-CosmiNNe
Posts posted by -CosmiNNe
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A Hamas delegation has arrived in Cairo for talks on efforts to broker a ceasefire in the war in Gaza after indications that Israel has provisionally accepted a six-week phased hostage and truce deal before the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Qatari and US mediators also arrived in the Egyptian capital on Sunday, according to the state-linked Al Qahera News.
Talks involving Israeli negotiators took place in the Qatari city of Doha on Saturday and Hamas is expected to respond on Sunday or Monday as time runs out before the unofficial deadline of 10 or 11 March, when Ramadan starts. The month of fasting is often accompanied by an uptick in violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, even in quieter years.
A Hamas official told Agence France-Presse that if Israel were to meet its demands – which include a complete military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and stepped-up humanitarian aid – this would “pave the way for an agreement within the next 24-48 hours”.
Another unnamed Palestinian official told Reuters, however, that a ceasefire deal was still not imminent, saying: “We’re not there yet.”
A US official said on Saturday that Israel had “more or less accepted” a deal presented by mediators.
Stemming the bloodshed in Gaza has been a difficult diplomatic task in the nearly five-month-old war sparked by Hamas’s attack on Israel in which, according to Israeli figures, about 1,200 people were killed and another 250 abducted.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed more than 30,000 people, displaced more than 85% of the 2.3 million-strong po[CENSORED]tion from their homes and left more than half of the strip’s infrastructure in ruins, according to data from Gaza’s health ministry and the UN.
Increasing the flow of aid is crucial. The local health ministry said on Sunday that 15 children had died from malnutrition and dehydration at Kamal Adwan hospital in Beit Lahiya, and the UN has said about a quarter of the total po[CENSORED]tion is “one step away from famine”.
Hamas has indicated its negotiating position could be influenced by the deaths of 115 Palestinians in Gaza who were killed after Israeli troops opened fire near a crowd of people scrambling to get food from an aid convoy on Thursday.
Israel’s military said on Sunday that a preliminary review found its forces did not strike the convoy and that most Palestinians died in a crowd crush, although it acknowledged it fired at individuals who it said posed a threat to soldiers.
The military spokesperson R Adm Daniel Hagari did not give details on the alleged threat but said “an independent, professional and expert body” would do a more thorough examination that would be shared “hopefully in the coming days”.
UN officials visiting al-Shifa hospital the day after the attack said they saw many survivors with gunshot wounds, matching interviews with doctors treating the injured and witness accounts of the incident.
The scale of the looming starvation has pushed the US to start airdropping food into the besieged territory, a move criticised by aid agencies and human rights groups as expensive and ineffective.
A November truce in which about 100 hostages were freed in exchange for 240 Palestinians in Israeli jails collapsed after a week, and progress on a second deal has proved elusive.
With just a week left until Ramadan begins, desperate civilians in Gaza, the relatives of the remaining hostages and international mediators are all aware that time may be running out to broker a comprehensive ceasefire.
The latest negotiations have centred on a proposal to pause the fighting for six weeks, increase the flow of aid, and for Hamas to free the default defined category of vulnerable hostages: the sick, the wounded, elderly people and women.
The number and identity of Palestinian prisoners to be released has to date been a particular sticking point in talks since the first ceasefire collapsed at the beginning of December.
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![Painting of an audience in Athens During [the Representation of] 'Agamemnon' 1884 by Sir William Blake Richmond.](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/content-assets/images/20240302_CUP506.jpg)
Asked what he thought of Western civilisation, Mahatma Gandhi is said to have quipped that such a thing “would be a good idea”. (The West, he suggested, was not so enlightened.) But as Josephine Quinn makes clear in her new book, Western civilisation has always been a bad idea, or at any rate a wrong-headed one. To compartmentalise history into a set of distinct and essentially self-contained civilisations is a misguided quest that has dangerously distorted our understanding of the world, Ms Quinn asserts: “It is not peoples that make history, but people, and the connections that they create with one another.”
Ms Quinn, a historian and archaeologist who teaches at Oxford, does not spend 500-odd pages trashing what generations of schoolchildren have been taught to take pride in as European achievements. Instead, she demolishes the underlying concept of what she calls “civilisational thinking”. Her argument is simple, persuasive and deserving of attention.
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PARIS, March 1 (Reuters) - Vetements designer Guram Gvasalia drew out the proportions of clothing for the label's 10th anniversary catwalk presentation on Friday, which brought crowds of celebrities, including Cher, to the Paris Fashion Week event.
"The most Vetements show ever," the label posted on Instagram in the run-up to show. "You've been waiting for it for ten years."
Natalia Vodianova opened the show, walking briskly down the red carpeted runway in a thick, tailored suit with heightened shoulders and bulky trousers, and a fitted, low-cut bustier.
A series of oversize looks followed, including suits in crinkly materials, a long T-shirt with sleeves that splayed out to the side, a hulking camouflage ensemble and jeans with extra fabric that trailed behind.
Georgina Rodriguez wore a dress printed with the name of football star Cristiano Ronaldo, while another model had an enormous grey hoodie printed with a message:
"I'm retired, this is as dressed up as I get." -
Messi "a voulu humilier Hong Kong"
L'influent quotidien local Global Times a également fait sienne la théorie de l'absence délibérée. "Une théorie est que les actions (de Messi) ont des motivations politiques, dans la mesure où Hong Kong voulait stimuler l'économie à travers cet événement et que des forces extérieures ont délibérément voulu humilier Hong Kong [et par là même la Chine, NDLR] avec cet incident. Cette hypothèse ne peut être exclue", a relevé le média nationaliste, tandis que sur Weibo, l'équivalent chinois de X, des Chinois se sont amusé à caricaturer Messi en soldat japonais ou américain."En allant jouer aux États-Unis, Messi est devenu un élément de la marque USA", analyse Simon Chadwick. "Qu'il le veuille ou non, il sera perçu comme un défenseur des États-Unis et des intérêts parce qu'il joue pour une équipe américaine."
En 2019 déjà, le sport avait été le terrain de jeu des tensions entre les États-Unis et la Chine. À l'époque, c'était le basket qui avait été concerné : Daryl Morey, le manager général des Houston Rockets, avait dans un tweet fait part de sa solidarité avec les manifestants prodémocratie hongkongais. Colère de Pékin. Dans la foulée, les chaînes de CCTV, chaînes publiques chinoises, ont supprimé tous les matchs des Rockets, puis cessé de diffuser le championnat de NBA. Le boycott a duré un an.
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Music Title : Music Mix 2023 🎧 EDM Remixes of Po[CENSORED]r Songs 🎧 EDM Gaming Music
Singer : -
Release Date : 09/16/23
Official YouTube Link :
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Meta's new Threads app is finally available on iOS and Android, and the platform has received plenty of traction at launch. It has not even been 12 hours since the release, and the app has successfully crossed the 10 million download mark. Threads is Meta's answer to Twitter and the changes it is placing forth lately. It behaves a lot like Twitter as well when it comes to replies, sharing media, and much more. If you already have an Instagram account, the entire process of jumping to Threads will be a lot simpler.
Meta launches Threads app to take on Twitter, and it has gained a lot of attention in a matter of hours
As mentioned earlier, Meta's Threads is a microblogging platform similar to Twitter, and it will take time for users to get accustomed to the new ways. However, it is not yet known how the market will respond to it, but initial views have been positive so far. The platform is not only available on iOS and Android, but you can use it on your desktop as well.
In terms of specifics, the Threads app supports text-based posts that can go up to 500 characters. You also have the availability to share photos, gifs, as well as short 5-minute videos. The media aspect of the app is different than Instagram but very similar to Twitter. You can not access additional video content in the form of Reels, so you will have to stick to Instagram for that.It features a minimalistic interface with a main feed page that contains recommendations as well as threads from people you have followed. Currently, the Threads app does not give you the option to choose between the two, but it could be added later on. The clean interface allows you to focus on the text and the content with little to no distractions.
Instagram-Threads.jpg
The app also brings various privacy and security controls from the Instagram app such as blocking words and limiting people to reply to your thread. You can make your account private or public as well. If you are on Instagram, you can easily sign up for Threads and follow the same people.
As mentioned earlier, Threads is Meta's answer to Twitter and the number of issues it is running into these days. The app has crossed more than 10 million downloads in just 7 hours of launch. This shows people are looking for a dedicated platform to replace Twitter in its own game. However, the market feedback remains to be seen. We are gradually seeing celebrities and brands joining the platform, and the outcome could be a thread threat to Twitter.
If you are up for it, Meta's Threads app can be downloaded from the App Store and Play Store. You can also use the app on your desktop so you always stay in touch with the latest news. We will share more details on Threads and how to use it in the future, so be sure to stick around.
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Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 graphics card
Specifications:-
1- Memory size: 24 GB GDDR6X.
2- Card architecture: 384 bit.
3- Data transfer capacity: 936.2 GB per second.
4- Processing speeds:
CUDA Cores: 10496
Base Clock at 1395 MHz
Boost Clock at 1695MHz
Memory Clock at 19.5 Gbps
- Recommended power supply: 750 watts -
:format(webp):quality(80)/https://www.go4games.ro/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Return-to-Monkey-Island-Key-Art-4K-1024x576.png)
După ce a fost lansat pentru Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox și PC, Return to Monkey Island, cea mai recentă aventură a inimitabilului pirat Guybrush Threepwood, se pregătește să poposească și pe dispozitivele mobile. Astfel, Return to Monkey Island va fi lansat pentru telefoanele și tabletele bazate pe iOS și Android începând cu 27 iulie 2023, preînregistrările fiind disponibile chiar acum.
În spatele lui Return to Monkey Island se află mințile creative care au dat naștere seriei la începutul anilor ’90: Ron Gilbert și Dave Grossman, ce s-au ocupat de design-ul și scenariul acestui nou titlu. Muzica a fost compusă din nou de Michael Land, Peter McConnel și Clint Bajakian, iar în rolul lui Guybrush Threepwood îl putem auzi din nou pe Dominic Armato. Rex Crowle (ex-Media Molecule, unde a lucrat la jocuri precum Little Big Planet sau Tearaway) este directorul artistic al acestui nou joc Monkey Island.
Conform lui Ron Gilbert, noul joc a fost conceput drept o continuare directă a evenimentelor din Secret of Monkey Island și Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge.
Return to Monkey Island va fi lansat pentru dispozitivele mobile bazate pe iOS si Android pe 27 iulie 2023. Jocul este deja disponibil pe PC/Mac (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S și Nintendo Switch.
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Chinese mega publisher NetEase continues its expansion into the Western development scene as today the company announced they’ve acquired SkyBox Labs, the Vancouver, Canada-based support studio that’s primarily worked with Xbox Game Studios on the likes of Halo Infinite, Minecraft, and various Age of Empires titles.It sounds like SkyBox will continue to assist other studios with their games under NetEase ownership, although the press release for the acquisition does mention Skybox will also “pursue creative opportunities.” SkyBox has produced some original titles of their own, including the well-received artsy platformer Stela, so with NetEase’s support, perhaps we’ll see more in than vein.
NetEase’s president of global investment and partnerships Simon Zhu had the following to say about the new partnership with SkyBox…“We are thrilled to welcome SkyBox Labs to the NetEase Games family and are committed to creating an environment that allows them to thrive and operate independently as a game studio. We were impressed with their extensive experience in game development and are great admirers of their past work on some of the world's leading franchises. We look forward to working with the SkyBox Labs co-founders and providing the resources needed to help them grow their presence in Canada as they continue to support top creators around the world in developing unforgettable gaming experiences for players."
Interestingly, one of NetEase’s big recent moves was backing Jar of Sparks, a new Seattle-based startup studio founded by many former Halo Infinite top creatives. They’re looking to create a “new generation of narrative-driven action games," so perhaps SkyBox Labs will be helping them out with that? The people behind the two studios have a history and are certainly close geographically, so it would make sense.What do you think about NetEase’s continued expansion? Could some good games eventually come out of it? You can get more info on their latest moves here.
https://wccftech.com/halo-infinite-minecraft-studio-skybox-labs-netease-acquisition/
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Remains were discovered in the search for missing Lois and John McCullough
By Peter Walker & Debbie Tubby
BBC News, in Chelmsford
Detectives believe they have discovered the remains of a couple whose daughter has been charged with their murder.
Essex Police was called to an address in Pump Hill, Chelmsford, on Wednesday over concerns for the welfare of two people in their 70s, who were missing.
Virginia McCullough, 35, of Pump Hill, appeared in court earlier accused of murdering John and Lois McCullough some time between 2018 and 2023.Virginia McCullough appeared for a brief hearing at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court
The court charge sheet said Virginia McCullough had been charged with her parents' murder in Chelmsford some time between 21 August 2018 and 15 September this year.
Det Supt Rob Kirby said formal identification of the bodies was yet to take place and a police presence would remain in the road in the "coming days".
"This continues to be an incredibly complex investigation," he said.
"A family is grieving the loss of two relatives and officers are supporting
them."
Police said human remains had now been found at an address on the same street.Essex Police said they were working to build a "clear picture" as part of their investigation in the Great Baddow area of Chelmsford
In a statement issued by police, the victims' family said: "We are deeply shocked by their deaths and ask for privacy at this difficult time."
Ms McCullough appeared for a brief hearing at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Monday, wearing a grey prison-issue tracksuit, and was remanded in custody to appear again at Basildon Crown Court on Tuesday.
The Reverend Phil Sheldrake, the vicar at St Mary's Great Baddow, told the BBC that clergy were on hand to speak to anyone affected.
"We are shocked to hear the tragic news that's come from our own community and what we want to do as a church is simply react to that by opening up this building as a place people can come and pray, light a candle and just be," he said.
Essex Police asked for anyone with information to get in contact...
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Name: Maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)
Where it’s found: South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay)
What it eats: Omnivorous diet, including small mammals, birds, reptiles, eggs, sugarcane, bulbs and fruits.
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Researchers First Thought They Were Statues
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Why it's awesome:If there were a beauty contest for wild canines, the maned wolf would surely be the winner, with its flowing red coat, long legs and large ears. Its name derives from the black mane along the back of its neck. At least one all-black (known as melanistic) maned wolf has been seen and photographed.
Despite resembling a red fox and being called a wolf, the maned wolf is not closely related to either of those animals. In fact, the maned wolf forms its own genus, Chrysocyon, which translates to "golden dog." It lives in South America, including in Argentina, Brazil and Peru.
The maned wolf's long legs may be an adaptation for hunting in grassland, one of its habitats. Unlike other canids, it eats invertebrates, roots and grass, along with more typical fare, such as rodents, small deer and birds. There's even a fruit associated with the maned wolf: the lobeira, also known as the wolf’s fruit or guarambá. Part of the Solanaceae family — which also includes tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and tobacco — wolf's fruit constitutes up to 50% of a maned wolf's diet. Scientists think maned wolves eat this tomato-like fruit, which can be up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) in diameter, to help expel parasitic worms — particularly the giant kidney worm (Dioctophyma renale), which is usually fatal to maned wolves.
nk of extinction
Unlike the gray wolf (Canis lupus) and the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus), the maned wolf is mostly solitary, but males and females are monogamous and stick together for about a month during breeding season. Even when separate, they keep in contact via a call described as "an explosive roar-bark," which can travel more than half a mile.
link: https://www.livescience.com/animals/maned-wolf-a-strikingly-beautiful-south-american-canid
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In conjunction with the enthusiasm that many people feel when starting to follow a healthy diet, some people are keen to read the nutrition information labeled on the food products they eat daily, and some products may become tempting when they learn that their calories are low or less than expected.
But how are the calories in manufactured products calculated, and is the printed information about the product’s calories accurate?
In 1990, a US federal nutrition labeling law was passed, requiring food manufacturers to label nutritional facts on a product.
Scientists working for food manufacturers are supposed to conduct measurements in their laboratories to obtain the numbers of nutrients contained in their products. They rely on a standard known as “standard reference materials.”
To obtain this standard, they use what is known as the “food matrix triangle” or the amount of “fat, protein, and carbohydrates.” The results of these tests are reflected on the product’s nutritional facts labels, but these results are the closest to health, but they are not 100% accurate.
“Snacks that say they contain 200 calories could actually be 240 calories,” says food scientist Dr. Katherine Lee.
The US Food and Drug Administration also confirmed that the percentages labeled on food products are not accurate, as they allow for an error and variance of up to 20%, which means that a serving of Greek yogurt that contains 100 calories can actually contain between 80 and 120 calories. .
Labels on food products are not accurate, allowing up to 20% error (pixels)
Factors affecting the accuracy of calorie counting
According to the Very Well Fit website, scientists in the field of nutrition have identified a group of reasons that may affect the accuracy of calorie counting. Understanding these factors may help you make better choices about healthy foods in your diet plan:Unreliable sources
Food tracking applications may provide data uploaded by consumers. In some cases, the numbers are not verified for accuracy.This means that the serving size, nutrition data, and calorie count can all be wrong. Before relying on any of these sources, it is useful to know whether the numbers are confirmed or not.
How to prepare
Another factor that can affect the accuracy of calories is the method of preparing the food, because adding oils or sauces to your food will add calories, but what if you prepare your food without any added ingredients?Some research suggests that cooking method may alter calorie absorption. In a study of almonds, for example, metabolizable energy changed based on whether the nuts were natural, roasted, or had oils added.
Restaurant errors
Research studies have found that what is on a restaurant menu is not always the same as what is served to you on your plate.According to research published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 19% of foods tested in restaurants contained energy levels that were at least 100 calories higher than stated, an amount that can cause a weight gain of 5 to 7 kilograms per year. If consumed daily.
The restaurant menu contains energy levels that are at least 100 calories higher than advertised (pixels).
Ultimately, counting calories is helpful, but should be approached with caution, so check macronutrient (carbohydrate, protein, fat) and micronutrient (vitamin and mineral) information to make smart choices.But at the same time, you must be aware that the percentages labeled on food products or restaurant menus can be errored by 20%.
https://www.aljazeera.net/lifestyle/2023/9/19/هل-قيمة-السعرات-الحرارية-على-المنتجات
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Model for Journalist Request:
- Nickname: @-AXeLpO-
- Age:17
- Link with your forum profile:https://csblackdevil.com/forums/profile/89946-axelpo/
- How much time do you spend on our channel ts every day?:a lot
- Where do you want to moderate? Check this topic: all journalists and reviewr
- How much time you can be active on the Journalists Channel?: idk but alot
- Link with your last request to join in our Team:https://csblackdevil.com/forums/topic/457027-news-trudeau-facing-cold-reality-after-lonely-week-on-world-stage/?do=findComment&comment=2217302
- Last 5 topics that you made on our sectio
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The famous battle royale game PUBG Mobile celebrates with its fans in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the occasion of National Day by launching new events and challenges within the game.
The new event that has become available today to all players is called the “Board Game Challenge.” It is a mini-game that offers you a set of daily tasks and challenges through which you obtain points that can be collected to obtain some gifts such as a distinctive elegant suit, airplane housing, and more. Among the various rewards.
The board game challenge event will be available from Thursday, September 21, until next Wednesday, October 4. To access and participate in the event, all you have to do is follow the following steps.
Steps to enter the PUBG Mobile board game challenge event
From the main interface, go to “Events”.
From the menu, go to the second option.
From the pop-up menu, go to the board game challenge option.
Press the “Go” button to start.
The game will take you to a new interface as shown in the image above. On the right side appear the rewards that you can obtain by collecting the required coins. While on the left side appear the tasks and challenges that you must complete in order to obtain these coins to unlock the rewards.There are various challenges that PUBG Mobile provides you with on the occasion of Saudi National Day, such as logging in to the game once. Or last 20 minutes in classic game mode, or eliminate two enemies in this same mode.
The matter will not end here, as there are still more rewards that you can get from the PUBG Mobile game, and this time it is an opportunity to win a code that entitles you to obtain a unique “Skin” within the game dedicated to National Day. All you have to do is leave a comment below and you will be entered into a draw for two codes.PUBG Mobile is available for free download on smartphone devices with Android an
d iOS systems. You can download the game directly through the links listed below.
https://www.vga4a.com/archives/201118
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Few long-running series have reinvented themselves for the modern era as successfully as Mortal Kombat. Since the 2011 reboot found a fresh yet familiar formula for its brawls, and finally made some sense of its sprawling lore, each new entry has had its own distinct and exciting identity, from X's explosion of new characters to 11's clash of past and present. So the question is, what's Mortal Kombat 1's new take on the series? The unfortunate answer is, though it's still a solid fighter, it doesn't really have one.
NetherRealm has pitched this as another soft reboot for the series—a fresh entry point that sheds much of the confusing backstory and welcomes in new players. But that's not really what we've got. Instead, Mortal Kombat 1 feels more entrenched in the series' past than ever, struggling to iterate on its core systems or to tell an accessible new story. It's a fun fighting game at its core, but it's definitely the weakest of the recent MKs, and it's disappointingly lacking in the series' true greatest asset: personality.
For many, the eight-hour cinematic story campaign will be the main draw, especially following on from the universe-shattering events of the end of Mortal Kombat 11. The long and short is, hero-turned-god Liu Kang has rebooted time to create a more peaceful and chummy version of the setting, with many of the classic villains carefully neutered or redeemed by their new circumstances. As you might expect from a series known for its gory executions, that peace is fated not to last, largely thanks to the meddling of a mysterious villain who seems to want to correct the path of history back towards violence and chaos.
The first half is promising, seeming to strip things back to a simpler kind of Mortal Kombat story—one more grounded in martial arts movies than grand, multiverse-spanning fantasy. Familiar characters are reimagined in interesting ways—Raiden is now a plucky mortal champion, Mileena is a noble heir tortured by a dark secret, and Sub-Zero and Scorpion are brothers in the same clan. Fans of long-standing jobbers Baraka and Reptile, who traditionally exist just to get beaten into pulp while the heroes wait for some real villains to come along, will be thrilled to hear they both finally get their due, getting to be endearing anti-heroes this time around.
But this new set-up barely gets the chance to find its feet before we're back into mind-bending nonsense, and the story gets bogged down in reheated ideas, twists that rely on you knowing what happened not only in MK11 but in its DLC expansion too, and bizarre tributes to the early-2000s era games. As a long-time fan, I couldn't help but feel it's all been done much better before; for a newcomer, I suspect it would all be impenetrable.
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happy Birthday @Nyx. hope u enjoy on ur special day
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With government funding slated to run out September 30, the leaders of the bipartisan House Problem Solvers Caucus told CNN on Sunday that “all options are on the table” to force a vote on their alternative stopgap plan to avert a shutdown.
There is no consensus plan to keep the government funded, and persistent opposition by a bloc of conservatives to House GOP leadership’s agenda has made any effort to pass a stopgap bill in the House a major challenge.
While the caucus leaders, Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Josh Gottheimer, said they hope House Speaker Kevin McCarthy puts the measure on the floor, they said they have spoken with the parliamentarian about other avenues and raised the possibility of using a discharge petition – an arcane procedural step – to force a vote.
The procedural tool can be used to force a floor vote, but only if a majority of House members sign on in support. Discharge petitions rarely succeed because of how high the threshold is to clear.
“We’re going to do whatever it takes to get that bill on the floor. … A discharge petition is one of several options, and a group of us met with the parliamentarian this past week to discuss all the options we have to force a vote on our bill,” Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican, told CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union.”
Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat, added: “I think our plan is reasonable. And it deals with the extremes and … instead of burning the place down as, Speaker McCarthy said of the far right, it actually provides a reasonable, commonsense solution working with people like Brian Fitzpatrick who want to get things done.”
The caucus last week endorsed a potential backup plan if House Republicans are unable to pass their stopgap bill alone. The bill would fund the government through January 11 and include Ukraine aid, disaster response and border security provisions.
“This is a decision the speaker is gonna have to make. He can bring that reasonable bill to the floor that we’ve proposed, and I guarantee you’re gonna get Democrats (and) Republicans coming together to support it and we can keep the lights on,” Gottheimer said.
McCarthy, who is under pressure and has faced threats of an ouster, said Saturday he still lacks support from a handful of GOP hardliners to put a stopgap measure on the floor, making a shutdown likely.
Rep. Tim Burchett, one of the holdouts, told CNN on Sunday he is still a “no” on passing a stopgap funding bill.
“No, ma’am,” the Tennessee Republican told Bash. “I think it’s completely blowing away our duties. We have a duty to pass a budget.”
He also said he would strongly consider support for ousting McCarthy if the California Republican cuts a deal with Democrats to keep the government open.
“That would be something I’d look strongly at, ma’am, if we do away with our duty that we said we’re going to do,” Burchett said.
McCarthy has been hoping the momentum of a handful of appropriations bills, which will head to the House floor this week, would bring some of those holdouts into the fold. But Burchett’s comments Sunday are the latest indication that hope may be in vain.
“We’re sticking to our guns and all of a sudden we’re the bad guys because we want to balance our budget,” Burchett said.
Another holdout, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, said Sunday that McCarthy is in “breach” of promises he made regarding government spending when elected speaker.
“We should have separate single-subject spending bills. Kevin McCarthy promised that in January, he is in breach of that promise, so I’m not here to hold the government hostage, I’m here to hold Kevin McCarthy to his word,” Gaetz said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”
Gaetz added it would be fine if some departments shut down for a few days if it meant measures such as the Homeland Security appropriations bill passed first.
“If, you know, the (departments) of Labor and Education have to shut down for a few days as we get their appropriations in line, that’s certainly not something that is optimal, but I think it’s better than continuing on the current path we are to America’s financial ruin,” Gaetz said.
The holdouts’ comments come as the White House urges Republicans to find a solution, warning that a government shutdown could threaten crucial federal programs.
“Funding the government is one of the most basic responsibilities of Congress, and it’s time for Republicans to start doing the job America elected them to do,” President Joe Biden said Sunday at an event held by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.
Speaking on Sunday to CNN’s Bash, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called on House Republicans to “come to their senses and keep the government running.”
“This is something that can and should be prevented,” Buttigieg said on “State of the Union.” He echoed Biden administration talking points, saying Republicans should hold up their end of the agreement made this year during debt ceiling negotiations.
The White House has warned of massive disruptions to air travel if the government shuts down, as tens of thousands of air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration personnel will have to work without pay.
“They’re under enough stress as it is doing that job without having to come into work with the added stress of not receiving a paycheck,” Buttigieg said of air traffic controllers.
He added, “The American people don’t want to shutdown. From what I can tell, the Senate is ready to go. The administration is ready to go. House Republicans need to come to their senses and keep the government running.”
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/24/politics/government-shutdown-discharge-petition/index.html
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Max Verstappen arrived in Suzuka for the Japanese Grand Prix with the intention of sticking two fingers up to the naysayers in Formula 1 - and left it having proved in the most emphatic way his and Red Bull's superiority over the field this year.
The Dutchman's 13th victory in 16 races this season came at the end of probably his most impressive overall performance of a year in which he and the team have dominated the field in a manner rarely seen in F1 before.
Verstappen said that his aim going to Japan was to win the constructors' championship at the first chance they had - and mission accomplished thanks to his crushing victory.
But he was just as motivated to prove a lot of people wrong after Red Bull's rare off race in Singapore a week before.
There, for the first time this year, Red Bull were off the pace and looked ordinary. Verstappen's record-breaking run of 10 consecutive wins came to an end, as did Red Bull's sequence of winning every grand prix this year.
But what irked Verstappen more was the innuendo that Red Bull might have achieved their unprecedented success unfairly.
Singapore followed a technical directive from governing body the FIA aimed at clamping down on the use of flexible floors and bodywork. So when Red Bull struggled in its aftermath, some in rival teams drew what they felt was an obvious conclusion.
Verstappen found the insinuations insulting, and set about proving it in Suzuka. From his first lap in practice, he was on a mission. That lap - nearly two seconds quicker than anyone else, including his team-mate Sergio Perez, despite being on hard tyres - left mouths agape. And he continued on like that for three days.
Fastest in every practice session. Fastest in all three qualifying sessions. A lap on his first set of tyres in final qualifying more than 0.4secs faster than anyone else. On his second, he really went for it. He was 11km/h faster than before through Turns Four and Five in the Esses, and the result was pole by more than 0.5secs. And 0.8secs quicker than Perez.
Team principal Christian Horner described that as "one of the best qualifying laps of all time".
And when afterwards Verstappen was asked whether he was trying to prove a point, he said: "Honestly, yeah, we had a bad weekend [in Singapore]. Of course then people start talking about… 'ah, it's all because of the technical directives'. I think they can go suck on an egg.
"I was just very fired up to have a good weekend here and make sure that, yeah, we were strong."
Horner said he knew what was coming before the race weekend had started.
"I played padel tennis with Max on Wednesday," Horner said, "and he was properly fired up, and made it clear. He said: 'I want to win the race by 20 seconds.' And in fairness he came within 0.7secs of achieving that.
"You could tell from the very first lap in P1 - when on the hard tyre he was 1.7 seconds quicker than the rest of the field on medium or soft tyres - that he was totally focused on this event.
"It is a circuit he loves and enjoys. It is one of the ultimate driver circuits as a test around here. It was an outstanding performance.
"Max is absolutely at the top of his game. He's the best driver in F1 at this point in time and everything has to come together - car, driver, team in total harmony."
Verstappen's weekend in Japan - as so many times this year - contrasted heavily with that of team-mate Sergio Perez. Verstappen has scored enough points to lead the constructors' championship on his own.
Horner claimed after the race that "either driver is pretty much leading the constructors' championship at the moment". But that's an exaggeration. Perez's total would put him fourth, ahead of Aston Martin but 80 points behind second-placed Mercedes.
When Perez won his two races early in the season, Verstappen was a close second. Horner pointed out that Perez had finished second behind Verstappen six times - but he has also not done so on a further eight occasions.
Japan was perhaps the nadir of his season. And perhaps a metaphor for it, too - lacking anything like Verstappen's pace, he was beaten by two McLarens and a Ferrari in qualifying and his race was littered with errors.
Damage to a front wing on a first lap can happen, but Perez then earned himself a five-second penalty for inadvertently passing Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin on his way into the pits to have it changed.
And not long afterwards, impatient to make up ground, he damaged his car again - this time terminally - in a clumsy and over-ambitious attempt to pass Kevin Magnussen's Haas.
The only 'bright' spot was that, after spending 26 laps in the pits, Red Bull made the decision to send him out for a couple of laps again so he could serve the penalty he was given for hitting Magnussen, thus preventing him serving it again in Qatar next time out.
The gulf in class has been obvious all year. And while everyone in F1 accepts that the Red Bull is the best car in the field and believes that a number of drivers could do better than Perez in the Red Bull, it is weekends like Japan that have people up and down the pit lane wondering how much of Red Bull's utter domination this season is down to the car, and how much to Verstappen.
As McLaren team principal Andrea Stella put it when asked after the race whether his team could challenge Red Bull at any point before the end of the season: "That's still a step too far. In fairness, it looks if it is Max who is one step too far."
https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/66905383
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Sept 24 (Reuters) - Grammy-winning artist Usher will headline the halftime show at the 2024 Super Bowl in Las Vegas, Nevada, the National Football League (NFL), Apple Music and label Roc Nation announced on Sunday.
The Super Bowl is scheduled to take place at Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium on Feb. 11, 2024.
"It's an honor of a lifetime to finally check a Super Bowl performance off my bucket list," Usher said in the statement. "I can't wait to bring the world a show unlike anything else they've seen from me before."
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Since the release of his debut album in 1994, Usher Raymond IV has sold over 80 million records worldwide, climbing atop music charts and bringing home eight Grammy awards, considered by many to be the most prestigious awards in the music industry.
Billboard magazine crowned him the second most successful artist of the 2000s.
"U Got It Bad," "OMG," and "Yeah!" are among the 44-year-old singer's chart-topping hits. Usher is currently performing in Las Vegas as part of his residency show "Usher: My Way."
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"Usher is an icon whose music has left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape throughout his career," NFL Head of Music Seth Dudowsky said in the news release announcing the decision.
Last year's Super Bowl Halftime Show, headlined by R&B star Rihanna, was the most-watched halftime performance of all time, organizers said.
Iconic artists including the Rolling Stones, Beyonce, Stevie Wonder, Prince and Bruce Springsteen have taken the Super Bowl stage over the years.
https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/rb-star-usher-headline-super-bowl-58-halftime-show-2023-09-24/
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This week in New York, as he listened to questions from reporters, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's reliable smile began to fade.
Unsurprisingly, nearly all the questions were about India and the shocking allegation made by Mr Trudeau earlier in the week: there was credible evidence the Indian government had participated in the extrajudicial killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil, a Sikh activist whom India has accused of terrorism.
Delhi has denied having anything to do with the murder.
Speaking slowly, carefully, the prime minister stuck closely to his talking points. "We're not looking to provoke or cause problems," he said. "We're standing up for the rules-based order."
But where, several reporters asked, were Canada's allies? "So far in time," one journalist said to Mr Trudeau, "you seem to be alone".
In the public eye at least, Mr Trudeau has appeared to be left largely on his own as he goes toe to toe with India, one of the world's fastest-growing economies, with a po[CENSORED]tion 35 times bigger than Canada's.
In the days since the prime minister made the explosive announcement, his allies in the Five Eyes intelligence alliance provided seemingly boilerplate public statements, all stopping far short of full-throated support.
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said his country took "very seriously the things that Canada are saying". Using nearly identical language, Australia said it was "deeply concerned" by the accusations.
But perhaps the most deafening silence came from Canada's southern neighbour, the United States. The two countries are close allies, but the US did not speak up with outrage on Canada's behalf.
When President Joe Biden publicly raised India this week, while speaking at the UN, it was not to condemn, but to praise the country for helping to establish a new economic pathway.
Mr Biden's National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan later denied that there was a "wedge" between the US and its neighbour, saying Canada was being closely consulted. But other public statements were tepid, more nods to "deep concern", coupled with affirmations of India's growing importance to the Western world.
The problem for Canada, experts told the BBC, is that its interests currently pale in comparison to India's massive strategic importance.
"The United States, the UK, and all these Western and Indo-Pacific allies have built a strategy that largely focuses on India, to be a bulwark and counterweight to China. That's something they can't afford to toss out the window," said Xavier Delgado, a researcher at the Wilson Center's Canada Institute.
"The fact that they haven't come out and rushed to Canada's defence is indicative of the geopolitical reality."
Speaking to Canadian network CTV, US Ambassador to Canada David Cohen confirmed reports that the Five Eyes partners had shared intelligence on the matter. But on a report that those same allies had rebuffed an appeal from Canada to publicly condemn the murder he said only that he was "not in the habit of commenting on private diplomatic conversations".
Still, the relative quiet may also be indicative of Canada's shortcomings on the world stage - a dependable Western ally, but not a global power in its own right.
"This is a moment of weakness," said Christopher Sands, director of the Canada Institute.
"Right now we're seeing a hard power moment. That is not the environment where Canada shines," he said. "The decisive stuff is all force, power and money, which Canada doesn't have."
Few outside India took issue with Mr Trudeau's decision to publicly disclose the allegations which, if true, would amount to a political assassination on Canadian soil at the hands of a fellow democracy. But those ethics may not be enough to shift global headwinds.
For Mr Trudeau, that cold geopolitical reality meant an apparently solitary few days while the tensions with India dialled up higher and higher - diplomatic expulsions, travel advisories and, most dramatically, a suspension of all visa services for Canadians seeking to travel to India.
To add insult to injury, this long week comes at the end of an even longer summer for Canada's Liberal leader.
As Canadians struggled with inflation and high interest rates, news broke of alleged Chinese interference in Canadian elections, which critics said Mr Trudeau and his cabinet were aware of, but failed to take seriously.
Then it came out that the country's most notorious serial killer Paul Bernardo was being transferred to a medium-security prison, inspiring country-wide outrage. Once again, Mr Trudeau's team faced criticism that it had been caught flat-footed.
By September, Mr Trudeau's approval ratings had dropped to a three-year low, with 63% of Canadians disapproving of their prime minister, who was elected in 2015.
"He's not been lower than that over an eight-year period," said Shachi Kurl, president of Angus Reid Institute, a non-partisan research group. "There were questions being put to him very squarely, like 'are you going to stick around? Will you resign?'"
It's another cold reality for Mr Trudeau, who started in the prime minister's office as a minor national star, with a sweeping majority mandate.
"He's a celebrity like we've never seen in Canadian politics," said Campbell Clark, chief political writer for the Globe and Mail newspaper. "And after he won the election, his po[CENSORED]rity soared."
But after eight years of a highly visible prime minister, Canadians may have had their fill, Mr Clark said, noting it feels like Mr Trudeau's star power has faded, especially in recent months.
Still, some experts cautioned that while Mr Trudeau may seem to be standing alone on the international stage, this row with India may provide a much-needed bump at home.
"It got him away from all of these domestic questions," Mr Clark said.
And it can't have hurt that Mr Trudeau finished his week standing side by side with another ally - and an even bigger celebrity - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. For a day, at least, Mr Trudeau seemed to be in very good company.
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