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TOP footie clubs, players and agents have coughed up £800million since HMRC began a tax avoidance probe. The huge tally of unpaid taxes since 2005 includes £75million in the last year. Advertisement And latest HMRC figures reveal 396 investigations are ongoing — including potential abuses at 33 professional clubs. Newcastle United recently settled a £10million tax dispute that dated back to Mike Ashley’s ownership of the club. Chelsea are being probed having reported themselves to the Premier League after spotting issues as Todd Boehly’s consortium took over ownership from Roman Abramovich. Manchester United are under investigation too, while legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson faces scrutiny over his ACF Sports Promotion firm. Advertisement Read more on unpaid tax TAX FIGHT Top BBC host faces court battle with HMRC over alleged 'excessive' unpaid tax PAYING THE PRICE Katie Price declared bankrupt for SECOND time over £750k tax bill Earlier this year, ex-Man City defender Benjamin Mendy was forced to sell his £5million Cheshire mansion to repay an £800,000 tax debt. Meanwhile, the number of tax investigations in football is likely to rise as a result of inquiries into “dual representation” transfer deals. The deals would see agents claim to work for both a club and a player and split their fee between them. HMRC believes agents work mostly for players and therefore should pay more tax. Advertisement Most read in Football Exclusive SCOTT PROPERTY Celtic legend Scott Brown splashes out £2million on luxury pad with pool DOWN AND OUT Rangers boss Philippe Clement admits he has 'no credit left in the bank' Live Blog HEARTS 1 CELTIC 4 Idah scores with third touch just after replacing scorers Kuhn and Kyogo NOT READY SPFL club call out league bosses on 'preparation time' as Storm Bert delays game Officials warn they will no longer accept a 50/50 split as the “standard approach”. Ex-England ace Emile Heskey facing bankruptcy in latest battle with taxman 1 Ex-Man City defender Benjamin Mendy was forced to sell his £5million Cheshire mansion to repay an £800,000 tax debt

New Delhi Amid concerns flagged by the Congress, the Election Commission on Tuesday said there were no arbitrary additions or deletions of voters in Maharashtra where assembly polls were held recently. The poll body focussed on two primary concerns raised by the Congress – arbitrary deletion of voters and subsequent additions in the electoral rolls of Maharashtra, and changes in voter turnout data figures on the day of polling between 5pm and 11.30pm. After meeting the ECI on December 3, senior Congress leader Manu Abhishek Singhvi had claimed that in 118 constituencies in the state, of which the BJP won 102, each constituency saw voter turnout increase by about 25,000 persons per constituency, compared to the general elections between the general and the state elections. In its November 29 letter to the ECI, the party had claimed that in the 50 assembly constituencies that saw an average increase of 50,000 electors, the BJP won 47 of them. The ECI claimed that this was a “baseless accusation” that “creates unnecessary and avoidable doubts and anxiety in the mind of the public”. On discrepancy in voter turnout between 5 pm and 11:30 pm, the ECI said, “At the time of counting, data entered in Form 17C is tallied with data in EVM in presence of the counting agents and therefore allegation of gap between voting percentage data released 5:00 PM on poll day and final polling percentage data is superfluous.” “Commission trusts that INC should not have any clarification missing after these elaborations. Commission is committed to a respectful collaborative relation with all political parties, so critical for a healthy democracy and welcomes suggestions for any improvement in the electoral process,” the response signed by ECI secretary SK Das said. It said that there were only six assembly constituencies, not 50 as claimed by Congress, where more than 50,000 electors were added. Copies of the draft rolls, and claim and objections were provided to Congress in all constituencies, the ECI said. “INC representatives indeed participated in revision of electoral rolls at various stages till the finalisation of electoral rolls,” the ECI said. It said that in the five month-period between the general and state elections, there was an addition of 4,881,610 electors and deletion of 800,391 (average of 2,779 electors per assembly constituency), resulting in a net addition of 4,081,228 electors in the state. This is because, in December 2021 (brought into force in August 2022), the Representation of People Act, 1951, was amended to increase the number of qualifying dates for registration in electoral rolls from only January 1 to April 1, July 1 and October 1. As July 1 and October 1 fell in the five-month period, people who turned 18 years olf also became eligible to registered for the state elections and were enrolled. Of the 4,081,228 net additions, 872,094 (21.4%) were between the ages of 18 and 19, while 1,774,514 (43.5%) were between the ages of 20-29, accounting for 64.8% net additions. The ECI said that returning officers and the district election officers, under the supervision of the ECI, prepare the electoral rolls which are revised annually. The final roll is published around January 5 each year and is then continuously updated until October. The draft roll is published until October. After this publication, both the public and political parties can file claims and objections. In addition, ahead of all state assembly elections, the ECI carries out Special Summary Revision (SSR) of the rolls which involves house to house survey, physical field verification by the booth level officers, random checking by higher-ups, and regular meetings with political parties. Political parties appoint booth level agents to oversee the process. The ECI said that monthly lists of additions, deletions and modifications to the rolls are published on the website, and the draft and final rolls are available on the CEO/DEO’s websites. Free copies of part-wise draft and final rolls are provided to all recognized political parties while general public can get a copy by paying a “nominal fee”. The ECI said that two copies of the electoral rolls, one hard copy with images of the electors and one soft copy without the images, is made available at ERO level. “These instructions are uniformly followed in the entire country,” the ECI said. The ECI also said that the list of all claims and objections is shared with recognized political parties on a weekly basis. Congress had claimed that voters were arbitrarily deleted from the rolls in the five-month period between the general elections and the Maharashtra assembly polls. The party had asked for the raw data and the forms involved. The ECI outlined the standard operating procedure around deletion from the rolls. It said that deletions due to registered death require proper verification, including submission of a death certificate. For unregistered deaths and change in address, the necessary forms (Form 7 and Form 8, respectively) must be received. For each deletion, the BLO must submit a field verification identity. For all proposed deletions, except registered deaths, the ECI said that a notice is issued and the concerned elector is given “reasonable opportunity” to be heard. If more than 2% of all electors are proposed to be deleted from one polling station, the electoral registration officer must personally “cross verify” each case of deletion. The ERO must also personally cross verify deletions is the same person objects to the deletion in more than five cases. On discrepancy in voter turnout, the ECI said, “[T]he Commission has decided to not only inform you once again, but also educate citizens at large about the concept of statutory sharing of VTR with candidates contesting the elections in Form 17C, and the very different concept of non-statutory framework of sharing VTR on VTR APP designed for the general public and underline the difference between the two,” the ECI wrote. During the general elections, the changes in voter turnout had been a major sticking point, resulting in a scathing letter from the ECI to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. The ECI said that “voter turnout” is not a legally defined concept nor is its publication legally required at any level. It reiterated that Form 17C (part I), is the “immutable co-shared record”, with details of the number of votes recorded, that is shared with the polling agents of the candidates at the end of the poll after it is filled out by the presiding officer of the polling station. The data given in the voter turnout app is a “facilitative measure” by the ECI which is not a statutory requirement. It is collected by sector magistrates every two hours starting at 9 am through various media including phone, in person visits to the booth, messaging group, etc. “It is possible that sector magistrates may not get accurate upgraded trends from some PSs in some cycles of data collection,” the ECI wrote. These trends are not a substitute for the data in Form 17C, it said. “Considering 5:00 PM data as the final voter turnout or as its closest approximation is merely a misconception,” the ECI said and called it “interim data of approximate voter turnout”. Polling can continue even after 6 pm, the ECI said. After polling ends, the presiding officer has to perform “multiple statutory, non-statutory and administrative functions”, the poll body said. Form 17C Part I (with data from the EVM about the number of votes registered on the machines, votes polled during mock poll, number of votes cast, etc.), is given to the candidates or their agents at the end of the poll, on the polling day itself, the ECI said. On the polling day, the returning officer must collect and securely store EVMs in strongrooms. “Updation of the poll turnout data on the VTR APP coming around the same time, is only a next priority,” the ECI said. “The voting data provided at 11:45 PM on the day of poll can also not be considered as final voter turnout, as it is also not possible to provide the final voter turnout data before scrutiny of Election Papers, which is held on the next day of poll in the presence of the candidates and observers. Also, some polling parties may not have been able to return/submit their documents by that time,” The ECI said that the scrutiny of Form 17A (list of people who voted at booth level) is done a day after polling. In certain cases, some polling parties return on P+2 or P+3 days day to difficulties in “geography, security concerns and weather conditions”.Ford and General Motors will both donate $1 million and vehicles to President-elect Donald Trump’s January inauguration, Reuters reported Monday. CEO Jim Farley of Ford told reporters earlier this month he is excited about working with the incoming Trump administration to ensure the company is “rewarded for our commitment to America and Michigan,” according to the Detroit Free Press. “Ford’s employment profile and importance in the U.S. economy and manufacturing, you can imagine the administration will be very interested in Ford’s point of view,” Farley reportedly said. Bloomberg noted in a report last week that Trump’s plan for his first 100 days in office includes ending rebates for electric vehicle buyers. Farley said Ford expects changes in tax benefits for those consumers but noted the company is “very well-positioned” for any policy changes, according to the Detroit Free Press. Ford dealers have also been prioritizing electric vehicle sales in some markets, the newspaper quoted Farley as saying. “We did take some pricing action. We’re working with our dealers to make sure they sell the whole lineup, not just our hybrids. So they’re putting more emphasis on EVs in certain parts of the market,” he reportedly explained. Earlier this month, General Motors CEO Mary Barra said Trump listens intently to the automotive industry, according to the Detroit Free Press. “I think we’re very goal-aligned,” the newspaper quoted her as saying. “We want a strong economy. We want a strong manufacturing base in this country. We agree automotive jobs are important. I think there’s a lot that we could work on.” “But there’s going to be changes,” Barra reportedly continued. “But we’ve worked with many administrations for decades.”The former Coronation Street star had two stints on the show, finishing seventh in 2012 before taking part in a special South Africa all-stars spin-off 11 years later. Halsall, who plays Tyrone Dobbs, is the latest in a series of Corrie actors and actresses to appear on the ITV show, and Helen is backing her former co-star to thrive. “Alan is someone I've known since I was really little, and will be great in the jungle,” she said in an interview associated with WhichBingo . “When you're in Coronation Street; there’s such a social aspect of being part of the show and you meet people from all walks of life. Helen when she starred in I'm a Celebrity... South Africa (Image: ITV) “You hang around for such a long time with people of different ages and different backgrounds, so it really puts you in good stead for appearing on a show like I’m A Celeb. “I definitely think it’s done that for me in my life. So, Alan will be great socially, and he's got a lot about him as a person too. “He knows it's hard. He will definitely be able to do the trials and is a very grounded person as well. He'll be a team player and will smash it.” Flanagan will also be keeping a close eye on Tulisa Contostavlos, revealing her affection for the N-Dubz singer. Alan Halsall in I'm a Celeb (Image: ITV) She said: “I love Tulisa. I have seen lots of her social media stuff; I know her, and she's a really lovely girl. “I think she will do fab in it and is genuinely a nice person as well.” Appearing on I’m A Celeb can be a punishing ordeal, and the 34-year-old admits to being “absolutely horrendous” on the first show. However, we saw a completely different version of the former Corrie star in South Africa, showing her resilience to take on the famous Bushtucker Trials in a much calmer and controlled manner compared to 11 years previously. “I really love the jungle now,” she continued. “I remember when I first did it at 22, and I was absolutely horrendous. I'd get memes sent through by all my family and friends of some embarrassing pictures of me. “But I then went back to do the South Africa show almost two years ago, and I smashed the trials. I felt like I had made my peace with it.” Tulisa in I'm a Celebrity (Image: ITV) Helen’s most recent reality TV experience came on Channel 4’s dating show Celebs Go Dating where she caused a stir by revealing she already had a boyfriend whilst appearing on the programme. He was confirmed to be Robbie Talbot from Liverpool – who she brought onto the show - and the reality TV star has warmly reflected on her experiences. She said: “I loved it and have some great memories of the show, as I was myself. When you do reality shows, you have to be yourself. “I think it can be a little bit difficult as well, because it's so different doing reality TV shows compared to acting. Helen when she appeared on Celebs Go Dating (Image: Channel 4/E4) “You're hiding behind a character as an actress. Whereas, when you do reality TV, you are being yourself. So sometimes, it can be challenging because you're putting yourself out there for the public to comment on you as a person. “But I genuinely loved it and it was nice to bring my boyfriend on the show. One of the reasons why I wanted to do that, was to show that it's a healthy relationship. “I've previously sat watching Celebs Go Dating the year before as a single mum with three children and I thought to myself, 'Am I going to have a healthy relationship?'. I didn't think I'd have a boyfriend for a really long time. “For me, it was nice to show all the single mums that you can have a really nice relationship; you’ve got to be true to yourself if you do a reality show.” Helen admits she is now yearning for a return to acting and highlighted the importance of sharing her personal journey on social media to portray an accurate representation of herself to the world. Helen is backing her Corrie co-star (Image: Ian West/PA Wire) “I'd love to do more acting, as I really do miss it. But I have to work things around my children as well,” she explained. “I love working on social media too and have been working on it properly for about seven years now. It's something that I do really enjoy, and it’s empowering to have your own voice. “You have your own kind of sense of control when you have your social media, but I sometimes have a love-hate relationship with it. “Sometimes I feel it's not good for us to constantly be on our phones all the time and I worry for the younger generation in the sense that social media makes us constantly compare ourselves to others. “It can be bad for your mental health . I hope that this will improve for both children and adults in the future.”

German authorities say the AfD is far-right extremist and endangers German democracy. According to the US tech billionaire said such ideas about Germany's AfD are "clearly false." Tech billionaire Elon Musk on Saturday restated his backing for Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD ), calling the party the "last spark of hope" for the country, in an op-ed published by the Welt am Sonntag newspaper. His remarks triggered anger among German politicians, with the country seven weeks away from a snap federal election . Shortly after the piece went online, the editor of the opinion section, Eva Marie Kogel, wrote on X that she had submitted her resignation, with a link to the commentary. What did Elon Musk say? Musk used his commentary to expand on his post on X last week claiming that "only [the] AfD can save Germany." In the editorial, he said the far-right party was the "last spark of hope" for the country. "The portrayal of the AfD as right-wing extremist is clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel , the party's leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Please!" Musk said in the piece. Calls for EU to sanction Elon Musk for 'interference' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video In 2021, Germany's domestic intelligence agency classified the AfD at the national level as a suspected extremist organization. Musk went on to claim that the AfD adopts strong positions on issues relating to economic recovery, energy supply and migration control. "The AfD, even though it is described as far-right, represents a political realism that resonates with many Germans who feel that their concerns are ignored by the establishment. It addresses the problems of the moment — without the political correctness that often obscures the truth," the tech billionaire continued. Musk also said the AfD was "committed to a controlled immigration policy that gives priority to integration and the preservation of German culture and security. This is not about xenophobia, but about ensuring that Germany does not lose its identity in the pursuit of globalization." Welt am Sonntag reporters shoot back at Musk op-ed The future editor-in-chief of the Welt group, Jan Philipp Burgard, contradicted the billionaire's statements in his own op-ed, posted next to Musk's. Burgard said: "Musk's diagnosis is correct, but his therapeutic approach, that only the AfD can save Germany, is fatally wrong." Other Welt journalists also posted their disapproval publicly on X. German far-right AfD rallies after Christmas market attack To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Musk's comments seen as timed for snap election Musk's backing of the AfD has sent shockwaves through Berlin, with some lawmakers this week accusing the SpaceX chief of interfering in German politics . On Saturday, former health minister and a lawmaker for the center-right CDU party, Jens Spahn, wrote on X: "Elon Musk says, look beyond the labels of the AfD. Now, let's do it then: The AfD wants to leave NATO, reactivate Nord Stream 2, and is anti-US, pro-Putin and pro-Russia. Is that what the USA wants? A Germany that turns towards Russia and away from the USA? The AfD wants to leave the Eurozone , our by far largest trading partner. We conduct ~40% of our trade within Eurozone. Without the Euro and the EU, the German economy would completely collapse." Spahn said the AfD had also been against the construction of the Tesla factory in Grünheide. Break-up of ruling coalition triggers early elections Germany is set for a snap election on February 23 after the coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed last month. The three parties in the coalition had disagreed for more than a year on major policy issues, including the 2025 budget. The AfD is now running second in opinion polls with around 19% support, behind the conservative CDU/CSU alliance with more than 30%. However, Germany's mainstream parties have all ruled out working with AfD at the national level. mm/dj (AFP, DPA)Canada introduced seven major changes to its international student route in 2024 which aligns with the government’s aim of scaling back the number of temporary residents. The major changes include updates, closures, caps and new rules. For example, there were updates on the eligibility criteria for post-graduation work permits (PGWPs), cost of living requirement, and regulations for open work permits for spouses of students. In addition, there were caps on study permit applications, as well as stricter rules for study permits and off-campus work hours for international students. Additionally, the student direct stream and the Nigeria student express route were closed in 2024. Marc Miller, Canada’s Immigration Minister had this to say about the adjustments to its temporary resident pathway: “To be clear, all newcomers are valued in Canada. They contribute to Canada’s economic, social and cultural fabric. Our economic future depends on those we bring to Canada”. “But we also need to recognize that this can impact communities, such as the increases in unemployment amongst youth and newcomers... for the first time in Canadian history, we will include targets for temporary residents in addition to permanent residents in our annual immigration levels planning”. “First, we will reduce the target on study permits issued by 10 percent in 2025 and 2026 compared to 2024. This means we aim to issue up to 437,000 study permits in both 2025 and 2026, which would represent about a 36 percent decrease from 2023”. Here are some of these changes in detail: Curriculum licensing agreements: Starting in September, international students in programs under a curriculum licensing agreement were no longer eligible for PGWPs. The deadline for this change was later moved up to May 15. Three-year PGWPs for master’s degree students: Graduates of Master’s degree programs became eligible for three-year work permits from February 15. This benefits students with shorter programs, giving them more time for work experience and potential permanent residency. Language requirements for PGWP applicants: From November 1, PGWP applicants had to meet specific Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) scores—7 for university graduates and 5 for college graduates. Field of study requirements for PGWP eligibility: From September 18, only students graduating from fields linked to long-term occupational shortages were eligible for PGWPs. This does not apply to Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral graduates from universities. The fields of study linked to fields with long-term shortages are Agriculture and Agri-food, Healthcare, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), Trade and Transport. International students who applied for study permits before November 1, 2024, are exempt from the field of study requirements for PGWP eligibility. However, if they apply for a new study permit after this date, such as when changing schools or programs, the field of study requirement will then apply. Updated cost of living requirement As of January 1, 2024, IRCC increased the cost-of-living requirement for study permit applicants. The new requirement for a single applicant doubled from $10,000 to $20,635. Applicants must have these funds in addition to covering their first-year tuition and travel costs. This new requirement applies to all study permit applications received on or after January 1, 2024. Closure of the Student Direct Stream and Nigeria Student Express On November 8, IRCC announced the immediate closure of the Student Direct Stream (SDS). Launched in 2018, SDS aimed to expedite study permit applications for students from 14 countries, including India, China, Pakistan, and the Philippines, with a standard processing time of 20 calendar days. However, typical processing times vary by country, often taking much longer. For example, the current processing time for a study permit from Pakistan is 10 weeks. Simultaneously, IRCC also terminated the Nigeria Student Express (NSE) program, which provided a similar expedited service for Nigerian applicants. Cap on study permit applications On January 22, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a new intake cap for international student study permit applications. This cap is expected to result in approximately 360,000 approved new study permits for 2024, representing a 35 per cent decrease from the previous year. In April, Marc Miller, Canada’s Immigration Minister, clarified that the target for approved study permits in 2024 is 485,000. The figure of 360,000 accounts for the anticipated 97,000 extension applications and includes a buffer for other variations. On September 18, IRCC announced a further reduction in the number of study permits for 2025, based on a 10 per cent decrease from the 2024 target of 485,000. Therefore, 437,000 study permits will be issued in 2025. The Immigration Levels Plan for 2025-27, released in October, outlined targets for temporary residents, including international students, arriving in 2025, 2026, and 2027. The target for new international student arrivals in 2025 is set at 305,900. This applies only to new arrivals and does not include study permit renewals or extensions for students already in Canada. Stricter rules for study permits To manage the new intake cap for international student study permits, IRCC introduced Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs) on January 22, 2024. These letters, issued by provinces and territories, verify that an international student has a credible admission and falls within the new cap limits. As of January 22, 2024, all study permit applications require an attestation letter. However, in March, IRCC announced exemptions for specific student categories. PALs are necessary for most post-secondary applicants, non-degree granting graduate programs, and any international student not on the exemption list. Exemptions include primary and secondary school students, Master’s or doctoral students, in-Canada visiting or exchange students at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), existing study and work permit holders, and family members of permit holders. Additionally, students already approved for a study permit or whose applications were received before January 22, 2024, at 8:30 am EST are exempt. On September 18, IRCC also mandated that Master’s and PhD students must obtain PALs. New requirements for international students changing schools On April 29, the temporary pandemic measures allowing international students to work over 20 hours per week ended. The pre-pandemic limit of 20 hours per week off-campus during academic terms was reinstated but increased to 24 hours per week from November 15. As of November 15, international students wishing to change schools needed to apply for a new study permit. Previously, students could change schools on the same permit by updating their status online. As of December 13, international students transferring schools for winter or spring 2025 could start studying before receiving a new study permit, provided they applied for it. It was re-iterated that college and university vocational students change programs and apply for a new study permit after November 1 must meet field of study requirements. Updated regulations for open work permits for spouses On January 22, IRCC introduced new restrictions on spousal open work permits for international students. These permits are now limited to spouses of students enrolled in Master’s and Doctoral programs. Previously, spouses of students in college and undergraduate programs were eligible. As of March 19, a new policy was implemented, with IRCC also announcing exceptions for specific undergraduate programs. Spouses or partners of students in professional degree programs in the medical, and engineering fields and education degrees at a university remain eligible for spousal open work permits. These fields and programs are: – Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS, DMD) – Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor (LLB, JD, BCL) – Doctor of Medicine (MD) – Doctor of Optometry (OD) – Pharmacy (PharmD, BS, BSc, BPharm) – Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) – Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN, BSN, BNSc) – Bachelor of Education (B. Ed.) – Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng., BE, BASc) In September, Further restrictions were announced, limiting open work permit eligibility to spouses of Master’s degree students enrolled in programs lasting at least 16 months. This policy has not yet come into effect.

Syrian rebels challenge Assad’s regime igniting new tensions in Middle EastSeann Walsh fumes ‘I’m unfollowing all of you’ as he’s voted off by celebs on The Weakest Link special

Putin apologizes for 'tragic incident' but stops short of saying Azerbaijani plane was shot down MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has apologized to his Azerbaijani counterpart for what he called a “tragic incident” following the crash of an Azerbaijani airliner in Kazakhstan that killed 38 people. He stopped short of acknowledging that Moscow was responsible. The Kremlin said that air defense systems were firing near Grozny, the regional capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya, to deflect a Ukrainian drone strike as the plane attempted to land on Wednesday. Putin apologized to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev “for the fact that the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace.” The Kremlin also says Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are jointly investigating the crash site near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. Israel detains the director of one of northern Gaza's last functioning hospitals during a raid DEIR AL BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza's Health Ministry says Israel’s army has detained the director of one of northern Gaza's last functioning hospitals. The announcement on Saturday came after health officials said Israeli troops stormed the hospital and forced many staff and patients outside and told them to strip in winter weather. Israel’s military alleges the hospital director is a suspected Hamas operative and says it detained over 240 others. It acknowledges it ordered people outside and that special forces entered the hospital. It says it “eliminated” militants who fired at its forces. Kamal Adwan officials have denied that Hamas operates in the hospital. Abortions are up in the US. It's a complicated picture as women turn to pills, travel Even with abortion bans in place in most Republican-controlled states, the number of people obtaining them has grown slightly. That's part of a complicated picture of the impacts of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade two and a half years ago. Abortion pills are more common now. So is traveling to other states for care, often on journeys hundreds of miles long. Public support for the right to abortion has also increased since before the ruling. That's been reflected in most ballot measures to add the right to abortion to state constitutions being adopted. Drought, fires and deforestation battered Amazon rainforest in 2024 BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — The Amazon rainforest staggered through another difficult year in 2024. A second year of record drought contributed to wildfires that worsened deforestation across the massive forest, which spans Brazil, Peru, Colombia and other Latin American nations and is a critical counterweight to climate change. There were some bright spots. Both Brazil and Colombia reported lower levels of deforestation compared to prior years. Experts say Amazon countries need to do more to strengthen cross-border collaboration and that the global community who reap the benefits of commodities from the rainforest also need to pitch in. Bloodied Ukrainian troops risk losing more hard-won land in Kursk to Russia KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Five months after their shock offensive into Russia, Ukrainian troops are bloodied by daily combat losses and demoralized by the rising risk of defeat in Kursk. Some want to stay in the region at all costs. Others question the value of having gone in at all. Battles are so intense that commanders are unable to evacuate their dead. Lags in communication and poorly timed operations have cost lives and commanders say they have little way to counterattack. The overstretched Ukrainians have lost more than 40% of the territory they won in the lightning incursion that seized much of Kursk in August. Afghan forces target Pakistan in retaliation for deadly airstrikes Afghanistan's Defense Ministry says its forces hit several points inside Pakistan in retaliation for deadly airstrikes. Pakistan last Tuesday launched an operation to destroy a training facility and kill insurgents in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province. The strikes killed dozens of people. The ministry said Saturday that its forces hit points “serving as centers and hideouts for malicious elements and their supporters who organized and coordinated attacks in Afghanistan.” Pakistan accuses the Taliban of not doing enough to combat cross-border militant activity, a charge the Taliban government denies. Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who instituted economic reforms, cremated in New Delhi NEW DELHI (AP) — Manmohan Singh, the former Indian prime minister widely regarded as the architect of the country’s economic reform program, has been cremated after a state funeral. The veteran leader, who was also credited for a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, died late Thursday at age 92. Singh’s body was taken Saturday to the headquarters of his Congress party in New Delhi, where party leaders and activists paid tributes to him and chanted “Manmohan Singh lives forever.” Later, his body was transported to a crematorium ground for his last rites as soldiers beat drums. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh was prime minister for 10 years until 2014. Sweden embarks on a sober search for more cemetery space in case of war GOTHENBURG, Sweden (AP) — Burial associations in Sweden are looking to acquire enough land for something they hope they’ll never have to do. And that's to bury thousands of people in the event of war. The search follows new crisis preparedness guidelines from the country's civil defense agency and the military. The issue is seen in a new light after Russia's invasion of Ukraine led formerly neutral Sweden to join NATO. Sweden and Finland sent out updated civil preparedness guides in November with instructions on how to survive in war. The guides are similar to those in Denmark and Norway, though they don't mention Russia by name. Olivia Hussey, star of the 1968 film 'Romeo and Juliet,' dies at 73 LONDON (AP) — Olivia Hussey, the actor who starred as a teenage Juliet in the 1968 film “Romeo and Juliet,” has died, her family said on social media. She was 73. Hussey died on Friday, “peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones,” a statement posted to her Instagram account said. Hussey was 15 when director Franco Zeffirelli cast her in his adaptation of the William Shakespeare tragedy. “Romeo and Juliet” won two Oscars and Hussey won a Golden Globe for best new actress for her part as Juliet, opposite British actor Leonard Whiting. Decades later, the pair brought a lawsuit against Paramount Pictures over nude scenes in the film they said they were coerced to perform. The case was dismissed by a Los Angeles County judge in 2023. Winning ticket for $1.22 billion lottery jackpot sold in California, Mega Millions says At least one Mega Millions player has plenty of dough to ring in the New Year after drawing the winning number. After three months without anyone winning the top prize in the lottery, a ticket worth an estimated $1.22 billion was sold in California for the drawing Friday night. The California Lottery said the winning ticket was sold at Circle K (Sunshine Food and Gas) on Rhonda Rd. in Cottonwood. The winning ticket matched the white balls 3, 7, 37, 49, 55 and the gold Mega Ball 6. The identity of the winner or winners was not immediately known. The estimated jackpot was the fifth-highest ever for Mega Millions.

Extreme poverty in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste province has surged from 1.9% in 2021 to 3.9% in 2024, Workers in construction, lodging, and food services have been hit hardest, according to a recent analysis by the Observatory of Tourism, Migration, and Sustainability (Obtur) at the Chorotega Regional Headquarters of the National University (UNA). Although poverty initially decreased in 2021 due to a real estate boom along Guanacaste’s coasts, it has risen sharply since 2022. Construction workers experienced the largest spike, with poverty jumping from 7.4% in 2022 to 17.1% in 2023. Extreme poverty within the sector also tripled, climbing from 1.1% to 3.3%. Similarly, non-extreme poverty in lodging and food services rose from 13% in 2019 to 15.8% in 2023. “While Guanacaste has over a million square meters of housing projects processed, the benefits are not reaching local workers,” said Esteban Barboza, a researcher at Obtur. “Social housing projects in key coastal districts like Tamarindo, Sardinal, Nosara, and have declined, leaving that are unaffordable for most residents.” The accommodation and food services sector, which employs 14.8% of Guanacaste’s workforce, offers an average monthly income of only 418,000 colones. Construction, the province’s third-largest sector, employs 8.9% of the workforce, with an even lower average income of 369,000 colones. These wages are insufficient to cover rising living costs, pushing many workers into poverty. Despite its economic potential, Guanacaste’s coastal districts remain among the most socially and economically disadvantaged areas in Costa Rica. Cabo Velas, Veintisiete de Abril, and Nosara continue to report high poverty rates, low social development indicators, and unemployment levels second only to the Central Pacific region. “In theory, those working in construction should benefit from the housing boom, alongside lodging and food services workers,” Barboza explained. “But the reality is that unemployment and low wages persist, particularly in the most vulnerable areas.”North Carolina retaining its status as the nation's most prominent ticket-splitting state was the top political story for 2024 as determined by the Winston-Salem Journal. Voters supported putting Republican Donald Trump back in the White House, while delivering an overwhelming win for Democrat Attorney General Josh Stein over embattled Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in the governor's race. North Carolinians also rejected Trump's MAGA acolytes for lieutenant governor, attorney general and state superintendent of Public Instruction. Speaking of Robinson, his GOP primary win over state Treasurer and Winston-Salem native Dale Folwell was the runner-up story. Third on the list was the national speculation that Gov. Roy Cooper could become Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate before removing his name from consideration. Fourth was the Republican supermajorities' successful override votes of 10 Cooper vetoes during the 2024 session, as well as the potential ending of the House supermajority in the 2025 session. Rounding out the top-five is the so-called "power grab" attempt by Republican legislative leaders of certain authorities of the Democratic-elect governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and state superintendent of Public Instructions. Both Trump and a Democratic governor candidate won North Carolina for the third consecutive general election. Trump carried North Carolina by a 50.95% to 47.56% margin over Harris. Trump received 2.87 million votes. Meanwhile, Stein defeated Robinson by 3.03 million to 2.22 million votes, or 54.8% to 40.1%. Stein not only was the largest vote-getter in the statewide races, but received 160,496 more votes than Trump. There were minimal, if any, Trump coattails for the other Republican MAGA acolytes running for lieutenant governor (Hal Weatherman), attorney general (U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop) and superintendent of Public Instruction (Michele Morrow). They were defeated by Lt. Gov.-elect Rachel Hunt, Attorney General-elect Jeff Jackson and superintendent-elect Maurice “Mo” Green, the former Guilford County Schools superintendent. Bishop and Morrow both drew about 180,000 fewer votes than Trump, while Weatherman was about 230,000 votes shy of Trump. What is different about the 2024 statewide races is that “voters generally cast party-line votes and aligned their Council of State votes with their presidential preference," said John Dinan, a Wake Forest University political science professor who is considered a national expert on state legislatures. “But in cases where one party’s candidate was able to portray the other party’s candidate as outside the mainstream, especially in open-seat races, this led some voters to engage in ticket-splitting." Folwell built his governor's campaign in March 2023 on the pillars of being the top statewide race vote-getter in 2016 and 2020, and that he offered stability, experience and maturity as “the best governor that money can’t buy.” Folwell did not hold back his questioning of Robinson’s qualifications to be governor given Robinson’s statements about racism, gender identity and women’s role in society. Yet, once Trump full-throatedly endorsed Robinson, calling him “Martin Luther King on steroids," that was enough to push Robinson to a decisive win over Folwell and Bill Graham. Among the criticisms of Folwell’s candidacy was that he was too prickly, too boring and didn’t display the same fiery campaign rhetoric as Robinson. Trump, however, chose to ostracize Robinson from his presidential campaign following the controversial Sept. 19 CNN report, as well as several Southeast Republican governors withdrawing their support. The CNN report included that Robinson wrote that he was a “Black Nazi” and that he not only supported a return of slavery but that he also wanted to own slaves. The story also said Robinson wrote that he liked to watch transgender porn. The comments were made on the porn website Nude Africa between 2008 and 2012. Robinson has denied making the comments and has filed a lawsuit against CNN. Folwell pulled no punches in the aftermath of the bombshell CNN report, calling Robinson a “counterfeit conservative” and “always playing the victim.” “In the end, North Carolina voters decided they wanted a government that would be more moderate because that is how North Carolinians see themselves," said Zagros Madjd-Sadjadi, an economics professor at Winston-Salem State University. Saying “It’s not the right time for North Carolina or for me to be on a national ticket,” Cooper pulled on July 30 his name from consideration as a vice presidential candidate for Harris . Being a popular two-term Democratic governor in a center-right Southern state was viewed by political analysts as a viable ticket-balancing option as Democrats attempting to shift N.C. back into the win column. CNN reported that Cooper, at 67, was the oldest potential vice president under consideration. “After all, only one person can be chosen for the vice president nominee, and there are at least a handful of strong candidates who come from swing states and who would provide some ideological balance to the ticket in the way that Cooper would have done," Dinan said. Another factor: Political analysts cited Robinson as being a potential deterrent for Cooper pursuing the vice president nominee. Robinson could potentially have issued executive orders as acting governor while Cooper was campaigning out of the state. As Cooper bowed out of VP consideration, speculation continued to swirl that Cooper is at the top of the list for Democratic challengers for two-term Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis in 2026. John Quinterno, principal with South by North Strategies Ltd. of Chapel Hill, said that given Cooper’s accomplishments as governor and his long career in public service, he “would be a strong candidate” to take on Tillis. Stein will enter office Jan. 1 with a viable, but razor-thin, veto power since House Democrats were successful in gaining a 49th seat, thus breaking the Republican super-majority after two years. A super-majority exists when Democrats or Republicans control two-thirds of a chamber's seats. Since Republican legislators regained supermajority status in April 2023 after Mecklenburg County Rep. Tricia Cotham switched from Democrat, they overrode 29 Cooper vetoes during the 2023 and 2024 sessions. Stein said that in the governor's race, North Carolinians "chose hope over hate, competence over chaos, decency over division.” Although Stein registered “a clear win,” John Locke Foundation senior political analyst Mitch Kokai cautioned that "he ought to be careful not to view that victory as an overwhelming mandate for his policy prescriptions." Meanwhile, Rep. Cecil Brockman, D-Guilford, continues to embrace his role as a potential supporter of certain GOP legislation, telling the News & Record that "you need me. I don't need you ." That's even though four other eastern N.C. House Democrats have been identified as potentially playing the same flipping role. The Republican-controlled legislature completed Dec. 11 the passing of controversial Senate Bill 382 that curtails or ends certain authorities of four Democratic Council of State seats, as well as making the State Highway Patrol commander post a non-elected Cabinet position appointed by the legislature. The N.C. House overrode Cooper’s veto by a 72-46 vote along party lines on Dec. 11. Cooper vetoed the bill Nov. 26, calling it “a sham” and a “cruel blow.” Cooper and Stein needed just a day to file on Dec. 12 a lawsuit in Wake County Superior Court challenging the constitutionality of SB382 with the foremost focus on the SHP commander legislation. SB382 also moves the State Board of Elections to the State Auditor’s Office, prevents the attorney general from undermining state law, and allows the state Treasurer to appoint a member to the Utilities Commission. SB382 appropriates an additional $227 million in Hurricane Helene disaster relief funding, but doesn’t immediately disperse it. "The people of western North Carolina are desperate for help from their state government. Yet, this bill is a power grab, not hurricane relief,” Stein said in a statement. Rep. Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, and House speaker for the 2025-26 sessions, said the disaster relief funding in SB382 “has been framed incorrectly" and “this body is entirely committed to helping folks in this state with storm relief." The Republican supermajorities overrode a Cooper veto to make school vouchers to private and religious schools available to all parents no matter their household income , as well as enforcing that urban Democratic sheriffs cooperate with federal ICE agents. About $460 million is now available for the state’s Opportunity Scholarship program for the 2024-25 school year. Funding for the waitlist is retroactive, with eligible families qualifying for a tuition reimbursement from their schools. There are more than 72,000 voucher applications for this school year, but only about 16,000 students were approved before the money ran out. Sen. Michael Lee, R-New Hanover, said there have been 27,256 applicants in Tier 1, which includes the lowest-income household, as well as 13,060 in Tier 2, 25,750 in Tier 3 and 12,228 in Tier 4, which Lee said half of which come from Mecklenburg and Wake counties. All North Carolina sheriffs began Dec. 1 being required to cooperate with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers for offenses committed on or after that date. Several metro sheriffs — including Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough of Forsyth County and Sheriff Danny Rogers of Guilford County — have limited their cooperation. “No longer will sheriffs in our most populated counties get away with ignoring federal immigration detainers issued by ICE," according to a joint statement from Republican Senate Judiciary Committee chairmen Danny Britt Jr. of Robeson County, Warren Daniel of Burke County and Buck Newton of Wilson County. "With House Bill 10 finally becoming law, and the Trump administration taking over in Washington, we’re on the path toward a stronger border and safer United States.” Another potential casualty within SB382 is the loss of the Forsyth County Superior Court 31-D seat , held by Democrat Todd Burke. The seat would be eliminated in 2029, along with a seat in Wake County also held by a Democrat. In their place, the legislature would create two Superior Court seats, one appointed by the Senate leader and the other by the House speaker. Both judges would serve an eight-year term. Their districts would be identified when the nominees are submitted for appointment. Rep. Robert Reives, D-Chatham, and House minority leader, said Burke’s seat is being eliminated because he took legal stances opposed by Republican legislative leadership and not because of the quality of his overall work or the lack of need for the seat. A primary example came in 2017 when Burke was part of a three-judge panel that ruled it was unconstitutional for the Republican supermajority at that time to revamp the state elections board and ethics commission weeks before Cooper was sworn in to his first term as governor. Sen. Dan Blue, D-Wake, and Senate minority leader, called part of the intent of SB328 to allow Republican legislative leaders to be able to turn to favorable Superior Court judges that they appoint, rather than go before judges that may hold them accountable to the constitutionality of their actions. Yet another successful GOP veto override in House Bill 237 loosened campaign-financing laws and significantly restricted public mask wearing for health and safety reasons. The insertion of state campaign finance law changes into HB237 has been pitched as either leveling the playing field on corporate and union donations, or opening another floodgate for out-of-state dark money into high-profile 2024 election races. HB237 became law amid predictions that the Stein-Robinson governor's race would be among the costliest in the country. “This legislation creates a gaping loophole for secret, unlimited campaign money in the middle of an election year,” Cooper said in a statement. “The legislation also removes protections and threatens criminal charges for people who want to protect their health by wearing a mask." Rep. Sarah Crawford, D-Wake, said the number of North Carolinians affected by the masking part of HB237 could reach 2 million when counting immunocompromised individuals, those that assist them, and workers who require masking to perform their jobs outdoors. A compromise reached between House and Senate Republican leadership narrowly defined exemptions as allowing individuals ages 16 and older to wear a medical or surgical grade mask for the purpose of preventing the spread of contagious disease — with the condition of removing it upon request by law enforcement. “Bad actors have been using masks to conceal their identity when they commit crimes and intimidate the innocent,” said Sen. Danny Britt, R-Scotland, and Senate sponsor of HB237. “Instead of helping put an end to this threatening behavior, the governor wants to continue encouraging these thugs by giving them more time to hide from the consequences of their actions." The Triad will be represented by two new-blood Republican U.S. House candidates in newcomers Pat Harrigan and Addison McDowell . Both cruised to comfortable victories in their respective 10th and 6th district races considering they were all but ordained once they won their primaries in March given their districts were gerrymandered into safe Republican seats during the 2023 redrawing of the state’s congressional map. The redrawn map produced what political analysts had projected: a shift from North Carolina’s 14 congressional seats being split at 7-7 to a 10-4 Republican majority. Their victories were pivotal to U.S. House Republicans holding on to bare majority of seats for the 2025-26 sessions. Democratic-leaning Winston-Salem is in the new 10th, along with Republican-leaning western Forsyth County suburbs and solidly conservative counties Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln and Yadkin. The 6th District is the most Triad-centric of the four U.S. House districts in the region. The new map includes Kernersville, Walkertown and the southern Forsyth border — all Republican strongholds. In Guilford County, the 6th District portion forms a loop shaped like a backward C around the county’s suburban communities and High Point. Also included are all of Davidson, Davie and Rowan counties, and about 20% of Cabarrus County. A bipartisan and controversial N.C. Senate medical marijuana bill cleared the chamber in June for the second time during the 2023-24 sessions. However, Republican House leadership quickly shelved the revamped House Bill 563 without receiving a committee hearing. Outgoing House speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, told legislative media outlets that for a medical marijuana bill to clear the House, there would need to be “reasonable controls,” and a balance to have enough distributors to prescribe and avoid a monopoly. Still, a block of House Republicans has opposed any medical marijuana language out of concern that it could serve as a gateway to legalized recreational marijuana use. They also claim that medical research isn’t definitive that it benefits users. The bill also contains language that would: place Tianeptine, Xylazine and Kratom on the state’s controlled substance schedules; create criminal penalties for criminal possession and unlawful sale of embalming fluid; and create penalties for exposing a minor to a controlled substance. HB563 would permit the use of medical marijuana — prescribed only by licensed physician — for individuals with ALS, cancer, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder and other ailments, but not for those experiencing chronic pain. Importantly, the bill does not allow recreational marijuana usage or the marketing of medical marijuana to anyone under age 21. rcraver@wsjournal.com 336-727-7376 @rcraverWSJ Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

2024: The year of influencer news sources

PM says overbilling by power firms unacceptable, directs completion of smart meters installation

TROY, Ala. (AP) — Damien Taylor rushed for 169 yards and three touchdowns, Matthew Caldwell threw for a touchdown and ran for another, and Troy scored 21 points in less than two minutes in the fourth quarter to beat Southern Miss 52-20 on Saturday. Taylor went straight up the middle from 56-yards out to give Troy a 24-8 lead midway through the third quarter. He added a 35-yard scoring run for a 38-20 lead with 5:50 left in the fourth. On the ensuing possession, intercepted a deflected pass and returned it 31 yards for a 25-point lead. Southern Miss quarterback Tate Rodemaker was intercepted again and LJ Green returned it 49 yards to the Golden Eagles’ 16-yard line. Jordan Lovett capitalized on the short field by running it in from the 5. Taylor reached the 1,000-yard mark on the season for Troy (4-8, 3-5 Sun Belt Conference). Caldwell was 14 of 26 for 187 yards and he carried it seven times for 30 yards. Rodemaker threw for 234 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for Southern Miss (1-11, 0-8). ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: and

Trump's casting call as he builds out his administration: TV experience preferred(The Center Square) – Eleven states, led by Texas, have sued the three largest institutional investors in the world for allegedly conspiring to buy coal company stocks to control the market, reduce competition and violate federal and state antitrust laws. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas Tyler Division and demands a trial by jury. It names as defendants BlackRock, Inc., State Street Corporation, and Vanguard Group, Inc., which combined manage more than $26 trillion in assets. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.The Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), will host SVASTH-24, a student-driven conference dedicated to the future of healthcare technology on November 25 at Manipal. With its theme ‘The future of digital healthcare’ SVASTH-24 aims to connect thought leaders, innovators, and students for discussions on cutting-edge technologies transforming patient care, said a release. Dilip Jose, MDand CEO of Manipal Hospitals, delivers the keynote address, sharing his expertise on the advancements driving digital healthcare. MAHE Vice-Chancellor Lt. Gen. M.D. Venkatesh will speak about the need for the students’ preparedness to deliver technology driven sustainable healthcare solutions. A panel discussion titled ‘Bytes and Bedside’ will focus on the integration of digital tools in patient care and their transformative impact on healthcare systems. There will be an interactive workshop on leadership in healthcare, providing attendees with practical skills to navigate and lead in this rapidly changing sector. Activities like concept poster presentations, quizzes, and discussions involving experts from technical fields, startups, and healthcare innovation hubs will also be there. The conference, to be held at Dr. TMA Pai Halls, 3rd Floor, is open to all who are passionate about exploring and contributing to the future of healthcare, said the release. Published - November 23, 2024 07:47 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit

Abortion has become slightly more common despite bans or deep restrictions in most Republican-controlled states, and the legal and political fights over its future are not over yet. It's now been two and a half years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and opened the door for states to implement bans. The policies and their impact have been in flux ever since the ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. Here's a look at data on where things stand: Overturning Roe and enforcing abortion bans has changed how woman obtain abortions in the U.S. But one thing it hasn't done is put a dent in the number of abortions being obtained. There have been slightly more monthly abortions across the country recently than there were in the months leading up to the June 2022 ruling, even as the number in states with bans dropped to near zero. “Abortion bans don’t actually prevent abortions from happening,” said Ushma Upadhyay, a public health social scientist at the University of California San Francisco. But, she said, they do change care. For women in some states, there are major obstacles to getting abortions — and advocates say that low-income, minority and immigrant women are least likely to be able to get them when they want. For those living in states with bans, the ways to access abortion are through travel or abortion pills. As the bans swept in, abortion pills became a bigger part of the equation. They were involved in about half the abortions before Dobbs. More recently, it’s been closer to two-thirds of them, according to research by the Guttmacher Institute. The uptick of that kind of abortion, usually involving a combination of two drugs, was underway before the ruling. But now, it's become more common for pill prescriptions to be made by telehealth. By the summer of 2024, about 1 in 10 abortions was via pills prescribed via telehealth to patients in states where abortion is banned. As a result, the pills are now at the center of battles over abortion access. This month, Texas sued a New York doctor for prescribing pills to a Texas woman via telemedicine. There's also an effort by Idaho, Kansas and Missouri to roll back their federal approvals and treat them as “controlled dangerous substances,” and a push for the federal government to start enforcing a 19th-century federal law to ban mailing them. Clinics have closed or halted abortions in states with bans. But a network of efforts to get women seeking abortions to places where they're legal has strengthened and travel for abortion is now common. The Guttmacher Institute found that more than twice as many Texas residents obtained abortion in 2023 in New Mexico as New Mexico residents did. And as many Texans received them in Kansas as Kansans. Abortion funds, which benefitted from “rage giving” in 2022, have helped pay the costs for many abortion-seekers. But some funds have had to cap how much they can give . Since the downfall of Roe, the actions of lawmakers and courts have kept shifting where abortion is legal and under what conditions. Here's where it stands now: Florida, the nation’s third most-populous state, began enforcing a ban on abortions after the first six weeks of pregnancy on May 1. That immediately changed the state from one that was a refuge for other Southerners seeking abortion to an exporter of people looking for them. There were about 30% fewer abortions there in May compared with the average for the first three months of the year. And in June, there were 35% fewer. While the ban is not unique, the impact is especially large. The average driving time from Florida to a facility in North Carolina where abortion is available for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy is more than nine hours, according to data maintained by Caitlin Myers, a Middlebury College economics professor. The bans have meant clinics closed or stopped offering abortions in some states. But some states where abortion remains legal until viability – generally considered to be sometime past 21 weeks of pregnancy , though there’s no fixed time for it – have seen clinics open and expand . Illinois, Kansas and New Mexico are among the states with new clinics. There were 799 publicly identifiable abortion providers in the U.S. in May 2022, the month before the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade. And by this November, it was 792, according to a tally by Myers, who is collecting data on abortion providers. But Myers says some hospitals that always provided some abortions have begun advertising it. So they’re now in the count of clinics – even though they might provide few of them. How hospitals handle pregnancy complications , especially those that threaten the lives of the women, has emerged as a major issue since Roe was overturned. President Joe Biden's administration says hospitals must offer abortions when they're needed to prevent organ loss, hemorrhage or deadly infections, even in states with bans. Texas is challenging the administration’s policy and the U.S. Supreme Court this year declined to take it up after the Biden administration sued Idaho. More than 100 pregnant women seeking help in emergency rooms and were turned away or left unstable since 2022, The Associated Press found in an analysis of federal hospital investigative records. Among the complaints were a woman who miscarried in the lobby restroom of Texas emergency room after staff refused to see her and a woman who gave birth in a car after a North Carolina hospital couldn't offer an ultrasound. The baby later died. “It is increasingly less safe to be pregnant and seeking emergency care in an emergency department,” Dara Kass, an emergency medicine doctor and former U.S. Health and Human Services official told the AP earlier this year. Since Roe was overturned, there have been 18 reproductive rights-related statewide ballot questions. Abortion rights advocates have prevailed on 14 of them and lost on four. In the 2024 election , they amended the constitutions in five states to add the right to abortion. Such measures failed in three states: In Florida, where it required 60% support; in Nebraska, which had competing abortion ballot measures; and in South Dakota, where most national abortion rights groups did support the measure. AP VoteCast data found that more than three-fifths of voters in 2024 supported abortion being legal in all or most cases – a slight uptick from 2020. The support came even as voters supported Republicans to control the White House and both houses of Congress. Associated Press writers Linley Sanders, Amanda Seitz and Laura Ungar contributed to this article.DirecTV extends its agreement as title sponsor of the Holiday Bowl

(The Center Square) – Eleven states, led by Texas, have sued the three largest institutional investors in the world for allegedly conspiring to buy coal company stocks to control the market, reduce competition and violate federal and state antitrust laws. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas Tyler Division and demands a trial by jury. It names as defendants BlackRock, Inc., State Street Corporation, and Vanguard Group, Inc., which combined manage more than $26 trillion in assets. The companies were sued for “acquiring substantial stockholdings in every significant publicly held coal producer in the United States” in order to gain “power to control the policies of the coal companies,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said. According to the 109-page brief , defendants own 30.43% of Peabody Energy, 34.19% of Arch Resources, 10.85% of NACCO Industries, 28.97% of CONSOL Energy, 29.7% of Alpha Metallurgical Resources, 24.94% of Vistra Energy, 8.3% of Hallador Energy, 31.62% of Warrior Met Coal and 32.87% of Black Hills Corporation. Under the Biden administration, in the past four years, “America’s coal producers have been responding not to the price signals of the free market, but to the commands of Larry Fink, BlackRock’s chairman and CEO, and his fellow asset managers,” the brief states. “As demand for the electricity Americans need to heat their homes and power their businesses has gone up, the supply of the coal used to generate that electricity has been artificially depressed – and the price has skyrocketed. Defendants have reaped the rewards of higher returns, higher fees, and higher profits, while American consumers have paid the price in higher utility bills and higher costs.” Consumer costs went up because the companies “weaponized” their shares to push through a so-called green energy agenda, including reducing coal output by more than half by 2030, the lawsuit alleges. In response, publicly traded coal producers reduced output and energy prices skyrocketed. The companies advanced their policies primarily through two programs, the Climate Action 100 and Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative, signaling “their mutual intent to reduce the output of thermal coal, which predictably increased the cost of electricity for Americans” nationwide, Paxton said. The firms also allegedly deceived thousands of investors “who elected to invest in non-ESG funds to maximize their profits,” Paxton said. “Yet these funds pursued ESG strategies notwithstanding the defendants’ representations to the contrary.” While they allegedly directly restrained competition among the companies whose shares they acquired, “their war on competition has consequences for the entire industry,” the brief states. “Texas will not tolerate the illegal weaponization of the financial industry in service of a destructive, politicized ‘environmental’ agenda. BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street formed a cartel to rig the coal market, artificially reduce the energy supply, and raise prices,” Paxton said. “Their conspiracy has harmed American energy production and hurt consumers. This is a stunning violation of state and federal law.” The lawsuit alleges the companies’ actions violated the Clayton Act, which prohibits any acquisition of stock where “the effect of such acquisition may be substantially to lessen competition;” and the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, 15 U.S.C. § 1 in a conspiracy to restrain trade. It also alleges the companies violated state antitrust laws of Texas, Montana and West Virginia; Blackrock also allegedly violated the Texas Business and Commerce Code by committing “false, deceptive, or misleading acts.” It asks the court to rule that the companies violated the federal and state statutes, provide injunctive and equitable relief and prohibit them from engaging in such acts. It requests that civil fines be paid, including requiring Blackrock to pay $10,000 per violation. Joining Paxton in the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, West Virginia and Wyoming. The Buzbee Law Firm and Cooper & Kirk are serving as outside counsel. The companies have yet to issue a statement on the lawsuit. The lawsuit follows one filed by 25 states led by Texas against the Biden administration asking the court to halt a federal ESG policy that could negatively impact the retirement savings of 152 million Americans. It also comes after Texas has listed hundreds of companies and publicly traded investment funds, including Blackrock, on its divestment list for advancing ESG and anti-oil and natural gas policies.

SEOUL — Demonstrations were planned across South Korea on Saturday by supporters and opponents of suspended president Yoon Suk Yeol two weeks after he was impeached. Vast protests both for and against Yoon have rocked South Korea since he sought to impose martial law in early December, plunging the country into its worst political crisis in decades. Register to read this story and more for free . Signing up for an account helps us improve your browsing experience. OR See our subscription options.