California congressman introduces bill to defund the state’s high-speed rail project
As of Thursday, McCormick led by about 16,000 votes out of almost 7 million ballots counted. That was well within the 0.5% margin threshold to trigger an automatic statewide recount under Pennsylvania law.
US-Google face off as ad tech antitrust trial comes to closeJOHANNESBURG South Africa on Monday reiterated its call for an immediate cease-fire in Palestine and Lebanon and the initiation of a political process to secure a just and lasting peace. "South Africa once again calls on the State of Israel to realize that the only way to achieve peace is a two-state solution where Israel will be able to exist side-by-side in peace with a viable and fully independent Palestinian State within internationally recognized parameters," said a statement marking the 47th United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. Pretoria highlighted that the unresolved Palestinian issue, now spanning 75 years, remains central to tensions in the Middle East. "This occasion (International Day of Solidarity) provides us with a crucial opportunity to reflect and take stock of the plight of the people of Palestine," the statement said. South Africa reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to strengthening its bond of solidarity, friendship and cooperation with Palestine. "In keeping with South Africa’s long-term and principled support for the Palestinian people, the Government of South Africa remains committed to supporting initiatives aimed at refocusing the international agenda on Palestine and a revived Middle East peace process," the statement added. The government also urged the international community to intensify efforts to assist Palestinians in achieving their aspirations for freedom, justice and the establishment of an independent state.
Google and the US government faced off in a federal court on Monday, as each side delivered closing arguments in a case revolving around the technology giant's alleged unfair domination of online advertising. The trial in a Virginia federal court is Google's second US antitrust case now under way as the US government tries to rein in the power of big tech.Pawar: Some flagged 30% vote manipulation in state electionsOwaisi slams religious surveys, accuses govt of targetting waqf properties
Luigi Mangione, charged with killing the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, had a lower back condition. Spondylolisthesis occurs when one vertebra in your spine slips out of alignment. Mangione seemingly frequented a subreddit for the condition and wrote about symptoms. Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old man charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, suffered from a spinal condition. Mangione's social media accounts included several references to back pain. On X, Mangione's banner included an X-ray image of a spine after a spinal fusion. On his Reddit account, he posted in a subreddit for spondylolisthesis, a lower back condition most often caused by joint deterioration. Mangione also mentioned he had spondylolisthesis in handwritten notes from 2019 reviewed by Business Insider. Spondylolisthesis can cause pain and stiffness According to Cleveland Clinic, spondylolisthesis is usually caused by aging (as the discs holding the vertebrae weaken) or injuries. It is a condition when one of the bones in the spine falls out of alignment and "presses down" on the vertebra below it. That pressure on nearby nerves can cause lower back pain. Other symptoms include sciatica (nerve pain that runs down from the lower back to the legs), back stiffness, numbness, and difficulty walking. Not everyone needs spinal fusion surgery to realign their vertebrae; depending on the severity of the symptoms, rest, physical therapy, and wearing a brace can help reduce pain, as can taking over-the-counter medications when symptoms flare up. Mangione had sciatica, a common symptom In 2022, Mangione moved to a co-living space in Honolulu called Surfbreak. According to a Reddit post, he experienced sciatica, nerve pain that runs down from the lower back to the legs, for the first time after a surf session. "A few weeks later I slipped on a piece of paper and my right glute locked and right leg shut down for a week," he wrote in 2022. "Couldn't support any weight on it." Prior to his back surgery in 2023, Mangione also described having "near-constant burning/twitching in both ankles/calves" and "back and genital pain" on Reddit — symptoms of sciatica. R.J. Martin, who owns Surfbreak, told the New York Times that shortly after moving in, Mangione experienced such debilitating pain from a group surfing lesson that he needed Martin to switch out his mattress. Mangione also told Martin that his condition prevented him from being in a romantic relationship. "He knew that dating and being physically intimate with his back condition wasn't possible," Martin said. "I remember him telling me that, and my heart just breaks." At first, the back surgery seemed to improve Mangione's symptoms — he posted in 2023 that it was a "success." But by June 2024, he started criticizing doctors online and eventually lost touch with friends and family. According to Mayo Clinic, spinal fusion surgeries for spondylolisthesis "can have very good outcomes when performed well and for the right reasons."
Canada’s first telehealth station unveiled in Montreal’s West Island