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Man City stumble again while Arsenal and Bayern Munich earn dominant winsOne of Baltimore’s most prominent families was thrust into the spotlight this week, when a son of the clan, Luigi Mangione , was arrested by Pennsylvania police and charged in the Dec. 4 fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson . Locally active in philanthropy, both via individual donations and through the Mangione Family Foundation, the Mangiones gave millions to Baltimore’s various institutions and nonprofits, including more than $1 million to the Greater Baltimore Medical Center and more to the American Citizens for Italian Matters, Baltimore Opera Company and others. Loyola University, which counts Mangione alumni among their ranks, has an aquatic center named after the family, and GBMC previously had a high-risk obstetrics unit, since closed, that bore their name. Their story is a uniquely American one: The Mangiones went from deep poverty to massive wealth in just three generations, with one cousin, Nino Mangione, now a Republican member of the Maryland House of Delegates. Despite an eventually deep portfolio of development properties and government contracting for 20 years, the family patriarch, Nicholas Mangione Sr. , said he still faced prejudice for his background when he attempted to buy land to build the Turf Valley Golf and Country Club, now the Turf Valley Resort, in Ellicott City. “Tongues started wagging,” Mangione told The Baltimore Sun in 1995. “People [were] wondering where an unknown Italian could get the money for a $5 million project. In those days, there were no Italians in real visible positions [in Howard County].” Mangione said the implication was that he must have backing from the mob, so he countered sharply. “People thought I needed money from the Mafia to buy this place. They asked me what family I belonged to,” he said. “I told them, ‘I belong to the Mangione family. The Mangione family of Baltimore County.’” The family is now defending its name again. On Monday, members released a statement on social media expressing dismay at Luigi Mangione’s arrest, saying they were stunned by the news. “We only know what we have read in the media. Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved,” the family wrote . “We are devastated by this news.” The family did not respond to a request for comment via a family attorney or their foundation. How they went from the Depression-era streets of the city’s Little Italy to its philanthropic elite is straight out of a Horatio Alger novel. Nicholas Sr. was born in Baltimore’s Little Italy, and spent his first eight years in a one-room apartment with an outdoor privy, according to a 2008 Sun article. He earlier told The Sun his Italian immigrant father, Louis, could neither read nor write, and worked in the city water department until he died of pneumonia. Today, the Mangione family is a sprawling one, with a business empire to match: Nicholas Sr., made the beginning of the family’s fortunes in the post-World War II years as a bricklayer and contractor . He built up his business holdings throughout the following decades, with his wife, Mary , growing their family to include five sons, five daughters, and 37 grandchildren, including Luigi. The family’s holdings range from construction to commercial real estate to local radio station WCBM-AM and a majority stake in Lorien Health Services, which operates multiple assisted living facilities in Maryland. Aside from the Turf Valley Resort, with its 10,000-square-foot ballroom, 220-room hotel, and 85-seat amphitheater, the Mangiones also own the Hayfields Country Club in Cockeysville and a slew of companies registered in Maryland . Its family foundation had net assets of $4.4M as of its 2022 tax filing , the most recent on record. The Mangione Family Foundation’s stated focus is supporting, “Organizations for any of the following purposes: religious, educational, charitable, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition (as long as it doesn’t provide athletic facilities or equipment), or the prevention of cruelty to children or animals.” Politically, the Mangiones have been active across the aisle. Luigi Mangione’s parents, Louis and Kathleen Mangione donated $35,935 to state and local politicians from 2005 through 2023, according to data from the State Board of Elections. Half went to Nino Mangione ’s campaign account for his state delegate races from 2018 through 2023. Other donations went to Howard County executives Calvin Ball and Ken Ulman, both Democrats, and Allan Kittleman, a Republican, along with additional high-profile candidates of both parties, including former Govs. Martin O’Malley and Robert L. Ehrlich, and former Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon. The immense number of Mangiones also was briefly confusing for Baltimoreans on Monday. Aside from Nicholas Sr. and Mary Mangione’s 10 children and 37 grandchildren, city counts at least two other Mangione families, who were briefly inundated with phone calls from the media and queries from former schoolmates and acquaintances. One of Luigi Mangione’s two sisters is a physician at the University of Texas Southwestern, according to her LinkedIn profile. Another sister is a visual artist. Neither sister responded to requests for comment. His mother, Kathleen, comes from a family that owns a funeral home, the Charles S. Zannino Funeral Home in Highlandtown, the Baltimore Fishbowl reported , and now runs a travel agency, KZM Boutique Travel, which had removed its website as of Tuesday evening. His father, Louis was groomed to help take over the family’s business empire, according to a 2003 Washington Post article . Have a news tip? Contact Riley Gutierrez McDermid at rmcdermid@baltsun.com or Frank Gluck at fgluck@baltsun.com.
Trump has flip-flopped on abortion policy. His appointees may offer clues to what happens nextAs rebels encircle his capital, Bashar al-Assad looks finished S YRIANS HAVE seen these scenes before: their countrymen tearing down posters of Bashar al-Assad, overrunning his army bases, storming the jails where he keeps political prisoners. But that was ten years ago and more, and they had not expected to see them again, certainly not now, and not with this air of finality. Yet Mr Assad is abandoned by his army and his foreign allies: his brutal 24-year reign suddenly seems to be nearing its end . Discover more Namibia’s tired old liberation party stays in power But voters are unhappy and frustrated Ghana, Africa’s model democracy, is losing its sheen Ahead of an election on December 7th, the mood in the country is grim The ceasefire between Israel and Hizbullah holds, for now People on both sides of the border are returning to devastated homes Adani’s problems in Kenya undermine Narendra Modi’s ambitions for Africa Competing with China will now be even harder for India’s prime minister Syria’s Bashar al-Assad is in mortal danger Whether he survives may depend not on his allies but on his one-time foes Syrian rebels sweep into Aleppo in an embarrassing rout for Bashar al-Assad Russia and Iran, the Syrian dictator’s closest allies, will be of less help than they used to be
B.C. fans broke Canadian data use record at last Taylor Swift Eras Tour showMassachusetts residents reacts to Trump's proposed tariffsSouth Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol survived impeachment on Saturday as his ruling party refused to join an opposition bid to oust him after he shocked the nation and its allies by briefly declaring martial law. The impeachment vote failed to gain the 200-vote hurdle needed to suspend the president from duties, after the ruling party boycotted the vote. A lengthy standoff followed as the opposition waited for ruling party members to change their minds and vote. Despite some of them doing so it eventually became clear the motion wouldn’t pass. The opposition, which controls a majority in the legislative body, has said it will push quickly for another vote. The attempt to oust the president came after Yoon, 63, shook markets and surprised world leaders by declaring martial law for the first time since South Korea became a democracy nearly four decades ago. He rescinded the order six hours later after lawmakers raced to the National Assembly and voted down the decree. While the outcome leaves Yoon in office for now, the ruling People Power Party will need to quickly find ways to shore up the administration and stabilize the situation to avoid the kind of escalating public protests seen in South Korea in the past. PPP leader Han Dong-hun vowed to seek the president’s orderly exit to minimize the turmoil, telling reporters that Yoon will be effectively suspended from duties until he steps down. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will take the lead role in running state affairs through close consultations with the ruling party, while communicating with opposition parties, the party leader said. Under the country’s constitution, the prime minister’s role is to assist the president and direct the ministries following orders from the president. Minutes after the failure of the vote, opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung accused the ruling party of betraying the public. He apologized for failing to pass the motion, as other opposition lawmakers stood by him holding banners that read, “Impeach Yoon Suk Yeol.” “We will ultimately impeach Yoon Suk Yeol,” Lee said. “We will return the state back to normal for you as a Christmas gift.” The ruling party’s decision to boycott the vote came hours after Yoon apologized for plunging the country into a political crisis, saying he would leave it up to the ruling party to decide his fate. The opposition bloc needed only eight votes from the ruling PPP to impeach Yoon. But Yoon’s conservatives refused to vote in favor of the motion, a move that would’ve likely handed their political opponents a big win in an early election that would have followed if he was removed. The impeachment bid looked set to fail much earlier Saturday evening when members of the ruling party left the National Assembly without voting. But before casting their ballots, opposition members together called on each member of the PPP by name to return to vote. “This incident will be written in our history, one that’s been built by the blood and sweat of our people,” parliamentary speaker Woo Won-shik said, as he urged ruling party lawmakers to return to the chamber and vote. “The head of a conservative group cannot speak alone for individuals’ consciences and values.” In an unexpected twist, two of them did, adding to the one PPP member who already voted. That emboldened the opposition to leave proceedings at a standstill with several hours remaining before the 72-hour limit for the voting period was due to expire. The votes by the three PPP members had prompted protesters outside the National Assembly to chant “five more to go.” As of 7 p.m., police estimated at least 100,000 people were gathered near the parliament to demand Yoon’s impeachment, compared with 18,000 Yoon supporters gathered near Gwanghwamun as of 6 p.m., according to Yonhap News. But the chances of the impeachment failing strengthened when one of the ruling party members who cast a ballot said he voted against it. The crowds started to thin as the likely result became clearer, the temperature dropped and food stalls started packing up having sold out of refreshments. “I had planned to take rest this weekend but I felt so scared after martial law,” said Park Hye-rim, a 33-year-old office worker from northern Seoul. “Even if impeachment is voted down, I will come back to rally again and again. I will not give up.” The political uncertainty in South Korea appears likely to persist, according to Jun Rong Yeap, a market strategist at IG Asia Pte. “Growing public outcries and intensifying pressure from the opposition party could potentially increase the risk of defections among PPP members,” he said, adding that the sustained uncertainty could remain a drag on its equities market into the new week. ——— (With assistance from Sohee Kim, Sangim Han, Sangmi Cha, Jaehyun Eom, Seyoon Kim, Hooyeon Kim, Shinhye Kang, Heejin Kim, Whanwoong Choi, Youkyung Lee, Eunkyung Seo and Min Jeong Lee.) ©2024 Bloomberg News. Visit at bloomberg.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
'Is this Brand Bengaluru?': Angry resident shares video as sewage from restaurants enters homes, contaminating drinking water
The Miami Hurricanes, who once appeared to be a near-lock for the College Football Playoff, are not playing for a national title. Instead, they will play in the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando. That bowl berth against Iowa State is a let-down for fans with dreams of a sixth national title in their minds, as well as players hoping to compete for a championship. However, Miami’s trip to Orlando and the lead-up to it are still crucial periods for the Hurricanes for multiple reasons. First, it’s a chance for the program to achieve something it has not done in more than two decades: win 11 games. Although the 11th win won’t get them closer to a championship, it is a good sign of the program’s progress over Mario Cristobal’s tenure. It would also end UM’s five-game losing streak in bowls. “We’re not satisfied,” Cristobal said. “We want to win every single game. We won 10. We were close on the other two, but close isn’t good enough. We want progress. We’re hungry and driven to get better, and so that’s what our focus is on: to improving as a football program, to getting better, to moving into the postseason with an opportunity against a great football team like this and putting our best on the field.” There are signs the Hurricanes will show up at close to full strength for the bowl game. Running back Damien Martinez announced he was going to play, and star quarterback Cam Ward said in a video call posted on social media that he intends to play, as well. “We’re trying to win our first bowl game in 20 years,” Ward said in the video, mistaking the length of UM’s long bowl losing streak. “We’re going hard.” Playing in the bowl game also provides the opportunity for the Hurricanes to get in several practices between now and the game. That means Miami can develop its young players and prepare them for next season during both the practices and the bowl game itself. “It’s extremely valuable,” Cristobal said. “You really don’t have many opportunities throughout the course of the year — time is limited more and more each season with your student-athletes. I want to state this and be very clear: it’s very important, it’s ultra-important for the University of Miami to continue to develop and grow and progress by stressing the importance of offseason opportunities ... You learn a lot about your team and learn a lot about your people and your program when you head to the postseason.” Of course, there are potential negatives. Players can get hurt; Mark Fletcher Jr. suffered a foot injury in the Pinstripe Bowl last year that cost him all of spring practice. A poor performance can also potentially set the tone for next season, like how Florida State, fresh off a playoff snub last year, suffered a devastating loss against Georgia in the Orange Bowl and went on to a dismal 2-10 season this year. “This is the ending of ’24 and the beginning of ’25,” Cristobal said. “This is the last opportunity to be on the field and carry some momentum into the offseason. So it is, in essence, it is the most important game because it’s the next game. “There’s a lot of excitement in the form of opportunity for our guys. Our guys love to play football. The chance to play one more time with this special group — this is a special group of guys now. They’ve worked hard to really change the trajectory of the University of Miami, and they want to continue to elevate the status and the culture at the University of Miami. So certainly a ton to play for.” ____Gisèle Benoit still gets goosebumps when she remembers the first time she saw a family of eastern wolves emerge from the forests of the Mauricie National Park, under the backdrop of a rising moon. It was 1984 and Benoit, then in her early 20s, had been using a horn to try to call a bull moose when she instead heard a long howl, followed by an adult wolf stepping out to a rocky shore accompanied by a half-grown youth and four pups. “I will never forget that,” she said of the magical moment. “It’s anchored in my heart forever.” It was only later that Benoit, an artist and documentary filmmaker, learned that the wolves she saw weren’t grey wolves but rather rare eastern wolves. The species, whose population is estimated at fewer than 1,000 mature adults, could soon be further protected by new measures that are raising hopes among conservationists that attitudes toward a once-feared and maligned animal are shifting. In July, the federal government upgraded the eastern wolf’s threat level from “status of special concern” to “threatened,” based on a 2015 report by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. That report found the population count may be as low as 236 mature individuals in its central Ontario and southern Quebec habitat. The eastern wolf is described as medium-sized canid with reddish-tawny fur that lives in family groups of a breeding pair and their offspring. Also known as the Algonquin wolf, it is largely restricted to existing protected areas, including Algonquin Park in Ontario. The federal Environment Department said in an email that development of a recovery strategy is underway, adding it would be “written in collaboration with provincial governments, federal departments responsible for the federal lands where the eastern wolf is found as well as First Nations groups and Indigenous organizations.” The order triggers protection for the species on federal lands and forces Ottawa to prepare a recovery plan. However, the fight for protection could be an uphill battle in Quebec, which does not even recognize the eastern wolf as a distinct species. A spokesperson for Quebec’s Environment Department said Quebec considers the eastern wolf a “genetic group” rather than its own species. “Recent study shows that the eastern wolf is a distinct entity, even if it comes from several crosses between the grey wolf and the coyote,” Daniel Labonté wrote in an email. “However, scientific knowledge does not demonstrate that this genetic grouping constitutes a species in its own right.” Labonté added that this lack of recognition was not a barrier to protecting the animal, since the law also allows for protection of subspecies or wildlife populations. In October, Quebec launched a program to collect samples to improve knowledge on the distribution of large canines, including the eastern wolf. The government said it is currently “impossible to assert that there is an established population” in Quebec due to low numbers — amounting to three per cent of analyzed samples — and the “strong hybridization that exists among large canids.” Véronique Armstrong, co-founder of a Quebec wildlife protection association, says she’s feeling positive about both the Canadian and Quebec governments’ attitudes. While wolves were once “stigmatized, even persecuted,” she said, “we seem to be heading in the direction of more protection.” Her group, the Association québécoise pour la protection et l’observation de la faune, has submitted a proposal for a conservation area to protect southern Quebec wolves that has already received signs of support from three of the regional municipalities that would be covered, she said. While it’s far from settled, she’s hopeful that the battle to protect wolves might be easier than for some other species, such as caribou, because the wolves are adaptable and can tolerate some human activity, including forestry. John Theberge, a retired professor of ecology and conservation biology from the University of Waterloo and a wolf researcher, spent several years along with his wife studying and radio-collaring eastern wolves around Algonquin Park. Back in the 1990s and 2000s, they faced a “huge political battle” to try to expand wolf protection outside park boundaries after realizing that the far-ranging animals were being hunted and trapped in large numbers once they left the protected lands. Conservationists, he said, faced resistance from powerful hunter and trapper lobbies opposed to protecting the animals but in the end succeeded in permanently closing the zones outside the park to hunting and trapping in 2004. Theberge says people who want to save wolves today still face some of that same opposition — especially when governments including Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia kill wolves to protect endangered caribou. But he believes the public support for protecting wolves has increased from when his career began in the 1960s, when they were treated with fear and suspicion. “Nobody wore T-shirts with wolves on them back then,” he said. Over the years, there have been questions about whether the eastern wolf may be a grey wolf subspecies or a coyote-wolf hybrid. But in the order protecting the wolves, the federal government says genetic analyses have resolved that debate, showing that it is a “distinct species.” Benoit, Theberge and Armstrong all believe that while it’s important to protect the eastern wolf from a genetic diversity perspective, there is value in protecting all wolves, regardless of their DNA. Wolves, they say, are an umbrella species, meaning that protecting them helps protect a variety of other species. They kill off weak and sick animals, ensuring strong populations. They’re also “highly developed, sentient social species, with a division of labour, and strong family alliances,” Theberge said. Benoit agrees. After years spent watching wolves, she has developed great respect for how they live in close-knit families, with older offspring helping raise new pups. “It’s extraordinary to see how their way of life is a little like humans’,” she said.
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the country “will respond” if US President-elect Donald Trump imposes new tariffs on Canadian imports. Trump recently proposed imposing 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, contingent on both countries addressing migration and fentanyl flows into the US. Recognising the potential severity of such a move, Trudeau stated bluntly, “Let’s not kid ourselves in any way, shape or form: 25% tariffs on everything going to the United States would be devastating for the Canadian economy.” According to Blomberg, the prime minister emphasised that such tariffs would not be a one-sided punishment, arguing they would raise costs for US consumers on a wide range of goods imported from Canada. Drawing from past experience, Trudeau recalled Canada’s strategic response to similar tariffs on steel and aluminium in 2018, where they implemented carefully targeted retaliatory measures. Read Also: Trump picks personal lawyer Alina Habba as White House Counsellor During the previous trade dispute, Canada responded by imposing tariffs on politically sensitive American products like bourbon, Harley-Davidson motorcycles, playing cards, and Heinz ketchup. Trudeau explained that these specific choices were designed to be “politically impactful to the president’s party and colleagues,” creating pressure that would be genuinely felt by Americans. Whilst acknowledging the seriousness of Trump’s threats, Trudeau provided a nuanced analysis of the president’s negotiation tactics. He suggested that Trump’s approach often involves challenging partners, introducing uncertainty, and creating a sense of chaos in established diplomatic channels. Despite the potential economic pressures, Trudeau advocated for a measured response. “One of the most important things for us to do is not to freak out, not to panic,” he advised, emphasising the need for a thoughtful and united approach to navigate potential trade negotiations and protect both countries’ economic interests.PLYMOUTH, Mich. , Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Loc Performance ("Loc") is pleased to announce significant capital investments at its Lapeer, Michigan facility, following recently won defense contracts for missile system structures. These pivotal contracts position Loc as a key supplier for several missile programs that are expected to be in production for multiple years going forward. The manufacturing of missile structures began low-rate initial production at Lapeer's plant in 2024, with expansion planned at Loc's Lansing plant in 2025. This strategic move not only enhances our operational capabilities but also strengthens our competitive edge in the market. "As we continue to elevate our skills and technology, we see an exciting opportunity for growth in both Loc's commercial and defense sectors," said Wayne Dula , Director of Business Development, Loc Performance. "Missile structures represent a key area for expansion within our defense market strategy." To meet the demands for these large-scale missile structures, Loc is actively investing in high-precision 4-axis and 5-axis CNC Machining Centers, with two new machines already installed and operational. Additionally, Loc is enhancing its manufacturing support by installing large-capacity and highly accurate coordinate measuring machines, ensuring the highest standards of quality and precision. These developments will create new job opportunities for skilled CNC multi-axis machinists at both Loc's Lansing and Lapeer locations. Additionally, Loc plans to expand its skilled manufacturing and quality engineering teams to support this growth. Loc Performance is committed to advancing its capabilities and contributing to the defense industry, reinforcing its position as a leader in innovative manufacturing solutions. About Loc Performance Loc Performance, headquartered in Plymouth, MI , provides track systems, mechanical systems, armor products, fabricated structures, and rubberized products for military, agricultural, and construction applications. With proven capabilities in product design and development through production, Loc offers comprehensive solutions and exceptional customer service to produce the highest quality products at competitive pricing. Loc has over 1,750,000 square feet of manufacturing space with facilities in Plymouth , Lansing , and Lapeer, Michigan , and St. Marys, Ohio with more than 1000 total employees. Learn more at www.locperformance.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/loc-performance-announces-major-capital-investments-to-support-defense-contracts-302316856.html SOURCE Loc Performance Products
California family blames Elon Musk for son's death while driving Tesla in 'autopilot' modeJaipur: The chrysanthemum exhibition returned to Rajasthan University after a gap of two years. The 38th Chrysanthemum Exhibition that was inaugurated on the varsity campus by Deputy Chief Minister Premchand Bairwa on Saturday features more than 5,000 plants of more than 30 varieties of this flower. The last exhibition in 2022 showcased 3,700 plants across 45 varieties. "This event will certainly encourage floriculture , promote innovation in the agricultural sector, and raise environmental awareness among students and the community. The variety of flowers and advanced agricultural techniques displayed here will inspire many," said Bairwa in his address at the inauguration ceremony. Jaipur MP Manju Sharma, Civil Lines MLA and RU syndicate member Gopal Sharma, and Vice-Chancellor Alpana Kateja were also present at the inauguration ceremony. The exhibition will be open to the public from 10am to 4pm daily till Dec 9. After the exhibition concludes, the plants will be sold. This year, the price has been set at Rs 150 per plant, which is Rs 50 higher than last time. "Chrysanthemum is a Chinese flower and lacks the essence of Indian culture. I hope RU will focus in future on introducing gardens with flowers that reflect Indian heritage. While it is commendable that the university is maintaining its traditions, there is much room for improvement," said Gopal Sharma. RU has been hosting the chrysanthemum exhibition since 1996. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .