Major ‘climate deception’ lawsuit against Big Oil voluntarily dismissed
A major years-long lawsuit alleging that Big Oil companies have waged a disinformation campaign about the impacts of climate change was voluntarily dismissed by plaintiffs in a victory for the U.S. energy industry. The California-based Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations (PCFFA), the largest trade association of commercial fishermen on the West Coast, requested the dismissal in a filing with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The request came after Judge Vince Chhabria ruled on Nov. 1 that the case could be heard in federal court despite PCFFA’s argument for it to be tried in state court. “Climate change is a global challenge that requires a coordinated international policy response, not a jumble of baseless local lawsuits,” said Bill Turenne, a spokesperson for U.S. oil company Chevron, one of several companies named as defendants in the case. “As the Second Circuit Court of Appeals put it when affirming dismissal of a similar case, ‘such a sprawling case is simply beyond the limits of state law.’” PCFFA’s lawsuit dates back to November 2018 and was among the first “climate deception” cases filed nationwide. The lawsuit — which names Chevron, ExxonMobil, BP America, Shell and ConocoPhillips, among several other oil companies as defendants — sought to hold the industry accountable for its alleged “decades-long campaigns of deception about the science of climate change and the role their products play in causing it.” DARK MONEY GROUP WIRED MILLIONS TO LAW FIRM SUING BIG OIL WITH DEM STATES PCCFA had argued that it was harmed by fossil fuel-induced global warming because of how the “world’s oceans are changing,” impacting both wildlife and businesses reliant on the maritime economy. The group particularly pointed to multiple prolonged regulatory closures of the Dungeness crab fisheries, the most lucrative fisheries on the West Coast. TOP REPUBLICANS LAUNCH PROBE INTO LEONARDO DICAPRIO-FUNDED BLUE STATE LAWSUITS AGAINST BIG OIL “The world’s oceans are changing, and commercial fishermen and -women, their businesses, their communities, and their families are paying the price,” the 2018 complaint stated. “Climate change is impacting the oceans by increasing average sea temperatures, increasing the frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves, destabilizing and disturbing marine wildlife populations, affecting ocean circulation, and increasing the frequency and severity of harmful algal blooms.” “Defendants, major corporate members of the fossil fuel industry, have known for nearly a half century that unrestricted production and use of their fossil fuel products create greenhouse gas pollution that warms the planet, changes our climate, and disrupts the oceans,” it added. The fishermen association was represented in court by California law firm Sher Edling which was founded in 2016 to specifically take on such novel cases. And since then, the firm has pursued similar litigation on behalf of Delaware, Minnesota, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York City, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Baltimore, Honolulu and several local governments across the country. The latest such “climate deception” lawsuit was filed by California in September. Though it is unclear whether Sher Edling is involved in the case, California’s arguments largely mirror those made by the firm in its litigation. Sher Edling’s other cases, in addition to California’s case, may face a similar fate as the PCFFA case as they continue to work their way through court. One other case — filed by King County, Oregon — was dismissed in 2021. Sher Edling didn’t respond to a request for comment.
NY Gov Kathy Hochul signs bill creating reparations commission despite concerns of ‘racial divisions’
New York state has established a commission to explore the best methods of providing reparations to descendants of slaves. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill Tuesday for a “community commission to study the history of slavery in New York state” to examine “various forms of reparations.” “Here in New York, there was a slave market where people bought and sold other human beings with callous disregard,” Hochul said. “It happened right on Wall Street for more than a century. And even though it officially closed when slavery was abolished in New York in 1827, our state still remained a dominant player in the illegal slave trade. The practice continued, and our financial and business institutions prospered.” The commission was given the task of examining the impact of slavery on Black people throughout New York state history and producing suggested remedies to its negative effects on Black communities. SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE OF REPARATIONS BUDGET GETS GUTTED BY DEMOCRATIC MAYOR AS CITY FACES DEFICIT The commission will consist of nine individuals. The governor, state assembly speaker and the majority leader of the New York Senate will each select three members. “I know the word ‘reparations’ brings up a lot of conflicting ideas for people. A lot of people instinctively dig in when they hear it without really thinking about what it means or why we need to talk about it,” said Hochul. REPARATIONS PUSH GAINS STEAM AS COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE CONSIDER PAYMENT PLANS – AND NOT JUST FOR SLAVERY Hochul said that even Americans whose families arrived in the U.S. after the end of slavery were still responsible for addressing its impact on Black communities. “I think of the immigrants and the children of immigrants who’ve come here since the end of slavery,” said Hochul. “They will say, ‘We had no involvement in slavery […] None of our relatives were slave owners.’ And there’s part of me that worries about leaping into this conversation because of the racial divisions, strife it could sow.’” The governor continued, “These huddles and tired masses came here to seek a better life […] Slaves, people who were enslaved, didn’t come here willingly to pursue a dream, but they came in bondage to live a nightmare. And we have to ask, do those of us whose family came here to pursue a dream not have a role to play in ending a nightmare? Yes, yes we do.” Hochul’s speech was followed by a brief address from Rev. Al Sharpton, who thanked the governor for signing the bill despite warnings from her political allies. “And I know her political advisors told her it is too risky. But she did it because it’s right,” I met with her last Thursday on several issues that we’re dealing with nationally, and she told me she had decided to sign this bill and she said that it’s going to be unpopular to some, but I’m going to do what’s right.” The commission is expected to offer its initial report approximately one year after its creation.
Ad Wars: As Trump super PAC targets Haley in New Hampshire ad, her super PAC fires back
FIRST ON FOX – A super PAC supporting Nikki Haley’s Republican presidential campaign on Tuesday launched a new ad in New Hampshire, which argues that former President Trump “knows Haley’s the only one who can beat him.” The spot by Stand for America (SFA) Fund, which was shared first with Fox News, comes on the same day that the Trump-aligned super PAC Make America Great Again (MAGA) Inc. went up in New Hampshire with a competing commercial that blasts Haley over gas taxes. The dueling ads in the state that holds the first primary and second overall contest in the 2024 GOP presidential nominating calendar come as Haley, a former two-term South Carolina governor who later served as ambassador to the United Nations in the Trump administration, continues to gain momentum with less than four weeks to go until the first votes in the Republican race. However, Trump, who is making his third straight White House run, remains the commanding front-runner in the hunt for the Republican nomination. FIRST ON FOX: HALEY SPOTLIGHTS NEED FOR ‘NEW CONSERVATIVE PRESIDENT’ “Of all the Republicans running for president, why is Donald Trump only attacking Nikki Haley? Because Trump knows Haley’s the only one who can beat him,” the narrator in the SFA spot claims. The narrator emphasizes that “as governor, Nikki Haley cut taxes for small businesses by 40%, and now she’s pledging to eliminate the federal gas tax.” HALEY’S MOMENTUM IN THE GOP PRESIDENTIAL RACE APPEARS TO BE PAYING OFF “Want an 80-year-old name from the past or a new generation of conservative leadership,” the narrator says over pictures of 81-year-old President Biden and 77-year-old Trump. The ad then puts up a picture of the 51-year-old Haley with 49-year-old New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, who endorsed Haley last week. SFA Fund tells Fox News they are spending seven figures to run their ad in New Hampshire. Haley has enjoyed plenty of momentum in the polls in recent months, thanks in part to well-received performances in the first three GOP presidential primary debates. She leapfrogged over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for second place in New Hampshire. She also aims to make a fight of it in Iowa, where the polls indicate DeSantis is a distant second behind Trump. Iowa’s Jan. 15 caucuses, which lead off the GOP nominating calendar, are followed eight days later by New Hampshire’s Jan. 23 primary. WHERE TRUMP, DESANTIS, HALEY AND THE REST OF GOP 2024 FIELD STAND IN NEW FOX NEWS POLL Besides Sununu’s support, Haley was endorsed a couple of weeks ago by Americans for Prosperity Action, the political wing of the influential and deep-pocketed fiscally conservative network founded by the billionaire Koch Brothers. AFP Action has pledged to spend tens of millions of dollars and mobilize its formidable grassroots operation to boost Haley and help push the Republican Party past Trump. Haley comes under attack in the MAGA Inc. ad, which repeatedly calls her “high tax Haley” and charges that as governor she “flipped,” breaking her pledge not to raise gas taxes. MAGA Inc. spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt argued that “we won’t let another tax-and-spend politician try to fool the voters.” A statement from Haley’s campaign released on the eve of the MAGA Inc. spot said, “Nikki Haley never supported a stand-alone gas tax increase. In fact, then-Gov. Haley killed the gas tax hike pushed by the South Carolina legislature and industry groups.” “Donald Trump’s false attack ad sends a loud and clear message: Nikki Haley is surging and Trump is scared,” said Haley campaign spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas emphasized in a statement. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Many senators have already left town amid border negotiations as illegal crossings hit record
Lead border negotiators are still trying to reach an agreement on a border security framework that would unlock billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine — a condition that Republicans have placed on passing the White House’s national security supplemental aid package that also earmarks aid to Israel and Taiwan. However, even if a deal is reached, which senators have signaled is not happening this week, the majority of members in the upper chamber have already left town, further pushing negotiations to January and setting the stage for a busy checklist. Lawmakers will have just 10 days when they return to pass FY 2024 appropriation bills. On Monday night, only 61 senators cast their votes to confirm Martin O’Malley, of Maryland, to be commissioner of Social Security for the remainder of the term ending on Jan. 19, 2025. Seventeen Republicans in total were present. Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Tuesday morning senators “must succeed” on border and Ukraine talks, adding it will take more time for a deal to be reached. LAWMAKERS UNLIKELY TO ADVANCE BORDER SECURITY, UKRAINE FUNDING LEGISLATION BEFORE CHRISTMAS “The details here matter immensely,” he said. Lawmakers involved in the talks have repeatedly said the details of border security are complex but have remained tight-lipped on clarifying what those details are. Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a staunch supporter of aid to Ukraine, added they are making “slow and steady progress” to reform “years of failure to enact basic common sense border security policy.” Senate negotiators James Lankford, R-Okla., Krysten Sinema, I-Ariz., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., have all cited “progress” over the last few days as hours of negotiations have punted back and forth with White House officials and Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. “We finally have everybody at the table and everyone admitting that this is a national security crisis that we do have to address. That’s actually progress. That may seem shocking to a lot of viewers, but that’s taken a long time to be able to get to this point,” Lankford said Tuesday morning on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom.” “We’re just literally trying to be able to say to Democrats, ‘listen, this has to be solved,’” Lankford said. “You don’t want to solve it. We’re going to actually push to get this solved. It’ll be politically beneficial for Democrats to get this solved, to take this issue off the table.” SCHUMER ANNOUNCES SENATE WILL CANCEL PART OF HOLIDAY RECESS AS BORDER TALKS CONTINUE According to U.S. Customs and Border Proection sources on Tuesday, there were more than 12,600 migrants encountered at the southern border in the last 24 hours, the highest figure recorded in a single day. Talks have been ongoing with senators and Biden administration officials. Republicans have refused to pass some $60 billion in additional aid to Ukraine unless it is tied to strict border security measures, such as immediate screenings for asylum processing, more detention beds and quicker expulsions for illegal entrants. The total amount of supplemental aid the White House first requested in October amounts to roughly $106 billion and includes $14 billion to assist Israel. President Biden has been urging Congress to take action on the package and Ukraine President Volodymr Zelenskyy made a final plea last week to both chambers in private meetings. MIGRANT ENCOUNTERS AGAIN TOP 10K IN A SINGLE DAY AS LAWMAKERS EYE NEW BORDER LIMITS On Sunday, in a letter to Senate Republican Conference Chairman Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., 15 Republican senators requested a conference meeting to discuss the “rushed and secret negotiations with Democrats who want an open border and who caused the current crisis,” pleading for “an open and transparent process” beginning in 2024. The senators also requested the meeting take place no earlier than the week of Jan. 8, when Congress is scheduled to return to the Hill after the holiday break. Also on Sunday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell reportedly sent a note to his colleagues that Schumer has a motion to reconsider the vote on the package’s “shell” – or the starting point for the supplemental bill – but there is no confirmation yet about that vote. Fox News’ Bill Melugin contributed to this report.
Southern border hit by record number of migrant encounters in a single day as thousands flood into Texas
The besieged U.S. southern border saw a record number of migrant encounters in a single day on Monday, as thousands flooded into Eagle Pass, Texas, amid a broader surge in recent weeks that has left authorities overwhelmed. There were over 12,600 migrant encounters on Monday, Customs and Border Protection sources told Fox. That does not include the thousands still waiting for processing in the Del Rio Sector on Monday evening after a surge of migrants into Eagle Pass. The number includes over 11,000 illegal immigrant apprehensions and over 1,600 encountered at ports of entry. As of Tuesday morning, sources told Fox that agents are still processing and transporting more than 4,500 migrants at the busy crossing point, with more than 5,300 already in custody and facilities at 260% over capacity. ARIZONA’S DEMOCRATIC GOV MOBILIZES NATIONAL GUARD TO BORDER, AS WASHINGTON TRIES TO REACH DEAL It means that the tiny border sector is dealing with over 10,000 total migrants, which is roughly a third of the entire of Eagle Pass itself, and agents are outmanned to a ratio of 200:1. Meanwhile, there were over 3,000 encounters on Monday at the Tucson Sector in Arizona, where agents have also been overwhelmed and where Arizona’s Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs deployed the National Guard to help. “With this Executive Order, I am taking action where the federal government won’t. But we can’t stand alone, Arizona needs resources and manpower to reopen the Lukeville crossing, manage the flow of migrants, and maintain a secure, orderly and humane border,” Hobbs said in a statement on Friday. 5,000 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS RELEASED EVERY DAY INTO US, ADMIN OFFICIALS PRIVATELY TELL LAWMAKERS The border saw a record number of encounters in FY 23, with 2.4 million coming across the border. September was the highest month on record, while October was the highest October on record. November and December, a time when migration is typically slowing down, are looking likely to post record or near-record numbers, as well as agents now routinely see over 10,000 encounters a day. Fox reported last week that Department of Homeland Security officials told lawmakers this month that there were around 670,000 “gotaways,” illegal immigrants who slipped past Border Patrol agents, in FY 23, and that they are releasing an average of 5,000 illegal immigrants a day to non-governmental organizations. That is in addition to the over 1,600 migrants being paroled in at ports of entry each day and the up to 30,000 Haitian, Venezuelan, Nicaraguans and Cubans being flown in each month through the Biden administration’s expanded “lawful pathways.” The administration has said it is pursuing a strategy of expanding those pathways while increasing “consequences” for illegal entry, but that it is also dealing with a hemisphere-wide crisis and needs additional funding and immigration reform legislation from Congress. It has requested an additional $14 billion for border funding from Congress as part of the over $100 billion supplemental funding requests, but Republicans have demanded greater limits on humanitarian parole and higher asylum standards. CONSERVATIVE GROUPS, EX-BORDER OFFICIALS DEMAND LAWMAKERS REJECT ‘UNACCEPTABLE’ BORDER COMPROMISE Talks have been ongoing, with the Biden administration saying it is open to “significant compromises” and reportedly mulling a Title 42-type expulsion authority that would allow for the rapid removal of migrants in certain circumstances. It is also open to greater detention and a nationwide expedited removal program. Some Democrats have accused the administration of “selling out” migrants, while conservative Republicans have said such a deal would not be enough, instead calling for the entirety of the House GOP border security legislation. Lawmakers had hoped to get a deal before Christmas but that now seems unlikely. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., one of the lawmakers involved in negotiations, said on “America’s Newsroom” Tuesday that “we are making real progress.” “We finally have everybody at the table and everyone admitting that this is a national security crisis that we do have to address. That’s actually progress,” he said.
Can the US-led maritime force stop Yemen’s Houthi attacks during Gaza war?
The United States has announced the establishment of a new multinational maritime security force in response to attacks on ships launched by Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen. The initiative is aimed at ensuring ships can pass through busy waterways near Yemen safely as the Houthis have been targeting vessels in protest of Israel’s war on Gaza, which has killed more than 19,000 Palestinians. But what will the task force do, how will it work and how effective could it be? What is the new force? US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the establishment of a 10-country force on Tuesday in Bahrain. In addition to the Arab nation, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles and Spain have agreed to join Washington in the new mission. Some of the countries are expected to conduct joint patrols in the southern parts of the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden while others will support the force by providing intelligence. The mission will be coordinated by Combined Task Force 153 (CTF 153), an existing force under a US-led joint effort established in April 2022 with the aim of improving maritime security in the area. The existing framework has 39 member nations, and there are reports that other countries could join or have already agreed to join the newly formed 10-member maritime effort but don’t want it publicised. The Houthis have promised to stand up to any US-led efforts and only stop their attacks once Israel stops its war in Gaza. They have signalled they are open to talks, but diplomacy has so far failed to stop their attacks. For its part, Iran has warned Washington that its joint maritime effort will face “extraordinary problems”. [embedded content] How disruptive are the Houthi attacks? The Houthi group, also known as Ansarallah, started its operations against Israel by launching missiles and drones on the southern parts of Israel, including the port and tourist city of Eilat, in October soon after the war started. Most of the projectiles were intercepted by Israeli and US defences or fell short due to the roughly 2,000km (1,240-mile) distance between the two countries. So the Houthis changed tactics, instead focusing on ships near their shores. They have since been firing missiles and launching attack drones at commercial ships that they claim are linked to Israel and seized a vessel last month that they are still holding in a Yemeni port. Their attacks have stopped many ships from making their way to Israel. At least 12 shipping companies have suspended transit through the Red Sea due to these safety concerns. They include some of the largest in the world: Denmark’s AP Moller-Maersk, Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd, the Italian-Swiss Mediterranean Shipping Company and France’s CMA CGM. Is a new oil crisis brewing? Markets, including the oil and gas market, have increasingly reacted to the attacks, especially considering the volume of cargo being redirected. For instance, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd together operate almost a quarter of the world’s shipping fleet. Bab al-Mandab, the narrow waterway that separates Eritrea and Djibouti on the Horn of Africa from Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula, is where 10 percent of the world’s seaborne crude oil travels. More than 17,000 ships pass through it each year. It is less than 20km (12 miles) wide, far narrower than the more than 200km (124 miles) of the northern parts of the Red Sea. The direct impact on oil prices has been relatively limited so far, but experts have warned that things could significantly escalate if the attacks continue and security remains an issue. Insurance premiums and prices of oil and gas products are expected to rise if the conflict is not resolved. How will the task force provide protection to ships? Some of the member nations of the task force have warships in the Red Sea. Two US navy destroyers, the USS Carney and USS Mason, are sailing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The idea is for the warships to serve as a deterrent to Houthi attacks and to stop them when possible. The naval ships won’t necessarily escort commercial vessels through the Red Sea but will be on standby to respond to attacks. Will the task force be able to stop Houthi attacks? It’s complicated. Houthi fighters landed a helicopter on a ship last month to capture it. The presence of task force military vessels nearby could make a repeat of such a move harder. The task force’s warships could also strike down incoming missiles from Yemen, just as they have intercepted rockets headed towards Israel. But even Israel’s much-touted Iron Dome missile defence system doesn’t have a 100 percent track record of stopping incoming rockets. So far, the US has not fired back at Yemen. At this point, the markets appear unconvinced that the task force will be able to protect shipments through the Red Sea. On Tuesday, Maersk said it was rerouting its ships around Africa to avoid sending them through the Bab al-Mandab Strait. [embedded content] Adblock test (Why?)
Why 141 India opposition MPs suspended from parliament?
Forty-nine Indian opposition lawmakers, who have been demanding a debate on a December 13 parliament security breach, were suspended from the legislature on Tuesday for allegedly disrupting House proceedings. Tuesday’s government action came a day after 78 opposition members of parliament were suspended from the remainder of the crucial Winter Session of the parliament. In total 141 lawmakers – 95 from the lower house (Lok Sabha) and 46 from the upper chamber (Rajya Sabha) – have been suspended since December 14. The opposition has dubbed the government move a “mockery of democracy”, as important legislation will be passed without any debate undermining parliamentary democracy. The opposition has been demanding a debate on the security breach on December 13, when two men had jumped into the chamber of the lower house from the visitors’ gallery and opened gas canisters. Their visitor’s pass was provided by a legislator from the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “A complete purge is being executed so that draconian Bills are passed without any meaningful debate, and so that the BJP MP who facilitated the entry of the two intruders into the Lok Sabha on December 13th goes scot-free,” Congress Member of Parliament Jairam Ramesh posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to investigate the matter but rebuked the opposition for demanding the debate. Here is what to know: Why did India suspend 141 lawmakers? Presiding officers of the upper and lower house suspended the opposition lawmakers for disrupting proceedings after the legislators demanded a discussion and a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah regarding last week’s security breach during which two men opened gas canisters inside the lower house chamber while a man and woman opened smoke canisters outside the parliament in the capital New Delhi. Police filed charges against five individuals in connection with the breach that has triggered a political row, with the opposition accusing the government of failing to provide security on the 22nd anniversary of a deadly attack on the parliament. The speaker of the lower house, Om Birla, has said that security is his responsibility and is conducting a review. He has blamed the MPs for breaking the rules of the House. The federal home ministry is also investigating the breach. Political analysts have questioned the suspensions. “MPs have all the right to seek answers and hold the government accountable to the parliament,” academic and author, Apoorvanand, told Al Jazeera. He said that the government justified the move saying that the opposition was suspended for creating a ruckus and being unruly, hindering the functioning of the parliament. The government plans to introduce contentious bills to replace the existing criminal laws in parliament without two-thirds of the opposition members present in the House. Apoorvanand, the academic, said that the prime minister’s refusal to interact with the opposition undermines democracy which is “the dialogue between majority and minority”. Was the move politically motivated? The suspension essentially emptied the parliament of the opposition, with analysts saying the mass suspensions are unprecedented and in line with Modi’s authoritarian style of functioning. Critics have said the current government has misused investigating agencies and other institutions to target opposition leaders. “Is it only the opposition that is involved in corrupt practices?” Apoorvanand asked. “There have been numerous cases where [investigation agencies] ED [Enforcement Directorate] or CBI [Central Bureau of Investigation] start an investigation against certain politicians who then join the BJP and the investigation stops.” A firebrand opposition legislator Mahua Moitra, who is known for her sharp questions in parliament, was expelled over an allegation of misconduct. She has deemed her expulsion politically motivated. She has approached the country’s top court against her removal. Main opposition leader Rahul Gandhi’s parliamentary membership was cancelled after he was convicted in a defamation case by a local court in Gujarat state – Modi’s home state. Gandhi returned to the parliament after his conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court in August. The governing party has justified the government’s actions saying the opposition is corrupt and power hungry. The lawmakers are gone, how will the parliament function? Parliamentary processes can carry on, following the suspension of the opposition lawmakers, as the quorum of 10 percent will be met by the governing party and its allies with an overwhelming majority. While bills are typically passed following a discussion in parliament, they have been passed without any discussion numerous times in the past. “Using the power of numbers to throttle all other voices is contrary to democratic principles,” academic Apoorvand said. What did the Indian government say? Modi, in an interview with a Hindi-language newspaper, said what had happened was very serious and there should be a detailed investigation into it, but “there was no need to debate this”. What has the opposition said? Opposition lawmakers reacted by saying the government was being dictatorial. They continue to protest “against the murder of democracy and violation of the dignity of Parliament” through silent demonstrations, Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the main opposition Congress party, on Tuesday posted on X. Took part in a protest along with INDIA MPs at New Parliament gate against historic suspension of almost all the Opposition MPs from both houses–Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. pic.twitter.com/Fo4W9FaVzM — Samirul Islam (@Samirul65556476) December 19, 2023 “First, intruders attacked Parliament. Then Modi govt is attacking parliament & democracy,” Kharge, on Monday, said on X. “With an opposition-less parliament, the Modi govt can now bulldoze important pending legislations, crush any dissent, without any debate.” First, intruders attacked Parliament.Then Modi Govt attacking Parliament & Democracy All Democratic norms are being thrown into the dustbin by an autocratic Modi Govt by suspending 47 MPs. We have two simple and genuine demands – 1. The Union Home Minister should make a… — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) December 18, 2023 Rajya Sabha member Manoj Jha also condemned the government, deeming the suspension a badge of honour. “Congratulations to Modi ji on an opposition-mukt [opposition-less] Parliament,” Jha said. Adblock test (Why?)
‘We have a duty’: US doctor says ceasefire an ‘ethical imperative’ in Gaza
Of all the doctors and medical personnel killed in Gaza this year, Dr Osaid Alser estimates he knew half personally. Alser, a researcher and resident at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in the United States, grew up in Gaza City, Palestine’s largest city. He started his medical career there, starting as a student and eventually becoming a teacher himself. But since the start of the war in Gaza on October 7, Alser has watched as Israeli bombs have rained down on his hometown and military forces have stormed into medical centres. The result has been the near collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system. Only 11 hospitals — a third of those in the enclave — remain operational, with dwindling amounts of fuel and medical supplies. Faced with the death and destruction in Gaza, Alser felt compelled to speak up. “We have a duty to say: Stop the war and ceasefire now,” he told Al Jazeera. To him, calling for a ceasefire was an ethical imperative, not a political statement. But not all healthcare providers feel the same way. Many feel an obligation to avoid commenting on conflicts, as part of a tradition that views medical workers as above the fray. However, the intensity of the war — and its particular toll on Gaza’s health system — have spurred some to ask: When do medical professionals have a responsibility to speak out? Palestinians inspect the damage following an Israeli raid at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip [Fadi Alwhidifa/Reuters] Debating ‘medical neutrality’ The debate erupted last month with a meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA), the largest professional organisation for physicians in the US. Its House of Delegates, which sets the organisation’s policies, declined to debate a resolution that would have called for a ceasefire in Gaza. According to the publication MedPage Today, some of the delegates felt the resolution would force them to decide whether the conflict in Gaza was a “’just war’ or ‘unjust war’”. That, they said, was not their role. The concept of so-called “medical neutrality” stretches back to a history of civilian involvement in battlefield medical care, with some volunteer nurses tending to the sick and wounded on both sides of a conflict. International law has since developed to protect the roles healthcare workers have in warfare, making it a war crime to intentionally attack medical personnel. But “medical neutrality” does not necessarily mean impartiality. And some medical ethicists point out that the scale of the Gaza conflict has raised dire questions. “The concern that a lot of people are having is that this is not business as usual,” Harold Braswell, an associate professor of healthcare ethics at Saint Louis University, told Al Jazeera. “Israel has dropped an enormous amount of bombs on a highly condensed civilian area in a very, very short period of time. And that has created a very, very urgent situation.” A unique circumstance Gaza, a narrow strip only 11km (7 miles) wide and 40km (25 miles) long, is home to 2.3 million people. Palestinian health authorities estimate that at least 19,453 people have been killed, two-thirds of them women and children. A further 1.9 million have been displaced, with tens of thousands living in the streets of Rafah after Israel ordered civilians to flee south. Humanitarian organisations have warned of healthcare workers being killed, as bombs drop on hospitals and ambulance convoys. Alser, the doctor in Texas, has taken it upon himself to sketch out the scale of the impact. He and his brother, also a doctor, launched an initiative last month to track the number of healthcare workers killed. So far, they have documented 278 killed since the start of the war. That includes 104 physicians, 87 nurses and 87 others working in various medical roles. “That includes a lot of my friends, my mentors, even my own medical students that I taught back in 2017, who went on to become doctors and have been killed,” Alser said. 6.12.2023 Update: IOF murdered 278 healthcare workers and kidnapped 41 just in the past 60 days.#NotATarget #Palestine #Gaza #Gaza_Genocide #WarCrimes #CeasefireNOW #WestBank #freedom #freepalestine #Palestine_Genocide #Gaza_Holocaust pic.twitter.com/kykaAaK6SX — Healthcare Workers Watch – Palestine (@HCWWatch) December 7, 2023 “We’ve been documenting the names of course, because they’re not just numbers, and we’re posting their stories from people we know and trust on the ground.” In addition, Israel has detained more than 40 health workers, including Dr Muhammad Abu Salmiya — the director of Gaza’s largest hospital, al-Shifa — and Alser’s former student, Dr Saleh Eleiwa. The rising numbers left Alser feeling no choice but to speak out. “I just felt like we absolutely have to talk about this,” he said. “So that’s really the motivation: Seeing our colleagues, friends, family being killed — doctors, professionals who just work in medicine [and] go home after they work for many, many hours and they get killed.” Rising calls for a ceasefire Alser is not alone. The American Public Health Association (APHA), the largest professional body for public health workers in the US, issued an appeal last month for an immediate ceasefire, amid pressure from its members. Healthcare labour unions and advocacy groups have likewise called for a ceasefire. And more than 100 faculty members at public health and medical schools signed a letter this month urging the US government to support a ceasefire. US President Joe Biden has thus far avoided pressing for a ceasefire, citing Israel’s right to “defend itself” after the Hamas attack on October 7. But members of the medical community are divided over how much pressure to place on Israel and whether its acts of war have reached a threshold that demands a unified ethical stance. Much of that division has centred on whether the attacks on healthcare centres in Gaza amount to war crimes. In a widely circulated opinion piece published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Dr Matthew Wynia argued that health professionals do indeed have a responsibility to speak out
INDIA bloc meeting: Seat-sharing to be decided soon, exercise to start at state-level
While the TMC insisted during the fourth meeting of the INDIA parties here on Tuesday that the seat-sharing should be finalised by December 31, the Congress asserted it could be sealed by the second week of January after all issues are ironed out smoothly.
Trump edges Biden again in new 2024 poll, builds support with younger voters
A new national survey by the New York Times and Siena College is the latest to indicate former President Trump edging President Biden in an increasingly likely 2024 general election rematch. Additionally, the survey suggests that the president is losing support among younger Americans – a key constituency for Democrats – due to his handling of the Israel-Palestinian war in Gaza. According to the poll, which was released on Tuesday, Trump edges Biden 46%-44% among registered voters nationwide. However, in a very early look at next November’s presidential election, Biden holds a razor-thin 47%-45% margin over Trump among those likely to vote in the 2024 contest. BIDEN APPROVAL SINKS TO NEW ALL-TIME LOW IN NATIONAL POLL The 81-year-old Biden once held the upper hand over the 77-year-old Trump in 2024 rematch surveys, but Trump began enjoying an advantage over his successor in the White House in most polls starting in October. The poll indicates that nearly three-quarters of voters ages 18-29 – a key part of the Democratic base that helped boost Biden to over then-President Trump in the 2020 election – disapprove of the way Biden is handling the conflict in Gaza. HEAD HERE TO CHECK OUT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLLING Younger voters questioned in the survey say they would back Trump 49%-43% over the president. That is a dramatic switch from June, when a previous Siena College poll for the New York Times pointed to Biden holding a 10-point lead. Among registered voters overall, by a 46%-38% margin, they said Trump would do a better job than Biden handling the Israel-Palestinian fighting. The new survey also indicates Biden’s approval rating slipping to 37% support among registered voters. The president stood at 34% approval in a Monmouth University poll released on Monday, an all-time low in Monmouth polling since Biden took over the White House nearly three years ago. Biden stood at 37% approval – an all-time low – in a Wall Street Journal survey released earlier this month. However, a new Fox News national poll released on Sunday indicated Biden’s approval rating at 43%. The approval rating is a key indicator of a president’s performance, clout and popularity and is a closely watched metric, especially when an incumbent in the White House seeks a second term. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.