phlboss online casino Tributes were paid to the former Scottish first minister, who died suddenly in North Macedonia in October at the age of 69. A private family funeral has already taken place, with Saturday’s memorial service in Edinburgh held to celebrate his love of Scotland and his commitment to the cause of independence. But while some 500 people, including family, friends and politicians from across the spectrum attended the service at St Giles’ Cathedral, his successor Nicola Sturgeon was not present. A rift between her and Mr Salmond – who she had previously described as her mentor – developed during her term as SNP leader. Ms Sturgeon attended the funeral of Scottish comedian Janey Godley in Glasgow on Saturday morning. Her successor, Mr Swinney, was met with boos as he arrived at the service – held on St Andrew’s Day – with at least one person in the crowd outside on the Royal Mile shouting “traitor”. Mr Salmond stood down as SNP leader and first minister after the 2014 referendum in which Scots voted to stay part of the UK. He helped found and went on to lead another pro-independence party, Alba, with Kenny MacAskill, a long-time friend who served as justice secretary in Holyrood under Mr Salmond. Mr MacAskill, now the acting Alba leader, told the congregation – which included Mr Salmond’s widow Moira as well as Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, former Labour first minister Henry McLeish and Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay – that Mr Salmond had been a “giant of man”. Mr MacAskill, who quit the SNP to join Alba, hailed Mr Salmond as “an inspiration, a political genius” and being “most of all a man who had the cause of independence burned into his heart and seared in his soul”. The cause of independence was Mr Salmond’s “guiding light, his north star”, the former justice secretary said, adding that “he came so close to achieving it”. He added: “Those of us who share his dream must conclude that journey on his behalf. That’s the legacy he’d expect and the duty we owe him.” Recalling Mr Salmond’s words from when he stood down as first minister that “the dream shall never die”, Mr MacAskill concluded his address with the words: “Your dream shall be delivered.” Former Conservative Brexit minister and long-time friend of Mr Salmond, David Davis, gave a reading as did former Scottish government minister SNP MSP Fergus Ewing. Scottish folk singer Dougie MacLean performed his famous song Caledonia, while singer Sheena Wellington led mourners in a rendition of Robert Burns’ classic A Man’s A Man For A’ That. Scottish rock duo the Proclaimers were applauded for their performance of Cap in Hand – a pro-independence song which features the line “I can’t understand why we let someone else rule our land, cap in hand”. Brothers Craig and Charlie Reid said: “We’re going to do this for Alex, with love and respect and eternal gratitude for everything you did for our country.” Christina Hendry described her Uncle Alex as a “political giant, a strong leader, a fearless campaigner” but also remembered his as a “dearly loved husband, brother and uncle”. While she said he had been “the top man in Scotland”, he had “always made time for his family”, recalling how he phoned her brother on his birthday – the day after the Scottish independence referendum in 2014 – to apologise for not posting a card “as he’d been busy”, before telling them he would “resigning in 10 minutes”. She told the congregation: “As his family, we always felt loved no matter how far away he was or the time that passed before we saw him next. “We always knew he was standing up for our country, and for that we were grateful.” Ms Hendry continued: “The world will be a much quieter place without Uncle Alex, for Moira, for the wider family and for Scotland. “Uncle Alex passing means a great loss for many. A loss of Scotland’s voice on the international stage. A loss of integrity in Scottish politics. And a great loss to Scotland’s independence movement. “As a family it is likely a loss we will never get over.” Duncan Hamilton KC, who was an SNP MSP after the first Scottish Parliament elections, but also served as a political adviser and legal counsel to Mr Salmond, said the former first minister had “rightly been hailed as one of the greatest Scottish politicians of this, or any, generation”. He told how Mr Salmond took the SNP from being “a fringe act trying to get onto the main stage” to a party of government. “In Scottish politics, his success was both spectacular and unrivalled,” Mr Hamilton said. “Alex Salmond will forever be a pivotal figure in Scotland’s story. He changed a nation. He inspired a country. “History will certainly remember him as a man of talent, charisma and substance. But also as a political leader of courage, vision and intelligence. “He dared to dream. And so should we.” As the service finished the crowd gathered outside applauded and chanted “Alex, Alex” before singing Flower Of Scotland.

Northwest Ohio limo and party bus company founder dies in car crash

NFL star weighs in on Luigi Mangione arrest with shocking social media post READ MORE: Luigi Mangione identified as suspected CEO shooter By JAKE NISSE Published: 23:03 GMT, 9 December 2024 | Updated: 23:12 GMT, 9 December 2024 e-mail View comments A former NFL star made a tasteless social media post on Monday following the arrest of Luigi Mangione, who is suspected of fatally shooting healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan. Mangione, 26, is the prime suspect in the killing of former UnitedHealthcare exec Thompson, 50, on December 4th. And ex-Steelers receiver Antonio Brown decided to weigh in on the ongoing saga with an off-color post on Monday afternoon. Brown, who is no stranger to shocking social media posts and has claimed to have CTE, posted a photo of Sean Stellato - the agent of Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito - and baselessly suggested that he was connected to Mangione. 'Yes I’m calling on behalf of my client, Luigi Mangione,' Brown captioned a photo of the agent on the phone on X. Brown is known for his vulgar and at-times nonsensical posts for his 2.3million followers, as he previously launched a homophobic attack against Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz and once bizarrely posted a photo of himself and Tom Brady's ex-wife , Gisele Bundchen . Luigi Mangione is suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last week Thompson was gunned down outside a hotel in Midtown Manhattan on December 4 And former Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown made an off-color joke about the situation Read More LIVE Brian Thompson 'assassin's' chilling social media trail - including obsession with health disorder Mangione was arrested at a McDonald's Altoona, Pennsylvania , at 9am after both a worker and an elderly patron spotted him and called the police. He was detained on firearm charges and and was carrying a 'ghost gun', believed to have been made with a 3D printer, when he was arrested. The suspected killer was also a fan of 'Unabomber' Ted Kaczynski, and referenced quotes from him on health and sickness on his Goodreads page. 'Imagine a society that subjects people to conditions that make them terribly unhappy then gives them the drugs to take away their unhappiness,' read one excerpt from a Kaczynski quote on Mangione's Goodreads page. 'The concept of 'mental health' in our society is defined largely by the extent to which an individual behaves in accord with the needs of the system and does so without showing signs of stress,' read another. He was also found with a manifesto - which allegedly showed he was irate about the healthcare industry and its profits. Share or comment on this article: NFL star weighs in on Luigi Mangione arrest with shocking social media post e-mail Add comment

Senators visit the Kings following Gaudette's 2-goal performancePublished 5:18 pm Monday, December 9, 2024 By Data Skrive The Abilene Christian Wildcats versus the Baylor Bears is the only game on the college basketball schedule on Monday that features a ranked team in play. We offer ATS picks for each contest in the piece below. Place your bets on any men’s college basketball matchup at BetMGM. Sign up today using our link. Bet on the Baylor-Abilene Christian spread—or any other NCAA men’s basketball matchup—with BetMGM ! Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .

Republicans in the Texas House are currently wrestling with who will lead the chamber when the state Legislature reconvenes next year. Amid growing pressure from the party, embattled Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, released a surprise announcement on Friday saying he wouldn’t run for the leadership role again. Now, two Republican house members are vying for the high-powered gig: Rep. Dustin Burrows of Lubbock and Rep. David Cook from Mansfield. And it looks like they could be in for quite the fight over who will ultimately wield the speaker’s gavel. Republicans are the majority party in the Texas House, so much so that they could hypothetically elect a new speaker on their own, without votes from the chamber’s Democrats. That is, if they were all on the same page. Which they’re not. On Saturday, the House’s GOP caucus endorsed Cook, the more conservative candidate. But shortly afterwards, Burrows – who’s considered the more moderate choice – announced that he has enough support from breakaway Republicans and Democrats to become Speaker. “The speaker’s race is over,” he said . “I have secured enough to be speaker of the House for the next session.” While this squabble may seem like political inside baseball, it’s actually pretty important. The person who ultimately holds the speaker job will have a huge hand in determining what the Texas Legislature does — or doesn’t do — during its session next year. The role of Texas House speaker comes with lots of power. The speaker decides who will chair key legislative committees, plays an influential role in controlling what legislation gets voted on and is the person responsible for keeping up decorum in the Texas House. Speakers also “have a great deal of influence over the day to day business of the House,” said Alison Craig, an assistant professor at the University of Texas. That influence is what makes the job so attractive. A speaker can determine what types of bills make it to the floor to be voted on. Sherri Greenberg, a former state representative and assistant dean at UT Austin, says the person who wins will, ultimately, “determine how extreme the legislation that gets passed will be.” That ideological divide is part of the reason moderate Republicans in the Texas House are fighting with more extreme Republicans over which faction the next speaker will come from. In fact, it’s rumored Rep. Dustin Burrows is promising Democrats that, if chosen, he’d squash a school voucher proposal — an issue uniting Democrats and many rural Republicans who’ve been staunchly against any voucher-like programs. The official vote to decide the next speaker of the Texas House won’t take place until the Legislature reconvenes on Jan. 14. That means this could be an interesting month for the chamber’s lawmakers. The Texas House has 150 members, and Republicans hold an 86-64 majority. Over the weekend, a majority of House Republicans, 48, vote to back Cook for speaker. But a majority vote of at least 76 is needed to snag the role. Cook knows it is unlikely he’ll have much backing from the chamber’s Democrats but believes he should win if everyone follows the rules. That’s because GOP Caucus rules say all House Republicans must vote for the speaker candidate who wins the caucus vote. As of right now, it appears that some 38 Republicans are willing to break that rule to elect Burrows as speaker. So what happens if they go against the rules of their party? That’s unclear since the situation playing out right now is fairly unprecedented. But if the House GOP Caucus chooses to follow its (relatively new) rules as written, then any Republicans who don't vote for Cook would be censured. “They’d lose their committee assignments in the 89th [legislative session], then not be eligible to run in 2026,” said Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston. (There are the occasional Republican outliers on speaker votes. In 2023, Reps. Jeff Cason and Bryan Slaton voted against the election of Phelan. And previously, Republicans have faced off against one another on the House floor.) If Burrows ultimately does win the speakership with votes from Democrats, UT’s Craig believes it could put him in an awkward position during the session. “If you are dependent upon Democratic votes to get the chair, then assuming that you are then also dependent on them to maintain it,” said Craig. Over the holidays and New Year's, lawmakers in the Republican Party will have a lot of thinking to do. While they may be simply voting for who the speaker will be, Greenberg says the vote could have a direct impact on their individual political career. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request.Washington visits New Jersey after shootout win

A trio of running backs recorded touchdowns to help Nebraska hold off Boston College's late rally for a 20-15 win in the Pinstripe Bowl on a rainy Saturday afternoon in Bronx, N.Y. New York native Rahmir Johnson scored the Cornhuskers' opening touchdown to highlight his 60-yard performance on 10 carries. His 11-yard run on fourth-and-1 before the two-minute timeout iced the game, lifting Nebraska (7-6) to its first winning season since 2016. Kwinten Ives also ran for a score and Emmett Johnson (team-high 68 rushing yards on 14 carries) caught one from freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola, who was 23 of 31 for 228 yards, one touchdown and one interception on the day. Nebraska had a 20-2 lead before allowing its first touchdown with 6:11 left in regulation. Boston College (7-6) forced two first-half turnovers and finished five of its first seven drives inside the opposing 35-yard line, but the Eagles went 0-for-4 on fourth downs until Turbo Richard's 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Nebraska's first two punts turned into touchdowns for the Eagles, with the second being blocked and returned to the 2-yard line ahead of a Jordan McDonald score with 4:18 remaining. Grayson James quarterbacked the Eagles, going 25 of 40 for a season-high 296 yards. He also rushed for 22. Lewis Bond made six catches for 94 yards. Jahmal Banks was Raiola's leading target, making four catches for 79 yards. After big plays went by the boards for both teams on their opening series, Raiola sent Nebraska on a 15-play, 75-yard drive to the opening touchdown four seconds into the second quarter. Following a third-down conversion in the red zone, Rahmir Johnson scored on a 4-yard run before John Hohl's PAT made it 7-0. After Boston College was unable to convert on Josiah Griffin's recovery of an Emmett Johnson fumble, an ensuing fourth-down penalty gave Nebraska new life and the Cornhuskers turned it into Ives' 2-yard score with 3:39 before halftime. Ashton McShane's 88-yard blocked PAT return got the Eagles on the board at 13-2, though. Nebraska's first drive out of halftime included two fakes from punter/holder Brian Buschini, including a successful fake field goal. On the following series, Raiola's 13-yard pass to Emmett Johnson out of the backfield resulted in a 20-2 lead with 3:02 left in the third. Richard punched in the first Boston College touchdown. James' two-point conversion pass attempt failed. Buschini's second punt was blocked by Victor Nelson Jr. and returned to the 2-yard line by Omar Thornton, setting up McDonald's run and a Liam Connor PAT. --Field Level Media

No. 10 Marquette remains undefeated with convincing win over Western Carolina

However, some state workers failed to return to their jobs and a United Nations official said the country’s public sector had come “to a complete and abrupt halt”. Meanwhile, streams of refugees crossed back into Syria from neighbouring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future and looking for relatives who disappeared during Mr Assad’s brutal rule. There were already signs of the difficulties ahead for the rebel alliance now in control of much of the country. The alliance is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant, who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and has promised representative government and religious tolerance. The rebel command said they would not tell women how to dress. “It is strictly forbidden to interfere with women’s dress or impose any request related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty,” the command said in a statement on social media. Nearly two days after rebels entered the capital, some key government services had shut down after state workers ignored calls to go back to their jobs, the UN official said, causing issues at airports and borders and slowing the flow of humanitarian aid. Rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, also met with Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali for the first time. Mr Jalali stayed in Syria when Mr Assad fled and has sought to project normalcy since. “We are working so that the transitional period is quick and smooth,” he told Sky News Arabia TV on Monday, saying the security situation had already improved from the day before. At the court of Justice in Damascus, which was stormed by the rebels to free detainees, Judge Khitam Haddad, an aide to the justice minister in the outgoing government, said that judges were ready to resume work quickly. “We want to give everyone their rights,” Mr Haddad said outside the courthouse. “We want to build a new Syria and to keep the work, but with new methods.” But a UN official said some government services had been paralysed as worried state employees stayed at home. The public sector “has just come to a complete and abrupt halt,” said Adam Abdelmoula, UN resident and humanitarian co-ordinator for Syria, noting, for example, that an aid flight carrying urgently needed medical supplies had been put on hold after aviation employees abandoned their jobs. “This is a country that has had one government for 53 years and then suddenly all of those who have been demonised by the public media are now in charge in the nation’s capital,” Mr Abdelmoula told The Associated Press. “I think it will take a couple of days and a lot of assurance on the part of the armed groups for these people to return to work again.” In a video shared on a rebel messaging channel, Mr al-Sharaa said: “You will see there are skills” among the rebels. The Kremlin said Russia has granted political asylum to Mr Assad, a decision made by President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Mr Assad’s specific whereabouts and said Mr Putin did not plan to meet with him. Damascus was quiet Monday, with life slowly returning to normal, though most shops and public institutions were closed. In public squares, some people were still celebrating. Civilian traffic resumed, but there was no public transport. Long lines formed in front of bakeries and other food stores. There was little sign of any security presence though in some areas, small groups of armed men were stationed in the streets.

MLB NOTES (copy)Cabinet ministers have been warned they must find more savings in their departments as the Chancellor said “every pound” of Government spending will be scrutinised in a major budget review. Secretaries of State are being told that any outgoings which are not contributing towards one of Labour’s “priorities” must be cut as Rachel Reeves vows to wield “an iron fist against waste.” In letters sent by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones, departments will be told to brace for “difficult” spending decisions in order to restore trust in the Government’s handling of the public finances. Every pound of departmental spending will be face a “line-by-line review” involving external finance experts from banks and think tanks in order to ensure it represents value for money, the Treasury said. The Chancellor will on Tuesday launch the next round of Government spending, and is expected to warn departments that they “cannot operate in a business-as-usual way when reviewing their budgets for the coming years”. She will insist that areas focused on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s “plan for change”, which includes targets to improve living standards across the country and build 1.5 million homes, must be prioritised. Ms Reeves said: “By totally rewiring how the Government spends money we will be able to deliver our plan for change and focus on what matters for working people. “The previous government allowed millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money to go to waste on poor value for money projects. We will not tolerate it; I said I would have an iron grip on the public finances and that means taking an iron fist against waste. “By reforming our public services, we will ensure they are up to scratch for modern day demands, saving money and delivering better services for people across the country. That’s why we will inspect every pound of Government spend, so that it goes to the right places and we put an end to all waste.” Under the Treasury’s plans, departments will ensure budgets are scrutinised by “challenge panels” of external experts including former senior management of Lloyd’s Banking Group, Barclays Bank and the Co-operative Group. These panels, which will also involve think tanks, academics and the private sector, will advise on which spending “is or isn’t necessary”, the ministry said. The Treasury said work has already begun, with an evaluation of the £6.5 million spent on a scheme that placed social workers in schools finding “no evidence of positive impact on social care outcomes”. “Departments will be advised that where spending is not contributing to a priority, it should be stopped,” it said. “Although some of these decisions will be difficult, the Chancellor is clear that the public must have trust in the Government that it is rooting out waste and that their taxes are being spent on their priorities.” Ms Reeves had already announced efficiency and productivity savings of 2% across departments in her autumn budget as she seeks to put the public finances on a firmer footing. In a speech in east London , Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden hinted at a further squeeze. “At the Budget the Chancellor demanded efficiency and productivity savings of 2% across departments – and there will be more to come,” he said. “As we launch the next phase of the spending review at its heart must be reform of the state in order to do a better job for the public.”Senators visit the Kings following Gaudette's 2-goal performance

Key details to know about the arrest of a suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEOValparaiso hires longtime Marietta coach Andy Waddle to take over its football program

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara , has attributed the state’s triumph over recent political crises to divine intervention, acknowledging God as the ultimate liberator of the state and its people. Governor Fubara shared these reflections during the Christmas Ballad hosted by former Governor Dr. Peter Odili at his residence in Old GRA, Port Harcourt, on Friday evening. Reflecting on the political challenges, Governor Fubara stated that the crisis provided him with new insights into leadership. He added that the unwavering support of Rivers people strengthened his resolve to view the challenges as stepping stones rather than obstacles. “ And not just because I want to accept it, I get stronger in this course every day when I look at the support I am getting from the true Rivers people. “So, it is not me being strong. My strength is drawn from every one of you that is here. You gave me encouragement; you do the work for me; you make the calls for me. So, why won’t I stand up for you. “But we also believe strongly that the ultimate game changer, the ultimate liberator, and the ultimate fighter remains God Almighty. And because we have Him on our side, victory is assured,” Fubara said. The governor expressed optimism for 2025, assuring citizens of a prosperous year marked by progress and better governance. He noted the recent Christmas celebrations as a sign of brighter days ahead for Rivers State. Governor Fubara also emphasized the importance of maintaining integrity in governance, pledging to avoid actions that could tarnish the state’s reputation. He recognized the steadfastness of true leaders and well-meaning citizens who resisted pressures to surrender to tyranny. “ I want to thank everyone, and I assure you that we will continue to run a government that will uplift the image of the State. We will not be tyrants. “We will remember that what we are doing here today is a shift job and that one day, our time will be up, and we’ll leave for another person to take over. “And what is important is to allow the machine to keep running effectively so that when the other person comes, he continues with that steam for progress in the state. So, I thank everyone of you for your support, ” he said. Former leaders and key figures at the event praised Governor Fubara’s leadership. Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo , credited the governor for inspiring resilience during the political turmoil that rocked the assembly. Similarly, former Minister of Transport, Dr. Abiye Sekibo , applauded Fubara for blending his leadership style with the qualities of Dr. Peter Odili, making Rivers people proud. Dr. Peter Odili , in his welcome address, commended Governor Fubara for demonstrating fortitude and leadership during what he described as an unnecessary fight over the soul of the state. He said Fubara’s leadership had restored governance stability and improved the lives of civil servants and citizens, akin to the period before he left office in 2007. Justice Mary Odili presented gifts to Governor Fubara and his family, acknowledging his significant contributions as an emancipator for Rivers State. She pledged her family’s continued support for his administration. In a vote of thanks, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retired), Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), praised the Odili family for fostering unity through the gathering. He also commended Governor Fubara’s humility and dedication to the state, calling on leaders to continue supporting his administration for the collective progress of Rivers State.Ajmer Sharif Dargah Row: Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Shrine Embroils in Controversy As Petition Claims Shiva Temple Under Structure; From Its History to Court Case, Know All About It

Uniqlo boss says firm does not use Xinjiang cottonCabinet ministers have been warned they must find more savings in their departments as the Chancellor said “every pound” of Government spending will be scrutinised in a major budget review. Secretaries of State are being told that any outgoings which are not contributing towards one of Labour’s “priorities” must be cut as Rachel Reeves vows to wield “an iron fist against waste.” In letters sent by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones, departments will be told to brace for “difficult” spending decisions in order to restore trust in the Government’s handling of the public finances. Every pound of departmental spending will be face a “line-by-line review” involving external finance experts from banks and think tanks in order to ensure it represents value for money, the Treasury said. The Chancellor will on Tuesday launch the next round of Government spending, and is expected to warn departments that they “cannot operate in a business-as-usual way when reviewing their budgets for the coming years”. She will insist that areas focused on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s “plan for change”, which includes targets to improve living standards across the country and build 1.5 million homes, must be prioritised. Ms Reeves said: “By totally rewiring how the Government spends money we will be able to deliver our plan for change and focus on what matters for working people. “The previous government allowed millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money to go to waste on poor value for money projects. We will not tolerate it; I said I would have an iron grip on the public finances and that means taking an iron fist against waste. “By reforming our public services, we will ensure they are up to scratch for modern day demands, saving money and delivering better services for people across the country. That’s why we will inspect every pound of Government spend, so that it goes to the right places and we put an end to all waste.” Under the Treasury’s plans, departments will ensure budgets are scrutinised by “challenge panels” of external experts including former senior management of Lloyd’s Banking Group, Barclays Bank and the Co-operative Group. These panels, which will also involve think tanks, academics and the private sector, will advise on which spending “is or isn’t necessary”, the ministry said. The Treasury said work has already begun, with an evaluation of the £6.5 million spent on a scheme that placed social workers in schools finding “no evidence of positive impact on social care outcomes”. “Departments will be advised that where spending is not contributing to a priority, it should be stopped,” it said. “Although some of these decisions will be difficult, the Chancellor is clear that the public must have trust in the Government that it is rooting out waste and that their taxes are being spent on their priorities.” Ms Reeves had already announced efficiency and productivity savings of 2% across departments in her autumn budget as she seeks to put the public finances on a firmer footing. In a speech in east London , Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden hinted at a further squeeze. “At the Budget the Chancellor demanded efficiency and productivity savings of 2% across departments – and there will be more to come,” he said. “As we launch the next phase of the spending review at its heart must be reform of the state in order to do a better job for the public.”

FERGUS FALLS, Minn. (AP) — A jury convicted two men of charges related to human smuggling for their roles in an international operation that led to the deaths of a family of Indian migrants who froze while trying to cross the Canada-U.S. border during a 2022 blizzard. Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, an Indian national who prosecutors say went by the alias “Dirty Harry,” and Steve Shand, 50, an American from Florida, were part of a sophisticated illegal operation that has brought increasing numbers of Indians into the U.S., prosecutors said. They were each convicted on four counts related to human smuggling, including conspiracy to bring migrants into the country illegally. “This trial exposed the unthinkable cruelty of human smuggling and of those criminal organizations that value profit and greed over humanity,” Minnesota U.S. Attorney Andy Luger said. “To earn a few thousand dollars, these traffickers put men, women and children in extraordinary peril leading to the horrific and tragic deaths of an entire family. Because of this unimaginable greed, a father, a mother and two children froze to death in sub-zero temperatures on the Minnesota-Canadian border,” Luger added. The most serious counts carry maximum sentences of up to 20 years in prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office told The Associated Press before the trial. But federal sentencing guidelines rely on complicated formulas. Luger said Friday that various factors will be considered in determining what sentences prosecutors will recommend. Federal prosecutors said 39-year-old Jagdish Patel; his wife, Vaishaliben, who was in her mid-30s; their 11-year-old daughter, Vihangi; and 3-year-old son, Dharmik, froze to death Jan. 19, 2022, while trying to cross the border into Minnesota in a scheme Patel and Shand organized. Patel is a common Indian surname, and the victims were not related to Harshkumar Patel. The couple were schoolteachers, local news reports said. The family was fairly well off by local standards, living in a well-kept, two-story house with a front patio and a wide veranda. Experts say illegal immigration from India is driven by everything from political repression to a dysfunctional American immigration system that can take years, if not decades, to navigate legally. Much is rooted in economics and how even low-wage jobs in the West can ignite hopes for a better life. Before the jury’s conviction on Friday, the federal trial in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, saw testimony from an alleged participant in the smuggling ring, a survivor of the treacherous journey across the northern border, border patrol agents and forensic experts. Defense attorneys were pitted against each other, with Shand’s team arguing that he was unwittingly roped into the scheme by Patel. Patel’s lawyers, The Canadian Press reported , said their client had been misidentified. They said “Dirty Hary,” the alleged nickname for Patel found in Shand’s phone, is a different person. Bank records and witness testimony from those who encountered Shand near the border didn’t tie him to the crime, they added. Prosecutors said Patel coordinated the operation while Shand was a driver. Shand was to pick up 11 Indian migrants on the Minnesota side of the border, prosecutors said. Only seven survived the foot crossing. Canadian authorities found two parents and their young children later that morning, dead from the cold. The trial included an inside account of how the international smuggling ring allegedly works and who it targets. Rajinder Singh, 51, testified that he made over $400,000 smuggling over 500 people through the same network that included Patel and Shand. Singh said most of the people he smuggled came from Gujarat state. He said the migrants would often pay smugglers about $100,000 to get them from India to the U.S., where they would work to pay off their debts at low-wage jobs in cities around the country. Singh said the smugglers would run their finances through “hawala,” an informal money transfer system that relies on trust. The pipeline of illegal immigration from India has long existed but has increased sharply along the U.S.-Canada border. The U.S. Border Patrol arrested more than 14,000 Indians on the Canadian border in the year ending Sept. 30, which amounted to 60% of all arrests along that border and more than 10 times the number two years ago. By 2022, the Pew Research Center estimates more than 725,000 Indians were living illegally in the U.S., behind only Mexicans and El Salvadorans. Jamie Holt, a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations, said the case is a stark reminder of the realities victims of human smuggling face. “Human smuggling is a vile crime that preys on the most vulnerable, exploiting their desperation and dreams for a better life,” Holt said. “The suffering endured by this family is unimaginable and it is our duty to ensure that such atrocities are met with the full force of the law.” One juror Kevin Paul, of Clearwater, Minnesota, told reporters afterward that it was hard for the jurors to see the pictures of the family’s bodies. He said he grew up in North Dakota and is familiar with the kind of conditions that led to their deaths. “It’s pretty brutal,” Paul said. “I couldn’t imagine having to do what they had to do out there in the middle of nowhere.” Mark Vancleave And Michael Goldberg, The Associated Press

Awkwardness can hit in any social situation. Here are 5 way to navigate it with grace.Abortion has become slightly more common despite bans or deep restrictions in most Republican-controlled states, and the legal and political fights over its future are not over yet. It's now been two and a half years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and opened the door for states to implement bans. The policies and their impact have been in flux ever since the ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. Here's a look at data on where things stand: Overturning Roe and enforcing abortion bans has changed how woman obtain abortions in the U.S. But one thing it hasn't done is put a dent in the number of abortions being obtained. There have been slightly more monthly abortions across the country recently than there were in the months leading up to the June 2022 ruling, even as the number in states with bans dropped to near zero. “Abortion bans don’t actually prevent abortions from happening,” said Ushma Upadhyay, a public health social scientist at the University of California San Francisco. But, she said, they do change care. For women in some states, there are major obstacles to getting abortions — and advocates say that low-income, minority and immigrant women are least likely to be able to get them when they want. For those living in states with bans, the ways to access abortion are through travel or abortion pills. As the bans swept in, abortion pills became a bigger part of the equation. They were involved in about half the abortions before Dobbs. More recently, it’s been closer to two-thirds of them, according to research by the Guttmacher Institute. The uptick of that kind of abortion, usually involving a combination of two drugs, was underway before the ruling. But now, it's become more common for pill prescriptions to be made by telehealth. By the summer of 2024, about 1 in 10 abortions was via pills prescribed via telehealth to patients in states where abortion is banned. As a result, the pills are now at the center of battles over abortion access. This month, Texas sued a New York doctor for prescribing pills to a Texas woman via telemedicine. There's also an effort by Idaho, Kansas and Missouri to roll back their federal approvals and treat them as “controlled dangerous substances,” and a push for the federal government to start enforcing a 19th-century federal law to ban mailing them. Clinics have closed or halted abortions in states with bans. But a network of efforts to get women seeking abortions to places where they're legal has strengthened and travel for abortion is now common. The Guttmacher Institute found that more than twice as many Texas residents obtained abortion in 2023 in New Mexico as New Mexico residents did. And as many Texans received them in Kansas as Kansans. Abortion funds, which benefitted from “rage giving” in 2022, have helped pay the costs for many abortion-seekers. But some funds have had to cap how much they can give . Since the downfall of Roe, the actions of lawmakers and courts have kept shifting where abortion is legal and under what conditions. Here's where it stands now: Florida, the nation’s third most-populous state, began enforcing a ban on abortions after the first six weeks of pregnancy on May 1. That immediately changed the state from one that was a refuge for other Southerners seeking abortion to an exporter of people looking for them. There were about 30% fewer abortions there in May compared with the average for the first three months of the year. And in June, there were 35% fewer. While the ban is not unique, the impact is especially large. The average driving time from Florida to a facility in North Carolina where abortion is available for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy is more than nine hours, according to data maintained by Caitlin Myers, a Middlebury College economics professor. The bans have meant clinics closed or stopped offering abortions in some states. But some states where abortion remains legal until viability – generally considered to be sometime past 21 weeks of pregnancy , though there’s no fixed time for it – have seen clinics open and expand . Illinois, Kansas and New Mexico are among the states with new clinics. There were 799 publicly identifiable abortion providers in the U.S. in May 2022, the month before the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade. And by this November, it was 792, according to a tally by Myers, who is collecting data on abortion providers. But Myers says some hospitals that always provided some abortions have begun advertising it. So they’re now in the count of clinics – even though they might provide few of them. How hospitals handle pregnancy complications , especially those that threaten the lives of the women, has emerged as a major issue since Roe was overturned. President Joe Biden's administration says hospitals must offer abortions when they're needed to prevent organ loss, hemorrhage or deadly infections, even in states with bans. Texas is challenging the administration’s policy and the U.S. Supreme Court this year declined to take it up after the Biden administration sued Idaho. More than 100 pregnant women seeking help in emergency rooms and were turned away or left unstable since 2022, The Associated Press found in an analysis of federal hospital investigative records. Among the complaints were a woman who miscarried in the lobby restroom of Texas emergency room after staff refused to see her and a woman who gave birth in a car after a North Carolina hospital couldn't offer an ultrasound. The baby later died. “It is increasingly less safe to be pregnant and seeking emergency care in an emergency department,” Dara Kass, an emergency medicine doctor and former U.S. Health and Human Services official told the AP earlier this year. Since Roe was overturned, there have been 18 reproductive rights-related statewide ballot questions. Abortion rights advocates have prevailed on 14 of them and lost on four. In the 2024 election , they amended the constitutions in five states to add the right to abortion. Such measures failed in three states: In Florida, where it required 60% support; in Nebraska, which had competing abortion ballot measures; and in South Dakota, where most national abortion rights groups did support the measure. AP VoteCast data found that more than three-fifths of voters in 2024 supported abortion being legal in all or most cases – a slight uptick from 2020. The support came even as voters supported Republicans to control the White House and both houses of Congress. Associated Press writers Linley Sanders, Amanda Seitz and Laura Ungar contributed to this article.Deadlock's console availability is on the minds of many fans of the game. Considering Deadlock's spectacular debut on PC, console users are naturally eager to jump into the action. PS5 and Xbox Series X|S are powerful enough to deliver a smooth gaming experience. However, Deadlock is currently in a testing stage where Valve is experimenting with various features like anti-cheat systems and ranked system adjustments through schedules . Will Deadlock come to consoles? Deadlock is only available on PC, at the time of writing. Valve hasn't made any official comments on whether Deadlock will come to PlayStation and Xbox. Deadlock fans have also been discussing the game's console support on platforms like Reddit , and the general consensus sides with an eventual console release for valid reasons. Most of Deadlock's competitors, Overwatch 2 and VALORANT, are already available on consoles. If Valve aims to directly compete with these games outside of the PC world, it may eventually need to evaluate a console release for Deadlock. Similarly to Deadlock, Riot Games' VALORANT also started its life cycle exclusively on PC, and the game only became available on console four years after its initial release. During Deadlock's beta, Valve rolls out constant content updates and bug fixes to ensure the gameplay experience reaches an optimal state. If a console release were on the cards for Deadlock, Valve could still prioritize perfecting the game first. Can you play Deadlock on console? No, you can't play Deadlock on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S because the game's currently only available on PC. If you have a PC, you can easily download Deadlock from Steam, as it's a free-to-play title. Though Valve hasn't disclosed the minimum system requirements for Deadlock, systems equipped with NVIDIA GTX 1050 TI and above are averaging close to 60 frames per second. Can you play Deadlock on Steam Deck? Yes, you can play Deadlock on Steam Deck with the help of a launch command. Locate Deadlock in your library and open Properties. Choose the General Tab and click on Launch Options. Type "SteamDeck=0 %command%" into the Launch options and click on Save. After applying your new launch options, Deadlock should run on your Steam Deck, but you may want to do a couple of practice rounds before playing ranked . Valve has been quite attentive when it comes to Steam Deck, so we also expect the developer to consider rolling out native Steam Deck support for Deadlock in the future. This could mean a refined controller support for Deadlock, which would also be useful for a potential console release.Chelsea transfer news: Blues identify £14.8m striker as Victor Osimhen, Alexander Isak alternative?

( MENAFN - IANS) Patna, Nov 28 (IANS) The fourth day of the winter session of the Bihar Legislative Assembly on Thursday is likely to be intense and action-packed, with a focus on questions and discussions that are likely to stir significant debate. Members of both the ruling party and opposition will actively question ministers across key departments including the agriculture, revenue and land reforms department, animal husbandry and fisheries resources, PHED, food and consumer protection urban development and housing and corporate department. Even ruling party MLAs are expected to press ministers on various issues, reflecting internal scrutiny within the government. Members will highlight critical issues and bring them to the government's attention during the zero hour. Two questions are listed for Thursday, where the government will provide detailed responses. The second supplementary budget, presented on November 25 by Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Samrat Chaudhary, will be debated on Thursday. The second supplementary budget has Rs 32,506.90 crore including Rs 1,114.94 crore for social security pensions, Rs 1,071.50 crore for student incentives under 7 Nischay, Rs 1,063.23 crore for roads and bridge construction, Rs 500 crore for the Student Credit Card Scheme and Rs 225 crore for the Mahila Samvad Programme. The opposition's response to the budget, particularly the provisions for social welfare and infrastructure, will be critical to watch. The five-day winter session of the Bihar Legislature continues to be a platform for intense political confrontation, with the opposition vigorously targeting the Nitish Kumar-led government. Key issues being highlighted by the opposition include the Waqf Board Amendment Bill, concerns over smart meters, and demands for 65 per cent reservation. The tension inside and outside the Assembly underscores the highly charged atmosphere. The opposition, led by Tejashwi Yadav, is actively cornering the government inside the House. The opposition leaders are indulging in continuous uproar during proceedings, leading to adjournments. Despite these disruptions, Question Hour has managed to proceed without interruption, a rarity in the Assembly's history. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is maintaining his presence in the House during Question Hour, signalling his focus on defending the government's stance. Ministers and the government are engaging with questions, reflecting an attempt to sustain legislative functioning amid opposition criticism. MENAFN27112024000231011071ID1108934612 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.Blues host the Flyers after Holloway’s 2-goal game