At least 17 people killed in explosion at Thai fireworks factory
DEVELOPING STORYDEVELOPING STORY, The explosion takes place in a remote area as photos by rescue workers show debris and body parts. At least 17 people have been killed in an explosion at a fireworks factory in central Thailand. The explosion took place at about 3pm (08:00 GMT) in a remote area in the province of Suphan Buri, about 120km (74 miles) north of the capital, Bangkok, police said, according to a video shared with media of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin being briefed by telephone. The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear. Photos posted online by local rescue workers in Suphan Buri showed the site, in an otherwise unoccupied rice field, levelled flat aside from debris and body parts, with a huge plume of black smoke rising above. The explosion came less than a month before Chinese New Year, which falls on February 10, when demand for fireworks is strong. ฝากท่านผู้ว่าฯสุพรรณบุรีช่วยเหลือทันที และขอแสดงความเสียใจกับครอบครัวและญาติผู้เสียชีวิตด้วยครับ https://t.co/CZynRJZRjo — Srettha Thavisin (@Thavisin) January 17, 2024 The provincial governor told the Reuters news agency that no survivors had yet been found. “There were deaths, we are checking how many people died,” police colonel Theerapoj Rawangban told the AFP news agency. “We do not see more damage toward other houses or people who live in the [nearby] community,” he added. Srettha expressed his condolences and issued an order to help the victims and families of the deceased. One worker was killed in an accident at the factory in November 2022. In July 2023, a large explosion at a fireworks warehouse in southern Thailand killed at least 10 people and wounded more than 100, according to officials. Adblock test (Why?)
Two dead, dozens injured in explosion in southwest Nigeria
Oyo state governor said explosives stored by illegal miners triggered the blast on Tuesday evening. At least two people were killed and dozens injured when explosives stored at a private residence detonated in Nigeria’s southwest Oyo state, its governor said on Wednesday. Several houses collapsed from the impact of the blast on Tuesday evening in the Bodija area of the city of Ibadan, witnesses said, sending panicked residents into the streets. Residents said the impact was also felt in different parts of the city. In a statement, the governor, Seyi Makinde, said there were two deaths while 77 people were treated for injuries, most of them being discharged. “Preliminary investigations by the security agencies revealed that illegal miners occupying one of the houses in Bodija had stored explosive devices there which caused the blast,” Makinde added. Ibadan, 130km (80 miles) from Nigeria’s commercial capital of Lagos, is Nigeria’s third most populous city with four million people, but its largest by land mass. Makinde said search and rescue operations were under way and the state government would provide temporary accommodation for those who lost their homes. Adblock test (Why?)
Thai democracy activist sentenced to more jail time for ‘royal insults’
Lawyer Arnon Nampa is already serving a four-year sentence for comments about the monarchy made at a rally in 2020. A court in Thailand has sentenced a jailed activist and lawyer to four more years in prison for royal insults from a 2021 social media post, his lawyer said. Arnon Nampa, 39, was handed the four-year sentence on Wednesday in one of the country’s high-profile lese majeste cases. He is already serving a four-year sentence since September for his comments about the monarchy in a speech during a 2020 rally. “Arnon has denied wrongdoing,” his lawyer Kritsadang Nutcharat said, adding they would appeal and, if necessary, take the case to the Supreme Court. The two sentences would run consecutively, so Arnon is set to serve eight years. Thailand’s lese majeste law safeguards its palace from any criticism, with royal insults penalised for a maximum jail sentence of up to 15 years for each perceived insult. The law has been criticised by international human rights groups as extreme. The verdict on Wednesday is the second in 14 cases against Arnon, a human rights lawyer, who has led a democracy movement that held protests in Bangkok in 2020, calling for reform of the monarchy. He has chosen not to request bail for his cases and stayed in jail after the court rejected a previous request on the grounds that he would escape. At least 262 people have been charged with lese majeste offences since 2020, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, a legal aid group. The verdict is a setback for groups seeking to amend the lese majeste law, which was a key policy proposal by the progressive Move Forward Party that won the most seats in parliament in May elections, but was blocked from forming a government by conservative lawmakers and an unelected Senate. Adblock test (Why?)
Israel’s war on Gaza: List of key events, day 103
EXPLAINER Israeli strikes kill 15 in southern Gaza as Japan’s shipping company suspends Red Sea operations amid escalating tensions. Here’s how things stand on Wednesday, January 17, 2024: Latest updates Qatar announced on Tuesday that Israel had agreed to the increased entry of medical aid to Gaza. The agreement mediated by Qatar in cooperation with France will also ensure medication for captives in Gaza. Japanese shipping company, Nippon Yusen, which operates the Galaxy Leader ship seized by Yemen’s Houthis on November 19, announced on Wednesday that it is suspending operations in the Red Sea. On Tuesday night, the United States Senate voted against a resolution put forward by Senator Bernie Sanders, calling for the Department of State to report on Israel’s human rights practices. About 150 protesters from Mennonites Action, a Christian group, were arrested at the US Capitol building on Tuesday while calling for a ceasefire, US news outlets reported. Human impact and fighting At least 15 people were killed following Israeli attacks in Khan Younis and Rafah in southern Gaza on Tuesday, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa. An attack by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on the armed group Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Tuesday killed two children, according to Reuters news agency. It is unclear if the attack was linked to the regional escalation of Israel’s war on Gaza. In a statement released on Wednesday, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the attack from Iran, warning that the incident could have “serious consequences” and was “completely unacceptable”. Pakistan has also summoned an Iranian diplomat in Islamabad. Palestinian fighters carried out attacks from northern Gaza, which has been devastated by Israeli bombardment, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and the Critical Threats Project (CTP) on Wednesday. Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for a missile attack on a Malta-flagged cargo ship in the Red Sea on Tuesday as the US said it launched a new strike on Houthi targets in Yemen. Diplomacy World leaders have gathered in the Swiss Alps for the World Economic Forum’s annual Davos summit. The Israel-Gaza war is expected to be on the top of the agenda. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, speaking at the Davos summit on Tuesday, described the situation in the Middle East as a “recipe for escalation everywhere”. France will stick to its “defensive” approach in the Red Sea and stay out of the US-led air strikes on Houthi targets to avoid regional escalation of conflict, President Emmanuel Macron told a news conference on Tuesday. Israeli raids in West Bank Israeli forces continued with their deadly raids in the occupied West Bank. Their bulldozers destroyed streets and infrastructure in Tulkarem refugee camp on Wednesday, according to Al Jazeera Arabic. An Israeli drone strike on a car in the Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, killed one Palestinian on Wednesday. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said Israeli forces fired at ambulances that were attempting to reach the burning vehicle. Adblock test (Why?)
Malaysia charges two with ‘wounding religious feelings’ in now-banned film
Mentega Terbang, about a teenager exploring religion in the face of her mother’s terminal illness, was banned in September after criticism from conservative Muslim groups. Two Malaysian filmmakers have appeared in court charged with deliberately “wounding the religious feelings of others” with their now-banned independent film Mentega Terbang (Butterfly). Director Khairi Anwar and producer Tan Meng Kheng pleaded not guilty to the charge, which carries a jail term of as long as one year as well as a possible fine, when they appeared in separate courts in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, according to Malaysian online media. Magistrates Noorelynna Hanim Abd Halim and Aina Azahra Arifin allowed the two men conditional bail and imposed a gag order to prevent them from speaking about the case. Mentega Terbang was released on streaming channels in 2021 and is a coming-of-age story about a Malay Muslim teenage girl who begins to explore religion and the question of the afterlife as her mother battles a terminal illness. The government banned the film last September amid complaints from conservative Muslim groups and after the Islamic affairs department said some scenes went against Islamic teachings in Malaysia. Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said the prosecution was taking place under a “vague and arbitrary statute” and urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his government to direct prosecutors to drop the case. “[Anwar’s government is] fundamentally failing to protect freedom of expression, and pursuing criminal cases for political motivations,” Robertson said in emailed comments. “This sort of crude political pandering at the expense of human rights is precisely the sort of thing that Anwar accused previous governments of doing when he was in the opposition – but now he’s hypocritically changed his tune after assuming power, and is using the same censorship and persecution.” Anwar came to power promising reforms after a hotly-contested election in November 2022. Robertson urged the government to lift the ban on the film. Malay Muslims make up just over half the Malaysian population, but there are also large communities of ethnic Chinese and Indians as well as Indigenous people who follow other religions. Khairi and Tan have said the decision to ban their film was “irrational” and a breach of their constitutional rights to freedom of speech. Last month, they filed an application to commence a legal challenge against the government over its decision to ban the film, according to Free Malaysia Today. Adblock test (Why?)
Tennis: Jabeur knocked out of Australian Open by teen sensation Andreeva
Tunisia’s Jabeur lost 6-0 6-2 to Russia’s 16-year-old Andreeva in the second round of the Australian Open. Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur suffered a stunning 6-0 6-2 loss to Russian 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva in the second round of the Australian Open as the sixth seed’s bid to become the first Arab and African woman to win a Grand Slam title lay in tatters. Andreeva was in tears 12 months ago after losing the girls’ final but cut a much happier figure on her return to Rod Laver Arena as she secured her first top-10 win. “Today when I saw that I play on Rod Laver, I said that this time I have to take my chance and I have to win on the big court for the first time and so I did,” Andreeva told reporters. The teenager said her 54-minute victory was probably one of her best performances even if she struggled with nerves at times. “But I saw that she was nervous too,” Andreeva added. “It kind of helped me, because I know I’m not the only one who is nervous before the match. “I just decided to enjoy, because it’s Rod Laver Arena and I’m playing against the person that I like. I decided just to play and I think I played okay.” Jabeur began the match with a big ace down the middle but quickly found herself on the back foot, as her young opponent capitalised on some uncharacteristic errors to cruise through the opening set in 20 minutes conceding only eight points. In her fourth Grand Slam main draw appearance since making her debut at last year’s French Open, Andreeva showed maturity beyond her years as Jabeur desperately sought answers from her coaching team after the early jolt. Jabeur – dubbed by fans as Tunisia’s “Minister of Happiness” – swapped her trademark smile for a more determined look and the 29-year-old held early in the next set but there was no stopping Andreeva, who raised her level again and pulled away. Andreeva reached the Wimbledon fourth round last year and can match her best Grand Slam result with a win over Diane Parry next, but the world number 47 is not getting carried away with her success so far. “I don’t think that I’ve achieved something incredible,” she said. “Sometimes when I’m lying in bed, I can overthink a little bit but the next morning I’m totally fine. “I mean, I’m 16. Why do I have to think about the rankings?” Meanwhile, former Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki was beaten 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 by 20-year-old Russian player Maria Tomafeeva, who is making her main draw Grand Slam singles debut this year. Wozniacki, who had two children before returning to the WTA Tour last year after 3.5 years away, led by a set and 2-0 before Tomafeeva turned the match around with some devastating hitting, including 40 winners. “I’m really a bit speechless now,” Tomafeeva said. “It was an honour to play here against Caroline today. I was going into the match without any expectations. I enjoyed every second of it.” Wozniacki said the match “slid out of my hands… it’s definitely disappointing”. Jabeur and Wozniacki played their matches under the roof, at Rod Laver Arena and John Cain Arena respectively, with rain delaying matches on the outside courts for three hours. Adblock test (Why?)
At least 17 injured after Russian missiles hit Ukraine’s Kharkiv
Rescuers search rubble after two S-300 missiles hit the centre of Ukraine’s second-biggest city. At least 17 people have been injured, two of them seriously, after Russian missiles hit residential buildings in the city of Kharkiv. Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said that two S-300 missiles hit buildings in the centre of Ukraine’s second-biggest city late on Tuesday night, and 14 people had been sent to hospital. “Two women are in a serious condition,” he said in a post on Telegram. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said the missiles struck “precisely where there is no military infrastructure and precisely where there are in fact residences”. “There are at least 10 damaged buildings. Rescue teams are continuing to go through the rubble,” he wrote on Telegram. “And there is plenty of rubble.” Ukraine’s Emergency Services said one of the missiles hit a three-storey building that had previously housed a medical centre. Kharkiv lies just 30km (19 miles) from the border with Russia in Ukraine’s northeast and has come under frequent bombardment since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022. There was no immediate comment from Moscow on the attack on Kharkiv but the Defence Ministry said its air defences destroyed seven Ukrainian missiles and four drones over Russia’s Belgorod region about 80km (50 miles) from Kharkiv. The region’s governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said there were no immediate reports of casualties. Russian forces advanced across swathes of the Kharkiv region shortly after invading Ukraine but were pushed back in a rapid Ukrainian advance in September 2022. Adblock test (Why?)
Two Malaysians in Guantanamo plead guilty to conspiring in Bali Bombings
Mohammed Nazir Bin Lep and Mohammed Farik Bin Amin agreed to give evidence against alleged mastermind Hambali. Malaysians Mohammed Nazir Bin Lep and Mohammed Farik Bin Amin have pleaded guilty to conspiring in the 2002 Bali bombings that killed more than 200 people. The two men appeared in front of a military court at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay on Tuesday in proceedings broadcast via video link to reporters in the United States. Bin Lep, 47, and Bin Amin, 48, pleaded guilty to five of the nine charges against them, according to Benar News, marking the first time they had entered a plea since they were brought to Guantanamo some 17 years ago. Charges related to the 2003 attack on the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta that killed 11 people were dropped as part of a plea deal, according to The New York Times, and the men agreed to give evidence against alleged Indonesian mastermind Encep Nurjaman, also known as Hambali. Bin Lep and Bin Amin were accused of being Hambali’s accomplices and charged alongside him, but their cases were separated last year. The Malaysians will be sentenced next week, after which they are expected to be returned home. Hambali, who was once described by former US President George W Bush as “one of the world’s most lethal terrorists”, is still to go on trial. Through his lawyers, Hambali has alleged that he was brutally tortured following his arrest in Thailand in 2003, after which he says he was transferred to a secret detention camp run by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and tortured as part of the agency’s rendition, detention and interrogation (RDI) programme, which is sometimes referred to as the “torture programme”. The attacks on the Bali clubs in October 2002 were the worst in Indonesian history and led to a crackdown on hardline groups such as Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), and a strengthening of Jakarta’s counterterrorism operations. Three of the main perpetrators of the bombings were sentenced to death and executed in 2008, while a fourth, Ali Imron, was jailed for life after he apologised and expressed remorse for what he had done. In 2022, Indonesia jailed Zulkarnaen, a senior member of JI who had been on the run for 20 years, to 15 years in prison over the attacks. Adblock test (Why?)
Morocco fans back Atlas Lions to end trophy wait at AFCON 2023
It was a three-week period that made Moroccans dream of the unthinkable. If Roman Saiss and his Atlas Lions captured the hearts of the footballing world by becoming the first African and Arab country to qualify for the semifinal of a FIFA World Cup – what it meant for Moroccans was inexpressible. “It seemed like every few days, something beautiful happened and then as you were revelling in its joy, the team would win another match,” Tom Yousef Drissi, a die-hard supporter of the national football team, told Al Jazeera. “One achievement was eclipsed by another – it was a complete dream.” It has been a little over a year since Morocco’s fairytale run in Qatar ended in a fourth-place finish after beating the likes of European powerhouses Portugal, Spain and Belgium in the run-up. While the world admired the Atlas Lions for their compact and tactically sound football – refusing to concede ground to their much higher-ranked opponents – what Moroccan supporters valued even more was the manner in which their team carried themselves off the pitch. ‘Moroccan way’ The family atmosphere at the team hotel, singing and dancing parents on the pitch, unapologetic display of their faith and relentless support for the people of Palestine endeared the men in red and green to their fans. Their coach Walid Regragui even went as far as to say that Morocco’s, “success is not possible without our parents’ happiness”. With the world’s eyes on the North African nation, they put “their best foot forward in an unapologetically Moroccan way”, according to Drissi. “To see the mothers in djellaba and hijab and the players doing sajda after the game was great. It’s one thing to have success but to have success with a team that you feel represents you was amazing.” Last summer, Drissi was having lunch with his father at a restaurant in Rabat when they spotted Regragui quietly seated a few metres away. “My dad walked over to him, kissed him on his bald head and said, ‘You lifted our heads’,” he recalled. “For months after the World Cup, every Moroccan was walking around feeling like they were two feet taller,” Drissi explained. The national team won over more hearts last September after a deadly earthquake struck Morocco’s Marrakesh-Safi region. Almost immediately after the natural catastrophe, the Atlas Lions were pictured donating blood for the victims. A revolution in the making While football experts may not have predicted Morocco’s record-breaking run at the World Cup, to say their success materialised overnight would be inaccurate. Karim Bencherifa, an experienced Moroccan coach, believes the national team’s success is not unexpected. Bencherifa, who coached Morocco’s women’s team and under-23 men’s team, saw a “football revolution” unfold from 2017 to 2019. “Building top quality football infrastructure, scouting players in Morocco and abroad, picking young talent from age-group teams and having representation at international sport bodies was all part of the plan,” he said. Morocco now boasts the continent’s best national technical centre at the Mohamed VI Complex near Rabat. The centre’s scouts have helped recruit top Moroccan footballers playing abroad. The North African nation is set to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 FIFA World Cup. In addition to impressing at the World Cup, Morocco impressed in its first appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, won two African Nations Championships, two Futsal Africa Cup of Nations and an under-23 African Cup of Nations. (Al Jazeera) ‘A mythical tournament’ But despite a long list of accolades, one title continues to evade Morocco: the men’s senior Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The last time the Atlas Lions won the continental title was nearly five decades ago, in 1976, Will a strong desire to finally secure Africa’s premier trophy and the weight of expectations burden the stars? Morocco’s top-four finish in Qatar makes them obvious favourites for the title but experts believe stiff challenges await the team in the Ivory Coast. “Every team would want to beat the World Cup semifinalists,” Bencherifa said. Morocco’s tactics are also in question, with analysts saying Regragui may need to alter the team’s structure and playing philosophy. At the World Cup, Morocco excelled by thriving without possession of the ball. They were a reactive outfit, closing passing lanes on the pitch and counter-attacking with precision and efficiency. However, pundits expect Morocco to have the lion’s share of ball possession at AFCON. It might spell trouble for their star players Achraf Hakimi, Sofyan Amrabat, Hakim Ziyech, Youssef En-Nesyri and Amine Harit as they may not enjoy the same success when the onus is on them to break down the opposition in a reversal of roles. Bencherifa, while concerned, believes Morocco’s determination to win AFCON may overtake the temptation to play attractive football “Although they [should] aim to do both,” he adds. What about the weight of expectations and their psychological impact? Drissi, the Rabat-based fan, admits that the team will be under pressure and it makes him nervous. “We have only been to a semifinal [at AFCON] once in the last 20 years,” he admits with disappointment. “The AFCON is almost like a mythical tournament for Moroccans. It would really lift a weight off our shoulders if we could bring the trophy home.” Adblock test (Why?)
New Hampshire primaries: A muted ‘circus’ with Biden missing from ballot
“Never going to happen.” That’s how New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu responded early last year to the prospect of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) stripping his state of its first-in-the-nation presidential primary. For more than 100 years, New Hampshire has held the first primary contest in the United States, giving state voters a hefty voice in the process through which candidates ultimately receive their party nomination. It was such a source of pride that the state even enshrined its earliest-primary status in its laws. But the Democratic Party, at the urging of President Joe Biden, was under pressure to rearrange its primary calendar and move forward states that better reflect US demographics. So in February 2023, the DNC demoted the rural, largely white New Hampshire to second on its primary calendar, behind South Carolina, despite the state’s objections. Now, as the primary season kicks off on January 23, the Democratic primary in New Hampshire is set to be a showdown — between state and national party officials as much as between the candidates themselves. The state has refused to relinquish its top primary spot, and in response, the DNC has stripped the primary of its delegates, rendering it purely symbolic. Biden, who likely faces a tight reelection race in 2024, will also not appear on the New Hampshire ballot. But why does going first matter? And with this year’s primary contests widely expected to confirm Biden as the Democratic nominee, will the brouhaha in New Hampshire have any effect? ‘Point of pride’ Liz Tentarelli, the president of the League of Women Voters New Hampshire, a non-partisan group, likens the state’s primaries to when “the circus comes to town”. National media arrive in droves, and candidates crisscross the state, an area of just over 24,000sq km (9,300sq miles). Many presidential hopefuls hold small, in-person town halls and meet-and-greets, allowing some of the state’s 1.3 million residents to engage directly with candidates. “Voting is a point of pride in New Hampshire,” said Tentarelli, a resident of the small town of Newbury, about 50km (30 miles) northwest of the state capital, Concord. Holding the first primary, she explained, is “a big deal”. “I think it reflects that New Hampshire is the state that’s aware of politics more than some other states,” she told Al Jazeera, pointing to historically high voter turnout in primary and general elections. “We’re also a small state that makes it easy for candidates who are not massively funded to campaign in the state. They can get around to different towns and hold these events, and the people turn out.” According to Andrew Smith, a political science professor and president of the University of New Hampshire’s (UNH) Survey Center, holding the first primary is first and foremost “important culturally and historically to the state”. “It’s what people from New Hampshire are known for,” he told Al Jazeera. “We never set out to have the first primary. It kind of happened by accident.” To save money, the state’s early primaries were initially scheduled to coincide with Town Meeting Day, an occasion for community gatherings. New Hampshire held its first presidential primary in 1916, but it was four years later, in 1920, that the state began its first-in-the-nation tradition. Since then, Smith said, New Hampshire residents have been willing to “fight” to keep their state’s first-place status. Supporters of Donald Trump cheer as he speaks during a rally in Durham, New Hampshire, in December [Brian Snyder/Reuters] Trump leading, Biden not on ballot However, the 2024 primaries have been more muted than in past years, said Tentarelli. That’s in large part because political observers expect this year’s presidential race to come down to a rematch between Biden and former President Donald Trump, who lost the 2020 election. Unlike its Democratic counterpart, the Republican National Committee has retained its traditional primary calendar, which began with the Iowa caucuses on January 15 and continues with New Hampshire holding the inaugural primary. Trump remains the frontrunner in the party’s race, with a solid lead both in New Hampshire and across the country. He also notched a decisive victory in the Iowa caucuses. But one of his Republican rivals, former United Nations envoy Nikki Haley, has been gaining ground in New Hampshire in recent weeks, according to recent polls. And on the Democratic side, Biden’s absence from New Hampshire’s primary ballot has highlighted tensions within the party itself. After the state’s row with the Democratic National Committee over the new primary calendar, Biden did not file paperwork to be on the ballot on January 23. That schism was further underscored by a tense exchange between state officials and DNC representatives. In a letter last week, obtained by Politico, the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee called the January 23 primary “detrimental”, “non-binding” and “meaningless” for Democrats. The letter reiterated that New Hampshire’s vote could not be used to choose Democratic Party delegates, who represent the state in picking the party’s nominee for the general elections. New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella responded on January 8, calling the DNC’s remarks “false, deceptive, and misleading”. He also warned that any attempt to discourage primary voters could constitute a violation of state law. Biden has not campaigned in the state either, leaving long-shot Democratic candidates like author Marianne Williamson and Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips an opening to post higher-than-expected primary results. Williamson and Phillips “have made some appearances, but they have not generated much interest this year because we know they’re long shots”, Tentarelli said. She added that, among Democratic voters, “there is a sense of annoyance, I think, that Biden is not on the ballot”. Yet, despite the ongoing rift between state and national party officials, some top New Hampshire Democrats have backed a grassroots effort calling on voters to write in the president’s name on their primary ballots. “While misguided DNC rules are leaving Joe Biden off the primary ballot here, New Hampshire Democrats and Democrat-leaning Independents overwhelmingly support Joe Biden and plan to write him in,” the