slots win MUMBAI/DELHI: In an effort to help a loved one, families of cancer patients often turn to alternative products, adopting dietary changes with an emphasis on haldi or neem in tandem with conventional treatment. A recent video featuring former cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu has now sparked controversy, with Sidhu claiming that such home remedies helped his wife recover from breast cancer, purportedly playing down the role of scientific treatment. IPL 2025 mega auction IPL Auction Live: Teams look to finalise squad on Day 2 IPL Auction 2025: Who got whom Explained: What is accelerated IPL auction process The sheer vitality of the video on social media has now prompted the Tata Memorial Hospital to issue an unprecedented rebuttal signed by hundreds of oncologists. In the video, Sidhu says, "She started her day with nimbu pani along with 'kacchi haldi', garlic, and then neem leaves... then nuts, beetroot, carrot, and amla. After her operation, there was not a single cell of cancer (cyst) detected. These remedies do not require any money." Tata Memorial Hospital's statement is signed by 262 present and past oncologists from TMH. It said, "These statements have no high-quality evidence to support them. While research is ongoing for some of these products, there is no clinical data currently to recommend their use as anti-cancer agents." The statement further said, "We urge the public to not delay their treatment by following unproven remedies, but rather to consult a doctor, preferably a cancer specialist, if they have any symptoms of cancer. Cancer is curable if detected early." Only a day prior to the statement, TMH director Dr CS Pramesh took note of the viral video and said in an X (formerly known as Twitter) post, "Please don't believe and get fooled by these statements regardless of who it comes from. These are unscientific and baseless recommendations. She got surgery and chemotherapy that were evidence-based, which is what made her cancer-free. Not the haldi, neem, etc." The video was also rebuked by Hepatologist Dr Cyriac Abby Philips, known as ‘The Liver Doc' on X, popular for his science-driven fact checks. He said in a post, "I know you (Sidhu) are emotional, and emotions make people's thoughts go blind. There is no evidence that any specific diet or herb or Ayurvedic balderdash can prevent, control, or cure cancer." He added, "Studies have shown that complementary and alternative medicines and practices kill cancer patients more than it can delusionally save." Even the prestigious All India Institute Of Medical Sciences, Delhi, rushed to counter Sidhu's claims. Dr Abhishek Shankar, assistant professor, radiation oncology at AIIMS Delhi, said these claims can create false hope and might discourage patients from pursuing necessary cancer treatment, potentially worsening their condition. "I urge you (Sidhu) to advise cancer patients to consult an oncologist like you did for your wife to explore the best treatment options suited to individual needs," he said. Dr P K Julka, vice-chairman Max oncology, said cancer treatment should follow scientific norms. "New claims, if any, need to be proved by scientific means," he said.

With the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on the horizon, all eyes will be on Sun Yingsha as she looks to further solidify her legacy and capture gold on the world's biggest stage. Her exceptional talent, determination, and competitive spirit make her a formidable opponent and a true champion in every sense of the word.While it is true that Mbappé has achieved tremendous success at a young age, winning numerous titles and accolades both at the club level with Paris Saint-Germain and on the international stage with France, it would be unfair to attribute all of his success to the environment provided by the French team. Mbappé is a player of immense talent, skill, and dedication, and his success is a result of his hard work and determination rather than any sort of "shelter" provided by his national team.

Special counsel Jack Smith's move on Monday to abandon the federal election interference case against Trump means jurors will likely never decide whether the president-elect is criminally responsible for his attempts to cling to power after losing the 2020 campaign. The decision to walk away from the election charges and the separate classified documents case against Trump marks an abrupt end of the Justice Department’s unprecedented legal effort that once threatened his liberty but appears only to have galvanized his supporters. The abandonment of the cases accusing Trump of endangering American democracy and national security does away with the most serious legal threats he was facing as he returns to the White House. It was the culmination of a monthslong defense effort to delay the proceedings at every step and use the criminal allegations to Trump's political advantage, putting the final word in the hands of voters instead of jurors. “We always knew that the rich and powerful had an advantage, but I don’t think we would have ever believed that somebody could walk away from everything,” said Stephen Saltzburg, a George Washington University law professor and former Justice Department official. “If there ever was a Teflon defendant, that’s Donald Trump.” While prosecutors left the door open to the possibility that federal charges could be re-filed against Trump after he leaves office, that seems unlikely. Meanwhile, Trump's presidential victory has thrown into question the future of the two state criminal cases against him in New York and Georgia. Trump was supposed to be sentenced on Tuesday after his conviction on 34 felony counts in his New York hush money case , but it's possible the sentencing could be delayed until after Trump leaves office, and the defense is pushing to dismiss the case altogether. Smith's team stressed that their decision to abandon the federal cases was not a reflection of the merit of the charges, but an acknowledgement that they could not move forward under longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Trump's presidential victory set “at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: On the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law,” prosecutors wrote in court papers. The move just weeks after Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris underscores the immense personal stake Trump had in the campaign in which he turned his legal woes into a political rallying cry. Trump accused prosecutors of bringing the charges in a bid to keep him out of the White House, and he promised revenge on his perceived enemies if he won a second term. “If Donald J. Trump had lost an election, he may very well have spent the rest of his life in prison,” Vice President-elect JD Vance, wrote in a social media post on Monday. “These prosecutions were always political. Now it’s time to ensure what happened to President Trump never happens in this country again.” After the Jan. 6 attack by Trump supporters that left more than 100 police officers injured, Republican leader Mitch McConnell and several other Republicans who voted to acquit Trump during his Senate impeachment trial said it was up to the justice system to hold Trump accountable. The Jan. 6 case brought last year in Washington alleged an increasingly desperate criminal conspiracy to subvert the will of voters after Trump's 2020 loss, accusing Trump of using the angry mob of supporters that attacked the Capitol as “a tool” in his campaign to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence and obstruct the certification of Democrat Joe Biden's victory. Hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters — many of whom have said they felt called to Washington by Trump — have pleaded guilty or been convicted by juries of federal charges at the same courthouse where Trump was supposed to stand trial last year. As the trial date neared, officials at the courthouse that sits within view of the Capitol were busy making plans for the crush of reporters expected to cover the historic case. But Trump's argument that he enjoyed absolute immunity from prosecution quickly tied up the case in appeals all the way up to the Supreme Court. The high court ruled in July that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution , and sent the case back to the trial court to decide which allegations could move forward. But the case was dismissed before the trial court could got a chance to do so. The other indictment brought in Florida accused Trump of improperly storing at his Mar-a-Lago estate sensitive documents on nuclear capabilities, enlisting aides and lawyers to help him hide records demanded by investigators and cavalierly showing off a Pentagon “plan of attack” and classified map. But U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case in July it on grounds that Smith was illegally appointed . Smith appealed to the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but abandoned that appeal on Monday. Smith's team said it would continue its fight in the appeals court to revive charges against Trump's two co-defendants because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” In New York, jurors spent weeks last spring hearing evidence in a state case alleging a Trump scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex. New York prosecutors recently expressed openness to delaying sentencing until after Trump's second term, while Trump's lawyers are fighting to have the conviction dismissed altogether. In Georgia, a trial while Trump is in office seems unlikely in a state case charging him and more than a dozen others with conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. The case has been on hold since an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Associated Press reporter Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed.Mouth taping – sealing the mouth with tape to keep it closed while at rest – has made its way across Instagram and TikTok , and into season seven of the popular reality show Love is Blind . The trend is touted as a way to stop snoring, treat sleep apnoea and improve sleep. Preliminary studies suggest mouth taping may help treat habitual open-mouth breathing , snoring and some mild cases of obstructive sleep apnoea, which occurs when the upper airway becomes blocked repeatedly while sleeping, causing people to stop breathing temporarily. But there is not enough research on how effective it is, who might benefit from it and who should avoid it, experts say. Mouth breathing can temporarily alter the anatomy in the throat, making it narrower and prone to collapse. Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK “In all likelihood, the isolated effect of mouth taping is mild,” says David Kent, an associate professor of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Centre. The idea behind mouth taping is to encourage nose breathing while sleeping. People are meant to breathe through their nose as it is the body’s air filtration system. Air is breathed in through the nostrils and into the nasal cavity where the mucus membrane captures debris, particles and pathogens, and involuntary responses such as sneezing expel pollutants. Loading The nasal cavity also warms and humidifies the air before it enters the lungs, to prevent damage to the respiratory system. When allergies, illness or structural abnormalities inhibit effective nose breathing, however, people may open their mouths involuntarily as they sleep to get air. Mouth breathing can temporarily alter the anatomy in the throat, making it narrower and prone to collapse. Long term, it can be associated with dental problems such as cavities and gum disease; sleep disorders; and decreased lung function and an exacerbation of symptoms in people with asthma. In one study , 20 people with mild sleep apnoea and a main complaint of snoring participated in a home sleep test, sealing their mouths with silicone hypoallergenic tape before bed. Those with nasal obstruction used medication and a nasal spray to alleviate symptoms before taping their mouths shut. Sixty-five per cent of them saw a significant improvement in their snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea. What else you should know: Speak with your healthcare provider to ensure mouth taping is safe for you and to rule out more serious issues that may require medical intervention, experts say. Do not use household tape or duct tape. Use hypoallergenic tape that is designed for the skin. There is even tape marketed for mouth taping. Try it the first time while you’re awake to make sure you can tolerate it. In most cases, mouth taping is considered a low-risk treatment. While people who cannot breathe properly through the nose because of anatomical or health issues may find mouth taping uncomfortable, it is not likely to pose an immediate danger for most people. When unable to get enough air, most people will wake up and remove the tape, experts say. But people should consult their doctor, particularly when they do not breathe well through their nose and are breathing through their mouth while awake, including while exercising, says Robson Capasso, chief of sleep surgery at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Mouth taping should not be used on children or adults who are unable to remove the tape on their own. Loading The main concern is people may believe mouth taping is an alternative to well-studied treatments such as continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, machines, for breathing disorders such as sleep apnoea, which can lead to sleep deprivation and fatigue, and increases certain cardiovascular risks , experts say. “There may be a medical condition that’s triggering the mouth breathing,” says Beth Malow, a professor of neurology and pediatrics, and the director of Vanderbilt University’s sleep division. Try it under the guidance of a physician because “you don’t want to mask a problem by mouth taping,” she says. The bottom line Some studies suggest mouth taping may help with snoring and mild sleep apnoea in some people, but more research is needed. Before trying it, consult your healthcare provider to ensure it is safe for you and to avoid masking a more serious condition. Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter . Get it in your inbox every Monday . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Sleep Natural therapies Wellness Most Viewed in Lifestyle LoadingThe reaction from viewers was overwhelming, with social media platforms buzzing with praises and compliments for Xiaohua's exquisite work. Fans and fashion enthusiasts alike lauded the collaboration as a groundbreaking and innovative moment in the industry, setting new standards for hairstyling and grooming.

As the investigation unfolds, stakeholders in the technology industry will be closely monitoring the developments and outcomes of the EU's antitrust inquiry into Nvidia's business practices. The findings of the questionnaire survey could have far-reaching implications for Nvidia's future business activities and the competitive landscape of the semiconductor industry.In conclusion, the Central Political Bureau meeting's emphasis on "firsts" represents a significant milestone in China's economic policy. By introducing innovative reforms, promoting technological advancement, and prioritizing sustainability, the government is sending a clear signal that it is committed to shaping a prosperous and sustainable future for the country. The outcomes of these initiatives will be closely watched in the coming months and years as China strives to maintain its position as a global economic powerhouse.In a world where acts of kindness and empathy can make a significant difference, the decision to adopt one of these search and rescue dogs is not only a gesture of goodwill but also a profound opportunity to form a lasting bond with a resilient and courageous companion. The journey of adoption is a rewarding one, filled with love, learning, and the shared experiences that forge a deep connection between human and animal.

No confirmation yet of reported whale strike by BC FerriesHow Trump's bet on voters electing him managed to silence some of his legal woes

It’s here. American Thanksgiving. While most of our friends south of the border look at the late-November holiday and think NFL when it comes to sports, most Canadians view it through a different lens. They examine the NHL standings – hoping that their team is above the playoff line. Why? Since realignment occurred over a decade ago, 80% of the teams that are in playoff spots at Thanksgiving qualify for the post-season. For those that are mathematically challenged, that’s 13 out of 16 teams. That was the case last season as well as Edmonton, Nashville and the New York Islanders were the only teams to make the playoffs despite being on the outside looking in on Nov. 23, 2023. Last year on that date, the Vancouver Canucks had 27 points and only the Vegas Golden Knights — with 30 — had more. The Canucks performance in those first 20 games basically clinched a playoff spot. This season the Canucks haven’t been as fortunate. Not having the services of all-star goaltender Thatcher Demko since the start of the season due to a knee injury was the first issue that the hockey club had to deal with. Dakota Joshua also missed the first 14 games recovering from off-season cancer surgery. Brock Boeser suffered what appeared to be a concussion on Nov. 7 and missed seven games but was set to return to the lineup in Boston against the Bruins on Tuesday night. Then there’s J.T. Miller, who took a leave of absence on Nov. 19 for personal reasons. Add it all up and it’s a Canuck team that has been treading water without their three All-Stars from a year ago. After Monday’s games, Vancouver was below the playoff bar with 23 points, trailing both Colorado and Edmonton by one point for the two wildcard spots. The Canucks are also two points behind the Los Angeles Kings for third place in the Pacific Division. The good news with all of these scenarios is that the Canucks have played the least number of games — 19 — of any team in the National Hockey League entering Tuesday’s game versus Boston. They have three games in hand on Edmonton, Colorado and Los Angeles. However, the question remains: will the Canucks make the playoffs? Many assume once the team gets 100% healthy, they will find a way to get it done but you know what they say about people who assume. Let’s start with Demko, the 28-year-old who compiled a 2.45 goals-against-average and a .918 save percentage last season to go along with 35 wins in 51 games. Since March 10, he has played a grand total of four games; that’s four games in eight months. After such a lengthy layoff, the biggest concern for Demko will be timing and getting used to the intensity level of NHL games. As we often say when it comes to football, nothing duplicates game speed. For Demko, getting used to the speed and regular chaos of NHL games will be a challenge. Then there is Boeser, who had been out of the lineup for almost three weeks after taking a headshot from Tanner Jeannot in a game against the Kings in early November. Hopefully, there won’t be any lingering symptoms from that injury and Boeser can regain the pace that saw him score 40 goals last year and which he was duplicating this season with six goals in 12 games. As for Miller, when he does return, what player will the Canucks be getting? His play had dipped to the point where he was benched for the last 14:40 of the third period in his final game versus Nashville on Nov. 17. Miller’s production had waned with only six goals and ten assists in 17 games – well off the levels from a year ago when he tallied 37 goals and 66 assists. Then there are other issues that are of concern as well. The second defensive pair of Tyler Myers and Carson Soucy has struggled this season to the point where the organization is checking in with other teams as they look to get help for their blue line corps. What has compounded the problem is that Tocchet has emphasized since training camp that he wants his defencemen to be more involved in the offense and generating more chances. That doesn’t exactly fit into the skill set of either Myers or Soucy so it’s been noted that the Canucks are talking to other teams with Pittsburgh’s Marcus Pettersson being a player of interest. Although Pettersson is a solid defender, he’s not exactly the answer to the Canucks problems when it comes to offence from the back-end. While we are on the topic of Petterssons, the enigma known as Elias Pettersson will need to regain the form that saw him be a dynamic play-driver who scored 30-plus goals the last three seasons. Tocchet and the organization wanted to see more of an investment from Pettersson and the Swede has shown signs of improvement with four goals and six assists in his last seven games. There are other positive signs as well. Quinn Hughes continues to play at a Norris Trophy-calibre level while Kevin Lankinen has provided consistent goaltending during Demko’s absence. Conor Garland continues to play like Conor Garland and Pius Sutter and Teddy Blueger continue to provide good depth while new additions Kiefer Sherwood and Erik Brannstrom have exceeded expectations. Given what we know about the U.S Thanksgiving Day playoff trend, it’s not a slam dunk that the Canucks will make the post-season but it’s not a slam dunk they won’t either. Unlike last year when the team had enough of a cushion in the standings to play games pressure-free for the most part in the second half, it appears they won’t have that luxury this season. As Tocchet always likes to say, things are going to just keep ‘getting tougher’ and the Canucks are going to have to ‘embrace the hard’ as they deal with the grind of an NHL season. Their playoff hopes will depend on it. Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob “the Moj” Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.Title: Dive into the Feminine Experience with the "Black Myth: Wukong" Lunar New Year Set - Unveiling Firework Easter Eggs to Celebrate the New Year

Aftermath of Regime Change in Syria: A Recap of Winners and Losers

When I first started making presentations at City Hall to oppose or criticize what was being proposed, I was the youngest person doing so. Forty years later, I found I was the only person doing so. And it isn’t because what was being proposed this week was perfect or uncontroversial. It was because the administration suppresses public participation. And if you do show up, you feel like you aren’t welcome. Last weekend I learned that only three delegations were registered to speak at the “Malls and Corridors” bylaw amendment hearing on Tuesday that would open up zoning rules for residential housing at shopping centres and along some main transit and commercial drags. All three were developers. To some extent this is another version of infill housing, but on a larger and taller scale, spurred on by the conditions to qualify for Justin Trudeau’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF). I have no issue with major development companies, who take big financial risks and more often than not are professionals who take pride in their community, having a say about the rule changes. But having recently seen and heard the disastrous effects that infill construction projects have had on Windermere Avenue in Fort Garry and in St. Vital’s Glenwood neighborhood, I was concerned that councillors would dive headlong into the changes in the name of “affordable housing” without being asked to include protections for existing homeowners and renters. Mature neighborhoods have learned the hard way the City doesn’t care about the noise, garbage, mud, pollution and heavy truck traffic that ensues. Not to mention damage to their foundations and walls. I am no newcomer to speaking at Council committees and council meetings. Since the 1980’s I have appeared to speak about Equal Employment Hiring programs, the creation of a Race Relations Committee, election rules, the aborted Marion Freeway, taxi regulation, and of course bike lanes. In many of those cases I protested bungled or outright slanted public consultations and the City creating obstacles to ensuring that the general public, and not just favoured “stakeholders” were properly informed of the ramifications of proposals, and had their chance to have a say. But when I tried to have a say this time, guess what I found? Obstacles. I phoned 311 to register as a delegation in opposition to the bylaw. The operator told me I could only appear via a Zoom link. When I explained a councillor told me delegations could appear in person, I was told that was wrong. I asked to be put through to the City Clerk’s office to clarify the procedure. The operator told me I could not be put through and they didn’t have a phone number for the clerk to give me. I asked to speak to a supervisor, was put on hold for about 6 minutes, and they returned saying they found a supervisor and would transfer the call. The next thing I heard was a recording saying, “There has been an error” and the call was disconnected. I spent 15 minutes trying to participate in our democracy and got hung up on. So I googled ‘Winnipeg Malls and Corridors’ and found the city webpage about registering for the hearing. And right there, was a phone number for the Clerk’s office. An official answered the phone and confirmed it was not a Zoom-only hearing. I got on the list but when I asked if they would be informing someone up the ladder that 311 was giving false information about the hearing and refusing to give the clerk’s number despite it being listed on the webpage, the response was 311 would be told to update their information and that was all. So there was no interest in accountability, only in concealing the blunders. And there was another blunder right on the webpage with the clerk’s number, as it claimed people had to register by noon on Monday. In fact for a public hearing, the public can ask to speak to the agenda the same day. In summary, the City provided three pieces of false information or guidance to someone trying to take part in the special meeting. Early in Tuesday’s hearing, Transcona Councillor Russ Wyatt noted that the gallery was empty, aside from about 5 of us waiting to appear. He grilled Planning Director Hazel Borys, the proponent of the amendments, what efforts were made to engage the public and where the budget was spent. What he was told was typical of the excuses and ‘do the bare minimum’ approach of Winnipeg bureaucrats. The “team” decided to advertise in only one newspaper- not the Winnipeg Sun mind you- and bought no Facebook ads. No leaflets were dropped on streets like St. Anne’s or McPhillips that are directly targeted for new builds. And of course, a supposedly sparse budget and rushed process was also cited as an excuse for the gallery being empty. While Borys cited that the October open houses drew 123 people, an average of 10 people an hour for 12 hours over 4 days in a city of 850,000 is nothing to brag about. Delegations were limited to 5 minutes to present their case. I waited from 9.30 am until exactly 6.30 pm- 9 hours- to make my presentation. Others waited even longer. I stuck it out to tell Mayor Scott Gillingham and councillors that their obsession with Tru-dough will shift harsh burdens onto the neighbouring streets and that existing homeowners and residents should have some rights too, starting with notice of when construction will commence. There’s no food available inside the Council building, no drink machine, one washroom, and it cost me $20 in parking fees. The hearing dragged on until almost 1 am when it was adjourned to be continued on Thursday. No one I asked can recall a council meeting going on for 15 hours like that. It was their longest day ever, but by the end, there was no media or voters there to watch over it. In 40 years, I’ve seen the ability of the public to find out what’s proposed for their neighbourhoods, look their elected representatives in the eye, and challenge those proposals diminish, despite fancy new technology and the invention of a ‘public engagement’ office. You couldn’t invent a more discouraging environment for the public if you tried. — Marty Gold is a Winnipeg journalist. You can find more of his work at The Great Canadian Talk Show . Have thoughts on what’s going on in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada or across the world? Send us a letter to the editor at wpgsun.letters@kleinmedia.ca

华尔街日报报道，今年前11个月，百亿元级私募基金的业绩数据再度引起市场关注。据最新统计数据显示，超过90%的私募产品在这一时期实现了浮盈，为私募行业带来了可观的收益。'The people have spoken,' Esther Rantzen says as polls show public backs assisted dying

And so, as António boarded the plane back to Portugal, he felt a sense of peace and contentment that he had not felt in years. He knew that his journey was far from over, but he also knew that he had found what he had been searching for all along - a piece of himself that he had lost along the way.It's time for the holidays, which means robust family conversations and seemingly never-ending courses of food. But for the more tech-savvy among us, the journey home could also mean we'll be called on to provide a backlog of tech support to parents, grandparents and other family members. And with generative AI being used to supercharge some major cyber scams this year, it's also a good time to teach and not just fix. Here are some tips on how to manage your tech encounters this holiday season: Whether it's Windows, macOS, iOS or Android, simply keeping your operating system and apps up-to-date will help protect your family's computers and devices against a surprising number of security threats, such as malware, viruses and exploits. Most operating systems, especially those for mobile devices and their app stores, typically have auto-updates turned on by default. Be sure to double-check the device to make sure it has enough storage space to carry out the update. (More on this below.) Keeping apps updated may also reduce the number of "Why isn't this app working?" type of questions from your relatives. Chances are someone in your family is going to have a completely full mobile device. So full, in fact, that they can no longer update their phone or tablet without having to purge something first. There are many approaches to freeing up space. Here are a few you can easily take without having to triage data or apps. According to some admittedly unscientific studies, the average person has hundreds of passwords. That's a lot to remember. So as you help your relatives reset some of theirs, you may be tempted to recycle some to keep things simple for them. But that's one of the bad password habits that cybersecurity experts warn against. Instead, try introducing your forgetful family member to a password manager. They're useful tools for simplifying and keeping track of logins. And if you want to impress a more tech-savvy cousin or auntie, you could suggest switching to a more secure digital authentication method: passkeys. As scammers find new ways to steal money and personal information, you and your family should be more vigilant about who to trust. Artificial intelligence and other technologies are giving bad actors craftier tools to work with online. A quick way to remember what to do when you think you're getting scammed is to think about the three S's, said Alissa Abdullah, also known as Dr. Jay, Mastercard's deputy chief security officer "Stay suspicious, stop for a second (and think about it) and stay protected," she said. Simply being aware of typical scams can help, experts say. Robocalls frequently target vulnerable individuals like seniors, people with disabilities, and people with debt. So-called romance scams target lonely and isolated individuals. Quiz scams target those who spend a lot of time on social media. Check our AP guide on the latest scams and what to do when you're victimized. Home internet speeds are getting faster, so you want to make sure your family members are getting a high-speed connection if they've paid for one. Run a broadband speed test on your home network if they're still rocking an aging modem and router. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!As the results of the 2024 US presidential election began to roll in, revealing a dramatic shift in the nation’s political landscape, I sat with a colleague to unpack what had unfolded. What started as an analytical conversation soon devolved into a blame game. My colleague pointed fingers at non-college-educated voters, Palestinian supporters and Latino working-class communities—everyone but the root of the problem: White liberals. When I called out their blind spots—arguing that the election outcome was not merely a reflection of voting patterns but of deeper failures like the abandonment of the working class, an overemphasis on Trump as a threat to democracy rather than tangible solutions, the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the stark reality that White women had overwhelmingly voted for Donald Trump—their response stunned me. My White colleague, unfazed, looked me dead in the eye and said, “As a born-and-bred American, I feel trapped in a bad marriage. They thought Trump would bring peace to Gaza. Look at what they have done. I am a liberal—always have been—but now I am considering leaving America. At least you have a place to go.” As an immigrant and a woman of colour, the sharp comment wrapped in White privilege hit like a dagger, but it also encapsulated why the Democratic Party’s losses were so devastating—thanks, in large part, to the failures of a key segment of its base: White liberals. Often buoyed by a sense of moral superiority, this group had grossly misjudged the political terrain. They clung to optimism fuelled by grassroots successes and the resurgence of issues like climate change, economic inequality and reproductive rights. Yet, as the votes came in, it became glaringly apparent that this optimism was misplaced. The 2024 election, like those before, served as a brutal reminder: ideology alone doesn’t shape the political landscape. It is moulded by the lived experiences, needs and desires of a broad, diverse electorate—something too many White liberals continue to overlook. The majority of White liberals continue to inhabit a powerful echo chamber where they engage with others who share similar values, opinions and experiences. For them, the world is often neatly divided into progressive versus regressive and virtuous versus ignorant. They see their candidates through the lens of moral righteousness, framing the political struggle as one of “good” versus “evil”. While such moral clarity can be invigorating, it is also perilous. This worldview often neglects the complexities and contradictions that define American society, particularly the challenges faced by working-class Americans, rural populations and voters of colour. In the 2024 election, these oversimplifications contributed to the erosion of support in key battleground states, which had previously been the Democratic strongholds—Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. The results mirrored those of 2016 in several alarming ways. While Kamala Harris had campaigned on progressive values, tapping into the anger and frustration stemming from the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, many voters—especially White women—reverted to familiar allegiances with the Republican Party. In 2016, Hillary Clinton’s candidacy was heralded as a groundbreaking moment for women in politics. Yet, her defeat to Trump was a stark reminder of how fragile progress can be. Despite her credentials and experience, Clinton failed to resonate with significant segments of the electorate. White women, in particular, played a pivotal role in Trump’s victory, voting for him in numbers that surprised many analysts. This phenomenon was often attributed to a mix of socio-economic factors, cultural identity and a refusal to embrace a candidate perceived as a continuation of the establishment. Fast forward to 2024, and a similar pattern emerged. Harris, while advocating for women’s rights and attempting to galvanise the base around shared values, fell short in addressing the complexities of White women’s political behaviour. Many of these voters, disillusioned by the perceived extremism of progressive platforms and the failures of the Democratic establishment, leaned toward Trump. One of the more perplexing aspects of Harris’ campaign rhetoric was her attempt to court suburban Republican women, particularly those disillusioned with Trump’s leadership. In theory, these voters could have been persuaded to support Harris if she had appealed to their desire for stability and civility and their frustration with Trump’s abrasive style. This strategy was epitomised by the inclusion of former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney as a potential symbol of crossover appeal. Cheney, who had publicly broken with Trump over his role in the January 6 Capitol riot, was seen as a figure who could bridge the divide between moderate Republicans and Democrats. The hope was that Cheney’s prominence in the anti-Trump movement could sway suburban Republican women into voting for Harris, even if it meant defying their Republican-leaning spouses. In reality, this strategy did not materialise as expected. Despite Harris’s efforts to connect with moderate Republicans, particularly suburban women, the election saw a significant gender gap. While some suburban women defected from Trump, the overall trend among White women remained mainly in the former president’s favour. According to exit polls, a majority of White women—around 53%—voted for Trump, compared to 47% who voted for Harris. This result was surprising given that Harris, as the first woman of colour on a major party ticket, was expected to draw strong support from women, particularly those who had become disillusioned with Trump’s misogynistic rhetoric and behaviour. In retrospect, the attempt to lure suburban Republican women away from Trump by focusing on his personal deficiencies rather than on tangible policy solutions was an overly simplistic approach. The lessons from both the 2016 and 2024 elections are stark. White liberals, in their eagerness, often failed to engage with the realities of the voters they sought to mobilise. Assumptions about shared values, particularly among White women, proved dangerous and oversimplified. This demographic, often viewed through identity politics, is not monolithic; their decisions are influenced by many factors, including race, class and regional identity. The fallout from the Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade, created a complex emotional landscape for many women. While reproductive rights were a critical issue; they were not the sole determinant of political allegiance. The overwhelming support for Trump, even in the wake of anti-abortion rulings, suggests that many women are grappling with conflicting loyalties—between their rights and a perceived cultural identity. For many, this creates a sense of betrayal, as the very rights women fought for are increasingly under siege. The challenge for liberals is not merely to mobilise around these rights but to foster an environment where women feel empowered to make decisions based on their unique circumstances and values. This requires a radical shift in framing the conversation and moving beyond a binary narrative of good versus evil. One of Harris’ most significant failures during the 2024 campaign was her failure to adequately address the deep economic struggles facing millions of American working-class families. In many ways, her rhetoric mirrored that of her predecessor, Hillary Clinton, whose infamous characterisation of certain working-class voters as “deplorables” in the 2016 election alienated large swathes of the electorate. By failing to recognise the struggles of these voters, Clinton inadvertently fuelled resentment and disengagement from the political system, particularly in rural and industrial areas where economic dislocation and job insecurity were paramount concerns. Harris, too, missed the opportunity to connect with voters based on economic hardship. Instead of articulating a concrete agenda that could improve the lives of working-class Americans, much of her rhetoric was centred around the spectre of Donald Trump. While this approach successfully consolidated the anti-Trump vote, it did little to address the pressing issues that voters cared most about, such as healthcare, labour rights, affordable childcare and wage stagnation. At a time when workers across America were grappling with job insecurity, rising healthcare costs and a lack of affordable childcare options, Harris had an opportunity to present a bold, progressive vision for strengthening the rights and well-being of American workers. Instead of delivering a message about how her policies could improve the material conditions of ordinary Americans, Harris spent a significant portion of her campaign warning about the existential threat of Trump’s policies. While it was essential to critique Trump’s failure to shift the focus to concrete solutions for working-class families, it was a glaring missed opportunity. The sentiment was echoed by Senator Bernie Sanders, who issued a pointed critique of the Democratic Party, accusing it of abandoning the very working-class people who once formed the backbone of its support. In his statement, Sanders argued that it was no surprise that many working-class Americans had turned away from the party, given its failure to address their needs. He accused the Democratic Party of being complicit in defending the status quo—a status quo that is no longer tenable in a nation where growing inequality and economic hardship are defining the lives of millions. Sanders emphasised the widespread anger among Americans, particularly the working class, who are fed up with a political system that seems more concerned with preserving the interests of the wealthy elite than enacting meaningful change. He also warned that the US is rapidly heading toward an oligarchy, where a handful of the richest individuals and corporations exert disproportionate control over the economy and politics. Meanwhile, most Americans—nearly 60%—live pay cheque to pay cheque, struggling to make ends meet in an economy that increasingly benefits only the wealthiest citizens. The 2024 US presidential election results should serve as a potent reminder that White liberals need to learn to listen, engage and adjust to the complexities of a nation that is far more diverse in its needs and concerns than they often acknowledge. The election revealed the limits of politics driven by identity and cultural issues, particularly at the expense of economic and material concerns. If the Democratic Party and White liberals are to regain relevance and build a genuinely inclusive coalition, they must move beyond the echo chambers of their progressive enclaves and understand the lived realities of those who do not share their privileged positions. In the years ahead, White liberals will have to recognise that the fight for social justice cannot be waged in isolation. If they are to win back the support of the electorate and restore the power of the Democratic Party, they must recognise that the solutions to America are not one-size-fits-all. They need to embrace a politics of empathy, inclusion and practical solutions to the real issues faced by voters across the nation. Souzeina Mushtaq is Assistant Professor of Journalism at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Sun Yingsha's humility and warmth shone through as she patiently interacted with each child, encouraging them to pursue their passion for table tennis and strive for excellence in all their endeavors. Her positive attitude and genuine interest in connecting with her young fans left a lasting impression on everyone present, creating a memorable experience that will be cherished for years to come.Fake news poses a significant threat to society, as it can distort perceptions, create unnecessary fear, and even incite harmful actions. Therefore, it is crucial for individuals to be vigilant and discerning consumers of online content, refusing to be swayed by sensational yet baseless claims. By promoting media literacy and cultivating a culture of critical thinking, we can collectively combat the spread of fake news and uphold the integrity of information in the digital age.Gaetz withdraws as Trump's pick for attorney general, averting confirmation battle in the Senate

Exit interview: Andrew Coolidge reflects on council, mayoral termsTHE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Alyssa Naeher ended her national team career with one last win. The stalwart goalkeeper made two critical saves in her final match for the United States, and the Americans beat the Netherlands 2-1 on Tuesday. “I definitely wasn’t thinking about it during the game, just wanted to win the game and do what I could to come away with the ‘W’ for us to close out the year,” Naeher said. Lynn Williams scored the go-ahead goal in the 71st minute for the U.S., which won its fifth Olympic gold medal in France this summer and wrapped up the year on a 20-game unbeaten streak. The Americans were coming off a scoreless draw with England on Saturday at Wembley Stadium. Naeher announced two weeks ago that the European exhibitions would be her final matches. The 36-year-old goalkeeper played in 115 games for the U.S., with 111 starts, 89 wins and 69 shutouts. Naeher is the only U.S. keeper with shutouts in both a World Cup and an Olympic final. She was in goal when the United States defeated the Netherlands 2-0 in the 2019 Women's World Cup final . “I feel like in my heart I would love to keep going. In my head, in my body and mind, I feel like it’s the right time. And I think it’s the right time with this team as well as it builds towards the future and towards 2027,” Naeher said. “This environment, this team, is an incredible team to be a part of, but it’s also really hard and really challenging in a lot of ways as well. “I feel like I’ve given everything I have to give for this team and that’s why I feel at peace with that.” The Netherlands took the lead on center back Veerle Buurman's header off a corner kick in the 15th minute. Naeher prevented a second goal when she punched away Dominique Janssen's shot in the 38th. The United States drew even at the end of the first half on an own goal that deflected off Buurman and past Dutch goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar. Naeher slid to stop Danielle van de Donk's shot in the 69th minute before Williams, a second-half substitute, scored her fourth goal of the year and 21st of her career. “I wouldn’t say that this was our prettiest game of soccer ever. And sometimes that’s how games go. You can talk about tactics, you can talk about formations, you talk about everything, but the biggest thing was matching their intensity. Getting to the second ball, getting to the first ball. That was the shift that needed to happen,” Williams said about the team's second-half mindset. Naeher finished with six saves. She is not quite finished with soccer yet: She will continue playing next season for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League. “She’s been consistent again and again. Even when she’s been questioned at times in her career, she’s always found the answer,” U.S. coach Emma Hayes said. “Not only has she been a great player in this program, but let me tell you, she’s so loved by everyone, players and staff alike. She is the best teammate you could ask for and that just speaks volumes to the person that she is.” Lily Yohannes came in as a substitute in the second half. Yohannes, who has dual citizenship, opted to play for the United States over the Netherlands last month. She plays professionally for the Dutch club Ajax. The U.S. finished the year without the trio of Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith, who were left off the roster for the final two matches to rest and heal nagging injuries. The U.S. is unbeaten in 15 matches under Hayes, who took over in May. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer