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Former UN Ambassador Andrew Young rode his scooter alongside Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, Martin Luther King III and a fervent crowd of marchers on a recent Sunday through a southwest Atlanta neighborhood. The group stopped at an early polling location to vote, forming a line with some waiting as long as one hour to cast their ballots. At the age of 90, Young says he is selective about public appearances but felt the “Souls to the Polls” event was one where he could motivate Black voters in Tuesday’s hotly contested US Senate runoff between Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker – a historic matchup between two Black men. Community leaders and political observers say the Black vote has consistently played a pivotal role in high-stakes races for Democrats, including in 2021, when Warnock defeated then-Sen. Kelly Loeffler in a runoff. Black voters likely to cast a ballot are near unanimous in their support for the Democrat (96% Warnock to 3% Walker), according to a CNN poll released last week that showed Warnock with a narrow lead. A second runoff victory for Warnock could once again hinge on Black voter turnout in a consequential race. If Warnock wins, it would give Democrats a clean Senate majority – one that doesn’t rely on Vice President Kamala Harris’ tie-breaking vote and allows Majority Leader Chuck Schumer more control of key committees and some slack in potentially divisive judicial and administrative confirmation fights. Voting, Young said, is the “path to prosperity” for the Black community. He noted that Atlanta’s mass transit system and economic growth have been made possible by voters. “Where we have voted we have prospered,” Young said. The rally led by Young, King and Warnock seems to have set the tone for many Black voters in Georgia. Early voting surged across the state last week with long lines reported across the greater Atlanta area. As of Sunday, more than 1.85 million votes had already been cast, with Black voters accounting for nearly 32% of the turnout, according to the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office. The early voting period, which was significantly condensed from 2021, ended on Friday. Billy Honor, director of organizing for the New Georgia Project Action Fund, said the Black turnout so far looks promising for Democrats. “When we get Black voter turnout in any election statewide that’s between 31 and 33%, that’s usually good for Democrats,” Honor said. “If it’s between 27 and 30%, that’s usually good for Republicans.” Honor added: “This has an impact on elections because we know that if you’re a Democratic candidate, the coalition you have to put together is a certain amount of college-educated White folks, a certain amount of women overall, as many young people as you can get to turn out – and Black voters. That’s the coalition. (Former president) Barack Obama was able to smash that coalition in 2008 in ways we hadn’t seen.” Likeability Young said he believes that Black voters are more likely to show up for runoff elections, which historically have lower turnout than general elections, when the candidate is likeable and relatable. Warnock is a beloved figure in Atlanta’s Black community who pastored the church once led by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. He grew up in public housing and relied on student loans to get through college. Young said Warnock’s story is inspiring. “He is an exciting personality, he’s a great preacher,” Young said. “He speaks from his heart and he speaks about how he and his family have come up in the deep South and developed a wonderful life.” Young said some Black voters may also be voting against Walker, who has made a series of public gaffes, has no political experience and has a history of accusations of violent and threatening behavior. Last week’s CNN poll showed that Walker faces widespread questions about his honesty and suffers from a negative favorability rating, while nearly half of those who back him say their vote is more about opposition to Warnock than support for Walker. Views of Warnock tilt narrowly positive, with 50% of likely voters holding a favorable opinion, 45% unfavorable, while far more likely Georgia voters have a negative view of Walker (52%) than a positive one (39%). Still, Walker is famous as a Heisman Trophy-winning football star from the University of Georgia. And among the majority of likely voters in the CNN poll who said issues are a more important factor to their vote than character or integrity, 64% favor Walker. He campaigned on Sunday with, among others, GOP Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, one of just three Black senators currently serving in the chamber. Scott tried to tie Warnock to President Joe Biden – who, like former President Donald Trump, has steered clear of the Peach State – and reminded voters in Loganville of the GOP’s losses in the 2021 runoffs. At the event, which began with prayers in Creole, Spanish and Swahili from speakers with Ralph Reed’s Faith and Freedom Coalition, Walker encouraged getting out to vote more than he typically does. “If you don’t have a friend, make a friend and get them out to vote,” Walker said. A ‘civic duty’ Back at the “Souls to Polls” march, some Black voters said they were excited to show up and cast their early votes in the runoff race. Travie Leslie said she feels it is her “civic duty” to vote after all the work civil rights leaders in Atlanta did to ensure Black people had the right to vote. Leslie she does not mind standing in line or voting in multiple elections to ensure that a quality candidate gets in office. “I will come 12 times if I must and I encourage other people to do the same thing,” Leslie said Thursday while at the Metropolitan Library polling location in Atlanta. “Just stay dedicated to this because it truly is the best time to be a part of the decision making particularly for Georgia.” Martin Luther King III credited grassroots organizations for registering more Black and brown voters since 2020, when Biden carried the state, and mobilizing Georgians to participate in elections. Their work has led to the long lines of voters in midterm and runoff races, King said. King said he believes Warnock also appeals to Black voters in a way that Walker does not. “Rev. Warnock distinguishes himself quite well,” King said. “He stayed above the fray and defined what he has done.” The Black vote, he said, is likely to make a difference in which candidate wins the runoff. “Black voters, if we come out in massive numbers, then I believe that on December 6 we (Democrats) are going to have a massive victory,” King said. SURSA

Reports of a "gorgon" mass extinction at the end of the Permian period were greatly exaggerated, new research finds. These bizarre paleo-beasts were thought to have died out along with most other life on Earth at the time, but scientists recently found that some of these so-called gorgons survived into the Triassic period. However, they didn't survive long, making them a "dead clade walking," the team said. An analysis of three specimens found in the Karoo Basin in South Africa reveals that this saber-toothed group, known as gorgonopsians, the dominant predators during the late Permian period, managed to survive the "Great Dying." During this event, which took place around 251.9 million years ago and was also known as the end-Permian extinction, about 90% of all species went extinct. Gorgonopsians were an exception — but despite their survival, their prospects weren't great. "'Dead clade walking' is a term used in extinction studies that refers to when a group of organisms technically survives a mass extinction, but is so damaged by it that they never recover, and linger on for a little bit before finally disappearing," project co-researcher Christian Kammerer(opens in new tab), the research curator of paleontology at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh, told Live Science in an email. Dead clades walking may last millions of years after a mass extinction "but never re-diversify or attain substantial abundance in ecosystems, so they are effectively already 'dead' from a macroevolutionary perspective," he explained. The research was presented Nov. 3 at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology's annual conference in Toronto and has yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Related: Ancient saber-toothed 'gorgons' bit each other in ritualized combat A late Permian Cyonosaurus specimen displayed in the Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town, South Africa. A late Permian Cyonosaurus specimen displayed in the Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town, South Africa. (Image credit: Christian Kammerer) Gorgonopsians — named after the mythical and monstrous Greek gorgons, whose looks could turn people to stone — existed long before the dinosaurs emerged during the Triassic about 240 million to 230 million years ago. The researchers were aware of a partial gorgonopsian skull from the Karoo Basin dating to the Triassic period's Induan age (251.9 million to 251.2 million years ago). Other researchers had dismissed that skull, thinking it had been misidentified or incorrectly dated. But a new investigation revealed that it was "definitely a gorgonopsian," possibly from the genus Cyonosaurus, said Kammerer and lead author Julien Benoit(opens in new tab), a senior researcher of paleontology at the Evolutionary Studies Institute of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Then, the duo analyzed two additional specimens, likely also members of Cyonosaurus, from the Karoo Basin. Of the three gorgonopsian specimens, two are from sites spanning the Permo-Triassic boundary, and the third is from an early Triassic layer. The fossil remains of a Cyonosaurus gorgonopsian at the Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town, South Africa Fossil remains of Cyonosaurus at Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town, South Africa (Image credit: Christian Kammerer) It's possible that Cyonosaurus survived the mass extinction due to its small size, abundance and flexible diet. The fox-size carnivore — which sported a snout that was narrow, elongated and packed with teeth — was one of the smallest known gorgonopsians on record. Small, generalist predators typically adapt better to changing ecosystems than large, specialist predators do and are therefore more likely to weather catastrophic events, Kammerer said. "So if there was any gorgonopsian that we would expect might survive into the Triassic, it would beCyonosaurus," he said.After the mass extinction, biodiversity crashed in the Karoo Basin, and an herbivorous, tusked animal called Lystrosaurus, which lived during parts of the Permian and Triassic, skyrocketed in numbers, "So, Cyonosaurus likely did not run out of preys," Benoit told Live Science in an email. Research is ongoing, and "further scrutiny of these sites is necessary," the team said. But the data indicate that gorgonopsians survived into the earliest part of the Triassic, which is about as surprising as a tyrannosaur surviving the asteroid slamming into Earth, the scientists joked in their conference abstract. That said, Triassic gorgonopsians were rare and from a single genus, so this dead clade walking "should still be considered a victim of the end-Permian mass extinction," the researchers said. SURSA

The high-end supercar segment is a little like Formula 1 racing—it's a club that doesn't include many Americans. Of the nearly 800 drivers who've ever competed in the series, fewer than 7 percent have been Americans, and a pitiful number of them have won many races, with the last to do so being Italian-born Mario Andretti—in 1978. Perhaps not coincidentally, of all the hyper- and supercars available globally, just a meager handful are built here in pickuptruckland—mostly at boutique shops like Hennessey, Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus, and SSC North America—and mostly at seven-figure prices. Into the breach comes the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 with Z07 package from the decidedly un-boutique house of General Motors, seemingly meeting all the qualifications for membership in the fraternal order of supercars. Should buyers contemplating purchase of an Olde World supercar from the likes of McLaren (eight F1 constructors' championships) or Lamborghini (seven GT3 championships) also be kicking the tires of the mid-engine Corvette Z06, developed by Corvette Racing (eight LeMans class wins)? To find out, we rounded up a Z06 and two of the hottest new supercars available—the 2022 McLaren 765LT Spider and the 2023 Lamborghini Huracán LP 640-2 Tecnica—and spent a week flogging them in our initiation trials. And let us state right here at the top that these cars enjoy parity on performance—not price, as the cost difference between each is roughly the price of this Corvette. 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Z07 vs 2023 Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica vs 2022 McLaren 765LT Spider 8 filterSEE ALL 77 PHOTOS Supercar Engine? The Corvette Stingray and Z51 are dynamically brilliant, but their pushrod muscle car engine precludes them from supercar consideration. So Chevy tapped its Corvette Racing team partners Pratt & Miller for assistance co-developing a road car engine alongside its GTLM engine. Together, they've developed what seemed impossible: a 5.5-liter naturally aspirated flat-plane-crankshaft V-8 that doesn't shake itself to pieces. Without racing restrictor plates, it churns out 670 hp at 8,400 rpm and 460 lb-ft at 6,300 rpm, ranking it as the world's largest and most powerful V-8 of this configuration. And prior to road car production, the design survived three grueling years of endurance racing. The icing on the cake is its delightful engine bark, which sounds like a Ferrari 458's tenor aria being sung by a barrel-chested baritone—much more supercar than muscle car. Lamborghini's high-strung 5.2-liter V-10 produces almost precisely as many horses per liter as the Corvette but fewer lb-ft, so it feels noticeably less torquey. But oh, what a joyful noise those 631 horses and 417 lb-ft make! Extremely exotic and far more mellifluous than most production 10-bangers—think Lexus LFA as opposed to SRT Viper V-10. And it makes a lot of it. McLaren's wee 4.0-liter V-8 leans on two twin-scroll turbos to deliver 56 percent more horsepower and 80 percent more torque per liter than the two naturally aspirated engines can manage. And as the current top-dog offering in McLaren's mid-tier "supercar" lineup, it produces a whopping 755 horses' worth of right-now power and 590 lb-ft torque. Drop the hammer in any corner exit, and the shove against your back feels considerably stronger than that of the free breathers, but the engine sound is vastly less pleasing. Supercar Transmission Combustion-powered supercars mostly use twin-clutch automatic transmissions, and each of these cars puts its own spin on the concept. Lamborghini's Doppia Frizione and McLaren's Seamless Shift Gearbox (both built by Graziano) employ seven ratios, while the Corvette's Tremec box features eight. That's because the Corvette is aiming for both 0-60-mph bragging rights at the low end and quiet cruising with decent highway fuel economy at the top end. Hence it features the shortest first gear ratio (by 3-7 percent) and the tallest top gear ratio (by 42-84 percent). The Lamborghini gets the closest and most evenly spaced ratios, designed to maximize leverage across the entire speed range and to hit its 200-mph top speed at redline. (The Corvette's eighth gear could theoretically hit 370 mph in a vacuum.) The McLaren's gearing slots somewhere in between, imperiously disinterested in 60-mph sprinting, comfort, noise, or fuel economy. 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Z07 vs 2023 Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica vs 2022 McLaren 765LT Spider 4 filterSEE ALL 77 PHOTOS Each offers automatic and paddle-actuated manual shifting, with paddles mounted to the wheel on the Corvette and 765LT and to the column on the Huracán. The Corvette's automatic shift strategy is most ideally pegged to the drive modes, with Track mode being the most aggressive at holding gears or preemptively downshifting, prompting features editor Scott Evans to declare: "They've cracked the Porsche PDK code. This thing shifts as well as any Porsche I have driven." The McLaren box was nearly as astute and also permits auto shifting in all drive modes. In the Lamborghini's top Corsa mode, there's no automatic shift option, but at least its shift warning system is brighter and more obvious than the one in the Chevy's head-up display, and it's more comprehensible than the McLaren's three-segment green-red-blue indicator system. However, Evans found fault with the shift "quality" of the Lamborghini in Corsa mode, which he likened to "a shovel to the back of the head." Chassis And Aero This particular Corvette contending for supercardom comes fully optioned with the Z07 Ultimate Performance package ($8,995), which buys slightly stiffer springs, unique tuning of the Magnetic Ride Control suspension, plus carbon-ceramic brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires. Its $11,995 carbon-fiber wheels shave about 10 pounds of both unsprung mass and rotational inertia per corner. Finally, there are $10,495 worth of carbon-fiber aero enhancements, including a high wing, dive planes, and a more aggressive splitter, diffuser, and ground effects. (Note, skinflints can shave $2K off both those latter prices with painted instead of visible-weave carbon.) But the Corvette's structure is still mostly aluminum, and our 3LZ test model is decked out with lots of creature comforts, so it weighs the most of this trio by 216 to 463 pounds. Meanwhile, our Tecnica slots into the rear-drive Lamborghini Huracán lineup between the EVO and STO performance versions, with its suspension softened a bit and its aero downforce and drag reduced slightly relative to the most extreme STO. It shares that model's rear-wheel steering and Bridgestone Potenza Race tires, however. The carbon-tub McLaren is by far the lightest and most extreme car here, with its titanium exhaust and thinner, lighter glazing paring away precious ounces. The Spider's roof mechanism adds 130 pounds without altering the structural rigidity, but tuning revisions to the Spider's hydraulically cross-linked suspension actually improve the overall behavior of the car, potentially making this the preferable version even if you don't lower the top. The splitter and rear wing create substantial downforce, and the wing flips up nearly vertical when braking for added stability. Brakes are borrowed from the mighty Senna, and lightweight forged alloys are shod in Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires. 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Z07 vs 2023 Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica vs 2022 McLaren 765LT Spider 6 filterSEE ALL 77 PHOTOS Trial 1: Acceleration We doubt supercar owners drag race their cars very often, but each of these cars comes equipped with a launch control mode just in case. The Corvette and Lamborghini systems dumped the clutch at about 4,500 rpm, while the torquier McLaren only dialed up 3,000 revs. The Corvette alone benefited from a pre-launch burnout to warm and soften the treads. It should be noted that testing the Lamborghini triggered an Apple Watch loud-noise warning, so wear ear plugs on track days. The Corvette's gearing gambit pays off with the quickest sprint to 60 mph (2.8 seconds, a tenth ahead of the others), but taller gearing from there on blunts the Corvette's acceleration enough to let the others pull away from 80 mph on up. By the quarter mile, the Huracán is 0.2 second ahead, the McLaren 0.5, with trap speeds telling the real weight-to-power story—the McLaren hits 142.6 mph, the Lambo 134.5, and the heavier, aero-drag-bedeviled Chevy just 128.2. Trial 2: Braking You'd expect three mid-engine cars with 40/60-ish percent weight distribution and carbon brakes averaging 15 inches in diameter all around to stop similarly, and you'd be right: They each need 93-96 feet to stop from 60 mph. But here again the braking systems demonstrate unique personalities. The McLaren's pedal barely moves, but response to pressure is linear and predictable, and our team quickly acclimated to the system's seemingly bottomless reserves of whoa. By contrast, senior features editor Jonny Lieberman described the Lamborghini's non-linear brakes as its fatal flaw. "Up in the canyons, the fact that there's almost no travel whatsoever kills the experience," he said. "Jumpy is the best way to describe it." Meanwhile, the Corvette's stoppers felt plenty linear, but their brake-by-wire pedal-force transducer lacked feedback, disappointing executive editor Mac Morrison. "I found myself figuring out my braking distances almost by vision alone rather than a normal combination of vision and feel," he said. The Corvette's brakes were also the only ones to squeal upon initial application, which saps some psychological confidence. But there's no debating their capability, which is even more impressive from 100 mph, where the Corvette stops in just 252 feet—2 feet shorter than the 463-pound-lighter McLaren with its Senna stoppers and air brake (254 feet) and 6 feet better than of the Lamborghini (258 feet). 2022 McLaren 765LT Spider 5 filterSEE ALL 77 PHOTOS Trial 3: Turning Let's face it, this is where seven generations of front-engine Corvettes really came up short relative to supercars. They could generate a competitive lap time or lateral grip number but only by leaning heavily on the tires, causing lap times to plunge as tires heated up and wore down. The C8 Corvette's inherent eagerness to turn allows the Z06 to maintain a competitive pace longer—especially with the Z07 and Aero packages. In fact, our Z06/Z07's acceleration, braking, and stout 1.16 g lateral grip helped it string together MotorTrend's second-best figure-eight performance ever: 21.9 seconds at 0.99 average g. Wanna guess our number one? This very McLaren 765LT Spider, which managed 1.17 g lateral grip and charged harder out of the corners to finish its lap 0.05 second ahead of the 'Vette, in 21.8 seconds at 1.01 g average. The comparatively lumbering Lambo's 22.6-second, 0.94 g (avg) lap ranks way down in 31st place. For a change, these numbers accurately represent what the cars are like to drive on the road and the track. Our "accomplished amateur" editors all reported building confidence surprisingly quickly and easily in both the McLaren and Corvette on the track, swiftly developing trust in each car's exceptionally high cornering and braking limits, with each communicating grip levels clearly and behaving commendably at the limit. This was a welcome surprise in the McLaren Spider. Its fixed-roof sibling has struck us as a bit too extreme, but Lieberman lauded the softened front-end spring rates and damping for making this "one of the best cars I've ever driven on the street—up there with Paganis and Bugattis, for millions of dollars less." Meanwhile, the Huracán's Corsa mode damping was deemed too extreme for anything but pristine pavement, and many felt it just seemed less confident and planted than its STO sibling, let alone these other two high-limit smooth operators. The cockpits contribute to driver confidence, too, with the McLaren's canopy-style windshield affording the best visibility, its wheel and pedals positioned ideally, and its hard-shell seat and shoulder wings resisting the most extreme lateral forces. By contrast, the Lambo is hard to see out of in any direction, and its cramped footwell compromised the driving position for some. The Corvette strikes a reasonable middle ground with good visibility, the most comfortable seating, and reasonably placed controls (though many fault its "squircle" steering wheel). Chevy also enhances the driving fun with features like a g-meter in Sport mode's head-up display, which retains peak g figures long enough for the driver to note them after the road straightens out, and a performance data recorder that captures video of a track session or back road run, overlaid with speed, tach, g-meter data, and more for subsequent study or to share with friends. How They Work As Cars There's only one car here that sane adults would contemplate driving for more than an hour, and that's the Corvette. Its Tour mode is far and away the quietest and most comfortable by several orders of magnitude, its comfy seats are heated and cooled, you can hear and enjoy its Bose sound system, and there's room to carry up to 12.6 cubic feet of luggage (or the roof panel plus a carry-on suitcase). The Lamborghini interior looks the most upscale exotic, but the din at highway speeds is (perhaps literally) deafening, and the frunk can barely accommodate a helmet. And comfort was obviously absent on the priorities list for those designing the McLaren. Its seat becomes a borderline torture device about 10 minutes after the lateral g forces subside, controls for things like the cruise control and mirror switches are inscrutable, the B&W sound system is hopelessly outmatched by the V-8, and the "automatic climate control" simply isn't. 2022 McLaren 765LT Spider 2 filterSEE ALL 77 PHOTOS Bottom Line Our week with these three cars suggests the Corvette does indeed have the chops to run with the supercar crowd. We wish its design was a bit less busy and juvenile, and we hope an over-the-air update might improve the brake feel, but the car's dynamics and visceral appeal earn it legit supercar status as far as we're concerned. To wit: It earns a solid second-place finish among these two establishment supercars. So yes, we're crowning the McLaren the superior supercar, owing to its mesospheric performance limits and the ease with which we mere mortals were able to probe them. Now let the Corvette's unofficial supercar-club initiation ceremonies commence at track days, rallies, and Cars & Coffee events everywhere. 3rd Place: 2023 Lamborghini Huracán LP 640-2 Tecnica Pros Exotic design Natural V-10 power Killer engine note Cons Grabby brakes Transmission shift strategy/harshness Dangerously loud Verdict: Changes made to the STO reduce performance more than they improve livability, compromising its supercar mission. 2nd Place: 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (Z07) Pros Approachable supercar dynamics Exotic engine Corvette comfort Cons Wooden brake feel Study-hall styling Could lose 200 pounds Verdict: America's sports car—in Z06/Z07 guise—is now America's supercar. 1st Place: 2022 McLaren 765LT Spider Pros Spaceship style Stellar steering/brake feel Can-Am sucker-car grip Cons Spanish inquisition seat Obtuse ergonomics Truckish engine note Verdict: A hypercar at supercar pricing.POWERTRAIN/CHASSIS 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (Z07) Specifications 2023 Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica Specifications 2022 McLaren 765LT Spider Specifications DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT Mid-engine, RWD Mid-engine, RWD Mid-engine, RWD ENGINE TYPE Direct-injected DOHC 32-valve 90-degree V-8, alum block/heads Port- and direct-injected DOHC 40-valve 90-degree V-10, alum block/heads Twin-turbo port-injected DOHC 32-valve 90-degree V-8, alum block/heads DISPLACEMENT 5,463 cc/333.4 cu in 5,204 cc/317.6 cu in 3,994 cc/243.7 cu in COMPRESSION RATIO 12.5:1 12.7:1 8.7:1 POWER (SAE NET) 670 hp @ 8,400 rpm 631 hp @ 8,000 rpm 755 hp @ 7,500 rpm TORQUE (SAE NET) 460 lb-ft @ 6,300 rpm 417 lb-ft @ 6,500 rpm 590 lb-ft @ 5,500 rpm REDLINE 8,500 rpm 8,500 rpm 8,500 rpm WEIGHT TO POWER 5.5 lb/hp 5.5 lb/hp 4.3 lb/hp TRANSMISSION 8-speed twin-clutch auto 7-speed twin-clutch auto 7-speed twin-clutch auto AXLE/FINAL-DRIVE RATIO 5.56:1/1.83:1 4.89:1 (1,4,5,R), 3.94:1 (2,3,6,7)/3.31:1 3.73:1/2.56:1 SUSPENSION, FRONT; REAR Control arms, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar; control arms, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar Control arms, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar; control arms, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar Control arms, coil springs, adj shocks, adj anti-roll system; control arms, coil springs, adj shocks, adj anti-roll system STEERING RATIO 15.7:1 13.4:1 14.7:1 TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK 2.5 2.4 2.5 BRAKES, F; R 15.7-in vented, drilled, carbon-ceramic disc; 15.4-in vented, drilled, carbon-ceramic disc 15.0-in vented, drilled, carbon-ceramic disc; 14.0-in vented, drilled, carbon-ceramic disc 15.4-in vented, drilled, carbon-ceramic disc; 15.0-in vented, drilled, carbon-ceramic disc WHEELS, F;R 10.0 x 20-in; 13.0 x 21-in carbon fiber 8.5 x 20-in; 11.0 x 20-in forged aluminum 9.0 x 19-in; 11.0 x 20-in forged aluminum TIRES, F;R 275/30R20 97Y; 345/25R21 104Y Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R ZP 245/30R20 90Y; 305/30R20 103Y Bridgestone Potenza Race 245/35R19 93Y; 305/30R20 103Y Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R MC1 DIMENSIONS WHEELBASE 107.2 in 103.2 in 105.0 in TRACK, F/R 66.3/66.1 in 65.7/63.9 in 65.2/64.0 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 185.9 x 79.7 x 48.6 in 179.8 x 76.1 x 45.9 in 181.0 x 76.0 x 47.0 in TURNING CIRCLE 36.4 ft 37.7 ft 40.4 ft CURB WEIGHT (DIST F/R) 3,686 lb (40/60%) 3,470 lb (41/59%) 3,223 lb (41/59%) SEATING CAPACITY 2 2 2 HEADROOM 37.9 in 37.0 in 37.6 in LEGROOM 42.8 in 40.9 in 42.4 in SHOULDER ROOM 54.4 in 57.9 in 51.1 in CARGO VOLUME 12.6 cu ft 3.5 cu ft 5.3 cu ft ACCELERATION TO MPH 0-30 1.2 sec 1.3 sec 1.4 sec 0-40 1.6 1.8 1.9 0-50 2.1 2.3 2.4 0-60 2.8 2.8 2.9 0-70 3.4 3.4 3.4 0-80 4.3 4.2 4.0 0-90 5.2 5.0 4.7 0-100 6.3 6.0 5.5 0-100-0 9.8 9.6 9.0 PASSING, 45-65 MPH 1.2 1.1 1.0 QUARTER MILE 10.8 sec @ 128.2 mph 10.6 sec @ 134.5 mph 10.3 sec @ 142.6 mph BRAKING, 60-0; 100-0 MPH 95 ft 96 ft 93 ft LATERAL ACCELERATION 1.16 g (avg) 1.09 g (avg) 1.17 g (avg) MT FIGURE EIGHT 21.9 sec @ 0.99 g (avg) 22.6 sec @ 0.94 g (avg) 21.8 sec @ 1.01 g (avg) TOP-GEAR REVS @ 60 MPH 1,300 rpm 2,500 rpm 1,800 rpm CONSUMER INFO BASE PRICE $132,540 $244,795 $389,700 PRICE AS TESTED $164,805 $332,095 $490,810 AIRBAGS 4: Dual front, front side/head 6: Dual front, front side, front knee 6: Dual front, front side/head, front knee BASIC WARRANTY 3 yrs/36,000 miles 3 yrs/Unlimited miles 3 yrs/Unlimited miles POWERTRAIN WARRANTY 5 yrs/60,000 miles 3 yrs/Unlimited miles 3 yrs/Unlimited miles ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE 5 yrs/60,000 miles 3 yrs/Unlimited miles 3 yrs/Unlimited miles FUEL CAPACITY 18.5 gal 21.1 gal 19.0 gal EPA CITY/HWY/COMB ECON 12/19/14 mpg 13/18/15 mpg 14/18/16 mpg EPA RANGE, COMB 259 miles 317 miles 304 miles RECOMMENDED FUEL Unleaded premium Unleaded premium Unleaded premium ON SALE Now Now Now SURSA

Kate Middleton has a sterling sense of fashion and she knows exactly what it is that would look good on her. The Princess of Wales, through her numerous public appearances, has proven time and again that her sartorial sense is superlative and incomparable. There have hardly been occasions where she has been spotted doing a fashion faux pas; Kate’s recent appearances from her US visit are eye-catching, too.The Duchess of Cambridge, in one of her stunning evening looks, remembered and paid tribute to her mother-in-law Princess Diana, who was the erstwhile Princess of Wales and hailed for her fashion sense and splendid accessories. Kate Middleton, Kate Middleton news, Kate Middleton in US, Kate Middleton choker, Kate Middleton tribute to Princess Diana, Kate Middleton emerald choker, Kate Middleton Earthshot Prize awards, indian express news Princess of Wales attends the second annual Earthshot Prize Awards at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway, in Boston. (REUTERS/Katherine Taylor) Along with her husband Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge and the Prince of Wales, Kate attended the 2022 Earthshot Prize awards at the MGM Music Hall in Boston in an earthly colour: an off-the-shoulder mint green gown with long sleeves. SURSA

Jakarta, Indonesia CNN — Indonesia’s Mount Semeru erupted on Sunday, blanketing roads and homes in volcanic ash and prompting evacuations of nearly 2,000 residents in East Java province, according to authorities in the country. A statement Sunday from Indonesia’s disaster management agency (BNPB) said no injuries or deaths have so far been reported and evacuees have taken shelter in public facilities, including village halls and schools. More than 20,000 face masks have been handed out to mitigate respiratory health risks from volcanic ash, it added. Mount Semeru, which lies around 640 kilometers (400 miles) southeast of the capital Jakarta, began erupting at 2:46 a.m. local time Sunday (2:46 p.m. ET Saturday), according to BNPB. Videos shared by BNPB showed nearby villages covered in gray ash. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, PVMBG, said in a statement the alert level of volcanic activity had been raised to the highest Level 4. The agency warned residents to stay at least 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) away from Semeru’s eruption center, adding that volcanic ash had reached as far as 12 kilometers (7.4 miles) from the epicenter. Japan’s Meteorological Agency said the plume from the eruption reached 15 kilometers (about 49,200 feet) into the air. The agency said in a statement Sunday there had been no tsunami impact following the eruption. Pyroclastic flow rolls down the slope of Mount Semeru during an eruption in Lumajang, East Java. Pyroclastic flow rolls down the slope of Mount Semeru during an eruption in Lumajang, East Java. AP Indonesia, an archipelago of 270 million people, sits on the “Ring of Fire,” a band around the Pacific Ocean that sets off frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. Standing at 3,676 meters (12,060 feet), Mount Semeru is the tallest volcano on Java – and one of its most active ones. More than 50 people were killed and thousands more displaced when it erupted last year. People take shelter at a community hall in Candipuro village following Mount Semeru's volcanic eruption in Lumajang, East Java on December 4, 2022. People take shelter at a community hall in Candipuro village following Mount Semeru's volcanic eruption in Lumajang, East Java on December 4, 2022. Juni Kriswanto/AFP/Getty Images Compared to the 2021 eruption, PVMBG chief Hendra Gunawan said the agency saw the potential for a larger volume of magma from the eruption Sunday. “Therefore Semeru’s hot clouds could reach further (this year) and at that distance there are many residences,” he said. Rescue workers monitor the flow of volcanic materials from the eruption of Mount Semeru, in Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia, on December 4, 2022. Rescue workers monitor the flow of volcanic materials from the eruption of Mount Semeru, in Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia, on December 4, 2022. Hendra Permana/AP The eruption in East Java on Sunday follows a series of earthquakes on the west of the island, including one last month that killed more than 300 people. The deadly November quake that hit West Java’s Cianjur was a shallow temblor of 5.6 magnitude. A much deeper quake on Saturday in the town of Garut of 6.1 magnitude sent people running from buildings but did not cause major damage. SURSA

Rep. Jim Clyburn, who is the current Democratic whip, was elected by affirmation as assistant leader in the next Congress after Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island launched a last-minute bid to run against him Wednesday. Cicilline surprised Democrats with his 11th hour bid, saying in a letter to his colleagues obtained by CNN that he believed it was important to have an LGBTQ person in leadership. During a closed-door meeting with Democrats on Thursday, he addressed his caucus and announced he was withdrawing his name, paving the way for Clyburn to win by acclamation. Clyburn is the only lawmaker of the top three Democrats who is staying in leadership in the next Congress. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced weeks ago they would step down from leadership and become rank-and-file members in the next Congress. House Democrats chose caucus chair Hakeem Jeffries of New York to succeed Pelosi as leader of the Democrats in the chamber next year, a historic move that will make him the first Black person to lead one of the two major parties in either chamber of Congress. Jeffries ran unopposed as leader, with Massachusetts Rep. Katherine Clark, current assistant speaker, running as whip and California Rep. Peter Aguilar, previously vice chair of the caucus, and was expected to win the spot to lead the House Democratic caucus. Clark and Aguilar won those positions as well. Clyburn will be fourth in line in leadership now. SURSA

Well, if there's one thing our favorite electric vehicle startups have all shared, it's a penchant for innovation—from luxury hatchbacks with third-row seats and SUVs with "falcon-wing" doors, to trucks with gear tunnels and supercar suspensions, to 500-mile sedans powered by 500-plus-hp motors tiny and light enough to fit in a roll-aboard suitcase. Now we're adding to that roster the 2024 Canoo Lifestyle Vehicle—a 21-window retrotastic van with mosh-pit seating, swappable "top-hat" bodies, and a truly fresh take on vehicle life-cycle planning. Is Canoo Viable? It's a question worth asking about any EV startup that hasn't yet produced cars yet, and things indeed looked a little shaky last year for the California-based firm. But like Rivian, Canoo is lining up fleet customers to keep the lights on (e.g., Walmart has ordered 4,500 LDVs, or Lifestyle Delivery Vehicles). Unlike Rivian, Canoo will only be selling to fleet customers for the first year of production. (Those customers will also hopefully soon include the U.S. military, for Canoo's Light Tactical Vehicle that we also reviewed.) These fleets will expose the vehicle to harder use than retail families would, and so will swiftly and efficiently uncover any remaining development issues prior to the retail launch of the passenger-carrying Lifestyle Vehicle. Canoo Lineup And Production Rollout The VW Microbus-esque Lifestyle Vehicle was the first Canoo to break cover, and a simpler delivery-van version of that body is the first to launch. The first 120 "Gamma" prototypes of various models have been built in Livonia, Michigan, using space rented from Roush Industries (we drove one of these not quite final-final models). Roush has also helped a bit with worker training, but the tooling and manufacturing process all belong to Canoo, and the employees assembling them have either been flown in from Oklahoma or hired locally with plans to relocate to Oklahoma when official production migrates there in the first quarter of 2023. The first official customer vehicles began rolling off this temporary line on November 17, bound for Walmart, NASA, and other fleet buyers. Pickup variants (in regular, extended, and crew cab configurations) are still part of the product plan, and we're assured features like the drop-down sides, gear-tunnel drawers, extending pickup floor, and "barn-door" tailgate are still part of the plan. The larger, more angular Multi-Purpose Delivery Van (MPDV) program is also still active. And current production plans call for initially producing more skateboards than top hats, suggesting the company sees a market for this low-profile, fully by-wire platform. Canoo LDV 31 filterSEE ALL 48 PHOTOS Inside The Lifestyle Vehicle Simply climbing aboard is a unique experience. The front doors are wide and rectangular, meaning there's open space right where your head usually ducks under an A-pillar. The rear doors are also wide and swing open on rear-mounted hinges—like on a Rolls-Royce or Lincoln Continental Coach Door. And as in those cars, the main bench seat is positioned behind the C-pillar, leaving floorspace sufficient for practicing yoga (or mounting a wheelchair ramp). Premium models get jump seats that mount to the doors, with retractable seat bottoms and full three-point belts. When deployed, their occupants face each other, and unoccupied cushions can serve as ottomans for the outboard bench-seat occupants. Two more jump seats fold down behind each front seatback, but they're only for use when stopped, with the front seatbacks leaned forward. The rear-door windows don't go down, but the rear quarter windows do, and there will be an option to have the little vista windows around the roof perimeter pop open. When folded up against the front seatbacks, wings on the temporary jump seats serve as outboard armrests for the front occupants—which they need, because moving the front seats far enough inboard for the driver's feet to clear the front wheels puts the doors out of reach. The pedal environment is perfect, but while there's a single center armrest between the seats, there's no room for a center console, and two burly linebackers might rub shoulders. There's no "dashboard." A digital speedometer readout and indicators for the turn signal and drive gear are centered at the base of the windshield. Below this is another window offering a view of what's immediately in front. That panel may one day open to access stowage space ahead of the front occupants' feet. Multiple thin pillars separating the various glass panels ahead of the official A-pillar didn't prove distracting and overall visibility is excellent. Canoo LDV 17 filterSEE ALL 48 PHOTOS A 10.0-inch touchscreen mounts to the driver's A-pillar, within easy reach of the steering wheel. It controls most secondary functions (rails above and below are planned, for steadying a hand on bumpy roads). That screen seems designed to minimize distraction, offering few compelling infographics … yet. Wiper controls share the turn-signal stalk, while the right stalk serves as the gear selector. Climate controls are arrayed across a slim aluminum cross-car beam, within reach of the passenger. The HVAC system is convective, relying on circulating air, not air that directly blows on the occupants. As such there are no vent registers visible except a row along the top of the windshield. In 40-degree weather, the 72-degree setting quickly felt comfortable with no dry eyes, but the tougher test will be how quickly such a system can make occupants feel cool on a hot day—especially in a vehicle with so much glass. Canoo's seating arrangement prioritizes excellent comfort for four or five, passable comfort for seven (in those premium models), and not much cargo flexibility—of the 130 cubic feet of space available in the LDV, there's only room for 13.0 cubes of stuff (or three golf bags) behind the folding-backrest, non-removable rear seat. It's NOT a minivan, remember? Is It A Legit Muscle Van? Riding on the wheelbase of a Toyota Prius with by-wire steering controlled by a square steering "wheel" twirling a lightning-quick rack (1.2 turns lock-to-lock), it feels nimble and quick-witted, and the turning circle is crazy tight. The skateboard chassis features patented composite transverse leaf springs of variable cross-section, which helps keep the entire suspension low—the tops of the shocks are about even with the tops of the tires. The LV swallows speed bumps with suppleness, while minimal body lean, squat, and dive suggest a certain sportiness. This isn't a "forward-control" van like a Microbus, but the upright, forward seating position places the driver's eyes unusually close to the steering axle. Combine this with that speedy steering and we managed to clip the first curb or two. Braking regen is programmable in three levels ranging from unobtrusively light to full one-pedal driving. cancel mute CLICK TO UNMUTE play action volume toggle fullscreen video crop free Left Arrow 2024 Canoo MPDV Delivery Van Revealed! 2024 Canoo MPDV Delivery Van Revealed! 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R First Look: T-Rex Predator 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R First Look: T-Rex Predator 2022 Chevrolet Equinox RS Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2022 Chevrolet Equinox RS Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2022 Chevrolet Silverado High Country Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2022 Chevrolet Silverado High Country Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2023 Honda CR-V First Look: The Best CR-V Yet? 2023 Honda CR-V First Look: The Best CR-V Yet? 2022 Hyundai Elantra N DCT Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2022 Hyundai Elantra N DCT Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2022 Audi A4 Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2022 Audi A4 Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2021 Ram 1500 TRX on the Trans-America Trail 2021 Ram 1500 TRX on the Trans-America Trail 2022 Kia Seltos Nightfall Turbo AWD Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2022 Kia Seltos Nightfall Turbo AWD Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide Top Gear America, Season 2 | Two-Episode Premiere Streaming Now! Top Gear America, Season 2 | Two-Episode Premiere Streaming Now! Top Gear America | Season 2 Is Streaming Now on MotorTrend+! Top Gear America | Season 2 Is Streaming Now on MotorTrend+! Right Arrow The rear-mounted 200-pound motor, which Canoo designed, builds, and holds 58 patents on, is capable of 350 hp and 304 lb-ft. Canoo envisions making output programmable between 200 and 350 hp, with lower power boosting efficiency, reducing wear and tear, and potentially lowering use-based insurance costs. It was set to 285 hp for our drive, and in a 4,750-pound vehicle with three people onboard, its weight-to-power was worse than that of a Chevy Bolt EV or Nissan Leaf. Canoo's 9.7:1 gear reduction ratio is notably shorter than those two, though, so it accelerates more snappily, but it's certainly no rail gun. A future two-motor AWD version with both motors cranked to max output may wear the muscle-van moniker more comfortably. Unique Sales Proposition Canoo originally proposed an all-subscription model, but inflation and volatile interest rates complicate such a model. Retail sales and leasing will primarily be handled online and directly with the factory. Canoo contends that the value of a vehicle is ultimately determined by its second and third owners. Toward that end, the company's skateboard design prioritizes longevity and quick, easy repairability with lifelong upgradability. A powertrain swap takes two hours, and the entire body top hat shouldn't take much longer. In this way, the Canoo recalls a different vintage VW—the Beetle—many of which enjoyed second lives as sand rails and dune buggies. Canoo LDV 24 filterSEE ALL 48 PHOTOS Bottom Line We've loved the Canoo Lifestyle Vehicle's exterior design from the moment we saw it (especially the pickup). We're intrigued with the interior layout and we look forward to spending more time in it to answer questions like, is supreme footstool comfort for two rear occupants some of the time worth making occupants six and seven miserable sitting sideways? Is loading bulky stuff in through the back doors as easy/easier than loading it in the hatch? Is there enough luggage room for reasonable trips with four or more occupants? And we sincerely hope Canoo can stick to its "sub-$50,000" price estimate when retail customer cars come out in 2024. Looks good! More details? 2024 Canoo Lifestyle Vehicle Specifications BASE PRICE $50,000 (est) LAYOUT Rear-motor, RWD, 6-pass, 4-door van MOTOR 200-350-hp/304-lb-ft AC permanent-magnet electricTRANSMISSION 1-speed auto CURB WEIGHT 4,750 lb (mfr) WHEELBASE 112.2 in L x W x H 184.1 x 78.0 x 75.6 in 0-60 MPH 6.0 sec (MT est) EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON Not yet rated mpg EPA RANGE, COMB 200 miles (est) ON SALE Early 2023 (fleet), 2024 (retail) SURSA

Though a po[CENSORED]r and delectable dish that is consumed in many Indian states, palak and paneer is not really a healthy food combination, nutritionist Nmami Agarwal revealed in one of her Instagram videos. The expert said that there are certain combinations that do not go well together, mainly that of calcium and iron.“Healthy eating does not mean just eating the right food items. It means, eating the right food items in the right combination,” Agarwal said, adding that there are certain combinations that “inhibit the nutrient absorption of each other” when eaten together.Calcium and iron is one such combination. According to the expert, spinach or palak is rich in iron and paneer is rich in calcium. “When these two food items are eaten together, calcium inhibits the nutrient absorption of iron. So, for maximum iron utilisation, have palak-aloo or palak-corn,” she suggested.Sonia Bakshi, a nutritionist and founder of DtF agreed. She told indianexpress.com that calcium does inhibit the absorption of iron when taken together, because “both calcium and iron compete for the same receptors“. “And this is why iron supplements should not be consumed with milk, tea, coffee or other dairy products. Tea or coffee should not be consumed with meals for the same reason. Lentils and beans are rich in iron and that is why curd should not be had with chole, rajma, and dal. Palak, which is rich in iron, should not be eaten with paneer,” she stated.Dr Siddhant Bhargava, fitness and nutritional scientist and the co-founder of Food Darzee highlighted that contrary to what people may believe palak-paneer is indeed not as healthy a meal. He repeated what Agarwal said in the video — that palak-paneer is not the right combination. “Certain foods do not sit together. They limit each other’s nutrition absorption abilities. One such combination is calcium and iron. In palak-paneer, the calcium present in paneer limits the absorption of heme and non-heme iron,” he told this outlet. SURSA

China has given its most significant signal yet that the country may seek to adjust its stringent zero-Covid policy that has transformed daily life, roiled its economy and – in recent days – sparked a wave of protests across the country. The top official in charge of China’s Covid response told health officials Wednesday that the country faced a “new stage and mission” in pandemic controls. “With the decreasing toxicity of the Omicron variant, the increasing vaccination rate and the accumulating experience of outbreak control and prevention, China’s pandemic containment faces (a) new stage and mission,” Sun Chunlan, China’s vice premier, said Wednesday, according to state media Xinhua. The remarks follow a surge in public frustration with China’s restrictive zero-Covid policy and its high human cost, which erupted into unprecedented demonstrations in at least 17 cities since last Friday. Sun – who has been the face of the Chinese Communist Party’s enforcement of the policy – made no mention of “zero-Covid,” as reported by Xinhua. Her comments came a day after a separate body of top health officials pledged to rectify some approaches to Covid control and said local governments should “respond to and resolve the reasonable demands of the masses” in a timely manner. The high-level statements – alongside minor adjustments of rules and some easing of lockdown measures in major Chinese cities in recent days – suggest that China is taking a hard look at its policy, which has become increasingly disruptive as it struggles to counter highly transmissible coronavirus variants and record case numbers. But the shifting tone has not come with any road map to an end goal or mention of transitioning away from the zero-Covid policy, and it remains uncertain how it will impact realities on the ground or ease mounting public frustration. Thousands of buildings and residential communities across 32 cities in China remain under lockdown restrictions due to their classification as “high risk” as of Thursday. Video Ad Feedback Protesters clash with police in China during new wave of demonstrations 02:23 - Source: CNN Local officials may be reticent to let cases rise for fear of retribution from a central government that has long prided itself on its zero-Covid stance. Meanwhile, experts say, the country continues to lag in key areas of preparedness for a widespread outbreak. Priorities Chinese health officials and experts have long argued that the costs of the zero-Covid policy are scientifically justified, citing uncertainties in how the virus will evolve in the future, unknowns about its long-term effects, as well as gaps in medical preparedness, including a lagging elderly vaccination rate and inadequate intensive care infrastructure – especially in rural areas. These weaknesses, they have warned, could see the healthcare system overwhelmed if the virus spreads freely in the country of 1.4 billion – a situation which could exacerbate the deaths expected with an opening up. Police form a cordon during a protest against China's strict zero-Covid measures on Nov. 27, 2022, in Beijing, China. What's happening in China after zero-Covid protests? Here's what you need to know This remains a key concern for the government, according to health security expert Nicholas Thomas at the City University of Hong Kong, who said: “There is still a substantial part of the po[CENSORED]tion that is trusting in the government’s actions in dealing with the virus. An unmanaged engagement with the virus could not only erode that trust but it could also expose vulnerable po[CENSORED]tions (to risk).” Video Ad Feedback 'River of blood': Foxconn employee describes violent protests in China 03:26 - Source: CNN The recent comments around the policy are “not a sign that China is ready to transition to living with Covid, but a sign that the virus has slipped out of control and that the government is unable to return to a zero-Covid environment,” he said. Case numbers in the last week have hovered around record highs, with more than 35,000 new cases reported on Wednesday – posing a steep challenge to efforts to return case numbers to a low level. Instead of preparing for wide spread of the virus as a top priority, observers say that China has focused on the infrastructure and manpower needed to maintain zero-Covid, which relies on lockdowns, mass testing and forced quarantines of both cases and close contacts. One reason for this has been the government’s own narrative about its success and the backing of the policy by leader Xi Jinping, according to Alfred Wu, an associate professor at the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. After bringing its initial outbreak in Wuhan under control in 2020, China’s border restrictions and swift method of detecting and suppressing the virus allowed the country to live relatively virus-free, while hospitals in much of the rest of the world were overrun with sick and dying patients. By China’s official count, it has seen only 5,233 Covid-19 deaths since early 2020, with fewer than 600 reported in 2022. Chinese leader Xi Jinping visits a community in Wuhan in March 2020, following the initial outbreak of the coronavirus in the city. Chinese leader Xi Jinping visits a community in Wuhan in March 2020, following the initial outbreak of the coronavirus in the city. Xie Huanchi/Xinhua/Getty Images Xi has touted China’s measures and its relatively low number of Covid deaths as a triumph of Chinese governance. The country stuck to that system even as others transitioned to living with the virus following mass vaccinations and the spread of the milder, but highly transmissible Omicron variant. However, Omicron also made China’s controls more disruptive and less effective. “The number one (reason) is propaganda – they want to claim that China is doing a much better job than the United States,” said Wu, adding that expanding state control over the po[CENSORED]tion could be another motivation for maintaining the zero-Covid policy – as Xi has stressed state security as a key policy goal. But while pursuing this strategy, China “lost so many golden opportunities,” to prepare to live with the virus, and to prepare the public for a larger scale of deaths from Covid-19, he said. Prepared? One concern is the low level of booster vaccination in the elderly po[CENSORED]tion most vulnerable to Covid-19 – a weakness that health officials on Tuesday launched a new plan to address. As of November 11, 40% of China’s over-80 po[CENSORED]tion had received a booster shot, according to state media, while around two-thirds had received two doses – a result of both vaccine hesitancy and an initial vaccine roll-out that did not prioritize the elderly. A World Health Organization advisory group last year recommended that elderly people taking China’s inactivated-virus vaccines receive three doses in their initial course to ensure sufficient protection. Vaccine protection is known to wane over time and decrease against the Omicron variant. Meanwhile, China’s immunity rests almost entirely on vaccination as so few people have been exposed to the virus. Around 90% of the po[CENSORED]tion is fully vaccinated. While China’s vaccines have been shown to protect against severe disease and death, studies show they offer lower antibody protection than the mRNA vaccines used widely elsewhere in the world. Beijing has yet to approve any mRNA vaccine. Residents line up for Covid-19 testing at a residential complex in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China on December 1, 2022. Residents line up for Covid-19 testing at a residential complex in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China on December 1, 2022. Noel Celis/AFP/Getty Images A stark warning of the risks for the mainland played out in Hong Kong, where low vaccination rates among that most at-risk group played a role in pushing the Chinese territory’s Covid-19 death rates to some of the highest in the world last spring. While vaccination will not eliminate an increase in deaths when restrictions ease, shots and boosters, as well as other preparations to reduce risks, are critical for countries transitioning away from policies aimed at “zero-Covid,” according to infectious disease physician Peter Collignon of the Australian National University Medical School. “The preparation isn’t just vaccines, it’s surge capacity, it’s making sure you have enough hospital staff, you have enough beds and particularly making sure the elderly (are protected),” he said. What’s next? China has signaled that it may make more concerted efforts to bolster its defenses against the virus. Officials on Tuesday released an action plan to boost elderly vaccination rates. This echoed a target mentioned in a 20-point plan to optimize zero-Covid measures, released last month, which also called for hospitals to increase intensive treatment facilities and to stockpile anti-viral drugs and medical equipment. The same notice also relaxed certain measures around testing and quarantine, and cautioned against excesses in policy enforcement at the local level – all messages that have been echoed by top health officials in recent days. After that guidance – and in the wake of the recent protests – state media has highlighted a number of cities making minor changes to their policies, largely around testing and quarantine rules. Police officers stand guard as people protest coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions and hold a vigil to commemorate the victims of a fire in Urumqi, as outbreaks of the coronavirus disease continue, in Beijing, China, November 27, 2022. REUTERS/Thomas Peter China's security apparatus swings into action to smother Covid protests On Wednesday, officials in the southern hub of Guangzhou relaxed lockdowns in four districts and eased a quarantine requirement. In Xinjiang’s Urumqi on Saturday, local officials said they would gradually ease lockdown measures in neighborhoods categorized as “low risk,” and moved to reopen essential businesses and public transport the following day. The protests across the nation were sparked by a deadly fire on November 24 in Urumqi, where at least 10 people died, and videos of the incident appeared to show lockdown measures had delayed firefighters from reaching the victims. They joined a list of deaths that have been widely linked in public conversation to Covid-19 controls. On China’s heavily moderated social media, a topic discussing the comparative “decreased pathogenicity” of Omicron was trending on Thursday – a possible sign of authorities aiming to shift public perceptions about the virus, following years of focusing on its risks. But some social media users remained skeptical, saying the changes to testing requirements were too minor to ease the impact of zero-Covid on daily life. And at least one city, Jinzhou in northeast China pushed back against adjustments in other cities, saying in a notice on Thursday that it would not relax measures ahead of schedule and give up its progress containing an ongoing outbreak, saying that regardless of whether the coronavirus was less virulent “not having (the virus) is still better than having it.” Experts say the real test of the country’s direction remains to be seen in the coming months. If the vaccination push and other proposed measures bolstering medical readiness were “seriously implemented,” then China would have “a way forward for future opening,” said Yanzhong Huang, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. “But so far they have not been prioritized in the implementation process.” Another problem is the disconnect between Beijing’s policies and how they are implemented by local governments, who are under pressure to control case numbers for fear of being removed from their posts – a regular punishment in the past for officials who have allowed outbreaks to spread. “If you open up and you mess up, then there will be trouble,” Huang said. “You have to change the incentive structure of the local governments before any meaningful changes can be introduced,” he added. CNN’s Wayne Chang, Xiaofei Xu and Mengchen Zhang contributed reporting. SURSA

Two people who were bitten by brown recluse spiders developed a rare condition in which their immune systems destroyed their red blood cells, a new case report shows. In the first case, a 30-year-old man came to the hospital because he was nauseous, vomiting, had muscle aches, and had a painful lesion on his left shoulder. In the other case, a 28-year-old woman came in for bad low back pain. They both had strange-looking lesions. The man’s, on his left shoulder, was small and irregularly shaped, with a black scabby portion on one side; the woman’s, on her upper back, was target-shaped and larger. Both were painful to the touch. In both cases, doctors noticed that the whites of the patients’ eyes were yellowish. The condition, called scleral icterus, is caused by a buildup of a pigment called bilirubin in the blood, which is made when red blood cells break down. Based on blood testing, both patients were diagnosed with a condition called warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia — something was causing their immune systems to destroy their red blood cells. In both cases, that something was systemic loxoscelism, a body-wide reaction to a bite from the venomous Loxosceles reclusa spider, otherwise known as the brown recluse. Though brown recluse bites can be painless, the bite can become itchy, red, and inflamed shortly after the bite occurs, according to the National Capital Poison Center(opens in new tab) (NCPC). It may eventually become more painful, darker, and form a blister. A bite can also cause necrosis, or tissue death, surrounding it, and can eventually form a black, scab-like area called an eschar. Brown recluse bites are difficult to diagnose, according to the NCPC — doctors make the diagnosis based on a patient’s history and symptoms, if they have any. Related: The 11 deadliest spiders CLOSE The patients in the report were treated with intravenous fluids and corticosteroids, which suppress the immune system. Both were also given blood transfusions, and eventually recovered enough to leave the hospital. The man’s recovery was uncomplicated, the woman’s less so for reasons apparently unrelated to her spider bite. She was six weeks pregnant and had a miscarriage, and also developed a brain condition called acute metabolic-toxic encephalopathy while in the hospital. This condition can also be caused by withdrawal from alcohol and drugs, and the woman had a history of drug abuse. But she eventually also recovered enough to be discharged with oral corticosteroids. The treatment course went well for these patients: some people who develop autoimmune hemolytic anemia must take a blood cancer drug with potentially severe side effects if corticosteroids don't work, and some may even need to have the spleen removed, according to the study. RELATED STORIES —Dead spiders reanimated as creepy 'necrobots' —These male spiders use built-in leg catapults to escape sexual cannibalism —These spiders take down snakes hundreds of times their size The brown recluse spider, a small, brownish or tan spider with a dark brown “violin-shaped” marking on its head, lives in several parts of the United States, but is most common in Texas, Missouri, and Illinois. Most people shouldn't lose sleep worrying about brown recluse bites, as they are rare, and 90% of them don’t cause any major complications. Children, as well as African American and Hispanic people, are at greater risk for having systemic reactions, according to the study. The American Association of Poison Control Centers reported(opens in new tab) that in 2019, out of 802 reported brown recluse bites, only 24 people had major reactions, and no deaths were reported. The brown recluse bites were described in a report published in the journal Hematology(opens in new tab). SURSA

In the supertruck horsepower war, there's no Han-versus-Greedo-style argument to be had: The Ram 1500 TRX shot first. Sure, Ford's F-150 Raptor pickup has been on the hunt for more than a decade, but history has it down as the balanced desert-runner, its power level—450 horses today—more or less in equilibrium with its dirt-dashing chops. In contrast, the TRX roared onto the scene two years ago as a ballsy, 702-hp beast with a bad attitude and a mission to rooster-tail sand in the face of Ford's "wimpy" off-road pickup. No more. The 2023 Ford Raptor R is here to fight back with 700 horsepower of its own, and it has its blaster set to kill. Once we took the new Raptor R to the test track, we discovered its aim is pretty damn true. It trips up the TRX in the 0-60-mph sprint, clocking an astounding 3.7-second time, thumping our best existing result in the Ram by a significant 0.4 second. (No doubt aided by the 6,000-pound Ford weighing an incredible 700 fewer pounds than the Ram.) And it feels every bit that quick, charging off the line like a rhino with an ICBM up its rear on the way to a 12.1-second quarter-mile run at 111.8 mph. The TRX's best? 12.7 seconds at 107.3 mph. For further reference, the last non-R Raptor we tested with the 450-hp twin-turbo V-6 and 37-inch tires checks in at 5.6 seconds to 60 and 14.3 at 94.0 mph through the quarter. 2023 Ford F150 Raptor R First Test 22 filterSEE ALL 36 PHOTOS Credit the R's absolute brute of an engine, a version of the 5.2-liter supercharged V-8 found in the Mustang Shelby GT500, which is appropriately dubbed "Predator." Tuned to have a meatier, more truck-friendly torque curve thanks to software tweaks and a smaller supercharger pulley, it delivers its fusillade of power and torque on a whim even on the move, the 10-speed automatic adroitly shuffling between its abundance of ratios. This is a truck that can spin all four of its big-blocked off-road tires on pavement as easily as you can turn up the A/C. The exhaust has four adjustable sound levels that range from basically quiet (your neighbors will love you for widening the time window in which this operates at startup, done via the touchscreen) to omigod I think I just summoned Cthulhu. Really, though, in any of the three angriest settings the noise is ragged and deep and glorious and delivered with far less supercharger whine than in the TRX. The Raptor R is blown, but it doesn't really want you to know it's blowing. Also unlike the Ram TRX, there's a two-wheel-drive mode for even more goofball shenanigans, if you dare. 2WD could be called the squirreliest setting—obvs—albeit if the squirrel in question could powerlift 2,000 pounds and had done time for attempted homicide. We kid, mostly; the Raptor R's chassis is so dialed in and offers enough fidelity that corralling this beast when the rear steps out is easier than you might think. Still, maybe keep it in 4A unless you have plenty of room for error. 2023 Ford F150 Raptor R First Test 32 filterSEE ALL 36 PHOTOS Should you think Ford Performance just stuck a big ol' motor in the Raptor and four-wheel-peeled into the sunset, don't. The R is a holistically tuned machine that delivers fantastic ride quality on the road without getting floaty, while at the same time serving up outstanding rebound performance and body control when humping over the gnarliest stuff you can find. This is a Raptor through and through, and it feels like the excellent chassis was waiting for this engine. If there's a weak spot in how the 2023 Ford Raptor R drives, it's that the steering is just vague enough—and the steering wheel thick and large enough in diameter—that the truck rarely feels like putty in your hands. You never, ever forget its size, whether that's maintaining a lane on the highway or dodging rocks and trees on forest paths. This isn't the case with the Ram TRX, which is actually an inch wider and a skosh longer but somehow manages to drive smaller. cancel mute CLICK TO UNMUTE play action volume toggle fullscreen video crop free Left Arrow 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R First Look: T-Rex Predator 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R First Look: T-Rex Predator 2022 Ford Bronco Everglades First Drive Review 2022 Ford Bronco Everglades First Drive Review 2022 Bronco Everglades First Drive Review 2022 Bronco Everglades First Drive Review 1979 "Fummins" F-350 Sells for $220,000 | Mecum Auctions Indy 2022 1979 "Fummins" F-350 Sells for $220,000 | Mecum Auctions Indy 2022 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Behind the Wheel 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Behind the Wheel Watch the DarkHorse Apocalypse Ford Bronco 6x6 Come Together Watch the DarkHorse Apocalypse Ford Bronco 6x6 Come Together 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor First Look: Even Burlier 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor First Look: Even Burlier 2021 Jaguar F-Pace R-Dynamic S Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2021 Jaguar F-Pace R-Dynamic S Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide Ford Bronco vs. Jeep Wrangler: Which Is Best? Ford Bronco vs. Jeep Wrangler: Which Is Best? 2021 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend 1.5L Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2021 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend 1.5L Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E RWD standard range Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E RWD standard range Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide Right Arrow Outside of the V-8, the rest of the package is familiar from the Raptor 37, a sort of Raptor R Lite introduced for 2021 as something of a stopgap while Ford readied the 2023 Raptor R's engine. The R and 37 share their larger tires, body add-ons, and pretty much everything else outside of the engine bay. So, the Raptor R has comfy, well-bolstered seats; a relatively high-quality but extremely busy interior; an infotainment system that gets the job done (with some annoying quirks, such as requiring you to spin the tuning knob to get to the direct input for satellite radio stations); and all the various cubbies, bins, and features—the power-folding shifter, flip-out console-lid table, and rear underseat storage, for example—that make non-Raptorized F-150s so practical. Downsides? The turning circle is big enough to fit a football field, you might crush a small sedan while parking it, and the "8" pattern in the bedside graphics is corny. (Find the one "V" and win a prize!) Well, all that and the fact it costs $109,145 to start, enough to buy a regular Raptor and any number of sporty cars to go with it. Heck, it's enough to buy a base TRX and a Ford Maverick. But in a fight—and make no mistake, Ford and Ram are in a pitched battle—often it's not who shoots first who wins, it's who shoots last. With the 2023 Ford Raptor R, the Blue Oval just may have landed a crippling blow.2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R Specifications BASE PRICE $109,145 PRICE AS TESTED $109,740 VEHICLE LAYOUT Front-engine, 4WD, 5-pass, 4-door truck ENGINE 5.2L supercharged port-injected DOHC 32-valve 90-degree V-8 POWER (SAE NET) 700 hp @ 6,650 rpm TORQUE (SAE NET) 640 lb-ft @ 4,250 rpm TRANSMISSION 10-speed automatic CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 5,960 lb (58/42%) WHEELBASE 145.4 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 232.6 x 87.0 x 80.6 in 0-60 MPH 3.7 sec QUARTER MILE 12.1 sec @ 111.8 mph BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 137 ft LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.68 g (avg) EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON 10/15/12 mpg EPA RANGE, COMB 432 miles ON SALE Now SURSA

There are many causes that Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess of Wales, is associated with in her capacity as a senior member of the British royal family, but if there is one topic she feels passionately about, it is that of early childhood. The mother-of-three has, in the past, spoken extensively about the formative years of a child’s life, and what can be done to ensure they are physically and mentally healthy and get to enjoy a happy childhood. More recently, she wrote an op-ed that was published by ‘The Telegraph‘. In it, the princess observed that “if we are going to create a healthier and happier society for future generations, we must start by understanding and acknowledging the unique importance of the first five years of life”.The 40-year-old added that we must do “everything we can to nurture our children” in the first five years of their lives, which she said are the “most preventative years”. “Early childhood, from pregnancy to the age of five, fundamentally impacts our whole lives, establishing the core foundations which allow us to go on to thrive as individuals,” the duchess wrote.According to her, “if we are going to tackle the sorts of complex challenges we face today, like homelessness, violence and addiction, which are so often underpinned by poverty and poor mental health, we have to fully appreciate those most preventative years”. The senior member of the royal family, who has been raising three children with her husband Prince William — next in line to the throne — has often talked about her kids, who have distinctive personalities. She had previously shared that lockdown-parenting had been “exhausting” for her. Prior to that, Kate had taken to Instagram to answer some important questions on the early years of childhood. Titled ‘Early Years Q&A’, the caption read: “Thank you so much to everyone who submitted a question on the early years throughout the week. We’ve seen such an incredible response, touching on so many different aspects of the early years.“This is just the start of the conversation, and we look forward to continuing it in the months and years ahead.” On what got her interested in the topic, the duchess answered, “I think, people assume that because I am a parent, that’s why I have taken interest in the early years. I think this really is bigger than that. This isn’t just about happy, healthy children. This is about society… Right from the early days, meeting lots of people who are suffering with addiction or poor mental health and hearing time and time again that their troubles now in adulthood stem right back from early childhood experience…” SURSA

Some also shouted for Xi to “step down,” and sang The Internationale, a socialist anthem used as a call to action in demonstrations worldwide for more than a century. It was also used during pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square in Beijing before a brutal crackdown by armed troops in 1989. China’s zero-Covid policies have been felt particularly acutely in Shanghai, where a two-month long lockdown earlier this year left many without access to food, medical care or other basic supplies – sowing deep public resentment. Protests against Covid measures in Urumqi city, Xinjiang, China, can be seen in a screen grab obtained from a video released November 25. Protests erupt across China in unprecedented challenge to Xi Jinping's zero-Covid policy By Sunday evening, mass demonstrations had spread to Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou and Wuhan, where thousands of residents called for not only an end to Covid restrictions, but more remarkably, political freedoms. Residents in some locked-down neighborhoods tore down barriers and took to the streets. Protests also took place on campuses, including the prestigious institutions of Peking University and Tsinghua University in Beijing, and Communication University of China, Nanjing. Why is this significant? Public protest is exceedingly rare in China, where the Communist Party has tightened its grip on all aspects of life, launched a sweeping crackdown on dissent, wiped out much of civil society and built a high-tech surveillance state. The mass surveillance system is even more stringent in Xinjiang, where the Chinese government is accused of detaining up to 2 million Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in camps where former detainees have alleged they were physically and sexually abused. A damning United Nations report in September described the region’s “invasive” surveillance network, with police databases containing hundreds of thousands of files with biometric data such as facial and eyeball scans. China has repeatedly denied accusations of human rights abuses in the region. Protesters march in Beijing on November 27. Protesters march in Beijing on November 27. Ng Han Guan/AP While protests do occur in China, they rarely happen on this scale, nor take such direct aim at the central government and the nation’s leader, said Maria Repnikova, an associate professor at Georgia State University who studies Chinese politics and media. “This is a different type of protest from the more localized protests we have seen recurring over the past two decades that tend to focus their claims and demands on local officials and on very targeted societal and economic issues,” she said. Instead, this time the protests have expanded to include “the sharper expression of political grievances alongside with concerns about Covid-19 lockdowns.” Epidemic control workers wear protective suits as they help workers erect a metal barrier fence outside a community under lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on November 24, 2022 in Beijing, China. As anger rises and tragedies mount, China shows no sign of budging on zero-Covid There have been growing signs in recent months that the public has run out of patience with zero-Covid, after nearly three years of economic hardship and disruption to daily life. Isolated pockets of protest broke out October, with anti-zero-Covid slogans appearing on the walls of public bathrooms and in various Chinese cities, inspired by a banner hung by a lone protester on an overpass in Beijing just days before Xi cemented a third term in power. Earlier in November, larger protests took place in Guangzhou, with residents defying lockdown orders to topple barriers and cheer as they took to the streets. How have authorities responded? While protests in several parts of China appear to have dispersed peacefully over the weekend, some met a stronger response from authorities. The Shanghai protests on Saturday led to scuffles between demonstrators and police, with arrests made in the early hours of the morning. Undeterred, protesters returned on Sunday, where they met a more aggressive response – videos show chaotic scenes of police pushing, dragging, and beating protesters. At one point, hundreds of police officers formed a human wall to block off major roads, with a loudspeaker blaring a message for protesters to leave. The videos have since been scrubbed from the Chinese internet by censors. BBC journalist Edward Lawrence was arrested in Shanghai on Sunday night, with a BBC spokesperson claiming he was “beaten and kicked by the police” while covering the protests. He has since been released. On Monday, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged Lawrence’s arrest, claiming he had not identified himself as a journalist before being detained. The spokesperson also deflected questions about the protests, telling a reporter who asked whether the widespread displays of public anger would make China consider ending zero-Covid: “What you mentioned does not reflect what actually happened.” He also claimed that social media posts linking the Xinjiang fire with Covid policies had “ulterior motives,” and that authorities have been “making adjustments based on realities on the ground.” When asked about protesters calling on Xi to step down, he replied: “I’m not aware of the situation you mentioned.” Police form a cordon during a protest in Beijing on November 27. Police form a cordon during a protest in Beijing on November 27. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images Without referring to the protests, Beijing’s municipal government on Sunday banned blocking entrances to residential compounds under lockdown, saying they must remain clear for emergency services. By Monday, Shanghai authorities were seen setting up tall barriers along the road where protests had taken place. State-run media has stayed silent on the demonstrations – but doubled down on zero-Covid, with one newspaper on Sunday calling it “the most scientifically effective” approach. SURSA

Musician Name: MGK Birthday / Location: - Main instrument: - Musician Picture: Musician Awards & Nominations: awards on antold Best Performance: antold Other Information: -

Artist: Central Cee Real Name: Oakley Neil H T Caesar-Su Birth Date /Place: 4 June 1998 [1][2]Shepherd's Bush, London, England Age: (age 24) Social status (Single / Married): Single Artist Picture: Musical Genres: hip hop trap, rapp Awards: Organization Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.AIM Independent Music Awards 2021 PPL Award for Most Played New Independent Artist Himself Nominated [57]Brit Awards 2022 Best New Artist Nominated [58]Best British Hip Hop/Rap/Grime Act NominatedBritish Single of the Year "Obsessed with You" NominatedMOBO Awards 2021 Best Newcomer Himself Won [59]Best Male Act NominatedBest Drill Act WonSong of the Year "Commitment Issues" Nominated Top 3 Songs (Names): Loading.Obsessed With You.Day in the Life. Other Information:

Music Title: Central Cee - One Up (Lyrics) Signer: Central Cee Release Date: 15 Oct 2022 Official Youtube Link: Informations About The Signer: famous rapper Your Opinion About The Track (Music Video):10/10

The never-ending legal problems swirling around former President Donald Trump are already taking center stage in his freshly announced 2024 presidential campaign. Trump himself, in his speech declaring his candidacy on Tuesday, ranted about how he was a “victim” of the “weaponization of the justice system,” as he railed against the search the FBI executed of his Florida home as part of a criminal investigation into the mishandling of documents from his White House. Regardless of whether Trump’s criminal exposure politically undermines his campaign or rallies his supporters, the investigations that could implicate him – which also include federal and state-level probes into 2020 election subversion gambits – won’t likely pose any legal barrier to his candidacy. 20221115 trump web card image updated november 15 The notable legal clouds that continue to hang over Donald Trump It is unlikely that even a conviction would disqualify him from the ballot, according to legal experts. “It might be a practical barrier, it might be a fundraising barrier, but those are political questions, not legal ones,” said Derek Muller, an election law professor at University of Iowa College of Law. On the flip side, Trump’s candidacy for president doesn’t, by itself, give him any additional legal protections in the probes. But it does create a more complicated political and practical environment for investigators to navigate. Can Trump stay on the ballot if he is convicted of a crime? This question has not been fully settled by the courts, but the general consensus is that neither an indictment nor a conviction would legally prevent Trump from being elected. Not only have convicted felons run for federal office in the past, but at least one ran for president successfully from prison: Eugene Debs, a perennial socialist candidate for the White House in the early 20th century, won more than 900,000 votes in a 1920 presidential campaign he ran while incarcerated on an espionage conviction. The reason why it is widely believed a conviction wouldn’t preclude Trump’s return to the White House is because of a mainstream legal argument that only the Constitution sets the standards candidates must meet to be president. Eugene Debs addresses a crowd of people, circa 1910. (Photo by Fotosearch/Getty Images). Eugene Debs addresses a crowd of people, circa 1910. (Photo by Fotosearch/Getty Images). “It’s pretty widely accepted that the qualifications to serve as president are enumerated in the Constitution,” Muller said. “And just being convicted of a felony is not one of them, and states and Congress cannot add to those qualifications.” That is why many legal experts believe that courts would not uphold proposals by states to bar from their ballots presidential candidates who refuse to release their tax returns, as Trump has refused to do. Yet if Trump is charged with one of the statutes federal investigators are examining in the Mar-a-Lago documents probe, it might pose the most serious test yet to the constitutional question. One of the laws implicated in that Justice Department’s Mar-a-Lago investigation, a federal statute that criminalizes the concealment or removal of government records, said that those found guilty “shall forfeit his office and be disqualified from holding any office under the United States.” “It would present the strongest case for the lawfulness of statutory disqualification that one could make, because of, both, its subject matter – national security – and because Congress spoke so explicitly and expressly,” said Paul Rosenzweig, a former official at the US Department of Homeland Security who also worked on the Whitewater investigation into President Bill Clinton. “My guess is that it would still not stand.” Do the legal protections he got as a president apply now that he is a candidate? While Trump was in the White House, he put forward arguments in several cases – sometimes successfully, sometimes not – that his status as president gave him certain legal protections. But those protections do not now apply to him just because he has announced his bid to reclaim the White House. The residual fights over conduct he engaged in while president will continue, but he doesn’t have any special legal tools to shield things he does or says while he is just a candidate. “There’s no executive privilege or anything that attaches right now as a candidate,” Muller said. The main advantage being a presidential candidate gives Trump is the promise of delay: that if he can drag out the legal processes long enough that they are not resolved if and when he is reelected, he can then try to use the presidency as a shield then. What does his presidential run mean for the criminal investigations surrounding him? Trump’s announcement that he was running for president did not create any formal, legal obstacles for criminal investigators examining potential wrongdoing by him or his allies. But Trump’s candidacy could inject other political and practical considerations. As CNN previously reported, the Justice Department was weighing in the weeks leading up to Trump’s announcement whether to appoint a special counsel. DOJ officials have debated whether doing so could insulate the department from allegations that the investigations are politically motivated attacks on President Joe Biden’s 2024 rival. Former U.S. President Donald Trump looks on during a campaign rally at Minden-Tahoe Airport on October 08, 2022 in Minden, Nevada. Former U.S. President Donald Trump held a campaign style rally for Nevada GOP candidates ahead of the state's midterm election on November 8th. Trump appears for deposition in E. Jean Carroll lawsuit Attorney General Merrick Garland avoided answering a CNN question about the possibility in March, while insisting that the department does “not shy away from cases that are controversial or sensitive or political.” As of earlier this month, no decision had been made public. No matter where Garland lands on the special counsel question, Trump’s candidacy undoubtedly raises the stakes of the investigation. DOJ will likely be especially cautious and only bring charges if the department is extremely confident it could secure a conviction, former prosecutors said. Trump’s announcement could even speed things up. “I think that the Department of Justice will, with reason, understand that it needs to move like in the first quarter of next year, before the campaign truly gets underway,” Rosenzweig said. “So it can’t wait … to bring an indictment until January 2024.” What does it mean for the civil litigation Trump is facing? Trump faces legal exposure from the myriad civil lawsuits that have been filed against him, which range from a civil fraud case brought by the New York attorney general, to lawsuits seeking damages for his conduct ahead of the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack to the defamation complaint brought by a woman who has accused him of rape. In the cases concerning his conduct while he was in the White House, Trump has sought to raise arguments about legal protections he said his status as president gave him. But he doesn’t get any additional protections by just announcing a presidential campaign. Mary Trump on CNN in November 2020 Judge throws out Mary Trump's lawsuit against Donald Trump, saying her claim was barred by prior agreements “The United States Supreme Court actually approved of civil litigation against President Clinton in the ’90s, while he was sitting as president. So surely, merely being a candidate for office doesn’t prevent these kinds of cases from going forward,” Muller said. What does the presidential run mean for Trump’s defense? At least in the immediate aftermath of the announcement, perhaps the most tangible effect of Trump declaring his candidacy, where his legal troubles are concerned, is that the Republican National Committee won’t foot the bill for the attorneys representing him in New York investigations scrutinizing his business practices. “We cannot pay legal bills for any candidate that’s announced,” RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel told CNN’s Dana Bash earlier this month. Former U.S. President Donald Trump looks on during a campaign rally at Minden-Tahoe Airport on October 08, 2022 in Minden, Nevada. Former U.S. President Donald Trump held a campaign style rally for Nevada GOP candidates ahead of the state's midterm election on November 8th. Trump appears for deposition in E. Jean Carroll lawsuit She said the committee was willing to finance his legal defense in the civil fraud case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James because the RNC sees that lawsuit as “a politically motivated investigation” that started when he was president. Trump has also used money he’s raised post presidency for his leadership PAC – a fundraising organ usually used to support other candidates – to pay for firms representing him in the James case and other matters. “We cannot do in-kind contributions to any candidate,” McDaniel said at the time. “Right now, he’s the former president who’s being attacked from every which way with lawsuits. And he’s certainly raised more into the RNC than we have spent on these bills.” SURSA

Talk about your ugly duckling becoming a swan. The 2023 Toyota Prius hybrid has undergone the kind of transformation automakers often promise but rarely deliver when slapping an "all-new" label on a long-running model. But, dang! The Prius became a household name over two decades ago because of its efficiency and affordability—never, never, ever because of its looks—so consider us stunned it is now a stunner. While the original Prius made headlines 22 years ago when it first went on sale and celebrities hoping to make an environmental statement pulled them up to red carpets, fashionability largely eluded the hybrid's first four generations. The fifth-generation Prius, by contrast, is sleek and modern, its windswept shape managing to look fast and efficient; it also sits atop the newest-generation TNGA modular platform. Toyota also has found a way to increase the hybrid system's power and fuel economy. If Toyota were to say the Prius also costs less than before, we might dismiss the whole thing as a fever dream. But pricing won't be announced until later this year, and a price drop is unlikely. 2023 Toyota Prius debut 19 filterSEE ALL 34 PHOTOS Coming up with a new Prius is no easy task, especially given the awkward business position Toyota's found itself in as competitors continue to beat it—badly—to the rapidly po[CENSORED]rizing fully electric vehicle segment. "The weight of the Prius name is heavy. It carries with it the identity of an entire category of vehicle powertrain," said Toyota general manager Dave Christ of an approach to efficiency fast falling out of fashion among cost- and environmentally conscious buyers. "We're confident the all-new 2023 Prius and Prius Prime will continue this important legacy." Let's unpack what Toyota has done to the hybrid that's found over 5 million buyers here in America and 20 million globally since its introduction, and hopes to find yet more in a world going nuts for EVs. 2023 Toyota Prius debut 13 filterSEE ALL 34 PHOTOS The 2023 Toyota Prius' New Look Forgettable as it is, we should remind you the 2001 Prius was bland and frumpy. Over the years designers overcorrected, with lines and creases the eye could barely follow. The 2023 Prius bears only the faintest hints of the Prii before it. The piercing silhouette came from the design studios in Japan, and the front bears the same hammerhead nose as the Toyota Crown and Toyota bZ4X. The roofline is 2 inches lower, the car is an inch longer, and the rear of the vehicle is almost 1 inch wider than the front which further enhances the wedge shape. Larger 19-inch wheels on the XLE and Limited trims add further substance to the look. The entry-level LE, which is the most efficient trim, has 17-inch wheels. This is the first Prius with a fixed panoramic roof; it is an option on the XLE and standard on the Limited. The top trim also has a heated steering wheel, heated and cooled front seats, and optional heated rear seats. And check out the integrated door handles for rear passengers, which are on every Prius. cancel mute CLICK TO UNMUTE play action volume toggle fullscreen video crop free Left Arrow 2023 Toyota bZ4X AWD Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2023 Toyota bZ4X AWD Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2022 Toyota Highlander AWD Platinum Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2022 Toyota Highlander AWD Platinum Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2022 Toyota Sienna Woodlands Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2022 Toyota Sienna Woodlands Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2021 Toyota GR Supra 2.0 Video Review : MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2021 Toyota GR Supra 2.0 Video Review : MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2022 Toyota Tundra First Look 2022 Toyota Tundra First Look 2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid XSE Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid XSE Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2021 Toyota 4Runner TRD PRO Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2021 Toyota 4Runner TRD PRO Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2021 Toyota Mirai Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2021 Toyota Mirai Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2021 Toyota Tundra TRD Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2021 Toyota Tundra TRD Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross First Look: The Corolla of SUVs 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross First Look: The Corolla of SUVs 2022 Toyota GR86 First Look: Toyota's Sporty Car Gets A Makeover 2022 Toyota GR86 First Look: Toyota's Sporty Car Gets A Makeover Right Arrow Among the three grades, the LE has a smaller 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen set into the more streamlined dash, but there is an optional tombstone-style 12.3-inch screen on the XLE, which is standard on the top-of-the-line Limited grade. There are six USB-C ports, and the higher trims come with a wireless charger. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is included, and you can upgrade to a JBL Premium Audio system with eight speakers. The new electrical architecture improves the Toyota's overall connectivity and makes it easier to send over-the-air software updates that enhance the vehicle. Just say "Hey Toyota" to give the car voice commands for navigation, climate, and audio control. 2023 Toyota Prius debut 12 filterSEE ALL 34 PHOTOS 2023 Toyota Prius Has New Platform, Hybrid Powertrain The new Prius moves to the second generation of the already good TNGA-C platform, which lowers the center of gravity, removes weight, and increases rigidity. With the car's wider stance and lower driving position—the hip point is an inch lower—it should feel far less dorky to be behind the wheel of a Prius. From the appearance of the interior, it is apparent that Toyota is moving the Prius upmarket; it has room to do so, what with the po[CENSORED]r and cheaper Corolla Hybrid family expanding for 2023. The new hybrid system enjoys increased engine and battery output—hence more power and efficiency at the same time. The fifth-gen hybrid system is paired with a larger 2.0-liter I-4 engine (the current Prius uses a 1.8-liter) and a new lithium-ion battery that has 15 percent more output than the outgoing nickel metal battery. Toyota was slower than most to switch to lithium-ion chemistry, which results in a smaller and lighter battery. It is again located under the rear seats, but it doesn't impinge on interior and cargo space as much as the outgoing car's pack, which was also located primarily under the rear seat. The resulting power boost is huge, with the Prius's output going from 121 horsepower to 194 horsepower. Toyota claims this plummets the zero-to-60-mph acceleration time to 7.2 seconds in the front-drive model and seven seconds flat for the 2-hp-more-powerful all-wheel-drive version. As before, the AWD Prius adds an electric motor to the rear axle to spin the rear tires when starting off and at lower speeds in slippery conditions. Buyers can add e-AWD to every Prius trim level, too. The efficiency play is equally compelling. The current Prius has an EPA rating of 52 mpg combined—the next-generation gets up to 57 mpg combined. "Our design and engineering teams really delivered," Christ said. The latest version of Toyota Safety Sense is standard and there are "convenience" features to detect vehicles in your blind spot, behind you, or help when parking. 2023 Toyota Prius debut 28 filterSEE ALL 34 PHOTOS New 'Beyond Zero' Badging The Prius is the first vehicle to sport Toyota's new "Beyond Zero" badging, a blue circle that is a reference to the automaker's electric bZ sub-brand in support of Toyota's commitment to zero emission solutions that fit customer lifestyles. It is a dance around the fact that Toyota is behind most of the competition when it comes to EVs, relying more heavily on hybrids combining an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. Going forward all electrified vehicles will have the circle logo with HEV (for hybrid electric vehicle); BEV (battery electric); FCEV (fuel cell electric); and, in many countries, PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric). However, in the U.S. the plug-in version will say "Prime," in keeping with the outgoing Prius PHEV's naming scheme. Toyota's only battery-electric vehicle, the bZ4X, will adopt the new badging next model year. Toyota also used an event on the eve of the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show to debut the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime, the identically styled plug-in hybrid Prius, also with more power and electric range that increases to about 38 miles. And the automaker showed another pure electric concept: the Toyota bZ Compact SUV Concept which could be a precursor to a Toyota Crown EV in the future. Toyota's lineup consists of 10 hybrids, two plug-in hybrids, one battery electric vehicle and the Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. The automaker has announced it will invest more than $70 billion in electrified vehicles over the next nine years, with $35 billion committed to BEVs. Plans are to expand to about 70 electrified models globally by 2025. By 2030 Toyota will have 30 EVs with the goal of selling 3.5 million EVs annually. In the meantime, expect the Prius to bridge that period more stylishly than we could have possibly imagined. SURSA

Bengali actor Aindrila Sharma is currently on ventilator support after suffering multiple cardiac arrests on Tuesday, following a brain stroke on November 1. According to Anandabazar.com, the cancer survivor had an intracranial haemorrhage or bleeding within the skull, and had to undergo left frontotemporoparietal de-compressive craniotomy surgery. The actor’s new CT scan reports showed blood clots in her brain, which are on the opposite side of where she was operated on. While doctors have put her on new medicines to subdue the clot, the infection continues to be rather dangerous, the report read. What is an intracranial haemorrhage? According to Dr Sudhir Kumar, a neurologist, intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is an “acute event, and happens all of a sudden”. “The most common underlying cause of ICH is hypertension (high blood pressure) and accounts for about 30-35 per cent of all cases of brain stroke. Symptoms of ICH depend on the location of bleeding in the brain,” Dr Kumar toldAgreed Dr Girish B. Navasundi, director of interventional cardiology, Apollo Hospitals, Bengaluru, and said that intracranial haemorrhage, “if associated with increased pressure on the brain or irritability”, can cause sudden cardiac death due to variation in cardiac electrical function. “It happens mostly due to changes in ventricular repolarisation. This means that there is abnormal autonomic control of the heart which, in turn, leads to varying degrees of arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythm of the heart),” said Dr Navasundi.Common symptoms include headache, vomiting, weakness, numbness or tingling of arm or leg on one side, imbalance while walking, and difficulty in speaking or swallowing. “In severe cases of ICH, a patient may become unconscious and require a mechanical ventilator for breathing support. Some cases of ICH can lead to cardiac arrests also,” noted Dr Kumar. Can intracranial haemorrhage lead to cardiac arrests? It can happen in two situations, which Dr Kumar described in detail: First, if the bleeding occurs in the brainstem (medulla oblongata to be more specific), the breathing and the cardiovascular centre can get affected. This can result in respiratory or cardiac arrest. Second, if the patient has a large bleed in the cerebral hemispheres, it can cause a mass effect (due to brain swelling) and the cardiovascular centre in the medulla gets compressed, which also results in cardiac arrest. “If prompt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is done, the patient may get revived. However, in the above two situations, repeated cardiac arrests may also occur,” said Dr Kumar.Dr Kumar further noted that other causes of ICH are blood thinner medications (such as aspirin, clopidogrel, heparin, etc), bleeding disorders (such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura), severe liver disease, rupture of a cerebral aneurysm (a balloon-like dilatation arising from a brain artery), severe infections and trauma. Treatment Dr Madhukar Trivedi, consultant, neurology, Narayana Multispecility Hospital, Jaipur said that the “goal of treatment is to stop the bleeding, remove the clot, and relieve pressure on the brain”. “If left alone, the clot will eventually be absorbed by the brain. The long-term effects of elevated cerebral pressure may be irreversible. To relieve the strain on the skull, decompressive surgery may be required. Drilling a small hole in the skull causes blood to flow. A wider opening or removing a section of the skull may be needed to remove a blood clot,” Dr Trivedi told SURSA

A former British ambassador, an Australian economist and a Japanese journalist are reportedly set to be released by Myanmar’s ruling military junta under an amnesty – along with more than 6,000 other prisoners. Vicky Bowman, Sean Turnell and Toru Kubota are among 5,774 male and 676 female prisoners being freed to mark Myanmar’s national day, state media reported Thursday. Pardons were granted on “humanitarian grounds,” according to the media reports, and follow criticism of the junta at a recent summit of Southeast Asian leaders. Myanmar has been in political turmoil since the military staged a coup in February 2021 by arresting civilian leaders including Aung San Suu Kyi – who remains in prison amid a slew of charges which critics say are politically motivated. Since then the junta has arrested thousands of people for protesting against military rule as well as a handful of foreigners. Bowman, who served as the United Kingdom’s top diplomat in Myanmar between 2002 and 2006, was arrested and charged with immigration offenses along with her Burmese husband in August and sent to Yangon’s notorious Insein Prison. Reuters reported that her husband, artist Htein Lin, would also be released in the amnesty.Australian Turnell, who served as an economic adviser to Suu Kyi’s cabinet, was detained shortly after the coup and sentenced to three years in prison in September for violating the country’s Official State Secrets Act in a ruling that was condemned by the Australian government. Japanese documentary filmmaker Kubota had been sentenced to 10 years in prison in October on charges which included violating immigration laws for entering the country on a tourist visa to film protests. The Japanese Embassy in Myanmar said on Thursday it had been notified by authorities that Kubota would be released later in the day. This isn’t the first time Myanmar’s military has released political prisoners. In October 2021, the military freed more than 5,600 people arrested for protesting against military rule. The news comes after Southeast Asian leaders gathered in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh for the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, where the Myanmar conflict was among topics discussed. The junta has faced increasing criticism within the region after failing to implement a peace plan negotiated in April of last year. Myanmar remains part of the ASEAN bloc despite objections from global rights groups. But junta officials have been barred from sending political-level representatives to key events. SURSA

President Joe Biden held a three-hour talk Monday with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, their first in-person encounter since Biden took office and an opportunity that both sides appeared to hope would lead to an improvement in rapidly deteriorating relations. Emerging afterward, Biden told reporters he was “open and candid” with Xi about the range of matters where Beijing and Washington disagree. He cast doubt on an imminent invasion of self-governing Taiwan, and seemed hopeful his message about avoiding all-out conflict was received. Still, the US president was frank that he and Xi came nowhere near resolving the litany of issues that have helped drive the US-China relationship to its lowest point in decades. “I’m not suggesting this is kumbaya,” Biden said at a news conference, “but I do not believe there’s a need for concern, as one of you raised a legitimate question, a new Cold War.” Biden entered Monday’s talks hoping for an opportunity to take stock with Xi of the world’s most important bilateral relationship. He described Xi as not overly confrontational but instead “the way he’s always been: direct and straightforward.” US President Joe Biden is seen on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on November 13, 2022. Biden's past promises for US to defend Taiwan under microscope in meeting with China's Xi “He was clear, and I was clear that we will defend American interests and values, promote universal human rights and stand up for the international order and work in lockstep with our allies and partners,” Biden said. “We’re going to compete vigorously but I’m not looking for conflict.” In a sign both men arrived to meeting hoping to improve the souring relationship, Biden announced his Secretary of State Antony Blinken would visit China and said officials from each country would begin working together through issues. Formal talks on climate cooperation between the US and China are expected to resume as well as part of a broader set of agreements between Biden and Xi, two US officials tell CNN. China previously halted talks – viewed by the Biden administration as a key area where the two nations must work together – as part of retaliation for the visit to Taiwan by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. The US and Chinese envoys for climate change are talking, but the Biden administration will see what China is prepared to do to make concrete progress, one of the US officials said. US Climate Envoy John Kerry’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on whether formal climate talks between the two countries were back on. The White House said in a statement after the meeting that Biden raised concerns about human rights and China’s provocations around Taiwan. But they found at least one area of apparent agreement – that nuclear weapons cannot be used in Ukraine, where that nation is trying to fight off a Russian invasion. “President Biden and President Xi reiterated their agreement that a nuclear war should never be fought and can never be won,” a White House readout said, referring to the threat of nuclear weapons use in Ukraine. Biden did underscore areas of potential cooperation with Xi, including on climate change, in talks that stretched past their expected time at a luxury hotel in Bali. And he sought to convince Xi that a nuclear armed North Korea was not in China’s interests – particularly because further nuclear or long-range missile tests by Pyongyang could prompt Biden to scale up American military presence in the region. “It’s difficult to determine whether or not China has the capacity” to convince Kim Jong Un to back off his tests, Biden said. “I’m confident China is not looking for North Korea to engage in further escalatory means.” ‘Good to see you’ The meeting began in the later afternoon with Biden and Xi walking toward each other from opposite sides of a hotel lobby, shaking hands in front of a row of US and Chinese flags. They smiled for cameras and Xi – through a translator – appeared to say, “Good to see you.” President Joe Biden, left, and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. What's at stake for the world's top two economies as Biden and Xi meet “As leaders of our two nations, we share responsibility, in my view, to show that China and the United States can manage our differences, prevent competition from becoming anything ever nearing conflict and to find ways to work together on urgent global issues that require our mutual cooperation,” Biden said as the talks got underway. “The world expects, I believe, China and the United States to play key roles in addressing global challenges,” he said. Speaking second, Xi seemed to offer what could be interpreted as a pointed message to his counterpart, who has spent more than half-a-century on the world stage. “A statesman should think about and know where to lead his country,” Xi said through a translator. “He should also think about and know how to get along with other countries and the wider world.” The two leaders’ talks Monday could have consequences stretching months or even years as the world’s largest economies veer toward increasingly hostile relations. The moments spent together on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit here will amount to only a fraction of the time the two men have been in each other’s company since 2011. Biden has claimed that as vice president, he spent north of 70 hours with Xi and traveled 17,000 miles with him across China and the United States – both exaggerations, but still reflective of a relationship that is now perhaps the most important on the planet. U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 leaders' summit in Bali, Indonesia, November 14, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 leaders' summit in Bali, Indonesia, November 14, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Kevin Lamarque/Reuters China warns US not to cross ‘red line’ over Taiwan Xi stated that Taiwan is the “first red line” that “must not be crossed” in China-US relations, according to a Chinese foreign ministry readout. Referring to the “Taiwan question” as the “very core of China’s core interests” and “the bedrock of the political foundation” of China-US relations, Xi stated that peace and stability across the Taiwan strait and “Taiwan independence” is “as irreconcilable as water and fire.” China’s ruling Communist Party has long claimed the self-ruled democracy of 24 million as an inseparable part of its territory, despite having never ruled over it, and has pledged to take it back – by force if necessary. Video Ad Feedback CNN reporters explain one of the most contentious issues of US-China relations 05:25 - Source: CNN In the meeting, Xi stated that basic norms of international relations and the three Sino-US joint communiques – which touches on the Taiwan issue – are the “most important guardrail and safety net” for bilateral relations and are “vitally important” for the two sides to “manage differences and disagreements and prevent confrontation and conflict.” “We hope that the US side will match its words with action and abide by the one-China policy and the three joint communiques. President Biden has said on many occasions that the US does not support ‘Taiwan independence’ and has no intention to use Taiwan as a tool to seek advantages in competition with China or to contain China. We hope that the US side will act on this assurance to real effect,” according to the readout. Xi also defended China’s human rights records and governance system, saying that China has “Chinese-style democracy” that fits its national conditions, according to the readout. He acknowledged the differences between China and the US, but stressed that they should not become “an obstacle to growing China-US relations.” “The Chinese nation has the proud tradition of standing up for itself. Suppression and containment will only strengthen the will and boost the morale of the Chinese people,” the readout said. A meeting long in the making The meeting Monday took place at a remarkably low moment in US-China ties. Biden hoped coming face-to-face again after nearly two years communicating only by phone and video-conference can yield a more strategically valuable result, even if he entered the talks with little expectation they would produce anything concrete. Relations have deteriorated rapidly amid economic disputes and an increasingly militarized standoff over Taiwan. The tensions have led to a decline in cooperation on areas where the two countries once shared common interests, like combating climate change and containing North Korea’s nuclear program. US Vice President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping toast during a State Luncheon for China hosted by US Secretary of State John Kerry on September 25, 2015 at the Department of State in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/PAUL J. RICHARDS (Photo credit should read PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP via Getty Images) Biden and Xi return to the table with high stakes -- and low expectations In a national security strategy document released last month, Biden for the first time identified China as posing “America’s most consequential geopolitical challenge,” and wrote the country was the “only competitor with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to advance that objective.” There was almost no expectation among American officials that any of those issues could be resolved simply by getting Biden and Xi in the same room. Just arranging the meeting itself required US and Chinese officials to establish lines of communication after Beijing furiously cut off most channels following House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan over the summer. “Every matter associated with this meeting, from phone calls to logistics, has been very carefully considered, negotiated, and engaged between the two sides,” a senior US administration official said. Planning for Monday’s meeting predated Pelosi’s trip, and discussions continued between US and Chinese officials despite Beijing’s furor. The process was “serious, very sustained and professional in the best traditions of US-China diplomacy,” the official said. A second official acknowledged the talks setting up the meeting were not always friendly. “I won’t say that the conversations weren’t contentious because obviously there’s lots of areas where we have differences and challenges,” the official said. “The dozens of hours we have spent talking to our Chinese counterparts has definitely surfaced many of those issues.” For his part, Biden takes meetings like this “incredibly seriously” and reads extensively beforehand. In meetings with advisers, he runs through various scenarios for how the meeting might go. “He goes through ‘if this happens, then should we handle it this way,’” the first official said. “He understands that this is, in many respects, the most important bilateral relationship. And it’s his responsibility to manage it well and he takes that very, very seriously.” Officials said in Monday’s meeting they expected Biden’s senior-most advisers to accompany him as part of his official delegation. And they said they expected Xi to similarly surround himself with top aides, though the US team entered the meeting expecting to see some new faces on the Chinese side amid an ongoing transition inside Xi’s inner circle. Chinese President Xi Jinping waves after his speech as the new Politburo Standing Committee members meet the media following the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China October 23, 2022. China's Xi is more powerful than ever. What does it mean for the world? Biden and Xi entered the meeting with momentum For Xi, the trip to Bali also marked one of his first journeys abroad since the onset of the Covid pandemic, which prompted the Chinese government to impose strict lock downs and draconian restrictions. Xi’s reemergence on the physical world stage also comes on the heels of China’s Communist Party Congress in Beijing, during which he secured a norm-breaking third term as its leader. Even a week ago, most inside the White House were expecting Biden to enter the talks comparatively weakened by Democratic losses in the midterm elections. But better-than-expected results for Democrats left the president feeling as if he was entering his meetings this week with the wind at his back, according to top aides. “I know I’m coming in stronger, but I don’t need that,” Biden said of his own improved political fortunes on Saturday. US officials previewing the meeting have stressed the Biden administration is not looking to come out of it with specific “deliverables,” including a joint statement listing areas of potential cooperation. Rather, the setting is aimed at offering both Biden and Xi a significant opportunity to better share their respective countries’ goals and perspectives. “Xi is not an enigma to President Biden,” a senior administration official told CNN. “He knows him. And he is mindful of where Xi is trying to take China. He sees China as a competitor, and he feels confident the US can win that competition.” China’s pandemic-era isolation, US officials say, had made it relatively harder in recent years to get a read on Beijing’s intentions abroad as Xi declined to travel outside of China – but they believe that is all about to change. “We can expect them to be more assertive on the world stage,” the senior administration said. But, they added: “What that looks like is difficult to know right now.” Sullivan said this week that finally substituting the pandemic-era video calls with a face-to-face meeting for the first time since Biden took office “takes the conversation to a different level strategically and allows the leaders to explore in deeper detail what each of them see in terms of their intentions and priorities.” SURSA