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ALLY PALLY has been left stunned after EastEnders icon Shaun Williamson belted out a 1980s hit on the stage. The actor - who played Barry - took to the stage to perform for the crowd. Advertisement 2 Shaun Williamson performed at Ally Pally Credit: Rex 2 He sang the 1980s tune '(Something Inside) So Strong' to the crowd Credit: x Williamson , 59, was filmed by audience members singing the 1987 Labi Siffre tune '(Something Inside) So Strong'. He was joined in his performance by the backing darts cheerleaders as they danced along. Follow all the action from the World Darts Championship as it happens with SunSport's LIVE blog As he finished, plenty of fans from the seats applauded his efforts. READ MORE ON DARTS BULLY BOY Freddie Flintoff hails his ‘finest sporting achievement’ while hosting Bullseye A video of the performance was shared on social media with many fans loving it. Advertisement One posted: "The moment of 2024. The man is an icon." A second wrote: "Cultural icon." A third commented: "Try telling me the darts is not the greatest show on earth!" Most read in Darts Gossip LOW BLOW Rangers 'open to transfer offers' for star once targeted by Manchester City SIMPLE DECISION Celtic-daft singer made Italian team change blue strips to green hoops Latest AIR DEATH HORROR Tragedy as pilot dies in horror plane crash near Scots airport Breaking HORROR ATTACK Teen, 16, rushed to hospital after being stabbed by gang in major Scots city A fourth said: "Incredible." Advertisement CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Another added: "Two of my all-time favourite things combined. "The darts worlds and Barry singing that song. I must be in heaven." EastEnders legend Shaun Williamson reveals very different career 19 years after leaving the soap EastEnders, BBC One World Darts Championship - top stories READ MORE on all the build-up to the Ally Pally extravaganza... All the info: All the action as it happens in our LIVE BLOG Everything you need to know about the Ally Pally extravaganza How much prize money can be won? What is the format for the tournament? Who are the Sky Sports presenters and pundits ? News, features and interviews: Mardle to take step back after tragic death of wife Donna Emma Paton reveals rise as Queen of Darts Littler loses record to breakthrough star Peter Wright 'lost it' in emotional moment with daughter MVG pays tribute to Wayne Mardle's wife Donna Watch Littler hit 180 as Bullseye makes return to TV Commentator stunned with player's bizarre routine Nick Kenny bursts into tears after beating Van Barneveld Littler storms into third round with impressive win Littler breaks down in parents arms after emotional win It comes 10 years on from Williamson's iconic performance of the same song at the World Indoor Bowls Championships in Great Yarmouth. Advertisement He sang to the bowls crowd before the tense final, which saw Scotland's Darren Burnett beat local ace Mervyn King. Williamson was killed off in EastEnders back in 2004 as his character Barry was pushed off a cliff. He recently admitted that quitting the iconic soap was his best decision . Meanwhile at the PDC World Championship has seen plenty more drama. Advertisement Read more on the Scottish Sun DECEMBRRR Scots blasted with snowfall days before Christmas as storms cause transport chaos FLOOR PHILLER Rangers boss Philippe Clement spotted dancing in popular Glasgow bar Tournament favourite Luke Littler broke down in tears after his second round win over Ryan Mielke . Gary Anderson suffered a shock exit to Jeffrey de Graaf and blamed his loss on cutting down TREES . List of all-time Darts World Champions BELOW is a list of Darts world champions by year. The list does not include winners from the pre-Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) era or BDO world champions. That means Raymond van Barneveld, for example, is only listed once - Barney also won four BDO titles - and none of Eric Bristow's five BDO titles are included. 1994 - Dennis Priestley 1995 - Phil Taylor 1996 - Phil Taylor (2) 1997 - Phil Taylor (3) 1998 - Phil Taylor (4) 1999 - Phil Taylor (5) 2000 - Phil Taylor (6) 2001 - Phil Taylor (7) 2002 - Phil Taylor (8) 2003 - John Part 2004 - Phil Taylor (9) 2005 - Phil Taylor (10) 2006 - Phil Taylor (11) 2007 - Raymond van Barneveld 2008 - John Part (2) 2009 - Phil Taylor (12) 2010 - Phil Taylor (13) 2011 - Adrian Lewis 2012 - Adrian Lewis (2) 2013 - Phil Taylor (14) 2014 - Michael van Gerwen 2015 - Gary Anderson 2016 - Gary Anderson (2) 2017 - Michael van Gerwen (2) 2018 - Rob Cross 2019 - Michael van Gerwen (3) 2020 - Peter Wright 2021 - Gerwyn Price 2022 - Peter Wright (2) 2023 - Michael Smith 2024 - Luke Humphries Most World Titles 14 - Phil Taylor 3 - Michael van Gerwen 2 - John Part, Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright 1 - Dennis Priestley, Raymond van Barneveld, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith, Luke HumphriesWASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee on Monday accused Matt Gaetz of “regularly” paying for sex, including once with a 17-year-old girl, and purchasing and using illicit drugs as a member of Congress, as lawmakers released the conclusions of a nearly four-year investigation that helped sink his nomination for attorney general. The 37-page report by the bipartisan panel includes explicit details of sex-filled parties and vacations that Gaetz, now 42, took part in from 2017 to 2020 while the Republican represented Florida's western Panhandle. Congressional investigators concluded that Gaetz violated multiple state laws related to sexual misconduct while in office, though not federal sex trafficking laws. They also found that Gaetz “knowingly and willfully sought to impede and obstruct” the committee's work. “The Committee determined there is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House Rules and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress,” the report said. Before the report came out, Gaetz denied any wrongdoing and criticized the committee's process. “Giving funds to someone you are dating — that they didn’t ask for — and that isn’t ‘charged’ for sex is now prostitution?!?” he posted on X, the website formerly known as Twitter. “There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses.” Gaetz , who was first elected in 2017, spent the majority of his time in Washington enmeshed in scandals that ultimately derailed his selection by President-elect Donald Trump to lead the Justice Department . Gaetz abruptly resigned from Congress last month. His political future is uncertain, although Gaetz has indicated interest in running for the open Senate seat in Florida. The committee painted a damning portrait of Gaetz's conduct, using dozens of pages of exhibits, including text messages, financial records, travel receipts, checks and online payments, to document a party and drug-fueled lifestyle. The committee said it compiled the evidence after issuing 29 subpoenas for documents and testimony and contacting more than two dozen witnesses. In addition to soliciting prostitution, the report said Gaetz “accepted gifts, including transportation and lodging in connection with a 2018 trip to the Bahamas, in excess of permissible amounts.” That same year, investigators said, Gaetz arranged for a staffer to obtain a passport for a woman with whom he was sexually involved, falsely telling the State Department that she was his constituent. In some of the text exchanges made public, he appeared to be inviting various women to events, getaways or parties, and arranging airplane travel and lodging. At one point he asked one woman if she had a “cute black dress” to wear. There were also discussions of shipping goods. One of the exhibits was a text exchange that appeared to be between two of the women concerned about their cash flow and payments. In another, a person asked Gaetz for help to pay an educational expense. Regarding the 17-year-old girl, the report said there was no evidence Gaetz knew she was a minor when he had sex with her. The woman told the committee she did not tell Gaetz she was under 18 at the time and that he learned she was a minor more than a month after the party. But Gaetz stayed in touch with her after that and met up with her for “commercial sex” again less than six months after she turned 18, according to the committee. Florida law says it is a felony for a person 24 or older to have sex with a minor. The law does not allow a claim of ignorance or misrepresentation of a minor's age as a defense. Joel Leppard, who represents two women who told the committee that Gaetz paid them for sex, said the findings “vindicate” the accounts of his clients and “demonstrate their credibility.” “We appreciate the Committee’s commitment to transparency in releasing this comprehensive report so the truth can be known,” Leppard said in a statement. At least one Republican joined all five Democrats on the committee earlier this month in voting to release the report despite initial opposition from GOP lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, to publishing findings about a former member of Congress. While ethics reports have previously been released after a member’s resignation, it is extremely rare. On behalf of the Republicans who voted against making the report public, the committee chairman, Rep. Michael Guest of Mississippi, wrote that while the members did not challenge the findings, “we take great exception that the majority deviated from the Committee’s well-established standards,” to drop any investigation when a person is not longer a member of the chamber. Guest added that releasing this report sets a precedent that “is a dangerous departure with potentially catastrophic consequences.” But Maryland Rep. Glenn Ivey, a Democratic member of the committee, said that for transparency, it was crucial for the public and Congress as an institution to read the findings. "I think that’s important for my colleagues here in the House to know how the committee reviews certain acts," he told The Associated Press. "Some of these were obviously conduct that crossed the line, but some of them weren’t.” Mounting a last-ditch effort to halt the publication of the report, Gaetz filed a lawsuit Monday asking a federal court to intervene. He cited what he called “untruthful and defamatory information” that would “significantly damage” his “standing and reputation in the community.” Gaetz’s complaint argued that he was no longer under the committee’s jurisdiction because he had resigned from Congress. The often secretive, bipartisan committee has investigated claims against Gaetz since 2021. But its work became more urgent last month when Trump picked him shortly after the Nov. 5 election Day to be the nation's top law enforcement officer. Gaetz resigned from Congress that same day, putting him outside the purview of the committee's jurisdiction. But Democrats had pressed to make the report public even after Gaetz was no longer in the House and had withdrawn from consideration for Trump's Cabinet. A vote on the House floor this month to force the report’s release failed; all but one Republican voted against it. The committee detailed its start-and-stop investigation over the past several years, which was halted for a time as the Justice Department conducted its own inquiry of Gaetz. Federal prosecutors never brought a case against him. Lawmakers said they asked the Justice Department for information about its investigation, but the agency refused to hand over information, saying it does not disclose information about investigations that do not result in charges. The committee then subpoenaed the department for records. After a back-and-forth between department officials and the committee, the department only handed over “publicly reported information about the testimony of a deceased individual,” according to the committee's report. The report said Gaetz was “uncooperative" throughout the committee's investigation. He provided “minimal documentation” in response to the committee’s requests, it said. “He also did not agree to a voluntary interview.” ___ Associated Press writer Alanna Durkin Richer contributed to this report.RIP 'Burt,' a Fierce Star of Crocodile DundeeOnline manifesto appearing to be penned by Luigi Mangione is fake
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He did enough in Friday's 19-17 loss at Kansas City to show that Las Vegas' quarterback job will be his for the rest of the season — barring, that is, another injury. O'Connell didn't look like a quarterback who hadn't played in nearly six weeks because of a broken thumb . Plus, the Raiders had a short week to prepare for the Chiefs, meaning O'Connell only went through a series of walk-through practices. Even so, he completed 23 of 35 passes for 340 yards, including touchdown passes of 33 yards to tight end Brock Bowers and 58 yards to wide receiver Tre Tucker. He didn't throw any interceptions. “Thought he competed,” coach Antonio Pierce said Saturday morning. “I thought for what we knew we were getting with Spags (Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) and that defense, that he stood in the pocket, made some tough throws, took some hits, took the shots down the field like we wanted. We had some opportunities to take shots down the field, he threw them. And I thought our skill guys did a hell of a job competing and making some really good plays for us.” O'Connell's performance would've shined even more if not for the Raiders' final offensive play. He led the Raiders from their 8-yard line to the Chiefs 32 with 15 seconds left. The plan was for O'Connell to take the snap and throw the ball away to run off a few more seconds, then send Daniel Carlson out for the potential winning field goal without giving Patrick Mahomes enough time to mount one of his signature comebacks. But rookie center Jackson Powers-Johnson snapped the ball before O'Connell was expecting it, and the Chiefs recovered to secure another close, last-minute victory. The Raiders were called for illegal shift, which Kansas City declined. But there was some question about whether officials intended to call a false start instead. Though that infraction would have cost Las Vegas 5 yards, the pre-snap penalty still would've given Carlson a shot at the field goal. Pierce said his team heard an official's whistle before the snap, and that will be included in the Raiders' report to the NFL. “We do that every game,” Pierce said. “Typically, anywhere from three to five questions, and then we’ll get a letter within 24 to 36 hours, and we’ll read it and learn from it.” Bowers had another sensational game. He was targeted 14 times, catching 10 passes for 140 yards. For the season, he has 84 receptions for 884 yards and four TDs, making him a strong contender for Offensive Rookie of the Year. “We’re seeing double-teams and them really shifting their zone to him, and I don’t really think it matters,” Pierce said. “I think we've got a really special player on our hand.” The Raiders need to do better on first and second downs to set up more favorable third-down conversions. They have faced 47 third downs from 7 to 10 yards, tied with the Dallas Cowboys for fifth most. Las Vegas' conversion rate on those plays is 36.2%, which actually is favorable compared to the rest of the league, but the Raiders are still creating too many of those situations. Las Vegas made life difficult for Mahomes, sacking him five times. And it wasn't just Maxx Crosby bringing the heat. Four players had at least one-half sack, including K’Lavon Chaisson, who had 1 1/2. It was a season-high total for the Raiders, and they have taken down the opposing quarterback in 30 consecutive games, the third-longest active streak. Carlson is usually money, but he missed field goals from 56, 55 and 58 yards. Hardly chip shots, but he is capable of converting from those distances. He had made 30 of 38 field goals from 50-plus yards entering the game, with a career long of 57 yards. WR DJ Turner injured his knee in the second half. 12 — The Raiders are one of three teams to fall behind double digits in each of their first 12 games of a season. The others were the 1986 Indianapolis Colts and 1972 New England Patriots. The Raiders visit Tampa Bay on Dec. 8. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflLaMelo Ball is arguably the most enigmatic player in the NBA. He is universally acclaimed for his flashy playstyle. But his defensive deficiencies and injury issues have prompted doubts about whether he could be the franchise cornerstone the Hornets need. However, this season, he has been answering those questions. He has missed only one game and is averaging 31.1 points, which ranks second in the league. But despite his hot star, Lou Williams believes he’s only the fifth-best guard in the East. On FanDuel’s Run It Back show, the former Clippers star claimed that the Hornets, who are 6-13, aren’t equipped to earn a playoff berth this season. However, he believes the future could be bright. Williams said , Williams claimed that Bucks’ Damian Lillard, Hawks’ Trae Young, Cavaliers’ Darius Garland, and Knicks’ Jalen Brunson are above him in the guard rankings in the East. He added it’s close between Pistons’ Cade Cunningham and Ball for the fifth spot but he prefers the former. While Williams is entitled to his opinion, ranking the Hornets star as the sixth-best guard in the East this season grossly undermines his impact. LaMelo Ball is among the best in the East LaMelo Ball is one of only two players in the league alongside Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo to average over 30 points per game. He has always been a stellar offensive player, but he’s finally taking the next step and becoming an elite scorer. Over the years, the Hornets star’s defensive impact has been scrutinized heavily. However, his defensive rating of 115.1 ranks 12th in the East among guards, above Darius Garland (115.1), Damian Lillard (116.8), Trae Young (119.2), and Jalen Brunson (121). Among the names Williams mentioned, only Cunningham has a better defensive rating than Ball with 111.9. However, he’s averaging only 23.5 points per game, nearly eight fewer than the Hornets star. While he has been exceptional as a scorer, his playmaking hasn’t been up to the mark. He’s averaging only 6.9 assists per game, which is lower than every player on the former Clippers star’s list, except Darius Garland (6.8). However, it’s worth noting that sophomore Brandon Miller is the only other reliable scoring option on the Hornets, putting the onus on Ball to carry the offense. Charlotte’s 6-13 record has been used as a knock to undermine the 23-year-old’s campaign. However, except for Garland’s Cavaliers, none of the teams of the other five players that Williams named on his list have had a noteworthy season. On the contrary, Brunson’s Knicks and Lillard’s Bucks have had underwhelming seasons. Young’s Hawks and Cunningham’s Pistons haven’t exactly set the league ablaze either. Any argument against Ball being the best guard in the East this season falls flat in the face of facts. It remains to be seen whether he can sustain this form. But for now, no player in his position in his conference can claim they are having a better year than Ball.
As of October 28, 2024 , the record date for the Annual Meeting, there were a total of 232,618,399 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, comprised of 208,618,399 shares of Class A Common Stock (each with one vote per share) and 24,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock (each with ten votes per share). At the Annual Meeting, holders of 207,347,538 shares of common stock, representing 423,347,538 votes, entitled to vote at the meeting were represented in person or by proxy and, therefore, a quorum constituted of the majority of the voting power of the shares of common stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting was present. The following is a brief description of each matter voted upon at the 2024 Annual Meeting and the numbers of votes cast for, withheld, or against, the number of abstentions, and the number of broker non-votes with respect to each other, as applicable. 1. Election of six nominees to serve on the Board of Directors (the "Board") for a term which will expire at the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders, or, if Proposal Two is adopted, to hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders in accordance with the class of director to which each nominee will be assigned. The following six directors were elected by the votes as indicated below. The totals above include the 240,000,000 votes represented by the Class B shares of Common Stock. 12,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock (representing 120,000,00 votes) were voted "FOR" and 12,000,000 shares of Class B Common stock (representing 120,000,00 votes) were voted "WITHHELD" for each of the Directors other than Albert Schultz . All shares of Class B Common Stock were voted "FOR" the election of Albert Schultz . Excluding the 240,000,000 votes from the 24,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock from the totals above, the 183,347,538 shares of Class A Common Stock were voted as indicated below. 2. Amendment to the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation to classify the Board of Directors into three classes, with directors in each class to serve staggered three-year terms. Pursuant to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Proposal Two must receive the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, since directors representing two-thirds (2/3) of the total number of authorized directors have already approved. The amendment was not approved 2 by the votes as indicated below: Because Proposal Two was not approved, the six directors elected pursuant to Proposal One will serve on the Board for a term which will expire at the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders. 3. Ratification of the appointment of UHY LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024 . The selection was ratified by the votes as indicated below: Note 1: Includes 120,000,000 votes of the 12,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock held by White Marble LLC and White Marble International Limited (together, the "White Marble Entities") controlled by Dr. Xiaodi Hou . Note 2: The White Marble Entities have filed an action in the Delaware Court of Chancery seeking a declaratory judgment that the voting agreement between White Marble and Mo Chen is invalid and White Marble, not Mo Chen , controls the vote. White Marble LLC v. Chen , C.A. No. 2024-1208-PAF (Del. Ch.) On December 13, 2024 , the Court entered an order that allows the Company to hold the vote on Proposal Two, and ordered that if Proposal Two is not approved at the Annual Meeting but the Court determines in the Action that Mo Chen , not the White Marble Entities, control how the White Marble Entities' Shares are voted, then the White Marble Entities' shares shall be deemed to have been voted in favor of Proposal Two at the Annual Meeting and that such vote shall stand. The vote totals above include the votes of the shares held by the White Marble Entities as voted by the White Marble Entities. If the shares held by the White Marble entities reflected in the totals above are deemed to have been voted in favor of Proposal Two, the Proposal will have passed. Accordingly, if the Court rules in Mo Chen's favor, Proposal Two will be deemed to have passed and the Company would be permitted to amend its Certificate of Incorporation to implement Proposal Two and each of the directors elected pursuant to Proposal One will serve on the Board until the annual meeting of stockholders in accordance with the class of director to which each nominee is assigned. About CreateAI CreateAI (formerly TuSimple) is a global artificial intelligence company with offices in US, China , and Japan . The company is pioneering the future of digital entertainment content production, seamlessly blending cutting-edge generative AI technology with the creativity of world-class talent. Our mission is to redefine the boundaries of what's possible in digital storytelling by developing immersive, captivating, and visually stunning experiences that resonate with audiences on a global scale. Investor Relations Contact: ICR for CreateAI CreateAI.IR@icrinc.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/createai-announces-results-of-2024-annual-meeting-of-stockholders-302338618.html SOURCE CreateAI Holdings IncVPNs and other dangers Use of religion to justify administrative actions is not new in Pakistan but often leads to unintended consequences In an extraordinary step, the government has advised the PTA to crack down on VPNs, claiming they are used for immoral and illegal activities. Pakistan often frames such measures through the lens of religion, raising concerns about their underlying motives. The timing of the decision raises critical questions. Is it genuinely about morality and legality, or is it part of a broader effort to suppress dissent? The use of religion to justify political or administrative actions is not new in Pakistan, but it often leads to unintended consequences, including public backlash and questions about the state’s priorities. As a result of the order – which the PTA claims can be enforced efficiently – a number of businesses and individuals have already registered their VPNs, as demanded. However, many others likely have not, and it remains unclear how these individuals will be detected and acted against. VPNs became widespread in Pakistan after the government cracked down on X/Twitter, reportedly due to contentious discussions on the platform. Their use has since been a topic of controversy. It is, however, difficult to comprehend how VPNs could be deemed un-Islamic. This verdict aligns with historical decisions, such as the ban on televisions in Afghanistan or the prohibition of the printing press in Turkey decades ago. These measures, often devoid of logic, have limited success in curbing dissent. At present, the government is locked in a clash with the PTI. Compounding the situation is the ongoing smog crisis in Lahore and other cities, which has forced schools to close and created further challenges for students required to work online. Freelancers and remote workers, relying on VPNs for medical transcription, accounting, and other tasks, are also adversely affected. Many educational institutions, already grappling with infrastructure issues, now face an additional hurdle as online education becomes harder to manage. The economic repercussions of this decision are far-reaching, especially for Pakistan’s burgeoning freelance community. At a time when unemployment is rising and economic pressures are mounting, this ban threatens the livelihoods of many. The government needs to reconsider its stance on VPNs, especially given the difficulty of enforcing such a ruling in a country as chaotic as Pakistan. This decision could also discourage foreign companies from outsourcing work to Pakistani freelancers, a segment that contributes significantly to the economy. VPNs are often used not for nefarious purposes, but to ensure secure communication channels and access to global platforms. A blanket ban without nuanced policies risks alienating a productive workforce and tarnishing Pakistan’s reputation in the global digital market. Meanwhile, the Punjab government has also targeted vehicles with high smoke emissions, requiring owners to install new equipment to combat pollution. Yet, reports from Bilal Ganj, a popular market for used vehicle parts, reveal how Pakistanis circumvent laws: many vehicle owners rent emission-reducing equipment, present it for inspection, and return it after obtaining approval. This highlights a deeper issue of governance and enforcement in Pakistan. The ingenuity displayed in bypassing laws underscores the lack of trust between citizens and the state, where rules are often seen as obstacles rather than guidelines for collective well-being. The government's suggestion that VPNs foster immorality is also questionable. Offering constructive alternatives, such as engaging young people with positive content, would be a more effective approach. For instance, investing in digital literacy programs, promoting ethical online behaviour, and fostering awareness about the responsible use of technology could yield better results than outright bans. Moreover, in an environment where internet access is restricted during political rallies or speeches, VPN usage is bound to rise. People depend on the internet for information and work, and banning VPNs unnecessarily burdens law-abiding citizens. The government’s decision seems more about exerting control than addressing real issues. In this digital age, the convenience of accessing information through the internet has largely replaced traditional libraries and encyclopedias. Blocking VPNs, which facilitate access to platforms like X, disrupts lives and livelihoods. The government must find better ways to address political dissent without infringing on constitutional rights. The right to peaceful assembly, free expression, and access to information is guaranteed under Pakistan’s constitution. The ban also contradicts global norms of internet freedom, raising questions about Pakistan’s commitment to international standards. With the PTA and other authorities enforcing these bans, there is also a risk of corruption. Many fear the ban will be used to extract bribes in exchange for approval letters or stamps. Such practices are unacceptable and undermine the fundamental rights of citizens. Rather than pursuing ineffective bans, the government must focus on promoting dialogue, addressing grievances, and ensuring that constitutional freedoms are upheld for all. The larger issue here is one of priorities. Pakistan faces countless challenges, from economic instability and unemployment to environmental degradation and a crumbling education system. In such a context, focusing on bans that target tools like VPNs, rather than addressing structural issues, seems shortsighted. The state’s role should be to empower its citizens, not restrict them unnecessarily. Rather than resorting to measures that stifle dissent and create unnecessary obstacles for citizens, the focus should be on fostering trust, ensuring transparency, and protecting the fundamental rights of all Pakistanis. Only then can Pakistan hope to address its complex challenges and move toward a more inclusive and progressive society. The writer is a freelance columnist and former newspaper editor. She can be reached at: kamilahyat@hotmail.com
Aidan O'Connell shows in loss to Chiefs that he is the Raiders' QB for the rest of season
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced on Monday that he is commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row — including two Florida men convicted of killing a family in 2006 — converting their punishments to life imprisonment just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump , an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment, takes office. The move spares the lives of people convicted in killings , including the slayings of police and military officers, people on federal land and those involved in deadly bank robberies or drug deals, as well as the killings of guards or prisoners in federal facilities. It means just three federal inmates are still facing execution. They are: Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. “I’ve dedicated my career to reducing violent crime and ensuring a fair and effective justice system,” Biden said in a statement . “Today, I am commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 individuals on federal death row to life sentences without the possibility of parole. These commutations are consistent with the moratorium my administration has imposed on federal executions, in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder.” Two of the 37 people whose sentences were commuted were from Florida: Richard Sanchez Jr. and Daniel Troya, sentenced to death three years after the execution-style killings of Luis Escobedo, 28; his wife, Yessica Guerrero Escobedo, 25; and their children Luis Julian, 4, and Luis Damian, 3. The killings, prosecutors said, stemmed from a drug debt Escobedo accumulated from a cocaine trafficking operation. At the time, the Sun-Sentinel reported , U.S. District Judge Daniel Hurley characterized the pair as “living in a Scarface fantasy” and committing “some of the most violent, anti-social conduct one could contemplate.” Sanchez and Troya’s federal death sentences marked the first being given in a Florida court since its reinstatement more than two decades prior. The decision to commute their sentences drew the ire of Sheriff Keith Pearson of St. Lucie County, where the murders took place along the Florida Turnpike. In a statement issued following the White House’s announcement, he called the decision to commute Sanchez and Troya’s sentences “an example of the woke ideology this current administration exhibits,” adding, “Where is the justice for the Escobedo family that was murdered in cold blood?” “These two earned their right to die for the heinous crimes they committed,” Pearson said. The Biden administration in 2021 announced a moratorium on federal capital punishment to study the protocols used, which suspended executions during Biden’s term. But Biden actually had promised to go further on the issue in the past, pledging to end federal executions without the caveats for terrorism and hate-motivated, mass killings. While running for president in 2020, Biden’s campaign website said he would “work to pass legislation to eliminate the death penalty at the federal level , and incentivize states to follow the federal government’s example.” Similar language didn’t appear on Biden’s reelection website before he left the presidential race in July. “Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss,” Biden’s statement said. “But guided by my conscience and my experience as a public defender, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, vice president, and now president, I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level.” He took a political jab at Trump, saying, “In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted.” Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, has spoken frequently of expanding executions. In a speech announcing his 2024 campaign , Trump called for those “caught selling drugs to receive the death penalty for their heinous acts.” He later promised to execute drug and human smugglers and even praised China’s harsher treatment of drug peddlers. During his first term as president, Trump also advocated for the death penalty for drug dealers . There were 13 federal executions during Trump’s first term, more than under any president in modern history, and some may have happened fast enough to have contributed to the spread of the coronavirus at the federal death row facility in Indiana. Those were the first federal executions since 2003. The final three occurred after Election Day in November 2020 but before Trump left office the following January, the first time federal prisoners were put to death by a lame-duck president since Grover Cleveland in 1889. Biden faced recent pressure from advocacy groups urging him to act to make it more difficult for Trump to increase the use of capital punishment for federal inmates. The president’s announcement also comes less than two weeks after he commuted the sentences of roughly 1,500 people who were released from prison and placed on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic, and of 39 others convicted of nonviolent crimes, the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history. The announcement also followed the post-election pardon that Biden granted his son Hunter on federal gun and tax charges after long saying he would not issue one, sparking an uproar in Washington. The pardon also raised questions about whether he would issue sweeping preemptive pardons for administration officials and other allies who the White House worries could be unjustly targeted by Trump’s second administration. Speculation that Biden could commute federal death sentences intensified last week after the White House announced he plans to visit Italy on the final foreign trip of his presidency next month. Biden, a practicing Catholic, will meet with Pope Francis, who recently called for prayers for U.S. death row inmates in hopes their sentences will be commuted. Martin Luther King III, who publicly urged Biden to change the death sentences, said in a statement issued by the White House that the president “has done what no president before him was willing to do: take meaningful and lasting action not just to acknowledge the death penalty’s racist roots but also to remedy its persistent unfairness.” Donnie Oliverio, a retired Ohio police officer whose partner was killed by one of the men whose death sentence was converted, said the execution of “the person who killed my police partner and best friend would have brought me no peace.” “The president has done what is right here,” Oliverio said in a statement also issued by the White House, “and what is consistent with the faith he and I share.” Cristobal Reyes of the Sentinel staff contributed to this report. Weissert reported from West Palm Beach, Florida.Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while WHO chief says he was meters awayThe David Jiricek sweepstakes are finally over. The Minnesota Wild have acquired the defenseman from the Columbus Blue Jackets , along with a fifth-round pick, in exchange for defenseman Daemon Hunt and a first, second and fourth-round pick. Trade details, per sources: To #mnwild : David Jiricek, 5th Rd Pick To #CBJ : Damon Hunt, 2025 1st Rd Pick, 2027 2nd Rd Pick, 4th Rd Pick Jiricek was ranked first on Daily Faceoff insider Frank Seravalli’s Trade Targets list , as he had been in trade rumours for several weeks now after the 2022 sixth-overall pick had been dissatisfied with his playing time with the Blue Jackets. After playing only 43 games last year while averaging 14:36 of ice time, his role had grown even smaller this season by averaging 11:12 in only six games before he was demoted to the AHL. With this happening across multiple front offices and coaching staffs, it was clear to both parties that he needed a new home. With Jiricek, the Wild now have one of the best upsides on the right side of their blueline along with Brock Faber, along with two other excellent defensemen in Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin. It’s unclear where Jiricek will slot in just yet, especially with both Faber and Spurgeon ahead of him on the depth chart on the right side. In return, the Blue Jackets get a depth defenseman in Hunt to replace Jiricek on their depth chart, although he doesn’t come with nearly the upside that Jiricek does. The centerpiece of the trade for Columbus is the picks in return, including the Wild’s upcoming first-round pick. As mentioned before, Jiricek had played just six games with the Wild this season, collecting an assist in those games. However, he did have 2 goals and 1 assist for 3 points in 4 games in the AHL with the Blue Jackets’ minor league affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters. Jiricek is in the second year of his three-year entry-level contract with a $918,333 cap hit. Hunt has played just one game for the Wild this season, going pointless in a 4-1 win over the St. Louis Blues on October 15th. He also has 4 assists in 9 games with the AHL with the Wild’s minor league affiliate, the Iowa Wild. Hunt is in the final year of his three-year entry-level contract with a $828,333 cap hit, and will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season. This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff and was syndicated with permission.
Remembering Manmohan Singh: Architect of India's Economic ReformsAI2RE: Innovative Geospatial AI Solution SEOUL, South Korea , Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Spaid, an emerging leader in the Geospatial AI sector, will attend CES early next year, 2025, to unveil the foundational solutions behind its CES 2025 Innovation Award-winning "AI2RE: Image to 3D Geospatial AI Metaverse" and showcase a demo of the "OpenAI-Integrated Geospatial Information Platform," which is scheduled for release in 2025. AI Technology to Overcome Initial Accessibility Challenges in 3D Cadastral Mapping Using Only Aerial Imagery The award-winning "AI2RE" leverages a proprietary AI engine to extract 2D (vector) lines exclusively from aerial imagery, including satellite and drone capture. Based on these extracted vectors, this technology supports 3D models such as terrains, buildings, and roads. This technology addresses initial accessibility challenges in 3D cadastral mapping—such as data loss and compatibility issues—using only aerial imagery. Doing so contributes to providing reliable and stable 3D geospatial information to government agencies and enterprises. The technology is currently being utilized in projects related to the European Union (EU)'s Data Governance and Utilization Strategy, showcasing a remarkable improvement in cadastral mapping efficiency—from 6 months per person to just 5 days per person. Furthermore, business discussions are ongoing with South American and African countries, expanding its global reach. OpenAI-Integrated Geospatial Data Platform At CES, Spaid will unveil its first-ever OpenAI-Integrated Geospatial Data Platform. This innovative platform allows users to receive personalized geospatial data card recommendations through the OpenAI agent. By simply dragging and dropping these cards, users can intuitively visualize and analyze data in a 3D map viewer without the need for additional tools or software. Spaid is progressively advancing the digital twin transformation of the world within its geospatial data platform using a data-driven approach. This roadmap aims to create a metaverse that can be effectively utilized in real-world industries. Spaid at CES 2025 Spaid's booth will be located at LVCC South Hall 2 (35726), where visitors can experience the cutting-edge "AI2RE: Image to 3D Geospatial AI Metaverse" solutions and the innovative "OpenAI-Integrated Geospatial Data Platform (Geo Data Platform)." For the award-winning AI2RE, attendees can dive into ongoing projects that demonstrate the full workflow—object detection, 2D line extraction, and 3D model generation—with a single click. In addition, the "OpenAI-Integrated Geospatial Data Platform" will feature an interactive demo designed specifically for CES. Visitors can engage with geospatial data cards for San Francisco by simply dragging and dropping them to visualize the data in 3D, showcasing the platform's intuitive and user-friendly capabilities. Chongkul Yi, CEO of Spaid, said, "We are incredibly proud to have our 'One of a Kind' innovative AI Engine recognized by the CES Innovation Award." He added, "At CES 2025, we aim to showcase the excellence of our cutting-edge Geospatial AI solutions and the data-driven metaverse platform, accelerating our efforts to expand into the global market." About Spaid SPAID pursues being "one of a Kind." It aims to bridge the gap between the physical and digital environments by leveraging all live streaming information and data to maximize usability. We specialize in providing geospatial AI-based solutions that enable synergetic decision-making by deriving new insights through a fusion network of diverse data sources provided by public agencies and enterprises. Our solutions empower clients across industries by facilitating smart decision-making in smart city and smart factory digital twin operations, defense simulations, real estate location value analysis, building energy management, financial investment and risk management, and telecom network resource management. SPAID aims to drive transformative progress across various industries through these innovative solutions, contributing to sustainable development and fostering long-term growth. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spaid-winner-of-ces-innovation-awards-for-redefining-the-future-of-geospatial-with-ai-to-unveil-ai-solution-and-openai-platform-at-ces-2025-302339321.html SOURCE SpaidMaking Friends with Your Past and Future Selves
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