text stringlengths 10 159k | url stringlengths 19 865 | crawl_date timestamp[s]date 2022-02-01 01:02:23 2024-12-02 05:16:38 | lang stringclasses 1 value | lang_conf float64 0.65 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
AUSTIN, Tex. — Texas entered its second day of freezing temperatures Friday.
As of Friday morning, there were 20,000 homes across the state without power, according to Governor Greg Abbott.
70,000 Texans were without power during the same time Thursday morning.
The governor assured that the outages on both days were not related to the state power grid, but were rather due to local issues, including wind and ice.
Abbott said peak demand reached 69,000 megawatts overnight and the state does not expect to surpass these levels for the remainder of the winter storm.
The chairman of the Public Utility Commission, Peter Lake, said mass outages were avoided thanks to generators being turned on earlier than usual.
“The grid remains strong and it’s more powerful than it’s ever been,” Lake said.
He added that the energy grid was operated conservatively and had more reserves during this winter storm, which helped keep power running.
The CEO of ERCOT, Brad Jones, was also at the governor’s press conference.
Jones said ERCOT estimates it will continue to see high loads of demand Friday evening into Saturday morning.
ERCOT and PUC are planning to add more capacity starting at 9 p.m. Central time, to overcompensate for demand.
Temperatures across the Lone Star State will continue to be at or below freezing Friday night. | https://www.fox13now.com/news/national/power-is-mostly-still-on-in-texas-as-freezing-temperatures-continue | 2022-02-04T18:46:53 | en | 0.983088 |
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ The winning numbers in Friday afternoon's drawing of the Indiana Lottery's "Daily Four-Midday" game were:
6-9-0-3, SB:
(six, nine, zero, three; SB: zero)
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ The winning numbers in Friday afternoon's drawing of the Indiana Lottery's "Daily Four-Midday" game were:
6-9-0-3, SB:
(six, nine, zero, three; SB: zero) | https://www.chron.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Daily-Four-Midday-game-16832252.php | 2022-02-04T18:46:54 | en | 0.872649 |
UCLA basketball player Mac Etienne was arrested Thursday after the Bruins lost to Pac-12 rival Arizona for allegedly spitting at a Wildcats fan.
According to the University of Arizona police, as Bruins players walked off the court through a tunnel after the game, an officer observed Etienne turn toward the stands and spit at a spectator.
After speaking with the fan, who wanted to press charges, police said Etienne was cited on suspicion of misdemeanor assault and then released.
According to the Associated Press, Arizona fans were jeering Bruins players when the incident occurred.
ESPN reported that Etienne did not play due to sitting out with a knee injury.
UCLA said they are aware of the alleged incident and are reviewing it, telling the AP in a statement that they are "committed to and expects the highest level of sportsmanship." | https://www.fox13now.com/sports/ucla-bruins-basketball-player-arrested-for-allegedly-spitting-at-arizona-fan | 2022-02-04T18:46:59 | en | 0.981977 |
DETROIT (AP) _ The winning numbers in Friday afternoon's drawing of the Michigan Lottery's "Midday Daily 3" game were:
7-2-5
(seven, two, five)
DETROIT (AP) _ The winning numbers in Friday afternoon's drawing of the Michigan Lottery's "Midday Daily 3" game were:
7-2-5
(seven, two, five) | https://www.chron.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Midday-Daily-3-game-16832234.php | 2022-02-04T18:47:00 | en | 0.92916 |
Haiti seeks 3rd judge to oversee case of slain president
The newest judge tapped to oversee the investigation into the killing of President Jovenel Mose told The Associated Press on Friday that he has not decided whether to take the case amid concerns of putting his life in danger.Judge Chavannes tienne said his family is pressuring him not to accept the case because they fear for his life.
The newest judge tapped to oversee the investigation into the killing of President Jovenel Moïse told The Associated Press on Friday that he has not decided whether to take the case amid concerns of putting his life in danger.
Judge Chavannes Étienne said his family is pressuring him not to accept the case because they fear for his life. If he were to accept, he would become the third judge to take over the case.
It wasn't immediately clear if Étienne had to respond by a certain date. He previously oversaw the investigation into the November 2018 massacre of an estimated dozens of people at La Saline, a seaside slum in Haiti's capital.
Magistrate Bernard Saint-Vil, dean of the Court of First Instance in Port-au-Prince, told AP that he had chosen Étienne but declined further comment as fears grow that the ongoing rotation of judges would delay the case.
Judge Garry Orélien had been overseeing the case but recently stepped down amid corruption accusations that he denied. He also had asked for more time to investigate the July 7 assassination, but Saint-Vil denied the request.
Orélien was appointed after another judge stepped down in August citing personal reasons, a move that came after one of his assistants died under unclear circumstances.
More than 40 people have been arrested in the killing of Moïse at his private residence, including several Haitian police officers, a former senator and 18 ex Colombian soldiers, the majority of whom the Colombian government says were duped.
Two other suspects were extradited recently to the US: a former US drug informant arrested in the Dominican Republic and an ex-Colombian soldier detained in Jamaica.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/1910843-haiti-seeks-3rd-judge-to-oversee-case-of-slain-president | 2022-02-04T18:47:00 | en | 0.98758 |
DETROIT (AP) _ The winning numbers in Friday afternoon's drawing of the Michigan Lottery's "Midday Daily 4" game were:
5-2-1-5
(five, two, one, five)
DETROIT (AP) _ The winning numbers in Friday afternoon's drawing of the Michigan Lottery's "Midday Daily 4" game were:
5-2-1-5
(five, two, one, five) | https://www.chron.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Midday-Daily-4-game-16832233.php | 2022-02-04T18:47:07 | en | 0.941492 |
Man arrested for embezzling silver worth Rs 1.77 crore
A 34-year-old man has been arrested from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly stealing 254 kg of silver worth Rs 1.77 crore belonging to a city-based jeweler, police said here on Friday.Yashwant Hardeo Acharya, the accused, was arrested by a team of V P Road police station here last month, said an official.
- Country:
- India
A 34-year-old man has been arrested from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly stealing 254 kg of silver worth Rs 1.77 crore belonging to a city-based jeweler, police said here on Friday.
Yashwant Hardeo Acharya, the accused, was arrested by a team of V P Road police station here last month, said an official. A city-based jeweler had alleged that he had given 254 kg of silver and Rs 10 lakh in cash to Acharya for safekeeping, but the latter tried to sell it off.
A case under IPC section 409 (criminal breach of trust) was registered on the jeweler's complaint. Police recovered 78 kg of silver from the accused's possession while he had allegedly sold off some silver, an official said, adding that further probe is on.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/1910844-man-arrested-for-embezzling-silver-worth-rs-177-crore | 2022-02-04T18:47:08 | en | 0.973827 |
BRAINTREE, Mass. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Friday afternoon's drawing of the Massachusetts Lottery's "Numbers Midday" game were:
2-6-4-6
(two, six, four, six)
BRAINTREE, Mass. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Friday afternoon's drawing of the Massachusetts Lottery's "Numbers Midday" game were:
2-6-4-6
(two, six, four, six) | https://www.chron.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Numbers-Midday-game-16832129.php | 2022-02-04T18:47:13 | en | 0.902844 |
FORT WORTH, Texas — Watch the full story from William Joy tonight on WFAA News at 10.
Trey McDaniel still wonders how much different his life would be if he stayed in bed one minute longer on Feb. 11 last year.
“You just play the events over and over and over in your head,” he said. “You know, ‘what could I have done differently?’”
He was driving down Interstate 35W South, his normal route to work at MedStar as a paramedic. Jesse Robinson wasn’t far behind and was headed to JPS Hospital where he’s an EMT.
“Everything was fine for like the first 30 minutes,” Robinson said.
Two exits before reaching downtown Fort Worth, though, there’s a bend to the left and a hill drivers can’t see over.
At the top, the express lanes were coated in black ice. With no previous issues on roads, drivers were going the posted 75 mph limit. By the time anyone could see brake lights at the top, little could be done.
“That’s when I tried to hit the brakes, and nothing was catching,” Robinson said.
“I was sliding forever,” McDaniel said. “I must’ve skid 300, 400 yards.”
McDaniel slid along the concrete barrier, trying to use the friction to stop before bumping the back of the truck in front of him, but he was trapped inside his silver Toyota FJ with his door up against the barrier when he glanced into the review mirror. An 18-wheeler was barreling towards the back of his car and there was no way to get out.
“I saw the sparks, the headlights,” he said. “Your stomach kind of drops a little bit.”
Video from a driver across the interstate captured McDaniel’s car being thrown out of the express lane and onto the northbound express lane. The truck in front of him was flipped.
“When I opened my eyes, I couldn't believe - one - that I was alive and - two -that, you know, nothing necessarily was broken,” he said.
911 calls from the morning captured the panic of drivers unaware of the scope of the crash who were also trapped inside their vehicles as the pileup continued to grow.
“I hit a patch of ice, I guess,” one caller said. “The airbag hit me in the face pretty hard.”
“They just keep hitting and hitting and hitting,” a caller told an operator.
“There’s a gentleman in the car next to me,” a woman said. “He’s just screaming.”
“I think the screams were the – the most bone chilling aspect of it,” McDaniel said. “There were still cars that were slamming into each other and you’d hear a crash and then scream; crash, scream. It was very, very surreal.”
Concussed, bleeding, and with an injured ankle, McDaniel crawled out his shattered window and started helping.
“I had so much adrenaline pumping, I just needed to do something - get my hands moving,” he recalled. “It was the worst nightmare I could have ever imagined.”
In all, 133 cars, trucks and 18-wheelers slammed into a pile stretching almost a quarter mile.
Photos: 5 dead, dozens injured in massive pileup crash on I-35W in Fort Worth, officials say
“There was so much mayhem and carnage, I was like, 'there’s not enough hands to help, I need to start helping, too,'” Robinson recounted. “I just started going around and inserted myself wherever I could. There was a girl trying to crawl out of the back windshield because it was busted out and she handed me her purse and like a six-pound little dog out the back window.”
Like McDaniel, Robinson was working off adrenaline.
It would be three hours before that wore off, and he’d learn he’d fractured his spine and dislocated his hip.
Combined, McDaniel and Robinson helped other first responders rescue more than a dozen people from cars before getting care themselves.
Many of those caught up in the crash were wearing scrubs. They were healthcare workers who would end up being treated at the same facilities they were headed in to work at.
“There was no rhyme or reason of how, what was going on, so I was just trying to figure out any way I could get people out,” Robinson said.
In all, six people died:
- Tiffany Gerred, 34, of Fort Worth
- Aaron Watson, 45, of Fort Worth
- Tamara, Mendoza Querales, 46
- Christopher Vardy, 49, of Boyd, Texas
- Michael Wells, 47, of Justin, Texas
- William Williams, 54, of Pahoa, Hawaii
Thirty-six people were taken to the hospital for injuries.
McDaniel didn’t drive the road for a month.
“It goes through my head every single night," he said. "Every single night."
“You cannot train for something like that,” he added.
February 11 would be overshadowed by the devastating statewide storm days later, but those who witnessed it can’t forget it.
“Make sure to be grateful,” Robinson said. “Tell the people that you love that you love them, because you don’t know when it might be the last day.” | https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/local/texas/fort-worth-pileup-1-year-later-medics-reflect/287-7e9a31ca-7c88-4421-9f63-171d4c9192c0 | 2022-02-04T18:47:16 | en | 0.986659 |
Istanbul prison fire leaves at least 11 inmates hospitalised
Several firetrucks, including from neighbouring districts, were dispatched to the prison, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.The broadcaster HaberTurk said none of the inmates were in serious condition. According to its report, prison personnel initially tried to douse a fire that broke out in one of the wards, but were forced to call firefighters after it grew out of their control.
A fire broke out at a prison in Istanbul on Friday, leaving at least 11 inmates hospitalised with smoke inhalation, a Turkish broadcaster reported. The cause of the blaze in Umraniye prison, on the Asian side of the city, wasn't immediately known. Prison inmates in Turkey have set mattresses and other bedding alight in the past to protest conditions. Several firetrucks, including from neighbouring districts, were dispatched to the prison, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
The broadcaster HaberTurk said none of the inmates were in serious condition. According to its report, prison personnel initially tried to douse a fire that broke out in one of the wards, but were forced to call firefighters after it grew out of their control. The inmates were evacuated to another confinement area, it said.
Prisoners' relatives and friends gathered at the entry to the prison for news of their loved ones, HaberTurk reported.
The prison has a capacity to hold 1,000 inmates, according to its website.
Video footage from the private DHA news agency showed at least two ambulances and a prison transport vehicle enter the gates of the prison compound as gray smoke was seen billowing from behind a building. It also showed a firefighter using a water cannon at the top of ladder to douse the fire.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALSO READ
Police smash ring smuggling migrants from Turkey to Italy in yachts
Iran supplying small amounts of gas to Turkey at low pressure - sector officials
FIFA lets Netherlands U21 winger Kadioglu play for Turkey
Iran says gas flows to Turkey resume after being cut on Thursday
Iran gas exports to Turkey resume after being cut on Thursday - SHANA | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/1910847-istanbul-prison-fire-leaves-at-least-11-inmates-hospitalised | 2022-02-04T18:47:16 | en | 0.975565 |
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Three people have been apprehended and two additional people are being sought in connection with the fatal shooting of a Maine man in Providence last month, police said Friday.
A teenager from Fall River, Massachusetts, who is now 18 but was 17 at the time of the Jan. 16 shooting, is suspected of being the gunman and faces murder and other charges, Providence police Maj. David Lapatin said.
A 25-year-old Fall River man and a 23-year-old Attleboro, Massachusetts man face accessory charges, he said. The two people still at large face murder and conspiracy charges.
The victim was previously identified as Biniam Tsegai, 35, of Portland, Maine. His companion, Merhawi Berhe, 28, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, was also shot and remains in the hospital, Lapatin said.
The victims had just left an illegal after-hours nightclub at about 3 a.m. when they encountered the suspects and a physical altercation ensued before the gunfire broke out, police said. It's unclear what sparked the altercation.
The suspects fled but were identified through surveillance video.
There is no known connection between the victims and the suspects and Detective Capt. Tim O’Hara described it as a random shooting.
Tsegai's death was the city's first homicide of 2022. | https://www.chron.com/news/article/3-face-charges-in-Providence-homicide-2-others-16832035.php | 2022-02-04T18:47:19 | en | 0.976469 |
With the brutal omicron wave rapidly loosening its grip, new cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. are falling in 49 of 50 states, even as the nation's death toll closes in on another bleak round number: 900,000.
The number of lives lost to the pandemic in the U.S. stood at over 897,000 as of midday Friday, with deaths running at an average of more than 2,400 a day, back up to where they were last winter, when the vaccine drive was still getting started.
New cases per day have tanked by almost a half-million nationwide since mid-January, the curve trending downward in every state but Maine. And the number of Americans in the hospital with COVID-19 has fallen 15% over that period to about 124,000.
Deaths are still on the rise in at least 35 states, reflecting the lag time between when victims become infected and when they succumb.
But the trends are giving public health officials hope that the worst of omicron is coming to an end, though they caution that things could still go bad again and dangerous new variants could emerge.
Los Angeles County may end outdoor mask requirements in a few weeks, Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said Thursday. But that is unlikely to happen before the Feb. 13 Super Bowl, which will draw as many as 100,000 people to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
Ferrer said COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations in California’s biggest county are falling, and deaths may start to drop as well.
“Post-surge does not imply that the pandemic is over or that transmission is low, or that there will not be unpredictable waves of surges in the future.” she warned.
Arizona has also seen its daily case and hospitalization numbers decline, though deaths are still on the rise, climbing from average of about 61 a day last week to almost 79 as of Tuesday.
“We have reason to be hopeful, but we are by no means out of the woods,” Elizabeth Jacobs, a University of Arizona professor of epidemiology, said Thursday on Twitter.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said she is calling an end to the state's coronavirus public health emergency, a move that will limit the release of health data.
The step reflects the governor’s long-held belief that it is time to get past pandemic restrictions and move toward the point when COVID-19 becomes, like the flu, a manageable part of everyday life.
Overall, new cases in the U.S. have plummeted from a record-obliterating average of more than 800,000 a day in mid-January to about 357,000.
____
AP Reporter Becky Bohrer contributed to this report from Juneau, Alaska. Paul Davenport contributed to this report from Phoenix. Robert Jablon contributed to this report from Los Angeles. | https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/nation-world/covid-falling-in-49-states/507-dfac4128-ec3b-4d36-823c-a9322f2b7384 | 2022-02-04T18:47:22 | en | 0.96647 |
Islamic State claims responsibility for eastern Congo jail break
Witnesses and an army spokesman blamed the attack, which killed at least three people, on the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) - a Ugandan armed group which has pledged allegiance to Islamic State. The U.S.-based SITE Intelligence Group, which follows militant websites, republished an IS communique on Friday that claimed fighters had stormed and looted the town of Nobili before breaking into the jail and recruiting prisoners into its ranks.
- Country:
- Ghana
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for freeing about 20 prisoners during an attack in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's North Kivu province this week, according to a statement published on Friday by the SITE Intelligence Group. Witnesses and an army spokesman blamed the attack, which killed at least three people, on the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) - a Ugandan armed group which has pledged allegiance to Islamic State.
The U.S.-based SITE Intelligence Group, which follows militant websites, republished an IS communique on Friday that claimed fighters had stormed and looted the town of Nobili before breaking into the jail and recruiting prisoners into its ranks. "The soldiers of the Caliphate attacked a post of the Crusader Congolese army in the town of Nobili, near the Ugandan border, two days ago, causing its personnel to flee," the statement said, adding that "they were able to free nearly 20 Muslims detained in the prison there."
ISIS has branded the ADF, alongside fighters in Mozambique, as its "Central Africa Province" (ISCAP), although the two groups are operationally distinct. The United States attributed the deaths of 849 civilians to the group, which it calls ISIS-DRC, in 2020. More than 1,200 people were killed in similar attacks in 2021, according to United Nations figures.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALSO READ
Ugandan national held at Chennai airport for possessing heroin worth Rs 7 crore
Muslims in Ayodhya pine for development, employment
Muslims in Ayodhya pine for development, employment
RSS body reaches out to Muslims in UP, condemns remarks made at U'khand 'Dharma Sansad'
Ugandan national held at Delhi Airport with heroin worth Rs 6.9 crore | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/1910849-islamic-state-claims-responsibility-for-eastern-congo-jail-break | 2022-02-04T18:47:23 | en | 0.967012 |
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Authorities say no one was injured when an aircraft bound from Las Vegas to Minneapolis returned early Friday for a “hard landing” with a landing gear malfunction at Harry Reid International Airport.
Airport, airline and Federal Aviation Administration officials said the right main landing gear of Sun Country Airlines flight 110 collapsed when the Boeing 737 landed about 1:20 a.m. with 50 passengers and six crew members aboard.
Everyone deplaned by stairs and returned by bus to the airport terminal.
Sun Country CEO Jude Bricker said passengers were being assisted by airline personnel.
The aircraft remained on a runway for several hours while crews removed fuel to allow it to be towed to a parking area, airport spokeswoman Melissa DeFrank said.
Other airport operations were not affected.
A National Transportation Safety Board spokesman said the agency was monitoring the incident but did not immediately begin an investigation. | https://www.chron.com/news/article/Aircraft-to-Minneapolis-returns-to-Vegas-for-16832244.php | 2022-02-04T18:47:25 | en | 0.963008 |
CHICAGO — As Drew Peterson's appeals against his murder conviction repeatedly failed, it seemed the former suburban Chicago police sergeant might fade from the news.
But a decade after a jury convicted him in the slaying of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, Peterson has been given something from the judge who sentenced him to 38 years in prison: Another day in court.
Will County Judge Edward Burmila is scheduled Monday to consider Peterson's hand-printed motion sent from an Indiana prison to vacate his conviction after determining he had presented a “gist of a constitutional” claim.
What are Peterson's arguments?
Peterson says his attorney, Joel Brodsky, was ineffective. He argues that Brodsky gave bad advice, such as urging him not to testify and threatening to quit if he did. He paints Brodsky as a publicity hound.
He also says Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow was an overzealous and unethical prosecutor who intimidated witnesses. Peterson also blames Hollywood, arguing that a movie starring Rob Lowe portrayed him in a “very negative light" in the eyes of the jury.
Finally, Peterson says he was the victim of hearsay evidence that should never have been presented to jurors. Peterson was the first criminal defendant in Illinois history to be tried after Glasgow helped push through a law dubbed “Drew's Law.” It allowed Savio and Peterson's fourth wife, Stacy, who disappeared in 2007, to “speak from their graves" via people who testified that both women told them things that implicated Peterson in the killing.
Could any of it help Peterson?
Much of what Peterson argues has already been shot down by judges and courts.
They have dispatched the argument that Brodsky was ineffective. And the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that the use of hearsay testimony by Savio and Stacy Peterson — whom Drew Peterson is suspected of killing though he has not been charged in her death — did not violate his constitutional right to confront his accusers. The court found there was evidence that Peterson killed them to prevent their testimony.
Attorneys say that means Peterson must have something new to say.
“Anything he’s already raised, he can’t raise that post-conviction unless he’s found something new or there is something he didn’t know or couldn’t have known before,” said Terry Ekl, a prominent Chicago-area defense attorney who is not involved in the case.
Legal experts and one former member of Peterson's legal team said the argument that Glasgow intimidated witnesses is new and if evidence shows it happened — something Glasgow's office denies — it might help the former Bolingbrook police sergeant. But attorney Joe Lopez, who was on the legal team, said Peterson will have to produce evidence.
While the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear Peterson's appeal once, Phil Turner, a former federal prosecutor who isn't involved with the case, said there's a chance the high court might want to hear his arguments concerning the prosecutor.
"That issue has some substance,” Turner said. “If they frame that right, they might have a shot.”
What's next?
When Burmila agreed to hear more from Peterson, he appointed an attorney and an investigator from the local public defender's office to assist him. The attorney could ask for more time to investigate when the case returns to court Monday — a request that Lopez and Ekl expect the judge to grant.
Burmila could then agree to an evidentiary hearing, meaning people who Peterson contends were threatened or Glasgow himself could take the witness stand, Ekl said.
Brodsky and Peterson could also be called to testify, which might be problematic for Peterson. Brodksy would almost certainly be asked if he threatened to quit the case if Peterson testified at trial. Brodsky was careful with his words when he told The Associated Press that he would be forced to explain why he didn't want Peterson to testify.
“Does Drew really want to do that?" he asked.
Peterson would also be confronted with his own statement to Burmila at trial that the decision not to testify was his. Ekl suggested that Peterson, a veteran police officer, would have a tough time selling that argument.
“He's not a 16-year-old kid,” Ekl said.
He could also be confronted with his own actions. If Brodsky wanted publicity, so, it appeared, did Peterson. Through all the publicity stunts, beginning with a “Win a Date with Drew” contest the two floated, Peterson seemed like a willing and even gleeful participant.
Could Peterson walk free soon?
Nope.
Such appeals are long shots. Besides, Peterson provided no proof in his motion, which he wrote by himself from prison.
Even if he's successful, there is this: A few years after Peterson was convicted of murder he was found guilty of plotting to kill Glasgow. The sentence in that case was 40 years in prison — two more than he got for killing his ex-wife — to begin on the completion of his current sentence. | https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/nation-world/drew-peterson-gets-another-chance-to-fight-conviction/507-09462682-abfb-4f05-b733-20635d1f65de | 2022-02-04T18:47:28 | en | 0.986177 |
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — An Albanian court on Friday sentenced a former interior minister to more than three years in prison for abuse of office over ties to a criminal drug trafficking network.
Saimir Tahiri was sentenced three years and four months imprisonment.
Judge Engert Pellumbi of the Special Appeals Court for Corruption and Organized Crime said that Tahiri had benefited from "unfair services and gain and at the same time, with his abuse of post, he has abused legal interests.”
Tahiri said after the sentencing that he was innocent.
“I am morally calm. I have not violated the law. I have loved every day of my job,” he said on Facebook. “I am happy I have committed my job in the best possible way. It is simply injustice.”
Prosecutors had tied Tahiri’s case to two brothers who were related to Tahiri. They were arrested or jailed for drug trafficking in Italy and Albania.
Pellumbi said the prosecutors proved their case with documented evidence. Tahiri was ordered to start serving his jail term.
Tahiri didn't react to the journalists in the courtroom, only rushing to make a phone call.
Tahiri’s lawyer, Maksim Haxhiaj, said they would appeal the verdict at the Supreme Court, considering it as a “juridical nonsense.”
“The verdict was just to stain Tahiri,” he said.
In September 2019, Tahiri was sentenced to three years of probation for abuse of office and was acquitted of charges of involvement in drug trafficking.
Last year, the Supreme Court ordered a retrial because of irregular procedures taken by judges and prosecutors.
Tahiri, who served as interior minister during 2013-2017, resigned as a lawmaker with the governing Socialist Party in May 2018 and was briefly held under house arrest.
Albania was once known as a European crossroads for marijuana trafficking, but there are now more cases involving the trafficking of heroin and cocaine to other European countries.
Fighting corruption has been a major problem in post-communist Albania, strongly affecting the country’s democratic, economic and social development.
“We urge judicial institutions to continue to demonstrate that no one — regardless of party, position, or wealth — is above the law. No more impunity,” U.S. Ambassador Yuri Kim tweeted.
The embassy had closely followed the trial.
___
Follow Llazar Semini at https://twitter.com/lsemini | https://www.chron.com/news/article/Albanian-ex-minister-jailed-for-assisting-drug-16832136.php | 2022-02-04T18:47:31 | en | 0.981235 |
Danish spy chief to remain in custody -broadcaster DR
- Country:
- Denmark
The head of Denmark's foreign intelligence unit, Lars Findsen, will remain in custody for another four weeks over his alleged involvement in a case of "highly classified" information leaks, public broadcaster DR reported on Friday.
Findsen was arrested on Dec. 8, on charges yet unknown to the public, and has been held in custody since over fears he might obstruct authorities' investigations.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
- READ MORE ON:
- Denmark
- Lars Findsen
Advertisement | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/1910851-danish-spy-chief-to-remain-in-custody--broadcaster-dr | 2022-02-04T18:47:31 | en | 0.967433 |
BEIJING, China — The leaders of Russia and China pushed back against U.S. pressure on Friday, declaring their opposition to any expansion of NATO and affirming that the island of Taiwan is a part of China, as they met hours before the Winter Olympics kicked off in Beijing.
Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping issued a joint statement highlighting what it called “interference in the internal affairs” of other states, as both leaders face criticism from Washington over their foreign and domestic policies.
“Some forces representing a minority on the world stage continue to advocate unilateral approaches to resolving international problems and resort to military policy,” it read, in a thinly veiled reference to the U.S. and its allies.
The two leaders are looking to project themselves as a counterweight to the U.S.-led bloc, as China growingly shows support for Moscow in its dispute with Ukraine that threatens to break out into armed conflict.
China and Russia are committed to “deepening back-to-back strategic cooperation," Xi was quoted as telling Putin.
“This is a strategic decision that has far-reaching influence on China, Russia and the world," Xi said, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.
Faced with a “complex and evolving international situation," the two sides “strongly support each other" in confronting what Xi called “regional security threats” and "international strategic stability," without directly naming the U.S.
Putin is the highest-profile guest at the Beijing Games following the decision by the U.S., Britain and others not to send officials in protest of China’s human rights abuses and its treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities.
Putin praised “unprecedented” close relations with China, in his opening remarks to Xi carried by Russian television.
Relations “are developing in a progressive way with a spirit of friendship and strategic partnership," Putin said. “They have indeed become unprecedented.”
Putin highlighted close economic ties, including a new contract to supply China with 10 billion cubic meters of gas per year from eastern Russian.
“For our meeting today, our oilmen have prepared very good new solutions for the supply of hydrocarbons to the People’s Republic of China, and another step forward has been taken in the gas industry," Putin said.
Russia has long been a key supplier of oil, gas and coal for China's massive economy, now the world's second largest, along with food stuffs and other raw materials.
China’s state-run news agency reported the two leaders met at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse Friday afternoon, but gave no details. They did not appear to shake hands when greeting each other due to COVID-19 precautions.
Putin also recalled his presence in Beijing for the 2008 Summer Olympics, and the Chinese delegation's attendance at Russia's 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, calling such exchanges “to a certain extent a tradition."
The discussions mark their first in-person meeting since 2019 and come as China and Russia increasingly align their foreign policies bilaterally and in world bodies such as the United Nations, in opposition to the Western bloc and other major powers.
Leaders of the five ex-Soviet Central Asian nations, which have close ties with both Russia and China, all followed Putin’s lead in attending the Olympics opening, along with other states that have political and economic interests with Beijing.
A buildup of more than 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine has fueled Western fears that Moscow is poised to invade its neighbor. Russia has denied planning an offensive but urged the U.S. and its allies to provide a binding pledge that NATO won’t expand to Ukraine and other ex-Soviet nations or deploy weapons there, and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe — demands firmly rejected by the West.
Putin and Xi accused both NATO and the U.S.'s Indo-Pacific strategy of building closer military ties with other countries in Asia as destabilizing and threatening regional security.
“The parties oppose the further expansion of NATO, (and) call on the North Atlantic Alliance to abandon the ideological approaches of the Cold War,” the joint statement said.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a call last week that Moscow’s security concerns need to be addressed, a statement that marked a notable policy shift for Beijing.
Some observers suggested that Beijing is closely watching how the U.S. and its allies act in the standoff over Ukraine as it ponders further strategy on Taiwan, arguing that indecision by Washington could encourage China to grow more assertive.
The U.S. is Taiwan’s main supplier of fighter aircraft and defensive arms and is legally bound to treat threats to the island democracy as matters of “grave concern.”
The joint statement said that Russia reaffirms that Taiwan is an integral part of China and opposes Taiwan's independence in any form. China claims the self-governing island as its own territory, to be annexed by force if necessary.
Economic and diplomatic cooperation has expanded into the military field in recent years, as Russia and China have held a series of joint war games, including naval drills and patrols by long-range bombers over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea. In August, Russian troops for the first time deployed to Chinese territory for joint maneuvers.
Putin has also noted that Russia has been sharing highly sensitive military technologies with China that helped significantly bolster its defense capability. | https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/nation-world/russia-china-push-back-against-us-pre-olympics-summit/507-6bb1b68b-a1a2-40a0-957b-c2b915d5236e | 2022-02-04T18:47:34 | en | 0.965871 |
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Police say there's been an arrest in the altercation that badly injured a San Francisco 49ers fan at SoFi Stadium.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Police say there's been an arrest in the altercation that badly injured a San Francisco 49ers fan at SoFi Stadium. | https://www.chron.com/news/article/Alert-Police-say-there-s-been-an-arrest-in-the-16831839.php | 2022-02-04T18:47:37 | en | 0.935542 |
Daughters of Somalia, a continuous pledge to end female genital mutilation
In Somalia, over 90 per cent or more of girls and women, have been subjected to female genital mutilation, or FGM. Despite the practice having devastating health ramifications for women and girls - including pain, bleeding, permanent disability and even death - discussion over how to end the harmful tradition, remains taboo.
The United Nations has called for collaboration at all levels, and across all sectors of society across the world, to protect millions at risk from FGM every year.
As the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation is marked on 6 February, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA, continues to lead the UN effort to end FGM.
Dear Daughters
Last fall, and in collaboration with the Ifrah Foundation, the UN agency launched the Dear Daughter campaign, as part of the effort to end FGM once and for all. The idea is to get individual parents not to cut their daughters. Through letter-writing, they pledge instead, to protect them, and support their right to govern their own bodies.
‘Dear Daughter’ works towards ending FGM in Somalia, which has one of the highest prevalence rates of the practice in the world. To date, 100 Somali mothers have signed the pledge.
By targeting rural and urban individuals and communities, that are making an extraordinary commitment, to change the FGM narrative. For Nkiru I. Igbokwe, gender-based violence specialist at UNFPA in Somalia, it is “accelerating the voices of women and men alike, to end FGM in the country”.
As part of the campaign, women living in an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp on the outskirts of the capital Mogadishu - home to 280 households that fled Danunay village nearly 250 kilometres away, due to insurgent violence - have been learning about the harmful effects of FGM.
Halima*, 50, a mother of five daughters and five sons, was among them. As a camp gatekeeper and a community member with influence, she was identified as someone who could advocate to help end the harmful practice that she and her first daughter had also endured.
Flashbacks
Like so many other women in her community, Halima underwent FGM as a child, subjecting her to lifelong health problems.
“The procedure was painful, with no anesthesia. I bled for days,” she recalled. “I was in bed for more than three months and urinating was a problem”.
When Halima reached adolescence, passing menstrual blood was also difficult, and as a newlywed, sex with her husband was a painful experience. When she became an expectant mother, childbirth was excruciating with labour lasting for days, putting her life at risk.
Despite her suffering, Halima allowed her first daughter to be cut, just like her mother had done.
“I don’t want girls to go through the pain we’ve gone through,” says Halima (50).
— UNFPA (@UNFPA) February 2, 2022
In #Somalia, 100 mothers have pledged not to subject daughters to female genital mutilation (FGM).
See how @UNFPA & @IfrahFoundation helped make this possible: https://t.co/H7V30eBgFE#EndFGM pic.twitter.com/pESZSSGQOZ
‘She felt the pain’
“My daughter underwent the Sunna type of FGM (removal of part or all of the clitoris), and she felt the pain I have been through,” Halima said. But because it was not the more severe ‘pharaonic’ procedure (stitching the opening closed), people insulted them, she said, saying her daughter was unclean.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is opposed to all types of FGM and is opposed to health care providers performing FGM.
“Throughout the training course, I had flashback memories of how the practice has badly impacted my life,” she said.
Three years ago, a young girl in the same camp died as a result of FGM, and Halima started galvanizing the community, to try and make sure the tragedy is never repeated.
Changing the future for Somali girls
The Ifrah Foundation, together with the Global Media Campaign to End FGM, distributed UNFPA-supplied radio transmitters to 100 households so residents could listen to awareness campaigns and information.
"It has been a long-standing dream of mine to work to save girls from the unnecessary pain and suffering I endured as a result of FGM,” said survivor Ifrah Ahmed, founder of the foundation that bears her name. “Halima is an example of how we can change the future for all Somali girls”, she added.
Halima’s advocacy has expanded beyond FGM. She encourages pregnant and lactating mothers to visit health centres and raises awareness over sexual and gender-based violence.
She also notes that community members used to stay silent about rape due to fear of stigmatization, but now they seek help.
According to UNFPA, because of her leadership, almost 100 mothers have pledged not to practice female genital mutilation, sparing about 200 girls in the settlement.
“I don’t want my other daughters and other young girls to go through the pain we have gone through,” Halima said.
The numbers across the world
According to WHO, more than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, where FGM is practiced.
Only in Somalia, based on the 2020 Somali Health and Demographic Survey, 99 per cent of women aged 15 to 49 in Somalia, have been subjected to FGM, the majority between ages five and nine. The survey also reports that 72 per cent of women believe it is an Islamic requirement, though some religious leaders have said Islam actually condemns it.
In 2020, UNFPA provided 52,225 Somali women and girls protection, prevention or care services related to female genital mutilation. While there is no national legislation outlawing the practice, Puntland state passed a FGM Zero Tolerance Bill last year.
This year, WHO will launch a training manual on person-centered communication, a counselling approach that encourages health care providers to challenge their FGM-related attitudes, and build their communication skills to effectively provide FGM prevention counselling.
UNFPA Somalia/Tobin JonesA girl plays with her younger sister at a maternal child health care centre in Hargeisa, Somaliland.COVID-19 challenges
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the risk of female genital mutilation continuing unfettered, with the UN predicting than an additional two million girls will be victimized in the next ten years.
Prolonged school closures have provided cover for girls recovering from FGM. In addition, movement restrictions have prevented campaigners against FGM from accessing some villages.
In 2018, it was estimated by UNFPA that globally 68 million girls were at risk; now the figure stands at 70 million.
*The name in the story has been changed for privacy and protection.
Visit UN News for more.
- READ MORE ON:
- Somali
- Africa
- Middle East
- Islamic
- Mogadishu
- Asia
- Islam
- Somalia
- Somaliland
- The United Nations
- Hargeisa
ALSO READ
GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian markets fall after weak showing on Wall St, oil tumbles
Pathan brothers magic shoots down Asian Lions
GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian markets fall after weak showing on Wall St, oil tumbles
Asian shares slide after more losses on Wall Street
Women's Asia Cup: Few tweaks and India will be ready for next opponents, says Dennerby | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/others/1910800-daughters-of-somalia-a-continuous-pledge-to-end-female-genital-mutilation | 2022-02-04T18:47:39 | en | 0.959036 |
WASHINGTON — The Olympic flame has now officially arrived at the Beijing Games.
An Opening Ceremony on a frosty night had a fiery conclusion Friday, when the flame was placed inside a giant snowflake to give China’s first Winter Olympics the symbolic opening — followed by the third major fireworks show of the night.
The snowflake was composed of placards used to introduce the athletes from the 91 different nations that will compete in China through Feb. 20. Some watching at home may have been a bit confused though, because there wasn't really any physical cauldron to light, the traditional end to the Opening Ceremony in past Olympics.
A group of six Chinese Olympians - each born in different decades starting in the 1950s - brought the flame into the stadium and to its final destination.
Chinese athletes Zhao Jiawen and Dinigeer Yilamujiang delivered the flame to the center of the snowflake. Yilamujiang's involvement in the Games is especially noteworthy because she is a member of the Uyghur community, according to state media, who was born in the western China region of Xinjiang.
Human rights groups and governments such as the U.S. have condemned the internment and oppression of the Uyghur people in Xinjiang, calling the crackdown a genocide.
Diplomats from the U.S. and several other nations boycotted the games over China's human rights violations, although athletes were not restricted from the games.
Competition in some events started Wednesday and Saturday is the first full day of events at the Games, with the first medals to be awarded.
These Olympics are the second to take place during the COVID-19 pandemic, after the Tokyo Games last summer. | https://www.12newsnow.com/article/sports/olympics/olympic-torch-lit-2022-olympics/507-0945e187-8983-40c1-a688-90d25c505f61 | 2022-02-04T18:47:40 | en | 0.968996 |
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) — For the second time in as many weeks a federal appeals court threw out a permit for the Mountain Valley Pipeline on Thursday.
In a written opinion, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found “serious errors” with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s conclusion that building the pipeline across rugged mountainsides wouldn’t jeopardize endangered species in its path — specifically the Roanoke logperch and the candy darter, The Roanoke Times reported.
Last week, the same three-judge panel shot down a permit that would have allowed the pipeline to pass through a 3.5 mile (5.6 kilometer) section of the Jefferson National Forest. In both cases, the judges faulted the U.S. Forest Service and the wildlife agency for failing to adequately assess the pipeline's environmental impact. The 303-mile (487-kilometer) pipeline would transport natural gas drilled from the Marcellus and Utica shale formations through West Virginia and Virginia.
“We recognize that this decision will further delay the completion of an already mostly finished pipeline, but the Endangered Species Act’s directive to federal agencies could not be clearer: halt and reverse the trend toward species extinction, whatever the cost,” the 40-page opinion concluded.
Mountain Valley said it is reviewing the court’s decision and evaluating its next steps. | https://www.chron.com/news/article/Appeals-court-throws-out-another-pipeline-permit-16832192.php | 2022-02-04T18:47:43 | en | 0.939071 |
BEIJING, China — The Winter Olympics kicked off Friday with the Opening Ceremony and the majority of Team USA joined in the festivities in-person.
The ceremony was the first prominent celebration of the Winter Games, but this year it looked and sounded slightly different without fans, much like last year's Summer Olympics in Tokyo. However, it still included performances, pageantry and the Parade of Nations.
Like the Tokyo Olympics, this parade differed from most others in the past because the nations were being spaced out — a nod to social distancing. The Beijing National Stadium -- also known as the "Bird's Nest" -- was also notably much more empty with limited spectators. UPI reports that the stadium was only filled to about 40% of its 91,000 capacity.
U.S. officials said 177 American athletes took part in the Parade of Nations, with curler John Shuster and speed skater Brittany Bowe leading Team USA as the flagbearers. Three-time Olympic medalist, and one of the most decorated American bobsledders, Elana Meyers Taylor was originally tapped as one of the flag bearer alongside Shuster, but she was forced to skip the ceremony after testing positive for COVID shortly after arriving in Beijing.
"Every time you walk into that Opening Ceremony stadium it's just a feeling of almost floating, it's just incredible," Shuster told the TODAY show after the Opening Ceremony.
"To be able to lead Team USA alongside John, on behalf of Elana and her family, is an honor of a lifetime," Bowe said the on the TODAY show. "I can't think of a more powerful, uniting moment than what we just went through together."
RELATED: What do the Olympic rings represent?
Here's a look at what the Opening Ceremony looked like before and during from the athletes' perspective:
U.S. skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin was one of the athletes who wasn't able to attend the Opening Ceremony is person, but she still shared a photo to mark the occasion. | https://www.12newsnow.com/article/sports/olympics/team-usa-shows-what-it-was-like-to-walk-in-beijing-opening-ceremony/507-48d1d356-65d2-4991-92de-03da23926c20 | 2022-02-04T18:47:46 | en | 0.982221 |
Govt’s assurance to form committee on MSP after assembly polls yet another ‘trick’, says Cong
The Congress on Friday alleged the fear of losing elections has made the government play yet another trick by announcing that it will form the committee on MSP after the upcoming elections in five states.Congress general secretary and chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said earlier too, the government used every trick to intimidate and abuse the farmers but when they did not bow down, the black farm laws were withdrawn.They were abused, humiliated, lathicharged, faced bullets, nails were embedded on the ground and roads were dug up but the farmers did not bow down so conspiracies were hatched against them.
- Country:
- India
The Congress on Friday alleged the fear of losing elections has made the government play yet another ''trick'' by announcing that it will form the committee on MSP after the upcoming elections in five states.
Congress general secretary and chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said earlier too, the government used every trick to “intimidate and abuse” the farmers but when they did not bow down, the “black” farm laws were withdrawn.
“They were abused, humiliated, lathicharged, faced bullets, nails were embedded on the ground and roads were dug up but the farmers did not bow down so conspiracies were hatched against them. Cases were registered (against farmers), they were intimidated them, but after getting tired, the 'black' farm laws were repaled. But, the mind remained polluted, so they betrayed (farmers). Fearing loss in elections, now they have played another trick. #Farmers,'' Surjewala said in a tweet in Hindi.
His reaction came after Agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar told the Rajya Sabha that the government is committed to forming a panel on Minimum Support Price (MSP) but the Election Commission has said that it can be done after the polls are over.
While announcing the repeal of three farm laws in November last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to set up a committee to discuss the farmers' demand for a legal guarantee on MSP.
Replying to a supplementary question during the Question Hour, Tomar said the government had written to the Election Commission in view of assembly elections in five states.
The minister said the matter of forming the committee on MSP is under consideration of the ministry and will be formed after the elections are over.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALSO READ
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurates newly-built circuit house near Somnath temple in Gujarat.
Rajya Sabha chairman Naidu, 875 parliamentary staff members test COVID-19 positive
J-K: Union Minister Jitendra Singh reviews COVID-19 situation in his Lok Sabha constituency
Jitendra Singh reviews COVID-19 situation in his Lok Sabha constituency in J-K
Budget Session Part I: Rajya Sabha to sit in morning, Lok Sabha in evening due to Covid restrictions | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/1910749--govts-assurance-to-form-committee-on-msp-after-assembly-polls-yet-another-trick-says-cong | 2022-02-04T18:47:46 | en | 0.982064 |
BEIJING, China — The Winter Olympics kicked off Friday with the Opening Ceremony and the majority of Team USA joined in the festivities in-person.
The ceremony was the first prominent celebration of the Winter Games, but this year it looked and sounded slightly different without fans, much like last year's Summer Olympics in Tokyo. However, it still included performances, pageantry and the Parade of Nations.
Like the Tokyo Olympics, this parade differed from most others in the past because the nations were being spaced out — a nod to social distancing. The Beijing National Stadium -- also known as the "Bird's Nest" -- was also notably much more empty with limited spectators. UPI reports that the stadium was only filled to about 40% of its 91,000 capacity.
U.S. officials said 177 American athletes took part in the Parade of Nations, with curler John Shuster and speed skater Brittany Bowe leading Team USA as the flagbearers. Three-time Olympic medalist, and one of the most decorated American bobsledders, Elana Meyers Taylor was originally tapped as one of the flag bearer alongside Shuster, but she was forced to skip the ceremony after testing positive for COVID shortly after arriving in Beijing.
"Every time you walk into that Opening Ceremony stadium it's just a feeling of almost floating, it's just incredible," Shuster told the TODAY show after the Opening Ceremony.
"To be able to lead Team USA alongside John, on behalf of Elana and her family, is an honor of a lifetime," Bowe said the on the TODAY show. "I can't think of a more powerful, uniting moment than what we just went through together." | https://www.12newsnow.com/article/sports/olympics/watch-team-usa-march-opening-ceremony/89-89463130-90f8-4b2d-a7e6-99ba944f5033 | 2022-02-04T18:47:53 | en | 0.982344 |
People of UP will bid farewell to opposition parties after election: Maurya
Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Friday said that after March 10 people of state will bid a farewell to Samajwadi Party alliance, Congress, and the Bahujan Samaj Party. He said people of the state were forced to leave UP due to goondaism of Samajwadi Party.
- Country:
- India
Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Friday said that after March 10 people of state will bid a farewell to Samajwadi Party alliance, Congress, and the Bahujan Samaj Party. He said before 2017 the state was reeling under lawlessness, “goondaism”, “mafiasm”, riots and incidents of kidnapping. He said people of the state were forced to leave UP due to “goondaism” of Samajwadi Party. Maurya was in the city to campaign for BJP candidates from Bah, Fatehabad, and Fatehpur Sikri seats. ''As the Bharatiya Janata Party government came to power, nobody had to leave UP. Only those malcontents are leaving UP, who used to torture innocent people,” he said. ''In 2022, SP chief is dreaming of winning 403 seats, but they would also lose 47 seats they had won in the 2017 assembly election of UP,'' he said. He claimed that no goons can afford to commit “land grab” any more or cause riots.
''Now the reign of goondas, mafias has ended from Uttar Pradesh,'' Maurya said.
He alleged that among the SP list of candidates, there are people who are either in jail or out on bail. “BJP has done development of all under its ‘sabka saath-sabka vikas’ without any discrimination between Hindu-Muslim and others. “All are equal for us. We have also provided ration to Hindus, as well as Muslims,” he said. He said that in the previous state assembly election power crisis was the main issue.
''But the opposition parties have no courage to make issues of power cuts, poor roads, law and order in this election,'' he said.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALSO READ
'No one will fall for your alluring bluff': Keshav Prasad Maurya to Akhilesh Yadav
Samajwadi Party list of candidates proves it is party that tarnished UP's image: Keshav Prasad Maurya
SP-RLD-BSP alliance a pact among 'goons', says Keshav Prasad Maurya
UP voters will favour those talking about farmers; Hindu-Muslim polarisation won’t work: Tikait
INSIGHT-Ahead of key polls, India's ruling party revives Hindu-Muslim dispute | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/1910757-people-of-up-will-bid-farewell-to-opposition-parties-after-election-maurya | 2022-02-04T18:47:54 | en | 0.973068 |
NEW YORK (AP) — The jury considering the fate of California lawyer Michael Avenatti on charges that he cheated his prized client Stormy Daniels out of a large chunk of her book proceeds said Friday that one juror was refusing to look at evidence and was deciding the case based on her feelings and emotions.
In the note, the jury foreperson told U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman that the juror was “not going on evidence” but was basing her conclusions instead on “all emotions.”
The note began: “We have one juror who is refusing to look at evidence and is acting on a feeling.”
The note came early in the second full day of deliberations.
Furman rejected a request by Avenatti, who is representing himself, that he call an immediate mistrial. Instead, Furman told the jury that it must follow its pledge to base any decision on the evidence.
The jury is deciding whether prosecutors proved that Avenatti committed wire fraud and aggravated identity theft by taking nearly $300,000 of the $800,000 advance his client received for her autobiography. Avenatti has insisted that he had a good faith reason to pocket some of the money.
The deliberations are occurring at the end of the second week of a trial that featured two days of testimony by Daniels, a porn actor whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.
Avenatti appeared frequently on cable television news programs in 2018 as he represented Daniels in lawsuits against former President Donald Trump. The lawsuits were aimed at freeing Daniels from the terms of a $130,000 payout she received days before the 2016 presidential election to silence her about claims that she had had a sexual encounter with Trump a decade earlier.
Avenatti, 50, was considering running for president himself when his rise in popularity in Democratic circles was interrupted by his March 2019 arrest on charges that he tried to extort up to $25 million from Nike with threats to spoil its reputation if the sportswear giant did not meet his demands.
The same day, he was charged in federal court in California with cheating clients and others out of millions of dollars. The Daniels case was brought weeks later.
In early 2020, Avenatti was convicted in the Nike case and was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison. He has not yet served that sentence. Last year, a trial on the California charges ended in a mistrial. | https://www.chron.com/news/article/Avenatti-Stormy-Daniels-talks-stalled-by-1-16832059.php | 2022-02-04T18:48:02 | en | 0.989032 |
UP polls: Apna Dal(K) ‘returns’ seats allocated as part of alliance with SP
- Country:
- India
Indicating strains in the opposition alliance, Apna Dal(K) on Friday said it has ''given back'' the seats allotted to it as part of the seat sharing agreement with the SP and has asked they ally to first ''satisfy its own people'' seeking tickets.
The Samajwadi Party, however, said there is no dispute with Apna Dal(K) regarding ticket distribution and such ''minor issues'' will be resolved soon.
The seats returned by the Apna Dal(K) include the Sirathu assembly constituency from where party’s Pallavi Patel would be contesting against BJP leader and deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.
This is the first sign of trouble in the SP-led opposition alliance which is aggressively positioning itself against the BJP in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.
After holding discussions on seat sharing with the Samajwadi Party, we released the first list of 50 per cent candidates, Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) general secretary Pankaj Niranjan Patel told PTI.
“But there is pressure from SP leaders on some of the seats leading to confusion. We have given back all the seats, including Sirathu to the Samajwadi Party, keeping in view the interests of everyone, so that they can satisfy their people by giving them seats first,” he said.
“If any seats are left, they can give them to us, otherwise don't give us a single seat. We will continue to work for the alliance without contesting elections,'' Patel said.
''So far, there has been no reply from their (SP) side as to which seats they will be contesting on. We are waiting for their reply,'' he added.
Asked whether SP chief Akhilesh Yadav had finalised Pallavi Patel's candidature for Sirathu seat, he replied in the affirmative.
Pallavi Patel is elder sister of Union minister Anupriya Patel.
February 8 is the last date for filing nomination at Sirathu and other constituencies in and around Prayagraj, where Apna Dal (K), a rival of the party headed by Anupriya Patel, has support.
Meanwhile, SP's chief spokesperson and national secretary Rajendra Chaudhary said there is no dispute between the two parties regarding ticket distribution.
''The minor issues are being resolved through talks. This issue concerns the top leadership of both the parties and there is nothing to worry about,'' Chaudhary said.
Apna Dal (K) is an offshoot of BJP ally Anupriya Patel's Apna Dal and is headed by her mother Krishna Patel.
Pallavi Patel was named a candidate from Sirathu and the announcement reportedly did not go down well with local Samajwadi Party leaders.
Pallavi Patel is also said to be not keen on contesting against BJP’s Maurya.
The Apna Dal (K) has influence among backward caste voters across the state and Muslims in eastern and central Uttar Pradesh.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/1910763-up-polls-apna-dalk-returns-seats-allocated-as-part-of-alliance-with-sp | 2022-02-04T18:48:02 | en | 0.970628 |
With the brutal omicron wave rapidly loosening its grip, new cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. are falling in 49 of 50 states, even as the nation's death toll closes in on another bleak round number: 900,000.
The number of lives lost to the pandemic in the U.S. stood at over 897,000 as of midday Friday, with deaths running at an average of more than 2,400 a day, back up to where they were last winter, when the vaccine drive was still getting started.
New cases per day have tanked by almost a half-million nationwide since mid-January, the curve trending downward in every state but Maine. And the number of Americans in the hospital with COVID-19 has fallen 15% over that period to about 124,000.
Similarly, an early-warning program that looks for the virus in sewage found that COVID-19 infections are declining in the majority of participating U.S. communities, according to data posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Deaths are still on the rise in at least 35 states, reflecting the lag time between when victims become infected and when they succumb.
But the trends are giving public health officials hope that the worst of omicron is coming to an end, though they caution that things could still go bad again and dangerous new variants could emerge.
Los Angeles County may end outdoor mask requirements in a few weeks, Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer said Thursday. But that is unlikely to happen before the Feb. 13 Super Bowl, which will draw as many as 100,000 people to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
Ferrer said COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations in California’s biggest county are falling, and deaths may start to drop as well.
“Post-surge does not imply that the pandemic is over or that transmission is low, or that there will not be unpredictable waves of surges in the future,” she warned.
Arizona has also seen its daily case and hospitalization numbers decline, though deaths are still on the rise, climbing from average of about 61 a day last week to almost 79 as of Tuesday.
“We have reason to be hopeful, but we are by no means out of the woods,” Elizabeth Jacobs, a University of Arizona professor of epidemiology, said Thursday on Twitter.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said she is calling an end to the state's coronavirus public health emergency, a move that will limit the release of health data. The step reflects her long-held belief that it is time to get past pandemic restrictions and move toward the point when COVID-19 becomes, like the flu, a manageable part of everyday life.
In Washington state, the Legislature is allowing double the number of senators on the chamber floor starting Monday.
Overall, new cases in the U.S. have plummeted from a record-obliterating average of more than 800,000 a day in mid-January to about 357,000.
____
Associated Press writers Becky Bohrer in Juneau, Alaska; Paul Davenport in Phoenix; Robert Jablon in Los Angeles; Michael Stobbe in New York; and Michelle Monroe in Olympia, Washington, contributed to this report. | https://www.chron.com/news/article/COVID-falling-in-49-of-50-states-as-deaths-near-16832008.php | 2022-02-04T18:48:08 | en | 0.962078 |
Punjab Assembly polls: Rahul Gandhi to announce CM face during virtual rally in Ludhiana on Feb 6, says Harish Chaudhari
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will announce the party's Chief Ministerial face for the upcoming Punjab Assembly polls on February 6, said party state in-charge, Harish Chaudhary on Friday.
- Country:
- India
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will announce the party's Chief Ministerial face for the upcoming Punjab Assembly polls on February 6, said party state in-charge, Harish Chaudhary on Friday. The party would do so "respecting the sentiments of the Congress workers and people of Punjab".
Addressing the media at party headquarters here, Chaudhary said, "Rahul Gandhi will address a virtual rally in Ludhiana on February 6 and during the event, he will announce the CM face." He said that respecting the guidelines of the election commission, the candidates of the party from all 117 constituencies will attend the virtual rally by maintaining the gathering at their respective venues as per the permissible limit.
Referring to the recent arrest of Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi's nephew Bhupinder Singh Honey by ED in connection with an alleged illegal sand mining case, the Congress leader said that the Chief Minister's family has nothing to do with the action taken by the ED adding that the BJP "always has always misused" the Central agencies before the elections. "In the past also, this central government had adopted such tactics to put pressure on the opposition parties ahead of elections. They have targeted the families of MK Stalin in Tamil Nadu, Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal and Ajit Pawar in Maharashtra. Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and his family have nothing to do with the action taken by the ED," he said.
He added that CM Channi had supported the farmers during the farmers' movement. Apart from this, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the state in January where he was stuck on a flyover, CM Channi had said that he will not charge lathi on farmers. He alleged that the Central government is taking revenge and targeting the Chief Minister.
Chaudhary said that the Congress party, its workers and the people of Punjab are standing with Chief Minister Channi and will give a befitting reply to the people who are adopting "cheap tactics", in the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections. Punjab will go to the polls on February 20. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/1910764-punjab-assembly-polls-rahul-gandhi-to-announce-cm-face-during-virtual-rally-in-ludhiana-on-feb-6-says-harish-chaudhari | 2022-02-04T18:48:10 | en | 0.973248 |
New cases of a debilitating and often deadly type of stroke that causes bleeding in the brain have been increasing in the U.S., growing at an even faster rate among younger to middle-aged adults than older ones, new research shows.
The findings show an 11% increase over the past decade and a half in intracerebral hemorrhage strokes, referred to as ICH strokes. The research, being presented next week at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference, was published Thursday in the American Heart Association journal Stroke.
"From a public health perspective, these results are troubling and indicate risk factors are not being well managed in young adults in the U.S.," said Dr. Karen Furie, chief of neurology at Rhode Island Hospital and chair of the department of neurology at Brown University's Warren Alpert Medical School in Providence. Furie was not involved in the research.
"Earlier onset of this disease is very alarming and indicates we need to be more aggressive with primary prevention," she said.
ICH strokes occur when blood vessels in the brain rupture and bleed. They are the second most common type, accounting for 10%-15% of the estimated 795,000 strokes each year in the U.S. Globally in 2020, 18.9 million people had an intracerebral hemorrhage, according to the AHA's most recent heart and stroke statistics report. They are more deadly and more likely to cause long-term disability than other types of stroke.
Smaller previous studies have reached conflicting conclusions about whether the rate of ICH has been rising or falling in the U.S.
In the new study, lead researcher Abdulaziz Bako, a postdoctoral fellow at Houston Methodist Hospital, and colleagues used aggregated nationwide data from 803,230 ICH hospitalizations. They calculated the rate of ICH over five consecutive three-year periods from 2004 to 2018. People were divided into four age groups: 18-44 years; 45-64 years; 65-74 years; and 75 years and older.
Overall, researchers found an 11% increase in the rate of ICH among U.S. adults over the 15-year study period. ICH increased at a faster rate for adults under age 65 compared to those 75 and older. The rate of increase also varied by region, climbing faster in the South, West and Midwest than it did in the Northeast. ICH stroke rates were 43% higher for men than women.
Among those who had ICH strokes, the percentage of people who had high blood pressure also rose, from 74.5% to 86.4% over the study period.
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for an ICH stroke, as is increasing age. The findings are alarming, Furie said, because they suggest blood pressure is so poorly controlled among younger adults that they risk losing the most productive years of their lives.
"ICH occurs after decades of vascular damage from unmanaged high blood pressure," she said. "It's terrible that this is occurring."
Failure to reverse the trend "could be devastating," Furie said. "We're talking about decades of disability that could be a burden for the individual, their family and society as a whole."
Bako said that's why future studies should really focus on these young age groups, "particularly because they are more likely to be economically productive, and an increase among this population in the long term might lead to much more burden to the comorbidity profile of the country than if the increase were among people who are much older."
Bako is part of a team also presenting findings at the stroke conference from a related study that found a disproportionate rate of ICH among Asian American and Pacific Islander adults, who are experiencing ICH strokes at a younger age than their white peers.
"We need to be teaching people to adopt a healthy diet, engage in regular physical activity, avoid heavy alcohol and drug use and monitor for vascular risk factors during young adulthood," Furie said. "This is the only way to ensure the problem does not become symptomatic by the time they reach their 40s and 50s."
If you have questions or comments about this story, please email editor@heart.org.
Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Permission is granted, at no cost and without need for further request, for individuals, media outlets, and non-commercial education and awareness efforts to link to, quote, excerpt or reprint from these stories in any medium as long as no text is altered and proper attribution is made to American Heart Association News.
Other uses, including educational products or services sold for profit, must comply with the American Heart Association’s Copyright Permission Guidelines. See full terms of use. These stories may not be used to promote or endorse a commercial product or service.
HEALTH CARE DISCLAIMER: This site and its services do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. If you are in the United States and experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or call for emergency medical help immediately. | https://www.chron.com/news/article/Deadly-type-of-stroke-increasing-among-younger-16832124.php | 2022-02-04T18:48:14 | en | 0.969852 |
Multi-cornered contest on the cards for urban local bodies polls in TN
- Country:
- India
A multi-cornered contest is on the cards for the urban local body elections in Tamil Nadu scheduled for February 19 with opposition parties, which were with the AIADMK till a few days ago, set to take on the ruling DMK.
The DMK continued to project a picture of unity and managed to retain its allies with the hope of repeating its victory in the Assembly election last year.
The Dravidian major retained the lion's share of about 165 wards with regard to Chennai Corporation and is eyeing for the indirect election of Mayor with absolute strength on its own while apportioning the remaining 35 seats to its allies - Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Left parties.
Upset over the meagre allocation of seats in Coimbatore, the Left parties decided to contest from 11 out of 15 wards in Kannampalayam town panchayat with the support of KMDK, another ally of the DMK.
The DMK fielded Sameena Selvam, widow of party functionary Selvam who was murdered in Madipakkam on Tuesday, from Ward 188 at Madipakkam here.
The ruling party’s youth wing member Paruthi Ilamsuruthi, son of former State minister Paruthi Ilamvazhuthi, has been nominated for Ward 99 and he would take on former IAS officer Sivakami, who was roped in by the AIADMK.
The party fielded R Priya, daughter of former legislator from Perambur Sengai Sivam, from Ward 74 at Thiru Vi Ka Nagar here.
Chief Minister M K Stalin's son and Chepauk legislator Udhayanidhi Stalin’s close aide Chitrasu has been nominated to contest from Ward 110. At Maduravoyal, the DMK fielded Hemalatha, wife of MLA K Ganapathy, from Ward 150.
A senior DMK leader claimed that his party took great efforts to accommodate members from all communities in the Corporation.
Apart from the DMK, the AIADMK and BJP nominated transgenders for this election. While DMK’s R Ganga would contest from Ward 37 of Vellore, AIADMK’s Jayadevi would contest from Ward 112 here and Rajamma of the BJP would seek election from Thiru Vi Ka Nagar.
Like the BJP, Dr S Ramadoss-led Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) which was in alliance with the AIADMK during the Assembly poll, and the DMDK have decided to contest on their own.
Other parties like actor Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam, Naam Tamilar Katchi of actor-director Seeman and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam are also in the fray.
The election would also see first timers like 94-year-old Kamakshi Subramaniyam, who filed her nomination papers from Ward 174 (Besant Nagar and Adyar here) and Ilavarasi Durairaj (aged 22) from the DMK, the youngest candidate to file her nomination from Ward 136 (Kodambakkam) of Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC).
Of the 200 wards in GCC, 16 have been reserved for each of the Scheduled Caste (general) and SC (women) candidates while 84 are reserved for women (general).
The election would be held to fill 12,838 posts in 21 corporations, 138 municipalities, 490 town panchayats and 649 urban local bodies.
The final list of candidates would be announced on February 7 and counting of votes taken up on February 22. The entire election process would be completed by February 24. Today being the last day for filing of nominations, several thousands of candidates from major political parties besides independents filed their papers. Immediately after his wedding this morning, BJP’s N Vinodh Kumar, accompanied by his wife, rushed to the Chennai Corporation zonal office at Alandur, in wedding attire and filed the nomination papers seeking to contest from ward 162 in Chennai Corporation. The BJP is contesting from all the 200 wards in the Corporation. The AIADMK, claiming it could not meet the expectations of the BJP during the seat-sharing negotiations, is also contesting from all the wards in Chennai and in other civic bodies.
DMK candidate for 8th ward in Pudukottai Anuradha came on a bullock cart and filed her papers while another DMK candidate Shalini arrived to file her papers to the accompaniment of Chenda Melam in Dharapuram.
With the process of filing the papers over today, AIADMK co-coordinator and former Chief Minister K Palaniswami announced to hit the campaign trail from February 7. He would tour the State till February 15. PTI JSP HDA NVG NVG
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALSO READ
Adam McKay to be honoured with AIS's Voices for the Earth Award
Marc Menchaca cast in Gareth Edwards' sci-fi film 'True Love'
ISL: Mumbai City FC sign experienced Brazilian forward Maurício
ISL: Mumbai City FC sign Brazilian forward Diego Mauricio
Gauhati HC rejects anticipatory bail plea of Padma awardee over sexual assault on minor girl | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/1910773-multi-cornered-contest-on-the-cards-for-urban-local-bodies-polls-in-tn | 2022-02-04T18:48:17 | en | 0.966215 |
He should talk about uniting India not dividing it: BJP MP slams Rahul
- Country:
- India
Hitting out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his ''two Indias'' remark, BJP MP Kirit Solanki on Friday said he should talk about uniting India not dividing it.
Solanki also took on Gandhi over his remark that the ''idea of king'' has come back, saying that in kingship, a king is born to a queen but in a democracy, people's representatives are elected through ballot.
Speaking during the debate in Lok Sabha on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address, Solanki attacked Gandhi for his remarks that there are now two distinct Indias, one for the extremely rich people and one for the poor, and the gap between them is widening.
''A senior leader of the Congress made two points which I want to raise. He said there are two Indias. I would humbly request him that he should not talk about dividing India, but talk about uniting it. For thousands of years, India is one and one should not talk about dividing it,'' Solanki said.
''The second thing is that he talked about kingship. I would like to tell him that when there was kingship, a king was born to a queen. Babasahab Ambedkar gave India a robust Constitution and under this Constitution, democracy is flourishing,'' he said.
In a democracy, be it the prime minister or any other public representative, they come through ballot and are not born to a queen, Solanki said. ''Modi ji, through his leadership, both in 2014 and 2019 got a massive mandate and when he came to Parliament, he bowed before this temple of democracy,'' the BJP MP said.
''I request him, he should not make such vulgar comments,'' he said, referring to Gandhi.
In a veiled dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi on Wednesday had said the Congress smashed the idea of a king in 1947, but now it has come back and the ruling dispensation had created two Indias -- one for the poor and the other for the rich.
In his remarks, Solanki lauded the prime minister for involving people in combating the Covid pandemic.
''We successfully fought the pandemic,'' he asserted.
Solanki said India had limited healthcare facilities as compared with advanced countries such a the US but even those countries faltered while India under the leadership of Modi fought the pandemic well.
Prime Minister Modi took decisions such as the lockdown, he said and pointed out that people accepted it showed how much faith they have in him.
Solanki said the biggest achievement of the government was the vaccination drive.
He said that vaccines for diseases such as the small pox came in foreign countries first and then came to India after many years but under Modi's leadership, scientists manufactured two vaccines against Covid here. ''Earlier vaccines were not developed here but we made two Covid vaccines and showed the people what India is capable of,'' he said, adding that India achieved unprecedented success in vaccination.
He said that in the second wave when everyone was feeling helpless, the Modi government ensured oxygen, ventilators and injections such as Remdesivir.
''In the current Omicron wave as well we can see cases are there like in the second wave but the severity very less and the credit for that goes tot he vaccination drive, Solanki said.
In his remarks, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party chief Hanuman Beniwal talked about the hardships faced by the people during the pandemic.
He also raised the issues of farmers' plight and called for MSP guarantee to them.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALSO READ
Congress demands all-party delegation led by PM Modi should visit LAC
Rahul Gandhi slams Centre over merging of Amar Jawan Jyoti with flame at National War Memorial
Congress consulted youth of Uttar Pradesh & their views are reflected in party's 'youth manifesto':Rahul Gandhi.
Youth in Uttar Pradesh need a new vision, only Congress can give that vision to the state: Rahul Gandhi.
We don't spread hatred, we united people; we want to create a new Uttar Pradesh with strength of youth:Cong leader Rahul Gandhi. | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/1910776-he-should-talk-about-uniting-india-not-dividing-it-bjp-mp-slams-rahul | 2022-02-04T18:48:25 | en | 0.980613 |
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — The newest judge tapped to oversee the investigation into the killing of President Jovenel Moïse told The Associated Press on Friday that he has not decided whether to take the case amid concerns of putting his life in danger.
Judge Chavannes Étienne said his family is pressuring him not to accept the case because they fear for his life. If he were to accept, he would become the third judge to take over the case.
It wasn’t immediately clear if Étienne had to respond by a certain date. He previously oversaw the investigation into the November 2018 massacre of an estimated dozens of people at La Saline, a seaside slum in Haiti’s capital.
Magistrate Bernard Saint-Vil, dean of the Court of First Instance in Port-au-Prince, told AP that he had chosen Étienne but declined further comment as fears grow that the ongoing rotation of judges would delay the case.
Judge Garry Orélien had been overseeing the case but recently stepped down amid corruption accusations that he denied. He also had asked for more time to investigate the July 7 assassination, but Saint-Vil denied the request.
Orélien was appointed after another judge stepped down in August citing personal reasons, a move that came after one of his assistants died under unclear circumstances.
More than 40 people have been arrested in the killing of Moïse at his private residence, including several Haitian police officers, a former senator and 18 ex Colombian soldiers, the majority of whom the Colombian government says were duped.
Two other suspects were extradited recently to the U.S.: Rodolphe Jaar, a former U.S. government informant arrested in the Dominican Republic in January and Mario Palacios, an ex-Colombian soldier detained in Jamaica in October.
Palacios' attorney had requested an additional month to prepare his defense, and it was granted by a federal judge in Miami on Friday. The defense attorney said Palacios will plead not guilty in March. Meanwhile, a hearing for Jaar was postponed for later this month. He hasn't entered a plea and recently obtained a new defense attorney.
Jaar and Palacios have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder or kidnapping outside the United States and with providing material support resulting in death, knowing or intending that such material support would be used to prepare for or carry out the conspiracy to kill or kidnap.
___
Associated Press writer Dánica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico and Gisela Solomón in Miami contributed. | https://www.chron.com/news/article/Haiti-seeks-3rd-judge-to-oversee-case-of-slain-16832103.php | 2022-02-04T18:48:32 | en | 0.982631 |
Punjab Assembly polls: Rahul Gandhi to announce CM face during virtual rally in Ludhiana on Feb 6, says Harish Chaudhary
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will announce the party's Chief Ministerial face for the upcoming Punjab Assembly polls on February 6, said party state in-charge, Harish Chaudhary on Friday.
- Country:
- India
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will announce the party's Chief Ministerial face for the upcoming Punjab Assembly polls on February 6, said party state in-charge, Harish Chaudhary on Friday. The party would do so "respecting the sentiments of the Congress workers and people of Punjab".
Addressing the media at party headquarters here, Chaudhary said, "Rahul Gandhi will address a virtual rally in Ludhiana on February 6 and during the event, he will announce the CM face." He said that respecting the guidelines of the election commission, the candidates of the party from all 117 constituencies will attend the virtual rally by maintaining the gathering at their respective venues as per the permissible limit.
Referring to the recent arrest of Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi's nephew Bhupinder Singh Honey by ED in connection with an alleged illegal sand mining case, the Congress leader said that the Chief Minister's family has nothing to do with the action taken by the ED adding that the BJP "always has always misused" the Central agencies before the elections. "In the past also, this central government had adopted such tactics to put pressure on the opposition parties ahead of elections. They have targeted the families of MK Stalin in Tamil Nadu, Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal, and Ajit Pawar in Maharashtra. Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and his family have nothing to do with the action taken by the ED," he said.
He added that CM Channi had supported the farmers during the farmers' movement. Apart from this, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the state in January where he was stuck on a flyover, CM Channi had said that he will not charge lathi on farmers. He alleged that the Central government is taking revenge and targeting the Chief Minister.
Chaudhary said that the Congress party, its workers, and the people of Punjab are standing with Chief Minister Channi and will give a befitting reply to the people who are adopting "cheap tactics", in the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections. Punjab will go to the polls on February 20. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/1910777-punjab-assembly-polls-rahul-gandhi-to-announce-cm-face-during-virtual-rally-in-ludhiana-on-feb-6-says-harish-chaudhary | 2022-02-04T18:48:33 | en | 0.973231 |
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court on Friday rejected a Black man's argument that he was denied his right to an impartial jury because of a flawed process that excluded Black people and resulted in only white jurors.
It is the second time the state’s high court heard an appeal from Kenneth Lee Lilly, who was convicted for helping a relative rob a southeast Iowa bank in 2016. Lilly alleged that his right to an impartial jury under both the U.S. and Iowa constitutions was violated because neither his jury nor the group from which his jury was selected contained any Black people.
Lilly, 57, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for robbery with a mandatory 17 1/2 years to be served before parole eligibility. He was accused of driving Lafayette A. Evans, a relative from Nashville, Tennessee, to a branch of the Fort Madison Bank on June 29, 2016. Evans fired several shots in the bank and at a police officer. He ran away with $224,000 in a backpack but died after being shot by officers.
Lilly was tried in Lee County, where about 3% of the population of 33,000 is Black.
In the first appeal in 2019, the court returned Lilly's case to the district court for a hearing on whether his rights were violated by the jury selection process. The judge rejected his claims and Lilly again appealed.
The court upheld the lower court's decision that he failed to prove Black citizens are excluded from jury pools because they are underrepresented in the voter registration and driver's license lists from which names are drawn in Iowa.
Lawyers for the Iowa attorney general, Lilly and the NAACP, which wrote a friend of the court brief supporting a new trial for Lilly, did not immediately respond to messages.
Lilly claimed that low-income people tend to register to vote and to acquire driver’s licenses and nonoperator identification cards at a lower rate than other members of the community. He also said Black citizens make up a higher percentage of low-income people in Lee County. And he inferred that Black people are underrepresented in the lists from which jury pools are sourced.
In hearing his case the first time, the court established that such jury pool challenges must identify a practice that led to the underrepresentation, and it cannot be “run-of-the-mill” jury management practices.
Many states use voter registration and driver's license identification lists to construct a list from which to draw jury pools, Justice Matthew McDermott wrote for the court, which unanimously agreed. The lists are the only ones that Iowa law requires courts to use in drawing jury pools.
“Because he challenges a run-of-the-mill practice, and no other practices, Lilly cannot show a violation under the Sixth Amendment,” the court said. The court also concluded Lilly's challenge under the Iowa Constitution fails because he offered no evidence to establish that low-income people register to vote or get driver’s licenses or nonoperator identification cards at lower rates.
While all seven justices agreed with the outcome, Justice Edward Mansfield, joined in his opinion by Justice Brent Appel, left the door open to such challenges, saying if it is found that "a practice that leads to systematic underrepresentation of a distinctive group in jury pools can be identified and corrected, there is no reason to shield that practice from scrutiny just because it is relatively commonplace." He said Iowa lawyers are gathering data.
Justice Christopher McDonald, in a separate opinion joined by Chief Justice Susan Christensen and Thomas Waterman, was more willing to block such challenges, saying allowing such cases to continue to surface “is undermining the administration of justice, rendering it incredibly difficult simply to have a jury trial without months of discovery, expensive motion practice, expensive expert witness testimony, and days of hearings.” | https://www.chron.com/news/article/Iowa-court-affirms-process-that-may-exclude-Black-16832125.php | 2022-02-04T18:48:38 | en | 0.974719 |
Governor can return Bill if it is against people: Tamilisai
Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor-in-charge of Puducherry Tamilisai Soundararajan on Friday said a Governor has powers to return a Bill to the Assembly in case the Bill is found to be not good for welfare of the people.
- Country:
- India
Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor-in-charge of Puducherry Tamilisai Soundararajan on Friday said a Governor has powers to return a Bill to the Assembly in case the Bill is found to be not good for welfare of the people. Talking to reporters after worshipping at a temple in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, Tamilisai said, ''It is wrong to say the Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi has acted against the Constitution when he returned the anti-NEET Bill to the Assembly Speaker. She said there was provision in the Constitution conferring powers on the Governor to return a Bill if it is found to be against the welfare of the people - here, it is particularly students trying for medical seats. Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy was also present when Tamilisai was addressing reporters.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALSO READ
Mexico power bill in U.S. sights as Granholm makes case for renewables
CM Gehlot issues directions to stop auctioning of agricultural land, says if bill becomes a law, no Tehsildar would dare take such step
‘A Christmas Story’ sequel in the works, Peter Billingsley to reprise Ralphie role
US & India should set bold goals to achieve USD 500 billion in bilateral trade: new USIBC president
Judge rules Bill Paxton's family can seek punitive damages against hospital in wrongful death lawsuit | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/1910786-governor-can-return-bill-if-it-is-against-people-tamilisai | 2022-02-04T18:48:40 | en | 0.962087 |
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — A Pima County jail inmate's death last month was due to a drug overdose and is now being investigated as a homicide, the Sheriff's Department said.
Pedro Xavier Martinez Palacios, 24, died Jan. 14 at a hospital where Palacios was taken Jan. 10 after he told a corrections officer that he required medical assistance, the office said.
No signs of trauma or suspicious circumstances were observed but that the county Medical Examiner's Office subsequently determined that Palacios' death was due to a fentanyl overdose, the office said late Thursday.
The office said the homicide investigation was ongoing, and no additional information was released.
Palacios was jailed on outstanding warrants in cases alleging drug paraphernalia and unlawful imprisonment. | https://www.chron.com/news/article/Jail-inmate-death-due-to-overdose-homicide-probe-16832186.php | 2022-02-04T18:48:44 | en | 0.982875 |
BJP declines to take part in TN govt meet on NEET
The Tamil Nadu BJP on Friday said it will not participate in the all-party meeting of the state government on Saturday to discuss the future course of action in the wake of Governor R N Ravi returning the TN Assembly bill seeking exemption from NEET for admission to undergraduate medical courses.Questioning the rationale of conducting the meet even after the Governor clearly stating that the bill is against the interests of the rural and economically poor students, BJP chief K Annamalai, sought to know if ruling DMK aims to do politics on the issue.
- Country:
- India
The Tamil Nadu BJP on Friday said it will not participate in the all-party meeting of the state government on Saturday to discuss the future course of action in the wake of Governor R N Ravi returning the TN Assembly bill seeking exemption from NEET for admission to undergraduate medical courses.
Questioning the rationale of conducting the meet even after the Governor clearly stating that the bill is against the interests of the rural and economically poor students, BJP chief K Annamalai, sought to know if ruling DMK aims to do politics on the issue. ''Why should the government adopt the same Assembly route when a similar attempt in 2017 led to the President returning the bill? Are you miscalculating that you can do politics on the issue,'' Annamalai asked in a letter to the Chief Minister, a copy of which was made available to the media here.
While thanking the Chief Minister for the invite, the BJP president said his party is willing to extend its full cooperation to all endeavours aimed at ensuring the wellbeing of the people but never to issues that deceived the people.
''Tomorrow’s meeting is an eyewash. The BJP has decided not to attend it,'' Annamalai said while pointing out that several educationists including former vice chancellors had favoured NEET.
Returning the bill to the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker on February 1, for its reconsideration, the Governor cited a 2020 case and said that the Supreme Court had comprehensively examined the issue from social justice perspective and upheld NEET as it prevents economic exploitation of poor students and is in furtherance of social justice.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALSO READ
COVID-19: Officials told to reopen hostels, residential schools of Maha social justice department
TN CM to soon launch all India Federation for Social Justice
AIADMK ridicules Stalin's social justice federation pitch
Union Budget 2022-23: Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry allocated Rs 13,134 cr
AIADMK ridicules Stalin's social justice federation pitch, DMK hits back | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/1910791-bjp-declines-to-take-part-in-tn-govt-meet-on-neet | 2022-02-04T18:48:48 | en | 0.957819 |
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — A jury in South Carolina awarded $50 million in damages to a mayor in a defamation case against a longtime critic.
The Beaufort County jury decided Thursday that Skip Hoagland has to pay Bluffton Mayor Lisa Sulka $40 million in actual damages and $10 million in punitive damages, The Island Packet reported.
Hoagland — who wasn’t in the courtroom throughout the trial or when the verdicts were read — laughed when the newspaper informed him of the outcome.
“That’s a joke, right? ... That’s insanity,” he said.
Sulka filed the lawsuit against Hoagland over emails he sent in 2015 and 2017 to several people including the state attorney general. The mayor claimed there were defamatory statements in the messages, such as accusations that she committed a crime and was unfit for office.
“An examination of the Defendant’s rambling and at times incoherent emails can lead to only one conclusion: the Defendant had every reason to know that his statements lacked veracity, yet he continued to publish them with vigor,” Sulka’s lawyers wrote in a 2019 court filing.
During the two-day trial, the mayor described the impacts these messages have had on her: “It really hits your psyche, it really affects you. I am his target now, personally.”
Hoagland has frequently and vocally critiqued the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, which some elected officials have spoken out against for its failure to share how it spends public money.
Daniel Henderson, one of the mayor’s attorneys, said Hoagland started a “crusade” against Sulka after the town helped the Chamber of Commerce with a membership drive in 2015. Her lawyers said in a filing that Hoagland believed the drive “unfairly benefitted” the Hilton Head chamber at the expense of the Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce.
“Mayor Sulka, I hope you fully understand the severity of this as a public official if this is true on using public funds to attempt to put one business out of business,” Hoagland wrote in a 2015 email to the mayor, town attorney, state attorney general, lawmakers and others.
The following year, he filed a complaint with the State Ethics Commission against the mayor, claiming she voted in favor of land purchases that financially benefitted the real estate agency where she worked. The commission eventually cleared her of allegations that she violated the state ethics law.
Sulka’s lawyers argued in the lawsuit that the “defamatory statements” were published with malice and hurt the mayor’s reputation.
Hoagland — who represented himself in the case after firing a lawyer that his insurance company hired — shared his thoughts with the trial judge, the attorney general and others by email instead of participating in the proceedings in person.
“There is zero evidence I defamed anyone,” Hoagland wrote Wednesday night. “The first amendment allows me to exercise my free speech rights to criticize, and shed light on, public corruption.”
He told The Island Packet in a statement Thursday that he was actually happy with the trial’s outcome because it proved there’s “more corruption” in South Carolina.
“This case was all predetermined, a sham, Judicial Malfeasance ... I will now seek damages for violations to my First Amendment Rights caused by this lawless, filthy, frivolous defamation lawsuit to silence a critics voice,” he wrote. | https://www.chron.com/news/article/Jury-awards-50-million-to-SC-mayor-in-defamation-16832210.php | 2022-02-04T18:48:50 | en | 0.974541 |
Agatha Sangma demands repeal of AFPSA
- Country:
- India
Expressing concern over the killing of civilians in Nagaland last year, NPP MP Agatha Sangama on Friday demanded that the Centre should repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from the Northeastern states.
The Meghalaya MP raised the issue of repeal of AFPSA while participating in the discussion on Motion of Thanks to President's Address.
Sangma said the repeal of AFPSA from the Northeast would help in preventing the ''unfortunate incident'' which occurred last year.
As many as 14 civilians were killed by mistake in an army operation in Nagaland in December.
The AFPSA provides sweeping powers to armed forces to deal with the situation in disturbed areas and also impunity to personnel involved in such operations.
Sangma also demanded that Garo and Khasi languages should be included in the Eight Schedule of the Constitution.
Pallab Lochan Das (BJP) said that because of the steps taken by the Narendra Modi government, the people of the Northeast have started feeling that they are part of mainstream India.
The government, he said, has been trying to resolve the issues of the Northeast which had been pending for long.
Congress member Dean Kuraikose regretted that the President in his address to the joint sitting of the House ignored key issues facing the country.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALSO READ
Congress demands all-party delegation led by PM Modi should visit LAC
Congress consulted youth of Uttar Pradesh & their views are reflected in party's 'youth manifesto':Rahul Gandhi.
Youth in Uttar Pradesh need a new vision, only Congress can give that vision to the state: Rahul Gandhi.
Daughter-in-law of Congress leader questions 'party's double standards towards women's rights'
Congress constructed new things for families, this govt builds monuments of national importance: PM Modi | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/1910792-agatha-sangma-demands-repeal-of-afpsa | 2022-02-04T18:48:55 | en | 0.963736 |
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court on Friday upheld a Topeka man's conviction in the shooting deaths of three people in Lawrence n 2017.
Anthony L. Roberts Jr., was convicted on June 25, 2019 in the deaths, which occurred after a fight between two groups of people from Topeka erupted into gunfire, with more than 20 shots fired.
The jury found Roberts guilty of one count of second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted second-degree murder.
The court on Friday rejected Roberts' argument that the Douglas County District Court judge should have instructed the jury that they could consider convicting him of voluntary manslaughter. The court also ruled the evidence was sufficient to uphold Roberts’ convictions.
Colwin L. Henderson III, 20, of Topeka; Leah E. Brown, 22, of Shawnee; and Tre’Mel D. Dean-Rayton, 24, of Topeka, were killed. Tahzay Rayton, of Topeka, survived after being shot twice.
Brown was the only shooting victim who didn’t know anyone involved in the fight, The Lawrence Journal-World reported.
Two co-defendants — Ahmad Malik Rayton, 23, of Topeka, and Dominique Jacquez McMillon, 20, of Topeka — pleaded to lesser charges. | https://www.chron.com/news/article/Kansas-Supreme-Court-upholds-conviction-in-triple-16831977.php | 2022-02-04T18:48:56 | en | 0.96765 |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Pilots reported a record 9,723 incidents of lasers aimed at their aircraft last year, a 41% jump over the year before.
The Federal Aviation Administration released the figures Friday, just a week after four airline flights were hit by a laser near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. All four planes landed safely.
The FAA said it handed out $120,000 in fines for laser strikes in 2021. Fines can range up to $11,000 for one incident and up to $30,800 for multiple violations, and violators can face federal criminal charges.
Lasers aimed at planes and helicopters have been a safety concern for more than a decade despite jail sentences for people who get caught. Authorities have tried rewards for turning in perpetrators and legislation making it easier to prosecute them.
The FAA said pilots have reported 244 injuries from laser strikes since the agency began keeping figures in 2010.
The number of laser incidents topped 1,000 in 2009 and has been rising most years ever since. Authorities say the problem is made worse by the availability of cheap laser pointers and devices getting more powerful. | https://www.chron.com/news/article/Laser-strikes-against-aircraft-hit-a-record-in-US-16832245.php | 2022-02-04T18:49:03 | en | 0.961553 |
Biden has his own relationship with China, White House says
- Country:
- United States
U.S. President Joe Biden has his own relationship with China, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Friday, when asked about a meeting between Chinese and Russian leaders.
In a briefing with reporters, Psaki added that the U.S. focus is currently on working with partners in case Russia invades Ukraine.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Advertisement
ALSO READ
Russia will have to pay 'heavy price' if it invades Ukraine, warns US president
Top diplomats for U.S., Russia meet in Geneva on soaring Ukraine tensions
Chinese shares fall as weakness in tech, healthcare stocks weigh
Germany's Scholz, UK's Johnson discussed Ukraine border situation
US President Biden issues fresh warning to Russia against invading Ukraine | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/1910797-biden-has-his-own-relationship-with-china-white-house-says | 2022-02-04T18:49:03 | en | 0.955415 |
EU slaps sanctions on five top Mali officials, including PM
The European Union on Friday imposed sanctions on five senior members of Malis transitional government, including Prime Minister Choguel Maiga, accusing them of working to obstruct and undermine the transition from military to civilian rule.The move comes days after Mali coup leaders ordered Frances ambassador to leave in what was the latest episode in a growing diplomatic crisis between the impoverished Sahel region country, its African neighbours and European partners.
- Country:
- Belgium
The European Union on Friday imposed sanctions on five senior members of Mali's transitional government, including Prime Minister Choguel Maiga, accusing them of working to obstruct and undermine the transition from military to civilian rule.
The move comes days after Mali coup leaders ordered France's ambassador to leave in what was the latest episode in a growing diplomatic crisis between the impoverished Sahel region country, its African neighbours and European partners. But the sanctions weren't linked to the expulsion.
Others hit by the EU's asset freezes and travel bans include members of the inner circle of Col. Assimi Goita, who put himself in charge last year after dismissing the civilian leaders of Mali's transitional government. EU citizens and companies are forbidden to grant the five access to funds.
Tensions escalated further, notably with the EU and other international partners, when Goita postponed the next presidential vote by four years, until 2026. The West African regional group ECOWAS imposed tough economic sanctions in response, and the Europeans are following suit.
Maiga is said by the EU to be “directly responsible for postponing the elections foreseen in the Transition Charter, and he is therefore obstructing and undermining the successful completion of the political transition of Mali.” In December, the EU also slapped sanctions on eight people and three oil companies linked to the Wagner Group of Russian mercenaries, which is currently operating in Mali and stands accused of rights abuses in the Central African Republic, Libya and Syria.
Mali has struggled to contain an extremist insurgency since 2012. Rebels were forced from power in northern cities with the help of a French-led military operation, but they regrouped in the desert and began attacking the Malian army and its allies.
Insecurity has worsened with attacks on civilians and United Nations peacekeepers. The EU has been training the Mali armed forces since 2013. It had planned to continue to do so despite the severe instability and political upheaval.
But the expulsion of France's envoy is raising questions about the viability of the mission, as well as the future of the European-led military task force known as Takuba. Last week, the Malian government ordered Danish soldiers out of the country just as they arrived to join the task force.
Norway has since reversed a decision to take part, and Germany is debating what to do about its contingent.
Tense ties with the junta in Mali are posing France one of its toughest challenges in Africa in years. Thousands of French troops are stationed there, and make up the core of a major international anti-terrorism operation in the increasingly restive Sahel region; a fertile breeding ground for extremists.
Any decision by France to pull its troops out would shake up the region.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALSO READ
Global equity sell-off sends European shares sharply lower
Spain's foreign minister says Europeans are 'united' on Ukraine crisis
Kurdish-led forces kill 23 Islamic State militants in Syria, source says
Indian consumers embrace South African apples and pears, 2021 ends on a great note for Hortgro India
Global equity sell-off sends European shares sharply lower | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/1910799-eu-slaps-sanctions-on-five-top-mali-officials-including-pm | 2022-02-04T18:49:11 | en | 0.961983 |
MEEKER, Colo. (AP) — Authorities on Friday were investigating the alleged kidnapping of a woman who works at a Colorado ranch owned by former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Joseph Beecher, 48, allegedly took the woman from the ranch at gunpoint Wednesday and then to several places in the Denver area before heading to neighboring Wyoming, the Rio Blanco Sheriff's Office said in a statement.
Beecher was arrested Thursday after he and the woman were found at a motel in Cheyenne, Wyoming, the statement said.
Beecher is from the small city of Craig, Colorado and does not have any connection to the Bloomberg family or the alleged victim, the statement said. He had multiple firearms with him when he was arrested, the statement added.
Beecher was being held in jail in Cheyenne, the statement said. No charges have been filed against him in Wyoming, according to court records and it was not known if he has a lawyer representing him.
The Bloomberg family was not at the ranch at the time and why Beecher went there is under investigation, the sheriff's office said.
Bloomberg's spokesperson, Ty Trippet, expressed gratitude to law enforcement for their “swift and heroic action” in the case and returning the victim to her family safely. | https://www.chron.com/news/article/Man-arrested-in-alleged-kidnapping-of-Bloomberg-16831975.php | 2022-02-04T18:49:15 | en | 0.987304 |
House passes bill to boost US computer chip production
Democrats muscled through legislation in the House on Friday that they say positions the United States to better compete with China economically and on the global stage by strengthening the domestic semiconductor industry and shoring up strained supply chains.The bill passed by a vote of 222-210.
- Country:
- United States
Democrats muscled through legislation in the House on Friday that they say positions the United States to better compete with China economically and on the global stage by strengthening the domestic semiconductor industry and shoring up strained supply chains.
The bill passed by a vote of 222-210. It marks an important step for a top Biden administration priority, but the legislation is likely to be extensively revised as negotiators reconcile differences with what the Senate passed about eight months ago.
Criticising China has become a bipartisan playbook in Washington. Republicans panned the measure as “toothless'' and short of what is needed to hold the country accountable for a range of economic and human rights actions.
The nearly 3,000-page bill, not counting scores of amendments added this week, includes massive investments designed to boost semiconductor manufacturing in the US. The big-ticket items include about $52 billion in grants and subsidies to help the semiconductor industry and $45 billion to strengthen supply chains for high-tech products.
But Democrats also tucked in other priorities that have raised GOP concerns about the bill's cost and scope. Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois was the only Republican to vote for the measure, while Rep. Stephanie Murphy of Florida was the only Democrat to vote against it.
The bill includes $8 billion for a fund that helps developing countries adjust to climate change; $3 billion for facilities to make the US less reliant on Chinese solar components; $4 billion to help communities with significantly higher unemployment than the national average; and $10.5 billion for states to stockpile drugs and medical equipment.
Democrats were in a celebratory mood prior to the vote after the latest jobs report showed employers added 467,000 jobs in January. They said the legislation would lead to more good news on that front.
“The bill we're talking about today is a jobs bill, a jobs bill for manufacturing in America, for making it in America,'' Pelosi said.
The bill gives Democrats a chance to address voter concerns about the economy at a time when a shortage of computer chips has led to higher prices for automobiles, electronics and medical devices. Republicans, who for months have hammered Democrats over rising inflation, say the bill has little to do with winning the economic competition with China and wastes taxpayer dollars on environmental initiatives and other unnecessary programs.
“This bill is actually just a long list of progressive dream policies that have nothing to do with China at all,'' said Rep. Michelle Fischbach, R-Minn. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo met with House Democratic lawmakers this week to discuss the bill. She said American manufacturing has been on a decline for more than three decades, leading to a loss of jobs and know-how.
“In the process of that slow atrophy we've become incredibly dependent on countries across the world,'' Raimondo said. “And, so, what this bill is saying is stop the decline.'' One of the biggest flashpoints is the $8 billion in the legislation to help developing countries reduce their emissions and cope with climate change. Former President Barack Obama pledged $3 billion toward the fund, but former President Donald Trump withheld $2 billion of that.
Rep. Michael McCaul, the ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called it an “unaccountable UN slush fund'' that has already provided at least $100 million to China.
Meanwhile, America's share of semiconductor manufacturing globally has steadily eroded from 37% in 1990 to about 12% now. The Biden administration and lawmakers are trying to reverse that trend, which industry officials say is driven by foreign competitors receiving significant government subsidies.
The pandemic has strained the supply chain for the chips. The Commerce Department issued a report last week that found the median inventory of some semiconductor products had fallen from 40 days in 2019 to less than five days in 2021. The report also said stakeholders don't see the problem going away in the next six months. The administration cited the findings in calling for Congress to act.
Tensions with China are reflected in much the legislation. In a nod to concerns about the origins of COVID-19, the bill directs the president to submit a report to Congress on the most likely origin of the virus, the level of confidence in that assessment and the challenges of making such as assessment.
Republicans dismissed the provision as “no independent investigation, no sanctions, no punishment.'' They want a select committee of lawmakers to look into the origins of COVID-19. “Instead of taking action to get a real accountability, it's going to ask them for a report,'' said Republican leader Kevin McCarthy of California.
Another provision would subject more lower-cost products made in China to tariffs. Currently, imports valued at less than $800 are exempted from expedited processing and tariffs. The bill eliminates the threshold for certain countries, most notably China.
“The investments that this bill makes in America — semiconductor manufacturing, supply chains, apprenticeships — enable America to compete effectively with China,” Raimondo said. “If you're serious about competing with China, you must vote yes on this.” The Senate passed its computer chips legislation in June by a vote of 68-32, representing a rare bout of bipartisanship on major legislation. Negotiators will now try to work out a compromise both chambers can accept, though it's uncertain they could do so before the midterm elections. That would deprive the Biden White House the chance to show progress on an important economic issue.
Raimondo called for swift negotiations with the Senate once the House bill passes. Whatever emerges will need support from 10 Republicans in the 50-50 Senate to be passed into law. She voiced confidence a compromise will be found.
“There's no irreconcilable differences, I can say that,'' Raimondo said. “We'll send House Republicans a much better option to vote on in the next couple of months,'' said Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., who worked with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on the Senate's version of the legislation.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALSO READ
Congress demands all-party delegation led by PM Modi should visit LAC
Congress consulted youth of Uttar Pradesh & their views are reflected in party's 'youth manifesto':Rahul Gandhi.
Youth in Uttar Pradesh need a new vision, only Congress can give that vision to the state: Rahul Gandhi.
Daughter-in-law of Congress leader questions 'party's double standards towards women's rights'
Congress constructed new things for families, this govt builds monuments of national importance: PM Modi | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/1910807-house-passes-bill-to-boost-us-computer-chip-production | 2022-02-04T18:49:18 | en | 0.955433 |
DALLAS (KDAF) — Dallas Mavericks young phenom Luka Doncic has earned a spot at the NBA All-Star Game for the third time in his career.
The Slovenian 22-year-old is averaging 26 points, nearly 9 rebounds and 9 assists a game for the Mavs this season. He’ll play amongst legends of the game and other top young stars in the 71st All-Star Game in Cleveland on Feb. 20.
Doncic joins legends Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, Isiah Thomas, Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis as the only players to earn three All-Star appearances before turning 23.
He will either be selected (as a reserve) to play for Team LeBron or Team Durant for the All-Star Game. The draft show is set to air on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 5:30 p.m. on TNT.
Full list of NBA All-Stars below:
- LeBron James (Captain)
- Kevin Durant (Captain)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Starter)
- Stephen Curry (Starter)
- Demar Derozan (Starter)
- Joel Embiid (Starter)
- Nikola Jokic (Starter)
- Ja Morant (Starter)
- Andrew Wiggins (Starter)
- Trae Young (Starter)
- Devin Booker (Reserve)
- Jimmy Butler (Reserve)
- Luka Doncic (Reserve)
- Darius Garland (Reserve)
- Rudy Gobert (Reserve)
- Draymond Green (Reserve)
- James Harden (Reserve)
- Zach Lavine (Reserve)
- Khris Middleton (Reserve)
- Donovan Mitchell (Reserve)
- Chris Paul (Reserve)
- Jayson Tatum (Reserve)
- Karl-Anthony Towns (Reserve)
- Fred Vanvleet (Reserve) | https://cw33.com/sports/22-year-old-luka-doncic-earns-3rd-nba-all-star-appearance/ | 2022-02-04T18:49:19 | en | 0.828662 |
India became weak during Congress rule: BJP MP
- Country:
- India
A BJP MP hit out at the Congress in the Lok Sabha on Friday, saying the country became weak when the grand old party was in power.
Participating in the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the president's address, Tapir Gao of the BJP said the country is in secure hands now because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the saffron party.
On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's remarks on ''two Indias'', one for the rich and one for the poor, he said in fact, there are three Indias -- Aksai Chin, which was given to China by the country's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), which was given to Pakistan, and the third one is ''where we are standing'' now.
Gao also alleged that it was during the Congress rule when extremist groups emerged in the northeast and in other states such as Punjab.
On the accusation that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are weakening the country, the MP from Arunachal Pradesh said it is the Congress who should be blamed for it.
''Today, the northeastern states can say with pride that they are linked with India'' because of the development work carried out by the Modi government, he added.
Raising the Centre's proposal to amend the IAS (Cadre) Rules during the Zero Hour, Gaurav Gogoi of the Congress said it would be a violation of the fundamentals of cooperative federalism.
''The Union government must go back on this proposal,'' he said.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALSO READ
Rahul Gandhi slams Centre over merging of Amar Jawan Jyoti with flame at National War Memorial
Congress consulted youth of Uttar Pradesh & their views are reflected in party's 'youth manifesto':Rahul Gandhi.
Youth in Uttar Pradesh need a new vision, only Congress can give that vision to the state: Rahul Gandhi.
We don't spread hatred, we united people; we want to create a new Uttar Pradesh with strength of youth:Cong leader Rahul Gandhi.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra release party's youth manifesto for Uttar Pradesh polls. | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/1910812-india-became-weak-during-congress-rule-bjp-mp | 2022-02-04T18:49:26 | en | 0.962334 |
NEW YORK (AP) — More than 50 years after Frank Serpico testified about endemic corruption in the New York Police Department, the department finally recognized his service and injury in the line of duty with an official certificate and inscribed medal of honor.
The former undercover detective, 85, received the honor in the mail Thursday, the New York Daily News reported.
Serpico testified in December 1971 to a panel appointed by Mayor John Lindsay to investigate police corruption, breaking the “blue wall of silence,” the protection that fellow officers sometimes give each other, such as refusing to testify.
Al Pacino went on to portray him in the hit 1973 movie “Serpico,” and his story is also relayed in a book by Peter Maas.
Current Daily News and former Associated Press reporter Larry McShane interviewed Serpico in December about the 50th anniversary of his appearance before the Knapp Commission.
"I felt that finally I was going to tell the world and nobody’s going to interrupt me,” Serpico told the newspaper, speaking from his home in upstate New York. “I thought, ‘I know the truth.’ ... Every single word was mine, and it came from the heart.”
Serpico was shot in the face during a drug arrest in Brooklyn in 1971 months before he testified and has maintained that the other officers he was with never made a call for an “officer down.”
While the department gave Serpico a medal recognizing his injury in 1972, it was handed over without ceremony or the accompanying certificate, he told the newspaper.
In recent years, the department has awarded medals to recipients at annual large public events.
Mayor Eric Adams responded to the coverage, saying Serpico's “bravery inspired my law enforcement career. Frank — we’re going to make sure you get your medal.”
On Thursday, Serpico tweeted a photo of the framed medal of honor and certificate that reads in part, “in recognition of an individual act of extraordinary bravery performed in the line of duty."
He has continued to speak out against corruption and abuse by the police since his retirement in 1972 and says he has supported and listened to other whistleblowers over the years, including those who testified about the now-terminated stop-and-frisk policy.
In 2017, he publicly supported quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who protested against racial injustice while playing in the NFL. | https://www.chron.com/news/article/NYPD-honors-whistleblower-Frank-Serpico-50-years-16832102.php | 2022-02-04T18:49:33 | en | 0.984211 |
Five workers dead as slab collapses at construction site in Pune; four arrested for negligence
- Country:
- India
Five labourers from Bihar were killed and as many injured after the slab of an under-construction building collapsed here, police said on Friday.
The project manager and three other employees of the contractor firm were arrested and an inquiry was instituted in the incident, officials said.
The incident took place at Shastrinagar in Yerwada area of the Pune city late Thursday night.
An offense was registered against the contractor firm's staff under IPC sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 336 (rash and negligent act endangering life) on Friday evening, police said.
''We have arrested four staff members of the contractor firm, which include the project manager, his assistant, safety supervisor and labour contractor supervisor,'' said Rohidas Pawar, deputy commissioner of police.
A net of steel bars for building a slab at the basement level collapsed on late Thursday night. Five labourers who were working at the time died on the spot and five others were injured, according to DCP Pawar.
The injured were admitted to a hospital and were out of danger, he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of life in the incident.
''Pained by the mishap at an under-construction building in Pune. Condolences to the bereaved families. I hope that all those injured in this mishap recover at the earliest,'' he tweeted.
Fire brigade and police personnel rescued those trapped under the debris.
Pune police commissioner Amitabh Gupta and civic chief Kunal Kumar visited the site.
''A raft foundation slab collapsed due to the absence of spacing and support. A committee has been formed under the supervision of the district collector to conduct an inquiry into the incident. The College of Engineering, Pune (COEP) has also been roped in to find faults, if any, in the construction. Based on the report, action will be taken,'' Kumar said.
Meanwhile, 24-year-old Mohammad Anjar, whose brother Tabiz Alam (22) was among those who died in the incident, said Alam had landed in Pune from Bihar's Belon village only six months ago in search of work at construction sites.
''For the last six months, he was working at different construction sites and only two days ago came here where the accident took place,'' he told reporters.
''We have four sisters, three of them still unmarried. After the death of my brother, the entire responsibility has come on my shoulders,'' said Anjar with tears in his eyes.
No safety measures had been taken at the work site, he alleged.
Anajr also said that he got no immediate financial assistance from the administration for arranging ambulance and other things.
The other deceased were identified as Majloom Hussain and Mohd Sameer from Balthar village, Mobid Alam from Chandi and Sohil Ahmed from Bheelwari village in Bihar. Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar announced ex-gratia aid of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased person.
Action would be taken against those responsible for the accident, Pawar said.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALSO READ
When Ayushmann Khurrana sung 'Bade Achhe Lagte Hai' for Tahira Kashyap at Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh in 2001
Received complaints after Waze was made CIU chief, Deshmukh tells Chandiwal commission
Anil Deshmukh insist before Chandiwal Commission to talk about Param Bir Singh letter's 'Param Satya'
Hry CM unveils Netaji’s statue in Chandigarh, asks youth to dedicate their lives to nation's service
Chandigarh University ranks among the Top Universities of India in the field of Research and Innovation | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/1910814-five-workers-dead-as-slab-collapses-at-construction-site-in-pune-four-arrested-for-negligence | 2022-02-04T18:49:34 | en | 0.976604 |
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska hospital system has announced it will begin resuming non-emergency surgeries and procedures that had been postponed last month due to a surge in COVID-19 cases.
Beginning Monday, Nebraska Medicine will move out of its “crisis standard of care” plan enacted on Jan. 13, the health system said in a statement Friday. The plan, which put a hold on most non-emergency procedures, was made as the omicron variant of the coronavirus saw a spike in demand for hospital beds and led to staff shortages as medical personnel themselves became infected or had to care for family members who were ill.
In the past week, there has been an overall decrease in COVID-19 admissions, Nebraska Medicine said, and the number of staff members in isolation and quarantine has also decreased significantly.
The system says it's now contacting those patients who saw procedures put on hold and is working to reschedule them. | https://www.chron.com/news/article/Nebraska-hospital-system-to-resume-delayed-16832161.php | 2022-02-04T18:49:39 | en | 0.985229 |
Their brotherhood all about dynasty politics instead of communal harmony, national unity: Yogi Adityanath on SP-RLD alliance
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday launched a staunch attack on the Samajwadi Party-Rashtriya Lok Dal alliance, saying that their idea of brotherhood is only about 'bhai-bhatijawaad' and dynasty politics, instead of communal harmony, national unity, and integrity.
- Country:
- India
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday launched a staunch attack on the Samajwadi Party-Rashtriya Lok Dal alliance, saying that their idea of brotherhood is only about 'bhai-bhatijawaad' and dynasty politics, instead of communal harmony, national unity, and integrity. His response came after the Samajwadi Party chief said that the upcoming elections in the state pit the idea of brotherhood versus BJP.
"The brotherhood they talk about is only about bhai-bhatijawaad and dynasty politics instead of communal harmony, national unity, and integrity. They have contributed to social fragmentation in the state. They want to create anarchy in the state," said the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister during an exclusive interview with ANI. Adityanath said that the opposition parties have exhibited that their intentions are not good and are involved in a conspiracy to ensure that mafia-like elements dominate the state once again.
"Earlier, investments could not happen. Women were not safe. Mafias ruined the perception and security of the state. Poor faced starvation while farmers were forced to commit suicide as they were kept away from the benefits of government schemes. But Uttar Pradesh has changed now and carved a new direction for itself, where women are safe and the government has worked for the villages, poor, farmers, and the youth. That is what Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, that people need to stay careful of the games being played behind the scenes by the opposition," he added. Adityanath said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will launch its vision document on February 6, adding that the party will win more than three-fourths of seats in the first phase of the election, which are scheduled to take place on February 10.
He also asserted that the party will cross 300 seats in the polls. Adityanath thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President JP Nadda, and the party's parliamentary board for giving him an opportunity to contest from Gorakhpur.
"I have always received cooperation and support from people in Gorakhpur. There is an atmosphere of excitement within the people. The country and Uttar Pradesh is touching new heights of development and governance under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP. UP and Gorakhpur have reaped the benefits of the double-engine government. People of Gorakhpur realize it and that is why they are excited. Talking about competitiveness in the upcoming elections and possible challenges to him, Adityanath said that the party takes every election seriously.
Elections for the 403 Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases starting February 10. The polling in Uttar Pradesh will be held on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27, and March 3 and 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/1910818-their-brotherhood-all-about-dynasty-politics-instead-of-communal-harmony-national-unity-yogi-adityanath-on-sp-rld-alliance | 2022-02-04T18:49:41 | en | 0.974747 |
(CNN)A week after a Pittsburgh bridge collapsed, officials announced plans on Friday to build a new one that will cost $25.3 million.
Ten people were injured January 28 when the snow-covered Fern Hollow Bridge collapsed just hours before President Joe Biden was slated to speak in Pittsburgh about infrastructure.
Federal money will pay for the new bridge through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, said a release from the city and the state Department of Transportation. That measure was a key component of Biden's agenda.
The city and state finalized a Reimbursement Grant Agreement allowing PennDOT to design and construct a new structure, according to the release. The city will resume jurisdiction and maintenance of the bridge after completion, the release said.
Gov. Tom Wolf's administration hired Swank Construction Co./HDR Inc. to begin the design, the release said.
"Pennsylvania is thankful for the steadfast commitment from the Biden Administration to rebuild this bridge and help the people of Pittsburgh move past this startling event," Wolf said in the release. "It is our hope that we can rebuild this bridge as quickly and efficiently as possible.
"While the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will go a long way to support our nation and our commonwealth, we must heed this collapse as a sign that we must take steps at the state level to prevent a future tragedy."
He added, "Members of Pennsylvania's General Assembly must come together in a bipartisan fashion to enact long-term funding solutions for our own infrastructure system." | https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/04/us/pennsylvania-bridge-repair/index.html | 2022-02-04T18:49:43 | en | 0.953639 |
NEW YORK (AP) — Forget mystery meat or cheese pizza. Instead, chickpea wraps and veggie tacos will be on the menu for New York City public school students as the nation's largest school district shifts to “Vegan Fridays” in school cafeterias.
The move was pushed by the city's new Mayor Eric Adams, who follows and promotes a plant-based diet that he credits for improving his health.
“I can’t tell people what to put on their grills on the weekend. But darn it, we should not be feeding the health care crisis in our prisons, our hospitals, and most importantly, in our schools, so we want to go in a more healthy direction,” Adams said in an interview on WNBC-TV on Friday.
Vegan options are already available in all of the city's public schools every day, but starting Friday and continuing weekly, the lunch offering will be vegan. Students can still request a non-vegan option, according to the city’s Department of Education, and milk, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, hummus and pretzels will always be available to students.
New York City public schools, which have about 938,000 students, have been offering Meatless Mondays since 2019 and Meatless Fridays since April. Around the country, 14% of school districts offered vegan meals and 56% offered vegetarian meals in at least one of their schools, according to a 2018 survey from the School Nutrition Association, a trade group representing school nutrition programs and workers.
It's unclear whether any other districts around the country plan to go vegan one day a week like New York City schools.
New York City schools says its vegan meals have been tested and approved by small groups of students.
Friday's menu included “vegan veggie tacos,” with a tortilla and salsa, with broccoli, and a carrot and lemon salad on the side. Other planned offerings this month include a Mediterranean chickpea dish with rice or pasta, and a black bean and plantain rice bowl.
Adams, a former New York City police captain, has said he traded in a lifestyle with junk food for a plant-based diet that helped him overcome diabetes. He wrote a book about his diet, “Healthy at Last.”
Nearly 40% of New York City public school children in grades K-8 were overweight or obese, according to data cited by the city in 2019. | https://www.chron.com/news/article/New-York-City-school-lunch-menu-going-vegan-on-16832044.php | 2022-02-04T18:49:45 | en | 0.96783 |
Don't want 'Z' category security, make me 'A' category citizen: Owaisi in LS over attack on convoy
A day after shots were fired at the convoy of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, the Lok Sabha MP on Friday refused to accept the Z category security cover provided by the Centre saying that he does not fear death.
- Country:
- India
A day after shots were fired at the convoy of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, the Lok Sabha MP on Friday refused to accept the Z category security cover provided to him by the Centre saying that he does not fear death. "I don't fear death. I don't want Z category security, I reject it; make me an 'A' category citizen. I'll not remain silent. Please do justice...charge them (shooters) with UAPA...appeal government to end hate, radicalization," Owaisi said in the Lok Sabha today.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will give a detailed reply on February 7 in Parliament on the incident of firing on Owaisi's convoy in Uttar Pradesh while he was leaving Meerut's Kithoudh area for Delhi on Thursday evening. Two men have been arrested allegedly for firing at the convoy of Asaduddin Owaisi when he was leaving Meerut's Kithoudh area for Delhi after poll campaigning, informed Uttar Pradesh Police.
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi was in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh's Meerut for campaigning on Thursday. The Uttar Pradesh assembly election for the 403 assembly seats would be held in seven phases from February 10 to March 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/1910822-dont-want-z-category-security-make-me-a-category-citizen-owaisi-in-ls-over-attack-on-convoy | 2022-02-04T18:49:49 | en | 0.967439 |
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — It's official: New York is now the largest sports betting market in America after just four weeks of taking mobile bets.
The Empire State blew past New Jersey in January to seize the market lead, taking over $1.6 billion worth of sports bets, according to figures released Friday by the New York State Gaming Commission. That's $300 million better than the best month that New Jersey ever had.
And those numbers are only going to go up. WynnBET just began taking bets in New York on Friday, and BallyBet has yet to begin operating in the state.
The new figures show that mobile sports betting brought in $1.62 billion in New York between its launch Jan. 9 and the week ending Jan. 30. In-person sports betting at four upstate casinos added close to another $15 million, bringing the monthly total to $1.64 billion.
New Jersey, which had led the nation in terms of the amount of sports bets its casinos and horse tracks took, had its best month in October 2021, when it took $1.3 billion in bets. New Jersey's figures for January 2022 will be released Feb. 16.
“This is great,” said New York state Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr., one of his state's leading proponents of mobile sports betting. “Going back to the first week we started, we did as much in two days as we had in two years before that. And we're still not even firing on all cylinders.”
Kevin Hennessy, a spokesperson for FanDuel, said the company knew New York would be a strong market.
“Legal sports betting in New York has exceeded all of our expectations,” he said. “New York and New Jersey combined are practically the center of legal sports betting in the United States. We are thrilled with how many New York customers have signed up to the FanDuel Sportsbook, and we continue to see New Jersey as a growing market.”
He said the Buffalo Bills playoff run generated heavy interest, and noted that the Winter Olympics, the NHL All-Star Game and the Super Bowl are all imminent.
New York's mobile sports betting operators earned nearly $113 million in revenue on the $1.62 billion in bets they handled after paying off winners and other expenses. That revenue is taxed at 51% in New York.
Caesars is the early leader in New York, handling over $615 million worth of bets in its first four weeks and generating nearly $56 million in revenue. FanDuel took nearly $502 million in bets, generating $23.6 million in revenue.
DrafkKings took $367 million in bets, generating $27 million in revenue; BetMGM took $78 million in bets with $3.2 million in revenue; Rush Street Interactive took $32 million in bets and generated $837,035 in revenue; and PointsBet took $29 million in bets, generating $2.3 million in revenue.
That New York became the No. 1 market for sports betting once it allowed people to bet via cell phones or computers was not a surprise. New York's population of over 19 million people is much greater than New Jersey's population of under 9 million.
New York allowed New Jersey to race to an early lead in sports betting by its refusal to immediately allow mobile wagering. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo for years insisted that allowing mobile betting would violate the state's constitution, but New York permitted it beginning Jan. 9 of this year.
___
Follow Wayne Parry on Twitter at @WayneParryAC | https://www.chron.com/news/article/New-York-blows-past-New-Jersey-for-top-sports-16832162.php | 2022-02-04T18:49:52 | en | 0.970015 |
Loyal to Trump, Republican Party moves to censure U.S. Reps. Cheney, Kinzinger
The Republican Party prepared on Friday to censure two of its own -- U.S. Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger -- over their involvement in Congress' probe of former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
The Republican Party prepared on Friday to censure two of its own -- U.S. Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger -- over their involvement in Congress' probe of former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Cheney and Kinzinger voted to impeach Trump on a charge of incitement of insurrection after last year's deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot and are the only Republicans taking part in the House of Representatives' investigation of the attack.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) resolution rebukes Cheney and Kinzinger for their involvement on the Jan. 6 select committee, accusing them of "participating in a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse," according to a copy obtained by Reuters. It says their actions have damaged Republican efforts to win back majorities in Congress.
The measure says the RNC will "immediately cease any and all support of them" as party members, but stops short of calling for their ouster from the party, as initially proposed. All 168 members of the RNC will consider the resolution on Friday at their winter meeting in Salt Lake City.
Trump, who retains a strong grip over his party as Nov. 8 midterm congressional elections draw closer, has been on the warpath against Republicans who have taken a stand against him. Republicans are trying to take control of both the House and the Senate from President Joe Biden's fellow Democrats. Both lawmakers issued statements in anticipation of Friday's vote.
"The leaders of the Republican Party have made themselves willing hostages to a man who admits he tried to overturn a presidential election and suggests he would pardon Jan. 6 defendants, some of whom have been charged with seditious conspiracy," Cheney said, referring to the hundreds of Trump supporters accused of various crimes in the violent attack. Four people died on Jan. 6, and a Capitol Police officer died the next day. About 140 police officers were injured, and four later died by suicide.
Cheney said she does not recognize those in her party who "abandoned the Constitution to embrace Donald Trump, who has endorsed her challenger in the Wyoming Republican primary. Kinzinger, who is not seeking re-election, said he has been a conservative Republican since before Trump entered politics. He vowed to continue "working to fight the political matrix that's led us to this point."
Not all Republicans are lining up against the two. Republican Senator Mitt Romney praised Cheney and Kinzinger as honorable in a Twitter post on Friday. "Shame falls on a party that would censure persons of conscience, who seek truth in the face of vitriol," he wrote.
At least 71 Republican members of Congress transferred money https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/republican-us-lawmakers-funnel-money-colleagues-who-crossed-trump-2022-02-01 last year to the campaigns of congressional Republicans, including Cheney's, that supported booting Trump from office, a Reuters analysis found. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy came to their defense late Thursday, writing on Twitter, "The RNC is censuring Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger because they are trying to find out what happened on January 6th - HUH?"
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALSO READ
U.S. charges Belarus officials with aircraft piracy over diverted Ryanair flight
Mexico power bill in U.S. sights as Granholm makes case for renewables
Congress demands all-party delegation led by PM Modi should visit LAC
Japan and U.S. to start new '2 plus 2' dialogue for economic issues -Kyodo
Top diplomats for U.S., Russia meet in Geneva on soaring Ukraine tensions | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/1910833-loyal-to-trump-republican-party-moves-to-censure-us-reps-cheney-kinzinger | 2022-02-04T18:49:57 | en | 0.967538 |
The district attorneys for Philadelphia and Allegheny County have lost a round in their legal challenge of the $26 billion national opioid settlement, with a Pennsylvania appeals court ruling Friday that their suit against the state attorney general was premature.
The prosecutors want the right to continue with their own lawsuits against the drug industry, saying the national settlement would pay their communities only a fraction of the money needed to cover the epidemic's financial toll. They had asked the court to rule that Attorney General Josh Shapiro has no authority to bind them to the settlement.
A Commonwealth Court judge ruled Friday that because the national settlement has yet to be finalized, the prosecutors' challenge cannot be heard.
“Unless and until” the agreement is ratified and affects “the DAs’ rights in a substantial and concrete manner, any opinion that this court would issue at this stage of the proceedings would be an impermissible advisory opinion,” said the ruling by Judge Michael Wojcik.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, who is pursuing his own, potentially more lucrative, ligation against the opioid industry, vowed to continue the legal fight.
“These attorneys general have basically committed that they will work with Big Opioids against lawsuits to get more money," Krasner said Friday. “It is a fundamental sellout of places like Allegheny County, Philadelphia County, where we have an astronomical number people dying of fatal overdoses every single year.”
Shapiro's office said it would issue comment later. The attorney general has previously accused Krasner of misrepresenting the national settlement, which he says would jump-start funding for treatment in communities ravaged by the epidemic.
A message was sent to the office of Allegheny County DA Stephen Zappala Jr. seeking comment.
Last year, drugmaker Johnson & Johnson and the three largest U.S. drug distribution companies announced a $26 billion settlement with state and local governments to resolve thousands of state and local government lawsuits. An overwhelming majority of governments have signed on. The defendants can still back out before the agreement is finalized.
In Pennsylvania, Shapiro announced last week that as of the Jan. 26 deadline to sign on, all 67 counties had decided to join the settlement. He said Pennsylvania is slated to receive about $1 billion. | https://www.chron.com/news/article/Philly-Pittsburgh-DAs-lose-round-in-opioid-16831990.php | 2022-02-04T18:50:04 | en | 0.973605 |
NYPD honours whistleblower Frank Serpico 50 years late
More than 50 years after Frank Serpico testified about endemic corruption in the New York Police Department, the department finally recognised his service and injury in the line of duty with an official certificate and inscribed medal of honour.
More than 50 years after Frank Serpico testified about endemic corruption in the New York Police Department, the department finally recognised his service and injury in the line of duty with an official certificate and inscribed medal of honour. The former undercover detective, 85, received the honour in the mail Thursday, the New York Daily News reported. Serpico testified in December 1971 to a panel appointed by Mayor John Lindsay to investigate police corruption, breaking the “blue wall of silence,” the protection that fellow officers sometimes give each other, such as refusing to testify. Al Pacino went on to portray him in the hit 1973 movie “Serpico,” and his story is also relayed in a book by Peter Maas. Current Daily News and former Associated Press reporter Larry McShane interviewed Serpico in December about the 50th anniversary of his appearance before the Knapp Commission.
''I felt that finally I was going to tell the world and nobody's going to interrupt me,” Serpico told the newspaper, speaking from his home in upstate New York. “I thought, I know the truth.' ... Every single word was mine, and it came from the heart.” Serpico was shot in the face during a drug arrest in Brooklyn in 1971 months before he testified and has maintained that the other officers he was with never made a call for an “officer down.” While the department gave Serpico a medal recognising his injury in 1972, it was handed over without ceremony or the accompanying certificate, he told the newspaper. Mayor Eric Adams responded to the coverage, saying Serpico's “bravery inspired my law enforcement career. Frank — we're going to make sure you get your medal.” On Thursday, Serpico tweeted a photo of the framed medal of honour and certificate that reads in part, “in recognition of an individual act of extraordinary bravery performed in the line of duty.'' He has continued to speak out against corruption and abuse by the police since his retirement in 1972 and says he has supported and listened to other whistleblowers over the years, including those who testified about the now-terminated stop-and-frisk policy. In 2017, he publicly supported quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who protested against racial injustice while playing in the NFL.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/1910839-nypd-honours-whistleblower-frank-serpico-50-years-late | 2022-02-04T18:50:04 | en | 0.981815 |
At 4:30 a.m. on a Monday morning last spring, Peter Denton got up in darkness, dressed and jumped in his pickup truck. The drive to his work site in Detroit took a little more than an hour.
As a construction foreman working on a new bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, Peter often clocked in six days a week, working up to 11 hours each shift.
The Friday before, he woke up with a runny nose, cough and chest pain. His wife, Kristy, insisted he go to urgent care. He was given a COVID-19 test, which was negative, and an electrocardiogram, which was normal. Nonetheless, the doctor told him there might be an underlying problem and said he should go straight to the emergency room if anything came up over the weekend.
All went well, even with Peter working an overnight shift, then spending Sunday clearing out fallen branches and brush around his home in Jackson, Michigan.
At noon Monday, he started his lunch break, eating a burger in the cab of his truck. With his window down, he chatted with a co-worker standing outside.
Suddenly, Peter felt nauseous. His vision blurred. He felt like he might pass out.
He remembered the doctor's advice. He also recalled there was a first aid station about a half mile away, on the job site.
"You need to take me to the medic," he told his friend. The man jumped into Peter's truck and started driving.
Halfway there, Peter felt like a knife was stabbing his heart over and over. He doubled over in pain.
An EKG explained what was happening.
"You're having a heart attack," a medic told him.
Peter waited for pain medicine to kick in and for an ambulance to arrive. Meanwhile, Kristy and Peter's father, Greg Denton Sr., who was working on the same job site, were notified.
As paramedics were taking Peter to the ambulance, his father rushed to his side. Trying to ease some of the tension, Greg joked, "We don't have time for this. We still have a lot of work to do here, son."
"It'll be all right, Dad," Peter answered.
At the hospital, doctors used two stents to open the blockages in his heart. Prompt action not only saved him, but it also put him on the road to a speedy recovery. He awoke without pain. Hours later, he was walking the halls of the hospital.
The next day, a cardiologist asked Peter about his lifestyle.
Did he smoke?
Did he chew tobacco?
Did he drink?
Peter answered every question with a "yes."
He readily acknowledges his lifestyle paved the way for a heart attack. At 45, he was 6-foot-1, 300-plus pounds. He'd been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
He'd tried changing his habits before. The most recent try was a few years earlier, following the diabetes diagnosis. It only lasted until his medicine ran out. He didn't refill it and stopped seeing his doctor.
After his heart attack, Peter tried again.
He immediately stopped smoking and cut way back on drinking. He's still trying to quit chewing tobacco.
Eight months after his heart attack, he was down to 237 pounds. His goal is 200.
He was motivated by his three children, Gabriela Denton, 14; Hunter Denton, 20; and David Phelps, 27. And, of course, Kristy.
"After the heart attack, she reiterated how much I meant to her and the kids," Peter said. "And this time she decided to jump in with me and eat better and lose weight."
On previous attempts to eat healthier, he'd make salads while Kristy would cook dinner for herself and their children. Looking back, she realizes that left him feeling isolated and made it tougher for him to stick with his diet.
Now they're a team. They're following a diet that focuses on protein and vegetables. They've also eliminated fast food and eating out.
Kristy, who is 4-foot-11, has shed 20 pounds and weighs 119.
She bought Peter a bike trainer so he could ride his bicycle inside during the winter, and he plans to pedal throughout the year. He's also walking more on the job site instead of jumping into his truck for short trips.
His efforts seem to be working. In addition to losing weight, his doctor recently told him he no longer needs medication for diabetes.
Obesity affects 1 in 4 U.S. construction workers, according to the Hard Hats with Heart initiative from the American Heart Association that focuses on heart health in the construction industry. The same amount – 25% – use tobacco.
As someone who used to be in both groups, Peter is trying to help his colleagues beat those odds. He gently spreads the word about heart health and regular checkups.
"If talking about my experience saves one person or encourages someone to go to the doctor," Peter said, "I'd feel blessed."
Stories From the Heart chronicles the inspiring journeys of heart disease and stroke survivors, caregivers and advocates.
If you have questions or comments about this story, please email editor@heart.org.
Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Permission is granted, at no cost and without need for further request, for individuals, media outlets, and non-commercial education and awareness efforts to link to, quote, excerpt or reprint from these stories in any medium as long as no text is altered and proper attribution is made to American Heart Association News.
Other uses, including educational products or services sold for profit, must comply with the American Heart Association’s Copyright Permission Guidelines. See full terms of use. These stories may not be used to promote or endorse a commercial product or service.
HEALTH CARE DISCLAIMER: This site and its services do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. If you are in the United States and experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or call for emergency medical help immediately. | https://www.chron.com/news/article/Quick-attention-saved-construction-foreman-during-16832123.php | 2022-02-04T18:50:10 | en | 0.986326 |
Loyal to Trump, Republican Party censures U.S. Reps. Cheney, Kinzinger
Republicans are trying to take control of both the House and the Senate from President Joe Biden's fellow Democrats. 'PERSONS OF CONSCIENCE' Both lawmakers issued statements in anticipation of Friday's vote. "The leaders of the Republican Party have made themselves willing hostages to a man who admits he tried to overturn a presidential election and suggests he would pardon Jan. 6 defendants, some of whom have been charged with seditious conspiracy," Cheney said, referring to the hundreds of Trump supporters accused of various crimes in the violent attack.
The Republican Party on Friday censured two of its own -- U.S. Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger -- over their involvement in Congress' probe of former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Cheney and Kinzinger voted to impeach Trump on a charge of incitement of insurrection after last year's deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot and are the only Republicans taking part in the House of Representatives' investigation of the attack.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) on Friday passed a resolution rebuking Cheney and Kinzinger for their involvement on the Jan. 6 select committee, accusing them of "participating in a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse," according to a copy obtained by Reuters. The resolution passed on a voice vote as 168 members of the RNC gathered for their winter meeting in Salt Lake City. The yes votes were overwhelming, with a handful of nays, according to reporters at the meeting.
It said their actions have damaged Republican efforts to win back majorities in Congress. The measure said the RNC will "immediately cease any and all support of them" as party members, but stops short of calling for their ouster from the party, as initially proposed.
All 168 members of the RNC will consider the resolution on Friday at their winter meeting in Salt Lake City. Trump, who retains a strong grip over his party as Nov. 8 midterm congressional elections draw closer, has been on the warpath against Republicans who have taken a stand against him. Republicans are trying to take control of both the House and the Senate from President Joe Biden's fellow Democrats.
'PERSONS OF CONSCIENCE' Both lawmakers issued statements in anticipation of Friday's vote.
"The leaders of the Republican Party have made themselves willing hostages to a man who admits he tried to overturn a presidential election and suggests he would pardon Jan. 6 defendants, some of whom have been charged with seditious conspiracy," Cheney said, referring to the hundreds of Trump supporters accused of various crimes in the violent attack. Four people died on Jan. 6, and a Capitol Police officer died the next day. About 140 police officers were injured, and four later died by suicide.
Cheney said she does not recognize those in her party who "abandoned the Constitution to embrace Donald Trump, who has endorsed her challenger in the Wyoming Republican primary. Kinzinger, who is not seeking re-election, said he has been a conservative Republican since before Trump entered politics. He vowed to continue "working to fight the political matrix that's led us to this point."
Not all Republicans are lining up against the two. Republican Senator Mitt Romney praised Cheney and Kinzinger as honorable in a Twitter post on Friday. "Shame falls on a party that would censure persons of conscience, who seek truth in the face of vitriol," he wrote.
At least 71 Republican members of Congress transferred money https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/republican-us-lawmakers-funnel-money-colleagues-who-crossed-trump-2022-02-01 last year to the campaigns of congressional Republicans, including Cheney's, that supported booting Trump from office, a Reuters analysis found. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy came to their defense late Thursday, writing on Twitter, "The RNC is censuring Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger because they are trying to find out what happened on January 6th - HUH?"
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALSO READ
Congress demands all-party delegation led by PM Modi should visit LAC
Congress consulted youth of Uttar Pradesh & their views are reflected in party's 'youth manifesto':Rahul Gandhi.
Youth in Uttar Pradesh need a new vision, only Congress can give that vision to the state: Rahul Gandhi.
Daughter-in-law of Congress leader questions 'party's double standards towards women's rights'
Congress constructed new things for families, this govt builds monuments of national importance: PM Modi | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/1910848-loyal-to-trump-republican-party-censures-us-reps-cheney-kinzinger | 2022-02-04T18:50:12 | en | 0.968287 |
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The SeaWorld theme park in Orlando is opening new pools to care for Florida manatees that are dying from starvation due to poor water quality in their normal habitat.
The lovable, round-tailed marine mammals had their worst die-off last year, more than 1,100 of them, and there are federal and state efforts ongoing to save the threatened creatures. One of these efforts is to have a place like SeaWorld, with the marine assets it has, provide rehabilitation to those that can be rescued.
SeaWorld announced Friday that it has added five 40-foot (12-meter) pools to accomodate up to 20 manatees within two weeks. The theme park is one of five facilities in the U.S. taking care of sick and injured manatees. It had 28 manatees in its care as of Friday, according to a company release.
“We are bringing animals in that are skeletons. These animals need long-term care,” said Jon Peterson, chief of zoological operations at SeaWorld who chairs a manatee rescue partnership with government agencies.
"We’ve got the space. We will continue to use that space,” he added.
Manatees on the east coast of Florida, in particular, have suffered during winter months from a lack of food. They are large creatures that feed on sea grass, and poor water quality has reduced their natural food source, causing many to starve to death. It's mostly agricultural, urban and septic tank sources of pollution that are depriving them of food.
As of Jan. 28, 97 manatees have been found dead in Florida, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which has taken a leading role in the manatee rescue effort. Five of those were killed by boat strikes. Most of the rest are starving.
“That is the same pattern we had last winter, and these numbers will continue,” said Dr. Martine deWit, the veterinarian who examines dead manatees for the state of Florida.
The Fish and Wildlife Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have embarked on an experimental attempt to feed manatees with romaine lettuce at a Florida Power & Light plant on the east coast. The animals typically gather there in winter months because of the warm outflow waters and at a time when there is very little natural food.
Recently, wildlife officials said there were more than 700 manatees in that area, although it's hard to say how many were eating lettuce.
“They are going to go where the food is,” said Tom Reinert, South regional director at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. “We hope to make a difference." | https://www.chron.com/news/article/SeaWorld-ramps-up-care-for-threatened-Florida-16832203.php | 2022-02-04T18:50:16 | en | 0.977126 |
SilverLine's financial viability questionable, track alignment not agreed to; advisable to stop land acquisition: Centre tells Kerala HC
- Country:
- India
In what could possibly throw a spanner in the Left government's ambitious SilverLine project, the Centre on Friday told the Kerala High Court that it was ''advisable'' that land acquisition proceedings for the project be stopped at this stage as its financial viability was ''questionable'' and feasibility of the present track alignment has not been agreed to by the Railway Ministry.
The submission was made by the central government in a statement filed in the high court in response to the appeals filed by the state government challenging a single judge's order of January 20 deferring till February 7 the survey being carried out in connection with SilverLine project on several properties in Kottayam district of the state.
In its statement, the Centre has further said that permission was granted to Kerala Rail Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) for conducting geotechnical investigations and hydrological investigations only and subject to KRDCL's adherence to the conditions laid down wherever the alignment was going parallel to the Railway land. ''But permission to plant boundary stones was not agreed to, in the absence of an approved Detailed Project Report (DPR),'' the statement filed through Assistant Solicitor General S Manu said.
The single judge's January 20 order had come on several pleas moved by the property owners against the laying of concrete poles, with the marking K-Rail, in their respective parcels of land.
The state, in its appeal, had contended that the concrete poles were laid to identify land for carrying out Social Impact Assessment (SIA) study in relation to the project.
The Centre has also said in its statement that in-principle approval ''only means approval to go ahead with preparation of DPR etc which brings out the complete details of the project including financials''. ''Once DPR is made, based upon the details brought out, taking up the project or otherwise is decided. Any project expenditure is incurred once DPR is approved and sanction communicated. In the present case of SilverLine this approval has not been granted so far. ''DPR has been submitted by Kerala Rail Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) and is under scrutiny by the Railway Board. As per proposal, in the patch where proposed line is parallel to existing line no space will remain available for any future expansion of Railways and to accommodate future 3rd/4th line. Sufficient details regarding technical feasibility are not available in the DPR submitted,'' the Centre has said.
Therefore, KRDCL has been advised to provide detailed technical documents such as alignment plan, particulars of railway land and private land, crossings over existing railway network, duly depicting affected railway asset through zonal Railway for detailed examination of the project and to arrive at conclusion about feasibility of project, the statement has said.
It has further said that ''financial viability of this railway project of Rs63,941 crore is questionable''. ''Since the Ministry of Railways is a joint venture partner in KRDCL, debt component of Rs 33,700 crore will finally come from the Ministry of Railways as debt servicing, which is not possible with mainly passenger traffic.
''This will also be examined and firmed up after finalization of technical parameters. Even if the State Government is willing to provide debt repayment guarantee, the Ministry of Railways has to examine whether the project is financially viable per se,'' the Centre has said.
It has further said that after the Railway Ministry accepts the DPR it would be sent to Niti Aayog for appraisal which has not been done yet.
The Centre has also said that it has been receiving many representations against the project and the major issues raised in them are that thousands of hectares of cultivable land would be ruined, around 20,000 houses, shops and business establishments would be adversely affected and may also lead to demolishing of many religious structures. ''It is therefore advisable that the proceedings of land acquisition for this project shall be stopped at this stage, as even feasibility of the present alignment has not been agreed by the Ministry of Railways,'' the Centre has said.
A bench of Chief Justice S Manikumar and Justice Shaji P Chaly, on Friday, heard arguments on behalf of the state, Railways and the property owners in a hearing which spanned several hours and then reserved its judgment, lawyers associated with the case said.
The Kerala government's ambitious SilverLine project, which is expected to reduce travel time from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod to around four hours, is being opposed by the opposition Congress-led UDF, which has been alleging that it was ''unscientific and impractical'' and will put a huge financial burden on the state.
The 540 kilometre stretch from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod would be developed by K-Rail -- a joint venture of the Kerala government and the Railway Ministry for developing railway infrastructure in the southern state.
Starting from the state capital, SilverLine trains will have stoppages at Kollam, Chengannur, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Tirur, Kozhikode and Kannur before reaching Kasaragod.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALSO READ
Congress demands all-party delegation led by PM Modi should visit LAC
Congress consulted youth of Uttar Pradesh & their views are reflected in party's 'youth manifesto':Rahul Gandhi.
Youth in Uttar Pradesh need a new vision, only Congress can give that vision to the state: Rahul Gandhi.
Daughter-in-law of Congress leader questions 'party's double standards towards women's rights'
Congress constructed new things for families, this govt builds monuments of national importance: PM Modi | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/science-environment/1910750-silverlines-financial-viability-questionable-track-alignment-not-agreed-to-advisable-to-stop-land-acquisition-centre-tells-kerala-hc | 2022-02-04T18:50:20 | en | 0.970693 |
The Vermont House on Friday approved a constitutional amendment that would remove what supporters say is ambiguous language and make clear that slavery and indentured servitude are prohibited in the state.
The constitutional amendment now goes before voters in November.
Vermont's constitution states that no person 21 or older should serve as a slave unless bound by their own consent or “by law for the payment of debts, damages, fines, costs, or the like.” The amendment would remove that language and add that slavery and indentured servitude in any form are banned.
The current language is “harmful and threatening to Vermonters who experience the vestiges of slavery,” said Rep. Hal Colston of Winooski to his colleagues. “My truth as a descendent of slave advocates is that this current language gives the appearance that there may be an exception for the existence of slavery and indentured servitude. Language is powerful and the truth shall set us free.”
To amend the Vermont Constitution, the proposal must be approved by two consecutively elected Legislatures and then approved in a statewide referendum. The Vermont House unanimously approved the measure in 2020 and the state Senate passed the proposal in the previous session. The House vote on Friday was 139-3.
In 2018, voters in Colorado backed a measure to clarify language in the state Constitution to ban slavery and involuntary servitude under all circumstance. Since then, voters in Nebraska and Utah have approved initiatives amending their state constitutions to remove language that allows slavery and involuntary servitude as criminal punishments.
Legislation was also introduced in Congress in June to end a loophole in the U.S. Constitution that allowed forced labor for those convicted of some crimes. The measure would revise the 13th Amendment, which bans enslavement or involuntary servitude except as a form of criminal punishment. | https://www.chron.com/news/article/Slavery-ban-amendment-approved-goes-to-voters-in-16832187.php | 2022-02-04T18:50:22 | en | 0.960278 |
PARIS (AP) — France’s broadcast watchdog has opened an inquiry into news coverage by Russian state TV channel RT France, after the regulator was alerted to concerns about some of its programs.
The regulator, called Arcom, confirmed the inquiry Friday. It did not elaborate on reasons for the move, but noted that it regularly investigates concerns about channels that broadcast in France. RT France, which launched in 2017, is part of the global RT TV network.
Many in France see RT as a Russian government propaganda tool that amplifies far-right or populist politics. It has repeatedly come under criticism from centrist President Emmanuel Macron.
While the inquiry is just an inquiry at this stage and doesn’t involve any restrictions on the channel’s programming, RT France director Xenia Fedorova tweeted: “Welcome to the new world of censorship” and sarcastically called it “perfect timing” after RT’s recent difficulties in Germany.
A German media regulator ruled Tuesday that RT lacks the necessary permission to broadcast its German-language programs in the country. RT DE started broadcasting in mid-December using a Serbian license.
In retaliation, Russia on Thursday announced that it is shutting down the Moscow office of German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle and withdrawing its staff’s accreditations. It was the latest move by Russia's government against foreign or independent journalists.
The French Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday that it “deplores” Moscow’s decision to shut down Deutsche Welle’s activities. “The freedom to inform is a fundamental right that should be protected everywhere,” it said. | https://www.lakecountystar.com/entertainment/article/French-regulator-investigates-Russian-broadcaster-16832208.php | 2022-02-04T18:50:23 | en | 0.962307 |
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A judge has partially dismissed two lawsuits alleging abuse at New Hampshire’s youth detention center, saying one complaint “consists of nothing more than invective and bald conclusions.” But attorneys who have filed hundreds of similar cases say they will fill in the details soon.
Nearly 450 men and women have sued the state alleging they were abused as children at the Sununu Youth Services Center, formerly the Youth Development Center. Their allegations span six decades and involve more than 150 staffers at the Manchester facility, but most of the lawsuits are nearly identical and include few specifics.
Since late December, the state has filed motions seeking to have claims against the state and the agency that oversees the center dismissed in more than 40 cases. Judge Andrew Schulman agreed in two cases this week, leaving intact claims against individual former employees of the center.
“The complaint does not describe the facts that constitute any of these categories of harm. What was the physical abuse? What excessive restraints were used?” he wrote. “If there was sexual abuse, what happened? The plaintiff did not say anything about what he specifically experienced.”
The plaintiff in that case is Michael Gilpatrick, who also is suing five of the 11 men who were arrested in April and charged with either sexually assaulting or acting as accomplices to the assaults of more than a dozen teenagers. Two of them are charged with restraining Gilpatrick while he was sexually assaulted by two of the others.
The Associated Press typically does not name victims of sexual assault unless they have come forward publicly as Gilpatrick has done.
Gilpatrick, who spent three years at the center in the 1990s, wouldn’t discuss that episode in an interview with The Associated Press in September. But he said in addition to being subject to physical and sexual abuse, he was held in solitary confinement for as long as three months.
“There was nobody you could go to at YDC to talk to. You were literally stuck in your own thoughts, in your own fear every single day,” he said.
The judge’s order in the second case wasn’t available Friday, but he also dismissed claims against the state in another case brought by an anonymous plaintiff, according to the attorney general’s office.
State officials have said that filing the dismissal requests should not be considered a lack of support for crime victims, but the plaintiffs' attorney disagreed. Rus Rilee, said Friday he plans to amend all 450 lawsuits in the next 60 days but that there is no “legal or other need to force the victims to disclose all the details of their painful abuse in public.”
“This is nothing more than a continued effort by the State to try to silence these crime victims and deter others from coming forward in order to avoid accountability for decades of systemic governmental child abuse," he said. "It is becoming clear that the State doesn’t really sympathize with or care about these child crime victims - it just wants them to shut up and go away.” | https://www.chron.com/news/article/Some-claims-against-state-tossed-in-youth-center-16832109.php | 2022-02-04T18:50:28 | en | 0.982827 |
LS grants one-month extension to panel to submit report on Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill
- Country:
- India
Lok Sabha on Friday granted a one-month extension to a joint committee for submitting its report on the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
The bill seeks to reduce the pressure on wild medicinal plants by encouraging cultivation of such plants and facilitate fast-tracking of research, patent application process and transfer of research results.
BJP MP Brijendra Singh moved the motion to provide extension to the committee to submit its report on the Bill which was granted by the House.
Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav had moved the motion in the last session to refer the Biodiversity Bill to the joint committee with 21 members of Lok Sabha and 10 members from Rajya Sabha.
The committee was to submit its report to the House by the last day of the first week of this session.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
- READ MORE ON:
- Bhupendra Yadav
- Lok Sabha
- Bill
- Brijendra Singh
- House
- Rajya Sabha
- Lok Sabha
ALSO READ
Mexico power bill in U.S. sights as Granholm makes case for renewables
CM Gehlot issues directions to stop auctioning of agricultural land, says if bill becomes a law, no Tehsildar would dare take such step
‘A Christmas Story’ sequel in the works, Peter Billingsley to reprise Ralphie role
US & India should set bold goals to achieve USD 500 billion in bilateral trade: new USIBC president
Judge rules Bill Paxton's family can seek punitive damages against hospital in wrongful death lawsuit | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/science-environment/1910796-ls-grants-one-month-extension-to-panel-to-submit-report-on-biological-diversity-amendment-bill | 2022-02-04T18:50:28 | en | 0.947639 |
Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week.
MOVIES
— Valentine's Day means romantic comedies, and romantic comedies — often enough — mean Jennifer Lopez. The rom-com mainstay of “Maid in Manhattan" and “The Wedding Planner” returns to the genre in “Marry Me,” which opens Friday in theaters and on Peacock. In it, she plays a J-Lo-like pop star who learns her fiancé has been cheating on her just before their wedding is to be televised. Heartbroken and distraught, she pulls a random fan (Owen Wilson) out of the audience who happens to be holding a “Marry Me” sign. The movie, which Lopez produced and performs songs in, will surely strike some as reflecting the star's own closely followed, always-in-the-spotlight romantic life. It's also her first lead role in a movie since 2019's acclaimed “Hustlers.”
— Amazon Studios, too, has its own prominent rom-com offering, starring Charlie Day and Jenny Slate. In “I Want You Back,” they play a pair of dumped 30-somethings stewing over their breakups. The two friends conspire to ruin their ex's new relationships to win them back. The film, which debuts Friday on Amazon Prime Video, is directed by Jason Orley, who helmed the charming 2019 Pete Davidson film “Big Time Adolescence.” Davidson also makes an appearance in “I Want You Back.”
— AP Film Writer Jake Coyle
MUSIC
— Mary J. Blige may have just said goodbye to viewers in the season finale of her Starz series “Power Book II: Ghost” but she's not going away: Blige pops up in a big way this week with a new album out Friday, Feb. 11, and a spot in the Super Bowl halftime show. The 13-track album, called “Good Morning Gorgeous,” features Anderson .Paak, Usher, DJ Khaled, Dave East and Fivio Foreign. The title track is an affirmation: “Sometimes you gotta look in the mirror and say/'Good morning gorgeous'/No one else can make me feel this way.”
— Spoon roar back with the 10-track, stripped-down rock ‘n’ roll album “Lucifer on the Sofa” out Friday, Feb. 11. It marks the quintet's first set of songs recorded in its hometown of Austin, Texas, in more than a decade, kicked off by the single “Wild.” “We wanted to make a rock ‘n’ roll record, a great rock ‘n’ roll record. I just don’t feel like there’s enough great rock ‘n’ roll records being made these days,” frontman Britt Daniel recently told The AP. He also revealed that the title song refers to himself, saying that's “the character that I can become when I’m at my worst.”
— AP Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy
TELEVISION
— Joseph Sikora’s Tommy Egan is at the center of “Power Book IV: Force,” as is Chicago. It’s where Tommy ends up after ditching the familiar turf of New York, and executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson says the Windy City is both a character and a means of approaching the third “Power Book” spinoff with a clean slate and new tone. For Tommy, what was intended as a quick stop ends up plunging him into the city’s drug game and scheming to become its kingpin. Isaac Keys, Lili Simmons, Gabrielle Ryan and Shane Harper are among the cast members in the drama debuting Sunday, Feb. 6, on Starz.
— Gugu Mbatha-Raw and David Oyelowo star in HBO Max’s “The Girl Before,” adapted from novelist JP Delaney’s best-selling psychological thriller of the same name. Mbatha-Raw’s Jane is delighted to move into an impressively sleek, modern house, the work of an architect (Oyelowo) who requires occupants to follow his demanding rules. When Jane begins to discover parallels between her experience and that of previous tenant Emma (Jessica Plummer), the posh digs start to look far less appealing. The drama’s four episodes are out Thursday.
— All together now: Awww, Puppy Bowl is back! The event rides the coattails of that other, puppy-less bowl game and for the good cause of showcasing animal shelters, their dedicated staffers and the furry residents in need of homes. When Team Ruff and Team Fluff and coaches Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg meet in “Puppy Bowl XVIII,” more pups will take the field than ever before. The three-hour event, on discovery+ and Animal Planet at 2 p.m. EST Sunday, Feb. 13, features 118 adoptable players from 33 states. Among them: Benny, a wheelchair-using Labradoodle, and Pongo, a deaf Dalmatian.
— AP Television Writer Lynn Elber
___
Catch up on AP’s entertainment coverage here: https://apnews.com/apf-entertainment. | https://www.lakecountystar.com/entertainment/article/New-this-week-Mary-J-Blige-Jennifer-Lopez-and-16832159.php | 2022-02-04T18:50:30 | en | 0.941029 |
PASCAGOULA, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi man is behind bars after a fight with his father left the man dead, authorities said.
Henry Kevin Edwards, 40, of Lucedale, is being held at the George County jail on one count of second-degree murder in the killing of Henry Cornelius Edwards, 80, the sheriff's office said Thursday. It was unknown if Edwards has an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
Investigators discovered Edwards’ body in a vehicle outside of a residence in Lucedale at 4 p.m. Wednesday, news outlets reported. Police determined there had been a physical altercation between the father and son, and the elderly man died from injuries sustained in the fight. Authorities have not said what sparked the fight. | https://www.chron.com/news/article/Son-arrested-after-fight-leaves-his-father-dead-16832226.php | 2022-02-04T18:50:34 | en | 0.981938 |
J&K govt sets March-end deadline for completion of ongoing tourism projects
- Country:
- India
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary (CS) Arun Kumar Mehta on Friday set a deadline of March-end for completion of all ongoing projects of the tourism department in the union territory, officials said.
Reviewing the progress of the projects, the CS directed that all 582 works targeted for completion during the current fiscal year should be completed on time.
The official asked the department to put all unutilised assets to use by March 31, 2022.
Saying tourism has great capacity to create large-scale employment of diverse kind, Mehta asked the department to look for complementarities and synergies with other departments to generate economic activity and create productive jobs in the sector.
The officials said that while 224 projects under capex have been completed so far, out of 122 under the Prime Minister Development Program (PMDP), 94 have been completed and the remaining 28 will be completed as per the set timelines.
Giving details of the various tourism activities initiated by the department, they informed that snow scooters have been introduced in Sonmarg and the ice skating rink has been made fully functional in Gulmarg.
Mehta directed the department to involve local people in and around the tourist destinations in the effort to improve the ambience of these places.
He added that all tourist places need to be advertised on hoardings and billboards along the national highways and other important roads in the UT.
Highlighting the importance of Akhnoor town as a tourist destination, the chief secretary directed the department to develop the place as a popular weekend getaway for residents of Jammu city and surrounding places.
Mehta also highlighted the importance of Surinsar as a potentially attractive evening destination for Jammuites and directed the department to develop the place complete with all recreational activities, improved surroundings and well laid internal roads.
He further said that city and heritage tour campaigns have been launched in the capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar.
The CS directed the department to synergise with Mission Youth for purchase of snow scooters and ATVs under the scheme to the willing youth in Sonmarg, Gulmarg and Pahalgam and other such like tourist areas to create self employment opportunities for them.
Mehta asked the department to ensure that river cruise on Jehlum river is started by March-end, while adding that the amphitheatre at the Bagh-i-Bahu garden should be put to use by roping in local talents or by organising other activities.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALSO READ
American actress-singer Mary Millben marks exodus of Kashmiri Pandits
COVID-19: Authorities impose restrictions across Kashmir as cases rise
Man arrested for running online campaign against Kashmiri students
J&K: Top officials review security situation in Kashmir
Traditional stoves retain their popularity in Kashmir | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/science-environment/1910826-jk-govt-sets-march-end-deadline-for-completion-of-ongoing-tourism-projects | 2022-02-04T18:50:35 | en | 0.957421 |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo only needed one album to earn her the title of Billboard's 2022 Woman of the Year, landing her in the same company as Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga.
The former teen actor turned pop star will be honored as the 2022 Woman of the Year at the Billboard Women in Music Awards on March 2. Previous honorees also include Cardi B, Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande.
Rodrigo became 2021′s biggest breakout star with her confessional debut album, breaking chart records and racking up awards and nominations. Rodrigo's exploration of heartache, jealousy and insecurity on “SOUR” broke streaming records and led to all 11 tracks landing in the top 30 of Billboard Hot 100 chart, making her the first female artist to achieve the feat.
“Olivia’s trajectory to superstardom is the stuff of pop music legend,” said Hannah Karp, Billboard’s Editorial Director, in a statement. “Her talents as a storyteller and songwriter have made Olivia one of the most authentic and exciting new artists to explode onto the scene in years."
Other award recipients at the Billboard Women in Music Awards include Gabby Barrett, Phoebe Bridgers, Doja Cat, Karol G, Bonnie Raitt, Saweetie and Summer Walker.
The awards show will be held at the YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles, hosted by Ciara. Fans will be able to purchase tickets this year for the first time at billboardwomeninmusic.com. | https://www.lakecountystar.com/entertainment/article/Olivia-Rodrigo-named-Woman-of-the-Year-by-16832051.php | 2022-02-04T18:50:36 | en | 0.921187 |
HASSAKEH, Syria (AP) — Weeks after the long, furious battle with militants from the Islamic State group over a prison in northwestern Syria, the mangled wreckage of a car used by suicide bombers still sat outside its perimeter. Cranes put in place new cement blast walls to close off the entrance.
Gaping holes remained in the prison’s outer wall, an ominous reminder of the IS inmates who escaped during the fighting.
The battle for Gweiran Prison is over; it took 10 days, but U.S.-backed, Syrian Kurdish-led forces finally defeated the militants who attacked the facility in the city of Hassakeh, aiming to break free their comrades jailed inside, in the group’s largest and most stunning operation in years.
But the impact continues to reverberate. Residents in neighboring districts are locked down as Kurdish fighters hunt for fugitive militants hiding among them.
“Ask everyone here, they will tell you the same: We are terrified,” said Muna Farid, a mother of five who lives in the Gweiran neighborhood, which gives the prison its name — echoing the worries of dozens of residents over hidden IS fighters.
The region’s Kurdish administrators say the attack shows what they have long been saying: They are not getting enough help to face the Islamic State group as it regains strength.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces say the Jan. 20 prison attack was not a surprise to them. Local intelligence sources had been showing a growing number of IS sleeper cells in the area. But they say they were hampered in acting because of multiple pressures, including conflicts with Turkey, insufficient international help and Syria’s economic crisis.
“The main reason that IS sleeper cells got enhanced and strong is because of international silence and weak support (for SDF) to stand against terrorism,” said Haval Qortay, head of the commando unit that fought IS at the prison, using his nom de guerre. “We are relying on resources that are not enough to fight.”
IS suffered a blow with the U.S. raid Thursday in northwest Syria that killed the group’s leader, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi. But it is unlikely to derail the group’s persistent insurgency in Iraq and Syria since its command became much more decentralized after the group's territorial defeat two years ago.
“For some time now ISIS top leadership have been providing broad, strategic guidance to the global organization, but not day-to-day command and control,” said Dareen Khalifa, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group. “ISIS’s various elements will continue implementing their local insurgencies until the new successor is named.”
Since IS lost its last hold on any territory in 2019, its militants have gone underground in cells that have been carrying out low-level hit-and-run attacks in Syria and Iraq, mainly targeting security forces. Those attacks have been growing, raising fears the group is gaining momentum.
In northeast Syria, governed by a Kurdish-dominated administration, the SDF has been the main force trying to suppress IS, with the backing of several hundred U.S. troops.
At the same time, the SDF has to watch over some 10,000 captured IS fighters in around two dozen detention facilities — including 2,000 foreigners whose home countries have refused to repatriate them. It also oversees some 62,000 family members of IS fighters, mostly women and children in al-Hol camp. Many of those family members remain die-hard IS supporters, and the camp has seen bouts of militant violence.
Khalifa said the SDF has done a “remarkable job” in fighting IS and in stabilizing the areas it captured from the group during the long campaign that brought down the “caliphate.”
But she said it is also hampered on multiple fronts. Particularly, its frequent clashes with Turkey, which views the Kurdish faction running eastern Syria as a terrorist group, undermine the anti-IS fight. Also, many Arab residents of the region don’t trust that the SDF will remain, fearing the Americans will pull out or the Damascus government will regain control of the area — so they are reluctant to endanger themselves by providing intelligence against militants.
Gweiran Prison, the biggest of the SDF-run prisons, was set up in a school campus, underscoring how the SDF has had to cobble together detention centers for the militants.
On Jan. 20, around 200 militants attacked the prison, in coordination with a riot by inmates inside. The attackers broke in, freed some prisoners, took guards hostage, and held out against SDF fighters for days, even as aircraft from the U.S.-led coalition struck their positions repeatedly.
At least 121 SDF fighters and prison guards and more than 380 militants killed before the SDF finally restored full control.
The commando chief Qortay said the SDF had long been aware the prison would be an IS target and had been receiving intelligence of a growing number of IS sleeper cells in the area. Some militants seamlessly pass for civilians at checkpoints, he said. Others move into towns, rent apartments and maintain a low profile.
When the attack erupted, Qortay’s units formed a belt around the prison and the nearby residential neighborhoods. During the fighting, some IS members hid in civilian homes, slowing the SDF as it tried to avoid civilian casualties, Qortay said.
Now the prison is fully under SDF control, he said, but he expects more attacks. Militants remain hidden, literally, across the street. SDF troops are still conducting raids to find sleeper cells, relying on intelligence from residents.
One resident of Gweiran neighborhood told The Associated Press how he informs the local authorities whenever he sees a stranger on his street. He has told them of at least eight since the prison break, including one hiding in a water tank.
“I know everyone in this area, if I see a new face I report them directly,” he said. The AP is not identifying him for his safety.
But residents are also angered by the SDF’s clampdown on three neighborhoods near the prison. With guns slung, SDF soldiers at the districts’ entrances forbid locals from leaving until their areas are cleared of militants.
Supplies are allowed in, but residents say it’s not enough. Dozens complained of shortages in food and drinking water. Mothers said they didn’t have enough milk for their babies or food to feed their families.
Fatma al-Khodr sat on the steps outside her home on the phone, begging a neighbor for any leftover bread.
“We are the ones who are suffering the most after this attack. ... We fear Daesh, but we also need water,” she said, using the Arabic name for IS.
The militants’ ability to carry out such a major attack even amid intelligence warnings was a stinging blow to the SDF. The force is hoping it will show world powers that it needs more support, after long complaining it is left largely on its own to prevent the group’s revival in Syria.
On a recent day, the clouds hung low at a funeral for 23 of the SDF soldiers killed in the prison battle. Thousands came to pay their respects. Among them, Ibrahim Ismail, a merchant from the area.
“Their deaths were a shock to us all,” he said.
Then the crowd fell silent in remembrance. Portraits of the dead were held high as coffins draped in the region's Kurdish colors passed along the sea of human bodies.
A loudspeaker blared a verse from the Quran, “Do not think those who die in God’s path are dead.” Ismail completed the verse in a whisper to himself, “They are alive, with their Lord, prospering.” | https://www.chron.com/news/article/Stung-by-prison-battle-Kurds-say-they-need-help-16832236.php | 2022-02-04T18:50:40 | en | 0.970794 |
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ The winning numbers in Friday afternoon's drawing of the Indiana Lottery's "Daily Four-Midday" game were:
6-9-0-3, SB:
(six, nine, zero, three; SB: zero)
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ The winning numbers in Friday afternoon's drawing of the Indiana Lottery's "Daily Four-Midday" game were:
6-9-0-3, SB:
(six, nine, zero, three; SB: zero) | https://www.lakecountystar.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Daily-Four-Midday-game-16832252.php | 2022-02-04T18:50:42 | en | 0.872649 |
Sports News Roundup: Klay Thompson passes Kobe Bryant on 3-pointer list; Olympics-Opening ceremony ends with Uyghur skier lighting cauldron and more
The snowboard competitions, among the most crowd-pleasing events at any Winter Games, also showcase American great Shaun White who is once more up against Japan's Ayumu Hirano in the men's halfpipe after they finished one-two at Pyeongchang 2018. Olympics-Games open with a bang - and an echo of the Cold War China mixed politics and sport with a boldness unseen since the Cold War on Friday, with President Xi Jinping announcing a new alliance with Russia's Vladimir Putin just hours before presiding over a spectacular Olympics opening ceremony.
Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.
Golf-Varner, Arnaus share lead after second round in Saudi International
American Harold Varner III and Spain's Adri Arnaus shared a two-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Saudi International event near Jeddah after both carded a four-under-par 66 on Friday. The pair, who upstaged many of the more high-profile players, finished the second round at 10-under for the tournament, two shots clear of Australia's Cameron Smith and American Matthew Wolff.
Olympics-Snowboarding-Anderson, White face tough challenge to retain titles
Snowboarding at the Beijing Olympics kicks off on Saturday with reigning twice gold medallist Jamie Anderson of the United States preparing to meet the challenge of New Zealand's Zoi Sadowski-Synnott for the ultimate prize in women's slopestyle. The snowboard competitions, among the most crowd-pleasing events at any Winter Games, also showcase American great Shaun White who is once more up against Japan's Ayumu Hirano in the men's halfpipe after they finished one-two at Pyeongchang 2018.
Olympics-Games open with a bang - and an echo of the Cold War
China mixed politics and sport with a boldness unseen since the Cold War on Friday, with President Xi Jinping announcing a new alliance with Russia's Vladimir Putin just hours before presiding over a spectacular Olympics opening ceremony. Held in the famed Bird's Nest stadium before a crowd thinned out because of COVID-19, the opening ceremony easily cleared the high hurdle of spectacle expected of China. Three thousand performers took to a stage comprised of 11,600 square metres of high-definition LED screens.
Olympics-Cross-country skiing-COVID fears cloud medal hopes in Norway camp
They may have more Winter Olympic medals than any other nation, but a succession of positive COVID-19 tests in the camp has left Norway clinging to the hope that their athletes can make it to the start lines at the Beijing Games, never mind the podiums. Every day seems to bring a new story of a Norwegian positive test or a close contact, with several athletes in isolation and several more who haven't even made it to China from Europe yet.
Olympics-Cross-country skiing-Brit Musgrave braves 'hellfire' virus to make it to Beijing
As the whole world worried about COVID-19, British cross-country skier Andrew Musgrave was struck down by a virus of a different kind as a bout of shingles derailed his Olympic preparations in November. A headache and a reddened eye were the first signs that he was infected with the varicella zoster virus, which causes shingles, and it was not a pleasant experience for the Norway-based Brit.
NBA roundup: Klay Thompson passes Kobe Bryant on 3-pointer list
Klay Thompson passed Kobe Bryant on the all-time list with the sixth of his seven 3-pointers Thursday night as the Golden State Warriors used a long-distance assault to thump the Sacramento Kings 126-114 in San Francisco. Thompson finished with a team-high 23 points, Stephen Curry had 20 and Jonathan Kuminga 18 for Golden State, which won its league-best eighth in a row en route to becoming the NBA's second 40-game winner. The Warriors trail only the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference and league standings.
NBC talks politics, human rights in Beijing Olympics opening ceremony coverage
During the opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Olympics on Friday, hosts and experts on U.S. network NBC spoke in stark terms about China's alleged rights violations and Russia's conflict with Ukraine, directly addressing the geopolitical tensions underpinning the Games. Coverage of the political backdrop comes as human rights groups and lawmakers have pressured NBC and broadcasters around the world to incorporate China's treatment of minority Muslim Uyghurs and crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong into the coverage of the Olympics.
Uyghurs in Turkey call for boycott as Beijing Games begin
Hundreds of protesters from China's Muslim Uyghur community rallied in Istanbul on Friday to call for a boycott of the Winter Olympics opening in Beijing and to urge participants to speak out against China's treatment of the ethnic minority. The Beijing Olympics opened on Friday in the shadow of a diplomatic boycott over China's human rights record and devoid of most spectators due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Olympics-Figure skating-Chen skates clean as U.S. lead team event after day one
Nathan Chen skated his best short program as the United States made a near-perfect start in the team event when the figure skating competitions kicked off at the Beijing Olympics on Friday. Chen's first place in the men's short programme was followed by Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue winning the rhythm dance with their season's best and third place for Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier in the pair short programme.
Olympics-Opening ceremony ends with Uyghur skier lighting cauldron
The Beijing Winter Games opened on Friday night in a snow- and ice themed ceremony at the Bird's Nest stadium that concluded with the cauldron lit by two young Chinese Olympians, one of them a member of China's Uyghur minority. During a performance that went longer than scheduled on a frigid night in the Chinese capital, President Xi Jinping declared the opening of an Olympics whose preparations were beset by the pandemic and criticism over human rights in China.
(With inputs from agencies.)
ALSO READ
Entertainment News Roundup: Jon Stewart to receive Mark Twain Prize for American Humor; NBCUniversal says coverage during Beijing Olympics to include 'geopolitical' issues and more
UN General Assembly head urges peace during Beijing Olympics
Global equity sell-off sends European shares sharply lower
Spain's foreign minister says Europeans are 'united' on Ukraine crisis
Global equity sell-off sends European shares sharply lower | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/sports-games/1910741-sports-news-roundup-klay-thompson-passes-kobe-bryant-on-3-pointer-list-olympics-opening-ceremony-ends-with-uyghur-skier-lighting-cauldron-and | 2022-02-04T18:50:43 | en | 0.944793 |
Brief new report brings more iPhone SE 3 bad news (and some good news)
1But while one or two (not-very-reliable) leakers are still clinging to their hopes of seeing the next budget-friendly iOS handset embrace a more "modern" notch than the massive bezels of the 2020 model, the survival of one of the industry's most outdated designs is virtually guaranteed.
Unfortunately, the same goes for the iPhone SE 3's snubbing of another modern technology, unveiled (or rather revived) in 2020 and expanded from the iPhone 12 family to the iPhone 13 lineup last year.
No MagSafe, no deal?
Before you make such rash commitments, you should keep in mind that the first 5G-enabled iPhone SE variant ever will definitely support "traditional" wireless charging functionality, according to both Macotakara's "reliable sources in China" today and, well, common sense.
We're talking, of course, about the Qi standard, which was also present on the 4G LTE-only second-gen iPhone SE, allowing the 2020-released 4.7-incher to pair with the vast majority of wireless chargers on the market, be them sold by Apple or manufactured by countless other companies and brands.
The same will naturally be true for the iPhone SE (2022), which is simply expected to lack the advanced MagSafe technology of its 12 and 13-series cousins. In other words, you won't be able to magnetically attach certain charging accessories to this upcoming device that could have definitely come in handy but are in no way, shape, or form to be considered (lone) dealbreakers.
Besides, let's be honest, there weren't a lot of reasons to be hopeful of such an inclusion after 2021's iPad Pro releases sans MagSafe support. Not with all the corners Apple is expected to cut in order to keep the iPhone SE 5G pricing at the exact same level as its ultra-affordable predecessor.
And now the good news
While Macotakara's reliable-sounding new report doesn't go into a lot of any detail regarding the iPhone SE 3 specs or launch schedule, we now know that production has (allegedly) begun... at some point in the undoubtedly recent past.
That's apparently true for both the iPhone SE 5G and iPad Air 5, the latter of which is likely to also offer 5G speeds (albeit as an option). The two devices are therefore very much on schedule for an April or even late March commercial debut, at least for the time being.
Obviously, plenty of things can still go wrong between the start of production and the time of release, especially in the middle of a global chip shortage, but it's certainly promising that we haven't heard anything about any issues since the rumored beginning of "trial production" back in December 2021.
iPhone SE (2022) demand is likely to be sky-high, mind you, despite the reported absence of any big (or even small) visual changes. 5G connectivity and an upgraded processor should be more than enough to convince millions of current iPhone SE owners to switch, analysts say, and given the massive price gap between the 4.7-inch model and the "regular" iPhone 13, we definitely cannot argue with that prediction.
Similarly, the fifth-gen iPad Air that's tipped to accompany the third-gen iPhone SE to Apple's first big event of 2022 will probably retain the admittedly far more appealing design of its 2020 forerunner while switching to an A15 Bionic SoC and borrowing that nifty Center Stage front-facing camera feature from the ultra-high-end iPad Pro (2021) duo.
Story timeline | https://www.phonearena.com/news/apple-iphone-se-3-no-magsafe-support-production-started-new-report_id138280 | 2022-02-04T18:50:45 | en | 0.957323 |
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has rejected Republican gubernatorial candidate Rebecca Kleefisch's request that it take over an absentee ballot box challenge in Wisconsin, in a ruling Friday.
Kleefisch, a former lieutenant governor, asked the conservative-controlled Supreme Court to take directly to take the case directly after a lower court's ruling that kept current law in place.
A Waukesha County judge on Jan. 13 ruled that absentee ballot drop boxes cannot be located anywhere other than at offices of local clerks and that no one other than the voter may return such a ballot.
An appeals court’s ruling put the lower court order on hold only until after the primary when the court was then going to consider the merits of the entire case.
Kleefisch's request is similar to one filed last month by a conservative group, the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty.
Judge Patience Roggensack was among three dissenting judges on Kleefisch's request.
“Because Wisconsin voters deserve elections conducted in a manner that we have reviewed and approved, I would grant Kleefisch’s petition to commence an original action. Because the majority sidesteps its obligation to hear the continuing cry of Wisconsin voters and address absentee ballot issues, I respectfully dissent,” she wrote.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission has advised that local clerks can put drop boxes wherever they want.
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers last year vetoed Republican bills that would have limited the location of absentee ballot drop boxes and who could return the ballots. | https://www.chron.com/news/article/Supreme-Court-won-t-take-challenge-to-absentee-16832127.php | 2022-02-04T18:50:46 | en | 0.949904 |
DETROIT (AP) _ The winning numbers in Friday afternoon's drawing of the Michigan Lottery's "Midday Daily 3" game were:
7-2-5
(seven, two, five)
DETROIT (AP) _ The winning numbers in Friday afternoon's drawing of the Michigan Lottery's "Midday Daily 3" game were:
7-2-5
(seven, two, five) | https://www.lakecountystar.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Midday-Daily-3-game-16832234.php | 2022-02-04T18:50:49 | en | 0.92916 |
Olympic silver medallist Dahiya, Punia and six other wrestlers to attend special camp in Bulgaria
Tokyo Olympics silver winner Ravi Dahiya and 2019 World Championships medallist Deepak Punia, along with six other Indian wrestlers, have been selected for a special camp in Teteven, Bulgaria from February 5 to 23.The Sports Ministry has approved the training camp on the recommendations of the Wrestling Federation of India WFI keeping in mind the Indian grapplers preparations for a busy season which includes the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and the Hangzhou Asian Games.
- Country:
- India
Tokyo Olympics silver winner Ravi Dahiya and 2019 World Championships medallist Deepak Punia, along with six other Indian wrestlers, have been selected for a special camp in Teteven, Bulgaria from February 5 to 23.
The Sports Ministry has approved the training camp on the recommendations of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) keeping in mind the Indian grapplers' preparations for a busy season which includes the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and the Hangzhou Asian Games. The 14-member squad will include four freestyle, four Greco-Roman wrestlers, four sparring partners and two coaches, a WFI release stated.
Upon their return, they will join the national camp for 83 male wrestlers which is being scheduled at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centre in Sonipat.
At the same time, as many as 48 women wrestlers will be in the national camp in the SAI Centre in Lucknow. The national camps, being organised by the WFI from February 7 to March 31, are also being fully funded by the sports ministry.
''We appreciate the speedy approval from SAI for the wrestlers' camp and special training ahead of the Asian Championships, the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games,'' WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said in the release. ''With such support by the Ministry and SAI, our athletes can continue to deliver results on the international stage. We have widened our talent pool to ensure good bench strength.'' Squad for special camp in Bulgaria: Ravi Dahiya, Deepak Punia, Gourav Baliyan and Sandeep Singh (Freestyle); Sunil Kumar, Sajan Bhanwal, Ravi Malik and Ashu (Greco-Roman); Arun, Arun Kumar, Monu Dahiya and Hardeep (sparring partners). Coaches: Balwant Singh Chikara and SB Prasad.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/sports-games/1910747-olympic-silver-medallist-dahiya-punia-and-six-other-wrestlers-to-attend-special-camp-in-bulgaria | 2022-02-04T18:50:50 | en | 0.944921 |
ATLANTA (AP) — A Texas man accused of posting a message on Craigslist after the 2020 election calling on “patriots” in Georgia to “put a bullet” in three government officials has pleaded not guilty to a criminal charge.
Chad Stark and his attorney appeared briefly by video Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Russell Vineyard in Atlanta. Stark, 54, pleaded not guilty to one count of communicating interstate threats. He remains free on bond.
The Justice Department has said Stark's prosecution was the first criminal case brought by its new Election Threats Task Force that was created last summer. According to prosecutors, Stark posted a message on Jan. 5, 2021, titled: “Georgia Patriots it’s time to kill (Official A) the Chinese agent - $10,000."
The message stated, “Georgia Patriots it’s time for us to take back our state from these Lawless treasonous traitors.” It goes on to urge Georgia residents to “militia up” and calls for shooting the three officials as well as “corrupt” local and federal judges.
Prosecutors did not name the officials in documents filed in federal court in Georgia.
Former President Donald Trump has made repeated false claims that widespread fraud cost him the election, and some of his supporters have targeted election officials and workers in Georgia and elsewhere, making violent threats against them. | https://www.chron.com/news/article/Texas-man-pleads-not-guilty-to-making-threats-16832006.php | 2022-02-04T18:50:52 | en | 0.965023 |
DETROIT (AP) _ The winning numbers in Friday afternoon's drawing of the Michigan Lottery's "Midday Daily 4" game were:
5-2-1-5
(five, two, one, five)
DETROIT (AP) _ The winning numbers in Friday afternoon's drawing of the Michigan Lottery's "Midday Daily 4" game were:
5-2-1-5
(five, two, one, five) | https://www.lakecountystar.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Midday-Daily-4-game-16832233.php | 2022-02-04T18:50:55 | en | 0.941492 |
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — UCLA men's basketball player Mac Etienne was arrested and cited on suspicion of misdemeanor assault after appearing to spit toward a fan after the Bruins lost a road game to Pac-12 rival Arizona, a University of Arizona police spokesman said Friday.
The alleged incident occurred Thursday night as UCLA players left the McKale Center playing floor and entered a tunnel to go to their locker room, said the spokesman, Officer Jesus Aguilar.
Etienne was allowed to go to the locker room and was then arrested, cited and released, Aguilar said.
Local media outlets reported that fans jeered UCLA players when the incident occurred. The Wildcats beat the Bruins 76-66.
UCLA officials knew of the incident and were reviewing it, university spokesman Scott Markley said in a statement.
“UCLA Athletics is committed to and expects the highest level of sportsmanship," the statement said.
Etienne, a redshirt freshman, was not in uniform and did not play in the game.
It wasn't immediately clear whether saliva landed on any fans but the misdemeanor assault charge alleges intent, Aguilar said.
“We did have a willing victim who did want to press charges," he said.
Etienne wasn't taken into custody or booked into jail but he will be expected to either appear in court on a future date or make alternative arrangements with court officials, Aguilar said.
“We had no reason to take him into custody," he said. | https://www.chron.com/news/article/UCLA-player-arrested-after-allegedly-spitting-at-16831781.php | 2022-02-04T18:50:58 | en | 0.982779 |
PKL: Bengaluru Bulls and Dabang Delhi share spoils
Bengaluru Bulls and Dabang Delhi K.C. played out a highly-entertaining 36-36 tie on Day 6 in Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) season eight's rivalry week.
- Country:
- India
Bengaluru Bulls and Dabang Delhi K.C. played out a highly-entertaining 36-36 tie on Day 6 in Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) season eight's rivalry week. The second match of the Triple Panga night defined the spirit of the Rivalry Week with Delhi doing the seemingly impossible by making a comeback to tie the match.
Pawan Sehrawat's Super 10 had catapulted the Bulls to a 10-point lead but Delhi showed their winning DNA by fighting their way back. Their young raider Naveen Kumar scored a Super 10 (13 points) while defenders Sandeep Narwal and Joginder Narwal scored 4 points each. The match started at a breakneck speed with Bulls' Pawan Sehrawat and Delhi's Naveen Kumar dominating the raids. Both attackers seemed in the groove for a big night, but the defenders slowly started finding their feet as the game progressed.
Delhi changed the right cover defender with the error-prone Jeeva Kumar being benched and all-rounder Sandeep Narwal being shifted to that position. He was instrumental in keeping Pawan Sehrawat away from the mat as Delhi clinched their first ALL OUT with 7 minutes remaining. They opened a 5-point lead, but Bulls' defenders also got into the match after the ALL OUT. A series of tackles reduced Delhi's lead on the mat with raider Bharat also chipping in with valuable points. The first half ended 18-14 in favour of Delhi, but you could sense a shift in momentum towards the Bulls.
Bengaluru used that momentum to clinch an ALL OUT in the 2nd minute after the restart. Pawan and a resolute defence helped the Bulls take the lead. Bharat and G.B. More contributed in both, defence, and attack as they slowly started getting the better of Delhi. Naveen Kumar had very little impact in the early minutes of the second half as the Bulls inflicted another ALL OUT in the 9th minute to open an 8-point lead. Pawan Sehrawat got yet another Super 10 as the Bulls suddenly looked favourites for the win.
Delhi's seniors did not like how the team had conceded a big lead and started losing their temper on the mat. Manjeet Chhillar, Sandeep Narwal and Joginder Narwal could be seen engaged in heated discussions as Pawan Sehrawat found easy points for the Bulls. But Delhi showed why they are on top of the points table by staging a late comeback. Naveen Kumar clinched his Super 10 as they secured an ALL OUT in the dying minutes to make it a 1-point game. Pawan Sehrawat thought his 2-point raid in the final minute would have won the Bulls the match, but Naveen immediately scored a point for Delhi.
With 30 seconds remaining, Bengaluru had a 1-point lead, but Manjeet Chhillar produced a stunning ankle hold to pin Pawan Sehrawat and earn Delhi a well-fought tie. (ANI)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/sports-games/1910778-pkl-bengaluru-bulls-and-dabang-delhi-share-spoils | 2022-02-04T18:50:58 | en | 0.966551 |
BRAINTREE, Mass. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Friday afternoon's drawing of the Massachusetts Lottery's "Numbers Midday" game were:
2-6-4-6
(two, six, four, six)
BRAINTREE, Mass. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Friday afternoon's drawing of the Massachusetts Lottery's "Numbers Midday" game were:
2-6-4-6
(two, six, four, six) | https://www.lakecountystar.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Numbers-Midday-game-16832129.php | 2022-02-04T18:51:01 | en | 0.902844 |
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The Louisiana Workforce Commission is launching a new program to help combat the nationwide truck driver shortage.
The “Drive Your Future” training grant offers those who qualify a chance to participate in a five-week apprenticeship that, if completed, will result in the student obtaining a commercial driver’s license, WBRZ-TV reported. The program comes at no cost to the student. The LWC pays for classes at accredited truck driving schools.
“We’ve devoted substantial funding to this effort to make sure that we can put CDL drivers on the road to help with delivering goods all across the country,” said Ava Cates, secretary at the LWC.
Starting wages range from $40,000 to $60,000 annually, Cates said.
“We’re looking for those individuals that are just getting into the workforce, maybe haven’t been in the workforce, and those looking for a new career as well so the sky is the limit,” she said.
Anyone interested in the program can find an application here. Classes begin in mid-February. | https://www.chron.com/news/article/Workforce-Commission-launches-program-for-16831988.php | 2022-02-04T18:51:04 | en | 0.961827 |
AFC Women's Asian Cup: Enjoyed my time in India, says Japan's midfielder Narumiya Yui
Japan's fantastic run at the AFC Women's Asian Cup India 2022 came to an end on Thursday after their loss to eight-time champions China 2-2 (4-3) in the penalty shootouts at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune.
- Country:
- India
Japan's fantastic run at the AFC Women's Asian Cup India 2022 came to an end on Thursday after their loss to eight-time champions China 2-2 (4-3) in the penalty shootouts at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune. The defending champions showcased great determination and grit to remain in the contest till the end but were unable to pick up the win.
Before bowing out of the tournament, Japan midfielders Kumagai Saki and Narumiya Yui spoke on their experiences of being hosted by India, and express gratitude for a 'fulfilling stay' in the country. "Before arriving, I had no idea how our stay in India would be as it was my first time in this country. But most of the arrangements made for us were quite good. I really enjoyed my time in India," Narumiya said.
The AFC Women's Asian Cup India 2022 is being played across three venues - the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, the Mumbai Football Arena in Mumbai and the Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune. Kumagai praised the pitches in India and said that she enjoyed the difference in cultures between the two nations. "The pitches are quite good, and I liked the hotels that we stayed in, especially in Pune. I was surprised at the difference of the culture from Japan, and it was an interesting experience for me. I spent fulfilling days in India," she said.
The two Japanese football stars also praised the rising level of competition in the tournament and said that there is need to continue to invest in building a footballing environment for women in the Asian countries to continue its growth. "Women's football competitiveness is growing rapidly because the environments around us such as facilities, human resources and analysis are being developed. I think that we should continue to invest in those things to progress our performance," Kumagai said.
"We, in Asia, need to continue to make even more efforts to match the level of football in Europe and North America. I would like Asian women's football to excite the people in Asia," Narumiya added. On being asked about how the tournament can help in the overall growth of Asian Women's football, Kumagai, who plays for the German club FC Bayern Munich, said: "There is no match that we won easily in this competition. However, I feel that there would be a big difference against some top teams in the world. Hence, we should continue improving ourselves. The goal of this tournament's participants should not be to only become the champion of Asia, but also winning in the world competition."
The two players, before bidding farewell, also gave a special message for the fans and for the girls and women aspiring to make a career in football or any other sports. "You should enjoy whatever you do. Do what you love and love what you do," Kumagai said.
"Loving what you do is the source of energy. I would like young people to enjoy what you do," Narumiya added. (ANI)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/sports-games/1910779-afc-womens-asian-cup-enjoyed-my-time-in-india-says-japans-midfielder-narumiya-yui | 2022-02-04T18:51:06 | en | 0.981515 |
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Three people have been apprehended and two additional people are being sought in connection with the fatal shooting of a Maine man in Providence last month, police said Friday.
A teenager from Fall River, Massachusetts, who is now 18 but was 17 at the time of the Jan. 16 shooting, is suspected of being the gunman and faces murder and other charges, Providence police Maj. David Lapatin said.
A 25-year-old Fall River man and a 23-year-old Attleboro, Massachusetts man face accessory charges, he said. The two people still at large face murder and conspiracy charges.
The victim was previously identified as Biniam Tsegai, 35, of Portland, Maine. His companion, Merhawi Berhe, 28, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, was also shot and remains in the hospital, Lapatin said.
The victims had just left an illegal after-hours nightclub at about 3 a.m. when they encountered the suspects and a physical altercation ensued before the gunfire broke out, police said. It's unclear what sparked the altercation.
The suspects fled but were identified through surveillance video.
There is no known connection between the victims and the suspects and Detective Capt. Tim O’Hara described it as a random shooting.
Tsegai's death was the city's first homicide of 2022. | https://www.lakecountystar.com/news/article/3-face-charges-in-Providence-homicide-2-others-16832035.php | 2022-02-04T18:51:08 | en | 0.976469 |
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Authorities say no one was injured when an aircraft bound from Las Vegas to Minneapolis returned early Friday for a “hard landing” with a landing gear malfunction at Harry Reid International Airport.
Airport, airline and Federal Aviation Administration officials said the right main landing gear of Sun Country Airlines flight 110 collapsed when the Boeing 737 landed about 1:20 a.m. with 50 passengers and six crew members aboard.
Everyone deplaned by stairs and returned by bus to the airport terminal.
Sun Country CEO Jude Bricker said passengers were being assisted by airline personnel.
The aircraft remained on a runway for several hours while crews removed fuel to allow it to be towed to a parking area, airport spokeswoman Melissa DeFrank said.
Other airport operations were not affected.
A National Transportation Safety Board spokesman said the agency was monitoring the incident but did not immediately begin an investigation. | https://www.lakecountystar.com/news/article/Aircraft-to-Minneapolis-returns-to-Vegas-for-16832244.php | 2022-02-04T18:51:14 | en | 0.963008 |
Kerala’s popular Nehru Trophy boat race to be held in UAE this year
The Nehru Trophy boat race, a popular fixture held annually in the Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha in Kerala, is slated to be held in Ras al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates this year, in a move to build on the close-knit ties between the Gulf nation and the southern Indian state, the organisers said on Friday.
- Country:
- United Arab Emirates
The Nehru Trophy boat race, a popular fixture held annually in the Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha in Kerala, is slated to be held in Ras al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates this year, in a move to build on the close-knit ties between the Gulf nation and the southern Indian state, the organisers said on Friday. The race, named after former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, will be held on March 27, 2022 at the Al Marjan Island. “The move is to build on the beautiful relationship between UAE and Kerala,” a statement from the organisers said. The organisers of the UAE Nehru Trophy boat race met Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is currently in the UAE, and briefed him about the same.
“We were conducting boat events in the region for several years. This year, we plan to take it to a grand scale by inviting teams from across the Emirates and present this event to different nationalities in the UAE,” Riyas Katil, Advisory Board Member, International Marine Sports Club, Ras Al Khaimah said.
The Nehru Trophy boat race is amongst the pioneer snake boat races in Kerala is a top tourist draw, where millions gather to watch 100 feet long boats compete to the tunes of old Malayalam folk songs.
The name of the water race was coined following Nehru’s visit to Kerala in 1952. He was so enchanted by the sight of the majestic snake boats, that he leapt into one of the snake boats himself, ignoring the security cover.
Later on in the year, he donated a silver trophy in the form of a snake boat as a gift for his memories, and subsequently the boat race was named after him.
The boat race was not organised over the past two years in Kerala due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALSO READ
Mortal remains of 2 Indians killed in Abu Dhabi drone attack to reach Punjab: India’s UAE envoy
Indian capital to lift weekend curfew as COVID cases fall - source
Silver Line survey stones removed by protesters in Kerala; Cong extends support
Indian stocks dip for 4th straight day; Sensex tumbles 593 points
Iran, China and Russia hold naval drills in north Indian Ocean | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/sports-games/1910790-keralas-popular-nehru-trophy-boat-race-to-be-held-in-uae-this-year | 2022-02-04T18:51:14 | en | 0.968993 |
Joe Burrow knew Evan McPherson must be a special kicker if the Cincinnati Bengals were willing to spend a fifth-round pick on a position usually filled by undrafted players and journeyman.
But the Bengals targeted McPherson and made him the only kicker taken in the 2021 draft, a decision that has been validated by one of the NFL's greatest postseason kicking runs.
“Obviously kickers aren’t usually drafted that high, but I figured if we’re drafting a kicker, he’s going to be really good for us,” Burrow said this week. “Then I met Evan and you kind of know how a kicker is going to perform based on how he reacts and interacts with people in the locker room. All the kickers can kick it and put it through the uprights, but it’s really how you handle the intense situations that’s going to really make or break your reputation as a kicker.”
McPherson survived the friendly ribbing from his new teammates and dished it back himself, showing the Bengals he was ready for the NFL. But nothing has been more intense — and no performance has been better than McPherson has done so far in the playoffs.
He has been perfect on kicks through three games, making four field goals in each win and delivering walk-off kicks on the road the past two weeks to beat Tennessee and Kansas City and send Cincinnati to the Super Bowl.
“He’s been everything that we expected him to be and and then some,” special teams coach Darrin Simmons said. “But his mental makeup is fantastic. It’s exactly what you’re looking for in that position.”
McPherson's 12 field goals so far are two shy of Adam Vinatieri's record from the 2006 postseason and he already has as many four field-goal games in the playoffs as any player ever, tying the record Vinatieri set in his 24-year career.
McPherson's 12 field goals from at least 50 yards are the most in a single regular season and playoffs combined, and his three makes from long range in the playoffs are two shy of Vinatieri's record.
Longtime NFL kicker and CBS kicking analyst Jay Feely said the only postseason he would put ahead of McPherson's is what Vinatieri did in the 2001 season when he made “the greatest kick of all time,” a 45-yarder in the snow to force overtime against the Raiders. Vinatieri then made a 23-yarder to win that game, and a walk-off 48-yarder to beat the Rams in the Super Bowl.
But McPherson is doing this as a rookie under the bright playoff lights.
“A little bit of it is he doesn’t know what he doesn’t know,” Feely said. “So he’s just out there having fun. He hasn’t had the big misses. He did have the one game against Green Bay where he missed, but he was able to overcome that. That’s what defines great NFL kickers is their ability to overcome failure, to not allow it deter him. That’s the point this season where your entire rookie year could go off the rails and it could make you not be confident in yourself and your swing starts to change, especially when you’re a draft pick.”
McPherson missed three field goals in his first five games, including two in an OT loss to Green Bay in Week 5. He even memorably celebrated one of those misses as if he had made a game-winner.
But he has nailed 35 of 37 field goals since then, validating the scouting report Simmons got from his former kicker Shayne Graham, who coached McPherson in college at Florida.
“He talked to me a lot about what Evan’s makeup was and how confident he was without being cocky, and that’s an important differentiation to make,” Simmons said. “You want these guys to have short-term memory that if good or bad, that they live to perform in the next kick. The most important kick is not the last kick, it’s the next kick.”
The Bengals have marked McPherson's winning kicks the past two weeks with Tweets, saying “THAT’S WHY YOU DRAFT A KICKER!”
But Feely said he doesn't expect McPherson's success to lead to a run on kickers going in the draft. He said determining which kickers have the fortitude to succeed like McPherson and which ones will flame out like Tampa Bay 2016 second-round pick Roberto Aguayo is nearly impossible to know.
“I think it’s really hard to draft a kicker and be successful," Feely said. “I think it’s difficult for a personnel department to be able to look at a guy no matter where he played, no matter what level, and determine if he has the ability mentally and the mental makeup to come into the NFL to succeed.”
___
More AP Super Bowl coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/super-bowl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Bengals-rookie-kicker-McPherson-on-record-playoff-16832169.php | 2022-02-04T18:51:17 | en | 0.983387 |
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — An Albanian court on Friday sentenced a former interior minister to more than three years in prison for abuse of office over ties to a criminal drug trafficking network.
Saimir Tahiri was sentenced three years and four months imprisonment.
Judge Engert Pellumbi of the Special Appeals Court for Corruption and Organized Crime said that Tahiri had benefited from "unfair services and gain and at the same time, with his abuse of post, he has abused legal interests.”
Tahiri said after the sentencing that he was innocent.
“I am morally calm. I have not violated the law. I have loved every day of my job,” he said on Facebook. “I am happy I have committed my job in the best possible way. It is simply injustice.”
Prosecutors had tied Tahiri’s case to two brothers who were related to Tahiri. They were arrested or jailed for drug trafficking in Italy and Albania.
Pellumbi said the prosecutors proved their case with documented evidence. Tahiri was ordered to start serving his jail term.
Tahiri didn't react to the journalists in the courtroom, only rushing to make a phone call.
Tahiri’s lawyer, Maksim Haxhiaj, said they would appeal the verdict at the Supreme Court, considering it as a “juridical nonsense.”
“The verdict was just to stain Tahiri,” he said.
In September 2019, Tahiri was sentenced to three years of probation for abuse of office and was acquitted of charges of involvement in drug trafficking.
Last year, the Supreme Court ordered a retrial because of irregular procedures taken by judges and prosecutors.
Tahiri, who served as interior minister during 2013-2017, resigned as a lawmaker with the governing Socialist Party in May 2018 and was briefly held under house arrest.
Albania was once known as a European crossroads for marijuana trafficking, but there are now more cases involving the trafficking of heroin and cocaine to other European countries.
Fighting corruption has been a major problem in post-communist Albania, strongly affecting the country’s democratic, economic and social development.
“We urge judicial institutions to continue to demonstrate that no one — regardless of party, position, or wealth — is above the law. No more impunity,” U.S. Ambassador Yuri Kim tweeted.
The embassy had closely followed the trial.
___
Follow Llazar Semini at https://twitter.com/lsemini | https://www.lakecountystar.com/news/article/Albanian-ex-minister-jailed-for-assisting-drug-16832136.php | 2022-02-04T18:51:20 | en | 0.981235 |
PKL: Haryana Steelers stun Bengal Warriors 46-29
Haryana Steelers picked up a sensational 46-29 win over the defending champions Bengal Warriors in the Pro Kabaddi League Season 8 in Bengaluru on Friday.
- Country:
- India
Haryana Steelers picked up a sensational 46-29 win over the defending champions Bengal Warriors in the Pro Kabaddi League Season 8 in Bengaluru on Friday. It was an all-round effort from Haryana Steelers as they picked up the massive win. Skipper Vikash Kandola earned his 6th Super 10 of the season, while raiders Vinay and Ashish also earned 8 and 6 points, respectively. Defenders Mohit, Jaideep and Ravi Kumar also earned 3 points each to help the team's cause.
The match started with Mohit going for a hard dash and earning a successful tackle point as Haryana Steelers opened their scoring. The defensive department came good once again in the 9th minute as Haryana Steelers picked up two quick tackle points to bridge the gap to 6-7. In the 9th minute, Ashish earned two tackle points as Haryana Steelers levelled the score to 9-9. In the 11th minute, Vikash Kandola earned a fantastic Super Tackle and gained four points to give his side a 13-11 lead. Minutes later, Haryana Steelers inflicted an All Out to extend their lead to 17-14.
But Bengal Warriors managed to close down the gap and the first half ended with the scores levelled at 19-19. Haryana Steelers started the second half on a high, earning a tackle point straightaway. Vinay earned a successful tackle point in the next minute to give his team a 21-19 lead. Minute later, he went on to earn two more bonus points to extend Haryana Steelers' lead to 24-21.
Both the teams slowed down the proceedings with a close scoreline on the board, but Vinay continued to enthral the fans, earning another successful raid in the 28th minute. Surender Nadda, who came off the bench, earned his first tackle point a minute later to further exceed his team's lead to 27-23. In the 32nd minute, Vikash Kandola earned another four-point Super Raid to inflict another All Out on Bengal Warriors as Haryana Steelers increase the lead to 33-23. In the 36th minute, a defensive mistake from Bengal Warriors earned Vikash Kandola another successful raid and Haryana Steelers extended their lead by 10 points.
With two minutes left in the match, Vikash Kandola earned another raid point to get his 6th Super 10 of the season. A minute later, Haryana Steelers inflicted another All Out to extend their lead to 42-29. Vinay earned the final point of the match at the last second as Haryana Steelers won 46-29 to pick up 5 points. (ANI)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/sports-games/1910838-pkl-haryana-steelers-stun-bengal-warriors-46-29 | 2022-02-04T18:51:21 | en | 0.963008 |
BEIJING (AP) — Brittany Bowe was having quite an Olympics — before she even hit the ice.
First, she claimed another speedskating race in Beijing — or, more appropriately, reclaimed it — when a third spot opened up for the Americans in the 500 meters.
Then, Bowe was selected to be one of the U.S. flagbearers in Friday night's opening ceremony at the Bird's Nest stadium after the original choice, bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor, was forced into isolation by a positive COVID-19 test.
“It's a shame that Elana can't do it because we all felt she was the deserving front-runner to have that honor,” U.S. speedskating coach Ryan Shimabukuro said after Friday's training session at the Ice Ribbon oval, which Bowe skipped to rest up for her evening duties.
"But Brittany is obviously taking that responsibility seriously and she's going to lead that delegation like the champion she is. I think there's no better runner-up than Brittany to do that."
Bowe, a six-time world champion and bronze medalist at the 2018 Winter Games, finished first in the 500 at the U.S. trials last month. But she gave up her Olympic spot after event favorite Erin Jackson slipped in her heat and shockingly finished third overall.
At the time, the Americans only had two guaranteed spots in the event, so Bowe withdrew to ensure that Jackson got a chance to skate in Beijing.
However, the U.S. picked up a third skater after the International Skating Union recently issued its final allotments.
So Bowe is back in, joining Jackson and Kimi Goetz.
Jackson, the first Back woman to win a World Cup race, is one of the gold-medal favorites in the 500.
Bowe's best races are the 1,000 and 1,500, both of which are considered strong medal possibilities for the 33-year-old Floridian.
But she's no slouch in the 500, which made her original withdrawal all the more poignant to Jackson and Bowe's other teammates.
“All things considered, to give up an opportunity for a medal is insane,” Joey Mantia said with a smile after his training session. ”What she did was absolutely crazy. I think it’s an amazing gesture that she was able to bring herself to do, and not knowing for sure if she was going to get that spot or not because our criteria for how we get spots is a little open-ended up until the last minute.”
To Mantia, that made it all the more fitting that Bowe got a chance to carry the U.S. flag along with curler John Shuster.
“She definitely deserves it,” Mantia said. “We were pushing hard for her, so it was really nice to see that.”
___
Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at https://twitter.com/pnewberry1963 and find his work at https://apnews.com/search/paulnewberry
___
More AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/winter-olympics and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Bowe-having-quite-an-Olympics-before-she-even-16832095.php | 2022-02-04T18:51:23 | en | 0.978751 |
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Police say there's been an arrest in the altercation that badly injured a San Francisco 49ers fan at SoFi Stadium.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Police say there's been an arrest in the altercation that badly injured a San Francisco 49ers fan at SoFi Stadium. | https://www.lakecountystar.com/news/article/Alert-Police-say-there-s-been-an-arrest-in-the-16831839.php | 2022-02-04T18:51:26 | en | 0.935542 |
GENEVA (AP) — The dissident Chinese architect behind the Beijing stadium hosting Friday’s opening ceremony of the Winter Games has scoffed at the head of the U.N. health agency, saying China should award him “a gold medal” for not asking hard questions about its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ai Weiwei, possibly China’s best-known dissident, aired criticism of Beijing’s human rights record and response to the pandemic, in an interview with The Associated Press Friday, in which he also took aim at World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Ai also accused governments of showing too much deference to China for business or political interests.
He chuckled derisively after hearing that Tedros had posted a photo on Twitter showing himself in a red-and-white “Beijing 2022” winter track suit and matching wool cap as he carried the Olympic flame during the torch relay in China.
“My God. He should get a gold medal from China because he never asked the right question,” Ai said in a video conversation. “Where is his conscience, this guy? You know, all those people who are supposed to defend the human health and give the right information, but never ask the right question and (are) always on the side of the propaganda.”
“They’re so ridiculous.”
Under Tedros, the WHO came in for severe criticism from then U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration in 2020 for its alleged missteps and excessive deference to, and praise for, China when the COVID-19 pandemic first appeared in the city of Wuhan some two years ago.
Tedros, in his tweet on Friday, wrote that he was “humbled” to participate in the torch relay.
“The Olympic Games are about hope & I wish for this flame to bring hope to people around the world that we can end #COVID19 together,” he wrote, while thanking the IOC president for the invitation.
Above all, Ai highlighted the Chinese government’s poor human rights record, saying hopes that it might have improved since Beijing hosted the 2008 Summer Games have gone unfulfilled.
“I think it’s really, really unbelievable after 14 years of this — this game, same game — we turn to the same country, a country (that has) not developed an inch towards better human rights and the better freedom of speech conditions, but rather become very arrogant,” Ai said.
He said the Chinese Communist Party’s government has brainwashed fellow citizens of his homeland who “kind of show their patriotic support for the party,” and said any comments that stray from that on social media like China’s Weibo “will disappear.”
Ai also took aim at the International Olympic Committee, saying the Games means “big business for them.” He said the IOC “never protected” human rights and has shown itself to “always defend … whatever China is doing — which is a pity.”
Ai didn’t give a pass to other countries either — both those like Russia, which were represented at the highest official levels, and some Western countries which boycotted the Games or decided to stay away for reasons like COVID-19 concerns. He faulted them for a double standard.
“They very, like, softly say, ‘we are not officially attending.’ For me, that is like a joke,” AI said. “So the West, the problem is, cannot find a better strategy, but to use that as like a smoke gun to say, ‘O.K., we’re defending those principles.’”
“But in the reality, they are not: They are business as normal,” he added. “Many countries are hypocritical.”
___
More AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/winter-olympics and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Chinese-dissident-Ai-voices-criticism-as-Winter-16832185.php | 2022-02-04T18:51:29 | en | 0.971563 |
ISL: 10-man Kerala beat NorthEast United 2-1
Ten-man Kerala Blasters FC moved to second spot in the points table with a spirited performance to down wooden spooners NorthEast United FC 2-1 in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Tilak Maidan Stadium in Vasco on Friday.
- Country:
- India
Ten-man Kerala Blasters FC moved to second spot in the points table with a spirited performance to down wooden spooners NorthEast United FC 2-1 in the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Tilak Maidan Stadium in Vasco on Friday. Second-half goals from Jorge Pereyra Diaz (62nd) and a stunner from Alvaro Vazquez (82nd) saw Kerala get back to winning ways as NorthEast United's misery deepened further.
Mohamed Irshad scored a goal deep into injury time but that didn't matter in the end as Khalid Jamil's side remained on 10 points from 16 games. Kerala now have 23 points from 13 outings. The first chance of the game fell to NorthEast United as Suhair Vadakkepeedika had a golden opportunity to take the lead early, but the striker failed to connect after doing all the hard work to evade his marker from a Joe Zoherliana cross.
Marcelinho was at it with some teasing crosses for Suhair and also delivered a crisp corner for Pragyan Gogoi to smash the ball over the bar. Hernan Santana and Marcelinho linked up well too but lacked finishing with the former blasting over an effort after Santana burst through the right to square the ball for him.
Kerala got their first real chance three minutes from the break, Adrian Luna putting in a perfect ball for Jeakson Singh who headed over. In the second half, Kerala started on the front foot as Alvaro Vazquez spotted the keeper out of his line and tried his luck from 40 yards out but missed the target.
Vazquez was in the clear soon after, but he shot straight at the keeper as Kerala attacked with venom to soon get their reward. Diaz was left unmarked and the Argentine made no mistake when Harmanjot Khabra headed the ball in his path, nodding in past Subhashish Roy Choudhary. Kerala suffered a setback when Ayush Adhikari was sent off after seeing a second yellow card in the 70th minute.
NorthEast United replaced Marco Sahanek with Deshorn Brown who made a comeback into the team, but Kerala went 2-0 up to add to Highlanders' plight. Vazquez scored a sensational goal, getting the ball close to the half-line and spotting Roy Choudhury off his line, to send a curling effort that nestled into the net.
Irshad pulled one back in stoppage time from a Santana ball, shooting with power from just outside the box but his brilliant effort went in vain as NorthEast United succumbed to their second straight defeat. (ANI)
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/sports-games/1910845-isl-10-man-kerala-beat-northeast-united-2-1 | 2022-02-04T18:51:29 | en | 0.968188 |
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) — For the second time in as many weeks a federal appeals court threw out a permit for the Mountain Valley Pipeline on Thursday.
In a written opinion, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found “serious errors” with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s conclusion that building the pipeline across rugged mountainsides wouldn’t jeopardize endangered species in its path — specifically the Roanoke logperch and the candy darter, The Roanoke Times reported.
Last week, the same three-judge panel shot down a permit that would have allowed the pipeline to pass through a 3.5 mile (5.6 kilometer) section of the Jefferson National Forest. In both cases, the judges faulted the U.S. Forest Service and the wildlife agency for failing to adequately assess the pipeline's environmental impact. The 303-mile (487-kilometer) pipeline would transport natural gas drilled from the Marcellus and Utica shale formations through West Virginia and Virginia.
“We recognize that this decision will further delay the completion of an already mostly finished pipeline, but the Endangered Species Act’s directive to federal agencies could not be clearer: halt and reverse the trend toward species extinction, whatever the cost,” the 40-page opinion concluded.
Mountain Valley said it is reviewing the court’s decision and evaluating its next steps. | https://www.lakecountystar.com/news/article/Appeals-court-throws-out-another-pipeline-permit-16832192.php | 2022-02-04T18:51:32 | en | 0.939071 |
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa men's basketball coach Fran McCaffery tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday and will miss the Hawkeyes' home game against Minnesota on Sunday.
Assistant Billy Taylor will serve as the acting head coach in McCaffery’s absence.
Iowa (14-7, 4-6 Big Ten) has lost three of its last four games. The Hawkeyes' game at Ohio State that was scheduled for Thursday was postponed because of inclement weather.
___
More AP college basketball: http://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and http://www.twitter.com/AP_Top25 | https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Iowa-s-Fran-McCaffery-will-miss-Sunday-game-with-16832034.php | 2022-02-04T18:51:35 | en | 0.968002 |
Subramanian, Panwar win at the Iran Junior International badminton
- Country:
- Iran
Sankar Muthusamy Subramanian and Samayara Panwar secured the Under-19 boys and girls' singles titles respectively at the Iran Junior International Series badminton tournament here on Friday.
While top seed Subramanian got the better off Ali Hayati of Iran 21-17 21-17 in the boys' singles final, Panwar defeated another Iranian, Ferdous Foroughi 21-14 21-15 in girls' singles summit clash.
Panwar was also in the fray for the girls doubles crown, but lost in the final.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Advertisement | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/technology/1910754-subramanian-panwar-win-at-the-iran-junior-international-badminton | 2022-02-04T18:51:37 | en | 0.940642 |
NEW YORK (AP) — The jury considering the fate of California lawyer Michael Avenatti on charges that he cheated his prized client Stormy Daniels out of a large chunk of her book proceeds said Friday that one juror was refusing to look at evidence and was deciding the case based on her feelings and emotions.
In the note, the jury foreperson told U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman that the juror was “not going on evidence” but was basing her conclusions instead on “all emotions.”
The note began: “We have one juror who is refusing to look at evidence and is acting on a feeling.”
The note came early in the second full day of deliberations.
Furman rejected a request by Avenatti, who is representing himself, that he call an immediate mistrial. Instead, Furman told the jury that it must follow its pledge to base any decision on the evidence.
The jury is deciding whether prosecutors proved that Avenatti committed wire fraud and aggravated identity theft by taking nearly $300,000 of the $800,000 advance his client received for her autobiography. Avenatti has insisted that he had a good faith reason to pocket some of the money.
The deliberations are occurring at the end of the second week of a trial that featured two days of testimony by Daniels, a porn actor whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.
Avenatti appeared frequently on cable television news programs in 2018 as he represented Daniels in lawsuits against former President Donald Trump. The lawsuits were aimed at freeing Daniels from the terms of a $130,000 payout she received days before the 2016 presidential election to silence her about claims that she had had a sexual encounter with Trump a decade earlier.
Avenatti, 50, was considering running for president himself when his rise in popularity in Democratic circles was interrupted by his March 2019 arrest on charges that he tried to extort up to $25 million from Nike with threats to spoil its reputation if the sportswear giant did not meet his demands.
The same day, he was charged in federal court in California with cheating clients and others out of millions of dollars. The Daniels case was brought weeks later.
In early 2020, Avenatti was convicted in the Nike case and was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison. He has not yet served that sentence. Last year, a trial on the California charges ended in a mistrial. | https://www.lakecountystar.com/news/article/Avenatti-Stormy-Daniels-talks-stalled-by-1-16832059.php | 2022-02-04T18:51:38 | en | 0.989032 |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.