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Give up stubbornness, talk to farmers: Punjab CM Mann to CentreLafayette Renaissance guard Mathew Gordon passes the ball against Westgate defenders during their Sunkist Shootout game Thursday at St. Thomas More. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save A large group of freshmen led by Cayden Lancelin and Shadon Lee have the Westgate High boys basketball team on a hot streak. Lancelin and Lee combined to score 43 points as the Tigers knocked off another young talented local squad, Lafayette Renaissance, in the opening round of the St. Thomas More Sunkist Shootout on Thursday. It was the fourth win in five games since Dec. 20 for the Tigers, who erased a double-digit deficit for the 68-58 victory. Westgate (5-3) beat Iowa, which reached the 2023-24 Division II nonselect state tourney, on its home court last weekend, and blew out Division V select runner-up J.S. Clark by 17 points on Monday. "We've had some really good wins," said Westgate oach Oliver Winston, whose team will face the St. Thomas More/Patterson winner at 6 p.m. Friday in the second round. "It's really important when you're young like that, to get some success against a tough schedule. We've had a couple of games where we got blown out by teams with older guys." Westgate, which has lost to Lafayette High (9-0), Sulphur (11-2) and H.L. Bourgeois, fell behind LRCA 12-2 in the first quarter as coach Brad Boyd's Tigers made their first five field goals. "It was a little bit of youth and me not doing a good job of making sure we're tuned in at the beginning of a game," Winston said of the slow start. "I thought we did a good job once we started making some adjustments and turning up the tempo of the game." LRCA (7-3) was led by Matthew Gordon (17 points, four rebounds, three assists, three steals), Bubba Etienne (14 pts, four rebounds, three steals) and Tavion Gallien (nine points, four assists). There were seven lead changes during the game, which was tied seven times. Antonio Quetel, one of 10 Westgate freshmen, put the Tigers ahead 53-52 with 5:15 remaining. Quetel (seven points, five rebounds, three assists) added a jumper from the baseline a few seconds later after a steal by Lancelin, whose 3-pointer made it 59-56 with 2:13 to go. "Cayden really kept us in the game in the first half offensively," Winston said of the freshman, who made 5 of his first 6 field goals and finished just shy of a triple-double with nine rebounds and eight steals (five assists). "It's good to have a kid who can do that. "In the second half, we had other guys step up and help him. Lee does a good job defensively. He's all over the ball, attacking the rim and making shots. He's an overall scorer." Lee finished with five rebounds and four steals. Freshman forward Chance Archangel (7 pts, 8 rebs) and senior forward Peyton Knatt were able to stay in the game despite foul trouble. The two big-bodies were a force inside. Archangel, who picked up his fourth foul in the third quarter, asserted himself in the lane with two buckets in the closing minutes. "I thought we did a good job of hustling, taking charges and getting steals," Winston said. "Once we sped up the game, it's a little better style for us." Four players fouled out and another nine finished the game with either 3-or-4 fouls. "We're carrying 14 players," Winston said. "We're going to play 12. We'll play 14 if we have to. If you're sitting on the bench, you have to be able to play."
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — LeJuan Watts had 20 points in Washington State's 74-69 victory against Boise State on Saturday night. Watts had 11 rebounds and six assists for the Cougars (8-2). Dane Erikstrup scored 14 points while shooting 6 for 10 (2 for 5 from 3-point range) and 0 of 3 from the free-throw line. Isaiah Watts had 12 points and shot 5 for 9, including 2 for 5 from beyond the arc. Andrew Meadow led the Broncos (6-3) in scoring, finishing with 21 points and seven rebounds. Tyson Degenhart added 18 points for Boise State. Alvaro Cardenas Torre also had 10 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals. Isaiah Watts scored nine points in the first half for Washington State, who led 44-24 at the break. LeJuan Watts led Washington State with 12 points in the second half as their team was outscored by 15 points over the final half but hung on for the victory. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .SRF: What does the group of 100-year-olds in Switzerland look like? Daniela Jopp: There are 2,086 centenarians in Switzerland. Of these, 80% are women. Almost half of them live in care facilities, the other half live in private households. That’s quite astonishing, because 80 years ago there were only a handful of 100-year-olds. SRF: How are 100-year-olds doing in Switzerland? DJ: A look at well-being reveals an astonishing finding: in Switzerland, 92% of centenarians say they are satisfied with their lives. This is a remarkable result that has also been observed in previous studies in other countries, but never to such a high degree. It seems that Swiss centenarians are particularly satisfied with their lives. SRF: What factors explain this satisfaction? DJ: Objective health does not play a central role. Although centenarians have an average of six physical limitations and often also cognitive impairments, these factors have little influence on satisfaction. What’s far more important are psychological aspects, such as the feeling of not being lonely. So-called psychological strengths are particularly decisive: a belief in one’s own control over life, optimism, a positive view of the future, a sense of meaning in life, and a strong will to live. These elements are the most important drivers of well-being in old age. SRF: What kind of personalities are these centenarians in Switzerland? DJ: We know that certain personality traits, such as extroversion, that is, whether you like approaching people, or a positive basic attitude, play a role and are partly genetically determined. We also see that many of the Swiss centenarians have not had an easy life. A third have lost at least one child, one of the most difficult life events. It is a combination of a genetic predisposition for optimism and dealing with crises that helps them to remain exceptionally resilient and thus probably live longer. SRF: How important are genetics? DJ: Numerous studies have investigated this and show that it is not primarily our genes but our lifestyle that is decisive for our lifespan. Genetics only play a role of around 25%. The larger proportion of 70% to 80% depends on a healthy diet, exercise, mental fitness and social relationships, as well as a positive attitude to life and a sense of purpose. SRF: What role do personal interests and hobbies play? DJ: An exciting observation from my studies on centenarians is that many of them pursue a deep passion. Whether it’s a close bond with their family, for example, by actively supporting their grandchildren, or a strong interest in politics, art or other areas of life – this dedication seems to inspire them. I think we can learn from the centenarians how important it is to realise at a younger age what really inspires and drives us. It is precisely these passions that not only give us purpose and energy, but often carry us into old age. Translated from German using DeepL/amva/gwBerlin: Tech billionaire Elon Musk caused uproar after backing Germany’s far-right party in a major newspaper ahead of key parliamentary elections in the Western European country, leading to the resignation of Welt am Sonntag’ s opinion editor in protest. Germany is to vote in an early election on February 23 after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party governing coalition collapsed last month in a dispute over how to revitalise the country’s stagnant economy. Elon Musk has involved himself deeply in US politics - now he’s turned his attention to Germany. Credit: AP Musk’s guest opinion piece for Welt am Sonntag — a sister publication of POLITICO owned by the Axel Springer Group — published in German over the weekend, was the second time this month he supported the Alternative for Germany, or AfD . “The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is the last spark of hope for this country,” Musk wrote in his translated commentary. He went on to say the far-right party “can lead the country into a future where economic prosperity, cultural integrity and technological innovation are not just wishes, but reality”. Loading The Tesla Motors chief executive also wrote that his investment in Germany gave him the right to comment on the country’s condition. The AfD is polling strongly, but its candidate for the top job, Alice Weidel, has no realistic chance of becoming chancellor because other parties refuse to work with the far-right party. An ally of US President-elect Donald Trump, the technology billionaire challenged in his opinion piece the party’s public image. “The portrayal of the AfD as right-wing extremist is clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel, the party’s leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Please!” Musk’s commentary has led to a debate in German media over the boundaries of free speech, with the paper’s own opinion editor announcing her resignation, pointedly on Musk’s social media platform, X. “I always enjoyed leading the opinion section of WELT and WAMS. Today an article by Elon Musk appeared in Welt am Sonntag . I handed in my resignation yesterday after it went to print,” Eva Marie Kogel wrote. Eva Marie Kogel, the editor who quit in protest after her paper ran an Elon Musk opinion piece. Credit: Martin U. K. Lengemann The newspaper was also attacked by politicians and other media for offering Musk, an outsider, a platform to express his views, in favour of the AfD. Candidate for chancellor, Friedrich Merz, of the Christian Democratic Union, said on Sunday that Musk’s comments were “intrusive and presumptuous”. He was speaking to the newspapers of the German Funke Media Group. Supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany political party hold a placard that reads: “Germany First!” at an AfD campaign rally in Thuringia. Credit: Getty Images Co-leader of the Social Democratic Party, Saskia Esken said that “Anyone who tries to influence our election from outside, who supports an anti-democratic, misanthropic party like the AfD, whether the influence is organised by the state from Russia or by the concentrated financial and media power of Elon Musk and his billionaire friends on the Springer board, must expect our tough resistance,” according to the ARD national public TV network. “In Elon Musk’s world, democracy and workers’ rights are obstacles to more profit,” Esken told Reuters. “We say quite clearly: Our democracy is defensible and it cannot be bought.” Musk’s opinion piece in the Welt am Sonntag was accompanied by a critical article by the future editor-in-chief of the Welt group, Jan Philipp Burgard. “Musk’s diagnosis is correct, but his therapeutic approach, that only the AfD can save Germany, is fatally wrong,” Burgard wrote. A general view of The Reichstag, which houses the German lower House of Parliament or Bundestag. Snap elections are scheduled for February 23. Credit: Getty Images Responding to a request for comment from the German Press Agency, dpa, the current editor-in-chief of the Welt group, Ulf Poschardt, and Burgard — who is due to take over on January 1 — said in a joint statement that the discussion over Musk’s piece was “very insightful. Democracy and journalism thrive on freedom of expression.” “This will continue to determine the compass of the “world” in the future. We will develop “ Die Welt ” even more decisively as a forum for such debates,” they wrote to dpa. AP, Reuters Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. EU Germany Elon Musk Most Viewed in World Loading
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The NSW government has drastically watered down the justification necessary for spending taxpayer dollars as accusations insist a new business case policy allows the premier to make major investment decisions “via media release”. NSW Treasury documents, quietly updated in November, reveal the government has provided a “fast track” pathway for investment decisions, meaning certain projects will not be subject to a business case assessment if they qualify under certain criteria. Under quietly updated reforms of NSW business case guidelines, the threshold for investment now includes a “public commitment” by the premier. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer A business case usually includes an overview of the purpose, benefits and costs of the investment decision, providing government justification for spending taxpayer dollars and cost-benefit analysis providing a metric for whether taxpayers dollars are being spent efficiently. The government has come under fire from the state’s audit office for a “lack of transparency” in financial reporting. An audit released in December found eight of the 15 most significant ongoing investment decisions did not have estimated total costs, while one-third did not have an estimated completion date. Projects which meet the following criteria could be accelerated: those considered a “public commitment” of the premier, where delivery is considered “time critical”, when “options development” is constrained by the investment, and when “bypassing or altering the business case” would “create benefits that outweigh risks”. However, a public commitment could constitute any “public statements approved by the premier”, projects that were considered time-critical when a delivery timeframe had been outlined by government publicly, and projects for which the benefits of bypassing the business case could include saving time and money from not proceeding with it. “Benefits include avoided expenditure on business case development and quicker progress to delivery,” the document said. Daniel Mookhey, NSW treasurer Credit: Fairfax “Business cases and assurance should not be done as a ‘tick the box’ when they won’t add value to resource allocation decisions or project delivery. This policy aims to get committed capital projects to delivery faster while ensuring appropriate analysis, due diligence and risk management takes place.” NSW Greens treasury spokesperson Abigail Boyd said while there were legitimate criticisms of the business case process, the new fast-track policy was a “deeply concerning backflip on promises of transparency and accountability” by the Labor government. “This new fast-track policy is a blatant attempt to bypass proper scrutiny and oversight,” she said. “This new policy literally allows the premier to make a major government investment decision via media release. “It deprives the parliament and the public the opportunity to check the government’s homework, to make sure we’re spending public money in ways that are in the public interest and not simply about trying to win elections.” University of Sydney Professor Hugh Harley said while he understood arguments against the premier’s prioritisation, he said the entirety of reforms changes were “sensible” in light of the need for governments to direct finite resources to the greatest good. “The government deserves some credit for reviewing the business case process. It would be entirely reasonable for someone to argue the premier’s prioritisation has gone a little too far, but in the context of the overall reforms I’m fairly relaxed about it,” Harley said, noting the additional role of the auditor-general. Loading A NSW government spokeswoman said the reforms of the business case guidelines were to “sharpen the efficiency, quality and cost of decision-making”, noting that $134 million was spent by the Coalition government on the business case to support building dams at Dungowan and Wyangala — projects that never proceeded. “A refined system means government can reduce wasted hours and wasted money that comes when proposals endlessly cycle through a business case system without a decision ever being made,” she said. Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. License this article Spending State Parliament Chris Minns ALP NSW Greens Sydney More... Max Maddison is a state political reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald. Most Viewed in Politics LoadingPak unrest: Military court jails 60 more civiliansIn brief: As investors search for ways to stabilize Ubisoft following years of poor financial performance, buyout talks with major shareholder Tencent are progressing. Although multiple options are on the table, the founding Guillemot family struggles to retain control of the company. Anonymous sources have told Reuters that multiple investors, including Tencent, are discussing options for funding a buyout of Ubisoft. The Guillemot family wishes to retain control over the company, but Tencent wants more decision-making power. People familiar with the matter say the Chinese media giant wants further control over Ubisoft's financing if it backs the deal. However, the Guillemot brothers, who founded the company and retain the controlling share – 20.5 percent – haven't agreed to the terms. Tencent is patiently waiting for the family to come around. Click to enlarge Although the company wants to avoid a hostile takeover of Ubisoft, it still hasn't decided whether to increase its 9.2 percent stake in the game publisher or its 49.9 percent ownership of Guillemot Brothers Ltd – the Guillemots' holding company. Ubisoft's stock closed 13 percent up following news of continuing buyout discussions. Prior reports of negotiations caused a record-breaking one-day spike of over 30 percent. Although Ubisoft attempted to downplay excitement by saying it examines buyout proposals regularly, the developments could be sorely needed given the publishers' recent steep decline. Unfortunately, the years following the pandemic have wiped out a decade of Ubisoft's stock gains. The company has struggled to develop and ship ever-larger games, and its recent releases haven't met market expectations. After announcing plans to shut down the free-to-play online shooter XDefiant next year, Ubisoft closed its San Francisco and Osaka studios and laid off almost 300 employees. The game's failure adds to the publisher's troublesome year after Star Wars Outlaws suffered a lukewarm reception and Assassin's Creed Shadows got pushed into next year. Additionally, Ubisoft stoked controversy and attracted a lawsuit after shutting down servers for The Crew and pulling the game from users' libraries. Charging $70 on top of microtransactions for Skull and Bones, which spent around seven years in development, also drew ire. Despite the setbacks, Ubisoft remains committed to releasing more live-service games. A buyout isn't the only solution the Guillemots are discussing to stabilize the company. Shareholders, including AJ Investments, have proposed privatization or acquisition by a strategic investor.
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Investors seeking to turn modest budgets into substantial returns by 2028 are closely eyeing Dogecoin (DOGE), Shiba Inu (SHIB), PEPE, and Rexas Finance (RXS). These cryptocurrencies offer varying pathways to achieve transformative growth potentially. Here’s a breakdown of how these tokens stand out and why they may be key to building wealth. Shiba Inu: Eyeing a 20x Rally Shiba Inu has shown resilience despite a year marked by consolidation pressures. Its price has climbed over 155% year-to-date, signaling sustained bullish potential. Analysts believe the token is positioned for a significant price surge, with predictions pointing to a 20x rally from current levels. Strong network activity and market interest fuel bullish sentiment, with the token potentially reclaiming its all-time high of $0.00008. If it maintains this trajectory, Shiba Inu could emerge as a dominant player, offering an attractive entry point for long-term investors with modest budgets. PEPE: Rebound in Sight PEPE has caught traders' attention with a TD Sequential buy signal on its daily chart, hinting at an upcoming price reversal. Despite recent setbacks, including a 25.97% drop in the past week, the token shows promise for a recovery. With prices fluctuating between $0.00001455 and $0.0000242, traders are watching resistance at $0.00002201, a key level for sustained upward momentum. PEPE’s volatility presents a high-risk, high-reward opportunity for those willing to ride its potential rally to new highs. Dogecoin: The Meme King with $10 Ambitions Dogecoin continues to dominate the meme token space, with projections indicating a meteoric rise to $10 by 2025. Analysts attribute this potential 3,095% surge to increased adoption and technological advancements. This growth aligns with Bitcoin’s anticipated market peak, creating a timeline for Dogecoin’s significant leap. For investors, the token remains a strong contender, blending historical strength with speculative appeal for exponential returns. Rexas Finance: Pioneering Real-World Asset Tokenization Rexas Finance (RXS) stands apart by revolutionizing real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. Using blockchain technology, RXS enables users to invest in fractional or full ownership of real estate, commodities, and other high-value assets with unprecedented ease. RXS also targets the $121 trillion commodities market, allowing fractional ownership of gold, oil, and other tangible assets. Art and collectibles, valued at $65 billion globally, further expand the platform's offerings. By integrating these markets, RXS eliminates barriers and enhances liquidity. Cutting-Edge Features The Rexas Token Builder simplifies asset tokenization, empowering anyone to digitize their holdings. The Rexas Launchpad supports funding initiatives for new tokens, while innovative tools like the QuickMint Bot, GenAI, and AI Shield bridge gaps between physical assets and blockchain networks. The presale has gained remarkable traction with a total supply of 1 billion RXS tokens. The program, currently in its 11th stage, has raised $33.4 million, with the token price increasing nearly sixfold from $0.03 to $0.175. Transparency and Trust RXS’s CertiK audit ensures security and stability, bolstering investor confidence. Listings on CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko further enhance visibility and credibility, with plans to launch on three top-tier exchanges cementing its presence in the crypto market. Additionally, RXS is hosting a $1 million giveaway, offering 20 winners $50,000 each in USDT. This initiative, alongside its groundbreaking features, underscores RXS’s commitment to creating wealth opportunities for its community. Conclusion Shiba Inu, PEPE, Dogecoin, and Rexas Finance present unique opportunities for investors with limited capital to achieve life-changing returns by 2028. While SHIB and PEPE cater to speculative traders, DOGE remains a staple for meme token enthusiasts. However, RXS’s focus on real-world asset tokenization sets it apart as the most innovative and potentially lucrative option.Investors seeking transformative growth should consider RXS’s presale stage, groundbreaking features, and expansive market reach. With a $700 budget and strategic investments, achieving $10 million by 2028 becomes a tangible goal. For more information about Rexas Finance (RXS) visit the links below: Website: https://rexas.com Win $1 Million Giveaway: https://bit.ly/Rexas1M Whitepaper: https://rexas.com/rexas-whitepaper.pdf Twitter/X: https://x.com/rexasfinance Telegram: https://t.me/rexasfinance Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.The Congress is in touch with allies to launch a united attack on the Narendra Modi government over the Adani bribery allegations but some of its partners believe that an adverse showing in the Maharashtra and Jharkhand polls might give the Bharatiya Janata Party an edge to counter the Opposition. A floor leader of Trinamool Congress, one of the largest parties in the INDIA group, met a top Congress strategist on Friday to discuss the plans for the winter session of Parliament that starts from Monday. On Thursday, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi demanded Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani’s arrest and a probe after US prosecutors indicted Adani Group companies, its chief Gautam Adani, and seven others for allegedly orchestrating a $265 million ( ₹ 2,029 crore) scheme to bribe Indian officials in order to secure green energy supply deals. Assembly election results will be released on Saturday. A senior Congress leader told HT that the Opposition’s strategy on the issue will be three-pronged. “We will demand a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the various charges against the Adani group and pressurise the government to remove Sebi chief Madhabi Buch. We will seek the PM’s reply on the latest allegations and organise major protests both inside and outside Parliament on both the Adani issue and to remove Sebi chief Buch.” The Congress leader added that it expected support from Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP), Aam Aadmi Party, and the Left parties. But some of the other parties were less vocal than the Congress over the latest charges against the group. Rashtriya Janata Dal’s official Twitter handle did not post a single tweet on the issue even as its senior Rajya Sabha leader Manoj Kumar Jha retweeted some news on the Adani group on Thursday. Read more: Jagan turned Andhra into ‘Adani state’, handed it over as a ‘blank cheque’: Congress' YS Sharmila Trinamool Congress too, refrained from any official remarks or tweets on the issue. The party’s firebrand MP Mahua Moitra, however, was vocal. “Modi and his Gujju cronies have made India Inc. look like a bunch of chors and thugs. Terrible for our credibility in global markets. Can any large business house now have the guts to speak up?,” she tweeted on Friday. Rahul Gandhi, however, maintained that the “INDIA alliance is united on this issue and we are working systematically” and had assured to raise this issue in Parliament. “We are going to raise this issue. It is my responsibility as LoP to raise this issue. PM is 100% protecting this man (Adani) and this man fully supports BJP. We will reiterate the demand for a JPC. But we want Adani to be arrested. And we want to show that Adani will not be arrested as the Indian PM is standing behind him and protecting him. PM and a network—people in different positions—have hijacked India,” Gandhi said in his press conference on Thursday. When told about how the Opposition’s demands had not been met so far, Gandhi said, “It is not that nothing has happened. PM’s credibility has been destroyed. But what we have done very successfully is that Adani and Modi are the same thing; Modi is corrupt and Adani is his bag man. We will find many people in this network and will expose them. Indians will know who are the people who have hijacked the country. This structure is going to collapse. This is a testament to what we have been saying.” One key Opposition leader, however, underlined that if the BJP-led NDA is able to secure both Maharashtra and Jharkhand, “It will definitely give them a political advantage to tackle our protests. The electoral popularity, after its surprise victory in Haryana, can help BJP politically thwart the Opposition’s charges.” A Congress floor manager, however, maintained that election results will not dampen the Opposition onslaught against the Modi government on the Adani issue. “US prosecutors have charged Adani and his associates of $265 million bribery. On Monday we will corner the government on this issue.”US announces nearly $1 bn in new military aid for Ukraine
Trump says US should stay out of fighting in Syria as opposition forces gain ground
The AI Revolution in Law: Law Practice AI Transforms Legal Case Management with Advanced AutomationNew Delhi: The Delhi High Court has acquitted a man in a POCSO case, saying the use of the phrase ‘physical relations’ by the minor survivor cannot automatically mean sexual assault. A bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma allowed the appeal by the accused, who was awarded imprisonment for the remainder of his life, and observed that it was unclear how the trial court concluded that there was any sexual assault when the survivor had voluntarily gone with the accused. The court asserted that the leap from physical relations or ‘samband’ to sexual assault and then to penetrative sexual assault must be established by evidence and cannot be deduced as an inference. “The mere fact that the survivor is below 18 years cannot lead to a conclusion that there was penetrative sexual assault. The survivor, in fact, used the phrase ‘physical relations,’ but there is no clarity as to what she meant by using the said phrase,” the court said in the judgement passed on December 23. “Even the use of the words ‘samband banaya’ is not sufficient to establish an offence under Section 3 of the POCSO Act or under Section 376 IPC. Though consent would not matter if the girl is a minor under the POCSO Act, the phrase ‘physical relations’ cannot be converted automatically into sexual intercourse, let alone sexual assault,” it held. The court said the benefit of the doubt ought to be in favour of the accused and, therefore, ruled, “The impugned judgement completely lacks any reasoning and also does not reveal or support any rationale for the conviction. Under such circumstances, the judgement is liable to be set aside. The appellant is acquitted.” The complaint in this case was lodged in March 2017 by the minor girl’s mother, alleging that her 14-year-old daughter had been lured and kidnapped from her home by an unknown person. The minor was found in Faridabad along with the accused, who was arrested and subsequently convicted for the offence of rape under IPC and penetrative sexual assault under POCSO in December 2023 and later awarded imprisonment for the remainder of his life.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Tens of thousands of Spaniards marched in downtown Barcelona on Saturday to protest the skyrocketing cost of renting an apartment in the popular tourist destination. Protesters cut off traffic on main avenues in the city center, holding up homemade signs in Spanish reading “Fewer apartments for investing and more homes for living" and “The people without homes uphold their rights.” The lack of affordable housing has become one of the leading concerns for the southern European Union country, mirroring the housing crunch across many parts of the world, including the United States . Organizers said that over 170,000 had turned out, while Barcelona’s police said they estimated some 22,000 marched. Either way, the throngs of people clogging the streets recalled the massive separatist rallies at the height of the previous decade’s Catalan independence movement. Now, social concerns led by housing have displaced political crusades. That is because the average rent for Spain has doubled in last 10 years. The price per square meter has risen from 7.2 euros ($7.5) in 2014 to 13 euros this year, according to the popular online real estate website Idealista. The growth is even more acute in cities like Barcelona and Madrid. Incomes meanwhile have failed to keep up, especially for younger people in a country with chronically high unemployment. Protester Samuel Saintot said he is “frustrated and scared” after being told by the owners of the apartment he has rented for the past 15 years in Barcelona’s city center that he must vacate the premises. He suspects that the owners want him out so they can renovate it and boost the price. “Even looking in a 20- or 30-kilometer radius outside town, I can’t even find anything within the price range I can afford,” he told The Associated Press. “And I consider myself a very fortunate person, because I earn a decent salary. And even in my case, I may be forced to leave town.” A report by the Bank of Spain indicates that nearly 40% of Spaniards who rent dedicate an average of 40% of their income to paying rents and utilities, compared to the European Union average of 27% of renters who do so. “We are talking about a housing emergency. It means people having many difficulties both in accessing and staying in their homes,” said Ignasi Martí, professor for Esade business school and head of its Dignified Housing Observatory. The rise in rents is causing significant pain in Spain, where traditionally people seek to own their homes. Rental prices have also been driven up by short-term renters including tourists. Many migrants to Spain are also disproportionately hit by the high rents because they often do not have enough savings. Spain is near the bottom end of OECD countries with under 2% of all housing available being public housing for rent. The OECD average is 7%. Spain is far behind France, with 14%, Britain with 16%, and the Netherlands with 34%. “I think it’s impossible to make prices fall to what they were a few years back. It makes me cry,” said protester Laia Pizjuán. “It's so upsetting. I know so many people who are in a bad situation. I have relatives living together in crowded apartments because they can’t afford to live on their own.” Carme Arcarazo, spokesperson for Barcelona’s Tenants Union which helped organize the protest, said that renters should consider a “rent strike” and cease paying their monthly rents in a mass protest movement. “I think we the tenants have understood that this depends on us. That we can’t keep asking and making demands to the authorities and waiting for an answer. We must take the reins of the situation,” Arcarazo told the AP. “So, if they (the owners) won’t lower the rent, then we will force them to do it." The Barcelona protest came a month after tens of thousands rallied against high rents in Madrid. The rising discontent over housing is putting pressure on Spain’s governing Socialist party, which leads a coalition on the national level and is in charge of Catalonia’s regional government and Barcelona’s city hall. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez presided over what the government termed a “housing summit” including government officials and real estate developers last month. But the Barcelona’s Tenants Union boycotted the event, saying it was like calling a summit for curing cancer and inviting tobacco companies to participate. The leading government measure has been a rent cap mechanism that the central government has offered to regional authorities based on a price index established by the housing ministry. Rent controls can be applied to areas deemed to be “highly stressed” by high rental prices. Catalonia was the first region to apply those caps, which are in place in downtown Barcelona. Many locals blame the million of tourists who visit Barcelona, and the rest of Spain, each year for the high prices. Barcelona’s town hall has pledged to completely eliminate the city’s 10,000 so called “tourist apartments,” or dwellings with permits for short-term rents, by 2028.
Mark H. Tallman dedicated his life to collecting autographs from prominent politicians, dignitaries and celebrities, accumulating signatures from nearly every American president and other historical figures, including Adolf Hitler and Walt Disney. Now, Tallman's impressive collection of autographs has found a new home at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Tallman, Mark Tallman donated dozens of items — photos, letters, books and more — with the famed signatures to the university library archives before his death earlier this year in January. "It's really unique materials that really don't exist elsewhere, and may not necessarily exist in Nebraska in regard to our own history," said Mary Ellen Ducey, a university archivist and special collections librarian. People are also reading... The autograph collection wasn't the only thing the Lincoln man left behind. Tallman's $7 million estate was recently gifted to the Lincoln Community Foundation to be shared with seven local organizations over the next 10 years. Ducey met Tallman through the University of Nebraska Foundation and spent time with him discussing why he collected the autographs and wanted to donate them to the university. "You (could) just kind of sense the enthusiasm and you kind of get caught up in it," Ducey said. After receiving the donations in the fall of 2023, Ducey took inventory, recording what each item was, who it was signed by and for whom, and the date. The collection contains signatures from 41 of the 45 men to serve as U.S. president, including George Washington. Other signatures include those from Martin Luther King Jr., Winston Churchill, Warren Buffett, Booker T. Washington, Neil Armstrong, Hitler, Disney and more. The collection also contains two atlases. The majority of the items are dated from 1783 to 1997. Signatures can be found on photographs, letters, presidential pardons, books, financial papers and other documents. "Most of the things that Mark had given us were in really nice frames, and he had taken the time to put them into UV-protected glass, which means that the glass will protect the items from sun and just make them really look beautiful in their frame," Ducey said. Washington's autograph is on a ship passage addressed to Robert Stanley, a ship commander, in English, French and German, sent on March 2, 1794. Abraham Lincoln's signature can be found on a framed piece of paper when Lincoln appointed the secretary of the territory of Dakota in 1861. Richard Nixon's signature is on his resignation letter to Henry Kissinger from 1974. The Tallman collection can be accessed online at archives.nebraska.edu . Ducey is unsure of how he obtained all the autographs. She said Tallman had a friend who helped him find items and Tallman would determine whether he wanted to buy them or not. "The fact that we can see some of the materials and the people that were influential in United States history and national experiences is pretty cool to have here," Ducey said. Ducey said these autographs open up new doors for understanding history. "What's important to me is you can go in and say, 'OK, I've got this card, I've got this program, I've got this signature,' and it's going to tell me a story by looking at it, but then it's also going to be a prompt for letting me see what else I can explore about this person, this event, this document and how that kind of broadens your horizons and leads to new research, new ways of thinking, or solidifies something that you may have thought when you're doing research." Download the new Journal Star News Mobile App Top Journal Star photos for December 2024 Volunteers from Raymond Community Church, including Monty Woodward (from left), Wayne Anderson, Linda Feiler, Krista and Chuck Kohles dish out chicken noodle soup into meal boxes on Wednesday at the Gathering Place Soup Kitchen. The Gathering Place has seen an 87.5% increase in free, nightly meals served since the pandemic started. Nebraska players celebrate after a kill by Andi Jackson (bottom right) during the first set of a NCAA Final Four match on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, at KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky. Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth unrolls a round bale on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, in Plymouth. Lincoln Police Department graduates Kaitlyn Wiersma (from left), Joshua Woolfington, Chase Adams, Shawn Woods, Jillian Boysen, Sebastian Arrubla and Jeremiah McDowell listen during the first mixed LPD & LSO academy graduation on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, at Lincoln Southeast Community College. Lincoln East's Hailey Standish (front) leaps from the starting blocks in the third heat of the Girls 500 Yard Freestyle during the Lincoln Southeast invite on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, at Lincoln Southeast High School. Sign language interpreters Davida Schejbal (left) and Ashten Schuler pose for a portrait while making the sign "interpreter." The two are mother and daughter. Dale Strehle, surplus and inventory manager for Lincoln Public Schools, stands with a stack of old chairs in the LPS Distribution Center on Friday. Strehle is retiring after 24 years in the role, helping the district auction off countless bookshelves, cabinets, desks and more. Sinclair Hille principal David Quade (left) and senior associate Kjersten Tucker lead a tour of a new University of Nebraska-Lincoln music building on Dec. 16. With the new building's design, the Lincoln architecture firm has sought to push the boundaries of what musical education looks like in higher education. University of Nebraska - Lincoln sophomore geography major Maxwell Anderson, also known as Jersey Guy, has gone viral for wearing a different jersey to his class every day, Anderson says he has around 100 different jerseys. Nebraska's Lexi Rodriguez (right) pancake-digs a ball during the fourth set of a third round NCAA tournament match against Dayton on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, at the Devaney Sports Center. Homeless man "Papa" George arranges his tent at a north Lincoln camp site, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Lincoln. Kiptara Thomas (back center), Grace Taylor (front center), and Ayla Brosman (right) prepare in the dressing room ahead of a dress rehearsal for "The Nutcracker" on Thursday at the Lied Center for Performing Arts. Nebraska's Brice Williams (left) dances with Juwan Gary after the Huskers' win against Indiana on Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Allie Christianson (top right), a senior community organizer with Civic Nebraska, speaks during an event Thursday at NeighborWorks Lincoln's office formally kicking off an initiative to ban source-of-income discrimination for renters. Ariana Cunningham, playing Clara (right), practices dancing backstage during a rehearsal for "The Nutcracker" at the Lied Center for Performing Arts on Thursday. Wisconsin's CC Crawford (left) celebrates a kill by Sarah Franklin (13) during the first set of a third round NCAA tournament match against Texas A&M on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, at the Devaney Sports Center. Norris' Evan Greenfield (22) scores a layup as Wahoo's Jase Kaminski (13) goes up to defend the basket in the second half on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, at Wahoo High School. Ruby Augustine blows out the candles on her birthday cake during her 105th birthday party on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at the Legacy Retirement Community. Cicely Wardyn of Lincoln adjusts an outdoor heater next to a Nativity scene during the Hometown Christmas event Sunday at the Governor's Mansion. Eddie Walters, dressed as the Grinch, leads the pack of runners along the Billy Wolff trail during the Santa Fun Run on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. Nebraska plays against Florida A&M in an NCAA tournament game on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Fourth grade student Lulu Kulwick carries her review worksheet to meet with her teacher during computer science class. Each student was asked to analyze how fun, challenging and easy to understand each game was, and discuss what they thought was a good aspect to the game, and what could use some work. Ben Heppner is illuminated by morning light as he waits for the start of the Santa Fun Run on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, inside the Fleet Feet store. Nebraska head coach Amy Williams (left) and Callin Hake (14) cheer for their team after a defensive stop during the third quarter of the game against Minnesota on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Members of the Lincoln Journal Star's 2024 Super State volleyball team compete in Dance Dance Revolution and air hockey while at a photo shoot on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, at Round 1 Arcade. Lincoln North Star's J'Shawn Afun (10) and Mekhi Wayne-Browne (11) battle Lincoln Southeast's Jaydee Dongrin (21) for a rebound in the first half on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Lincoln Southeast High School. Miami's Flormarie Heredia Colon (left) and Ashley Carr celebrate a point against South Dakota State during an NCAA first-round match, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at the Devaney Sports Center. Workers pull up the Capitol Christmas tree on Monday at the Capitol. The 22-foot Colorado spruce from Walton was selected by the Office of the Capitol Commission to be this year’s annual Christmas tree. Jenni Watson helps to arrange chairs for New Covenant Community Church's first service in their repaired main auditorium on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, at New Covenant Community Church. New Covenant Community Church is nearing completion of six months of reconstruction project after a fire in May damages the church. While the building was not fully consumed by fire, there was significant water damage to the main auditorium and the first floor south wing. Jack, the dog, lifts his leg on the Christmas tree that his owners David and Karen Petersen of Hickman chose as Max Novak helps them on Saturday at Prairie Woods tree farm in Hallam. Iowa's Drew Stevens (18) kicks a game-winning field goal through the arms of Nebraska's Ty Robinson (9) and Nash Hutmacher (0) on Friday at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Lincoln Northwest senior Kynzee McFadden (top right) works with her teammates as they compete in an identifying game on the Anatomage Table on Tuesday at Lincoln Northwest High School. An Anatomage Table is a digital platform that allows students to perform virtual experiments on a life-size touchscreen. The table is a tool that provides an interactive view of the human body, allowing students to virtually work with different body parts. Dahlia Brandon of Lincoln tickles her 15-month-old daughter, Gema, with a stuffed animal while shopping at HobbyTown on Saturday. The toy and game store nearly doubled its sales on Black Friday from last year. Nebraska's Berke Büyüktuncel (left) and South Dakota's Max Burchill (3) reach for the ball during the first half of the game on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or rbailey@journalstar.com . Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Speaker Mike Johnson can hardly afford to lose any Republican votes if he wishes to become Speaker again in 2025, but his mishandling of the government funding bill last week has shaken the confidence of some in his own party. Three House Republicans who spoke to the Daily Caller shared their frustration with Johnson, and said it will be hard for him to regain the trust of his colleagues going into the Speaker’s election. The lawmakers were granted anonymity to allow discussion on the sensitive topic. All three indicated that his fate may rest in the hands of President-elect Donald Trump. “Mike Johnson’s disastrous handling of the continuing resolution unquestionably left his future speakership imperiled with several members rethinking whether they can back him in January. Much will depend on if Donald Trump’s support for the Speaker remains firm,” one House Republican said. “Trump would have to go all in to save him and even then it’s a massive lift...,” another House Republican said. (RELATED: Mike Johnson’s Broken Promises On CR May Have Just Cost Him The Speakership) Johnson found himself in trouble after proposing an over-1,500 page continuing resolution that would have kept the government running through March 14. The proposal was quickly opposed by a number of House Republicans, as well as Trump ally Elon Musk, for being unwieldy and containing a number of unnecessary provisions. (RELATED: The Craziest Things Congress Snuck Into Its Pork-Packed Christmas Spending Spree) Speaker of the House Mike Johnson welcomes U.S. President-elect Donald Trump onstage at a House Republicans Conference meeting at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill on November 13, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Another House Republican said there is nothing that can be done to regain their trust and compared Johnson to President Joe Biden. “There’s nothing Mike Johnson can do between now and the Speaker’s race to regain the trust of Republicans in Congress. He’s as lame of a duck as Joe Biden,” they said. Sources close to Trump reportedly said Johnson is in trouble. “In the past couple weeks, we’ve questioned whether [Johnson has] been an honest broker,” one Trump confidant apparently told Politico . Thus far, Trump hasn’t weighed in on Johnson’s fate publicly. The pair have met a number of times at Mar-a-Lago in the past year, and Johnson could pay Trump another visit before the Speaker election to solidify his support. Republican Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie was the first House Republican to say he would oppose Johnson’s bid for Speaker, saying Wednesday: “I’ll vote for somebody else.” When asked who he would vote for instead he said: “I’ve got a few in mind. I’m not going to say yet.” “There’s a cognitive disconnect among my colleagues who hated Speaker Johnson’s CR, but still plan to vote for Speaker Johnson in 2 weeks. That 1557 page bill was a product of the swamp that uniparty Johnson was happy to facilitate. He couldn’t understand why we didn’t lap it up,” Massie tweeted last week. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, holds a gavel during the Republican National Convention (RNC) at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US, on Monday, July 15, 2024. (Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images) No other House Republicans have said they plan to challenge Johnson for the Speakership. Notably, Republicans’ razor-thin House majority in the next Congress would give even a small anti-Johnson group significant leverage over who becomes the next Speaker. All eyes will be on Trump and his support before the election for Speaker.