Missing PM Modi pamphlet, special shoes: What Lalit Jha, Parliament security breach mastermind had planned?
As per Delhi Police, the accused persons had purchased special shoes from Lucknow and canisters from Mumbai. This was a well-planned conspiracy and attack on the Parliament of India.
Nearly 1.7 million Texans lose Medicaid as state nears end of “unwinding”
Texas has booted the most people from Medicaid of any state in the country. A majority of those removed lost their health insurance coverage because of procedural errors.
Indiana Rep Carson fuses to agree or disagree with State Department’s designation of Hamas as terrorist org
Rep. Andre Carson, D-Ind., dodged questions Thursday on whether he agreed with Hamas being designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the State Department years ago. Hamas is a group of Iranian-backed terrorists that was designated as an FTO by the State Department on Oct. 8, 1997. On Thursday, Carson was walking toward his ride after finishing up a press conference calling for a cease-fire in Gaza with House representatives Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich; Cori Bush, D-Mo.; Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.; and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., when a reporter with the Daily Caller News Foundation approached him with a question. TLAIB REFUSES TO ANSWER REPORTER’S QUESTIONS ON CONTROVERSIAL PHRASE DEFINED AS ‘CODE FOR ERADICATING’ ISRAEL “Congressman, do you agree with the State Department’s designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization,” the reporter asked. “Well, I certainly feel like now is the time for us to really talk about the establishment of a proper state for the people of Palestine,” Carson said. “This cannot continue. These useless and destructive resolutions cannot continue to go on to gain political points. As I’ve said before, I condemn the attack on Oct. 7, but we cannot bully our way into this.” ‘SHAMEFUL’: AOC BLASTS BIDEN ADMIN FOR BLOCKING UN GAZA CEASE-FIRE RESOLUTION After failing to answer the question, the reporter pressed Carson again, asking whether he agreed or disagreed with the State Department’s designation. Fox News Digital reached out to Carson for clarity on whether he agrees with Hamas being a designated FTO, but did not immediately hear back. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “I agree with the majority of the American people,” Carson told the Daily Caller reporter. “I think that antisemitism needs to be condemned. I think that Islamophobia needs to be condemned. I certainly think anti-blackness needs to be condemned, and I certainly think that this is the time for us to look at our disagreements, look at the critiques on both sides, extract the truths from those critiques and work together toward a workable solution, because I fear in 2024, this issue will impact elections.”
North Dakota’s senator’s son faces upgraded charge in crash that killed sheriff’s deputy
New upgraded charges were approved Thursday for the 42-year-old son of Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., including an upgraded homicide count following a crash that killed a North Dakota sheriff’s deputy. Ian Cramer previously faced a manslaughter charge, but prosecutors have now enhanced the charge to homicide while fleeing a police officer. The homicide charge indicates that the death was caused negligently rather than recklessly, and brings higher maximum penalties than manslaughter. Ian Cramer could face up to 20 years in prison and a possible $20,000 fine. He is charged with nine offenses, including four felonies. Along with the homicide charge, Ian Cramer faces counts of fleeing a police officer, preventing arrest and reckless endangerment. He also faces drug charges including possession of methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. The drug charges came after authorities said that they found several grams of meth, cocaine and marijuana in a backpack, as well as baggies, rolled up dollar bills, smoking devices and lighters. NORTH DAKOTA SENATOR’S SON CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER FOLLOWING POLICE CHASE THAT KILLED OFFICER During Ian Cramer’s court appearance last week, District Judge Bobbi Weiler set a $500,000 cash bond, which prosecutors requested, and ordered a mental health evaluation. NORTH DAKOTA SENATOR SAYS SON WAS INVOLVED IN POLICE CHASE, CRASH THAT KILLED SHERIFF’S DEPUTY In a previous statement directly following the Dec. 6 crash, Sen. Cramer said that his son was experiencing a mental health episode at the time of the crash that killed 53-year-old Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Martin. The senator said that his son “suffers from severe mental disorders which manifest in severe paranoia and hallucinations” and was with his wife, Kris, when he insisted on going to visit his brother Ike, who died in 2018. According to a press release from the Bismark Police Department, deputies responded to Sanford Hospital at 4:30 p.m on Dec. 6 regarding reports of damage to an overhead door in the ambulance bay. Authorities said that Sen. Cramer’s wife, Kris, took their son to the local hospital during a mental health episode, but Ian Cramer fled from the hospital, stole his mother’s SUV, and rammed the vehicle into the doors of the ambulance bay. When officers arrived at the scene, the 42-year-old had fled that scene, but a cellphone tracking device confirmed to police that he was still in the stolen car. Authorities said that multiple agencies worked together to track Ian Cramer, and he was eventually taken into custody. Police said that during the pursuit, Ian Cramer crashed into Martin’s police cruiser, immediately killing him. Sen. Cramer‘s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Wisconsin DoJ sued by lobbying group over public records request
Wisconsin’s largest business lobbying group filed a lawsuit Thursday alleging the state Department of Justice violated public records laws by waiting a year and a half to deny a request. Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce asked the Justice Department in March 2022 for records of communications between the agency’s employees and Sher Edling LLP, a California law firm the department hired to go after the people and businesses responsible for contamination from a group of chemicals known as PFAS. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as “forever chemicals,” have been linked to low birth weight, cancer and liver disease, and municipalities across Wisconsin are struggling to reduce contamination from in their water supplies. WISCONSIN COMPANY AGREES TO ADDITIONAL $1.8M PAYOUT OVER CORN MILL EXPLOSION The Justice Department said in April 2022 that it was processing Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce’s request, according to the complaint filed in Dane County Circuit Court. But in September 2023 the department denied it, saying the records were protected by attorney-client privilege, the lawsuit says. “According to the DOJ’s own policy, 10 business days would have been a reasonable timeframe for either granting WMC access to the requested records or providing a written denial,” Scott Rosenow, the lobbying group’s attorney, said in the complaint. In response to an email seeking comment, Department of Justice spokesperson Gillian Drummond said Thursday that the department was reviewing the filings. The complaint asks for a judge to perform a confidential review of the requested records and determine what can be made public.
Supreme Court allows Illinois semiautomatic weapons ban to stay in place
The Supreme Court has allowed an Illinois law banning high-powered semiautomatic weapons to remain in place. In a Thursday order with no noted dissents or explanation of its decision, the Supreme Court denied a request from the National Association for Gun rights, which asked for a preliminary injunction. The ban, signed by Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker in January, includes penalties for individuals who, “carries or possesses… manufactures, sells, delivers, imports, or purchases any assault weapon or .50 caliber rifle.” The law also includes statutory penalties for people who, “sells, manufactures, delivers, imports, possesses, or purchases any assault weapon attachment or .50 caliber cartridge.” ILLINOIS GOV. JB PRITZKER SIGNS LAW BANNING FIREARM ADVERTISEMENTS THAT APPEAL TO CHILDREN Any kit or tools used to increase the fire rate of a semiautomatic weapon are also included in the ban, and the law includes a limit for purchases of certain magazines. After Thursday’s ruling, the law will stay in place while it’s litigated in the lower courts. FEDERAL JUDGE GRANTS INJUNCTION TEMPORARILY BLOCKING ENFORCEMENT OF ILLINOIS GUN LAW A 7th District U.S. Court of Appeals panel in November also refused a request to block the law. In August, the law was upheld by the Illinois Supreme Court in a 4-3 decision. People who previously possessed guns that would otherwise be banned by the law can still own them if they are registered with the state prior to Jan. 1, 2024. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Kentucky Gov. Beshear pushes for higher teacher pay, universal pre-K as legislative session nears
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear renewed his pitch Thursday for greater investments in education to raise teacher pay and offer state-funded pre-K as he turns his attention to the upcoming legislative session. Two days after taking the oath of office for a second four-year term, the Democratic governor made repeated overtures to the Republican-dominated legislature, saying he wants to work with lawmakers. “We’ve got a chance to do special things, to focus on Kentuckians’ concerns when they wake up every morning – their job, the road that they’re going to drive on, their kids’ public school, whether they feel safe in their community,” Beshear said at his weekly news conference. KENTUCKY GOV. BESHEAR URGES FUTURE ADOPTION OF DISASTER RELIEF MODEL TO AVOID DELAYS Beshear’s first term featured annual policy clashes with Republican lawmakers, though he noted that he also signed more than 600 bipartisan bills into law, including measures to legalize sports betting and medical marijuana and to expand early voting. Looking ahead to the next legislative session that starts in early January, Beshear stressed two of his biggest policy objectives — hefty pay raises for school employees and state funded pre-K. Beshear has proposed an 11% pay raise for teachers and all public school personnel, including bus drivers, janitors and cafeteria staff. He has previously said it would amount to the single largest raise for Kentucky public school educators in at least 40 years. Such a raise is needed to make Kentucky more competitive with other states, the governor said. Kentucky ranks 44th nationally in average teacher starting pay and 40th in average teacher pay, he said. “This isn’t a red-or-a-blue issue,” the governor said. “This is a public education issue. And I look forward to continuing conversations with the General Assembly and trying to work to be more competitive with the states around us. Remember, our job is to beat Indiana and not beat up on each other. And this is one area that we’ve got to come together on.” In what could be seen as a pitch to rural GOP lawmakers, Beshear noted that school districts are the largest or among the biggest employers in some rural Kentucky counties. “What an 11% raise will do for local economies will be incredible,” he said. “But it’s also the right thing to do.” The governor also pressed for his plan to provide state-funded pre-K for all 4-year-olds in Kentucky. The proposal so far has made no headway in the legislature. Beshear framed his proposal Thursday as as a way to tackle student learning loss. “We talk about learning loss, rightfully,” he said. “But the biggest area of learning loss is kids not showing up kindergarten ready and never catching up. Let’s address it before it starts.” Learning loss blamed on the COVID-19 pandemic was a recurring issue in this year’s campaign. Beshear scored a convincing victory over Republican challenger Daniel Cameron in the November election. LONGTIME KENTUCKY SENATE LEADER DAMON THAYER SAYS HE WON’T SEEK REELECTION IN 2024 Statewide test scores released a few weeks ago showed Kentucky students made some improvement, especially in elementary schools, but education officials said considerable work remains to get back to pre-pandemic levels. Those struggles reflect a nationwide problem of lagging academic achievement. Beshear, meanwhile, praised lawmakers for the steps they have taken to bolster support for public education, but said more can be done. The two-year budget legislators passed last year funded full-day kindergarten and poured money into teacher pensions and infrastructure. They increased the state’s main funding formula — known as SEEK — for K-12 schools, but the amount was considerably less than what Beshear proposed. Lawmakers will craft the state’s next biennial budget during the 2024 session.
Israeli soldiers recite Jewish prayers, Hannukah songs inside Jenin mosque
NewsFeed Israeli soldiers have been disciplined after video surfaced of them singing Hannukah songs and reciting Jewish prayers inside a mosque. The soldiers, who are conducting raids in Jenin in the occupied West Bank, have been suspended from duty. Published On 14 Dec 202314 Dec 2023 Adblock test (Why?)
Zelenskyy hails ‘victory’ as EU agrees to open membership talks for Ukraine
European Council President Charles Michel says agreement a ‘signal of hope for their people and for our continent’. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has hailed a “victory” for Ukraine and the European continent after European Union leaders agreed to open membership talks with his country despite months of opposition from Hungary about Kyiv joining. The decision was announced on Thursday at a summit of the 27 EU countries, at which the bloc also agreed to open formal membership negotiations with Moldova. European Council President Charles Michel, host of the summit, announced the agreement in a social media post, calling it “a clear signal of hope for their people and for our continent”. Zelenskyy welcomed the decision as “a victory for Ukraine. A victory for all of Europe. A victory that motivates, inspires, and strengthens,” he said in a post on X. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said it was “a strategic decision and a day that will remain engraved in the history of our union”. “These countries belong to the European family,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said. Michel said the summit granted EU candidate status to Georgia and would also advance an EU bid by another hopeful – Bosnia and Herzegovina – once it reaches “the necessary degree of compliance” with criteria. From left, Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob speak during a round-table meeting at an EU summit in Brussels on December 14, 2023 [Omar Havana/AP Photo] Hungary not in the summit room EU diplomats said Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orban, was not in the summit room for the vote on Ukraine but knew and agreed other leaders would vote in his absence. For weeks, Orban had promised to block the deal, which on Thursday he called a “bad decision”. “Hungary’s stance is clear: Ukraine is not prepared for us to start talks on EU membership,” he said, calling the decision “irrational” and “inappropriate”. Hungary’s leader had gone into the summit also promising to deny Kyiv 50 billion euros ($54bn) in financial aid that the government desperately needs to stay afloat during its war with Russia. “Twenty-six member states were adamant that this decision must be made, so Hungary decided that if 26 decide so, they should go on their own path and Hungary does not wish to participate in this bad decision,” Orban said. The EU, whose members still cherish their independence on strategic and foreign affairs issues, generally works by consensus. Negotiations continue on the aid for Ukraine, Orban said. Earlier this week, Zelenskyy travelled to the US, where he lobbied for more American aid, but his request faces large hurdles in passing the US Congress. Some EU leaders had warned earlier in the day that not agreeing to start negotiations with Ukraine would have been seen as a victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine launched its bid to become part of the EU after Moscow’s invasion in February 2022 and was officially named a candidate to join in June that year. Fellow former Soviet republic and neighbour Moldova had applied at the same time as Ukraine. The war in Ukraine has breathed new life into the EU’s stalled push to take on new members as the bloc looks to keep Russian and Chinese influence at bay. In June 2022, the European Commission set Kyiv seven reform benchmarks to complete, including tackling corruption and curbing the power of its oligarchs, before talks should start. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal said the EU’s decision on Thursday showed that it “highly appreciated the reforms we have made in recent years and the implementation of all the recommendations of the European Commission”. “A difficult path lies ahead. We are united and ready,” he said. The talks themselves are likely to take years. EU treaties oblige members to help “by all means in their power” another EU country that is victim of armed aggression on its territory. If Ukraine becomes an EU member while the war with Russia is ongoing, EU countries would have to respect that. The EU would also acquire a long new border with Russia and Belarus with implications for security, migration and defence. Adblock test (Why?)
Labour leaders push President Biden for a Gaza ceasefire at US Capitol
Washington, DC – Influential labour leaders have joined progressive legislators in the United States Capitol to push the administration of President Joe Biden to support a ceasefire in war-torn Gaza. In a news conference on Thursday, representatives from United Auto Workers (UAW), United Electrical Workers and the American Postal Workers Union framed their appeal as part of a long history of labour movements supporting human rights at home and abroad. “We know unions provide a bridge toward fighting all forms of hatred, phobias, racism, sexism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, Islamophobia and more,” said Shawn Fain, president of the UAW. “Now it’s time for the rest of our elected leaders to step up and do what it takes to end the violence.” The news conference was organised by Democratic Representatives Cori Bush and Rashida Tlaib, who introduced legislation in October calling for a ceasefire. Over 18,700 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza so far, amid an ongoing Israeli military offensive. “As an activist and organiser and a proud daughter of a former union member, I know that the foundational message of every guild is to stand with the people, to fight for their dignity and to advocate for those most marginalised,” Bush said at the press conference. “Our humanity needs a ceasefire, and that is precisely why I’m so happy to have unions here today to join in this fight, because we know that unions know how to organise. Unions know how to mobilise and galvanise and energise.” ‘Time for workers to leverage our labour power’ Both the Congress members and the labour leaders used the press conference to underscore the political power that unions wield. The UAW, for instance, represents an estimated 400,000 active members, while the American Postal Service Union boasts 330,000 workers. They hinted there could be consequences for Biden at the ballot box, should he fail to heed their call for a ceasefire. “As the US funds Israel’s campaign of terror, we, the workers, are footing the bill for the massacre of innocents in Palestine,” said Janvi Madhani of the United Electrical Workers. “This is the time for workers to leverage our labour power and electoral power to stand in uncompromising solidarity with the cause of Palestinian freedom.” Judy Beard, a representative of the American Postal Workers Union, indicated that her organisation’s call for a ceasefire reflected wider views among the US public. “As a union that stands for equality, social justice, human labour rights and international solidarity, we unite with millions of good people [and] members of Congress,” she said. Her union first announced its support for a ceasefire on November 8. Most ‘pro-labour’ president in history Biden has long touted himself as the “most pro-union president in American history”. But while he enjoyed the endorsement of both the UAW and the American Postal Workers Union during the 2020 presidential race, his unwillingness to call for a ceasefire could alienate the unions as he seeks reelection in 2024. The Democratic president has been reluctant to criticise Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, citing the country’s “right to defend itself” in the wake of an October 7 attack that left 1,200 people dead. But the subsequent war on Gaza has killed thousands, many of them women and children. Entire neighbourhoods have been levelled, with United Nations experts warning of a “grave risk of genocide” in the Palestinian territory. The spiralling humanitarian crisis in Gaza has provoked widespread outcry. Even Biden has warned that “indiscriminate bombing” could cause Israel to lose public support. Still, many within Biden’s own party have criticised him for his “unwavering support” for Israel. As of Wednesday, an estimated 62 members of the US Congress have called for a ceasefire, according to the Working Families Party, a left-leaning political group. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released last month also showed 68 percent of Americans supported calls for a ceasefire. That number was even higher among Democrats alone. Rallying union support As the 2024 presidential race nears, surveys show Biden falling behind his chief Republican rival Donald Trump in key swing states like Michigan, which boasts large Arab and Muslim American communities. A Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll released this month showed Trump leading Biden 46 percent to 42 in a one-on-one matchup in the state. But Biden has made strides in trying to woo Michigan’s relatively large body of union workers. An estimated 14 percent of “wage and salary workers” in the state belong to a union, higher than the national average of 10 percent. In September, Biden flew to Michigan, where he became the first sitting US president to visit a picket line of striking UAW workers. The auto union, at the time, was in the midst of its first-ever strike against all of the “Big Three” car companies: General Motors, Ford and Stellantis. The strike was also the union’s longest in nearly a quarter century, and it resulted in higher wages and better benefits for auto workers. But Trump also sought to appeal to auto workers during the strike, holding a rally a day after Biden’s appearance on the picket line. The UAW has yet to endorse a candidate for the 2024 race. With its headquarters based in Detroit, Michigan, it has significant sway in so-called “Rust Belt” states, where manufacturing has been a historic driver of the local economy. “I call on the rest of the labour movement to join us in this mission for peace and social justice for all of humanity,” Fain, the UAW president, said on Thursday, pushing other union leaders to join the call for a ceasefire. Adblock test (Why?)