What does the use of more powerful weapons mean for Ukraine?
Russia uses hypersonic missile for first time in the war after Ukraine uses Western weapons to hit Russian territory. Russia has attacked Ukraine with a new hypersonic missile. Western leaders say it marks a dangerous new phase in the war. The Kremlin says it follows a decision by the White House to let Ukraine fire US missiles into Russian territory. So, what could happen next? Presenter: Bernard Smith Guests: Michael Bociurkiw – Global affairs analyst Pavel Felgenhauer – Russian defence and military analyst Steven Erlanger – Chief diplomatic correspondent (Europe), The New York Times Adblock test (Why?)
Thousands protest against sexual violence in France
Thousands of people have taken to the streets across France to protest against sexual violence. The protests on Saturday come two days before the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. In the capital, Paris, large crowds of women and men marched waving purple placards that denounced gender-based violence and defended women’s reproductive rights. Demonstrators voiced concerns about a possible rollback on women’s rights in the United States when President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House in January. Vice President-elect JD Vance said he would like a national abortion ban in a podcast interview in 2022, but has since emphasised that individual states should determine their policies. Demonstrators march against violence against women two days before the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in Paris, France on November 23, 2024 [Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu] The French newspaper Le Monde reported that roughly 80,000 protesters took to the streets in Paris, with 400 different organisations taking part in demonstrations. It said thousands of people also took to the streets in smaller cities across the nation, including 1,500 in Renne outside Lyon in the southeastern part of France. France enshrined abortion rights in the constitution in March — a move largely seen as a response to the US move to roll back key reproductive rights protections in 2022 when the Supreme Court overturned decades-old laws protecting abortion rights nationally. While abortion has been legal since 1975 in France, the constitutional change explicitly guaranteed abortion access. France was the first country in the world to do so. Protesters also voiced solidarity with Gisele Pelicot, whose ex-husband Dominique Pelicot and 50 other co-defendants are on trial over allegations that the men drugged and raped her while she was unconscious over a decade. In September, Dominique accepted the charges. “Unfortunately, anybody can be a perpetrator of violence. It can be our brothers. It can be our fathers. It can be our colleagues. It can be our bosses. I think that’s the big shock for people,” said Maelle Noir, representing the feminist collective Nous Toutes, which translates as All of Us, told The Associated Press news agency at the Paris protest. Demonstrators hold signs in sexual violence protests in Paris, France, on November 23, 2024 [Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu] Protesters in Paris [Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu] Adblock test (Why?)
Trump backs staunchly anti-Muslim Florida lawmaker to run for US Congress
United States President-elect Donald Trump is encouraging a Florida legislator who celebrated the killing of an American citizen by the Israeli military to run for Congress. Trump said in a social media post on Sunday that if State Senator Randy Fine decides to seek a congressional seat in Florida, the state lawmaker would have his “Complete and Total Endorsement”. Fine, who has a long history of anti-Muslim statements, sparked outrage earlier this year when he appeared to praise the killing of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a US activist who was fatally shot by the Israeli military in the occupied West Bank. “Throw rocks, get shot. One less #MuslimTerror ist. #FireAway,” Fine wrote in a social media post in September. Eygi was taking part in a peaceful protest when she was shot. Both Israel and the outgoing administration of US President Joe Biden have dismissed her killing as an accident. Fine’s post – which X (formerly Twitter) found to be in violation of its violent speech policy – is part of a long list of inflammatory, anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic comments by the state legislator. “Fine is a friend to no one except fascism,” Rasha Mubarak, a Palestinian-American activist from Florida, told Al Jazeera. “Trump’s endorsement signals a deepening alignment with the violent, fascist elements within the capitalist class, whose interests are served by sowing division and perpetuating the dominance of imperialism.” Fine often proclaims that the US has a “Muslim problem”. In 2021, when told by a social media user that Palestinians were being forced out of their homes by Israel, he responded with: “#BlowThemUp”. According to the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), he also sent a private message to a Florida resident saying: “Go blow yourself up!” Two years earlier, Fine referred to Jews who support Palestinian rights as “Judenrat” – Nazi collaborators. Last year, Fine argued that fear of Muslims is justified. “While many Muslims are not terrorists, they are the radicals, not the mainstream,” he wrote in a post on X. “Now is the time to speak truth, not bathe in political correctness that will kill us.” Fine’s office did not immediately respond to Al Jazeera’s response for comment. Over the years, CAIR has called on Florida lawmakers to censure and penalise Fine, including over his recent comments on Eygi’s killing. “We struggle to think of another time in modern American history when an elected official openly celebrated the murder of an American by a foreign government and encouraged more such killing,” CAIR’s deputy executive director, Edward Ahmed Mitchell, said in May. “Randy Fine has made it clear where his priorities lie, and it is not with the American people. We urge the Florida House of Representatives to censure him for this hateful, un-American rant.” Despite celebrating the killing of an American woman by a foreign military, Trump described Fine as an “America First Patriot”. He called on him to run for the seat of Congressman Mike Waltz, who will leave his seat to serve in the White House as national security adviser. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will call for a special election to fill the vacancy next year. Fine, who previously served in Florida’s House of Representatives and was recently elected to the state’s Senate, has not announced his candidacy, but he welcomed Trump’s statement. “It would be the honor of my life to be one of your footsoldiers,” he wrote, addressing the incoming president. “Your confidence is overwhelming and I will have news to share soon!” Trump himself has regularly spread anti-Muslim rhetoric, including saying that the Quran, Islam’s holy book, teaches a “very negative vibe” and proclaiming that “Islam hates us”. He also imposed a travel ban on several Muslim-majority countries during his first term as president. But this year, the former president softened his tone as he courted Arab and Muslim voters, promising to bring “peace” to the Middle East. Trump’s endorsement of Fine as well as some of his staunchly pro-Israel cabinet picks highlights the depth of his alliance with far-right forces. Adblock test (Why?)
Delhi-NCR AQI: No relief from pollution, Delhi air quality improves slightly to ‘Very Poor’
Several areas in the city are still in the ‘Severe’ category and the AQI went as high as 412.
Voter is with spirit of ‘Nation First’, not with those who dream of ‘chair first’: PM Modi on Maharashtra poll results
Targeting Congress over performance of its state governments, he said voters evaluate promises and delivery in other states.
Trump administration takes shape: President-elect completes top 15 Cabinet picks
President-elect Trump has rounded out his picks for the top 15 positions within his Cabinet, handpicking an array of establishment and unconventional officials for top posts in just three weeks. Trump has moved at a rapid pace to shape his upcoming administration, which stands in contrast to his first run at the presidency in 2016. The president-elect’s picks have diverse ideologies united under Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. From Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s pro-choice stance to Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s pro-union stance and former George Soros adviser Scott Bessent, Trump’s Cabinet reflects a new era for Republican presidents. GET TO KNOW DONALD TRUMP’S CABINET: WHO HAS THE PRESIDENT-ELECT PICKED SO FAR? Kennedy, a former Democrat, has been open about his pro-choice stance, much to the chagrin of conservative Republicans. The former presidential candidate shared a video on social media this summer, writing in a post, “I support the emerging consensus that abortion should be unrestricted up until a certain point.” He suggested that this limit should be “when the baby is viable outside the womb.” Viability is understood to occur around 24 weeks gestation. Kennedy will likely be asked in his upcoming hearing the extent of his pro-choice stance. Several Republicans are wary of Trump’s pick for HHS, while others expressed confidence he would act in line with the administration. “I would fully expect any of Trump’s nominees to be pro-life, as is President Trump,” Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., told Fox News Digital. “It does need to be addressed.” RFK JR’S ABORTION ‘ISSUE’: SENATE GOP PLANS TO SCRUTINIZE TRUMP HHS PICK’S POSITION “I believe what he’s going to do is do the right thing,” Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said of Kennedy. Trump’s softening stance toward abortion was a notable point during his campaign. Trump has said he would leave abortion to the states after of Roe v. Wade was overturned. Trump notably opposes a federal abortion ban but has remained opposed to late-term abortions. In July, the Republican Party abandoned its long-standing position of advocating for abortions. Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination received strong support from unions, which once stood at odds with Republican ideology. The president-elect lauded her for working “tirelessly with both Business and Labor to build America’s workforce, and support the hardworking men and women of America.” “I look forward to working with her to create tremendous opportunity for American Workers, to expand Training and Apprenticeships, to grow wages and improve working conditions, to bring back our Manufacturing jobs,” Trump said in an Friday announcement. During her short stint as a House Republican, Chavez-DeRemer championed labor rights. She co-sponsored the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, which increased penalties for employers who break labor law and makes it easier to unionize. She also co-sponsored the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, which would expand the powers of public sector unions. Her candidacy for the post was backed by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union, whose president thanked Trump for the pro-labor pick. “North America’s strongest union is ready to work with you every step of the way to expand good union jobs and rebuild our nation’s middle class,” Teamsters President Sean O’Brien wrote on X. “Let’s get to work!” Similarly, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler praised Chavez-DeRemer for having “built a pro-labor record in Congress.” “But Donald Trump is the president-elect of the United States — not Rep. Chavez-DeRemer — and it remains to be seen what she will be permitted to do as secretary of labor in an administration with a dramatically anti-worker agenda,” Shuler said. President-elect Trump nominated Bessent as his top economic official to implement “Trumponomics.” Bessent made a name for himself at Soros Capital Management, where he worked as chief investment officer from 2011 to 2015. Following his work with Soros, he founded hedge fund Key Square Capital Management and was a key economic policy adviser and fundraiser for the Trump campaign. He has been an advocate for economic policies like lower taxes, spending restraint and deregulation that have long made up the core of the Republican Party’s platform and has been supportive of Trump’s use of tariffs in trade negotiations. In a statement, Consumer Bankers Association President and CEO Lindsey Johnson congratulated Bessent on the nomination. “As an experienced and accomplished businessman, we applaud Mr. Bessent’s recent comments in which he has called for a surge in small business optimism, a smart deregulatory banking agenda and support for Main Street,” Johnson said. “If confirmed, we look forward to working with Mr. Bessent to advocate for sound financial regulatory policy that enable banks to better support consumers, small businesses and the economy at large.” As America’s top diplomat, Rubio was plucked from his Senate term in Florida to serve in Trump’s upcoming administration. Rubio, a former critic of Trump, has supported strong relations with foreign alliances, including NATO, advocating for a robust U.S. presence in the world. He has also publicly supported Israel’s war against Hamas and spoken out against continued aid to Ukraine. “It is my Great Honor to announce that Senator Marco Rubio, of Florida, is hereby nominated to be The United States Secretary of State. Marco is a Highly Respected Leader, and a very powerful Voice for Freedom,” Trump said in a statement. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries.” INCOMING SENATE DEM ELISSA SLOTKIN TORCHES IDENTITY POLITICS IN 2024 AUTOPSY: ‘GO THE WAY OF THE DODO’ In a statement, Rubio, 53, said he was “honored” by the trust Trump “has placed in me.” “As Secretary of State, I will work every day to carry out his foreign policy agenda,” Rubio wrote on X. “Under the leadership of President Trump we will deliver peace through strength and always put the interests of Americans and America above all else.” WATCH: A combat veteran and former Fox News host, Hegseth was picked as the senior executive in the Department of Defense, which oversees the
Trump picks Texan Brooke Rollins to lead agriculture department
Rollins, who grew up in Glen Rose and once led the Texas Public Policy Foundation, will need Senate confirmation before becoming agriculture secretary.
Trump taps Brooke Rollins as agriculture secretary
President-elect Trump tapped Brooke Rollins as his agriculture secretary. In a statement on Saturday, Trump lauded Rollins’ “commitment to support the American Farmer, defense of American Food Self-Sufficiency, and the restoration of Agriculture-dependent American Small Towns.” “A proud Graduate of Texas A&M University, Brooke earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Agriculture Development, and J.D., with Honors,” the announcement said. “From her upbringing in the small and Agriculture-centered town of Glen Rose, Texas, to her years of leadership involvement with Future Farmers of America and 4H, to her generational Family Farming background, to guiding her four kids in their show cattle careers, Brooke has a practitioner’s experience, along with deep Policy credentials in both Nonprofit and Government leadership at the State and National levels.” Rollins served as director of the Office of American Innovation and acting director of the Domestic Policy Council during the first Trump administration. Since her time in the Trump White House, Rollins has co-founded the America First Policy Institute think tank.
Ric Grenell under consideration to be Trump’s point man on Ukraine: report
Richard “Ric” Grenell, the former acting director of National Intelligence in President-elect Trump’s first administration, is reportedly under consideration to be special envoy for the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Currently, there is no special envoy responsible for bringing an end to the war in Eastern Europe. Trump is strongly considering whether to create the role, Reuters reported, citing four sources familiar with the president’s deliberations. If he does create the new position, Grenell is said to be a leading candidate, though Trump may select someone else, the sources told Reuters. There is also no guarantee that Grenell would accept the position if it were offered to him, the sources reportedly said. HERE ARE THE MOST TALKED-ABOUT CANDIDATES FOR TOP POSTS IN TRUMP’S ADMINISTRATION Fox News Digital was previously told Grenell was under consideration to be U.S. Secretary of State. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio was instead named to lead the State Department. Neither Grenell nor the Trump transition team responded to requests for comment. GET TO KNOW DONALD TRUMP’S CABINET: WHO HAS THE PRESIDENT-ELECT PICKED SO FAR? Trump repeatedly made campaign promises to quickly resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, if elected, although he has never laid out a specific plan to end the war. Grenell, an outspoken Trump loyalist, has made statements in the past that may be of concern to Ukrainian leadership. ‘NEW’ RUSSIAN MISSILE USED AGAINST UKRAINE NOT HYPERSONIC, DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAY During a Bloomberg round table in July, he advocated for the creation of “autonomous zones” as a means of settling the conflict, which began after Russia invaded Ukrainian sovereign territory. He also suggested he would not be in favor of Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in the immediate future, a position he shares with many Trump allies. Grenell’s supporters note he has had a long diplomatic career and has a deep knowledge of European affairs. In addition to serving as ambassador to Germany, Grenell was also a special presidential envoy for Serbia and Kosovo peace negotiations. Prior to working for the first Trump administration, Grenell was a U.S. State Department spokesman to the United Nations under President George W. Bush. He has advised various Republican candidates and was a foreign policy spokesman for Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential campaign. Grenell was previously a Fox News contributor. Reuters contributed to this report.
Delhi-NCR Air Pollution: Noida schools to stay closed till THIS date; check details
The physical classes in Noida were suspended last week in view of harmful levels of air quality in the region.