
Reniya Kelly scores 18 and No. 16 North Carolina women beat 14th-ranked Kentucky 72-53President Joe Biden faces scrutiny for pardoning his son, Hunter Biden, who was convicted of lying on a federal form and avoiding paying taxes. "I think he got it wrong yesterday. I think he had it right before yesterday," Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., said. Biden announced the pardon Sunday, stating, "Hunter was singled out only because he is my son," and adding, "... raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice." "What other father in America has the power to pardon their son or daughter if they're convicted of a crime?" Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., said. Hunter Biden was convicted of lying on a federal form when he bought a gun in 2018 and for avoiding paying more than $1 million in taxes. President Biden and the White House had repeatedly said Hunter Biden wouldn't be offered clemency. "I said I abide by the jury decision. I will do that and I will not pardon him," President Biden said on June 13, 2024. Some Biden supporters agreed with the president's reversal. "It's somebody who has a lifelong drug addiction and prosecutors would have handled this differently. So this was all politically motivated, so I understand," Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., said. Biden is not the first president to pardon a family member. "Donald Trump, in his waning days, pardoned the father of his son-in-law, Jared, and his father was convicted or pleaded guilty to very egregious conduct," former federal prosecutor Gene Rossi said. President-elect Trump criticized the move on social media, calling the pardon an "abuse and miscarriage of justice." The president-elect also questioned if the pardon includes the "J-6 hostages."AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton receives Nobel Prize in physics in proud moment for U of T
Biden's Hunter pardon riles Democrats who defended U.S. justice systemIlona Maher signs with Bristol Bears: Why USA Olympic rugby star is joining English club team in 2025 | Sporting News
James Toliver Craig in a mugshot provided by the Aurora Police Department. (Aurora Police Department) A Colorado dentist accused of killing his wife by poisoning her protein shakes now faces a new charge for allegedly attempting to get a fellow inmate to murder a detective investigating his homicide case. James Toliver Craig, 45, was charged with solicitation to commit murder in the first degree and solicitation to commit perjury in the first degree, the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office announced in a social media post. Craig was previously arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife of 23 years, Angela Craig. He pleaded not guilty to that charge. Angela was a 43-year-old mother of six, who died in March 2023 of poisoning from cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, the latter a substance found in over-the-counter eye drops, according to the coroner. DENTIST ACCUSED OF FATALLY POISONING WIFE HIT WITH NEW CHARGES AS LAWYER QUITS Authorities believe Craig allegedly tried to get another inmate in the Arapahoe County jail to kill an Aurora police detective, who was working on the investigation into Angela's 2023 death, according to court records and "multiple sources familiar with the investigation," KUSA reported . Joe Moylan, an Aurora police spokesman, told CBS News that the intended victim of the alleged plot was an Aurora detective. The other inmate has not been accused of any wrongdoing related to the alleged plot to kill the detective, KUSA added. FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X Craig was previously accused in May of asking a fellow jail inmate to plant letters in his garage and his truck to make it look like his wife was suicidal, offering money to pay the inmate's bond in order to be released from jail or perform free dental work in exchange for planting the letters, police said. The inmate, who reported the incident to authorities, believed the letters that were meant to appear as if Angela had written them were actually written by Craig. Craig allegedly created a secret email account and searched online for things like "How to make murder look like a heart attack" and "How to make poison," just days before his wife searched for symptoms she was experiencing like vertigo, shaking and cold lips, according to police. Angela went to a hospital three times before her death after becoming faint and dizzy, according to the arrest affidavit. Authorities said Craig also researched and purchased "undetectable poisons," and he ordered a shipment of potassium cyanide to his dental practice. "In totality, this investigation has proven that James has gone to great lengths to try and end his wife's life," Aurora police Detective Bobbi Olson wrote in the affidavit. However, Craig's lawyers claimed there is no direct evidence that he put poison in his wife’s shakes and have accused Olson of being biased against him. SIGN UP TO GET THE TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER Craig also allegedly flew his orthodontist lover from Austin to Denver while his wife was dying, and the two reportedly exchanged "sexually explicit emails," according to the arrest affidavit. GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB Angela Craig told her sister Toni Kofoed several times over the past 16 years that she planned to leave her husband, but he always convinced her to stay. The couple was on the verge of declaring bankruptcy for a second time, according to the documents. Kofoed told police that Craig had "multiple affairs with several women" and that he had drugged his wife about five years earlier because he had planned to die by suicide and didn't want her to stop him. COLORADO DENTIST ACCUSED OF POISONING WIFE'S PROTEIN SHAKES TO START NEW LIFE WITH LOVER Craig's trial for the murder of his wife, originally scheduled to start on Nov. 21, was delayed, as his defense counsel moved to withdraw from the case due to a "professional conflict," according to the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The next hearing for Craig's case is scheduled for Dec. 16, according to the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office. Fox News' Christina Coulter contributed to this report Read more on FOX News.
Data readiness is the ability of an organization to collect, manage and effectively use data. This concept is never more crucial than during the holiday season, which for many retailers represents their most important time of year. As retailers seek to maximize their impact during this peak period and retain customers after the holiday season, the ability to leverage real-time data becomes even more critical. A PYMNTS Intelligence report, “ The Platform Business Data Readiness Survey: How Real-Time Data Can Drive Growth ,” created in collaboration with Fiserv , examines the growing importance of data readiness for businesses aiming to optimize operations and unlock market potential. The study reveals that 62% of platform businesses view real-time data as crucial to their strategies, with those leveraging such insights 1.5 times more likely to experience higher revenue growth. Real-time data facilitates quicker decision-making, enabling companies to respond to market changes, track customer behavior and customize marketing efforts to enhance engagement and conversions. Data as a Retention Tool In an interview with PYMNTS, Martin Qiu , Associate Professor, Lazaridis School of Business and Economics , Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario, said how data readiness can offer retailers a range of tools to retain customers and elevate business performance. “Data readiness offers retailers multiple means to boost business performance,” Qiu said. “Data readiness can facilitate converting new shoppers who are attracted by seasonal shopping promotions into loyal customers through strategic customer experience management.” Specifically, Qiu added, during holiday promotions, retailers can capture first-time customers’ engagement through integrated feedback systems, ratings collection and social sharing initiatives, while correlating these insights with their purchase patterns. “By analyzing this rich dataset, retailers can identify promising customer segments and develop targeted loyalty programs tailored to their characteristics,” he said. “By doing so, retailers can nurture these relationships beyond the holiday season, effectively converting seasonal buyers into return customers. This data-driven approach to customer experience highlights the value of data readiness in customer relationship management (CRM).” Gleaning Insights Expanding on this, Sudip Mazumder , senior vice president, retail industry lead, North America, at digital consultancy Publicis Sapient , told PYMNTS a solid data foundation is essential for capturing valuable customer insights during the holiday season. “Data readiness plays a pivotal role in data capture during the holidays and post-holiday engagement, offering numerous benefits to retailers,” Mazumder said. “Omnichannel integration facilitates seamless customer journeys during the holiday season. Data readiness ensures a smooth transition between online and offline channels, enabling retailers to track customer behavior across various devices and touch points. “A robust data foundation allows for personalized experiences, as retailers can analyze customer data to tailor product recommendations, promotions and experiences to individual preferences during the holiday season,” he added. “Additionally, data-driven optimization enhances checkout processes, reducing cart abandonment and improving conversion rates. Integrating loyalty programs with data collection systems can further capture valuable customer shopping preferences.” After the holidays, Mazumder said retailers can leverage this same data for post-holiday engagement and retention. “Regarding post-holiday engagement and retention, retailers can use the data captured for advanced customer micro-segmentation, allowing targeted marketing,” he said. “Retailers can deliver highly personalized marketing campaigns by segmenting customers based on purchase history, preferences and demographics. This approach includes offering tailored promotions and discounts to encourage repeat purchases and foster customer relationships even after the holidays. “Lifecycle marketing strategies, such as win-back campaigns, use data to identify inactive customers and re-engage them with personalized offers and incentives,” Mazumder added. “Retailers can also identify opportunities to enhance the shopping experience and strengthen customer relationships by analyzing customer journeys.” This data-driven approach extends beyond customer engagement and retention, also playing a crucial role in product development and innovation after the holiday season, Mazumder said. “Data also supports product development and innovation post-holidays,” he said. “Analyzing trends helps retailers identify emerging consumer preferences, informing future product development and assortment planning. Evaluating customer feedback and reviews provides valuable product improvement and innovation insights. By prioritizing data readiness and effectively leveraging customer data, retailers can optimize their holiday season performance, build stronger customer relationships and drive long-term growth.” What Businesses Can Do With Data Bellamy Grindl , principal and founder of Retailytics , told PYMNTS that data readiness is key during the holidays, “especially for brands that see a big revenue spike. For seasonal brands, November can be as big as 25% of annual revenue.” Grindl offered some best practices for retailers: Segmenting shoppers to focus on high-value customers versus one-time buyers. Using real-time data to adjust inventory, pricing and promotions on the fly. Personalization, like tailored emails or product recommendations, to boost conversion. Launch retention campaigns post-holiday to turn seasonal shoppers into loyal customers. Keep teams aligned so decisions are driven by shared data insights.WASHINGTON, D.C. — Elon Musk, bouncing between meetings on Capitol Hill with his young son on his shoulders, and Vivek Ramaswamy spoke with large groups of lawmakers on Thursday about a significant effort to slash government spending once President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. “It’s a new thing and this is a new day in Washington, a new day in America,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said of the incoming Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, before entering a meeting with Musk, Ramaswamy and top Republican congressional leaders. Johnson said the “brainstorming session” was “the beginning of a journey” and wouldn’t produce detailed plans this week. Musk declined to answer reporters’ questions as he smiled and walked quickly ahead of the speaker with his 4-year-old son. But the pair of wealthy business leaders who Trump named to run the new unofficial agency have offered some public hints about where they might target their efforts — particularly in firing or pressuring government workers to quit, reversing regulations and eliminating areas of funding. What does DOGE mean for Maryland? Their plans could have an outsized impact in Maryland . With about 160,000 civilian federal jobs, the state is home to the headquarters of the Social Security Administration, the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Census Bureau and more. It also relies heavily on federal funding that pads about a third of the state budget — which is already strapped for cash in the coming years — and provides aid to local organizations. A DOGE social media account on X, which Musk owns, has specifically singled out funding at the National Institutes of Health. Headquartered in Bethesda, the national medical research agency makes major investments in health research across the state, with Maryland as one of its major beneficiaries. A post from DOGE last week claimed NIH spent $1.8 billion “studying racism” in 2024 through grants with names like “examining anti-racist healing in nature.” A Baltimore Sun review of the data referenced in the post indicates the $1.8 billion were actually funds from the 1992 through 2025 fiscal years. Maryland institutions have received the fifth-most amount of those funds, primarily because of research conducted at Johns Hopkins University, which was also the fifth-largest individual recipient of funds in the country. The Johns Hopkins grants, at least for the category referenced by DOGE, have focused on researching health disparities, including in areas like cancer, suicide, pediatrics and reproductive health. U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat and member of the Appropriations Committee that would have more authority to determine government spending than the unofficial DOGE, said he would defend the kind of funding that’s been identified so far. “Everyone agrees government should work more efficiently. But by targeting science, MAGA Republicans are ultimately going after efforts to develop life-saving cures for diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s and threatening public health,” Van Hollen said in a statement. “Our nation’s research should remain grounded in science, not driven by politics, which is why I will always fight to protect the integrity of our public health agencies as well as the people who drive them forward.” A Johns Hopkins spokesperson did not return a request for comment Thursday. U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume, a Democrat whose Baltimore-based district includes the campus, also did not immediately return a request for comment. Who’s joining the DOGE caucus? Maryland’s mostly Democratic federal delegation has not joined or publicly supported DOGE as a few other congressional Democrats have. U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, has been named the chair of a new DOGE subcommittee on the House Oversight Committee when the next session begins in January. U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, of Florida, became the first Democrat to join the caucus. In a hearing Thursday about the assassination attempts against Trump this year, Moskowitz said he joined because he wants to reform the Department of Homeland Security, including removing from its control the U.S. Secret Service that came under fire after Trump was shot in July. Those kinds of changes will be easier said than done, he noted. “Everyone wants to protect their sacred cow,” Moskowitz said during the hearing. ‘A lot of change’ coming to Washington, speaker says While Johnson claimed there was “an enormous amount of waste, fraud and abuse in the government,” efforts to identify and eliminate federal spending is far from new, and spending has ultimately increased under both Republican and Democratic administrations. Musk has said he plans to reduce the $6.8 trillion budget by $2 trillion, a figure that would require drastic cuts. And though entitlement programs like Medicare and Social Security are major cost-drivers, Greene told reporters after one of the meetings Thursday that “no one wants to hurt Americans in that category.” The closed-door meetings included both small and large groups of House members and senators. Republicans will control both chambers once the next session of Congress begins Jan. 3 and before Trump takes office Jan. 20. “You’re going to see a lot of change around here in Washington and the way things are run,” Johnson said. ©2024 Baltimore Sun. Visit baltimoresun.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Nearly a month after a devastating election loss that exposed cracks in the very foundation of their party, Democrats remain deeply divided over the extent of their political problem — or even if they have one. Related video above: On The Record analysts debate Biden's blame for Trump's win A number of Democratic leaders are downplaying the strength of Donald Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris as the inevitable result of an inflation-fueled anti-incumbent backlash that shaped elections worldwide. But others are convinced that the Democratic Party is facing an acute crisis that requires an urgent overhaul of its brand, message and economic policies. Trump swept every battleground state on Nov. 5, becoming the first Republican candidate to win the national popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004. Yet nearly half the country voted against him. With the final votes still being counted in some places, Trump won the popular vote by just 1.6 percentage points. He carried the seven top swing states by about 760,000 votes combined out of more than 151 million cast nationwide. "The glass is half full. It was close. If we get another 2% or 3% of American voters, it would have successfully led to victories from the presidency on down," says Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, who is leading a group called Governors Safeguarding Democracy. But for Ken Martin, chair of the Minnesota Democratic-Labor-Farmer Party and a candidate to lead the Democratic National Committee next year, the election represented "a damning indictment" for the Democratic Party. "People do not believe that the Democratic Party is fighting for them or for their families or gives a damn about their lives," Martin told The Associated Press. "We lost ground with almost every group except wealthy households and college-educated voters." The internal debate over the health of the party comes at a critical moment. Trump will return to the White House on Jan. 20, claiming a mandate to enact a dramatic "Make America Great Again" agenda led by the mass deportation of millions of immigrants in the country illegally; an overhaul of the federal departments of health, education and justice, and major import tariffs that threaten to strain the U.S. economy and international alliances alike. Democrats, even diminished and divided, stand as the only organized resistance to Trump and his emboldened MAGA allies. But for now, at least, the Democratic Party has no leader and no agreement on the political problems that need to be fixed or how to fix them. Many Democratic groups and leaders are working through post-election analyses to better understand what went wrong on Nov. 5, but few are working together. And already, some fear that the disparate post mortems will produce competing recommendations likely to be lost in a rush to leave the pain of 2024 behind. Priorities USA, one of the Democratic Party's leading super PACs, is set to unveil its post-election findings this week. The group will recommend, among other things, that Democrats do a better job listening to voters instead of pollsters, while offering a more forward-looking positive alternative to Trump's MAGA movement. If they do not make significant changes, according to a preview of that briefing, Priorities believes there is no guarantee that key elements of the Democratic base — especially young people and voters of color — will return to the party in future elections. Some of the loudest voices calling for dramatic changes represent the party's far-left wing, which is often ignored by establishment Democrats who control the party's messaging, strategy and policy platform. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders irked some party leaders the day after the election with a scathing critique: "It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them." "While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change," Sanders continued. "And they're right." In the weeks since, California Rep. Ro Khanna, a Sanders ally and a potential future presidential contender, has been urging his party to overhaul its economic message. Specifically, he's advocating for a "New Economic Deal" focused on creating high-paying jobs for the middle class. Khanna's chief of staff, Marie Baldassarre, said that some Democrats may be coming around to Khanna's message and his willingness to share it on podcasts and right-leaning outlets such as Fox News. "I don't know how you look at this election and don't take a beat. This is the time to change," Baldassarre said. "Why wouldn't we do some work right now? We didn't resonate." Democratic strategist Waleed Shahid, a former spokesperson for Justice Democrats and the "Uncommitted" group that was critical of Joe Biden's primary nomination said Harris' loss revealed that the party "has a major problem with bleeding working-class, low-information, non-college voters." He notes that some Democratic leaders have responded with a collective shrug. "Many of the people at the highest levels of the party feel pretty lost," Shahid said. "I'm skeptical that they'll be able to create the kind of coalition they need for transformative change over our lifetimes." The national committee's upcoming election to select a new leader serves as a litmus test for the party's direction. The DNC is expected to elect a new chair in February after a series of four candidate forums in January, according to an internal memo released last week. It remains unclear if delegates will embrace a high-profile outsider or an insider more familiar with the intricate workings of the party's political apparatus. Few are calling for wholesale changes. Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler, who announced his candidacy for DNC chair on Sunday, said Democrats must embrace a new communication strategy to connect with voters who don't pay close attention to politics. He complimented Trump's command of the media landscape and suggested that his own party pay more attention to non-political and right-leaning podcasts and news networks. Related video below: Wisconsin Democratic Chair Ben Wikler launches bid for Democratic National Committee chair Wikler was skeptical, however, that the 2024 election results signal a political crisis for his party. "What we saw was a narrow shift to the right driven the most by the people most affected by inflation, who were paying the least attention to the news," he said. "That does not suggest a permanent shift towards Trump. I think that there's a very real opportunity for Democrats to win background." He added: "I also think that Trump is very likely to more than repeat history and be a disaster."AI voice cloning: How programs are learning to pick up on pitch and tone
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AMMAN, Jordan — President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced Israel and Lebanon have reached a ceasefire agreement meant to pause fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah. The 14-month conflict has left more than 3,000 people dead. “Effective 4 a.m. tomorrow local time the fighting across the Lebanese-Israeli border will end. Will end,” Biden said from the White House. “This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities. I applaud the courageous leaders of Lebanon and Israel end the violence.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier Tuesday he had recommended that this government approve the agreement. Though the deal does not involve the separate conflict in Gaza Strip, Biden administration officials said they hoped it would lead to an agreement to end fighting there, too. Even as the deal was finalized, Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes across Lebanon, striking areas in the country’s southern and eastern regions, along with the suburbs of the capital — areas where Hezbollah holds sway. Several airstrikes also hit the heart of Beirut, killing at least 10 people, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. In a televised address on Tuesday evening local time, Netanyahu said he would present the outline of the proposal to the government, pushing his ministers to accept the move despite reservations from far-right leaders who are integral members of his coalition. “The length of the ceasefire will depend on what happens in Lebanon,” Netanyahu said. He added that Israel would maintain freedom to act against violations. “If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and seeks to arm itself, we will attack,” he said. The agreement would not immediately affect the fighting in Gaza Strip with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Netanyahu pushed his ministers to accept the agreement, arguing it would allow Israel to focus its attention on the threat from Iran, give Israeli troops an opportunity to replenish their stocks and isolate Hamas. The agreement will initiate a 60-day truce that would see both sides withdraw: Israeli troops out of south Lebanon to Israeli territory, and Hezbollah to areas north of the Litani River, some 18 miles north of the Lebanese-Israeli border. During the truce, a monitoring mechanism would be established that would ensure Hezbollah is not able to reconstitute itself or wage attacks on Israel from southern Lebanon. A U.S.-led committee would oversee implementation of the withdrawal. Lebanese officials say some 5,000 soldiers from Lebanon’s army — which has remained neutral during the conflict — would then enter south Lebanon, along with U.N. peacekeeping forces. Lebanon’s caretaker government is set to meet Wednesday morning to discuss the proposal; it is widely expected to be approved. Despite the optimism, many elements of the ceasefire proposal — which came about after vigorous negotiations brokered by the U.S. and France — remain unclear. One of the larger sticking points is whether Israel would be able to continue striking Hezbollah throughout Lebanon if the group attempts to reestablish a presence south of the Litani River, or if it continues to wage attacks on Israel or smuggle weapons. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz told the U.N.’s Lebanon envoy Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert on Tuesday that Israel would act “forcefully” against any breach of the ceasefire agreement. “If you do not act, we will do it, forcefully,” Katz said in a statement. “Any house rebuilt in south Lebanon and used as a terrorist base will be destroyed, any rearming or terrorist organization will be attacked, any attempt at transferring arms will be foiled, and any threat against our forces or our citizens will be immediately eliminated.” Lebanese leaders have dismissed such an agreement as an unacceptable breach of Lebanon’s sovereignty. The ceasefire would officially be an agreement between Israel and Lebanon. It includes a Lebanese lawmaker who has been negotiating on Hezbollah’s behalf. But Hezbollah, a paramilitary faction and political party which is backed by Iran, is not officially a party to the agreement. Another question is the fate of Hezbollah’s weapons. Before the war, the group was considered one of the world’s premier paramilitary factions, with an arsenal more powerful than that of the Lebanese army. The ceasefire agreement, which is based on a U.N. resolution that established a ceasefire in the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, has provisions that would force the group to surrender its arms. A ceasefire would end a 13-month conflict that began a day after Hamas attacked southern Israel, when Hezbollah initiated a rocket campaign in northern Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. In the months of tit-for-tat strikes that followed, some 60,000 people from northern Israel and approximately 100,000 Lebanese from southern Lebanon were displaced. In September, Israel escalated its attacks, conducting thousands of airstrikes on Hezbollah-dominated parts of the country and starting an invasion that saw Israeli troops enter southern Lebanon for the first time since 2006. It also assassinated Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah . Since Oct. 8, 2023, more than 3,823 people have been killed in Lebanon and 15,859 injured, according to Lebanese government data, the majority of them in the last two months. More than 25% of those killed were women and children, according to the government data, which do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Meanwhile, some 1.2 million people — almost a quarter of Lebanon’s population — have been displaced, with wide swaths of the country destroyed. The Israeli government said on Tuesday that 78 Israelis have been killed in attacks by Hezbollah and its allies, including 47 civilians. Even as senior Israeli ministers were meeting at Israeli military headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israeli warplanes launched some 180 airstrikes across the country, according to a statement from Israel’s military. It issued evacuation warnings for some cities. The military said it was targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure, including the group’s financial arm. Among the targets were four neighborhoods of central Beirut with which had previously been spared from the fighting. One raid hit Hamra, a popular shopping district in the capital which in recent months has become a sanctuary for hundreds of thousands displaced from the Dahieh, the constellation of suburbs south of Beirut where many of Hezbollah’s offices are headquartered. The Dahieh too was pounded by an intense barrage of more than 20 airstrikes, leaving the area obscured by a curtain of smoke and rocking buildings in adjacent neighborhoods. “The hysterical Israeli aggression this evening on Beirut and various Lebanese regions, which specifically targets civilians, confirms once again that the Israeli enemy does not respect any law or consideration,” said Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati in a statement on Tuesday. He called on the international community “to act quickly to stop this aggression and implement an immediate ceasefire.” Meanwhile, Hezbollah continued its barrage against northern Israel, lobbing dozens of projectiles across the border. ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Reniya Kelly scores 18 and No. 16 North Carolina women beat 14th-ranked Kentucky 72-53
A California EV Rebate That Could Exclude Tesla? Musk Says That’s ‘Insane’Right-wing nutjob and Rep. Lauren Boebert has joined the service Cameo, meaning for the low, low price of $250, you can get a video message from the Colorado Republican now infamous for getting frisky at a performance of "Beetlejuice" the musical . "Whether it’s a milestone birthday, an anniversary, or a long-awaited reunion, make it unforgettable with a one-of-a-kind Cameo video from Lauren Boebert," says her Cameo page . "You’ll have the chance to customize your request for Lauren Boebert, like asking them to mention inside jokes, share words of wisdom, or work in their signature catchphrases. Don’t be afraid to get creative with your request, especially for celebrations like weddings, retirements, or bachelor and bachelorette parties that call for a good laugh. No matter the occasion, the video will be yours to keep—share the fun and relive the moment for years to come." It’s unclear how long Boebert’s Cameo career will last, though, since it may be illegal for her to earn income from the site while serving in Congress. “Under House Rules, Members, as well as House officers and employees who are paid above the ‘senior staff’ rate (for 2008, anyone paid at or above $114, 468), are prohibited from receiving any honoraria. An honorarium, as defined in the rules, is ‘a payment of money or a thing of value for an appearance, speech, or article,’” according to the House Ethics Committee. However, if Boebert is booted from the platform, there are some other equally horrible people you can purchase a video message from, if that kind of thing floats your boat. Fresh off his resignation from Congress and after his dreams of being attorney general were dashed , Matt Gaetz joined the website . His profile photo on the platform is the same photo his wife, Ginger Gaetz, posted to X after Gaetz withdrew from being considered for Donald Trump’s attorney general, with the caption “Unemployment never looked so good.” Gaetz has already posted a handful of super-cringe videos, which cost upward of $500 a pop, including a pep talk for a guy named "Toby" and a congrats on making partner at a law firm to a woman named "Tarah." Former Rep. George Santos of New York, who was expelled from Congress and later pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft, has earned a killing from Cameo , funds that will no doubt help pay his legal fees. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is also on Cameo , where for the low price of $19.99, you can send a message to the guy who helped run Trump’s failed attempt to remain in power after losing the 2020 election. Some of the videos Giuliani posted are mega cringe, including this one below where he recites the “I’m a Little Tea Pot” nursery rhyme in what appears to be an empty baseball stadium. x This video of Rudy Giuliani humiliating himself for a few hundred bucks on Cameo is the culmination of such a profound public debasement. The attention economy has revealed so many political figures to just be attention-seeking grifters. (h/t @KFILE ) pic.twitter.com/aro07ho8rd — Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) March 17, 2023 Giuliani, who has been on the platform for years now, was disbarred in July and can no longer perform paid legal services. That’s a problem for him since in his effort to steal the election for Trump, Giuliani defamed two poll workers in Georgia and now owes them nearly $150 million . He better get cranking on those Cameos: It would take only 7,503,752 people sending him Cameo messages to pay off that legal judgement. Also on Cameo is Trump ally Roger Stone, who was found guilty of obstruction of justice and witness tampering stemming from the government’s probe into Russian interference in Trump’s 2016 election. Trump corruptly commuted Stone’s sentence before he left office kicking and screaming in 2021. Apparently, people pay more than $100 a pop asking Stone “to poke fun at their liberal friends and family,” according to his Cameo page. File under: horrible people paying horrible people to do horrible things. If you want a real blast from the past, you can pay former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin $199 to craft you or your loved ones a video message. If budget is a concern, a video from former Utah Congressman turned Fox News host Jason Chaffetz cost just $35. What a steal! That’s even cheaper than fellow Fox News personality Tomi Lahren , who charges $95 each for a Cameo video. And if Never Trumpers are your cup of tea, you can purchase videos from short-lived Trump press secretary Anthony Scaramucci or former Trump fixer Michael Cohen . Both men, who now loathe Trump, are on the platform.