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Smith & Nephew chief Deepak Nath in 'last chance saloon' By JESSICA CLARK Updated: 21:50 GMT, 28 December 2024 e-mail View comments Smith & Nephew's boss has been warned that he is in the 'last chance saloon' and must turn the company around. Activist investors have given Deepak Nath, the US-based chief executive of the medical equipment giant, two months to demonstrate improvements. Shareholders have run out of patience with the pace of his strategy, The Mail on Sunday understands. They will pressure Nath to resign in the New Year unless he proves that the FTSE 100 firm has made operational improvements by the time that the company's full-year results are announced in February. Smith & Nephew, founded in Hull in 1856, develops technology for surgeries such as repairing soft tissue injuries and degenerative joint conditions. It is chaired by Rupert Soames, 65, who is the former boss of outsourcer Serco and is Sir Winston Churchill's grandson. Borrowed time: Deepak Nath Smith & Nephew is made up of three divisions: sports medicine, wound management, and orthopaedics. Its sports medicine and wound management arms are both considered to be the second best in the world for those specialisms.However, investors have lobbied for a shake-up in the orthopaedics division. Shareholders also want the company to slash central costs and overhaul its troubled Chinese business. Shares in the company are down nearly 7 per cent this year and have tumbled 42 per cent in the past five years. Overall profit margins are around 17 per cent – much lower than at its competitors, which include Johnson & Johnson and Stryker. The company's largest shareholder is asset manager BlackRock with 5 per cent, while activist hedge funds Cevian Capital and Harris Associates are also top-ten holders. Cevian has not made its intentions for Smith & Nephew public, but under founder Christer Gardell, it has developed a fearsome reputation. The hedge fund is best known for its role in trying to split up German steel giant ThyssenKrupp back in 2018. Ulrich Lehner, ThyssenKrupp chairman at the time, accused the activist investors involved of 'psycho-terror' tactics to force the resignation of several senior executives. Dan Coatsworth, an investment analyst at investment platform AJ Bell said: 'Investors are notoriously impatient and time is running out for Smith & Nephew chief Deepak Nath to provide evidence that the current turnaround programme is the right one. 'The longer Smith & Nephew's share price stays weak, the greater the likelihood that Nath's days are numbered.' RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Smith & Nephew chairman Rupert Soames fires back at investor... Break-up bombshell rocks Smith & Nephew Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to choose the best (and cheapest) stocks and shares Isa and the right DIY investing account Smith & Nephew has seen fast chief executive turnover, notching up four bosses in five years. Nath was hired in April 2022 to replace Roland Diggelmann, who left by 'mutual agreement' after less than three years. A former Siemens executive, Nath launched a plan to attempt to boost shareholder value, but investors have been unimpressed with the results. Some 43 per cent opposed a plan to raise his pay to more than £9 million at the company's annual meeting this year amid disappointment at his performance. But it is understood that the high chief executive salary could be beneficial in attracting Nath's successor if he is ousted. A Smith & Nephew spokeswoman said: 'Over the last two years, we have delivered revenue growth significantly above historical levels and increased profitability. There is clear momentum across the business, with sharper operational and commercial execution, including returning US hip and knee implants to growth. We are totally focused on delivering shareholder value.' DIY INVESTING PLATFORMS AJ Bell AJ Bell Easy investing and ready-made portfolios Learn More Learn More Hargreaves Lansdown Hargreaves Lansdown Free fund dealing and investment ideas Learn More Learn More interactive investor interactive investor Flat-fee investing from £4.99 per month Learn More Learn More Saxo Saxo Get £200 back in trading fees Learn More Learn More Trading 212 Trading 212 Free dealing and no account fee Learn More Learn More Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence. Compare the best investing account for you Share or comment on this article: Smith & Nephew chief Deepak Nath in 'last chance saloon' e-mail Add comment Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather is 'attacked by mob' while out shopping in London's jewellery quarter - before being bundled into blacked-out 4x4 by guards By DAN WOODLAND Published: 16:59 EST, 10 December 2024 | Updated: 17:53 EST, 10 December 2024 e-mail 81 View comments Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather has reportedly been attacked by a mob while shopping in central London . The former world champion found himself in trouble after a large crowd descended on him and his entourage while visiting a jewellery store in Hatton Garden. Mayweather, who was wearing a green jacket and camo trousers, appeared visibly distressed as he was escorted through the street by his security. Members of the mob, allegedly of around 30 people, could be heard taunting the billionaire as his bodyguards tried to bungle him into a blacked-out 4x4. The world champion was eventually ushered into the car before it sped off down the street, leaving some of his security staff behind. Videos of the incident, posted earlier today, show the 47-year-old shouting back at the crowd before his escape. Another shows him walking out of a store surrounded by his entourage as members of the public watch on. A source close to Mayweather told The Sun that floyd was 'not touched' during the incident, although one witness claimed the boxer 'took a few hits'. Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, seen wearing a green jacket and camo trousers, appeared visibly distressed as he was reportedly attacked by a mob while shopping in London Videos of the incident, posted earlier today, show the 47-year-old shouting back at a crowd in Hatton Garden before he was bundled into a 4x4 The former world champion (pictured in 2014) found himself in trouble after a large crowd descended on him and his entourage while visiting a jewellery store in Hatton Garden The source said Mayweather was out shopping when he was asked about whether he supported Israel. He then said he was 'proud to support the Jews', which provoked someone into taking a swing at him, the source added. They continued: 'Then someone took a swing at him because of that. It looked very targeted. 'Floyd took a few hits during it, but his security was trying to push people back. 'I couldn't really see Floyd trying to throw any punches back. His guards were just trying to get distance between him and them.' Videos posted to X also claimed the boxer had caused anger over his comments about Israel. One person posted a video of the incident with the caption: 'Floyd Mayweather chased out of Hatton Gardens in London. The public are angry over his comments and support for Israel.' The source close to Mayweather also told The Sun members of the crowd 'used racial slurs' towards him. Floyd had to be held back by his security team as they tried to usher him into the car He was eventually ushered into the car before it sped off down the street, leaving some of his security staff behind Floyd Mayweather (centre) poses with his belts after beating Marcos Maidana in 2014 Floyd Mayweather, (centre) after dedicating a fleet of ambucycles he donated to emergency services in Ramle, Israel In March Floyd jetted off to Israel to show his support for the country amid the ongoing war with Hamas. When the conflict with Hamas first began last year, Mayweather pledged his allegiance to Israel on social media, insisting he 'stands with' the country. He wrote: 'I stand with Israel against the Hamas terrorists. Hamas do not represent the people of Palestine but are a terrorist group that are attacking innocent lives! 'I stand for all humans and wish for the safe return of all Americans and Israelis and any human that were kidnapped as hostages during these horrific war crimes. 'This is not a time for politics. This is a time for safety first and foremost. 'God Bless America. God Bless Israel. God Bless Human Kind!' Floyd Mayweather Israel Hamas London Share or comment on this article: Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather is 'attacked by mob' while out shopping in London's jewellery quarter - before being bundled into blacked-out 4x4 by guards e-mail Add commentBEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the gates of the capital and that government forces had abandoned the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus, the capital, and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM news outlet reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The insurgency announced later Saturday that it had taken over Homs. The city's capture is a major victory for the rebels, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said rebel control of Homs would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. For the first time in the country’s long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The rapid rebel gains, coupled with the lack of support from Assad's erstwhile allies, posed the most serious threat to his rule since the start of the war. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. In a statement issued late Saturday, the participants affirmed their support for a political solution to the Syrian crisis “that would lead to the end of military activity and protect civilians.” They also agreed on the importance of strengthening international efforts to increase aid to the Syrian people. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria; Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad; Josef Federman and Victoria Eastwood in Doha, Qatar; and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington contributed to this report.jilibay app download for android latest version 。

It has been two years . or signup to continue reading Yet residents are still making do with lengthy trips to other towns and delivery services to access everyday goods. Urana's IGA burnt down in April 2022, While Lockhart IGA delivers to Urana twice a week and the Berrigan Butchery once a week, Urana Caravan Park manager Laura Smith said it has been a struggle, particularly in the lead-up to Christmas. "We don't have access to a grocery store; we have a general store that is doing quite well," she said. "It's really hard. "I manage the caravan park, and I have to advise our visitors to bring food and that isn't good for the local economy." Farmer Bob Daley lives "in the middle of whoop whoop" and now has an extra 30-plus minutes to add to his weekly grocery trip. "I'm a 10-minute or so drive from Urana, so for me I have to drive nearly an hour to Lockhart and back once a week for the bare necessities," he said. The closest grocery store to Urana is in Lockhart, which is about 45 kilometres away; otherwise, residents could go to Wagga or Albury. While there are some delivery alternatives, Ms Smith said simple things like running out of brown sugar and having to drive all the way to Lockhart for it were frustrating. "It is a struggle; it's a struggle for seniors too," she said. Ms Smith said older residents would meet at the IGA, and often it was a place for them to catch up, but now they have no regular meeting spot. It has also made the town less desirable for people to want to move to, according to Ms Smith. "It deters city people from wanting to move here, and it deters families, which affects our schools," she said. "Our kindergarten numbers are down, and it has a ripple effect; it's not good for our local economy or tourism." It also means fewer job opportunities, but Ms Smith doubts anything will change anytime soon. " to try and get a grocery store, but I can't see it happening in the near future," she said. Your story matters, your voice deserves to be heard and I would love to help you share it.I have six years of experience as a Journalist with Australian Community Media covering an array of topics, with a key focus on breaking news and crime and a passion for people. E: taylor.dodge@austcommunitymedia.com.au. Your story matters, your voice deserves to be heard and I would love to help you share it.I have six years of experience as a Journalist with Australian Community Media covering an array of topics, with a key focus on breaking news and crime and a passion for people. E: taylor.dodge@austcommunitymedia.com.au. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement AdvertisementElon Musk Meets With Lawmakers About ‘DOGE’ Crusade Against Government Spending

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Montgomery's 21 lead Southern Miss past Alabama State 81-64HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Billtrust , a B2B order-to-cash and digital payments market leader, has been named a Leader in two IDC MarketScape reports – IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Accounts Receivable Automation Applications for the Enterprise 2024 Vendor Assessment (doc #US51740924, December 2024 ) and IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Accounts Receivable Automation Applications for Small and Midmarket 2024 Vendor Assessment (doc #US52692224, December 2024 ). Billtrust was one of 14 providers evaluated for the enterprise report and one of 11 providers in the small and midmarket report. The IDC MarketScapes evaluate a broad set of SaaS and cloud-enabled accounts receivable automation software vendors based on innovation, functionality, range of services, customer satisfaction, cloud capabilities and architecture. "Billtrust is a Leader in the Accounts Receivable Automation Applications for Enterprise and Small and Midmarket," said Kevin Permenter , Research Director, Financial Applications at IDC. "Billtrust attempts to differentiate itself with a scalable, unified solution that simplifies AR processes and improvement to the payment experience their clients provide their customers, all while empowering their AR teams to turn financial data into insights that contribute to their business strategy. They offer an extensive suite of payment management capabilities designed to streamline and automate the accounts receivable process." Billtrust was recognized for the following strengths: Unified experience: "The unified platform enables customers to have an uninterrupted, AI-powered, complete view of customer activity across the entire AR process." Reporting and data analytics: "Billtrust's solutions feature dynamic reporting and dashboards." The news of Billtrust's recognition as a Leader in the IDC MarketScape comes as B2B businesses are leveraging technology like generative AI to boost efficiency and optimize operations as they grapple with the challenges of cash flow management, according to a recent IDC InfoBrief study (IDC InfoBrief, sponsored by Billtrust, "AI Pushing the Boundaries of What's Possible for OTC," IDC #US52446224, August 2024 ). Billtrust recently announced new generative AI functionality within its accounts receivable software platform to empower finance professionals to better understand their business, make strategic decisions, maximize cash flow and engage customers more effectively. "We are honored to be recognized as a Leader in the IDC MarketScape, which we believe reflects our dedication to innovation, digital transformation, and delivering exceptional customer outcomes," said Sunil Rajasekar , CEO of Billtrust. "In 2024, we achieved remarkable milestones, including the launch of our generative AI tool, Billtrust Finance Co-Pilot, which provides unmatched, in-depth analysis of customer data. We are proud to support finance teams in working more efficiently, accelerating payments, and enhancing the buyer experience." About IDC MarketScape IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of technology and service suppliers in a given market. The research utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each supplier's position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of technology suppliers can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective suppliers. About Billtrust Finance leaders turn to Billtrust to get paid faster while controlling costs, accelerating cash flow and maximizing customer satisfaction. As a B2B order-to-cash software and digital payments market leader, we help the world's leading brands move finance forward with AI-powered solutions to transition from expensive paper invoicing and check acceptance to efficient electronic billing and payments. With more than $1 trillion invoice dollars processed, Billtrust delivers business value through deep industry expertise and a culture relentlessly focused on delivering meaningful customer outcomes. Media Contact Paul Accardo PR@billtrust.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/billtrust-named-a-leader-in-idc-marketscape-for-worldwide-accounts-receivable-automation-software-for-enterprise-and-small-and-midmarket-2024-302324426.html SOURCE BilltrustTrump must resist lawfare — to let success be his best revenge

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas hired Nevada offensive coordinator Matt Lubick to help direct the Jayhawks' offense Tuesday, the latest in a series of moves that have reshaped coach Lance Leipold's staff after a disappointing season that ended without a bowl berth. Lubick will be co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach and work alongside Jim Zebrowski , who spent last year as the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. The duo is replacing Jeff Grimes, who left for a coordinator job at Wisconsin. Lubick, the son of longtime Colorado State coach Sonny Lubick, spent two years at Kansas prior to leaving for the Wolfpack, serving as a senior offensive analyst on Leipold's staff. The Jayhawks made their first bowl appearance in more than a decade in 2022 and won nine games and beat UNLV in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl the following season. The 52-year-old Lubick was working for Kansas in 2023 when a bone marrow biopsy revealed he had acute myeloid leukemia. Lubick had a stem cell transplant last December and the cancer went into remission. "Coach Leipold and his staff embraced me as family when I became an analyst in 2022,” Lubick said. “I am beyond grateful for their continued support and love they have given me throughout my recovery of leukemia. The turnaround of Kansas football has been awesome to follow and the best is yet to come.” The Jayhawks got off to a 1-5 start this past season, then won four of the next five, including a program-best three straight wins over teams ranked in the AP Top 25 . But they lost their regular-season finale to Baylor to finish 5-7 and miss a bowl game. The hiring of Lubick comes two days after defensive coordinator Brian Borland announced his retirement. Borland had worked alongside Leipold since 2007, when they were at Division III powerhouse Wisconsin-Whitewater. He will be replaced by DK McDonald, who joined Kansas last year as the co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach. “I've been fortunate to work with Brian for more than 18 years. He is the ultimate professional, selfless coworker and I am grateful for his commitment and impact that he has made on so many throughout his career,” Leipold said. “Brian and I had discussions weeks prior to our last regular-season game, and we are very appreciative of all that he has done for Kansas.” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballNone

LPGA, USGA to require players to be assigned female at birth or transition before pubertyEL PASO, Texas (AP) — Ahamad Bynum scored 19 points off of the bench to help lead UTEP over Seattle U 88-72 on Saturday night. Bynum shot 7 of 9 from the field and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line for the Miners (6-2). Otis Frazier III added 18 points while going 6 of 9 from the floor, including 2 for 3 from 3-point range, and 4 for 4 from the line while he also had five assists. Kevin Kalu had 13 points and shot 5 of 6 from the field and 3 for 3 from the line. The Redhawks (3-6) were led in scoring by Paris Dawson, who finished with 18 points and two steals. Seattle U also got 14 points and eight rebounds from Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe. John Christofilis had 13 points. UTEP took the lead with 18:55 left in the first half and never looked back. The score was 48-23 at halftime, with Frazier racking up 12 points. UTEP extended its lead to 77-49 during the second half, fueled by a 7-0 scoring run. Bynum scored a team-high 12 points in the second half as their team closed out the win. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

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Two dead, others wounded in spate of stabbingsby Vijaya Chandrasoma I would like to explain why I continue writing so shamelessly about a subject about which recent events have proved I know next to nothing. In my defense, the news I have reported over the years has been always been based on facts and the traditional “reliable sources”. Unfortunately, my opinions and predictions have been personal and out of touch with the current political and social climate prevailing in the United States, which has changed substantially since the turn of the century. I had little interest in politics in the USA during the two decades I lived there. We spent the 90s struggling for survival, doing menial jobs, which is the lot of most immigrants without American educational qualifications and work experience. But by the time I decided to retire in Sri Lanka 20 years later, we had achieved the one ambition that mattered to us. Our children had grasped the wonderful educational opportunities available during the Clinton years to kids who were prepared to work hard, as mine were. They have been amply rewarded for their efforts. My imagination was captured by the noble aspirations of Senator Barack Obama, an African-American who, in 2008, was shooting for the skies, against all odds. I was a valued volunteer in the Obama presidential campaign office in Phoenix, Arizona, performing such vital tasks as licking stamps and answering telephones in my thick Sri Lankan accent. When Obama was elected the first black president in US history, I, like many an American, was elated that my adopted country had finally turned the racist corner. Man, were we wrong! I retired in Sri Lanka after the war at home ended in 2009. I had little interest in Sri Lankan politics, though I was struck with grief and disgust at the way our politicians were stealing our beautiful island blind, robbing from the poorest of the poor. But like many self-serving dilettantes of the privileged class, able to comfortably weather these deteriorating economic conditions, my social conscience was conspicuous in its cynical absence. In any event, I dared not protest against the corrupt politicians in “power”, who held no brook with those who attempted to publicly exercise their constitutional rights of free speech including publication, armed as they were with their own extra-military goon-squads and the infamous “white vans”. Journalism in Sri Lanka was not, in those days, the healthiest of occupations. I have every confidence that, prayerfully not too late, we have finally replaced a series of crooked governments since Independence with a patriotic leader and a party of politicians intent only on the country’s prosperity and not on their own. A government elected with enormous goodwill, with the hope that a nation with great resources, human and natural, will be administered competently to finally reach its full potential. With the kind of integrity, discipline and national pride that has transformed Singapore, a shanty town in the 1960s, to one of the most advanced, prosperous city-states in the world, Sri Lanka in the 1950s was one of the richest of British colonies. We could have surpassed Singapore if we had our own Lee Kwan Yew, who once famously said. “I had to choose between democracy and discipline. I chose discipline”. There is every hope that our present leader will be that Sri Lankan Lee Kwan Yew, even 70 years too late, who will also choose ruthless discipline against international-scale corruption, political extravagance and departmental wastage, the disgusting hallmark of every past Sri Lankan government, which had reached a crescendo of corruption in the new century. Democracy is a luxury we can enjoy after we have set our house in order. Just like Singapore, a vibrant, prosperous, disciplined democracy today. So long as President Obama was rescuing the USA from the near economic recession he inherited from the younger Bush, and doing so with competence, grace, compassion, without a trace of political or personal scandal; and so long as my adopted home was progressing inexorably towards its final destination of that Shining City on a Hill, I found no need to express my thoughts on paper. Until the nation hit a roadblock, when the despicable Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton, probably the most qualified candidate in history, for the presidency in 2016. An election that proved conclusively that America remained a deeply racially and ideologically polarized nation. In a perverse sort of way, we should thank Trump and the Republican Party for exposing how Americans really feel, which is far removed from the sanctimonious bull shit they have been feeding the world over the years. I felt compelled to write, for my own pleasure, an essay about the disaster that my adopted home had wrought upon itself. I sent this essay to my aunt, Ms. Vijita Fernando, distinguished Gratiaen Prize winning journalist/author, who had spoilt me relentlessly since I was in my early teens. She encouraged me to submit this essay to my old friend, the editor of the Sunday Island, who, to my surprise, published it. So at age 75, I became a “journalist”, and enjoyed the heady emotion of seeing my name in print. Writing also provided me with the occupational therapy that helped me occupy my time with a pastime I had always enjoyed. Donald Trump had inherited a booming economy from President Obama, with 75 weeks of consecutive economic growth and the lowest unemployment rate in decades. I will not repeat details of Trump’s disastrous first term, with enormous tax cuts to benefit the wealthiest, moronic claims that climate change was a hoax and deregulation of environmental pollution laws imposed by President Obama; criminal mismanagement of the Covid pandemic which cost over 650,000 American lives; these were just the “highlights”. I continued writing on a regular basis about Trump’s criminal misadventures, and when the US electorate came to its senses and dumped him in 2020 in a landslide, and elected President Biden, my relief was palpable. I published a book (for friends and family, not for sale, you may call it an ego trip), which ended with the speech of Oliver Cromwell, on the forcible expulsion of the corrupt and duplicitous Rump Parliament in England in 1653. The last words of that speech were: “Go, get you out! Make haste! Ye venal slaves be gone! So! Take that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors. “IN THE NAME OF GOD GO!” Most appropriate words for Trump and his neo-Nazi Republican cronies of 2020. Only, those venal bastards didn’t go. Instead, the MAGA (Make America Great Again), white supremacist section of the Republican Party, incited by defeated but incumbent President Trump, tried to violently impede the peaceful transition of power, when a white supremacist mob stormed the Capitol. A felony of sedition. Trump left the White House without observing any of the traditional ceremonies for the changing of the presidential guard. In leaving, he stole boxes of top-secret documents which belonged to the National Archives. A felony of espionage. The leaders of the Republican Party, who initially denounced Trump, and held him accountable for the crime of inciting the insurrection on January 6, endangering their own miserable lives and the lives of their Congressional colleagues, changed their tune, kissed the ring and made him their Supreme Leader. So I decided to resume writing, with the ambition of compiling a second book when the criminal Trump, saddled with four indictments, 91 felonies, impending sociopathic dementia and dictatorial hallucinations, would surely be decisively defeated in the presidential election of 2024. I was, yet again, proved spectacularly wrong. I had, yet again, shown my complete ignorance of the national psyche of the modern United States. A totally different American electorate, one which voted against the incumbent Democratic administration purely because of high prices and inflation; which voted instead for a proven loser who led a Party which openly espoused a campaign of fear and racial hatred. An electorate too myopic to see that these current high prices and inflation were the result of the near recession that the Biden administration inherited, which had, after four long years, been brought under control by rational and bipartisan legislation. They paid no heed to the opinion of leading economists that the US economy was the strongest and the “envy of the world”. And would only get better. Instead, they opted for an administration whose proposed economic policies of high tariffs and tax cuts for billionaires and corporations will only bring more grief to the working classes; and whose authoritarian, white supremacist policies will spell the end of democracy in the cradle of democracy. Even women, who had been deprived of their reproductive freedoms by the most corrupt right wing Supreme Court in history; black males and Latinos, who had been the brunt of Trump’s obscene insults; they incredibly supported this obviously white supremacist authoritarian movement. A movement financed by billionaires, led by the richest man in the world, Elon Musk, who had financed the Trump election campaign and has been his constant companion at Mar a Lago since the election, the honored family guest at Thanksgiving. I will conclude this essay with a few undeniable facts. Trump’s felonious conduct is beyond doubt. He has been elected president for a second term, with a jail sentence and trials for felony charges for sedition, obstruction of justice and espionage hanging over him, which would have seen him languishing in federal prison for the rest of his life had he lost the election. Trump’s selected cabinet is composed almost entirely of yes-men and women, singularly lacking in the morals, intelligence and qualifications, even the confidence of traditional allies, to manage the departments of the most powerful country on the world. Their only essential qualification – blind loyalty to Trump. Trump’s nomination for Attorney General, depraved Congressman Matt Gaetz, was forced to withdraw his nomination when swirling allegations of sex trafficking and raping underage girls made his confirmation impossible by even Trump’s lapdog majority Senate. His choice for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, is a doozy. A marine who served two tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, his only “administrative” experience is as a weekend television host on Fox TV. He has numerous police charges for drunken and disorderly conduct, and sexual assault. Hegseth also believes that torture like waterboarding and war crimes are justified under certain circumstances, and women have no role in military combat. He flaunts a white supremacist tattoo on his body. A lifelong alcoholic, who his Fox colleagues say was often drunk on the job, he has sworn to lay off the booze if confirmed. He even got his mommy to plead on Fox TV that her son is “a changed man”, capable of running the largest bureaucracy in the nation, with three million employees worldwide and an annual budget of $850 billion. After all, he did promise to stay sober on the job. Hegseth will probably not survive the confirmation process in even the most servile Senate in history. Nor will several other of Trump’s highly dubious cabinet choices : Kash Patel (FBI Director), Tulsi Gabbard (Director of National Intelligence), Robert F. Kennedy Jr (Health Secretary), to name just three. But not to worry, there are plenty more of those creepy nutcases around that Trump will ultimately get confirmed. All they’ll have to do to keep their jobs would be to nod. President Biden had earlier indicated that he would not be using his presidential powers to pardon his son, Hunter, who had been on trial for two minor charges, committed when he was a drug addict. One, for tax evasion – the back taxes have since been fully paid, with late fees. Two, for the purchase of a gun while he was a drug addict, which was never used in the commission of a crime. A Class E felony, which would been dismissed with a slap on the wrist for a first offender, had his name been anything but Biden. Hunter is completely sober today. But President Biden, mindful of the retribution threatened by the Trump’s nominees for Attorney General, Pam Bondi and FBI Director, Kash Patel, against Trump’s imagined “enemies”, knew that Hunter would be tormented, and have the book thrown at him, to a maximum of 17 years’ jail time. So President Biden lied, he undeniably abused his power and went back on his word to grant Hunter a full pardon. Which any father would have done for his son in a heartbeat. As the saying goes, Democrats are expected to be flawless, while Republicans can be as lawless as they please. Biden’s pardon had the hypocritical Republicans screaming foul, claiming that he was guilty of gross abuse of power. Forgetting the traitors and fraudsters Trump had pardoned during his first term, and has promised to pardon in his second. They are insisting that, as a quid pro quo, Biden should pardon Trump for his conviction of 34 felonies, and other indictments of sedition, obstruction of justice and espionage, for which he is awaiting trial. The moral equivalent of pardoning a traitor as a quid pro quo for pardoning a jaywalker! President Biden would be well advised to give advance pardons to himself, Special Counsel Jack Smith, Liz Cheney, Dr. Fauci and those named “enemies from within” like Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff that Trump has threatened to prosecute and imprison after his inauguration. Trump has told us exactly what he’s going to do when he is in power, and Wannabe Hitler is not playing games. With white supremacists and neo-Nazi “strategists” like Jason Miller, Stephen Miller and Steve Bannon in Trump’s backroom, and a supporting cast of thousands of Christian nationalists and avaricious billionaires, America had better fasten its collective seatbelts. The tragedy for the ages is that the majority of the citizens of the most educated, powerful and richest nation in the world has elected to be led, with the powers of a monarch, by a self-confessed white supremacist on the cusp of dementia, an illiterate, cruel wannabe dictator and a political party of violent Nazi Brownshirts. Shades of the Third Reich in Germany in 1932, with the caricature American Hitler elected as the Fuhrer. I hope I am wrong, as usual.TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — While Gov. Ron DeSantis is a top contender to be nominated as defense secretary under President-elect Donald Trump, people around the two men see obstacles that could keep Trump from offering the job, and DeSantis from accepting it. The Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau spoke to 11 political insiders close to both DeSantis and Trump for this story. The potential hurdles are both personal and political. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

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