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Storing, watching child pornography crime under POCSO Act: SC

Storing, watching child pornography crime under POCSO Act: SC

The apex court had earlier agreed to hear the plea challenging the high court ruling that had said mere downloading and watching child pornography was not an offence under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Information Technology (IT) Act.

Judge temporarily halts Tennessee law banning adults from helping minors get abortion without parental consent

Judge temporarily halts Tennessee law banning adults from helping minors get abortion without parental consent

A federal judge temporarily blocked Tennessee’s law that prohibits adults from aiding minors in obtaining abortions without parental approval. U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger said in a Friday ruling that the state cannot “make it a crime to communicate freely” about legal abortion options even in a state that bans abortion at all stages of pregnancy, with some exceptions. The law will now be placed on hold as the case moves through court. “The Tennessee General Assembly apparently determined that, when the topic at hand is ‘abortion trafficking,’ the best interests of the pregnant child are not merely a secondary consideration, but unworthy of particularized consideration at all,” Trauger wrote. TENNESSEE SUED OVER LAW BANNING ADULTS FROM HELPING MINORS GET ABORTIONS WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT Earlier this year, lawmakers in Tennessee’s Republican-controlled Legislature passed legislation that was then signed by GOP Gov. Bill Lee making it illegal for an adult who “intentionally recruits, harbors, or transports” a pregnant minor within the state to obtain an abortion without consent from the child’s parents. Anyone convicted of breaking the law would be charged with a Class A misdemeanor, which requires nearly one year in jail. The law does not include exemptions for minors who may have been raped by their parents, but a biological father who raped his daughter and caused her pregnancy cannot pursue civil action. The Tennessee law, which took effect July 1, mimicked Idaho’s “abortion trafficking” law that was enacted last year, the first state to enact such legislation. But a federal judge has since temporarily blocked Idaho’s law as the case moves through court. Shortly before Tennessee’s law was set to take effect, Democratic state Rep. Aftyn Behn and Nashville attorney Rachel Welty filed a lawsuit challenging the statute on the second anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 24, 2022, decision overturning Roe v. Wade, returning the power to make laws regarding abortion back to the states. TRUMP MAKES PLAY FOR WOMEN’S VOTE, VOWS TO ENSURE ‘POWERFUL EXCEPTIONS’ FOR ABORTION Trauger’s ruling sided with the argument from Welty and Behn that the law was “unconstitutionally vague,” particularly pointing out that the word “recruits” is undefined in the law. The judge also raised concerns about the First Amendment restrictions that she argues the law would impose. “The freedom of speech guaranteed by the First Amendment is not simply a special protection that the Constitution grants to a few, high-profile speakers so that those speakers can hear themselves talk; it is a protection available to everyone, for the interconnected benefit of everyone, because messages do not gain their fullest power by being uttered, but by being spread,” Trauger wrote. Behn called Friday’s ruling a “monumental victory” for free speech and the fight for abortion access. “This ruling doesn’t just protect Tennesseans — it safeguards the freedom to discuss abortion care across state lines, ensuring that we can continue to offer support, share accurate information, and stand up for the rights of those seeking essential health care everywhere,” she told The Associated Press. Abortions are banned in Tennessee at all stages of pregnancy, with exemptions in cases of molar pregnancies, ectopic pregnancies or to save the life of the mother. Doctors must use their “reasonable medical” judgment in determining whether performing an abortion can save the life of the mother or prevent major injury. A group of women is currently suing in a separate case to clarify the state’s abortion ban. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Andrew Cuomo slams ‘defund the police’ movement in fiery church speech: ‘Dumbest words ever uttered’

Andrew Cuomo slams ‘defund the police’ movement in fiery church speech: ‘Dumbest words ever uttered’

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo slammed progressive policies and defended law enforcement in an ardent speech against far-left politics on Sunday. Speaking at Bedford Central Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn, New York, Cuomo began by endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for the upcoming presidential election, calling her “smart and qualified.” “She is going to unite the Democrats,” the former politician said. “She’s going to bring a new energy. And because the opponent is Donald Trump and we’ve seen that and we’re not going back there again.” But the Democrat noted that Harris getting into office wouldn’t “solve all our problems” because government “isn’t working for people on a very basic level,” and launched into a six-minute rant against progressive politics. HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBPOENAS ANDREW CUOMO OVER COVID-19 NURSING HOME POLICIES “Things are getting worse, not better,” Cuomo continued. “And I think it’s time that we take a fresh look and take a new perspective when we look at what’s going on.” “Today, we have a great political argument on the Democratic side: Who is more progressive?” he added. “I don’t even think they know what the word means, progressive. You cannot be a progressive if you don’t make progress.” Cuomo, who served as NYC governor from 2011 to 2021, said that the U.S. was “going backwards” thanks to progressive policies. “Some people think it’s progressive to say, ‘Defund the police,’” he noted. “Yes, in theory, if everybody had an education and everybody had a job, nobody would need to commit a crime. I get the theory, but it’s not that simple.” HOCHUL AIDE ACCUSED OF WORKING FOR CCP USED POSITION TO PROMOTE ‘EQUITY’ POLICIES IN RESURFACED VIDEO “‘Defund the police’ are the three dumbest words ever uttered in politics,” Cuomo added. Cuomo also called out the migrant issue in New York City, saying that the government “can’t just have 100,000 migrants coming into New York City and only New York City.” “Nowhere else in the state of New York, only New York City,” the Democrat stated. “And leave it all up to New York City to pay for hotels, pay for health care, over $10 billion. No plan by the federal government, no real help from the state.” Cuomo then encouraged the audience to “forget the labels” and remember to vote in November. “Remember the only questions that matter: Who is going to help you and your family and who is going to get the job done?” he concluded. 

Mayor of Muslim-majority Michigan city endorses Trump: ‘Right choice for this critical time’

Mayor of Muslim-majority Michigan city endorses Trump: ‘Right choice for this critical time’

The mayor of a Muslim-majority city in Michigan says he is endorsing Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, calling the former commander-in-chief, “the right choice for this critical time.”  Amer Ghalib, mayor of the Detroit-area suburb Hamtramck, announced his endorsement of Trump in a Facebook post Sunday. While admitting he and Trump didn’t “agree on everything,” he said he regarded the former commander-in-chief as “a man of principles.”  “Though it’s looking good, he may or may not win the election and be the 47th president of the United States, but I believe he is the right choice for this critical time,” Ghalib wrote in Arabic on his Facebook page. “I’ll not regret my decision no matter what the outcome would be, and I’m ready to face the consequences. For this, and for many other reasons, I announce my support and endorsement for the former, and hopefully, the next president of the United States, Donald Trump.” He added: “Now, let the Caravan begin its journey. This is just the starting point.” TRUMP VOWS TOUGH APPROACH TO SANCTUARY POLICIES Trump reposted Ghalib’s message on his Truth Social account. Ghalib’s endorsement of Trump comes after the two met in Flint earlier this week for a private 20-minute conversation.  Ghalib told The Detroit News that Trump “knew a lot about me before the meeting.”  “We talked about various topics including the debates, the polls updates, the statistics of votes in Michigan and Wayne County, the Arab American concerns and the Yemeni Americans in particular. We also talked about the situation in Yemen,” Ghalib said.  Hamtramck is the only U.S. city governed entirely by Muslims, with more than 40% of the city’s population foreign-born. 

Trump indicates he won’t make another presidential run in 2028 if unsuccessful this time

Trump indicates he won’t make another presidential run in 2028 if unsuccessful this time

Former President Trump indicated during an interview Sunday that he would not make a run for the Oval Office in 2028 if his current bid falls short in November. Trump was a guest on Sinclair Broadcast Group’s “Full Measure,” hosted by Sharyl Attkisson, which aired Sunday morning. At the end of the interview, Attkisson asked Trump if he was not successful in his bid for president in November, could he see himself running again in four years? “No, I don’t. No, I don’t. I think that that will be, that will be it. I don’t see that at all,” the former president answered. “I think that hopefully we’re gonna be successful.” HARRIS-TRUMP SHOWDOWN: THE EDGE IS CLEAR ON THIS KEY ISSUE Trump, 78, is on his third run for president, having beaten Hillary Clinton for the Commander in Chief seat in 2016, and losing to President Biden in 2020. He now faces Vice President Kamala Harris for a second, four-year term in office. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Trump campaign for clarification on the former president’s comments. The Harris campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on Trump’s statements. With over six weeks to go until Election Day on Nov. 5, and early voting and absentee balloting underway in a growing number of states, a number of public opinion polls agree that the race in key battleground states that will decide the 2024 Presidential election is within the margin-of-error. WHAT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLL SHOWS IN THE HARRIS-TRUMP 2024 SHOWDOWN  The polls also show Harris has a healthy advantage among voters when it comes to the issue of abortion, while Trump has an equally large margin in dealing with the border and immigration. When it comes to the economy, the polls show the issue remains the top issue on the minds of American voters as they prepare to cast their ballot in November. A Fox News national poll also in the field entirely post-debate spotlighted that 39% of voters surveyed said the economy was their most pressing issue, far ahead of immigration (16%) and abortion (15%). All other issues tested were in single digits.  HEAD HERE FOR ALL THE MOST RECENT FOX NEWS POLLING IN THE 2024 ELECTION Trump spoke with Attkisson about several issues, including his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which he said he did “an amazing job” handling. “I never got the credit for it. Remember that more people died under Biden-Harris than died under Trump,” he said. “And they had a much easier time because when it came in here, nobody knew what it was. It came from the Wuhan labs, which I always said. But nobody really knew what it was, where it came from…nothing. They knew nothing, and we got hit.” Trump also said he got credit with the military and knocking out ISIS, saying, “we rebuilt the military.” TRUMP VOWS TOUGH APPROACH TO SANCTUARY POLICIES After speaking about his accomplishments, Attkisson asked him what he does to stay healthy. “I used to play golf a little bit…but it seems to be quite a dangerous sport, in retrospect,” Trump said, referring to a recent incident in which a man hid in the bushes with a gun before being shot at by Secret Service and fleeing. The man was later arrested, and the matter is being handled as an assassination attempt on Trump. “I try and eat properly,” Trump told Attkisson, getting back to her question. The host told Trump she though he ate hamburgers and drank soda, which the former president acknowledged he did. “But proper hamburgers,” he said. “But I like, perhaps, all the wrong food. But then I say, ‘does anybody know what the right food is?” He continued, saying people lectured him for years on what to eat, and they’re gone because they passed away. “And here I am,” Trump said. “So, I’m not sure I wanna make too many changes.” Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.

Scholz’s SPD narrowly ahead of far right in east German state: Projections

Scholz’s SPD narrowly ahead of far right in east German state: Projections

Scholz’s centre-left Social Democrats likely to win 31 percent of the vote in Brandenburg, a slight lead over AfD at 29 percent, projections show. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) has narrowly beaten the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in a local election in the east German state of Brandenburg, initial projections show. Scholz’s centre-left SPD won around 31 percent against the anti-immigration and anti-Islam AfD, which scored about 29 percent, according to the projections by public broadcasters on Sunday. The result in the formerly communist east offers a rare moment of respite for Scholz’s embattled coalition government, which has sunk in opinion polls a year ahead of national elections. It is unlikely, however, to give him or his party a major boost given that popular, incumbent SPD premier Hubert Dietmar Woidke has distanced himself from Scholz during the campaign and criticised the federal government’s policies. The election in Brandenburg was closely watched because Scholz’s SPD has ruled there ever since Germany’s 1990 reunification. The chancellor’s own electoral district is in the state capital Potsdam, outside Berlin. The AfD, which rails against asylum seekers, multiculturalism, Islam and Scholz’s government, had hoped to replicate its recent electoral success in the east. Three weeks ago, the far-right party stunned the political establishment by winning its first-ever parliamentary vote – in the eastern state of Thuringia – and coming a close second in neighbouring Saxony. Despite its ballot box success, the AfD is unlikely to take power in any state since all other mainstream parties have so far ruled out entering into a governing alliance with the party. SPD’s Woidke, in office for more than a decade, had also thrown down a challenge to voters by telling them he would quit if the AfD won. The AfD, which had vowed “to send Woidke into retirement”, nonetheless hailed its strong showing. Party co-leader Tino Chrupalla said it had “taken gold once and silver twice” in three elections in the east this month. The AfD’s populist rhetoric has heaped political pressure on Scholz and his governing allies, the Greens and the liberal Free Democrats. Both parties scored in the low single digits in Sunday’s state election. Adblock test (Why?)