War veteran sets major fundraising record in bid to flip crucial Senate seat from Democrats
EXCLUSIVE: Afghanistan war veteran and Republican Senate candidate Sam Brown has set a new fundraising record in his bid to flip the crucial swing state of Nevada away from Democrats in November. According to Brown’s campaign, the former U.S. Army officer raised a massive $1.85 million in the fourth quarter last year, more than any challenger to an incumbent running for re-election in Nevada history. When combined with his third quarter fundraising, Brown’s campaign brought in a whopping $3.04 million, also a record for that combined time frame. SWING STATE DEMOCRATS REDUCED CRIMINAL PENALTIES, WEAKENED PAROLE LAWS AHEAD OF ATTACK ON LAS VEGAS JUDGE Brown’s fundraising notably bested that of incumbent Democrat Sen. Jacky Rosen, who Brown would likely face in the general election should he win the Republican primary in June, when she was a challenger to former Republican Sen. Dean Heller in 2018. “I’m extremely grateful that tens of thousands of everyday Americans have dug deep and contributed to this campaign,” Brown told Fox News Digital. “Every day, as we travel throughout Nevada and speak with voters, I’m reminded of why this race is so critical to the future of our state.” “Through their reckless policies, Jacky Rosen and Joe Biden have made the American Dream unattainable for most Nevadans and left our borders wide open to drugs and violence,” he said. “Our grassroots campaign is about ending Joe Biden and Jacky Rosen’s American Nightmare, securing our borders, and restoring prosperity.” LATINO SENATE HOPEFUL SAYS HISPANIC VOTERS BEING ‘BLINDSIDED’ BY DEM POLICIES, AIMS TO FLIP BORDER SEAT RED Brown added that he was “humbled” at the inspiration of people across Nevada and the U.S., and said victory would ultimately come by ensuring every American has access to the American Dream. “Under Joe Biden and Jacky Rosen, Nevada has struggled with the highest unemployment rate in the country, the highest energy costs, and some of the worst performing schools in America. Nevadans want hope for a better future, and Sam Brown’s People’s Agenda will deliver the solutions we need to recover and thrive,” Brown’s campaign manager, Faith Jones, told Fox. “Nevadans know what’s at stake this election, and that’s why we’re uniting in support of Sam Brown for U.S. Senate,” she added. BORDER STATE CANDIDATES ISSUE STARK WARNING TO FELLOW REPUBLICANS ABOUT CEDING TO DEMS ON UKRAINE: ‘BUCKLE UP’ Brown is a Purple Heart recipient who sustained serious injuries from an IED explosion during a 2008 deployment in Afghanistan, which left his face severely burned. He was a first-time Senate candidate in 2022 as he sought to oust Democrat Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, but he came in second to former state Attorney General Adam Laxalt in Nevada’s GOP primary. He lost by 22 points to Laxalt, who had the backing of former President Donald Trump and the Senate Leadership Fund. This time, Brown is backed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee and is so far seen as the front-runner for the nomination and a potential shot at Rosen. However, he does face a crowded primary field that includes former Trump Ambassador to Iceland Jeff Gunter, veteran Air Force pilot Tony Grady, and former state Assemblyman Jim Marchant. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub
Hunter Biden, Mayorkas, Fauci: House lawmakers return from holidays for a high-profile week
House lawmakers will be off to the races when they’re back on Capitol Hill Monday, for the first week of their 2024 legislative session. The GOP majority has scheduled several big priorities for the week of Jan. 8 related to two separate impeachment probes as well as a visit to Congress by infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci. Fauci’s first sit-down of the 118th Congress will be a closed-door interview with the House select committee on COVID-19. He’ll field questions from lawmakers on both sides on Monday and Tuesday for a marathon seven hours each day. On Jan. 10, the House Oversight Committee and the Homeland Security Committee are both taking big steps in Republicans’ push for accountability for the Biden administration. HOUSE LEAVES FOR THE YEAR WITH CRITICAL BATTLES STILL ON HORIZON Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., announced his panel would hold a procedural meeting to advance a contempt resolution against Hunter Biden, President Biden’s son, for failure to comply with a congressional subpoena. Republicans had subpoenaed Hunter for a sworn deposition on Dec. 13 as part of an impeachment inquiry looking into whether the president and his family profited off of foreign business deals. He skipped the sit-down, instead opting to hold a press conference in front of the U.S. Capitol criticizing the GOP’s impeachment inquiry of his father. WHERE NO CONGRESS HAS GONE BEFORE: FACING GALACTIC-SCALE FISCAL CLIFF AND BORDER SECURITY THREATS Comer said Friday that “Hunter Biden’s willful refusal to comply with our subpoenas constitutes contempt of Congress and warrants referral to the appropriate United States Attorney’s Office for prosecution. We will not provide him with special treatment because of his last name.” Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the top Democrat on the committee, panned Comer’s decision to hold Hunter in contempt and pointed out that he offered to testify in a public hearing – despite Republicans insisting on a closed-door deposition first. “Instead of taking yes for an answer, Chairman Comer has now obstructed his own hapless investigation by denying Hunter Biden the opportunity to answer all the committee’s questions in front of the American people and the world,” Raskin said. SENATE HAS ONLY PASSED 3 OUT OF 12 SPENDING BILLS AS DEADLINE LOOMS Also on Jan. 10, the Homeland Security Committee is holding its first hearing in House Republicans’ impeachment of DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The House voted in November to refer a resolution to impeach Mayorkas to the committee, giving them the reins in the GOP’s quest to oust the Biden official. “Our investigation made clear that this crisis finds its foundation in Secretary Mayorkas’ decision-making and refusal to enforce the laws passed by Congress, and that his failure to fulfill his oath of office demands accountability,” Committee Chair Mark Green, R-Tenn., said in a statement. “The bipartisan House vote in November to refer articles of impeachment to my committee only served to highlight the importance of our taking up the impeachment process – which is what we will begin doing next Wednesday.” After the high-profile action of this week is over, lawmakers likely will not get much breathing room – the House and Senate must reach a deal on government funding by Jan. 19 or risk a partial government shutdown.
GOP senator sounds alarm on ‘Bidenomics’ hurting constituents: ‘One of the worst presidents’
A Republican senator recently blasted President Biden by calling him one of the worst presidents in American history due to his “willingness to bulldoze the Constitution.” “I think he’ll go down as a one-termer and one of the worst presidents in American history,” Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., told Fox News Digital during a recent interview. “He’s really weaponized the administrative state in a way we’ve never seen before in American history. So, I think he’s one of the worst presidents in American history,” the Missouri senator continued. “It’s just been a total disaster. And I think the truth is he has some pretty radical leftists that are [running] the White House. I mean, the idea that an American president isn’t interested in having a secure southern border with all the problems, fentanyl, drugs, violence, potential terrorists is nuts anyway.” Biden frequently uses the term “Bidenomics” in an attempt to tout his economic efforts while campaigning for reelection, but the term has become increasingly unpopular as voters struggle under the current state of the economy. During a speech in Philadelphia last year, Biden even told a crowd “I don’t know what the hell that is,” referring to the “Bidenomics” slogan. However, he said it was “working.” Reports over the last few months have quoted Biden’s own supporters souring over the messaging, including one Democratic strategist telling NBC News that “whoever came up with the slogan Bidenomics should be fired.” “It’s probably the worst messaging you could ever imagine,” the strategist continued. MISSOURI SENATOR SAYS ‘LEFT HAS TAKEN OVER’ DEM PARTY AS CONGRESS FACES ‘REAL DISCONNECT’ ON ISRAEL, UKRAINE The senator said that Bidenomics has had a tremendously negative effect on his constituents and that average Americans are experiencing “sticker shock” with higher costs under Biden. “It costs the average family in Missouri over $10,000 more than what they were spending just a few years ago for the same stuff,” Schmitt told Fox News Digital. “There’s a formula for high inflation. And when you spend a bunch of money, trillions and trillions and trillions of dollars to declare war on domestic energy production, the cost of everything is going to go up in the supply. And that’s what people are feeling. And as much as Joe Biden’s kind of explained it away and tells people, ‘Don’t believe what you’re actually seeing and what you’re paying,’ it’s real.” SENATOR PRESSES ARMY OVER BACK PAY, RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS FOR SOLDIERS DISCHARGED FOR COVID VACCINE REFUSAL Schmitt also took aim at Biden’s son, Hunter, who is facing numerous charges related to more than $1 million in unpaid taxes and possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance. “I think that it has been shocking the extent to which the Bidens have avoided accountability for all of this,” Schmitt said, referring to the charges against the president’s son. “The American people need to know and understand what happened. Is the president compromised? That’s a big issue. And the connection, obviously, to Hunter Biden in some of the stuff that we’ve seen is very concerning.” House Republicans are currently investigating whether the president was involved in his son’s foreign business dealings during his time as vice president, and Schmitt highlighted the “concerning” connections between the father and son. Schmitt continued by saying that Hunter was “showboating” when he showed up to the House in December to hold a press conference outside the building instead of attending his deposition inside. Schmitt recently sent a letter to the secretary of the Army to demand answers on whether service members who were discharged for not getting the COVID vaccine would receive back pay and how religious freedoms would be honored moving forward. The deadline for a response was Dec. 13, and the senator said they will follow up on the issue. “The Biden administration is not willing to admit that was a huge mistake. I think they ought to be reinstated. They ought to be given their rank. They ought to get back [pay], and they ought to get an apology from [Defense] Secretary [Lloyd] Austin. It’s a real stain. I think it was disrespectful, too.” January marks a full year since Schmitt was sworn into the U.S. Senate in 2023, and the former Missouri attorney general recalled “fighting for an agenda that people in Missouri [sent] me to do” during his first year in office. “Whether it’s taking on the administrative state, whether it’s protecting free speech … going after the CIA in those divisive indoctrination kind of programs and … I think fighting for an agenda that people in Missouri sent me to do,” Schmitt said of his first year in the Senate.
Biden admin appears to fabricate paper trail in pursuit of major chemical plant shutdown: court docs
The Biden administration appears to have intervened in a supposedly nonpartisan science review, manufacturing a paper trail in support of its environmental justice efforts targeting a major chemical plant, according to court filings reviewed by Fox News Digital. In stunning testimony late last year, Michael Morton — who serves as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 science liaison to the EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD) in Washington, D.C. — admitted that he didn’t author a key July 2021 email sent from his email address. That email called off a scientific review of health risks associated with chloroprene emissions which are at the center of an ongoing federal lawsuit with vast economic implications. “I didn’t write that,” Morton told lawyers for synthetics manufacturer Denka Performance Elastomer (DPE) during a deposition in November. “I didn’t say that. For – for that part, I didn’t – I don’t know that, so I don’t know who wrote that,” he added when pressed on the email. Morton’s testimony and revelations from additional information made public in recent months may ultimately derail the Biden administration’s lawsuit against DPE which, if successful, could threaten the future operations of the company’s major manufacturing facility in LaPlace, Louisiana, and further set a precedent broadly threatening the multi-billion-dollar U.S. petrochemical industry. REPUBLICAN STATE SUES BIDEN ADMIN OVER ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ACTIONS: ‘DYSTOPIAN NIGHTMARE’ In February 2023, the Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit against DPE on behalf of EPA, seeking to compel the chemical maker’s LaPlace facility — the so-called Pontchartrain Works Site which represents the only U.S. plant to produce neoprene, a synthetic rubber common in military equipment, wetsuits and medical technology — to reduce emissions of chloroprene. Chloroprene is a liquid raw material emitted during neoprene manufacturing. According to the lawsuit, the plant’s emissions pose a cancer risk to residents in Saint John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, and therefore present an “imminent and substantial endangerment to public health and welfare.” WHITE HOUSE SILENT AS OIL PRODUCTION REACHES RECORD, ENVIRONMENTALISTS CALL FOR GREEN ENERGY “When I visited Saint John the Baptist Parish during my first Journey to Justice tour, I pledged to the community that EPA would take strong action to protect the health and safety of families from harmful chloroprene emissions from the Denka facility,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said after the lawsuit was filed, adding that DPE hasn’t “moved far enough or fast enough” to reduce emissions. Less than one month later, the Justice Department filed a motion for preliminary injunction in the case, essentially asking the court to enforce a shutdown of DPE’s neoprene facility if the company failed to immediately implement substantial emissions reductions. Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim said the motion “shows our determination to address environmental justice concerns.” DPE said in a response motion months later that the federal government’s actions are “tantamount to a shutdown order that would have catastrophic consequences for DPE,” adding that it would lead to “complete loss of revenue streams, substantial loss of work force, supply chain disruptions and contractual impacts, and regulatory challenges.” The company also characterized the Biden administration’s efforts against it as politically driven, unsupported by real-world science, and outside its legal authority under the Clean Air Act. DPE pointed to how its LaPlace facility has sharply curbed its chloroprene emissions and complied with environmental permits. DPE also pointed to Louisiana Tumor Registry data showing that St. John the Baptist Parish, the region where its neoprene facility is located, has recorded one of the lowest cancer rates of any region in the state. ALASKAN NATIVE AMERICANS UNLEASH ON BIDEN ADMIN’S CLIMATE AGENDA: ‘COMMUNITIES AND CULTURE ARE AT RISK’ And, notably, DPE has criticized EPA for basing its lawsuit largely on a study the agency published in 2010 concluding chloroprene is “likely to be carcinogenic to humans.” That study, which itself cites 25-year-old studies of female mice, led to the strict emissions standard of 0.2 micrograms of chloroprene per cubic meter air that the EPA is seeking to enforce on DPE’s facility in LaPlace. DPE and Lousiana lawmakers have for years sought EPA action to reassess that tight standard, arguing in favor of additional study and scientific review, arguing the 2010 study overestimated chloroprene’s cancer risk to humans. The EPA appeared to relent in April 2021 when its Region 6 branch based in Texas, but covering Louisiana and other southern states, nominated chloroprene for a review to revisit its assessment of the chemical’s health risks. But EPA’s ORD office eventually refused to pursue the review, citing the July 2021 email from Morton, the Region 6 science liaison who recently testified he didn’t pen that email. “We continue to seek additional chloroprene emission reductions from the DPE facility in LaPlace, Louisiana in order to continue to reduce the risks that chloroprene emissions from the DPE facility present to the surrounding community,” read Morton’s email, which was sent to senior EPA ORD official Kris Thayer. “The cancer inhalation risk estimate is among the factors that the EPA and Louisiana DEQ are using to determine the extent of additional emission reductions needed from the DPE facility,” it concluded. TOP HOUSE COMMITTEE PROBES JOHN KERRY’S COORDINATION WITH ECO GROUPS PUSHING COAL POWER SHUTDOWN In addition to Morton’s testimony, DPE counsel submitted in court filings metadata of his email showing it was originally authored by ORD officials. The revelations suggest that, to walk back the nomination of chloroprene, ORD cited an email purportedly from Region 6, but which it appears to have actually crafted and sent to itself using Morton’s email address. If EPA had moved forward with the nomination of chloroprene and engaged with new research, though, its eventual lawsuit targeting DPE’s LaPlace facility may have been derailed. EPA declined to comment, citing its policy against commenting on pending litigation. Overall, the multi-billion-dollar petrochemical industry in Louisiana is a key driver of jobs and investment in the state. The industry is also a central reason why the state is the third-largest consumer of petroleum and largest
Which teams are favourites to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations?
Some of football’s biggest stars will showcase their skills when the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) gets under way in Ivory Coast on January 13. While the timing of the tournament has upset elite European clubs, the presence of five African teams at the Qatar World Cup 2022 has proved that football in Africa is coming of age. Record AFCON winners Egypt, led by their talismanic captain Mohamed Salah, will look for their eighth title. Morocco will hope their superb display at the last World Cup will translate into continental success, while Victor Osimhen will aim to replicate his club form for Nigeria. Here’s a look at Al Jazeera’s favourites to win the tournament: Morocco Morocco are the red-hot favourites after their historic run at the Qatar World Cup 2022. The North African nation became the first-ever team from the continent to qualify for the semifinals in Qatar, where they were beaten by France. By defeating Spain and Portugal in the knockout stages, the Atlas Lions had already made their own history in reaching the quarterfinal stage. Morocco’s manager Walid Regragui has been quite clear that his team’s task now is to prove that Qatar was no fluke by winning the AFCON title. Paris St Germain defender Achraf Hakimi and Chelsea winger, on loan at Galatasaray, Hakim Ziyech remain the star attractions. Sofyan Amrabat’s efforts in Qatar did not go unnoticed either, with Manchester United agreeing a season-long loan from Fiorentina with a view to sign a permanent deal. Bayern Munich’s Noussair Mazraoui and Romain Saiss of Al Shabab along with Hakimi form the tournament’s best defence. Youssef En-Nesyri carries some pressure on his shoulders after the Seville striker had to be defended by his manager in Qatar following criticism for his profligacy in front of goal. Morocco were beaten in the quarterfinals by defeated finalists Egypt at the last AFCON. In fact, since winning the 1976 edition, the Atlas Lions have only reached the final once, in 2004, when they were beaten by North African rivals Tunisia. Senegal Defending champions Senegal start the tournament on the heels of favourites Morocco. Their sole AFCON triumph in 2022, was closely run with penalties required to overcome Egypt following a goalless draw in the final. The Lions of Teranga were the favourites from Africa to push for the latter stages of the World Cup in Qatar but the loss of Sadio Mane to injury dealt them a crushing blow. Following a 2-0 defeat by Netherlands in their opening match, they overcame Qatar and Ecuador only to lose 3-0 to England in the first knock-out round. The emergence of Chelsea’s striker, Nicolas Jackson, signed in the summer from Villareal, is a huge boost to an already impressive ensemble. The 22-year-old has scored seven times in his first 19 appearances for the Blues. Pape Matar Sarr is expected to be the main man in midfield and, while Edouard Mendy offers great assurance in goal, the formidable presence of Kalidou Koulibaly is the rock on which the strength of the Senegalese spine is built. Egypt “I want to win the competition” was the clear message from Mohamed Salah about his ambitions at AFCON as he departed Premier League leaders Liverpool. Egpyt’s place among the favourites rests solely on the shoulders of Africa’s best – and arguably greatest ever – footballing talent. Salah helped the Reds end a 30-year wait for a league title as well as helping them to a seventh Champions League trophy. Despite his overwhelming club success, the forward’s commitment to his country is unwavering but he will need to inspire all the support he can get – from a team that is far from star-studded – if the king is to achieve the crowning glory of an AFCON title. Mohamed Elneny a bit-part midfielder at Arsenal and Al Ittihad’s Ahmed Hegazy is the other name of note. Egypt can, however, point to their appearance in the final of the last tournament – and their route to reach the showpiece game after overcoming Ivory Coast, Morocco and Cameroon. A glittering past for Egypt, a glittering present for Salah but can the two combine to fulfil the dreams of the Pharoah’s greatest footballer? Denied a shot at the World Cup but a play-off eliminator and denied twice in the 2017 and 2022 AFCON finals, the clock is ticking for the 31-year-old and his place in his country’s history books. Just imagine this team 🤩 The CAF @FIFPRO Men’s BEST XI is just 🤌#CAFAwards2023 | @FIFProAfrica pic.twitter.com/ZL9two84On — CAF (@CAF_Online) December 11, 2023 Nigeria The Super Eagles have had their wings clipped of late – eliminated in a play-off for a place at the Qatar World Cup by rivals Ghana and falling at the first knockout hurdle at the 2022 AFCON. Nigeria had won all three of their group games, including a win over Salah’s Egypt, but Alex Iwobi’s sending-off against Tunisia in the round of 16 was costly, as the side slipped to a 1-0 defeat. Nigeria’s squad arguably boasts the most depth of all the teams at the tournament and only three AFCON titles will pain Africa’s largest nation, despite the presence of an Olympic gold medal in their trophy cabinet. Iwobi, formerly of Arsenal and Everton, will be joined in the squad by Fulham teammate, Calvin Bassey – the full-back was named player of the match in the Premier League win against Arsenal on December 31. The loss to injury of Wilfred Ndidi from the midfielder cannot be overstated. The fact they can turn to yet another European top-flight club to call up a replacement in Royal Antwerp’s Alhassan Yusuf could soften the blow. It’s in attack where Nigeria will be expected to light up the tournament with Victor Osimhen in particular. The striker was Serie A’s leading scorer last season as he led Napoli to their first league title since Diego Maradona became the darling of Naples in 1990. The recently crowned African Footballer of the Year will be joined up
Israel’s war on Gaza: List of key events, day 94
EXPLAINER Son of Al Jazeera journalist was killed by an Israeli missile and Al-Aqsa Hospital was evacuated. Here’s the latest. Here’s how things stand on Monday, January 8, 2024: Latest updates Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza was partially evacuated as a result of increasing Israeli military activity. World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted on X on Sunday that about 600 patients and medical staff were forced to leave and their location is unknown. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government is grappling with a “plague of leaks” and proposed that ministers who attend security meetings should undergo a polygraph test. There are rising divisions within the Israeli government. Three ministers from the National Unity Party, including Benny Gantz, have boycotted a meeting, Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut reported. Israel has signalled that it is ready to end its bombardment of northern Gaza, saying it has “dismantled” Hamas in that part of the Gaza Strip. However, intense military operations look set to continue in the rest of the enclave. WHO cancelled a mission to northern Gaza’s al-Awda Hospital for the fourth time since December 26 after the UN agency failed to receive security guarantees. Today, @WHO cancelled a planned mission to Al-Awda hospital and the central drug store in northern #Gaza for the fourth time since 26 Dec because we did not receive deconfliction and safety guarantees. The mission planned to move urgently needed medical supplies to sustain the… pic.twitter.com/6v09rPbBb1 — WHO in occupied Palestinian territory (@WHOoPt) January 7, 2024 Human impact and fighting As many as 73 Palestinian people were killed and 99 wounded in attacks by Israel on Gaza over the past 24 hours, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Palestinian media reported that at least eight people were killed after an Israeli air attack hit a house in the city of Deir el-Balah in central Gaza. Hamza Dahdouh, the eldest son of Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau chief, Wael Dahdouh, was killed by an Israeli missile attack on a vehicle in Khan Younis. Journalist Mustafa Thuraya was also killed in the attack. The missile hit the vehicle near al-Mawasi, a supposedly safe area towards the southwest. UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said on Sunday that 142 of its employees have been killed by ongoing Israeli air raids on Gaza since the war broke out on October 7. Diplomacy A large group of people gathered outside the US embassy in Stockholm on Sunday to protest against Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza. In a diplomatic visit to the Middle East, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met leaders from Qatar and Jordan. The Jordan Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it has agreed with the US on rejecting the forced displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, a proposal repeatedly laid out by Israeli Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir. Former UNRWA spokesperson Chris Gunness told Al Jazeera that an International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision could put “huge pressure on the Americans to bring about a proper ceasefire” as Israel and South Africa head to The Hague later this week. Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri criticised Arab and Islamic countries which have not yet expressed official support for South Africa’s call for genocide proceedings against Israel at the ICJ. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock arrived in Israel on Sunday for meetings with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Foreign Minister Israel Katz. Foreign Minister @ABaerbock has arrived for her 4th visit to Israel since the Hamas terror attacks. She has come to meet President @Isaac_Herzog and her colleague minister @Israel_katz, hostage families, and experts on the sexual crimes committed on 7/10. pic.twitter.com/yFGyocz2HP — Steffen Seibert (@GerAmbTLV) January 7, 2024 West Bank raids There are reports of ongoing raids in Bethlehem’s Dheisheh camp, Arroub camp, north of Hebron, Dura and Yatta, south of Hebron and Qabalan, south of Nablus. Al Jazeera Arabic colleagues have reported that Israeli forces arrested a doctor and a nurse as they raided several locations in the adjacent cities of Ramallah and el-Bireh in the occupied West Bank on Sunday night. An Israeli settler attack on Sunday injured a man in the northern Jordan Valley region, just northeast of the occupied West Bank. local sources told Palestinian news agency Wafa. Adblock test (Why?)
Australia outlaws Nazi salute and hate symbols
The law is introduced amid a surge in anti-Semitic and hate crimes, driven by the Israel-Hamas war. The Nazi salute and associated hate symbols have been criminalised in Australia. Legislation banning the salute and the display or sale of symbols associated with terror groups took effect on Monday, as the Australian government responds to a rise in hate and anti-Semitic incidents in recent months, especially amid Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. The legislation criminalises the sale and display of Nazi motifs including the swastika and lightning bolt insignia of the SS (Schutzstaffel), the paramilitary wing of the Nazi party. “It is now unlawful to perform the Nazi salute in public or to publicly display, or trade in, Nazi hate symbols,” Attorney General Mark Dreyfus said in a statement. “The new laws also ensure that glorifying and praising acts of terrorism are criminal offences.” The passage of the bill through parliament by a unanimous vote on December 6 sent a clear message that there is “no place in Australia for acts and symbols that glorify the horrors of the Holocaust and terrorist acts”, Dreyfus said. Worrying rise Initially, a ban on the Nazi salute was not included in the bill, with the federal law planned to leave the issue to the discretion of individual states. However, following several incidents, the bill was amended. In March, a group of neo-Nazis clashed with transgender rights protesters in Melbourne and members were seen raising their arms in a Nazi salute near the state parliament building. In October, three men were charged after allegedly performing a Nazi salute outside the Sydney Jewish Museum. In a separate incident the same month, an unverified video showing a group of men outside the iconic Opera House shouting “gas the Jews” during a pro-Palestinian protest triggered outrage around the world and a police investigation. There were more anti-Jewish incidents in October and November last year than in the twelve months prior, according to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. Dreyfus noted in June, as the legislation was presented, that it would see federal law mesh with state legislation, all Australian states and territories having already either passed laws or announced plans to ban Nazi symbols. “We’ve seen, very sadly, a rise in people displaying these vile symbols, which are symbols that have no place in Australia, they should be repugnant,” he said as he explained the plan. “There is no place in Australia for symbols that glorify the horrors of the Holocaust.” The new law also bans the public display or trade in symbols associated with organisations that Australian designates as “terrorist,” such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS), Hamas or the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Australia’s spy agency has been warning that far-right groups are on the rise in Australia and that they had become more organised and visible. An Australian-born white supremacist murdered 51 Muslim worshippers in the 2019 Christchurch mosque massacre in New Zealand. Adblock test (Why?)
COVID-19: India witnesses 605 fresh cases, total COVID case tally stands at over 4.5 crore
The active cases have increased to 4,002, while the country’s overall COVID case tally stands at over 4.5 crore (4,50,18,792)
‘Remarkable step in India’s energy journey’: PM Modi after ONGC fired up oil production from flagship deep-water asset
PM Modi also said that the development will boost the mission of a self-reliant India.
Bilkis Bano case: SC quashes remission order by Gujarat govt, all 11 convicts to return to jail
The apex court held that the judgement of May 13, 2022 (which directed the Gujarat government to consider remission of convict) was obtained by “playing fraud” on the court and by suppressing material facts.The convicts had not approached the court with clean hands, the apex court observed.