Lawyers for a voting machine company that’s suing Fox News want to question founder Rupert Murdoch about his contentious efforts to change his family trust , the attorneys told a court Monday. Election-tech company Smartmatic's $2.7 billion defamation suit regards Fox's reporting on 2020 voting fraud claims. But Smartmatic’s attorneys suggest the separate succession fight over Murdoch's media empire might shed light on any Fox Corp. involvement in editorial matters. It's an important, if technical, question as Smartmatic seeks to hold the deep-pocketed Fox parent company responsible for statements that the news network aired. Fox contends that there's no such liability and that it was engaging in journalism, not defamation, when it broadcast election-fraud allegations made by then-President Donald Trump 's attorneys. Rupert Murdoch may already have given a deposition — out-of-court questioning under oath — in the defamation suit. Such records aren't public at this stage, but plans for his deposition were briefly mentioned at a 2022 hearing. Smartmatic now is seeking to talk to Murdoch about his efforts to rewrite his plans for his businesses after his death. The matter is playing out behind closed doors and in sealed files in a Nevada probate court. The New York Times has reported that Rupert Murdoch wants to keep his eldest son, Lachlan , in charge of the conglomerate's newspapers and television networks in order to ensure a continued conservative editorial outlook . Smartmatic wants to get the 93-year-old patriarch on record while the probate matter plays out, company attorney Edward Wipper told a judge Monday. Fox News lawyer K. Winn Allen said the probate case “has nothing at all to do with” Smartmatic's claims and is “not appropriate” fodder for the suit. Fox Corp. declined to comment after court. Fox News' lawyers, meanwhile, want Smartmatic to provide records about a U.S. federal criminal case against people, including Smartmatic co-founder Roger Piñate, accused of scheming to bribe a Filipino election official . Piñate has pleaded not guilty. Smartmatic isn't charged in the criminal case, and Smartmatic attorneys have said the matter was irrelevant to the defamation suit. Fox lost prior bids for a court order to get the information, but a hearing on the network's renewed request is set next week. It's unclear how soon Judge David B. Cohen will decide on that request or on Smartmatic's bid to dig into the Murdoch family trust case. Both requests are part of pretrial information-gathering, and no trial date has been set. Smartmatic says it was a small player, working only with California's heavily Democratic Los Angeles County, in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. In subsequent Fox News appearances, Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell portrayed Smartmatic as part of a multi-state scheme to steal the vote from the Republican. Federal and state election officials , exhaustive reviews in battleground states and Trump’s own attorney general found no widespread fraud that could have changed the outcome of the 2020 election. Nor did they uncover any credible evidence that the vote was tainted. Dozens of courts, including by judges whom Trump had appointed, rejected his fraud claims. Fox News ultimately aired an interview with an election technology expert who refuted the allegations against Smartmatic — an interview done after the company demanded a retraction . The network is countersuing Smartmatic , claiming it violated a New York law against baseless suits aimed at squelching reporting or criticism on public issues. The New York defamation suit is one of several stemming from conservative-oriented news outlets' reports on Trump’s 2020 vote-rigging claims. Smartmatic recently settled with One America News Network and Newsmax . Fox News settled for $787 million last year with Dominion Voting Systems, another election-technology company that sued over conspiracy theories blaming its election equipment for Trump’s 2020 loss.Top Russian security official Sergei Shoigu visited Afghan government officials on Monday, assuring them Moscow will soon remove the Taliban from its list of banned organizations, Kabul said. Since the Taliban surged back to power in 2021 visits by foreign officials have been infrequent because no nation has yet formally recognized the government of the former insurgent group. Taliban government curbs on women have made them pariahs in many Western nations but Kabul is making increasing diplomatic overtures to its regional neighbors, emphasizing economic and security cooperation. Shoigu, the secretary of Russia's Security Council, met an Afghan cohort in Kabul headed by Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdul Ghani Baradar. He "expressed Russia's interest in increasing the level of bilateral cooperation with Afghanistan," Baradar's office said in a statement released on social media site X. "He also announced that, to expand political and economic relations between the two countries, the Islamic Emirate's name would soon be removed from Russia's blacklist." The Islamic Emirate is the name the Taliban government uses to refer to itself. Russian news agencies quoted Shoigu as saying he wanted "constructive" ties with Kabul, without saying if he had floated Moscow removing the Taliban from its list of banned groups. "I confirm the readiness to build a constructive political dialogue between our countries, including in order to give momentum to the process of the internal Afghan settlement," Shoigu said, according to the RIA Novosti news agency. He also said Russian companies plan to take part in projects in Afghanistan on extracting natural resources. Analysts say Moscow may be eying cooperation with Kabul to counter the threat from Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) -- the Afghan-based branch of the Sunni militant group. In March, more than 140 people were killed when IS-K gunmen attacked a Moscow concert hall. Taliban authorities have repeatedly said security is their top domestic priority and have pledged militants staging foreign attacks will be ousted from Afghanistan. "The Taliban certainly are our allies in the fight against terrorism," Russia's ambassador to Afghanistan, Dmitry Zhirnov, said in July. "They are working to eradicate terrorist cells."An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalition
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ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands (AP) — Javohn Garcia scored 16 points as McNeese beat Illinois State 76-68 on Friday. Garcia also contributed seven rebounds for the Cowboys (3-2). Brandon Murray shot 4 of 10 from the field and 5 for 7 from the line to add 13 points. Sincere Parker shot 4 for 8 (2 for 5 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line to finish with 13 points. Ty Pence led the way for the Redbirds (3-2) with 14 points and six rebounds. Malachi Poindexter added 13 points for Illinois State. Logan Wolf had 11 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .WALGREENS is shuttering another store, forcing local customers to transfer prescriptions and head elsewhere for necessities. The location is now added to a list of over 1,200 planned closures throughout the next year. Shoppers who frequent the Walgreens at 4014 Plaza Goldorado Circle in Cameron Park, California , about 32 miles east of Sacramento, will be affected. It permanently closes its doors on January 27, 2025, per the Sacramento Business Journal . Two other Walgreens locations on 1401 Broadway and 7155 24th Street nearby will also close in the New Year , making it a total of three in the area axed for customers. The Broadway location shuts down on January 23, and the 24th Street spot on January 29. Read More on Walgreens Walgreens said there were "increased regulatory and reimbursement pressures" as far as the reasoning behind the closures in an email to the Sacramento Business Journal. It deemed the locations as underperforming and considered costs like rent , supplies, and staff salaries in its decision. Employees will have opportunities to transfer to other Walgreens stores. Customers at the Cameron Park store will also have their prescriptions transferred to a CVS pharmacy nearby, according to Walgreens. Most read in Money CLOSING TIME Walgreens locations have been slowly closing this year, and confirmation that there would be at least 1,200 axed from the chain's retail footprint was confirmed by Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Tim Wentworth in October. Wentworth noted that the closures would take place over three years as part of a $1 billion cost-cutting program, which also sees the firing of several mid-level executives. At least 500 closures are planned for 2025 alone. The CEO seeks to bring back Walgreens' market value, as it was once worth $100 billion in 2015. As of 2024, the company is valued at $7.5 billion, a significant decrease. Market shares were also down about 70% this year, per data from The Wall Street Journal . We recognize where we are is a turnaround. "This turnaround will take time, but we are confident it will yield significant financial and consumer benefits over the long term," Wentworth noted in a press release earlier this year. POTENTIAL BUYER That turnaround could be sooner than expected if Walgreens Boots Alliance is bought out by private equity firm Sycamore Partners. If it goes through, Walgreens customers could see changes to the pharmacy chain's operations, as it would be taken off the public market. The deal hasn't been finalized but could be confirmed early next year. Sycamore recently bought other giants like Staples for $6.9 billion in 2017. Walgreens has also been catching attention for other reasons recently. Read More on The US Sun A $10 bathroom item went viral recently at Walgreens for performing better and being three times cheaper than a name-brand option. Walgreens also rolled out about 150 new items this summer despite shopper backlash.Confident Bucs gear up for stretch run against lighter season-ending schedule
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke continued to push back against potential changes to U.S. Postal Service operations in Montana last week, arguing that the changes would alienate rural residents and delay services. Republican Zinke joined 11 other members of Congress signing a letter to the Postal Regulatory Commission on Nov. 22 asking that it keep rural processing centers and limit consolidation. The commission is reviewing the Postal Service's long-term plan to change how it processes mail, known as its Delivering For America plan. U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, pictured in 2023, pushed back on potential changes to U.S. Postal Service operations in Montana last week, arguing that the changes would alienate rural residents and delay services. THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record Sherry Patterson, a strategic communications specialist for the Postal Service, told the Missoulian in an email on Monday that the regulatory commission has yet to offer an advisory opinion on the plan. Man fatally shot by Ravalli County Sheriff's deputy near Stevensville Group launches fundraiser in suit challenging approval of Florence subdivision Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy. What does that mean for holiday season travelers? 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Kathy Kelker resigns, Yellowstone County Commission to appoint a successor Once an opinion is finalized from the commission, which is an independent agency that oversees the Postal Service, Patterson said USPS will consider the opinion and then finalize its decision. Previously, USPS had plans to consolidate Missoula's regional processing center with Spokane's, adding a roughly 400-mile roundtrip for some packages. Backlash from congressional leaders led Postmaster Louis DeJoy in May to delay any changes to the system until at least January. The $40 billion Delivering for America plan that started in 2021 is meant to add new technology and streamline the mail processing system to create long-term savings. “This is a classic example of decisions coming down from D.C. that just don’t make any sense in Montana,” Zinke said in a Friday press release. “Mail service in Montana is already a logistical nightmare. Sending the Missoula Processing and Distributing Center out of the State will slow things down, add confusion, and lead to more Montanans being unable to receive their mail in a timely manner. Just because it works in Baltimore or New York, doesn’t mean it will work in Ravalli or Lincoln.” Zinke joined Republican Rep. Harriet Hageman of Wyoming to pen the letter. Ten Republican and two Democrat House representatives signed the letter. The lawmakers said they understood the need for USPS to modernize its mail system, but warned cutting programs and costs in rural states would lengthen delivery times. "Despite the USPS's repeated assurances, we struggle to see how on-time delivery rates, which are already below the USPS goals, will improve," the letter read. The plan has already seen pushback from other members of Montana's delegation, including Sen. Steve Daines, incoming Sen. Tim Sheehy and outgoing Sen. Jon Tester. Daines previously expressed opposition to the consolidation plan and also criticized the Postal Service for ending air mail service to the state in July. "The Postal Service's decision to suspend air service in Montana is going to hurt Montanans who rely on the mail to receive prescription medication, pension payments, disability benefits and more," Daines said in July. "And I urge Postmaster General DeJoy to reconsider this decision. I look forward to working with Mr. DeJoy to find ways to reverse years of sustained financial losses that don't affect Montanans." Incoming U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy told the Missoulian on Monday that rural Montanans must depend on timely mail service to keep their economies and communities strong. "Montanans do not want to see bureaucrats in D.C. leave rural America behind by imposing top-down plans that don’t work for Montana," Sheehy said in an email. "As we consider reforms and work to improve mail service in Montana, it’s absolutely critical we hear local voices, build consensus, and forge a path forward that makes sense for Montanans.” U.S. Sen. Jon Tester gives remarks about the USPS decision to halt plans to move Missoula mail processing to Spokane during a press conference at the John Engen Local Government Building in downtown Missoula on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. ANTONIO IBARRA OLIVARES, Missoulian Sheehy defeated Tester to win a U.S. Senate seat earlier this month and will assume office on Jan. 3. Tester previously introduced a bill to halt the consolidation plans, but no action was taken on the legislation. He said at a May press conference that postmaster DeJoy is a "lost cause" and that the Postal Service should remove him from office. "This would have major impacts, particularly on western Montana," Tester said in May. "Let's say that you're diabetic and you need insulin. You don't have an extra day. You can't wait around."Players must be assigned female at birth or have transitioned to female before going through male puberty to compete in LPGA tournaments or the eight USGA championships for females under new gender policies published Wednesday. The policies, which begin in 2025, follow more than a year of study involving medicine, science, sport physiology and gender policy law. The updated policies would rule out eligibility for Hailey Davidson, who missed qualifying for the U.S. Women's Open this year by one shot and came up short in LPGA Q-school. Davidson, who turned 32 on Tuesday, began hormone treatments when she was in her early 20s in 2015 and in 2021 underwent gender-affirming surgery, which was required under the LPGA's previous gender policy. She had won this year on a Florida mini-tour called NXXT Golf until the circuit announced in March that players had to be assigned female at birth. “Can't say I didn't see this coming,” Davidson wrote Wednesday on an Instagram story. “Banned from the Epson and the LPGA. All the silence and people wanting to stay ‘neutral’ thanks for absolutely nothing. This happened because of all your silence.” LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who is resigning in January, said the new gender policy "is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach." By making it to the second stage of Q-school, Davidson would have had very limited status on the Epson Tour, the pathway to the LPGA. The LPGA and USGA say their policies were geared toward being inclusive of gender identities and expression while striving for equity in competition. The LPGA said its working group of experts advised that the effects of male puberty allowed for competitive advantages in golf compared with players who had not gone through puberty. “Our policy is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who announced Monday that she is resigning in January. "The policy represents our continued commitment to ensuring that all feel welcome within our organization, while preserving the fairness and competitive equity of our elite competitions.” Mike Whan, the former LPGA commissioner and now CEO of the USGA, said it developed the updated policy independently and later discovered it was similar to those used by swimming, track and field, and other sports. United States Golf Association CEO Mike Whan said the new policy will prevent anyone from having "a competitive advantage based on their gender." “It starts with competitive fairness as the North star,” Whan said in a telephone interview. “We tried not to get into politics, or state by state or any of that stuff. We just simply said, ‘Where would somebody — at least medically today — where do we believe somebody would have a competitive advantage in the field?’ And we needed to draw a line. “We needed to be able to walk into any women's event and say with confidence that nobody here has a competitive advantage based on their gender. And this policy delivers that.” The “Competitive Fairness Gender Policy” for the USGA takes effect for the 2025 championship season that starts with the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball on May 10-14. Qualifying began late this year, though there were no transgender players who took part. “Will that change in the years to come as medicine changes? Probably,” Whan said. “But I think today this stacks up.” The LPGA “Gender Policy for Competition Eligibility” would apply to the LPGA Tour, Epson Tour, Ladies European Tour and qualifying for the tours. Players assigned male at birth must prove they have not experienced any part of puberty beyond the first stage or after age 12, whichever comes first, and then meet limitation standards for testosterone levels. The LPGA begins its 75th season on Jan. 30 with the Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Florida. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, foreground right, dives toward the end zone to score past San Francisco 49ers defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (51) and linebacker Dee Winters during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green goes up for a dunk during the second half of an Emirates NBA cup basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Mari Fukada of Japan falls as she competes in the women's Snowboard Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) LSU punter Peyton Todd (38) kneels in prayer before an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. LSU won 37-17. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma misses a catch during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, left, is hit by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, center, as Eagles wide receiver Parris Campbell (80) looks on during a touchdown run by Barkley in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele, left, trips San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, center, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Olympiacos' Francisco Ortega, right, challenges for the ball with FCSB's David Miculescu during the Europa League league phase soccer match between FCSB and Olympiacos at the National Arena stadium, in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Brazil's Botafogo soccer fans react during the Copa Libertadores title match against Atletico Mineiro in Argentina, during a watch party at Nilton Santos Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) Seattle Kraken fans react after a goal by center Matty Beniers against the San Jose Sharks was disallowed due to goaltender interference during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Seattle. The Sharks won 4-2. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27), center, fight for the puck with Boston Bruins defensemen Parker Wotherspoon (29), left, and Brandon Carlo (25), right during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Jiyai Shin of Korea watches her shot on the 10th hole during the final round of the Australian Open golf championship at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland competes in the women's Freeski Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Lara Gut-Behrami, of Switzerland, competes during a women's World Cup giant slalom skiing race, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin cools off during first period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Brazil's Amanda Gutierres, second right, is congratulated by teammate Yasmin, right, after scoring her team's first goal during a soccer international between Brazil and Australia in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher) Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) tries to leap over Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams (2) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Luiz Henrique of Brazil's Botafogo, right. is fouled by goalkeeper Everson of Brazil's Atletico Mineiro inside the penalty area during a Copa Libertadores final soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) England's Alessia Russo, left, and United States' Naomi Girma challenge for the ball during the International friendly women soccer match between England and United States at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Gold medalists Team Netherlands competes in the Team Sprint Women race of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Beijing 2024 held at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) reaches for an incomplete pass ahead of Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Melanie Meillard, center, of Switzerland, competes during the second run in a women's World Cup slalom skiing race, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) South Carolina guard Maddy McDaniel (1) drives to the basket against UCLA forward Janiah Barker (0) and center Lauren Betts (51) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Sent weekly directly to your inbox!Brazil police accuse Bolsonaro and ex-ministers of 2022 coup plot
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