216 vipph When The President Is A Criminal, Should His Appointees’ Backgrounds Matter?Over the past few years, women voters have emerged as one of the most influential demographics in Indian elections. No longer seen as passive participants, they are active decision-makers reshaping political campaigns. Politechnica, led by founders Chirag Choudhary and Ishan Rajput, has been at the forefront of this shift, crafting strategies that resonate with women’s needs and aspirations. The 2024 Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha elections exemplify this trend, where women-centric policies and targeted outreach became critical to electoral success. At Politechnica, we believe in our core values: Insight. Creativity. Impact. These values drive every campaign we design and execute. Women Voters as Game Changers With 46.6 million registered women voters in Maharashtra, their influence in this election cannot be overstated. Across urban and rural constituencies, women voters demanded solutions to long-standing issues like safety, healthcare, job creation, and education. The turnout figures reflect this growing enthusiasm—women voters are closing the gap with their male counterparts and, in some cases, even surpassing them. In Himachal Pradesh, Politechnica’s campaign strategy created history by securing a record voter turnout, where for the first time in the state’s Vidhan Sabha history, more women voters participated than men. This victory wasn’t just electoral; it highlighted how women are stepping up as key decision-makers in shaping the country’s political future. “As an organization, we firmly believe that empowering women is the cornerstone of meaningful societal change,” said Chirag Choudhary, co-founder of Politechnica. “When you uplift a woman, you strengthen a family; when you empower families, you transform villages; and when villages thrive, the nation prospers. Our campaigns focus on addressing the real issues women face, ensuring their voices drive progress and shape the future of our democracy.” From “Revdi” to Empowerment What was once dismissed as “revdi” or election freebies is now being reframed as tools of empowerment for women. Initiatives like the Ladki Bahina Yojana in Maharashtra and the Ladli Behna Yojana in Madhya Pradesh are not just about direct cash transfers—they represent a broader shift in how women’s issues are being prioritized in policy-making. While these schemes have received praise, their success varies across regions. In rural Maharashtra, women expressed gratitude for the ₹1,500 monthly aid. However, in urban areas, rising inflation dampened the scheme’s appeal, with many voters calling for systemic solutions rather than one-time assistance. This highlights the grey area in policy impact, with mixed outcomes depending on the demographic. Bridging the Urban-Rural Divide Women’s needs vary significantly between urban and rural areas. Urban women prioritize issues like air pollution, property taxes, and public transport, while rural women focus on water, healthcare, and education for their children. Politechnica’s strategies carefully balanced these diverse needs, helping candidates craft messages that addressed specific challenges. For instance, in constituencies with poor public transport infrastructure, Politechnica advised candidates to promise tangible improvements such as better bus stands and enhancing safety through solar streetlights. These measures resonated deeply with women, who have historically borne the brunt of inadequate infrastructure. Innovative Schemes to Empower Women In 2022, Politechnica took this trend a step further, crafting campaigns that addressed women’s key concerns at a deeper level. By focusing on real, actionable issues, we drove transformative change through: • Education for Children: Advocating better school infrastructure and financial aid to ensure every child, especially girls, gets quality education. • Youth Upskilling Programs: Training unemployed youth in market-ready skills to alleviate household anxieties and empower families. • Solar Street Lamps for Safety: Making public spaces safer for women in rural and urban areas with sustainable lighting solutions. • Mobile Ambulances: Addressing critical gaps in healthcare access by deploying mobile units, especially in remote areas where the nearest hospital is over 65 km away. Grassroots Outreach and Digital Engagement Politechnica’s women-centric campaigns utilized grassroots networks, self-help groups (SHGs), and local influencers to amplify messaging. Door-to-door campaigns addressing maternal health concerns and water accessibility struck a chord in rural areas, while targeted social media outreach on platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp engaged young, educated women voters in urban regions. Politechnica: Driving Change Across States Politechnica’s expertise in political consulting has led to impactful campaigns across six states, including Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. The firm’s focus on understanding local demographics and crafting tailored strategies has made it a trusted name among political parties. Having worked with national and regional parties, several Ministries of states and the centre and Chief Ministers alike, Politechnica is now expanding further into the south and the north, with exciting projects lined up for the upcoming Municipal Corporation elections in Maharashtra, the Delhi Vidhan Sabha elections, and the Bihar state elections scheduled for 2025. The Accountability Factor At Politechnica, we believe in impact-driven politics—a philosophy that prioritizes long-term solutions over quick fixes. We push our clients to embrace this approach, as it not only yields the highest returns for their political careers but also serves the greater good of the public they represent. By uplifting women and ensuring their concerns are addressed, Politechnica continues to shape campaigns that make a lasting impact.

SACRAMENTO — The Butte College men’s soccer team made history when it advanced to the California Community College Athletic Association Final Four for the first time with a win on Nov. 30, and the Roadrunners made history once again when they defeated Long Beach City College 1-0 Friday to advance to the program’s first-ever CCCAA state championship. “Unbelievable,” Butte head coach Ross Sandberg said when asked about his first reaction to advancing to the state championship. “These guys showed their resilience. Long Beach City brought a lot of pressure. Their number 10 (Jose Mariscal) advertised, number 17 (Ulises Grado) was elite. My backline was top-notch as well. It was a fun game for the crowd to watch, hands down, and it was not fun for either one of us coaches to coach in. It was sheer excitement and tears, and these guys have been through so much. I’m still at a loss for words.” Butte will face Cuyamaca (18-4-2), which defeated Cañada 2-1 in double overtime in the other CCAA semifinal. The Coyotes have won 14 straight, entering the CCCAA championship Sunday, while the Roadrunners have won seven straight and nine of their last 10. As the Roadrunners prepared to depart for Sacramento for their Final Four matchup on Friday, Sandberg told his team he wanted to stay for the full weekend. This meant winning Friday and competing for the CCCAA championship on Sunday. On paper, the Roadrunners (18-4-4) had their odds stacked against them, coming in as the No. 14 seed in the NorCal bracket and facing the No. 1 team in the SoCal bracket Long Beach (19-4-3). However, the Roadrunners played on the road for three of their four playoff matches entering Friday, all five, if you include their first-round match that was forced to be played at Harrison Stadium in Oroville due to field conditions. They also had injuries occur throughout the season, and are as healthy as they’ve been all season and playing their best. They’ve embraced a back-to-the-wall mentality all season, having the mental toughness to play from behind in key matches and come out on top. “We had the option to wear our black uniforms or wear our white uniforms, and we chose to wear our whites,” Sandberg said. “We’ve been in the whites for six games in a row now and on the road still. This whole ride that we’ve been on for the last two and a half weeks is something we’ll all remember forever.” Friday’s match was similar to one the Roadrunners have played all season. Long Beach controlled the ball for much of the first half and out-shot Butte 25-8 and 7-2 in shots on goal. Sandberg said the Roadrunners were outplayed for the first 20-30 minutes due to nerves, but settled down and sharpened up as the match went on. Sandberg said he was OK with the amount of shots taken, as a lot of them were from 20-25 yards away. The Roadrunners’ chances came off of counter-attacks but were limited. Butte goalkeeper and Chico High alumnus Manny Diaz made seven saves to keep the Vikings off the scoreboard. “Manny had, I would say, his best game of the year,” Sandberg said of his goalkeeper. “He was clutch, he was comfortable, his ball distribution continues to get better, he made some great saves that kept us in the game, and he just continues to develop.” With three minutes and 40 seconds left in regulation, Butte forward Matteo Di Gennaro capitalized on a turnover by the Vikings. The Roadrunners knew it was getting close to going to overtime and began to apply pressure. On a pass backward by the Long Beach defender intended for goalkeeper Abraham Ramirez, Di Gennaro beat Ramirez to the ball and flipped it over the goalkeeper’s head on his fourth shot and only shot on goal to give the Roadrunners a 1-0 lead. The match was as physical as expected, with four yellow cards being shown to the Roadrunners and two to the Vikings. Butte captain Elias Stingl received a red card 89 minutes and 55 seconds into the match, just three minutes after the match’s only goal. As a result of the red card, Stingl is suspended for one match, ending the sophomore’s junior college career. The foul was called on a slide tackle, but Sandberg could not get official clarification from the referee as the refs were busy calming the crowd down. Sandberg said he and Butte College are in the appeal process as of Friday night and sending a video to the CCCAA, in hopes of getting Stingl eligible for Sunday’s match. Sandberg said the commissioner and president of the CA were on site and saw it happen, so “hopefully, they justly do it.” “Hopefully, they make a decision quickly. You can’t do that to a sophomore with one minute left in a game in a state semifinal game,” Sandberg said. “Sophomore, defensive player of the year, probably All-American, second foul called on him all game and a straight red? Unjust. It was crap.” As a result of the red card, the Roadrunners played a man down for the remainder of the match, which included three minutes of stoppage time, but will be able to play with a full team minus Stingl if the appeal is upheld by the CCCAA. “We’ve had next man up all season,” Sandberg said. “We’ve had a ton of injuries and overcome a lot, and this is just another thing. My heart goes out, and I’m gut-wrenched for Elias Stingl as a person and as a player, for what he’s poured into this program, and this being his sophomore season and the captain of this team. Crappy way for this to end.”The right book can inspire the young readers in your life, from picture books to YA novels

Stride, Inc. ( NYSE:LRN – Get Free Report ) hit a new 52-week high on Thursday . The company traded as high as $104.14 and last traded at $103.89, with a volume of 21551 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $102.80. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms have recently weighed in on LRN. StockNews.com cut Stride from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Canaccord Genuity Group boosted their price target on Stride from $94.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of Stride from $90.00 to $94.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 29th. Barrington Research lifted their target price on shares of Stride from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of Stride from $84.00 to $88.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Stride presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $90.17. Get Our Latest Stock Report on LRN Stride Stock Performance Stride ( NYSE:LRN – Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 22nd. The company reported $0.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.22 by $0.72. The company had revenue of $551.08 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $504.29 million. Stride had a net margin of 11.38% and a return on equity of 21.23%. Stride’s revenue for the quarter was up 14.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.11 EPS. Research analysts expect that Stride, Inc. will post 6.66 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Transactions at Stride In related news, Director Todd Goldthwaite sold 8,028 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, October 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.54, for a total value of $734,883.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 85,058 shares in the company, valued at $7,786,209.32. The trade was a 8.62 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . Company insiders own 3.00% of the company’s stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System increased its position in shares of Stride by 15.7% in the first quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System now owns 14,014 shares of the company’s stock valued at $884,000 after buying an additional 1,900 shares in the last quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Stride by 12.9% in the 1st quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 4,202 shares of the company’s stock worth $265,000 after acquiring an additional 481 shares in the last quarter. UniSuper Management Pty Ltd acquired a new position in Stride during the first quarter worth $555,000. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co lifted its holdings in Stride by 5.2% during the first quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 57,725 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,639,000 after purchasing an additional 2,847 shares in the last quarter. Finally, EntryPoint Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Stride in the first quarter valued at about $77,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.24% of the company’s stock. Stride Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Stride, Inc, a technology-based education service company, engages in the provision of proprietary and third-party online curriculum, software systems, and educational services in the United States and internationally. Its technology-based products and services enable clients to attract, enroll, educate, track progress, support, and facilitate individualized learning for students. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Stride Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Stride and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .TOMS River, N.J. (AP) — A U.S. senator has called for mysterious drones spotted flying over sensitive areas in New Jersey and other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region to be “shot down, if necessary,” even as it remains unclear who owns them. “We should be doing some very urgent intelligence analysis and take them out of the skies, especially if they’re flying over airports or military bases,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said Thursday as concerns about the drones spread across Capitol Hill. People in the New York region are also concerned that the drones may be sharing airspace with commercial airlines, he said, demanding more transparency from the Biden administration. The White House said Thursday that a review of the reported sightings shows that many of them are actually manned aircraft being flown lawfully. White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said there were no reported sightings in any restricted airspace. He said the U.S. Coast Guard has not uncovered any foreign involvement from coastal vessels. “We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat, or have a foreign nexus,” Kirby said, echoing statements from the Pentagon and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. The drones appear to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopter and radio, according to a state lawmaker briefed Wednesday by the Department of Homeland Security. The FBI has been investigating and has asked residents to share any videos, photos or other information about the drones. On Wednesday, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said they are not U.S. military drones. The number of sightings has increased in recent days, though officials say many of the objects seen may have been planes rather than drones. It’s also possible that a single drone has been reported more than once. The worry stems partly from the flying objects initially being spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster. In a post on the social media platform X, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia described the drones as up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in diameter and sometimes traveling with their lights switched off. Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use but are subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified. Most, but not all, of the drones spotted in New Jersey were larger than those typically used by hobbyists. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said he was frustrated by the lack of transparency, saying it could help spread fear or misinformation. “We should know what’s going on over our skies,” he said Thursday. Fantasia, a Morris County Republican, was among several lawmakers who met with state police and Homeland Security officials to discuss the sightings from the New York City area across New Jersey and westward into parts of Pennsylvania, including over Philadelphia. It is unknown at this time whether the sightings are related. Two Republican Jersey Shore-area congressmen, U.S. Reps. Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew, say the military should shoot down the drones. Smith said a U.S. Coast Guard commanding officer briefed him on an incident over the weekend in which a dozen drones followed a motorized Coast Guard lifeboat “in close pursuit” near Barnegat Light and Island Beach State Park in Ocean County. Coast Guard Lt. Luke Pinneo on Wednesday told The Associated Press “that multiple low-altitude aircraft were observed in the vicinity of one of our vessels near Island Beach State Park.” Associated Press reporters Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and reporter Darlene Superville and videojournalists Serkan Gurbuz and Nathan Ellgren in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.

Sydney teen’s sporting pilgrimage almost ruined by English weather

70 years ago, California executed a woman. Marcia Clark’s new book calls it unjust.CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Front Row Motorsports, one of two teams suing NASCAR in federal court, accused the stock car series Thursday of rejecting the planned purchase of a valuable charter unless the lawsuit was dropped. Front Row made the claim in a court filing and said it involved its proposed purchase of the charter from Stewart-Haas Racing. Front Row said the series would only approve it if Front Row and 23XI Racing dropped their court case. “Specifically, NASCAR informed us that it would not approve the (charter) transfer unless we agreed to drop our current antitrust lawsuit against them,” Jerry Freeze, general manager of Front Row, said in an affidavit filed in the U.S. District Court of Western North Carolina. The two teams in September refused to sign NASCAR's “take-it-or-leave-it” final offer on a new revenue sharing agreement. All other 13 teams signed the deal. Front Row and 23XI balked and are now in court. 23XI co-owner Michael Jordan has said he took the fight to court on behalf of all teams competing in the top motorsports series in the United States. NASCAR has argued that the two teams simply do not like the terms of the final charter agreement and asked for the lawsuit be dismissed. Earlier this week, the suit was transferred to a different judge than the one who heard the first round of arguments and ruled against the two teams in their request for a temporary injunction to be recognized in 2025 as chartered teams as the case proceeds. The latest filing is heavily redacted as it lays out alleged retaliatory actions by NASCAR the teams say have caused irreparable harm. Both Front Row and 23XI want to expand from two full-time cars to three, and have agreements with SHR to purchase one charter each as SHR goes from four cars to one for 2025. The teams can still compete next season but would have to do so as “open” teams that don't have the same protections or financial gains that come from holding a charter. Freeze claimed in the affidavit that Front Row signed a purchase agreement with SHR in April and NASCAR President Steve Phelps told Freeze in September the deal had been approved. But when Front Row submitted the paperwork last month, NASCAR began asking for additional information. A Dec. 4 request from NASCAR was “primarily related to our ongoing lawsuit with NASCAR,” Freeze said. “NASCAR informed us on December 5, 2024, that it objected to the transfer and would not approve it, in contrast to the previous oral approval for the transfer confirmed by Phelps before we filed the lawsuit,” Freeze said. “NASCAR made it clear that the reason it was now changing course and objecting to the transfer is because NASCAR is insisting that we drop the lawsuit and antitrust claims against it as a condition of being approved.” A second affidavit from Steve Lauletta, the president of 23XI Racing, claims NASCAR accused 23XI and Front Row of manufacturing “new circumstances” in a renewed motion for an injunction and of a “coordinated effort behind the scenes.” “This is completely false,” Lauletta said. Front Row is owned by businessman Bob Jenkins, while 23XI is owned by retired NBA Hall of Famer Jordan, three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin and longtime Jordan adviser Curtis Polk. NASCAR had been operating with 36 chartered teams and four open spots since the charter agreement began in 2016. NASCAR now says it will move forward in 2025 with 32 chartered teams and eight open spots, with offers on charters for Front Row and 23XI rescinded and the SHR charters in limbo. The teams contend they must be chartered under some of their contractual agreements with current sponsors and drivers, and competing next year as open teams will cause significant losses. “23XI exists to compete at the highest level of stock car racing, striving to become the best team it can be. But that ambition can only be pursued within NASCAR, which has monopolized the market as the sole top-tier circuit for stock car racing,” Lauletta said. "Our efforts to expand – purchasing more cars and increasing our presence on the track – are integral to achieving this goal. “It is not hypocritical to operate within the only system available while striving for excellence and contending for championships,” he continued. “It is a necessity because NASCAR’s monopoly leaves 23XI no alternative circuit, no different terms, and no other viable avenue to compete at this level.” AP auto racing:

FACT FOCUS: Vermont ruling does not say schools can vaccinate children without parental consent70 years ago, California executed a woman. Marcia Clark’s new book calls it unjust.

E-Passport tender under probe by National Procurement Commission: AG informs CourtJimmy Kimmel reveals the Christmas tradition he hopes his kids have outgrown: 'We resent it!'

'Development won, Parivarwad, negative politics lost': PM Modi on landslide victory in Maharashtra (WATCH)

December 7, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked trusted source written by researcher(s) proofread by Michael Wheeler, David Dunstan, Lauren Arundell, Mats Hallgren and Paddy Dempsey, The Conversation In many households, screens are part of daily life— from work to entertainment . But for parents, setting boundaries around screens isn't just about kids; it's also about modeling a balanced approach to screen use. Our research shows parents who spend excessive time on screens may unconsciously encourage similar habits in their children. Excessive screen time in young children is linked to developmental delays in communication and problem-solving. One explanation is that screen time displaces parent–child interactions that are crucial for development. This is often framed as the child's screen time displacing these interactions. But when parents use their smartphones a lot, this is associated with lower responsiveness and attention towards their children, particularly when this screen time occurs during routines such as meal time . Parents don't need to ban screens to be more present with their kids. If parents watch age-appropriate TV with their kids, this has a positive effect on literacy —possibly due to conversations about the content of the show. There is a lot parents can do to foster healthier screen habits in the family through positive role-modeling and thoughtful management. Managing screen time is also important for a parent's own physical and mental health . The health impact of sedentary screen time Screen time often means sitting for long stretches, which can be bad for our physical and mental health. Our work has shown prolonged periods of sitting can impair blood sugar regulation , blood pressure , brain blood flow and cognitive function . But that doesn't mean you should you feel guilty every time you retire to the couch for some well-deserved Netflix. Some of these effects can be eliminated by either exercising before a prolonged bout of sitting or breaking up sitting every 30 minutes with some light activity—ideally both. You don't even need to pause the TV to fit in these activity breaks. One study found that breaking up a sedentary evening of watching TV every 30 minutes with short bursts of bodyweight exercise (squats, calf raises and hip extensions) increased sleep duration by 30 minutes . This is important because sleep boosts your immune system , which helps maintain good physical and mental health . While exercise and sleep help, screen content also matters. Mentally passive screen use—such as scrolling through social media —has been linked to higher risks of depression and even dementia , whereas mentally active screen use (problem-solving and work tasks) may actually protect you. While almost two-thirds of parents think they can reduce their sedentary screen time, for the remaining third, swapping passive for mentally active screen time is another option. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matter— daily or weekly . Our eyes and brain need a break too Our eyes and minds aren't designed for constant screen time. Staring at a screen for too long can give us dry eyes, headaches and blurred vision—all symptoms of eye strain . Screens also affect our brains. Research has found excessive and disordered screen use is linked to deficits in cognitive function . Our brains need breaks to consolidate information and recharge. Without regular breaks, we risk cognitive burnout, which makes it harder to stay productive, focus and potentially even manage screen time. What can we do? Guidelines recommend adults limit recreational sedentary screen time. But the message to simply "limit your screen time" may be unhelpful to many, especially when screens are embedded into modern life. Here are some other ways to reduce the negative consequences of excessive screen time: Avoid digital eye strain. Follow the 20-20-20 rule . Every 20 minutes, give your eyes a break by looking at something 20 feet (6 meters) away for 20 seconds Move regularly. Exercise regularly and break up sedentary screen time with activity every 30 minutes for metabolic and cognitive benefits Limit passive screen time. Try swapping some passive screen activities (doom scrolling) for mentally engaging ones, such as puzzles, creative projects or educational content Modeling balanced screen use for kids. This might mean viewing educational shows together and discussing them. Finally, we can't solely blame a lack of self-control for poor management of screen time. The content on our screens is designed to be addictive for parents and kids. One parent reported that their child would avoid going to the toilet to the point of wetting themselves when playing the online game Roblox, because they didn't want their character to die. Many parents can relate—albeit with better bladder control. We have all experienced doom scrolling where time seems to disappear, and we can't even recall what we saw. If you are at risk of doom scrolling right now, one idea is to listen to some tips on how to stop . Consider going for a walk and giving yourself a break. You'll feel better for it. Provided by The Conversation This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article .SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea's embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol avoided an opposition-led attempt to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law , as most ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. The scrapping of the motion is expected to intensify public protests calling for Yoon’s ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea, with a survey suggesting a majority of South Koreans support the president’s impeachment. Yoon’s martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative People Power Party, but it is also determined to oppose Yoon’s impeachment apparently because it fears losing the presidency to liberals. After the motion fell through, members of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party rallied inside the National Assembly, chanting slogans calling for Yoon's impeachment or resignation. The party's floor leader, Park Chan-dae, said it will soon prepare for a new impeachment motion. “We'll surely impeach Yoon Suk Yeol, who is the greatest risk to Republic of Korea,” party leader Lee Jae-myung said. “We'll surely bring back this country to normal before Christmas Day or year's end.” Despite escaping the impeachment attempt, many experts worry Yoon won’t be able to serve out his remaining 2 1⁄2 years in office. They say some ruling party lawmakers could eventually join opposition parties’ efforts to impeach Yoon if public demands for it grow further. The ruling party risks "further public outrage and national confusion if they don’t find a formula fast for Yoon’s departure,” said Duyeon Kim, a senior analyst at the Center for a New American Security in Washington. On Saturday, tens of thousands of people densely packed several blocks of roads leading up to the National Assembly, waving banners, shouting slogans and dancing. Protesters also gathered in front of PPP’s headquarters near the Assembly, angrily shouting for its lawmakers to vote to impeach Yoon. A smaller crowd of Yoon’s supporters, which still seemed to be in the thousands, rallied in separate streets in Seoul, decrying the impeachment attempt they saw as unconstitutional. Impeaching Yoon required support from 200 of the National Assembly's 300 members. The Democratic Party and five other small opposition parties, which filed the motion, have 192 seats combined. But only three lawmakers from PPP participated in the vote. The motion was scrapped without ballot counting because the number of votes didn’t reach 200. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik called the result “very regrettable” and an embarrassing moment for the country’s democracy that has been closely watched by the world. Opposition parties could submit a new impeachment motion after a new parliamentary session opens next Wednesday. If Yoon is impeached, his powers will be suspended until the Constitutional Court decides whether to remove him from office. If he is removed, an election to replace him must take place within 60 days. Earlier Saturday, Yoon issued a public apology over the martial law decree, saying he won’t shirk legal or political responsibility for the declaration and promising not to make another attempt to impose martial law. He said would leave it to his party to chart a course through the country’s political turmoil, “including matters related to my term in office.” “The declaration of this martial law was made out of my desperation. But in the course of its implementation, it caused anxiety and inconveniences to the public. I feel very sorry over that and truly apologize to the people who must have been shocked a lot,” Yoon said. Since taking office in 2022, Yoon has struggled to push his agenda through an opposition-controlled parliament and grappled with low approval ratings amid scandals involving himself and his wife. In his martial law announcement on Tuesday night, Yoon called parliament a “den of criminals” bogging down state affairs and vowed to eliminate “shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces.” The turmoil resulting from Yoon’s bizarre and poorly-thought-out stunt has paralyzed South Korean politics and sparked alarm among key diplomatic partners like the U.S. and Japan. “Yoon’s credibility overseas has been undermined by declaring martial law, so he won’t be able to exercise leadership in his foreign policies especially when his days are numbered,” Kim, the analyst, said. “Its government bureaucracy will need to continue business as usual for existing alliance and foreign policy initiatives as best it can because there is a lot of important work to do globally.” Tuesday night saw special forces troops encircling the parliament building and army helicopters hovering over it, but the military withdrew after the National Assembly unanimously voted to overturn the decree, forcing Yoon to lift it before daybreak Wednesday. The declaration of martial law was the first of its kind in more than 40 years in South Korea. Eighteen lawmakers from the ruling party voted to reject Yoon’s martial law decree along with opposition lawmakers. PPP later decided to oppose Yoon's impeachment motion. Yoon’s speech fueled speculation that he and his party may push for a constitutional amendment to shorten his term, instead of accepting impeachment, as a way to ease public anger over the marital law and facilitate Yoon’s early exit from office. Lee told reporters that Yoon’s speech was “greatly disappointing” and that the only way forward is his immediate resignation or impeachment. His party called Yoon’s martial law “unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or coup.” Lawmakers on Saturday first voted on a bill appointing a special prosecutor to investigate stock price manipulation allegations surrounding Yoon’s wife. On Friday, PPP chair Han Dong-hun, who criticized Yoon’s martial law declaration, said he had received intelligence that during the brief period of martial law Yoon ordered the country’s defense counterintelligence commander to arrest unspecified key politicians based on accusations of “anti-state activities.” Hong Jang-won, first deputy director of South Korea’s spy agency, told lawmakers Friday that Yoon had ordered him to help the defense counterintelligence unit to detain key politicians including Han, Lee and Woo. The Defense Ministry said Friday it suspended three military commanders including the head of the defense counterintelligence unit over their involvement in enforcing martial law. Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon Ho has told parliament that Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun ordered the deployment of troops to the National Assembly. Opposition parties accused Kim of recommending to Yoon to enforce martial law. Kim resigned Thursday, and prosecutors imposed an overseas travel ban on him.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns have released their second injury reports ahead of Sunday's Week 15 game. Both teams face injury challenges heading into the upcoming game. Kansas City's major concern is the offensive tackle position, while two key starters for Cleveland remain at the center of their concerns. While Joel Bitonio will likely gut out his back injury in Week 15, the Browns are likely to be without TE David Njoku (hamstring) for Sunday, according to Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot . That'd be a major loss for Cleveland and a huge boon for Kansas City, as their defense has struggled to defend the tight end position all season. Njoku has over 50 receptions for nearly 500 yards and five touchdowns this season. Here's a look at the second injury reports for both teams for Week 15's game on Sunday. Second Chiefs Injury Report LT D.J. Humphries Hamstring DNP DNP K Harrison Butker Left knee LP LP RT Jawaan Taylor Knee LP FP DE Charles Omenihu Knee FP FP CB Joshua Williams Chest FP FP KEY: DNP = Did not participate | LP = Limited participation | FP = Full participation | NIR = Not injury related Observations: No big changes for the Chiefs outside of Jawaan Taylor being upgraded to a full participant in practice. Second Browns Injury Report LG Joel Bitonio Back DNP DNP DB Mohamoud Diabate Glute FP FP DB Martin Emerson Shin LP LP DB Mike Ford Concussion LP LP DE Myles Garrett Personal DNP FP DT Mike Hall Knee LP LP CB Myles Harden Tibia FP FP LB Jordan Hicks Calf FP FP DT Sam Kamara Concussion LP LP WR Jerry Jeudy Knee FP FP TE David Njoku Hamstring DNP DNP WR Cedric Tillman Concussion LP LP RG Wyatt Teller Glute LP LP WR Jamari Thrash Shoulder LP LP KEY: DNP = Did not participate | LP = Limited participation | FP = Full participation | NIR = Not injury related Observations: Myles Garrett was upgraded to a full participant in practice after missing Wednesday. Look for WR Cedric Tillman to make his return this week after missing time due to a concussion. Mike Hall told reporters that he expects to play for the first time since Week 4 on Sunday. This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

FACT FOCUS: Vermont ruling does not say schools can vaccinate children without parental consent

AP Sports SummaryBrief at 4:39 p.m. ESTThe common murre, a large black-and-white seabird native to northern waters, has become far less common in Alaska over the past decade due to the impacts of climate change. A study published Thursday in Science reveals that a record-breaking marine heat wave in the northeast Pacific from 2014 to 2016 triggered a catastrophic population collapse, wiping out four million birds -- about half the species in the region. Strikingly, they have shown little signs of rebounding, suggesting long-term shifts in the food web that have locked the ecosystem into a troubling new equilibrium. "There's a lot of talk about declines of species that are tied to changes in temperature, but in this case, it was not a long term result," lead author Heather Renner of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge told AFP. "To our knowledge, this is the largest mortality event of any wildlife species reported during the modern era," she and her colleagues emphasized in their paper. The finding triggers "alarm bells," Renner said in an interview, as human-caused climate change makes heat waves more frequent, intense, and longer-lasting. With their dapper, tuxedoed look, common murres are sometimes called the "penguins of the north." Their slender wings power them across vast distances in search of food and make them expert divers. But even these hardy seabirds were no match for an unprecedented environmental catastrophe. The largest marine heat wave ever recorded began in the late fall of 2014, spanning a massive swath of the northeast Pacific Ocean from California to Alaska. It persisted for over two years, leaving devastation in its wake. During this time, some 62,000 emaciated murres washed ashore along the North American Pacific coastline -- dead or dying from starvation. Experts point to two key reasons for the bird deaths: elevated ocean temperatures reduced both the quality and quantity of phytoplankton, impacting fish like herring, sardines, and anchovies -- the mainstay of the murre diet. At the same time, warmer waters increased the energy demands of larger fish, such as salmon and Pacific cod, which compete with murres for the same prey. "We knew then it was a big deal, but unfortunately, we couldn't really quantify the effects," explained Renner. For years after the event, breeding colonies failed to produce chicks, complicating efforts to assess the full impact. Earlier estimates pegged the number of deaths at around a million, but a more robust analysis -- drawing on data from 13 murre colonies -- revealed the toll was four times higher. "It is just so much worse than we thought it was," Renner said of the new findings. The marine heat wave didn't just impact common murres. Pacific cod stocks collapsed, king salmon populations dwindled, and as many as 7,000 humpback whales perished. Yet the crisis created an uneven playing field: some species emerged unscathed, while others even thrived. Thick-billed murres, which often share nesting cliffs with common murres, were largely unaffected, possibly due to their more adaptable diet, Renner noted. For common murres, however, the fallout lingers. Despite nearly a decade since the heat wave, their numbers show no sign of bouncing back -- and the losses may well be permanent. Part of the reason lies in the long-term decline of some of their prey. Another factor is murres' survival strategy relies on numbers: they aggregate in massive colonies to protect their eggs from opportunistic predators like eagles and gulls. With their populations slashed, these birds have lost their critical safety buffer. Still, Renner offered a glimmer of hope. While addressing global warming is essential for curbing long-term climate change, conservation efforts can make a difference in the short term, she said. Removing invasive species like foxes and rats from murre nesting islands could also provide the beleaguered birds with a fighting chance. ia/des

The NDA on Saturday won the Maharashtra Assembly election with more than 280 seats, while the Opposition bloc INDIA retained in Jharkhand with more than 50 seats. In Jharkhand, the JMM-Congress coalition won 56 of the 81 Assembly seats, while the BJP-led alliance had 24 seats. In Maharashtra, the ruling Mahayuti alliance, consisting of the BJP, Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction, and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, won 236 of the 288 Assembly seats, while the Maha Vikas Aghadi secured 48 seats. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the development and good governance after NDA’s victory in Maharashtra. He also thanked the people of Jharkhand for their support and congratulated JMM-Congress for their victory. Addressing BJP workers at party headquarters in Delhi, PM Modi said: “It is the victory of development, good governance and social justice in Maharashtra, and it is the defeat of negative politics and dynastic politics.” Speaking from the @BJP4India HQ. https://t.co/1hrCOzSc43 Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed gratitude to the people of Maharashtra for the “historic victory” of the Mahayuti alliance in the state polls and said that by giving such a huge mandate to the NDA, people have shut shops of “fake well-wishers of the Constitution”. As the JMM-led alliance gained victory in the Jharkhand Assembly elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi extended his heartfelt gratitude to the people of Jharkhand and congratulated Chief Minister Hemant Soren for the victory. In a post on X in Hindi, Gandhi said: “Heartfelt thanks to the people of Jharkhand for giving a huge mandate to India. Hearty congratulations and best wishes to Chief Minister Hemant Soren ji, all the workers of Congress and JMM for this victory. This victory of the alliance in the state is a victory of the protection of water, forest and land along with the Constitution. The results of Maharashtra are unexpected and we will analyse them in detail. Thanks to all the voter brothers and sisters of the state for their support and to all the workers for their hard work.” In her debut, Priyanka Gandhi won the Wayanad Lok Sabha seats in the byelection with a bigger margin than her brother and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. She fills the vacancy left by Rahul when he choose Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh. Taking to X, she said: “I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the trust you have placed in me. I will make sure that over time, you truly feel this victory has been your victory and the person you chose to represent you understands your hopes and dreams and fights for you as one of your own. I look forward to being your voice in Parliament!” In a press conference in Ranchi, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said: “In some places, vote counting has concluded and in some places, the counting is still going on. We can see that the INDIA alliance is performing really well. I thank the voters of the state, including women, men, youth, farmers and people of various castes and religion for casting their votes.” After a sweeping victory in Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar have held a press conference in Mumbai. “The people of Maharashtra have prioritised development and delivered a decisive mandate to the Mahayuti alliance. We express our gratitude to the citizens of Maharashtra,” stated Ajit Pawar. Devendra Fadnavis stated that the alliance acknowledges the support of the people of Maharashtra. “This victory heightens our responsibilities. We are committed to fulfilling the expectations placed upon us.” Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who significantly contributed to his party Shiv Sena’s strong showing in the Assembly elections, secured victory in his Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency in Thane by a notable margin of 120,000 votes. Assam Chief Minister and BJP co-in-charge for the elections, Himanta Biswa Sarma, extended his congratulations to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his team for achieving an “impressive victory” in the 2024 Assembly elections. Addressing the media from Matoshree, Uddhav Thackeray raised questions about the rationale behind the public’s support for Mahayuti, stating, “Why have the people voted for Mahayuti? Soybean farmers are in distress, industries are migrating to Gujarat, women’s safety is still an issue, inflation is burdening households, and crop loan waivers remain absent. This isn’t just a wave...it’s a ‘tsunami’.” On Mahayuti’s victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya voiced his support for Fadnavis as the chief ministerial candidate for the neighboring state. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified that there is no conflict over the chief minister’s position, emphasising that leaders within Mahayuti will collectively decide on the matter, considering the coalition’s anticipated landslide victory. Explaining the reason behind the Maha Vikas Aghadi defeat in the Assembly polls, CPI (Marxist) leader Ashok Dhawale noted that the overconfidence of the MVA following the Lok Sabha results, delayed finalising seat-sharing arrangements, and internal conflicts have led to the defeat of the alliance. In contrast, the BJP and its allies effectively utilised communal polarisation and financial resources, he said. Congress says Jharkhand rejected politics of polarisation, Maharashtra result surprising Congress says Jharkhand rejected politics of polarisation, Maharashtra result surprising Former Jharkhand CM Champai Soren trails from Seraikela seat NDA ahead in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, say exit polls Centre issues notice to Wikipedia on complaints of bias, inaccuracies India condemns Canada’s allegations against Amit Shah, calls it baseless S Jaishankar says LAC patrolling agreement with China doesn’t mean everything is resolved Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Comment * Name * Email * Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.LONDON — Amazon said Friday that it would invest an additional $4 billion in Anthropic, a startup that competes with OpenAI and Google in the increasingly competitive field of artificial intelligence. Over the past 14 months, Amazon has poured $8 billion into Anthropic, a sign of the urgency the tech giant feels to keep pace with its rivals in developing new AI tools that are reshaping the tech sector. Money continues to flow into the biggest AI startups. Elon Musk’s xAI is in talks to raise new financing that could value the company at about $40 billion. In October, OpenAI raised $6.6 billion, bringing the company’s value to $157 billion. “We’ve been impressed by Anthropic’s pace of innovation and commitment to responsible development of generative AI, and look forward to deepening our collaboration,” Matt Garman, the CEO of Amazon’s cloud computing division, AWS, said in a blog post announcing the deal. The fundraising comes despite questions among some investors over whether the young, unprofitable companies will be able to develop businesses robust enough to justify their lofty valuations. The concerns are creating winners and losers. While Anthropic and OpenAI continue to raise significant sums, some smaller companies have essentially been folded into Google and Microsoft. (In December, The New York Times sued OpenAI and its primary partner, Microsoft, claiming they used millions of articles published by the Times to build chatbots that now compete with the news outlet as a source of reliable information. Both companies have denied the claims.) U.S. regulators are also scrutinizing the multibillion-dollar investments that Microsoft, Amazon and Google are putting into AI startups, which need the money because of the eye-popping sums required to develop cutting-edge AI models. But the deals are seen as allowing the big companies to form deep ties with their smaller rivals while avoiding most government scrutiny. Like OpenAI, Anthropic is a developer of so-called generative AI, the technology capable of learning from vast amounts of data to create humanlike text and images. These tools are being used to create chatbots, including Anthropic’s Claude, but are also seen as having the potential to automate many tasks and reshape aspects of the global economy. Anthropic has tried to position itself as one of the more responsible actors in the field of AI. The company’s executives have warned that the technology could pose an existential risk if not developed carefully. As part of its relationship with Amazon, Anthropic is a customer of the company’s data centers, cloud-computing platform and semiconductors. That means Anthropic, based in San Francisco, will put some of its resources back into Amazon as it pays for computer servers and other services from the Seattle-based tech giant. The arrangement provides a boost for Amazon as it tries to gain ground on Nvidia, the market leader in selling AI chips. This article originally appeared in The New York Times . © 2024 The New York Times Company

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Voters dejected by the presidential election results need to find a way to give back and remain involved, Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton said Saturday as they celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Clinton presidential library. The former president urged audience members in a packed theater to remain engaged and find ways to communicate with those they disagree with despite a divisive political time. The two spoke about a month after former President Donald Trump's win over Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election. “We’re just passing through, and we all need to just calm down and do something that builds people up instead of tears them down,” Bill Clinton said. Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state who was defeated by Trump in the 2016 election, said she understands the next couple of years are going to be challenging for voters who don't agree with the decisions being made. "In addition to staying involved and staying aware, it’s important to find something that makes you feel good about the day because if you’re in a constant state of agitation about our political situation, it is really going to shorten your life," she said. The Clintons spoke during a panel discussion with journalist Laura Ling, who the former president helped free in 2009 when she was detained in North Korea with another journalist. The event was held as part of a weekend of activities marking the 20th anniversary of the Clinton Presidential Library's opening in Little Rock. The library is preparing to undergo an update of its exhibits and an expansion that will include Hillary Clinton's personal archives. Hillary Clinton said part of the goal is to modernize the facility and expand it to make it a more open, inviting place for people for convene and make connections. When asked about advice he would give for people disappointed by the election results, Bill Clinton said people need to continue working toward bringing people together and improving others' lives. “If that's the way you keep score, then you ought to be trying to run up the score,” he said. “Not lamenting the fact that somebody else is winning a different game because they keep score a different way." “And in addition, figure out what we can do to win again,” Hillary Clinton added, eliciting cheers. The program featured a panel discussion with cast members of the hit NBC show “The West Wing” and former Clinton White House staffers. The weekend amounted to a reunion of former Clinton White House staffers, supporters and close friends, including former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and adviser James Carville. McAuliffe said he and Carville ate Friday at Doe's Eat Place, a downtown restaurant that was popular with Clinton aides and reporters during Clinton's 1992 White House run. He said he viewed the library and its planned expansion as important for the future. “This is not only about the past, but it's more importantly about the future," McAuliffe said. “We just went through a very tough election, and people are all saying we've got to get back to the Clinton model.” Andrew Demillo, The Associated Press