ), in which al-Ghazali challenged the ideas of prominent peripatetic philosophers like Al-Farabi and Ibn Sina (Avicenna), exposing the contradictions and limitations of their philosophical systems. Abu Hamid Muhammad al-Ghazali, an Ash’arite theologian and scholar of the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence, stands as one of the most influential figures in Islamic intellectual history. Well-versed in jurisprudence, theology, and dialectics, he is often criticised for contributing to the decline of philosophical inquiry within the Muslim intellectual tradition, especially in Sunni thought. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, a distinguished Iranian-American philosopher and theologian, maintains that al-Ghazali’s Tahafut al-Falasifah (The Incoherence of the Philosophers) decisively undermined rationalistic philosophy, and, in fact, brought an end to the philosophical tradition in the Arabic-speaking regions of the Islamic world. Frank Griffel, a respected scholar of Islamic studies at Yale University, offers a divergent view. He argues that although Al- Ghazali’s influence was undoubtedly significant, it did not lead to the complete obliteration of philosophy. Griffel contends that the existence of philosophers and philosophical works after Al-Ghazali—albeit in the minority—demonstrates that philosophy did not die entirely. There were those who continued to follow the teachings of Avicenna without engaging with Ghazali’s criticisms. From Khudi To Crisis: How Pakistan Strayed From Iqbal's Philosophy? Critics argue that al-Ghazali’s influence led to a decline in the regard for rational thought in Islamic scholarship. However, this claim cannot be easily accepted or dismissed; it requires a careful examination of the broader historical context. A deeper inquiry into the three primary factors—the theological, methodological, and socio-political—will provide a clearer understanding of the reasons behind Al-Ghazali’s staunch opposition to philosophy. First, with the fall of the Mu'tazilites, the Ash'arites emerged as the dominant orthodox school of Islamic theology. However, their doctrines did not achieve widespread acceptance until they were championed by scholars such as al-Juwayni and al-Ghazali, who is credited with refining and completing Ash'arite metaphysics. The Ash’arite school not only facilitated an independent critique of philosophy—especially Greek or Peripatetic philosophy—but also paved the way for intellectual contributions from figures like al-Ghazali and Fakhr al-Din al-Razi. Al- Ghazali's systematic refutation of philosophy, most notably in his celebrated work The Incoherence of the Philosophers , significantly diminished the apprehension toward intellectualism that had long prevailed among the orthodox. Some scholars, such as Ibn Rushd (Averroes), argued that Ash'arism, which they regarded as having evolved into the orthodox form of Islam, stifled the development of philosophy and science due to its emphasis on occasionalism. Critics often attribute the ascendancy of Ash'arism to al-Ghazali’s influence, as his works popularised Ash'arite theology to such an extent that it became the predominant theological framework of the Muslim community, a status it largely retains to this day. While the Ash'arites do not reject reason outright, they consider intellect (‘aql) secondary to Tradition (naql), prioritising the latter, in contrast to the Mu'tazilites. As Allama Iqal notes in The Development of Metaphysics in Persia , “Al-Ghazali was the first to write a systematic refutation of philosophy, and completely to annihilate that dread of intellectualism which had characterised the orthodox.” Sirbaz Khan Makes History As First Pakistani To Summit All 14 Peaks Above 8,000 Metres In his pursuit of truth, al-Ghazali embarked on a rigorous spiritual journey, eschewing intellectual rationalism in favour of a more direct, experiential path. Ultimately, he found refuge in Sufism Second, al-Ghazali’s critique of rationalism centres on the overreliance on reason and discursive philosophy. While he does not oppose or discredit intellect (aql) entirely, he argues that, although important, reason and intellect are insufficient for understanding absolute truth. His opposition to philosophy is articulated through two primary paradigms. First, al-Ghazali criticised Muslim peripatetic philosophers, particularly Ibn Sina and al-Farabi, for failing to meet the rigorous standards of demonstrative proof (burhan) and logic (mantiq), while elevating rational inquiry above the authority of Sharia and divine revelation. He contended that this elevation led to heretical and apostate views that undermined religious duties and deviated from core Islamic principles. In his The Incoherence of the Philosophers , al-Ghazali argued that the Aristotelian philosophy and logic transmitted by these philosophers were corrupt, often misinterpreted, and inadequate for addressing key theological matters. His critique focused on three central issues: the pre-eternity of the world, God’s knowledge of particulars, and bodily resurrection, among others. Secondly, as an Ash'arite theologian, al-Ghazali emphasised the epistemological primacy of Sharia over intellect. He believed that reason alone was insufficient to distinguish between good and evil or truth and falsehood. According to al-Ghazali, intellect must be subordinated to Sharia and divine revelation. Al-Ghazali not only undermined the dominance of philosophy in the Islamic world, particularly within Sunni Islam, but also reinforced the centrality of Sharia in shaping both theological and moral understanding. Dr Fazlur Rahman Malik, a modernist scholar and Islamic philosopher, stated, "Having failed to satisfy orthodox requirements, [philosophy] was denied the passport to survival." Third, al-Ghazali’s existential crisis, which began at the age of 38, precipitated a profound intellectual and spiritual turmoil, compelling him to abandon his prestigious career at Nizamiyyah Baghdad and personal life in search of the absolute truth and certitude. This crisis set him on a transformative, decade-long journey of epistemic inquiry. In his spiritual autobiography Deliverance from Error , he reflects on how the multiplicity of religious sects and conflicting doctrines within Islam fuelled his growing doubt. This realisation led him to reject conformist belief systems (taqlid), recognising religious adherence as more a result of social conditioning than rational conviction. Shehroze Kashif Becomes Youngest Pakistani To Summit All 8,000M Mountains In his pursuit of truth, al-Ghazali embarked on a rigorous spiritual journey, eschewing intellectual rationalism in favour of a more direct, experiential path. Ultimately, he found refuge in Sufism, which he regarded as the only true path to absolute truth, transcending the limitations of reason and sensory perception, while rejecting all other intellectual and spiritual avenues, including philosophy. Al-Ghazali's immersion in Sufism led him to embrace an intuitive (shuhudi) methodology. In his view, philosophy was an intellectual exercise dependent upon sensory experience and reason—tools he deemed insufficient for attaining truth and certitude. Al-Ghazali's intuitive methodology, as articulated in his writings, particularly in Ihya Ulum al- Din , emphasises the primacy of direct, experiential knowledge over abstract reasoning or intellectual debate. He contended that intuition (shuhud), being deeply subjective experience, could not be effectively communicated through traditional educational methods. In this regard, philosophy, with its reliance on rational analysis and logical constructs, appeared to al-Ghazali as a mere approximation of truth—incapable of guiding one to the deepest realities of existence, which could only be accessed through direct, mystical experience. It is equally important to mention that al-Ghazali’s embrace of Sufism was not only the outcome of his intellectual and spiritual quest but also a response to the political climate of his time, which increasingly opposed philosophical inquiry. In particular, peripatetic philosophy came under severe criticism from traditional Sunni scholars. Due to various socio-political factors, the teaching of rational sciences in madrassahs was restricted, as exemplified by the Nizamiyyah in Baghdad, founded by Khwaja Nizam al-Mulk, where Ghazali both studied and later taught. Nizam al-Mulk, the Persian vizier of the Seljuk Empire, was a strong supporter of Shafi'i jurisprudence and Ash'ari scholars, and nearly all the teachers at the Nizamiyya were Shafi'i scholars. Furthermore, religious conflicts within the Islamic world were on the rise. In this context, the promotion and patronage of Sufism by the political elites, including Seljuk rulers such as Sultan Tughril Bey, his brother Ibrahim Yinal, and Nizam al-Mulk, can be seen as a response to both the political needs of the time and the intellectual turmoil within the Muslim world. BankIslami Redefines Pakistan’s Financial Landscape With Riba-Free Banking For All According to Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Ghazali's attacks on philosophy, as the leading Ash'ari theologian, Shafi'i scholar, and teacher at the Nizamiyya, played an important role in consolidating the political position and stabilising the Seljuk government.
Nico Iamaleava passed for four touchdowns and Dylan Sampson rushed for 77 yards and set a school-record for TDs as No. 11 Tennessee rolled to a 56-0 victory over UTEP on Saturday afternoon in Knoxville, Tenn. Sampson scored on a 14-yard TD run early in the second quarter for the game's first points to deliver his 22nd TD of tje season to break the Tennessee single-season mark set by Gene McEvers in 1929. Iamaleava was 15 of 20 for 173 yards for Tennessee (9-2), while Bru McCoy caught a pair of TD passes and Squirrel White and Ethan Davis each had a TD reception. Tennessee moved its all-time record to 2-0 against the Miners, also having blanked the Conference USA school 24-0 in 2018. Jermod McCoy and John Slaughter had interceptions for the Volunteers, while Dominic Bailey recovered a fumble to set up a score. Skyler Locklear was 10-of-19 passing for 50 yards with an interception for UTEP (2-9), while rushing for 37 yards on eight carries. JP Pickles also had a turn at QB for the Miners and was 10 of 15 for 72 yards. Kenny Odom had eight receptions for 70 yards. Both defenses set the tone in the first quarter. The UTEP defense allowed just one first down to the Southeastern Conference team in three ugly series in the opening quarter and only 22 yards. In the second quarter, Sampson ended a 68-yard drive by dashing up the middle for 14 yards for the record-setting score to take a 7-0 lead with 13:22 remaining before halftime. After Bailey's fumble recovery, Iamaleava flipped a screen pass that White took 9 yards to the end zone nearly six minutes later. Davis put the Volunteers up 21-0 when he grabbed a short pass for a 1-yard TD. Iamaleava then found Bru McCoy from 18 yards with eight seconds left in the second quarter for a 28-0 halftime lead. McCoy caught his second TD and Peyton Lewis rushed for a pair for a 49-0 lead in the third quarter, but the biggest roar from Volunteers fans came when it was announced Florida beat No. 9 Ole Miss 24-17, to enhance the Volunteers' College Football Playoff hopes. Cameron Seldon's 3-yard run capped the scoring as the Volunteers finished the season undefeated at home for the second time in four years. --Field Level MediaMONTREAL — Police say they've arrested several people following an anti-NATO protest that included two car fires and left some businesses with smashed windows. Montreal police say they made at least three arrests following a demonstration that began late afternoon Friday. Police say that during the march, smoke bombs were deployed, metal barriers were thrown into the street and windows of businesses and at the convention centre were smashed. Delegates from NATO member states and partner countries are in Montreal this weekend to discuss issues including support for Ukraine, climate change and the future of the alliance. The protest was planned by the groups Divest for Palestine and the Convergence of Anti-Capitalist Struggles, who did not immediately respond to requests for comment Saturday. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly condemned the protests in a Saturday morning post on social media platform X, saying that "rioting is not peaceful protest and has no place in Montreal or anywhere in Canada." "Those who spread hate and antisemitism, use violence, loot and destroy property must be condemned and held accountable," she added. Police spokesperson Manuel Couture says the demonstrators were completely dispersed at around 7 p.m. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 23, 2024. The Canadian Press
By MICHAEL R. SISAK and CEDAR ATTANASIO, The Associated Press NEW YORK — Police appear to not know who he is, where he is, or why he did it. As the frustrating search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer got underway for a fifth day Sunday, investigators reckoned with a tantalizing contradiction: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma. One conclusion they are confident of, however: It was a targeted attack, not a random one. They know he ambushed Thompson at 6:44 a.m. Wednesday as the executive arrived at the Hilton for his company’s annual investor conference, using a 9 mm pistol that resembled the guns farmers use to put down animals without causing a loud noise. They know ammunition found near Thompson’s body bore the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” mimicking a phrase used by insurance industry critics. The fact that the shooter knew UnitedHealthcare group was holding a conference at the hotel and what route Thompson might take to get there suggested that he could possibly be a disgruntled employee or client, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Police divers were seen searching a pond in Central Park, where the killer fled after the shooting. Officers have been scouring the park for days for any possible clues and found his backpack there Friday. They didn’t immediately reveal what, if anything, it contained but said it would be tested and analyzed. On Sunday morning, police declined to comment on the contents of the backpack, or on the results of the search in the pond, saying no updates were planned. Investigators have urged patience, saying the process of logging evidence that stands up in court isn’t as quick as it looks like on TV. Hundreds of detectives are combing through video recordings and social media, vetting tips from the public and interviewing people who might have information, including Thompson’s family and coworkers and the shooter’s randomly assigned roommates at the Manhattan hostel where he stayed. Investigators caught a break when they came across security camera images of an unguarded moment at the hostel in which he briefly showed his face. Retracing the gunman’s steps using surveillance video, police say, it appears he left the city by bus soon after the shooting outside the New York Hilton Midtown. He was seen on video at an uptown bus station about 45 minutes later, Kenny said. With the high-profile search expanding across state lines, the FBI announced late Friday that it was offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, adding to a reward of up to $10,000 that the NYPD has offered. Police say they believe the suspect acted alone. Police distributed the images to news outlets and on social media but so far haven’t been able to ID him using facial recognition — possibly because of the angle of the images or limitations on how the NYPD is allowed to use that technology, Kenny said. Late Saturday, police released two additional photos of the suspected shooter that appeared to be from a camera mounted inside a taxi. The first shows him outside the vehicle and the second shows him looking through the partition between the back seat and the front of the cab. In both, his face is partially obscured by a blue, medical-style mask.
The Andrews/Allan Labor govt's greatest hits and missesNone