casino plus jili slot Big Concerts has vowed to beef up security at the upcoming Chris Brown concerts despite blue-ticking a petition by the anti-gender-based violence (GBV) organisation Women For Change and the GOOD Party, led by Patricia de Lille. The NGO served the concert promoters, as well as the Departments of Home Affairs and Sport, Arts and Culture, with a petition calling on authorities to cancel the performance. The political party has also applied pressure on the government to revoke the artist’s visa. The US singer – who has a history of abuse – is set to perform in South Africa days after the 16 Days of Activism campaign comes to an end. BIG CONCERTS VOWS TO BEEF UP SECURITY In a recent Instagram post, Big Concerts hyped up its followers about Chris Brown’s concerts on 14 and 15 December at the FNB Stadium. “The countdown is officially on!” the account said of the controversial performances. The page liked comments from followers who hinted that Chris Brown’s show would go on despite a petition calling for its cancellation. “We’ve taken many precautions to ensure a safe and secure experience for all patrons. “The venue is fully equipped with visible security throughout the premises. And we’ve added extra lighting to illuminate the outer stadium areas. We’re committed to providing a high level of safety and security for all attendees”. Meanwhile, Women For Change also hopped into the comments section, highlighting an incident in July where Chris Brown was accused of assaulting fans backstage after his concert. According to the LA Times, the singer “brutally and severely beat four fans who were attending a VIP meet and greet.” The organisation commented: “Who ensures that neither he nor his crew repeats such behaviour? What mechanisms are in place to hold performers and their entourages accountable for misconduct during or after the concert?” CRICKETS ABOUT GBV PETITION Meanwhile, Big Concerts, the Department of Home Affairs, and Minister Leon Schreiber have remained mum on the timing and concerns of Chris Brown’s upcoming concert. This, particularly just days after the 16 Days of Activism ends. This included a lengthy motivation for why allowing the 35-year-old undermined holding individuals accountable in the fight against GBV. “If this concert goes ahead, it will speak volumes about where our leaders truly stand in addressing the GBVF pandemic.” The GOOD Party also accused authorities of ignoring their concerns. “[Minister Leon] Schreiber has the power under the Immigration Act to declare Chris Brown undesirable. But chooses to look the other way. “The government claims to fight gender-based violence, but Schreiber needs to prove it by taking action as a Minister.” Meanwhile, The South African has repeatedly contacted Big Concerts and the Department of Home Affairs for comment. None has been received. ARE YOU ATTENDING CHRIS BROWN’S CONCERTS, AND WHY? Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 You can also follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.

Former Proud Boys Leader Testifies in Defense of Officer Accused of Aiding HimPublished 4:20 pm Saturday, December 7, 2024 By Staff Reports There are 12 contests on Sunday’s NBA schedule, among them the Houston Rockets versus the Los Angeles Clippers. You will find info on live coverage of Sunday’s NBA action right here. Sign up for NBA League Pass to get access to games, live and on-demand, and more for the entire season and offseason. Watch ESPN originals, The Last Dance and more NBA content on ESPN+. Use our link to sign up for ESPN+ or the Disney bundle. 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 .

A civil jury in Ireland finds that mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor assaulted a woman in a hotel. (CORRECTS: A previous APNewsAlert misstated the claim the jury found him liable for.)NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urged a judge again Friday to throw out his hush money conviction, balking at the prosecution’s suggestion of preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies. They called the idea “absurd.” The Manhattan district attorney's office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. They include freezing the case until Trump leaves office in 2029, agreeing that any future sentence won't include jail time, or closing the case by noting he was convicted but that he wasn't sentenced and his appeal wasn’t resolved because of presidential immunity. Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove reiterated Friday their position that the only acceptable option is overturning his conviction and dismissing his indictment, writing that anything less will interfere with the transition process and his ability to lead the country. The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined comment. It’s unclear how soon Merchan will decide. He could grant Trump’s request for dismissal, go with one of the prosecution’s suggestions, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court, or choose some other option. In their response Friday, Blanche and Bove ripped each of the prosecution’s suggestions. Halting the case until Trump leaves office would force the incoming president to govern while facing the “ongoing threat” that he’ll be sentenced to imprisonment, fines or other punishment as soon as his term ends, Blanche and Bove wrote. Trump, a Republican, takes office Jan. 20. “To be clear, President Trump will never deviate from the public interest in response to these thuggish tactics,” the defense lawyers wrote. “However, the threat itself is unconstitutional.” The prosecution’s suggestion that Merchan could mitigate those concerns by promising not to sentence Trump to jail time on presidential immunity grounds is also a non-starter, Blanche and Bove wrote. The immunity statute requires dropping the case, not merely limiting sentencing options, they argued. Blanche and Bove, both of whom Trump has tabbed for high-ranking Justice Department positions, expressed outrage at the prosecution’s novel suggestion that Merchan borrow from Alabama and other states and treat the case as if Trump had died. Blanche and Bove accused prosecutors of ignoring New York precedent and attempting to “fabricate” a solution “based on an extremely troubling and irresponsible analogy between President Trump" who survived assassination attempts in Pennsylvania in July and Florida in September “and a hypothetical dead defendant.” Such an option normally comes into play when a defendant dies after being convicted but before appeals are exhausted. It is unclear whether it is viable under New York law, but prosecutors suggested that Merchan could innovate in what’s already a unique case. “This remedy would prevent defendant from being burdened during his presidency by an ongoing criminal proceeding,” prosecutors wrote in their filing this week. But at the same time, it wouldn’t “precipitously discard” the “meaningful fact that defendant was indicted and found guilty by a jury of his peers.” Prosecutors acknowledged that “presidential immunity requires accommodation” during Trump’s impending return to the White House but argued that his election to a second term should not upend the jury’s verdict, which came when he was out of office. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution . Other world leaders don’t enjoy the same protection. For example, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges even as he leads that nation’s wars in Lebanon and Gaza . Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his May 30 conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records . Prosecutors said he fudged the documents to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier, which Trump denies. In their filing Friday, Trump’s lawyers citing a social media post in which Sen. John Fetterman used profane language to criticize Trump’s hush money prosecution. The Pennsylvania Democrat suggested that Trump deserved a pardon, comparing his case to that of President Joe Biden’s pardoned son Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division,” Fetterman wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. Trump’s hush money conviction was in state court, meaning a presidential pardon — issued by Biden or himself when he takes office — would not apply to the case. Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes. Since the election, special counsel Jack Smith has ended his two federal cases , which pertained to Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and allegations that he hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate state election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia, is largely on hold. Trump denies wrongdoing in all. Trump had been scheduled for sentencing in the hush money case in late November. But following Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed the former and future president’s sentencing so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case. Merchan also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. A dismissal would erase Trump’s conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office.

A civil jury in Ireland finds that mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor assaulted a woman in a hotel. (CORRECTS: A previous APNewsAlert misstated the claim the jury found him liable for.)

Zumiez’s (NASDAQ:ZUMZ) Q3 Earnings Results: Revenue In Line With Expectations, Stock Jumps 10.6%There have been some interesting discussions about birthright citizenship, intensified by Donald Trump’s election a few weeks ago. A number of people who are angry at the chaos at the border have jumped right over the normal processes and procedures which would guarantee illegal border crossings are limited, and hit right at one of the core principles of our nation, one embedded in the 14th Amendment — if you are born here, regardless of the status of your parents, you are a U.S. citizen. The actual wording of the amendment is as follows: “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.” Those who don’t like the idea that birth on American territory automatically grants you the gift of American citizenship have started to parse the words of the amendment. They are doing what gun reform activists tried to do with the 2nd Amendment, making the “right to bear arms” a collective right held by “militias,” not an individual and a personal right for each and every American citizen. That parsing, which would make every Catholic school English teacher who ever diagrammed a sentence on a blackboard proud, was roundly rejected by the Supreme Court in the Heller decision, which recognized an individual right to own a gun. That being the case, conservative attempts to dismantle well over a century of constitutional precedent is dishonest, and untenable. Some argue the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction of” means parents of the child born in this country must be legally here in order to confer citizenship. The point they are missing, or actually one of several points, is that it is not the parents who are conveying anything but life to the child. It is the Constitution itself that is conveying citizenship. More importantly, virtually everyone physically present in the U.S., regardless of legal status, is subject to the jurisdiction of our government. If this were not the case, we can imagine a Batman style Gotham city environment, where illegal aliens could just commit crimes and the only thing we could do if we catch them is deport them. No arrests, no jail terms, no trials and no life sentences. Imagine if that were the case with Laken Riley’s murderer, an illegal alien who is now going to spend the rest of his life behind bars. This writer would have been happier had he been sentenced to death, but that’s another column altogether. The idea we can simply strip people of their citizenship and thereby erase a constitutional right, merely to solve a problematic but temporary problem at the border, is anathema. I know legal scholars have differed on the integrity of birthright citizenship, but they are going to need better arguments than those proffered by anti-immigration activists in order to be able to convince even this conservative Supreme Court of their legitimacy. I am an immigration lawyer and my bias is incorporated into my viewpoint. Thirty years of doing this work will color anyone’s perspective on the laws governing immigration policy. I understand extremely well the importance of maintaining order at the border, but stripping people born here of their birthright, one over a century old in its recognition, on specious political grounds is not going to advance that goal. People do not come here to “have” U.S. citizen children, who frankly can only be of benefit from an immigration perspective after the child turns 21 or in a few other very limited circumstances. The immigration laws already eliminate U.S. citizen children as the basis of most waivers of inadmissibility and against deportation/removal, so this is simply an appeal to the lowest common denominator, the basest instincts of the xenophobic. Where will we draw the line? Is being born to a citizen the only way to ensure the citizenship of the child? Is being born to a visitor who has the right to live here for a few months enough? Do you need your green card? And is this what we want, a world where your value is based on your parents’ status in the country? I don’t think that Americans are that sort of people. So even if you do support Trump’s more draconian policies on immigration, you are not as patriotic as you think if you are in favor of making newborns criminals in their cribs.Top 10 movies of 2024: In a time of scoundrels, ‘Brutalist,’ ‘Challengers’ and the movie about the exotic dancerAriana Grande has addressed the recent speculation about her appearance. The pop sensation has been the subject of social media chatter regarding her looks while promoting the screen adaptation of Wicked the Musical. Last month, Ariana , 31, sparked concern when she appeared at a photocall for the production in Los Angeles, leaving fans worried. Despite staying silent on the online remarks, the Positions singer became emotional as she made a rare confession after being asked about beauty standards in the music and film industry. Speaking alongside her co-star Cynthia Erivo, Ariana expressed that there's a "comfortability" people have when discussing others' appearances, which she finds "really dangerous." "I think it's dangerous for all parties involved," she stated. Ariana continued: "I've been doing this in front of the public, a specimen on a petri dish really since I was 16 or 17, I have heard it all. I've heard every version of what's wrong with me, then you fix it and it's wrong for different reasons." The Glinda actress shared her thoughts on the pressures of appearance, saying: "The simplest things, your appearance, you're young, it's hard to protect yourself from that noise and I think it's something that's uncomfortable no matter what scale you're experiencing it on. "Even if you go to Thanksgiving Dinner and someone's granny says 'Oh my God you look skinnier, what happened? ' or 'Oh my God you look heavier, what happened? ', that is something that is uncomfortable and horrible, no matter where it's happening, no matter the scale it's happening on", reports the Mirror . In a candid chat with French content creator Sally on the Oui Oui Baguette podcast, Ariana remarked: "That is a comfortability that we shouldn't have, at all. Commenting on others looks, appearance, what they think is going on behind the scenes or health, or how they present themselves." She continued: "There's a comfortability that people have commenting on that, that I think is really dangerous. And I think it's dangerous for all parties involved, I'm really lucky to have the support system that I have," before confessing that she "knows and trusts" her own beauty, despite acknowledging that the pressure has been a constant presence since her youth but is firmly uninvited in her life. Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. Ariana's remarks follow her candid interview with the Mirror, in which she discussed the valuable lessons she gained valuable insights from portraying the good witch. She revealed: "Coming into the role, I think I would doubt myself – and maybe even have been a bit of a people pleaser. Glinda, in a good way, is so sure of herself – she's taught me that it's okay to have boundaries and stop trying to please people. When I think of all that she's taught me, it actually makes me a little emotional." 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Advancements in DNA technology and a surge of public interest are rekindling hope for breakthroughs in the long-unsolved murder of 6-year-old JonBenét Ramsey, a case that has remained a haunting mystery for nearly 28 years. As new techniques emerge and fresh attention is drawn to the evidence, many are eager for answers that could finally bring closure to this tragic story. JonBenét, who was found dead in the basement of her Boulder, Colorado, home in 1996, remains frozen in time. Her father, John Ramsey, has endured nearly three decades without justice, answers or his daughter. "JonBenét's still my 6-year-old blond-headed daughter who I love dearly," Ramsey told ABC News. "I did run into one of her little friends on the street who is now, you know, 30 and an adult. And it was, it was a little bit of a shock. This little girl played with JonBenét at our house all the time. And that was a little bit of a jolt to think, wow, that could have been JonBenét." Watch the full story on the "20/20" episode, "Forever Young: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey?" featuring a new interview with John Ramsey and never-before-seen footage from the iconic Barbara Walters interview with parents John and Patsy Ramsey. Ramsey, now 81 years old, has renewed hope that his daughter's killer can finally be found. He is confident that advances in DNA technology, including genetic genealogy that has helped to solve several high-profile cold case, are the key to solving this mystery. "Let's do a reverse family tree and see if he had a relative living in Boulder in 1996. The interesting thing about these cold cases," Ramsey said. "The ultimate first arrest came out of nowhere. They were on no one's radar. They've done this horrible crime and nobody said that that guy's a suspect. That's what we're asking the police to do." Over the years, Ramsey expressed frustration with the police for not solving his daughter's case. He was unhappy with being a prime suspect for 12 years and that the department rejected offers of help to find viable evidence.He recently took part in a new Netflix docuseries, "Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey?" The series dives into lingering mysteries surrounding the tragic case, exploring evidence, interviews and theories that have emerged over the years. Ramsey collaborated with director Joe Berlinger, who aimed to illuminate what he described as one of the most victimized families in American history. "Obviously, he wasn't legally wrongfully convicted, but he was wrongfully convicted," Berlinger said. "And his wife Patsy -- the family were wrongfully convicted in the court of public opinion." The popular docuseries ignited a new wave of interest among viewers. Ramsey is hopeful that recent changes in the Boulder Police Department's leadership and better communication with his family may lead to a resolution in the case. The Boulder police department has addressed the recent scrutiny. Last month, the current police chief released a video statement. "So much of how law enforcement works has changed in the last 30 years," Stephen Redfearn said. "There are a number of things that people have pointed to throughout the years that could have been done better and we acknowledge that as true. However, it is important to emphasize that while we cannot go back to that horrible day in 1996, our goal is to find JonBenét Ramsey's killer." That tragic day in 1996 began in the picturesque Boulder neighborhood where the Ramsey family lived. On Dec. 26, John and Patsy Ramsey woke up to find that JonBenét, a child beauty queen, was missing. A handwritten ransom note demanding $118,000 -- the exact sum of John's bonus that year -- was discovered on the kitchen stairs. Seven hours later, John found his daughter's lifeless body in a small basement room. An autopsy determined JonBenét was sexually assaulted and strangled, and her skull was fractured. Unknown DNA was found under her fingernails and in her underwear. The Ramseys quickly became suspects, even though no evidence connected them to the crime. The family has always denied any involvement in JonBenét's murder. However, the Boulder District Attorney's Office took 12 years to fully exonerate the Ramseys and their son Burke, who was 9 years old when his sister died. As weeks went by without any arrests in the case, a media frenzy began to build, fueled by relentless tabloid images of JonBenét participating in beauty pageants. A number of leads emerged, including a man named John Mark Karr, who confessed to the killing in 2006. However, his DNA did not match the evidence and he was not in Boulder at the time of the murder, so he was eliminated as a suspect. The case remained unsolved. John Ramsey believes that a cloud still hangs over his family, as he thinks there are people in the country who think he and his late wife, Patsy, who died in 2006, are responsible for JonBenét's murder. Investigator Lou Smit, who was initially brought into the case by Boulder County District Attorney Alex Hunter, came to believe early in his investigation that the Ramseys were innocent. He thought that the police should be looking at the possibility of an intruder. "I'm not saying parents don't kill their kids ... parents do kill their children," Smit said in his tapes. "But [ the police ] are trying to say Patsy did it. ... Their actions before, during and after [ JonBenét's death ] are all consistent with innocent people. ... They didn't do it." As the investigation progressed Smit became increasingly concerned that authorities had completely ruled out the chance of an intruder being responsible for JonBenét's death. As a result, they weren't searching for evidence that might support this possibility. Smit continued to maintain that an unidentified intruder was responsible for JonBenét's murder. However, he was running out of time due to his colon cancer diagnosis in 2010. Before Smit died on Aug. 11 of that year, he diligently compiled a detailed list of persons of interest, hoping that his years of investigative work would eventually pay off. Smit passed his files to his surviving children, including a spreadsheet with 887 names of potential suspects to be investigated.That list is extensive, but Smit's family is determined to continue their search. Since his death, the team has cleared several individuals from that list, according to Smit's granddaughter Jessa Van Der Woerd. However, the process is slow due to the time and costs involved in locating each person, obtaining their DNA and testing it. "We've let the killer walk for more than 28 years," John Ramsey said. "I think it's imperative that we investigate every credible suspect that's been provided."

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Lafayette High graduate Mike Green of Marshall named Sun Belt Player of YearSBS.com Office Solutions Ltd., a trusted name in Information Technology (IT) solutions, has opened its new experience centre in Battaramulla. This state-of-the-art showroom allows customers and technology enthusiasts to explore the latest innovations in security and communication, featuring Hikvision cameras and Grand Stream intercom systems. The new experience centre re-affirms SBS’s commitment to delivering tailored solutions for every customer’s needs. As an authorised solutions partner of Hikvision, a globally recognised leader in CCTV and security solutions, SBS guarantees that all installations and services are performed under Hikvision’s expert supervision. The experience centre is designed to provide comprehensive assistance to both dealers seeking advanced products and customers looking for cutting-edge IT solutions, Visitors are welcome to stop by or schedule an appointment for personalised service. The centre is open to anyone interested in exploring and learning about new IT solutions, including cutting-edge technologies from Hikvision, all free of charge. This initiative aligns with the company’s vision to empower individuals and businesses with advanced technology, contributing to the growth and innovation of the IT industry in Sri Lanka. SBS has been a pioneer in Sri Lanka’s IT industry since 2009, with over 16 years of experience. Under the leadership of founder Samantha Gunasekara, a certified engineer with a remarkable track record, the company has grown from a modest team of five to a skilled workforce of 50. Today, SBS supports over 2,000 satisfied clients across sectors like banking, healthcare, hospitality, and more. With operations extending to the Maldives, SBS continues to deliver innovative and reliable IT solutions. Through years of dedication, SBS has established itself as a dependable partner for businesses aiming to upgrade their IT systems. The company offers a wide array of services, including PABX systems, security surveillance, software solutions, fingerprint machines, web application development, website design, mobile app development, and accessories. By blending professionalism, expertise, and a customer-first approach, SBS ensures that their customers receive cutting-edge solutions tailored to their unique requirements. Visit the SBS experience centre to discover how technology can transform your life.

How major US stock indexes fared Thursday, 12/5/2024