Ajit Pawar defeats nephew by 1 lakh-plus votes in Baramati, wins battle against uncleLONDON — Britain is making a fresh pitch to become a global crypto hub , but faces a tough road ahead amid criticism from local entrepreneurs and U.S. competition under President-elect Donald Trump. Britain's Labour government has committed to making the country an accommodative environment for businesses engaged in crypto and blockchain-related activities. In a recent speech, U.K. Economic Secretary to the Treasury Tulip Siddiq said the government aims to engage firms on draft legal provisions for digital assets including stablecoins — tokens pegged to the value of sovereign currencies — "as early as possible next year." She also said the government wouldn't approach crypto staking services, which offer rewards on users' token holdings, as collective investment schemes. Crypto industry insiders had worried such a treatment would have created burdensome regulatory requirements. "This is a sector with enormous potential and a sector that's already playing a central role in the U.K.'s vibrant tech landscape," Poppy Gustafsson, Britain's investment minister, said last week at an event organized by the U.K. division of Coinbase -backed advocacy group Stand With Crypto. Gustafsson said the government is "committed to fostering and embracing blockchain" and is "already taking decisive steps to support this sector and ensure that we remain at the forefront of this global innovation." One example she cited was the launch of the Digital Securities Sandbox , a testbed for developing new distributed ledger technology-based solutions for the issuance, trading and settlement of securities in a live regulated environment. Another example is the " digital gilt " pilot launched last month, which looks to issue U.K. government bonds on the blockchain. While Britain is pushing forward a number of regulatory proposals on crypto, not everyone's convinced it can become a globally significant place for the technology. "I don't know whether we have the policymakers, the government, the risk appetite, the pro-entrepreneurship attitude to really capitalize on this generational opportunity," Steven Bartlett, a British entrepreneur famous for his "Diary of a CEO" podcast series, said in a fireside discussion at the Stand with Crypto event. Bartlett said that spending time at both the San Francisco and London offices of his blockchain startup Thirdweb makes him think "it's really unfair to try and build a company here compared to being there." Data from the U.K.'s Financial Conduct Authority suggests there's growing demand for crypto products in the country — the average value of crypto held by Brits rose to £1,842 ($2,33 7 ) this year from £1,595 a year ago, according to a survey released by the regulator last month. The FCA also published a roadmap detailing its plan to implement regulation for the crypto industry. The watchdog will launch discussion papers on stablecoins, trading platforms, lending, and staking over the next two years, with a full regulatory regime slated to go live by 2026 . Tom Duff Gordon, Coinbase's vice president of international policy, told CNBC that the U.K. shouldn't let regulatory momentum on crypto slow down, following Trump's election win. The Republican politician ran on a notoriously pro-crypto policy platform, vowing he wouldn't sell bitcoin seized by the federal government and that he'd replace incumbent Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler, who took an aggressive enforcement approach against various crypto firms while heading the agency. Last month, Gensler announced he intends to step down as SEC chair on Jan. 20, the date of Trump's upcoming inauguration. "The U.K. has done a lot of work," Coinbase's Gordon told CNBC in an interview on the sidelines of the event. "There's a huge opportunity for the U.K. to be really successful in this area, but we do need to have regulatory clarity." "We'd like to see secondary legislation on staking and stablecoins," Gordon added. "The city minister referred to that — so we're hoping to see that as well." While Britain now has a regulatory roadmap in place, crypto industry executives fear that waiting until 2026 to launch a full regime could push the country behind its transatlantic peers. Coinbase's chief policy officer, Faryar Shirzad, told CNBC in a recent interview that he now sees the U.S. being on track to approve federal crypto legislation "fairly quickly" — potentially as soon as 2025. Meanwhile, in the EU, a comprehensive piece of legislation known as the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation is set to come into force in full later this month. George McDonaugh, CEO of KR1 , a publicly-traded digital asset investment firm that specializes in blockchain technology, said that outdated rules in the U.K. are making it difficult for crypto-focused investment businesses like his to become more widely known publicly-traded names. KR1 is currently listed on the Acquis Stock Exchange, a trading venue for high-growth firms. McDonaugh said that KR1 has been trying for years to trade on the main market of the London Stock Exchange, but that it's blocked by a 2018 rule barring tokens like bitcoin and ether from being allowed in publicly-listed vehicles. "Time's moved on from then," McDonaugh said. "We believe that we can unlock a tsunami of capital into the British markets by removing that restriction." As the FCA tries to figure out how to develop and implement a regulatory crypto framework, experts are hoping it will encourage and foster innovation — not stifle it. Irfan Baluch, a crypto lawyer at Cripps, said he hopes the U.K. takes inspiration from the EU, which has already taken a "leading position" on crypto regulation with MiCA. "Applying 20 th century law to 21st century technology ... will only stifle innovation and drive crypto businesses offshore," Baluch said, adding the FCA's crypto regulation roadmap seems to be "a nod in the direction of addressing this issue" — for now, at least. "The U.K. has this unbelievable opportunity in this moment to act really decisively ... in the direction of innovation," Bartlett said. "If we do that in a way that the United States seems to naturally do, we won't find ourselves being the residual beneficiary of the blockchain or AI technology — we can play a really meaningful role in making sure the value of these technologies accrues to this country. But it has to be radical," he added.Carson Beck completed 20 of 31 passes for 297 yards and four touchdowns as No. 10 Georgia pummeled UMass 59-21 on Saturday in Athens, Ga. Nate Frazier ran for career highs of 136 yards and three touchdowns, while Arian Smith caught three passes for 110 yards and a score as the Bulldogs (9-2) won their second straight game and 30th straight at home, dating back to 2019. AJ Hairston completed 7 of 16 passes for 121 yards and a score for the Minutemen (2-9), who dropped their third straight. Jalen John ran for 107 yards and a score and Jakobie Keeney-James caught three passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. Peyton Woodring kicked a 53-yard field goal to extend Georgia's lead to 31-14 on the first drive of the third quarter. But UMass wasted little time responding, as Hairston hit Keeney-James for a 75-yard touchdown to get the deficit down to 10. Georgia then finished its sixth straight drive with a score, as Frazier's 9-yard run up the middle gave the Bulldogs a 38-21 lead at the 8:44 mark of the third quarter. After UMass punted, Georgia played add-on in its next possession, with Frazier scoring from 15 yards out with 1:39 left in the third to lead 45-21. Frazier stamped his career day with his third touchdown run, a 2-yarder with 6:33 left, before Georgia capped the scoring with Chris Cole's 28-yard fumble return with 3:28 remaining. UMass took the game's opening drive 75 yards down the field -- aided by Ahmad Haston's 38-yard run -- and scored on CJ Hester's 1-yard run with 9:15 left. Georgia answered on its ensuing drive, as Beck's 17-yard passing touchdown to Oscar Delp tied the game at the 5:05 mark of the first quarter. Following a short punt by UMass, Beck connected with Smith for 49 yards, and a roughing-the-passer penalty put the ball at Minutemen's 14-yard line. Facing a fourth-and-4 from the 8-yard line, Beck found Cash Jones for a touchdown to take a 14-7 lead with 10:30 left in the second quarter. On UMass' next play from scrimmage, Raylen Wilson recovered John's fumble on the Minutemen's 28-yard line. Three plays later, Beck connected with Dominic Lovett for a 15-yard touchdown with 8:56 remaining. UMass then scored after a 14-play, 75-yard drive, finished off with John's 3-yard rushing score with 1:55 left in the first half. Georgia answered quickly, as Beck's 20-yard pass to Cole Speer set up a 34-yard touchdown pass to Smith with 43 seconds remaining, giving the Bulldogs a 28-14 halftime lead. --Field Level Media
Kyverna Therapeutics, Inc. Investors Who Have Lost Money Should Contact Block & Leviton to ...Organisers of the centenary of the Yarrawonga-Mulwala bridge fell short in their bid to have King Charles attend the 100 anniversary, but they landed a plaque for the NSW side despite a Federation Council snub. or signup to continue reading The milestone will occur on Friday, December 13, and be celebrated on Sunday, December 15, with two $2000 plaques to be unveiled, one at Mulwala at 10am and the other at Yarrawonga at 10.30am. However, while Moira Shire funded the Victorian sign with little fuss, its NSW counterpart will have a last line reading "this plaque sponsored by Cr Pat Bourke & Cr Andrew Kennedy". That reflects Federation Council's unwillingness to bankroll the Mulwala plate, which will be officially unveiled by Albury MP Justin Clancy after being made at Kyabram. An appeal for funding by centenary committee members was spurned at the council's March meeting, "I don't see the point in us putting a plaque on a bridge that is going to end up in the lake anyway," Cr Law said referring to a As a result, Cr Bourke, the Federation mayor until September, and Mulwala-based Cr Kennedy decided to personally provide the $2000. "We were very keen to see them get support," Cr Bourke said. "We thought it's a great project, a heritage project for both Yarrawonga and Mulwala. "It's pretty tough on council because there are so many things and if money is given to one thing it can snowball with other donations, so we thought we would do it as a personal thing." Cr Kennedy noted the financial pressures on Federation Council, which is in the middle of extraordinary rate rises. "I didn't think it's fair that the ratepayers contribute to it, so I thought I'd do it myself, that's the least I could do for the township," Cr Kennedy said. "I first crossed that bridge when I was a week old because I was born at Yarrawonga hospital. "I would have crossed that bridge thousands of times in the last 50 years." While Mr Clancy will unveil the plaque in Mulwala and Ovens Valley MP Tim McCurdy will perform the same role in Yarrawonga, there was an attempt to have King Charles attend the centenary celebrations. Bridge centenary committee co-chair John Lawless wrote to Buckingham Palace inviting the monarch to join the commemoration as part of his spring Australian visit. However, after the King's health woes curtailed his tour that prospect was lost. Nevertheless, Mr Lawless received an October 16 letter from an assistant private secretary to the King, Nathan Ross, thanking him for his "incredibly kind invitation". "Whilst His Majesty is regrettably unable to be with you to mark the occasion, this letter comes with his warmest congratulations and best wishes to the residents of Yarrawonga and Mulwala as you gather for this important celebration," Dr Ross wrote. The NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison was invited and is unable to attend, however she will be represented by another minister Kate Washington, who spent much of her childhood in Mulwala. Ms Washington's father Bert Washington, who later became principal of Albury North Public School, was the inaugural headmaster of Mulwala Public School in 1973. He and his wife Leslie and their three children, including baby Kate, moved to Mulwala at the start of 1971 to teach at the central school, which extended to year 10 before it closed and the public school emerged. They left Mulwala at the end of 1979. "I'm really looking forward to heading back to Mulwala to celebrate the centenary of a bridge I travelled over countless times as a child," Ms Washington, a Labor MP for Port Stephens, said. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement Advertisement
Galaxy assessing how to replace Riqui Puig for MLS Cup finalThe unsealed U.S. indictment on Monday charges two former Syrian officials with war crimes, highlighting America's continued legal actions under the Biden administration. This inditement reflects the U.S. government's stance on enforcing international human rights laws. In a bid against human trafficking, Germany has agreed to close a legal loophole, preventing smugglers from storing boats, marking closer cooperative efforts with the UK. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is leading these initiatives, emphasizing his focus on combating illegal migration. Amid continuing political turmoil, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to testify in his long-standing corruption trial. Meanwhile, changes in Syrian administration signal a shift in power dynamics, with the former prime minister agreeing to transfer power to a rebel-backed government. (With inputs from agencies.)None
Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate from a wealthy Maryland family, has been identified as the suspected murderer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson . Initially identified by authorities as a “strong person of interest,” his first mugshot was released on Tuesday, according to The Post . Known for his anti-capitalist views and personal grievances against the medical industry, Mangione allegedly liked a manifesto targeting "parasites" online. Who is the suspect in Brian Thompson’s murder? Authorities detained a man in Altoona, Pennsylvania , on Monday for questioning in connection with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan last week. The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Luigi Mangione was reportedly carrying a firearm that was strikingly similar to the one used in the shooting, along with a fake ID. Also read: A man in Pennsylvania is under investigation for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson According to sources, Mangione resented the medical community due to the treatment of a sick family member. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny revealed at a press conference that Mangione was arrested and taken for investigation after a McDonald’s employee recognised him while he was dining there. All about Luigi Mangione Originally from Towson, Maryland, the 26-year-old is a former Ivy League student with family connections in state politics, including a cousin serving in the legislature. Police suspect his strained relationship with the medical industry may be linked to personal experiences, pointing to an X-ray image he shared online showing four spinal pins. Friends and former classmates were stunned by the news, recalling Mangione as a top prep-school valedictorian and a standout graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. The elite Gilman School in Baltimore, where he graduated at the top of his class, called the news of his arrest “deeply distressing.” Also read: How much Google, Amazon, Tesla, and big techs spend to protect their CEOs amid Brian Thompson’s murder “Luigi Mangione’s suspected involvement, in this case, is deeply distressing news on top of an already awful situation,” the Gilman School said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to everyone affected. Here on campus, our focus will remain on caring for and educating our students,” the private school released a statement following the arrest. Luigi Mangione remained silent during police questioning, according to FOX Digital. Authorities found him in possession of a ghost gun with a silencer, a U.S. passport, four fake IDs, and a handwritten manifesto with quotes of something similar to what he had shared online from Ted Kaczynski, the notorious "Unabomber." Mangione’s LinkedIn profile lists him as a data engineer for a California car company, though he claims to reside in Honolulu, Hawaii.
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. prosecutors are accusing two senior Syrian officials of overseeing a notorious prison that tortured and other political prisoners, including a 26-year-old American woman who was later believed to have been executed. The indictment was unsealed Monday, two days after a shock rebel offensive overthrew Syrian . The U.S., U.N. and others accuse him of in a 13-year battle to crush opposition forces seeking his removal from power. The war, which began as a largely nonviolent popular uprising in 2011, has killed half a million people. The indictment, filed Nov. 18 in federal court in Chicago, is believed to be the U.S. government’s first against what officials say were networks of Assad intelligence services and military branches and other allied groups that detained, tortured and killed thousands of perceived enemies. It names Jamil Hassan, director of the Syrian air force’s intelligence branch, who prosecutors say oversaw a prison and torture center at the Mezzeh air force base in the capital, Damascus, and Abdul Salam Mahmoud, who prosecutors say ran the prison. The indictment charges the two with conspiring to commit cruel and inhuman treatment of civilian detainees during the course of the Syrian civil war. Detainees at the prison were whipped, kicked, electrocuted, burned and subjected to other mental and physical abuse, including being housed in cells alongside corpses of dead detainees, prosecutors allege. Victims included Syrians, Americans and dual citizens, the indictment said. The U.S.-based Syrian Emergency Task Force has long pushed federal prosecutors for action on the cases, including that of 26-year-old American aid worker Layla Shweikani. The group presented witnesses who testified of Shweikani’s 2016 torture at the prison. Syrian rights groups believe she was later executed at the Saydnaya military prison in the Damascus suburbs. “Now it is our time to capture these criminals and bring them to the United States for trial,” the Syrian Emergency Task Force said in a statement Monday. The group’s leader, Mouaz Moustafa, said his relatives were among those tortured at the prison. Federal prosecutors said they had issued arrest warrants for the two officials, who remain at large. Prospects of bringing them to trial were unclear. Assad’s toppling by the rebels over the weekend has scattered his government and left citizens around the country for survivors and evidence. Ellen Knickmeyer, The Associated PressScientists have raised concerns about hospitality staff coming into contact with second-hand smoke at work after the Government rowed back on plans to make it illegal to smoke in pub beer gardens. Concerns have also been raised about the “renormalisation” of smoking. Dr Rachel O’Donnell, senior research fellow at the University of Stirling’s Institute for Social Marketing and Health, said restrictions on smoking in outdoor places can “reinforce” a message that smoking “isn’t a socially acceptable thing to do” and could also help smokers to kick the habit. In November, it emerged that the UK Government is to scrap plans to ban smoking in the gardens of pubs and restaurants in England. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the hospitality industry has “taken a real battering in recent years” and it is not “the right time” to ban smoking outside pubs. But smoking and vaping could be banned in other public places in England – such as in playgrounds or outside of schools – under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. According to the World Health Organisation, there is no safe level of second-hand smoke exposure. In a briefing for journalists, Dr O’Donnell said decision-making “should be on the basis of all the evidence that’s available”. She added: “Any debate about legislation on smoking in outdoor settings shouldn’t only focus on air quality and second-hand smoke exposure levels, because the impacts of restrictions in outdoor settings are also evident on our social norms.” Smoke-free outdoor environments “reinforce smoke-free as the acceptable norm”, she said. “This, I think, is a critically important point at a time where in the media, over the last year, we’ve seen various reports and questions as to whether we might be on the cusp of renormalisation of smoking for various reasons, and so smoke-free public environments still have a critically important role to play. “If you reduce opportunities to smoke, it can also help individuals who smoke themselves to reduce the amount they smoke or to make a quit attempt.” Dr O’Donnell said visibility of tobacco products and smoking is a “form of marketing for tobacco companies” as she pointed to studies highlighting the increasing number of tobacco depictions on screen. She went on: “The more often young adults observe smoking around them, the more likely they are to believe that smoking is socially acceptable, which feeds back into this idea of renormalisation of smoking. “So, restrictions on smoking in outdoor public places have other positive knock-on effects, potentially for young people as well, just sending out that clear message that this isn’t a socially acceptable thing to do and see, and this could help to discourage smoking initiation among young people at quite a critical time.” On being exposed to second-hand smoke at work, she added: “I think sometimes when we think about exposure to second-hand smoke in outdoor settings, in pubs, in restaurants, we think about that sort of occasional customer exposure, the nuisance element of it when people are out enjoying a meal with friends, but we also need to be reminded that this is a repeated occupational exposure for those who are working in hospitality and serving drinks and food. “Now, as we’ve already seen, concentrations of second-hand smoke in these settings are generally low, and they’re likely to present a low risk to health for most healthy people. “But ... there’s no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke, and so any individual with pre-existing heart, lung or respiratory conditions may be particularly vulnerable even to low levels of exposure. “We know that second-hand smoke is its known carcinogen, and on that basis those exposed in the hospitality sector have a right to be protected. “On that basis, there’s a need to protect them, as there is anybody in any workplace setting from second-hand smoke exposure in all areas of workplaces and spaces.” Sean Semple, professor of exposure science at the University of Stirling’s Institute for Social Marketing and Health, said: “I think that if I were a policy-maker, which I am not, then I would be looking at those occupational exposures as well. “I have asthma, if I was being occupationally exposed to SHS (second-hand smoke), and knowing that I was one of a very small number of workers now being legally exposed to SHS in the workplace, then I might not be very happy about that.” A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “As part of our 10 Year Health Plan we are shifting focus from sickness to prevention, including tackling the harms of smoking and passive smoking. “The landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill is the biggest public health intervention in a generation and will put us on track towards a smoke-free UK.”Meet the finalists: Manufacturer of the Year 2025
Ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner, jailed for sexting child, eyes political comeback in New York City Council
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 good 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.” The Liberal Democrats accused the Government of “missing opportunities and making self-defeating decisions” in the Budget, and urged it not to “make the same mistakes” in the spending review. The party’s Treasury spokeswoman, Daisy Cooper, said: “Leaving the social care sector in crisis is a false economy that will only put people at risk and damage the public finances. “The Government cannot afford to make the same mistakes in the spending review as they did with the Budget, missing opportunities and making self-defeating decisions. “The Government must use this Review to invest to save, taking into account the billions of pounds that could be saved in the NHS budget by investing.”FY2025 Earnings Forecast for RCKT Issued By Leerink PartnrsCabinet 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 good 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.” The Liberal Democrats accused the Government of “missing opportunities and making self-defeating decisions” in the Budget, and urged it not to “make the same mistakes” in the spending review. The party’s Treasury spokeswoman, Daisy Cooper, said: “Leaving the social care sector in crisis is a false economy that will only put people at risk and damage the public finances. “The Government cannot afford to make the same mistakes in the spending review as they did with the Budget, missing opportunities and making self-defeating decisions. “The Government must use this Review to invest to save, taking into account the billions of pounds that could be saved in the NHS budget by investing.”
76ers center Joel Embiid sidelined due to swelling in his left knee and will miss two games PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers say center Joel Embiid is managing swelling in his left knee and will miss a second consecutive game Sunday. The Sixers issued a statement on the condition of the 2023 NBA MVP at halftime of Friday’s NBA Cup game against the Brooklyn Nets, saying the decision to sideline Embiid was made along with the team’s medical staff. Embiid was ruled out prior to Friday’s game against the Nets due to what the team described as left knee injury maintenance. The Sixers host the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. Giants release quarterback Daniel Jones just days after benching him EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Daniel Jones era in New York is over. The Giants quarterback was granted his release by the team just days after the franchise said it was benching him in favor of third-stringer Tommy DeVito. New York president John Mara said Jones approached the team about releasing him and the club obliged. Mara added he was “disappointed” at the quick dissolution of a once-promising relationship between Jones and the team. Giants coach Brian Daboll benched Jones in favor of DeVito following a loss to the Panthers in Germany that dropped New York's record to 2-8. Austin Hays, Kyle Finnegan, Brendan Rodgers and Jordan Romano among 62 new free agents NEW YORK (AP) — Outfielder Austin Hays, right-hander Kyle Finnegan and second baseman Brendan Rodgers were among 62 players who became free agents when their teams failed to offer 2025 contracts. Right-hander Jordan Romano, left-hander Patrick Sandoval and outfielders Michael Tauchman and Ramón Laureano also were among the players cut loose, many of whom would have been eligible for salary arbitration. Washington cut right-hander Tanner Rainey, its last remaining player from the 2019 World Series champions. Finnegan and Hays are former All-Stars. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. Russell puts Mercedes on pole at Las Vegas and Verstappen nips Norris in championship battle LAS VEGAS (AP) — George Russell put Mercedes on the pole for the Las Vegas Grand Prix in an upset over teammate Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton was fastest in the first two practice sessions with Russell fastest in Friday night’s third and final session. But come qualifying, Hamilton made two mistakes in the final group and wound up a distant 10th. Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc seemed to sweep the front row until Russell’s late lap pushed Sainz to second. Pierre Gasly slid into third, and Leclerc wound up fourth. Championship leader Max Verstappen of Red Bull qualified fifth for Saturday night's race. Verstappen needs only to score three points more than challenger Lando Norris to win his fourth straight world championship. Week 16 game between Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers flexed to Thursday night spot The Los Angeles Chargers have played their way into another prime time appearance. Justin Herbert and company have had their Dec. 22 game against the Denver Broncos flexed to Thursday night, Dec. 19. Friday’s announcement makes this the first time a game has been flexed to the Thursday night spot. The league amended its policy last season where Thursday night games in Weeks 13 through 17 could be flexed with at least 28 days notice prior to the game. The matchup of AFC West division rivals bumps the game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals to Sunday afternoon. Chase Elliott named NASCAR's most popular driver for 7th straight season CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Chase Elliott has been named NASCAR's most popular driver for the seventh straight year. He was announced Friday at NASCAR's annual season-ending awards ceremony. It's the only major NASCAR award determined solely by the vote of race fans. Elliott beat out Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson and Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney, per results released by the National Motorsports Press Association. Bill Elliott, Chase's father who is nicknamed “Awesome Bill from Dawsonville,” was named NASCAR’s most popular driver a record 16 times before removing his name from the ballot. Either an Elliott or Earnhardt has won NASCAR’s most popular driver award for 34 consecutive years. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Brock Purdy will miss Sunday's game for the 49ers with a shoulder injury SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will miss Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers with a sore throwing shoulder. Purdy injured his right shoulder in last Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Purdy underwent an MRI that showed no structural damage but the shoulder didn’t improve during the week and Purdy was ruled out for the game. Coach Kyle Shanahan said star defensive end Nick Bosa also will miss the game with injuries to his left hip and oblique. Left tackle Trent Williams is questionable with an ankle injury and will be a game-time decision. Lawyer says ex-Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller met with NCAA for hours amid gambling probe PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A lawyer for former Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller says the 22-year-old sat for a long interview with the NCAA amid an investigation into unusual gambling activity. But neither the lawyer nor federal law enforcement officials on Friday would confirm reports that a federal probe is now under way. Lawyer Jason Bologna says Miller cooperated because he hopes to play again. Miller was released last month after transferring to Virginia Tech. Temple President John Fry says the Philadelphia school has not been asked for any information from federal law enforcement officials.
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump has promised to end birthright citizenship as soon as he gets into office to make good on campaign promises aiming to restrict immigration and redefining what it means to be American. But any efforts to halt the policy would face steep legal hurdles. Birthright citizenship means anyone born in the United States automatically becomes an American citizen. It’s been in place for decades and applies to children born to someone in the country illegally or in the U.S. on a tourist or student visa who plans to return to their home country. It’s not the practice of every country, and Trump and his supporters have argued that the system is being abused and that there should be tougher standards for becoming an American citizen. But others say this is a right enshrined in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, it would be extremely difficult to overturn and even if it’s possible, it’s a bad idea. Here’s a look at birthright citizenship, what Trump has said about it and the prospects for ending it: What Trump has said about birthright citizenship During an interview Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Trump said he “absolutely” planned to halt birthright citizenship once in office. “We’re going to end that because it’s ridiculous,” he said. Trump and other opponents of birthright citizenship have argued that it creates an incentive for people to come to the U.S. illegally or take part in “birth tourism,” in which pregnant women enter the U.S. specifically to give birth so their children can have citizenship before returning to their home countries. “Simply crossing the border and having a child should not entitle anyone to citizenship,” said Eric Ruark, director of research for NumbersUSA, which argues for reducing immigration. The organization supports changes that would require at least one parent to be a permanent legal resident or a U.S. citizen for their children to automatically get citizenship. Others have argued that ending birthright citizenship would profoundly damage the country. “One of our big benefits is that people born here are citizens, are not an illegal underclass. There’s better assimilation and integration of immigrants and their children because of birthright citizenship,” said Alex Nowrasteh, vice president for economic and social policy studies at the pro-immigration Cato Institute. In 2019, the Migration Policy Institute estimated that 5.5 million children under age 18 lived with at least one parent in the country illegally in 2019, representing 7% of the U.S. child population. The vast majority of those children were U.S. citizens. The nonpartisan think tank said during Trump’s campaign for president in 2015 that the number of people in the country illegally would “balloon” if birthright citizenship were repealed, creating “a self-perpetuating class that would be excluded from social membership for generations.” What does the law say? In the aftermath of the Civil War, Congress ratified the 14th Amendment in July 1868. That amendment assured citizenship for all, including Black people. “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside,” the 14th Amendment says. “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.” But the 14th Amendment didn’t always translate to everyone being afforded birthright citizenship. For example, it wasn’t until 1924 that Congress finally granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the U.S. A key case in the history of birthright citizenship came in 1898, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Wong Kim Ark, born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrants, was a U.S. citizen because he was born in the states. The federal government had tried to deny him reentry into the county after a trip abroad on grounds he wasn’t a citizen under the Chinese Exclusion Act. But some have argued that the 1898 case clearly applied to children born of parents who are both legal immigrants to America but that it’s less clear whether it applies to children born to parents without legal status or, for example, who come for a short-term like a tourist visa. “That is the leading case on this. In fact, it’s the only case on this,” said Andrew Arthur, a fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, which supports immigration restrictions. “It’s a lot more of an open legal question than most people think.” Some proponents of immigration restrictions have argued the words “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” in the 14th Amendment allows the U.S. to deny citizenship to babies born to those in the country illegally. Trump himself used that language in his 2023 announcement that he would aim to end birthright citizenship if reelected. So what could Trump do and would it be successful? Trump wasn’t clear in his Sunday interview how he aims to end birthright citizenship. Asked how he could get around the 14th Amendment with an executive action, Trump said: “Well, we’re going to have to get it changed. We’ll maybe have to go back to the people. But we have to end it.” Pressed further on whether he’d use an executive order, Trump said “if we can, through executive action.” He gave a lot more details in a 2023 post on his campaign website. In it, he said he would issue an executive order the first day of his presidency, making it clear that federal agencies “require that at least one parent be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident for their future children to become automatic U.S. citizens.” Trump wrote that the executive order would make clear that children of people in the U.S. illegally “should not be issued passports, Social Security numbers, or be eligible for certain taxpayer funded welfare benefits.” This would almost certainly end up in litigation. Nowrasteh from the Cato Institute said the law is clear that birthright citizenship can’t be ended by executive order but that Trump may be inclined to take a shot anyway through the courts. “I don’t take his statements very seriously. He has been saying things like this for almost a decade,” Nowrasteh said. “He didn’t do anything to further this agenda when he was president before. The law and judges are near uniformly opposed to his legal theory that the children of illegal immigrants born in the United States are not citizens.” Trump could steer Congress to pass a law to end birthright citizenship but would still face a legal challenge that it violates the Constitution.
Taxpayers could get $500 'inflation refund' checks under New York proposal: What to knowIslamic morality police in Kano state are to resume raids on betting shops following a supreme court ruling on gambling. The Nigerian Supreme Court quashed a 2005 law Friday that established a national lottery commission and legalised sports betting and gambling. The court ruled gambling regulation is a matter for state governments. Kano State is one of 12 predominantly Muslim Nigerian states in which Islamic sharia is used alongside federal law. Director General of the Kano Hisbah, Abba Sufi in an interview with AFP said, “We will resume our clampdown on betting shops with renewed determination since betting is illegal under Kano state sharia law. “With this verdict, the controversy on who should be in charge of lottery legislation between the federal government and state governments has been settled. “We in Kano have frowned at the lottery law... because it gave legal backing to gambling which is clearly prohibited in Islam.” According to Sufi, the raids followed repeated complaints by parents of children whose love of football teams had led them into gambling. “And the harsh economic climate is pushing more people into this football gambling, hoping to make easy money and becoming hooked to the vice,” Sufi argued. The Hisbah is a state unit that polices Sharia law in Kano, northern Nigeria’s biggest city. Last month Hisbah operatives raided and closed dozens of football betting shops across the city which they said were promoting gambling, which is prohibited under sharia. Raids were halted after the National Lottery Commission protested that betting on football was legal under Nigerian federal law under the 2005 Lottery Act, Sufi said. READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE BREAKING: Supreme Court nullifies National Lottery Act Get real-time news updates from Tribune Online! Follow us on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive stories and interviews, and much more. Join our WhatsApp Channel now
