Opposition fighters are at Damascus' gates. Who are they and what now?Stock market today: Losses for Big Tech pull US indexes lower
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Some devoted Wicked fans who showed up to AMC screenings of the film with their entire faces painted green have apparently been asked to remove the face paint before entering the theater. Since Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of the Broadway hit was released in theaters last weekend , a number of social media users have posted videos of themselves wearing green face paint to the movies to mimic Cynthia Erivo ’s viridescent character Elphaba. However, it appears several fans have since been turned away and made to wash their faces off in the bathroom before being allowed into the screenings. “This is the dumbest rule I’ve ever heard,” a TikToker named Celine Serrano said in a recent video. “Apparently AMC won’t let you put face paint on, so they’re gonna make me wash it off in the bathroom — whatever.” In the caption, she said: “@AMC Theatres seeing some people on tiktok getting in with facepaint - why not me??!” Another TikToker, whose friend was similarly turned away for wearing face paint, posted a clip of their friend wiping off their makeup in the bathroom. “PSA: Do not show up to an AMC wearing face paint, they will not let you in,” they noted, adding in the caption: “At least the Burbank AMC in L.A. won’t.” According to the company’s website : “[Face] paint, helmets, masks (except for standard face masks used explicitly for health and safety concerns), or anything that covers the face are prohibited” due to safety concerns. Other major movie chains, including Regal and Cinemark , Cineplex , Landmark Theatres and Marcus Theatres, also enforce similar rules. It appears there are some theaters that have actually embraced guests who’ve arrived in costume. “Can’t relate to being kicked out of the theater. Mine let me in with all of this,” another TikToker shared in a video of them in complete head-to-toe costume as Elphaba. “[They] even took pics of me.” Earlier this week, AMC issued a warning , informing movie-goers that they aren’t allowed to sing along to the Wicked songs at any point during the film. In a short Wicked -themed preshow advisory video, AMC said: “At AMC Theaters, silence is golden. No talking. No texting. No singing. No wailing. No Flirting. And absolutely no name-calling. Enjoy the magic of movies.” Speaking to IndyStar , AMC spokesperson Ryan Noonan explained that this has been the theater’s “long-standing policy” to prevent “disruptive behavior.” However, they wanted to emphasize these rules especially now before the musical debuted in theaters with classic songs like “Defying Gravity” and “Popular.” Wicked , which also stars Ariana Grande as Glinda the Good Witch, is out in theaters now.UPDATE: Suspect killed in officer-involved shooting on Bazinsky Road; second suspect makes court appearance in related case
Nvidia Slips Again On Post-Earnings Blues, New China Trade War - Investor's Business DailyProgressive House Democrats are demanding that President Joe Biden take executive action in his final days in office to certify the Equal Rights Amendment and commute death row sentences, arguing that he “has the ability, right now, to make a change.” In two separate press conferences on Tuesday, members of the “ Squad ” gathered outside the U.S. Capitol to call on Biden to act before President-elect Donald Trump and a Republican Congress take control of the federal government in January. At a press conference led by Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO), several activists joined the lawmakers in asking Biden and the U.S. Archivist to certify and publish the ERA, which was introduced over a century ago and has faced objections that it can no longer become the 28th Amendment to the Constitution. “You have the opportunity, President Biden, to make equal rights a defining part of your legacy,” Bush said. “All it takes is your signature. I can't sign it. We can't sign it. Only you can make this happen with just a stroke of your pen. You can protect so many people today. President Biden, you must take action and take it now.” Many supporters of the bill, including Bush and her progressive allies, argue the ERA has satisfied all of the necessary requirements to become the 28th Amendment. Virginia became the 38th and final state needed to ratify the amendment in 2020. However, the threshold was not reached by a 1982 deadline, and five states have since rescinded their support of the amendment, calling into question legally whether it becomes the law of the land. At the second press conference, held on Tuesday afternoon, progressives urged Biden to commute sentences for all 40 individuals sitting on federal death row, guilty or innocent. Biden disappointed Democrats and angered Republicans when he announced last week he would pardon his son, Hunter Biden, who was convicted of tax and gun felonies this year. It set off a firestorm, with many progressives urging the president to focus on those they say are suffering from mass incarceration. Republicans called the move an abuse of his pardon powers. “With 40 days left in his presidency, we must move with urgency and ensure that history never repeats itself,” Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) said, referring to the decades-high number of federal executions carried out during the first Trump administration. “He has the power, and he has the authority,” Pressley said of Biden. “Now, this is not only the just thing to do for President Biden as a man of faith and in honoring his campaign promise to address the federal death penalty. It's not just good policy. It is also good politics.” During a press conference on Tuesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to answer questions on calls to commute death row prisoners. Advocates on and off Capitol Hill have redoubled their efforts to codify the ERA into law, particularly in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning the federal right to an abortion in Roe v. Wade in 2022. Nicole Vorrasi Bates, founder and executive director of Shattering Glass, cited another case, United States v. Skrmetti, in urging Biden to sign the amendment. The case revolves around whether a Tennessee law banning transgender care for minors violates the Constitution’s equal protection guarantee. “We keep saying, ‘We’re not going back.’ Well, we know we have gone back,” said Vorrasi Bates. “Last week, the Supreme Court made crystal clear in U.S. v. Skrmetti at oral argument that in June, we will be going back to a time when more than half of the population doesn't have 14th Amendment equal protection.” “But it doesn't have to be that way. We have the Equal Rights Amendment,” Vorrasi Bates added. The fight to certify and publish the ERA has cast a shadow over Biden’s presidency since he took office. former U.S. Archivist David Ferriero, who served from 2009 to 2022, declined to publish the ERA as part of the Constitution. Acting Archivist Debra Steidel Wall, who served from 2022 to 2023, did not move to publish the amendment, either, despite letters from equal rights groups like Free Speech For People and Generation Ratify urging Biden to tell her to do so. Bush and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced the ERA Now Resolution in July, urging current Archivist Colleen Shogan to certify the ERA. Gillibrand led 46 senators in sending a letter to Biden in November, calling on him to make the ERA part of the Constitution. In response to a Washington Examiner inquiry regarding Shogan’s stance on the ERA, the National Archives pointed to a 2022 statement, from when Shogan was not archivist, that details a finding from the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel. The panel found that “because that deadline has expired, the ERA Resolution is no longer pending before the States” but that “the 2020 OLC Opinion is not an obstacle either to Congress’s ability to act with respect to ratification of the ERA or to judicial consideration of the pertinent questions.” Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA) said it was "absurd that 101 years later, we are still fighting the same fights as our mothers, our grandmothers, and our great-grandmothers.” “We will continue to fight if necessary so that our daughters don't have to," she added. "But we’ve done the work.” CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT) said voters get discouraged “because they see people in positions of power, who have the ability to make change, not take that power.” “There is no downside for President Biden to accept that it is ready,” Balint said.Merchants of Rosewall is set to release in March 2025, as announced during the PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted showcase today. After debuting this spring, we've finally gotten our first look at what to expect from Rosewall, and as a fan of all things fantasy and a sucker for a simulator, there's a lot to be excited about for me personally. From what we've seen in the trailer, you'll take control of a shop set in a fantasy world and be tasked with shipping certain goods for the characters who visit. You'll be able to assign 'companions' to help you around the shop and complete chores like cooking dishes or crafting items you'll then be able to stock. You'll be singlehandedly responsible for what you have for sale each day, so the pressure's on to make sure you've got something to satisfy the needs of all your customers. Alongside selling goods, you'll also get to customise your shop to your liking through displays which I feel particularly excited about, but details on this element are still scarce. To add to the already laid-back experience, the fantasy world Rosewater's set in doesn't have any threat of war. How often does that happen? There's no combat, no need to stock weapons. It is the epitome of a relaxing life. With that said, your stock can be impacted by weather systems that can disrupt your supply chain, which you'll have to keep in mind throughout the game. But I'd rather weather was my only concern than incoming hordes of angry orcs looking to pillage my store. There is a story to unravel alongside keeping your shop up and running too. The trailer shows a fairly in-depth quest menu, splitting them between main story, sidequests, and companion quests. So, it's nice to see that there will be goals to meet rather than just trying to make the most money each day and focusing exclusively on upgrading your shop. As much as I love striving for my shop to do the very best in games like this, I'm looking forward to finding out more about the customers and companions I'll be able to meet. Hopefully the closer we get to the release of Merchants of Rosewall in March the more information we get on what we can expect from its story, and more importantly the characters it plans to introduce us to. This is only the first gameplay trailer we've seen for Rosewall, so there's a lot that Big Blue Sky Games could still show off for its debut. Regardless of whether we see much more or not, it's one I'm keeping on my wishlist for sure. 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SHE is tipped for a starring role on the This Morning sofa having wowed viewers with forthright opinions on misogyny and sex. And former reality star Ashley James has shown how much fans can relate to her — by sharing intimate personal battles to help others. Ashley always makes it clear that no subject is off-limits. Now the presenter has bravely revealed she went through eight months of anguish following the birth of her son, Alfie , now three — because she could not make love with her partner, advertising executive Tom Andrews. Ashley, 37, who is also mum to Ada, one, said: “I had this kind of caveman expectation of Tommy. “You know, ‘Man needs sex .’ And six months went by, seven months, eight months, and sometimes I would try, and then he’d be like, ‘Oh my God, are you crying?’. READ MORE ON ASHLEY JAMES “I would say, ‘It just really hurts’. “He was like, ‘Oh my God, I don’t want to hurt you’. “It was the first time it dawned on me that men aren’t just these dudes demanding sex.” With typical frankness, she reveals her first experience of childbirth caused a number of “mortifying” health issues including incontinence and pain. On the Made By Mammas podcast, Ashley explains how her pain was caused by a condition called vaginismus, which affects many women. It was caused by the trauma of childbirth , and she went to see a private pelvic health physio. Most read in News TV She said: “Basically, all your muscles stiffen up and you can’t control it, but it’s so simple to fix. "All she did was a couple of massages and it was like healed.” ‘I blamed myself’ Ashley’s career is now going from strength to strength, just like her relationship with Tom. Last week we revealed she is screen- testing to be a host on This Morning and has already filmed with several male presenters as producers attempt to turn around a ratings slump. The influencer is already a regular commentator on the ITV show. She recently impressed when she took OnlyFans star Bonnie Blue to task for bragging about sleeping with “barely legal, 18-year-olds”. Ashley’s condemnation of the sex worker, 25, for targeting teens and encouraging misogynistic views was applauded by viewers , with one commenting: “I’m so glad Ashley is pulling this woman up.” It also got the programme back into the headlines for the right reasons following the departure of scandal-hit co-hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield . However, Ashley’s spikey exchange with Blue was clearly not only driven by her desire to win a permanent place on the This Morning sofa. For she revealed on the podcast she had been assaulted by a friend at university — and later wrongly blamed herself. She said: “I was hypersexualised as a 14-year-old girl, but made to feel like that was my problem. “What that did is, when I was at university, something happened without my consent, which I have never really talked about yet. “I blamed myself because I was like, ‘That was my fault because of my outfit, because I was drunk, because I put myself in that situation’ — and I didn’t tell anyone. “I blamed myself and the worst thing is, because I was such a people pleaser, I even wanted that person to still like me and be my friend. "What we now know is, the more you tell young girls, ‘Don’t dress like that, your skirt’s too short’, what we’re doing is saying, ‘It’s up to you that men are going to sexualize your body, so you have to dress accordingly’. “Ultimately, we know that men will murder women, whether they are dressed appropriately or not, whether they take the right journey home or not, whether they get a taxi, whether they walk through the park. There is no difference between a man and a woman’s sexual appetite, apart from the fact that, socially, men are allowed to be sexual beings and women aren’t “It doesn’t matter how we dress or what we do or whether we are drunk or not. It doesn’t and shouldn’t matter because actually we should be saying to boys, ‘You shouldn’t sexually objectify women, you shouldn’t be ogling at women’.” Ashley argues that women have the same sexual appetite as men — but historically they just weren’t allowed to express it. On the female libido , she said: “Back in the day, there was this idea that because men had testosterone, they were more sexually active than women — and that men can’t help it if they have casual sex or cheat on their wives. “But now we know, because research is more advanced, actually there is no difference between a man and a woman’s sexual appetite, apart from the fact that, socially, men are allowed to be sexual beings and women aren’t. “So what was really interesting is they did all these different studies where they would, in some cases, ask men and women questions about their sex lives and whether they masturbate and all of those things, knowing that other people would find out. Then they did it again, asking people but saying this is completely confidential. “Women were the same, they were as sexual as men are. “If you’re constantly telling women, ‘Don’t be a s**t, men don’t like women who do this, be wifey material’, and all of those narratives we are told from a young age, it makes us feel like we are men’s property and we should be pure.” ‘Trolling really upset me’ Ashley’s forthright views are proving a breath of fresh air on This Morning and she has a background many viewers can relate to. Despite coming to public attention on the fourth series of Made In Chelsea in 2012 — the E4 show about privileged young Londoners — Ashley was living off her overdraft and putting on a posh accent. She was raised in a “small town in the North East” by parents she describes as “very Geordie” and got her first taste of the showbiz industry when she did some work experience at Radio Cumbria aged 16. Ashley appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2018 before becoming a DJ with gigs at top clubs such as London’s Ministry of Sound. In recent years she has been best known as a “mum influencer”, although Ashley considers the term “derogatory” and says it has led to online abuse . The trolling got so out of control last year that malicious followers reported her to social services for allegedly neglecting her children. The false accusation, which was unfounded and promptly dismissed, was that she had drunk too much at a party. Speaking on the Gentle Start podcast, Ashley said: “I was reported to social services for neglect, and it all came back to this online anonymous gossip website. “It really upset me. Like I said to the social worker, I know how loved my children are and I know that I’m such a good mum. “That’s one thing that I have never doubted.” Incredibly, just a few years ago Ashley had no interest in settling down or having children. She had been single for six years and was living her best “Carrie Bradshaw life”, when she reconnected with Tom on a dating app in 2019 having first met him at work a decade earlier. The couple now share a house in London with their two children. READ MORE SUN STORIES But Ashley is in no hurry to get hitched, explaining: “Long story short, I don’t like marriage . “If I choose you every day, I am with you because you make me happy.”How co-writing a book threatened the Carters’ marriage
The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies aims to first finalise the audio and audiovisual content services (AAVCS) policy framework before developing a new timeline for fixing the SABC's funding model. That is according to feedback from communications minister Solly Malatsi in a briefing to the parliamentary communications portfolio committee on Tuesday, 19 November 2024. The public broadcaster has failed to report a profit in over a decade as it has struggled to adapt to the proliferation of on-demand video streaming services. In the past five years, the SABC's advertising revenues declined by billions of rand due to lower viewership, and its TV licence payment compliance rate dropped to just 14% from more than 30%. The SABC has repeatedly and formally complained that its public service mandate comes at too great a cost compared to the funding the government is providing through advertising slots. The public service content primarily includes TV and radio news programming in all of the country's official languages, some of which are not as commercially attractive to advertisers and have high production costs. The DCDT was expected to address the SABC's funding shortfalls through the SABC Bill, which would replace the Broadcasting Act of 1999. The first draft of this document was published in October 2023 by former minister Mondli Gungubele. It was immediately criticised by organisations such as Media Monitoring Africa and SOS Support Public Broadcasting Coalition. The first major issue was that the bill did not contain a clear new funding model for the SABC but gave the minister three years to develop a funding framework after it became law. That lacked the necessary urgency to address the SABC's dire finances, which included a record loss of R1.13 billion in its 2023 financial year. Another problem critics like the South African National... Hanno LabuschagneCourage, commitment and passion were all in evidence at Emirates Flight Training Academy’s (EFTA) fifth graduation ceremony, which marked the academy’s biggest cohort to date. EFTA also announced the launch of an Advanced Diploma in Pilot Licencing Training (Aeroplane) on the back of the academy’s recognition as an Accredited Training Provider (ATP) by the UAE National Qualifications Centre (NQC). The graduation ceremony was headlined by Emirates Airline, and Group Chairman and Chief Executive Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the Group’s senior leadership team, graduates, their families and friends, and the academy’s faculty and cadets. Sheikh Ahmed congratulated and presented certificates to the cadet graduates. He said: “Our Emirates Flight Training Academy was built on a vision and a solid strategy, and its journey so far has been nothing short of inspiring, even thrilling. The recognition by the NQC validates our commitment and our robust investments in our academy that is future-fit for the next generation. “EFTA plays a vital role in nurturing the next generation of pilots, not just for the industry in the UAE but for world aviation, creating a steady and talented pilot pipeline. It’s incredible that we are training, developing and empowering young adults to drive the future of aviation – right here in Dubai. I am confident our graduates will make their mark in shaping the future of our industry. Congratulations to the class of 2024.” After months of rigorous training on the ground and in the skies, 85 bright and talented cadets are now fully equipped to take on every aviator challenge. The cohort includes 67 UAE national and 18 international cadets. Since EFTA’s launch, 271 cadets have been transformed from school leavers with no knowledge of flying to world-class professional pilots. EFTA also honoured four cadets for their exceptional performance throughout the year. EFTA Divisional Vice President Capt. Abdulla Al Hammadi said: “We have witnessed not just a graduation ceremony, but the fulfilment of many collective dreams. After countless hours of hard work, challenges and accomplishments, our cadets have proven they are ready to conquer the skies. They have come far – both personally and professionally – and EFTA is proud to see them step into a world full of opportunities with their new and richly deserved wings. Congratulations to our graduates.” “Our new Advanced Diploma in Pilot Licencing Training will be available to all EFTA graduates and will provide a strong academic foundation for future professional pilots, complementing the exceptional practical skills they’ve developed with us. At EFTA, we continue to elevate aviation education and prepare the next generation of skilled aviators, further supporting the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and strengthening the UAE’s aviation industry.” The diploma, with 94 credit hours, paves the path for cadets to obtain Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from any university. Every cadet in the class of 2024 completed around 113 weeks of training with over 1,100 hours of ground-based and 270 hours of flight training. Located in Dubai South, the academy combines cutting-edge learning technologies and a modern fleet of 32 training aircraft to train cadets with no previous knowledge of flying. This year marked a brand new chapter in EFTA’s international journey as the academy is well on its way to achieving European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) accreditation in early 2025. With this, cadets who graduate from EFTA will receive both a GCAA and a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) licence, opening doors to exceptional career opportunities worldwide.After 12 years of service on the Solano County Board of Supervisors, Vallejo’s Erin Hannigan left the dias for the last time following Tuesday’s meeting. Hannigan was provided a plaque for her 12 years of service from the county. Chair of the Board Mitch Mashburn thanked her for her service by reading out the proclamation in her honor, during which both supervisors became emotional. Her colleagues and county staff said her dedication to her work will leave a legacy in Solano County for many years. “She has been committed to the people and the animals of Solano County, and very much has stepped up for us in the county to make sure that we worked positively and knew that human lives matter,” said Mashburn. While Mashburn noted her specific achievements on issues including food security and the environment, he noted that the spirit of service she brought to her work will be her true legacy. “Programs come and programs go,” Mahsburn said, “but because of you there are kids in this county who won’t go to bed hungry.” Mashburn repeatedly extolled Hannigan’s commitment to justice for everyone in the county, noting her steadfast work representing all of her constituents. “You have opened doors and leveled playing fields for marginalized communities forever,” he said. Hannigan thanked everyone gathered at the meeting, the voters of her district, and particularly the county staffers who have implemented the policies she has advocated for in her time on the board. “All of that stuff doesn’t happen because I did it, I’m the 30,000-foot ideas person,” she said, later calling staff the “heat and soul” of the county government. She also thanked her children, Connor and Hannah, for grounding her in the desire to create a healthy, supportive environment in the community. As a child of public servants herself, she said she understands that it isn’t always easy. “This has been the best job I have ever had,” she said. “As they say, if you love the work, then it’s not work, and this has not been work.” She also thanked her colleagues of many years on the board. Hannigan also thanked staffers Josette Lacy and Michael Wilson. “It’s an important day for Team Hannigan as we call ourselves,” she said. Born in Vallejo and raised by her grandmother, Hannigan said Lacy has a passion for helping others overcome adversity. Working for Hannigan’s office as a district representative since 2015, Hannigan said Lacy has been integral to strengthening the city of Vallejo. “She has repeatedly demonstrated a deep commitment to her community,” Hannigan said. Lacy thanked her husband for his support over the years and noted that she takes pride in her family. “Being a mother of my three has been the most rewarding and grounding experience, It has shaped my perspective on family, community and building opportunity for the future.” Wilson, who has served since Hannigan’s election in 2012, ran to replace Hannigan on the dias, but was defeated by Supervisor Elect Cassandra James. He previously served as a Vallejo City Council member alongside Hannigan, working to help the city through a financial crisis. “Michael has been the key to our long and beneficial relationship with the Yoca Dehe Wintun Nation,” Hannigan said. Lacy read a message from Hannigan’s children into the record, both of whom said glowing things about her as a mother and a public official. “You are one fiercely dedicated bonafide badass of a public servant,” her son Conner wrote. Former Supervisor Jim Spering said he was proud of Hannigan’s commitment to her constituents over the years. Pippin Dew, a former Vallejo council member and mayoral candidate, expressed her gratitude to Hannigan for her mentorship and guidance. “She has never forgotten that group of people,” Spering said of the disadvantaged and marginalized in Solano County. Supervisor John Vasquez said that working with Hannigan has been an honor and a pleasure. “We are colleagues, Vasquez said, “but we also become like a family.” Hannigan’s tenacity and commitment to her values leave an impressive legacy, he said, and she will be missed on the board. “The one thing I realized early on is if I want to take Erin on, I’d better be ready,” Vasquez said, “because she is a fierce competitor.” Supervisor Wanda Williams thanked Hannigan for her commitment to public service and her guidance when she joined the board. “You’ve been a good mentor and I just want to thank you for everything,” Williams said. County Administrator Bill Emlen said Hannigan’s contributions will go on for a long time and that staff will remember her fondly. “My experience in working with you is that you have that depth of understanding and that you’re able to bring to fruition those big issues,” he said to Hannigan. At the end of the meeting, Hannigan joked that her last meeting was a long one and thanked her colleagues once again. “It’s been wonderful working with all of you,” Hannigan said, “and I want to wish the public happy holidays.”