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Raspadori's late winner sends Conte's Napoli level with Atalanta at top of Serie ANASHVILLE, Tenn. — Married couples across the U.S. have had access to no-fault divorce for more than 50 years, an option many call crucial to supporting domestic abuse victims and key to preventing already crowded family courts from drowning in complicated divorce proceedings. But some advocates for women worried as old comments from now Vice President-elect JD Vance circulated during the presidential campaign opposing no-fault divorce. After President-elect Donald Trump and Vance won the election, warnings began popping up on social media urging women who might be considering divorce to "pull the trigger" while they still could. Some attorneys posted saying they saw a spike in calls from women seeking divorce consultations. Trump — who is twice-divorced — hasn't championed overhauling the country's divorce laws, but in 2021 Vance lamented that divorce is too easily accessible, as have conservative podcasters and others. "We've run this experiment in real time and what we have is a lot of very, very real family dysfunction that's making our kids unhappy," Vance said during a speech at a Christian high school in California, where he criticized people being able to "shift spouses like they change their underwear." Marriage rates held steady but divorce rates of women age 15 and older declined from 2012 to 2022, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released in October. Despite concerns, even those who want to make divorces harder to get say they don't expect big, swift changes. There is not a national coordinated effort underway. States determine their own divorce laws, so national leaders can't directly change policy. "Even in some of the so-called red states, it hasn't gotten anywhere," said Beverly Willett, co-chair of the Coalition for Divorce Reform, whose group unsuccessfully attempted to convince states to repeal their no-fault divorce laws. Mark A. Smith, a political science professor at the University of Washington, said while many Americans became accustomed to no-fault divorce being an option, Vance's previous comments on making it more difficult to separate from a spouse could help jump-start that effort. "Even though he's not directly proposing a policy, it's a topic that hasn't gotten a ton of discussion in the last 15 years," Smith said. "And so to have a national profile politician talk that way is noteworthy." Meanwhile, Republican Party platforms in Texas and Nebraska were amended in 2022 to call for the removal of no-fault divorce. Louisiana's Republican Party considered something similar this year but declined to do so. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts A handful of proposals were introduced in conservative-led statehouses over the years, but all immediately stalled after they were filed. In January, Oklahoma Republican Sen. Dusty Deevers introduced legislation that would have removed married couples from filing for divorce on the grounds of incompatibility. Deevers backed the bill after writing a piece declaring no-fault divorce was an "abolition of marital obligation." Similarly, in South Carolina, two Republican lawmakers in 2023 filed a bill that would have required both spouses to file for a no-fault divorce application rather than just one. In South Dakota, a Republican lawmaker attempted to remove irreconcilable difference as grounds for divorce since 2020. None of the sponsors of these bills responded to interview requests from The Associated Press. All are members of their state's conservative Freedom Caucus. Nevertheless, some Democratic lawmakers say they remain worried about the future of no-fault divorce. They point to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning the constitutional right to abortion in 2022 as an example of a long-accepted option that was revoked through a decades-long effort. "When you choose to be silent, you allow for this to creep in," said Democratic South Dakota Rep. Linda Duba. "These are the bills that gain a foothold because you choose to be silent." Before California became the first state to adopt a no-fault divorce option in 1969, married couples had to prove their spouse violated one of the approved "faults" outlined in their state's divorce law or risk a judge denying their divorce, said Joanna Grossman, a law professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Qualified reasons varied from state to state, but largely included infidelity, incarceration or abandonment. The system was a particular burden on domestic violence victims, who are often women who could be stuck in dangerous marriages while they try to prove their partner's abuse in court through expensive and lengthy legal proceedings. "If there was any evidence that the couple both wanted to get divorced that was supposed to be denied because divorce was not something you got because you wanted it, it was something you got because you've been wronged in a way that the state thought was significant," Grossman said. To date, every state in the U.S. adopted a no-fault divorce option. However, 33 states still have a list of approved "faults" to file as grounds for divorce — ranging from adultery to felony conviction. In 17 states, married people only have the option of choosing no-fault divorce to end their marriages.Higher FCNR rates fail to bring in the moolah
Trump taps Rollins as agriculture chief, completing proposed slate of Cabinet secretariesAustralia boss Nick Hockley has offered a diplomatic response amid claims the timing of the in the middle of the is simply 'rude'. The two-day auction for the lucrative T20 competition will begin in Saudi Arabia on Sunday evening (Aussie time), coinciding with the end of the third day's play in the first Test in Perth. Because and Justin Langer are both head coaches in the IPL (with Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants respectively), they'e been forced to fly to Suadi Arabia after just one day of commentating for Channel 7 in Perth. And Australia's coaching staff has also been affected, with assistant Daniel Vettori required at the IPL auction because he coaches Sunrisers Hyderabad. The timing of the mega-auction - right in the middle of the first Test - has raised eyebrows around the cricket world, with some suggesting it was 'rude' from Indian officials and a ploy to hamper Australia's preparations. But Hockley offered a diplomatic response on Saturday, saying: "I think it's not ideal. I think if you spoke to our broadcast partners who have commentators who are also IPL coaches, they would also say it's not ideal. "But that's out of our hands. I know certainly our players here will be fully-focused here, and it will be something to think and talk about after the Test match." Australia head coach Andrew McDonald and captain Pat Cummins have both dismissed concerns about Vettori's absence, especially in light of the precarious position the Aussies found themselves in after the second day in Perth. India went to stumps at 0-172, holding a 218-run lead. "He is still connected with us. A lot of pre-planning, prep work has gone in," McDonald said. "The answer is no [it doesn't make a difference], he’s got some commitments elsewhere." Cummins said before the Test: “Dan has obviously flown over there. But he has been here for the whole prep, we've done a lot meetings, done all the chats and he will be watching and keeping an eye on it anyway." As for Ponting, the Australian legend didn't shy away from his annoyance at having to fly out in the middle of a Test. "It’s the worst possible case scenario for me and ‘JL’ (Langer),” Ponting . “We for the last couple of months felt that it was probably going to be in the gap between the (first and second) Test matches." Ponting said it would add a layer of stress for the Australian and Indian Test players in the auction. "[Not having it in the middle of a Test] takes all the pressure off the players from both teams," Ponting said. "So I always thought it would’ve been in that gap because it just seemed better for everybody. But I don’t know why they’ve chosen the dates they have – it might have something to do with the game. The auction actually starts on air almost immediately after the end of play. So it might be something to do with broadcast." Channel 7 officials have confirmed that Ponting and Langer will be back in Australia for the second Test in Adelaide, which starts on December 6. with a guaranteed contract for the 2025 IPL, after Sunrisers Hyderabad opted to retain the duo ahead of the auction. A total of 37 Australian players have entered in for the mega-auction, including Test stars Josh Hazlewood, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Alex Carey and Mitch Marsh. Indian Test players KL Rahul, Ravi Ashwin and Rishabh Pant are also up for grabs.
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NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 21, 2024-- Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces that a shareholder filed a class action on behalf of all purchasers of securities of Xerox Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: XRX) between January 25, 2024 and October 28, 2024. Xerox describes itself as a “company that offers workplace technology that integrates hardware, services, and software for enterprises in the Americas, and internationally.” For more information, submit a form , email attorney Phillip Kim, or give us a call at 866-767-3653. The Allegations: Rosen Law Firm is Investigating the Allegations that Xerox Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: XRX) Misled Investors Regarding its Business Operations. According to the lawsuit, during the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) after a large workforce reduction, Xerox’s salesforce was reorganized with new territory assignments and account coverage; (2) as a result, Xerox’s salesforce productivity was disrupted; (3) as a result, Xerox had a lower rate of sell-through of older products; (4) the difficulties in flushing out older product would delay the launch of key products; (5) as a result, Xerox was likely to experience lower sales and revenue; and (6) as a result of the foregoing, defendants’ positive statements about Xerox’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. What Now: You may be eligible to participate in the class action against Xerox Holdings Corporation. Shareholders who want to serve as lead plaintiff for the class must file their motions with the court by January 21, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. You do not have to participate in the case to be eligible for a recovery. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. For more information, click here . All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses. About Rosen Law Firm: Some law firms issuing releases about this matter do not actually litigate securities class actions. Rosen Law Firm does. Rosen Law Firm is a recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improving corporate governance structures, and holding company executives accountable for their wrongdoing. Since its inception, Rosen Law Firm has obtained over $1 billion for shareholders. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241121109980/en/ CONTACT: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com KEYWORD: NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES LEGAL SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/21/2024 01:34 PM/DISC: 11/21/2024 01:34 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241121109980/enBraid: Trudeau saves Christmas from the tax Grinch, but can he save himself?
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Six Venezuelan government opponents who have sheltered for months at the Argentine embassy in Caracas decried Sunday that local police and intelligence agents were stationed outside of it for hours. The move prompted the U.S. government to call it a serious violation of international law and Argentina’s Foreign Ministry to describe it as an act of harassment. Most of the opponents belong to the Vente Venezuela party led by former legislator María Corina Machado. It denounced what it called “a new siege by hooded officials” that began Saturday night and extended into Sunday. The incident occurred hours after Machado called for a massive mobilization on Dec. 1, prompting Venezuela’s minister of the interior to accuse the political leader of being part of a new conspiracy attempt against the government of President Nicolás Maduro. Vente Venezuela said in a statement that the diplomatic headquarters remains without electricity and is surrounded by “regime vehicles” that are preventing traffic from circulating in the area. It said communication signals also were scrambled. Argentina’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement late Saturday that the deployment of armed troops and the closing of streets in the vicinity “constitute a disturbance of security.”. It also called on the international community to condemn the incident, which the U.S. did. On Sunday, the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela posted on X that the U.S. “strongly condemns the acts of harassment against asylum seekers.” “The deployment of armed forces and blockades seriously violate international law,” it said. “We demand that the Venezuelan regime respect its international obligations, cease these intimidating actions and guarantee safe passage for asylum seekers.” Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been broken since 2019. The opposition members entered the embassy in March after the Venezuelan Attorney General’s Office issued arrest warrants and accused them of promoting alleged acts of violence to destabilize the government. In August, Brazil accepted Argentina’s request to guard its embassy after the Venezuelan government ordered the expulsion of Argentine diplomatic personnel following statements by its president, Javier Milei, that he would not recognize “another fraud” in Venezuela after the controversial elections in Jul y. A month later, Venezuela revoked Brazil’s authorization to guard the embassy, alleging it had evidence of the use of the facilities “for the planning of terrorist activities and assassination attempts.” Brazil and Argentina have rejected those accusations.
For lawmakers who are loath to vote “no,” Adam Gray has become something of a rallying cry for legislative reform. Twice, California Democrats have deemed the former Assemblymember their best bet to take the highly competitive 13th Congressional District . And twice Republicans have hammered him for an unremarkable aspect of his legislative record. “You paid his salary and benefits most of his adult life,” said the narrator of an ad run by a Republican super PAC in 2022, when Gray first ran (and lost) to John Duarte . “In return, he skipped over 150 votes in the state Assembly. Eighty percent of the time, Gray was physically at the state Capitol, but didn’t bother to vote.” The 30-second spot by the Congressional Leadership Fund damned Gray for his “taxpayer salary, no show job.” “It’s the Sacramento way,” the narrator said. “It’s the Adam Gray way.” A year later, when Gray announced he wanted a rematch with Duarte, the National Republican Congressional Committee made a point of highlighting his voting record again. “Central Valley voters rejected Adam Gray after he betrayed them to collect lavish special interest perks,” spokesman Ben Petersen said in an August 2023 news release . “In Sacramento, Gray skipped over 150 votes — and when he did show up, Gray drove up inflation, raised the gas tax and waged war on the Valley’s way of life.” The release went on to note that “Gray skipped over 150 votes while collecting a six-figure taxpayer paycheck” and “voted to raise the gas tax by 43 percent, then skipped a vote on his own bill to suspend the gas tax.” Duarte beat Gray in two consecutive elections, first by a mere 564 votes in 2022 , then by about 2,000 this year (with 87% of the vote counting; an estimated 28,000 votes left to be counted as of Sunday morning). In races that close, every negative could be pivotal — even though in this particular case anybody who is familiar with Sacramento knows that not voting 150+ times in a single legislative cycle is hardly unusual, let alone over 10 years, which is what the Republicans were actually dinging Gray for. Indeed, legislators in both parties openly admit they frequently don’t vote on bills not because they’re lazy, as the Congressional Leadership Fund implied, but because “no” votes are taken personally by their colleagues. Bills and other motions in Sacramento can pass only if they receive the requisite number of “aye” votes. By laying off on a vote, legislators do nothing to help a bill’s prospects, but also avoid angering its author. However, the current system for documenting legislative votes doesn’t allow for any nuance. The Legislature’s voting records have only three options: “aye,” “no” or “no vote recorded,” which can include instances in which lawmakers really do miss a vote as well as when they are present but have consciously decided to abstain. Because the “no vote recorded” category encompasses multiple behaviors — including those which which legislators can get criticized, like Gray was — there’s a quiet push to change the way votes are recorded to include at least one other category, abstention. “To me, it makes sense to make a distinction between absent (and) abstention,” said Sen. Anthony Portantino , the termed-out Democrat from La Cañada-Flintridge, who says he asked the Secretary of the Senate to make that change about five years ago. “The record should be accurate,” he said. The Disappearing ‘No’ Vote Both Democrats and Republicans opt to not vote on certain bills and other motions out of courtesy to their colleagues. But as members of the minority party who defines itself politically largely in its opposition to the party in control, Republicans still vote “no” quite a bit. “To me, it makes sense to make a distinction between absent (and) abstention. ... The record should be accurate.” Democrats, with their supermajority control of both houses, don’t — which makes them particularly vulnerable to the kind of criticism Gray faced in his two campaigns for Congress. Consider these stats from the last session. Ninety-three of the 120 legislators who served in 2023-24 were Democrats. (That’s 78% for those wondering.) Four thousand, eight hundred and twenty-one bills were introduced in those years. During that time, 499,655 votes were recorded on both floors and in committee hearings. And yet, despite those numbers, Democrats in the legislature voted “no” a grand total of just 1,010 times the entire session, representing just 0.2% of all votes recorded during the cycle. A Capitol Weekly analysis of legislative votes data found seven Democrats who never voted “no” in 2023-24: Assemblymembers Joaquin Arambula , Lisa Calderon , Mike Fong , Jesse Gabriel , Eduardo Garcia , Chris Holden and former Speaker Anthony Rendon . Ten other Assembly members voted “no” only once during the session. Forty-three Democrats in the Senate and the Assembly kept their noes for the session to single digits. No Democrat topped triple digits, with the highest (current) Democrat voting “no” being Sen. Steve Glazer of Contra Costa, who did it 73 times. No Republican had less than 200 “no” votes for the year (with Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil of Jackson, the former Democrat , recording the least at 218). Republican Assemblymember Diane Dixon of Newport Beach had the most “no” votes in the Legislature for the year at 1,343. Democrats have been trending this way for some time in the Legislature. While the overall percentage of no votes recorded per cycle (from a low of 4% in 2015-16 to a high of 8% in 1999-2000, 2009-10, 2021-22 and 2023-24) and NVRs by Democrats in particular (from a low of 2.2 in 20215-16 to a high of 4.5% in 2023-24) has fluctuated up and down over the last 13 legislative cycles, the overall percentage of “no” votes and “no” votes by Democrats has generally headed down. In the 1999-2000 cycle, “no” votes overall accounted for 10% of all the votes cast, while the percentage of “no” votes by Democrats stood at 1. Democrats cast nearly 8,000 noes that cycle. Thirty Democrats topped triple digits in their “no” votes, with Sen. Patrick Johnston of Stockton recording 477. By the 2015-16 cycle, the overall percentage of “no” votes had dropped to 7% of all votes cast, with the percentage of “no” votes by Democrats falling to 0.7 Seven Democrats topped triple digits of “no” votes, with Assemblymember Mike Gatto of Los Angeles registering 234. The numbers dropped more precipitously starting during the 2019-20 cycle, when the Assembly changed its rules to allow its committee chairs to decide whether to bring a bill up for consideration. Coinciding with that change, the number of “no” votes, and “no” votes by Democrats, fell off. In 2017-18 cycle, there were 42,238 “no” votes total cast. In 2019-20, there were 22,395. In 2021-22, for the first time in 12 sessions, five Assembly Democrats (who all cast hundreds of votes that cycle) managed to go two years without voting “no” even once. The Pros and Cons of Abstention Former Assembly Republican Leader Kristin Olsen-Cate told Capitol Weekly that when she was in the Legislature, members felt not voting on a bill they opposed, rather than outright voting “no,” was considered less offensive to colleagues you wanted to maintain a good relationship with. We have launched our year-end campaign. Our goal: Raise $50,000 by Dec. 31. Help us get there. Times of San Diego is devoted to producing timely, comprehensive news about San Diego County. Your donation helps keep our work free-to-read, funds reporters who cover local issues and allows us to write stories that hold public officials accountable. Join the growing list of donors investing in our community's long-term future. As Portantino noted, bills have their author’s name on them and at least some legislators take an outright rejection of their bill as a personal afront. He also said there seems to be an “urban legend” circulating among legislators that the less “no” votes a bill receives, the more likely it will get signed into law. He said it’s not uncommon for the author of a bill to ask legislative opponents to lay off, rather than outright vote “no,” to avoid encouraging other legislators vote “no” as well. “A hard ‘no’ is like a slap in the face to the author,” said Hannah-Beth Jackson , the former Democratic state senator. “It’s an extraordinary strong statement.” Jackson said not voting on a bill — abstaining — is also a way for legislators to walk the line between honoring their constituents’ views while also respecting other lawmakers. Say one of your valued colleagues has authored a bill that your district doesn’t support. Laying off allows you to reflect your constituents’ wishes while also not giving your political ally a black eye. A hard ‘no’ is like a slap in the face to the author. ... It’s an extraordinary strong statement. On the other hand, Republican Sen. Brian Dahle of Bieber dismisses much of this talk as “gamesmanship” and a way for the Democrats to control members of their own party. “An abstention is a ‘no’ vote,” he said. Laying off is just a form of political cover, Dahle said, pointing the example of Republican Sen. Shannon Grove ’s SB 14 regarding penalties for child sex trafficking, which was initially killed in the Assembly Public Safety Committee in 2023 due to a lack of “ayes,” not because of outright noes. “Behind the scenes, people will say, ‘I don’t like this,’ ” Dahle said. “Well, stand up! Be your own person.” Still, there is little disagreement that legislators’ schedules are busy and it’s not unusual for them to have to miss votes in one committee because they’re presenting a bill in another. It’s for this reason that some argue the tracking of legislative votes needs to be more nuanced. “It’s an excellent idea,” said Dan Schnur , a veteran Republican strategist. He said voters deserve transparency in the voting behavior of their representatives. If legislators are missing a lot of votes because they’re doubled booked, Schnur said voters should know that. He said that voters can understand the complexities of the job and that legislators shouldn’t fear they could misconstrue why they had a lot of missed votes. For that reason, Schnur said he’d support adding an abstention category to the official voting record. But he also made clear that he doesn’t think abstaining to spare a colleague’s feelings is appropriate. He said public policy needs to be debated openly, so the public can understand how policies are shaped. He said legislators shouldn’t be worrying about feelings. “That’s very sweet,” Schnur said. “That’s not the way politics is supposed to work.” Likewise, Portantino is less concerned about “no” votes, but thought differentiating whether a no vote was recorded due to abstention or absence was important because it affects how special interests grade legislators on their issues. If a legislator misses a vote, it’s typically not counted against a legislator’s grade, he said. But if a legislator abstains, it does. Those grades matter to some legislators, and Portantino said it’s not fair for lawmakers to be dinged for abstaining when in fact they were absent. At the same time, as apparently illustrated by Gray, there seems to also be a fear that legislators could be dinged for being absent when they in fact were abstaining, creating further incentive for more nuanced vote tracking. It’s an interesting debate, said Rob Stutzman , a Republican campaign consultant. But he wasn’t sure changing the voting tracking system ultimately would solve many problems for legislators. “ ‘I cast a strong abstention!’ ” he said, mockingly. “You didn’t get elected to abstain! I can assure you, they’ll still get criticized.” Joseph writes for Capitol Weekly . Get Our Free Daily Email Newsletter Get the latest local and California news from Times of San Diego delivered to your inbox at 8 a.m. daily. Sign up for our free email newsletter and be fully informed of the most important developments. Sign Up (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});ANC North West brushes off suggestions structures are dysfunctionalBy Chukwuma Umeorah Nigeria may be losing billions of naira, if the Federal Government fails to urgently reform the gaming and lottery industry, which presently contributes an estimated $250 million (approximately N500 billion) to the nation’s GDP annually. According to the National Union of Gaming and Lottery Workers (NUGLOW), this contribution highlights the sector’s potential to drive economic growth, create jobs and serve the public good in Africa’s largest economy. Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, NUGLOW’s National Treasurer, David Omaghomi, emphasized the need for reforms to harness the industry’s full potential while ensuring fairness, professionalism, and improved conditions for workers and stakeholders. He noted that Nigeria’s gaming market outpaces that of neighbouring countries, including the popular Ghana Games, which contributes only $64 million annually. “Our potential is huge, our population is huge, and our market is huge. Beyond the contribution to GDP, the industry employs 650,000 people, with Lagos being the highest contributor,” he said. Omaghomi pledged to improve working conditions, stating: “Better workers mean better results, and better results mean better contributions to societal development.” He also highlighted the underutilized potential of the industry, pointing out that unregulated operators exploit the market, depriving the government of revenue and workers of fair benefits. Omaghomi criticised foreign operators for exploiting the local market, evading taxes, and failing to contribute to Nigeria’s economy. He pledged the union’s collaboration with regulatory authorities to address these practices and uphold the industry’s integrity. The union also underscored the significance of a landmark Supreme Court ruling that nullified the National Lottery Act, enabling states to regulate gaming activities within their jurisdictions. The NUGLOW’sTreasurer, described the ruling as a pivotal development that will “change the interface of gaming” by fostering collaboration with state regulators, who are better positioned to oversee activities at the grassroots level. He noted that the ruling clarified gaming and lottery regulation as outside the exclusive legislative list, paving the way for a more decentralised and inclusive framework. However, despite its economic contributions, the industry faces numerous challenges, including illegal operators, underage betting, multiple taxation, worker exploitation, public harassment, and fraudulent activities. The union expressed concerns over poor working conditions and the lack of representation for workers in regulatory policies. “Appointments are made, positions are given, and decisions are made, yet the workers of the industry are not captured,” Omaghomi lamented. To address this, NUGLOW plans to advocate for amendments to the National Lottery Act to ensure workers’ rights and welfare are adequately protected. To further tackle these issues, the union announced two key events: a Stakeholders Summit scheduled for December 14, 2024, and a National Delegates Conference from January 23 to 25, 2025. The summit, the union said will provide a platform for open dialogue on industry reforms and policies, while the conference aims to establish a new leadership framework for the union. These events will focus on fostering transparency, professionalism, and growth within the sector. The union also called for a paradigm shift, emphasizing the critical role of workers as ambassadors of the industry. Initiatives such as accreditation of the Gaming Workers Institute, micro-pension schemes, health insurance coverage, and thrift and savings programs were announced to improve workers’ welfare and professional standards. Additionally, the union criticised cultural and religious stigmatisation of gaming, arguing that it is widely misunderstood. Omaghomi urged stakeholders to highlight the industry’s positive contributions instead of perpetuating negative stereotypes. In line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, NUGLOW pledged to align its efforts with the administration’s goals of fostering job creation, spurring economic growth, and promoting societal development.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, has claimed, without offering details, that Gabbard is in Russian President Vladimir “Putin's pocket”. Fort Lauderdale: Republican senators pushed back on Sunday against criticism from Democrats that Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump 's pick to lead US intelligence services, is “compromised” by her comments supportive of Russia and secret meetings, as a congresswoman, with Syria's president, a close ally of the Kremlin and Iran. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, a veteran of combat missions in Iraq, said she had concerns about Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's choice to be director of national intelligence. “I think she's compromised," Duckworth said on CNN's “State of the Union," citing Gabbard's 2017 trip to Syria, where she held talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad. Gabbard was a Democratic House member from Hawaii at the time. “The US intelligence community has identified her as having troubling relationships with America's foes. And so my worry is that she couldn't pass a background check,” Duckworth said. Gabbard, who said last month she is joining the Republican party, has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades. She was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait and, according to the Hawaii National Guard, received a Combat Medical Badge in 2005 for “participation in combat operations under enemy hostile fire in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III". Duckworth's comments drew immediate backlash from Republicans. “For her to say ridiculous and outright dangerous words like that is wrong," Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, said on CNN, challenging Duckworth to retract her words. “That's the most dangerous thing she could say — is that a United States lieutenant colonel in the United States Army is compromised and is an asset of Russia.” In recent days, other Democrats have accused Gabbard without evidence of being a “Russian asset”. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, has claimed, without offering details, that Gabbard is in Russian President Vladimir “Putin's pocket”. Mullin and others say the criticism from Democrats is rooted in the fact that Gabbard left their party and has become a Trump ally. Democrats say they worry that Gabbard's selection as national intelligence chief endangers ties with allies and gives Russia a win. Rep. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat just elected to the Senate, said he would not describe Gabbard as a Russian asset, but said she had “very questionable judgment”. “The problem is if our foreign allies don't trust the head of our intelligence agencies, they'll stop sharing information with us,” Schiff said on NBC's “Meet the Press”. Gabbard in 2022 endorsed one of Russia's justifications for invading Ukraine: the existence of dozens of US-funded biolabs working on some of the world's nastiest pathogens. The labs are part of an international effort to control outbreaks and stop bioweapons, but Moscow claimed Ukraine was using them to create deadly bioweapons. Gabbard said she just voiced concerns about protecting the labs. Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, said he thought it was “totally ridiculous” that Gabbard was being cast as a Russian asset for having different political views. “It's insulting. It's a slur, quite frankly. There's no evidence that she's a asset of another country,” he said on NBC. Sen. James Lankford, another Oklahoma Republican, acknowledged having “lots of questions” for Gabbard as the Senate considers her nomination to lead the intelligence services. Lankford said on NBC that he wants to ask Gabbard about her meeting with Assad and some of her past comments about Russia. “We want to know what the purpose was and what the direction for that was. As a member of Congress , we want to get a chance to talk about past comments that she's made and get them into full context,” Lankford said. Published 01:23 IST, November 25th 2024Florida knocks No. 9 Ole Miss out of College Football Playoff contention
SUMMARY: (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Partial Data Leak : Hackers leaked 2.9GB of Cisco’s data on Breach Forums on December 16, 2024. Exposed Records : The leaked data is part of a 4.5TB dataset that was allegedly left unprotected by Cisco in October 2024. Previous Incident : IntelBroker previously claimed responsibility for accessing the exposed data and attempted to sell it, including sensitive information from companies like Verizon, AT&T, and Microsoft. Cisco’s Response : Cisco previously denied any compromise of core systems, attributing the issue to a misconfigured public-facing DevHub resource. Proof of Legitimacy : IntelBroker released this partial leak to demonstrate the validity of their claims and attract buyers for the remaining data. RIBridges Breach : Hackers infiltrated Rhode Island’s health and benefits system, demanding ransom and threatening to leak sensitive data. On Monday, December 16, 2024, hackers leaked what they referred to as “partial data” belonging to technology and cybersecurity giant Cisco. The leak occurred on the cybercrime and data breach platform Breach Forums, where IntelBroker, a notorious hacker and the forum’s owner, released 2.9 GB of data for download. Important Background The leaked data is part of the 4.5TB content that hackers claim was left exposed by Cisco without any password protection or security authentication, allowing them to download the entire dataset in October 2024. Hackread.com exclusively reported on the incident on October 14, 2024, when IntelBroker attempted to sell the data, which allegedly included source codes, confidential documents, and credentials belonging to global firms like Verizon, AT&T, Microsoft, and others. At the time, Cisco did not respond to Hackread.com but denied any compromise of their core systems, attributing the incident to a misconfigured public-facing DevHub resource. However, IntelBroker maintained they had access until October 18 and provided evidence to Hackread.com showing they exploited an exposed token for JFrog, a software supply chain platform, to access the exposed content. What’s in the Leaked Data? This time, IntelBroker has leaked a portion of the data in an attempt to prove its legitimacy to potential buyers. “Hopefully, this proves the legitimacy of the breach to others wanting to buy the full version,” the hacker stated. The 2.9GB leak reportedly contains the following: Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) : A security policy platform that provides secure network access control and identity management. Cisco SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) : A cloud-delivered solution that combines networking and security functions for secure access from anywhere. Cisco Webex : A collaboration platform offering video conferencing, messaging, and calling solutions for teams and businesses. Cisco Umbrella : A cloud-based DNS security solution that protects users from threats by securing internet access and blocking malicious domains. Cisco IOS XE & XR : Network operating systems used in Cisco routers and switches, enabling advanced networking, automation, and programmability. Cisco C9800-SW-iosxe-wlc.16.11.01 : A software-based Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) image that manages and controls wireless networks running on Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series platforms. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Here’s a screenshot from Breach Forums showing what the hackers have leaked and the claims they are making: Intel Broker and Previous Breaches Intel Broker is known for high-profile data breaches. In June 2024 , the hacker claimed to have breached Apple Inc., stealing source code for internal tools. The same hacker boasted about breaching AMD (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.), and stealing employee and product information. In May 2024 , Intel Broker hacked Europol, a breach that the agency later confirmed. Some of the hacker’s previous data breaches are listed below: Tech in Asia Space-Eyes Home Depot Facebook Marketplace Staffing giant Robert Half U.S. contractor Acuity Inc. Los Angeles International Airport Alleged breaches of HSBC and Barclays Bank Nevertheless, the partial leak goes on to show ongoing exploitation of misconfigured systems and exposed data. The scale of exploitation is evident, as even high-profile hackers like ShinyHunters and Nemesis have targeted misconfigured servers and S3 buckets. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); While Cisco has yet to respond to this latest development, IntelBroker’s actions also show how such incidents can escalate into extortion attempts. Whether the remaining 4.5TB dataset will be sold, leaked, or resolved remains to be seen, but it’s a reminder for organizations to maintain their security practices and protect sensitive data. RELATED TOPICS IntelBroker Claim Access to Nokia Internal Data, Selling for $20K Europol Hacked: IntelBroker Claims Major Law Enforcement Breach IntelBroker Space-Eyes Breach, Targeting US National Security Data IntelBroker Claims Breach of Top Cybersecurity Firm, Selling Access AMD Data Breach: IntelBroker Claims Theft of Employee, Product Info
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Raspadori's late winner sends Conte's Napoli level with Atalanta at top of Serie ANASHVILLE, Tenn. — Married couples across the U.S. have had access to no-fault divorce for more than 50 years, an option many call crucial to supporting domestic abuse victims and key to preventing already crowded family courts from drowning in complicated divorce proceedings. But some advocates for women worried as old comments from now Vice President-elect JD Vance circulated during the presidential campaign opposing no-fault divorce. After President-elect Donald Trump and Vance won the election, warnings began popping up on social media urging women who might be considering divorce to "pull the trigger" while they still could. Some attorneys posted saying they saw a spike in calls from women seeking divorce consultations. Trump — who is twice-divorced — hasn't championed overhauling the country's divorce laws, but in 2021 Vance lamented that divorce is too easily accessible, as have conservative podcasters and others. "We've run this experiment in real time and what we have is a lot of very, very real family dysfunction that's making our kids unhappy," Vance said during a speech at a Christian high school in California, where he criticized people being able to "shift spouses like they change their underwear." Marriage rates held steady but divorce rates of women age 15 and older declined from 2012 to 2022, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released in October. Despite concerns, even those who want to make divorces harder to get say they don't expect big, swift changes. There is not a national coordinated effort underway. States determine their own divorce laws, so national leaders can't directly change policy. "Even in some of the so-called red states, it hasn't gotten anywhere," said Beverly Willett, co-chair of the Coalition for Divorce Reform, whose group unsuccessfully attempted to convince states to repeal their no-fault divorce laws. Mark A. Smith, a political science professor at the University of Washington, said while many Americans became accustomed to no-fault divorce being an option, Vance's previous comments on making it more difficult to separate from a spouse could help jump-start that effort. "Even though he's not directly proposing a policy, it's a topic that hasn't gotten a ton of discussion in the last 15 years," Smith said. "And so to have a national profile politician talk that way is noteworthy." Meanwhile, Republican Party platforms in Texas and Nebraska were amended in 2022 to call for the removal of no-fault divorce. Louisiana's Republican Party considered something similar this year but declined to do so. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts A handful of proposals were introduced in conservative-led statehouses over the years, but all immediately stalled after they were filed. In January, Oklahoma Republican Sen. Dusty Deevers introduced legislation that would have removed married couples from filing for divorce on the grounds of incompatibility. Deevers backed the bill after writing a piece declaring no-fault divorce was an "abolition of marital obligation." Similarly, in South Carolina, two Republican lawmakers in 2023 filed a bill that would have required both spouses to file for a no-fault divorce application rather than just one. In South Dakota, a Republican lawmaker attempted to remove irreconcilable difference as grounds for divorce since 2020. None of the sponsors of these bills responded to interview requests from The Associated Press. All are members of their state's conservative Freedom Caucus. Nevertheless, some Democratic lawmakers say they remain worried about the future of no-fault divorce. They point to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning the constitutional right to abortion in 2022 as an example of a long-accepted option that was revoked through a decades-long effort. "When you choose to be silent, you allow for this to creep in," said Democratic South Dakota Rep. Linda Duba. "These are the bills that gain a foothold because you choose to be silent." Before California became the first state to adopt a no-fault divorce option in 1969, married couples had to prove their spouse violated one of the approved "faults" outlined in their state's divorce law or risk a judge denying their divorce, said Joanna Grossman, a law professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Qualified reasons varied from state to state, but largely included infidelity, incarceration or abandonment. The system was a particular burden on domestic violence victims, who are often women who could be stuck in dangerous marriages while they try to prove their partner's abuse in court through expensive and lengthy legal proceedings. "If there was any evidence that the couple both wanted to get divorced that was supposed to be denied because divorce was not something you got because you wanted it, it was something you got because you've been wronged in a way that the state thought was significant," Grossman said. To date, every state in the U.S. adopted a no-fault divorce option. However, 33 states still have a list of approved "faults" to file as grounds for divorce — ranging from adultery to felony conviction. In 17 states, married people only have the option of choosing no-fault divorce to end their marriages.Higher FCNR rates fail to bring in the moolah
Trump taps Rollins as agriculture chief, completing proposed slate of Cabinet secretariesAustralia boss Nick Hockley has offered a diplomatic response amid claims the timing of the in the middle of the is simply 'rude'. The two-day auction for the lucrative T20 competition will begin in Saudi Arabia on Sunday evening (Aussie time), coinciding with the end of the third day's play in the first Test in Perth. Because and Justin Langer are both head coaches in the IPL (with Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants respectively), they'e been forced to fly to Suadi Arabia after just one day of commentating for Channel 7 in Perth. And Australia's coaching staff has also been affected, with assistant Daniel Vettori required at the IPL auction because he coaches Sunrisers Hyderabad. The timing of the mega-auction - right in the middle of the first Test - has raised eyebrows around the cricket world, with some suggesting it was 'rude' from Indian officials and a ploy to hamper Australia's preparations. But Hockley offered a diplomatic response on Saturday, saying: "I think it's not ideal. I think if you spoke to our broadcast partners who have commentators who are also IPL coaches, they would also say it's not ideal. "But that's out of our hands. I know certainly our players here will be fully-focused here, and it will be something to think and talk about after the Test match." Australia head coach Andrew McDonald and captain Pat Cummins have both dismissed concerns about Vettori's absence, especially in light of the precarious position the Aussies found themselves in after the second day in Perth. India went to stumps at 0-172, holding a 218-run lead. "He is still connected with us. A lot of pre-planning, prep work has gone in," McDonald said. "The answer is no [it doesn't make a difference], he’s got some commitments elsewhere." Cummins said before the Test: “Dan has obviously flown over there. But he has been here for the whole prep, we've done a lot meetings, done all the chats and he will be watching and keeping an eye on it anyway." As for Ponting, the Australian legend didn't shy away from his annoyance at having to fly out in the middle of a Test. "It’s the worst possible case scenario for me and ‘JL’ (Langer),” Ponting . “We for the last couple of months felt that it was probably going to be in the gap between the (first and second) Test matches." Ponting said it would add a layer of stress for the Australian and Indian Test players in the auction. "[Not having it in the middle of a Test] takes all the pressure off the players from both teams," Ponting said. "So I always thought it would’ve been in that gap because it just seemed better for everybody. But I don’t know why they’ve chosen the dates they have – it might have something to do with the game. The auction actually starts on air almost immediately after the end of play. So it might be something to do with broadcast." Channel 7 officials have confirmed that Ponting and Langer will be back in Australia for the second Test in Adelaide, which starts on December 6. with a guaranteed contract for the 2025 IPL, after Sunrisers Hyderabad opted to retain the duo ahead of the auction. A total of 37 Australian players have entered in for the mega-auction, including Test stars Josh Hazlewood, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Alex Carey and Mitch Marsh. Indian Test players KL Rahul, Ravi Ashwin and Rishabh Pant are also up for grabs.
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NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 21, 2024-- Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces that a shareholder filed a class action on behalf of all purchasers of securities of Xerox Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: XRX) between January 25, 2024 and October 28, 2024. Xerox describes itself as a “company that offers workplace technology that integrates hardware, services, and software for enterprises in the Americas, and internationally.” For more information, submit a form , email attorney Phillip Kim, or give us a call at 866-767-3653. The Allegations: Rosen Law Firm is Investigating the Allegations that Xerox Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: XRX) Misled Investors Regarding its Business Operations. According to the lawsuit, during the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) after a large workforce reduction, Xerox’s salesforce was reorganized with new territory assignments and account coverage; (2) as a result, Xerox’s salesforce productivity was disrupted; (3) as a result, Xerox had a lower rate of sell-through of older products; (4) the difficulties in flushing out older product would delay the launch of key products; (5) as a result, Xerox was likely to experience lower sales and revenue; and (6) as a result of the foregoing, defendants’ positive statements about Xerox’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. What Now: You may be eligible to participate in the class action against Xerox Holdings Corporation. Shareholders who want to serve as lead plaintiff for the class must file their motions with the court by January 21, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. You do not have to participate in the case to be eligible for a recovery. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. For more information, click here . All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses. About Rosen Law Firm: Some law firms issuing releases about this matter do not actually litigate securities class actions. Rosen Law Firm does. Rosen Law Firm is a recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improving corporate governance structures, and holding company executives accountable for their wrongdoing. Since its inception, Rosen Law Firm has obtained over $1 billion for shareholders. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241121109980/en/ CONTACT: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com KEYWORD: NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES LEGAL SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/21/2024 01:34 PM/DISC: 11/21/2024 01:34 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241121109980/enBraid: Trudeau saves Christmas from the tax Grinch, but can he save himself?
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Six Venezuelan government opponents who have sheltered for months at the Argentine embassy in Caracas decried Sunday that local police and intelligence agents were stationed outside of it for hours. The move prompted the U.S. government to call it a serious violation of international law and Argentina’s Foreign Ministry to describe it as an act of harassment. Most of the opponents belong to the Vente Venezuela party led by former legislator María Corina Machado. It denounced what it called “a new siege by hooded officials” that began Saturday night and extended into Sunday. The incident occurred hours after Machado called for a massive mobilization on Dec. 1, prompting Venezuela’s minister of the interior to accuse the political leader of being part of a new conspiracy attempt against the government of President Nicolás Maduro. Vente Venezuela said in a statement that the diplomatic headquarters remains without electricity and is surrounded by “regime vehicles” that are preventing traffic from circulating in the area. It said communication signals also were scrambled. Argentina’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement late Saturday that the deployment of armed troops and the closing of streets in the vicinity “constitute a disturbance of security.”. It also called on the international community to condemn the incident, which the U.S. did. On Sunday, the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela posted on X that the U.S. “strongly condemns the acts of harassment against asylum seekers.” “The deployment of armed forces and blockades seriously violate international law,” it said. “We demand that the Venezuelan regime respect its international obligations, cease these intimidating actions and guarantee safe passage for asylum seekers.” Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been broken since 2019. The opposition members entered the embassy in March after the Venezuelan Attorney General’s Office issued arrest warrants and accused them of promoting alleged acts of violence to destabilize the government. In August, Brazil accepted Argentina’s request to guard its embassy after the Venezuelan government ordered the expulsion of Argentine diplomatic personnel following statements by its president, Javier Milei, that he would not recognize “another fraud” in Venezuela after the controversial elections in Jul y. A month later, Venezuela revoked Brazil’s authorization to guard the embassy, alleging it had evidence of the use of the facilities “for the planning of terrorist activities and assassination attempts.” Brazil and Argentina have rejected those accusations.
For lawmakers who are loath to vote “no,” Adam Gray has become something of a rallying cry for legislative reform. Twice, California Democrats have deemed the former Assemblymember their best bet to take the highly competitive 13th Congressional District . And twice Republicans have hammered him for an unremarkable aspect of his legislative record. “You paid his salary and benefits most of his adult life,” said the narrator of an ad run by a Republican super PAC in 2022, when Gray first ran (and lost) to John Duarte . “In return, he skipped over 150 votes in the state Assembly. Eighty percent of the time, Gray was physically at the state Capitol, but didn’t bother to vote.” The 30-second spot by the Congressional Leadership Fund damned Gray for his “taxpayer salary, no show job.” “It’s the Sacramento way,” the narrator said. “It’s the Adam Gray way.” A year later, when Gray announced he wanted a rematch with Duarte, the National Republican Congressional Committee made a point of highlighting his voting record again. “Central Valley voters rejected Adam Gray after he betrayed them to collect lavish special interest perks,” spokesman Ben Petersen said in an August 2023 news release . “In Sacramento, Gray skipped over 150 votes — and when he did show up, Gray drove up inflation, raised the gas tax and waged war on the Valley’s way of life.” The release went on to note that “Gray skipped over 150 votes while collecting a six-figure taxpayer paycheck” and “voted to raise the gas tax by 43 percent, then skipped a vote on his own bill to suspend the gas tax.” Duarte beat Gray in two consecutive elections, first by a mere 564 votes in 2022 , then by about 2,000 this year (with 87% of the vote counting; an estimated 28,000 votes left to be counted as of Sunday morning). In races that close, every negative could be pivotal — even though in this particular case anybody who is familiar with Sacramento knows that not voting 150+ times in a single legislative cycle is hardly unusual, let alone over 10 years, which is what the Republicans were actually dinging Gray for. Indeed, legislators in both parties openly admit they frequently don’t vote on bills not because they’re lazy, as the Congressional Leadership Fund implied, but because “no” votes are taken personally by their colleagues. Bills and other motions in Sacramento can pass only if they receive the requisite number of “aye” votes. By laying off on a vote, legislators do nothing to help a bill’s prospects, but also avoid angering its author. However, the current system for documenting legislative votes doesn’t allow for any nuance. The Legislature’s voting records have only three options: “aye,” “no” or “no vote recorded,” which can include instances in which lawmakers really do miss a vote as well as when they are present but have consciously decided to abstain. Because the “no vote recorded” category encompasses multiple behaviors — including those which which legislators can get criticized, like Gray was — there’s a quiet push to change the way votes are recorded to include at least one other category, abstention. “To me, it makes sense to make a distinction between absent (and) abstention,” said Sen. Anthony Portantino , the termed-out Democrat from La Cañada-Flintridge, who says he asked the Secretary of the Senate to make that change about five years ago. “The record should be accurate,” he said. The Disappearing ‘No’ Vote Both Democrats and Republicans opt to not vote on certain bills and other motions out of courtesy to their colleagues. But as members of the minority party who defines itself politically largely in its opposition to the party in control, Republicans still vote “no” quite a bit. “To me, it makes sense to make a distinction between absent (and) abstention. ... The record should be accurate.” Democrats, with their supermajority control of both houses, don’t — which makes them particularly vulnerable to the kind of criticism Gray faced in his two campaigns for Congress. Consider these stats from the last session. Ninety-three of the 120 legislators who served in 2023-24 were Democrats. (That’s 78% for those wondering.) Four thousand, eight hundred and twenty-one bills were introduced in those years. During that time, 499,655 votes were recorded on both floors and in committee hearings. And yet, despite those numbers, Democrats in the legislature voted “no” a grand total of just 1,010 times the entire session, representing just 0.2% of all votes recorded during the cycle. A Capitol Weekly analysis of legislative votes data found seven Democrats who never voted “no” in 2023-24: Assemblymembers Joaquin Arambula , Lisa Calderon , Mike Fong , Jesse Gabriel , Eduardo Garcia , Chris Holden and former Speaker Anthony Rendon . Ten other Assembly members voted “no” only once during the session. Forty-three Democrats in the Senate and the Assembly kept their noes for the session to single digits. No Democrat topped triple digits, with the highest (current) Democrat voting “no” being Sen. Steve Glazer of Contra Costa, who did it 73 times. No Republican had less than 200 “no” votes for the year (with Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil of Jackson, the former Democrat , recording the least at 218). Republican Assemblymember Diane Dixon of Newport Beach had the most “no” votes in the Legislature for the year at 1,343. Democrats have been trending this way for some time in the Legislature. While the overall percentage of no votes recorded per cycle (from a low of 4% in 2015-16 to a high of 8% in 1999-2000, 2009-10, 2021-22 and 2023-24) and NVRs by Democrats in particular (from a low of 2.2 in 20215-16 to a high of 4.5% in 2023-24) has fluctuated up and down over the last 13 legislative cycles, the overall percentage of “no” votes and “no” votes by Democrats has generally headed down. In the 1999-2000 cycle, “no” votes overall accounted for 10% of all the votes cast, while the percentage of “no” votes by Democrats stood at 1. Democrats cast nearly 8,000 noes that cycle. Thirty Democrats topped triple digits in their “no” votes, with Sen. Patrick Johnston of Stockton recording 477. By the 2015-16 cycle, the overall percentage of “no” votes had dropped to 7% of all votes cast, with the percentage of “no” votes by Democrats falling to 0.7 Seven Democrats topped triple digits of “no” votes, with Assemblymember Mike Gatto of Los Angeles registering 234. The numbers dropped more precipitously starting during the 2019-20 cycle, when the Assembly changed its rules to allow its committee chairs to decide whether to bring a bill up for consideration. Coinciding with that change, the number of “no” votes, and “no” votes by Democrats, fell off. In 2017-18 cycle, there were 42,238 “no” votes total cast. In 2019-20, there were 22,395. In 2021-22, for the first time in 12 sessions, five Assembly Democrats (who all cast hundreds of votes that cycle) managed to go two years without voting “no” even once. The Pros and Cons of Abstention Former Assembly Republican Leader Kristin Olsen-Cate told Capitol Weekly that when she was in the Legislature, members felt not voting on a bill they opposed, rather than outright voting “no,” was considered less offensive to colleagues you wanted to maintain a good relationship with. We have launched our year-end campaign. Our goal: Raise $50,000 by Dec. 31. Help us get there. Times of San Diego is devoted to producing timely, comprehensive news about San Diego County. Your donation helps keep our work free-to-read, funds reporters who cover local issues and allows us to write stories that hold public officials accountable. Join the growing list of donors investing in our community's long-term future. As Portantino noted, bills have their author’s name on them and at least some legislators take an outright rejection of their bill as a personal afront. He also said there seems to be an “urban legend” circulating among legislators that the less “no” votes a bill receives, the more likely it will get signed into law. He said it’s not uncommon for the author of a bill to ask legislative opponents to lay off, rather than outright vote “no,” to avoid encouraging other legislators vote “no” as well. “A hard ‘no’ is like a slap in the face to the author,” said Hannah-Beth Jackson , the former Democratic state senator. “It’s an extraordinary strong statement.” Jackson said not voting on a bill — abstaining — is also a way for legislators to walk the line between honoring their constituents’ views while also respecting other lawmakers. Say one of your valued colleagues has authored a bill that your district doesn’t support. Laying off allows you to reflect your constituents’ wishes while also not giving your political ally a black eye. A hard ‘no’ is like a slap in the face to the author. ... It’s an extraordinary strong statement. On the other hand, Republican Sen. Brian Dahle of Bieber dismisses much of this talk as “gamesmanship” and a way for the Democrats to control members of their own party. “An abstention is a ‘no’ vote,” he said. Laying off is just a form of political cover, Dahle said, pointing the example of Republican Sen. Shannon Grove ’s SB 14 regarding penalties for child sex trafficking, which was initially killed in the Assembly Public Safety Committee in 2023 due to a lack of “ayes,” not because of outright noes. “Behind the scenes, people will say, ‘I don’t like this,’ ” Dahle said. “Well, stand up! Be your own person.” Still, there is little disagreement that legislators’ schedules are busy and it’s not unusual for them to have to miss votes in one committee because they’re presenting a bill in another. It’s for this reason that some argue the tracking of legislative votes needs to be more nuanced. “It’s an excellent idea,” said Dan Schnur , a veteran Republican strategist. He said voters deserve transparency in the voting behavior of their representatives. If legislators are missing a lot of votes because they’re doubled booked, Schnur said voters should know that. He said that voters can understand the complexities of the job and that legislators shouldn’t fear they could misconstrue why they had a lot of missed votes. For that reason, Schnur said he’d support adding an abstention category to the official voting record. But he also made clear that he doesn’t think abstaining to spare a colleague’s feelings is appropriate. He said public policy needs to be debated openly, so the public can understand how policies are shaped. He said legislators shouldn’t be worrying about feelings. “That’s very sweet,” Schnur said. “That’s not the way politics is supposed to work.” Likewise, Portantino is less concerned about “no” votes, but thought differentiating whether a no vote was recorded due to abstention or absence was important because it affects how special interests grade legislators on their issues. If a legislator misses a vote, it’s typically not counted against a legislator’s grade, he said. But if a legislator abstains, it does. Those grades matter to some legislators, and Portantino said it’s not fair for lawmakers to be dinged for abstaining when in fact they were absent. At the same time, as apparently illustrated by Gray, there seems to also be a fear that legislators could be dinged for being absent when they in fact were abstaining, creating further incentive for more nuanced vote tracking. It’s an interesting debate, said Rob Stutzman , a Republican campaign consultant. But he wasn’t sure changing the voting tracking system ultimately would solve many problems for legislators. “ ‘I cast a strong abstention!’ ” he said, mockingly. “You didn’t get elected to abstain! I can assure you, they’ll still get criticized.” Joseph writes for Capitol Weekly . Get Our Free Daily Email Newsletter Get the latest local and California news from Times of San Diego delivered to your inbox at 8 a.m. daily. Sign up for our free email newsletter and be fully informed of the most important developments. Sign Up (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});ANC North West brushes off suggestions structures are dysfunctionalBy Chukwuma Umeorah Nigeria may be losing billions of naira, if the Federal Government fails to urgently reform the gaming and lottery industry, which presently contributes an estimated $250 million (approximately N500 billion) to the nation’s GDP annually. According to the National Union of Gaming and Lottery Workers (NUGLOW), this contribution highlights the sector’s potential to drive economic growth, create jobs and serve the public good in Africa’s largest economy. Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, NUGLOW’s National Treasurer, David Omaghomi, emphasized the need for reforms to harness the industry’s full potential while ensuring fairness, professionalism, and improved conditions for workers and stakeholders. He noted that Nigeria’s gaming market outpaces that of neighbouring countries, including the popular Ghana Games, which contributes only $64 million annually. “Our potential is huge, our population is huge, and our market is huge. Beyond the contribution to GDP, the industry employs 650,000 people, with Lagos being the highest contributor,” he said. Omaghomi pledged to improve working conditions, stating: “Better workers mean better results, and better results mean better contributions to societal development.” He also highlighted the underutilized potential of the industry, pointing out that unregulated operators exploit the market, depriving the government of revenue and workers of fair benefits. Omaghomi criticised foreign operators for exploiting the local market, evading taxes, and failing to contribute to Nigeria’s economy. He pledged the union’s collaboration with regulatory authorities to address these practices and uphold the industry’s integrity. The union also underscored the significance of a landmark Supreme Court ruling that nullified the National Lottery Act, enabling states to regulate gaming activities within their jurisdictions. The NUGLOW’sTreasurer, described the ruling as a pivotal development that will “change the interface of gaming” by fostering collaboration with state regulators, who are better positioned to oversee activities at the grassroots level. He noted that the ruling clarified gaming and lottery regulation as outside the exclusive legislative list, paving the way for a more decentralised and inclusive framework. However, despite its economic contributions, the industry faces numerous challenges, including illegal operators, underage betting, multiple taxation, worker exploitation, public harassment, and fraudulent activities. The union expressed concerns over poor working conditions and the lack of representation for workers in regulatory policies. “Appointments are made, positions are given, and decisions are made, yet the workers of the industry are not captured,” Omaghomi lamented. To address this, NUGLOW plans to advocate for amendments to the National Lottery Act to ensure workers’ rights and welfare are adequately protected. To further tackle these issues, the union announced two key events: a Stakeholders Summit scheduled for December 14, 2024, and a National Delegates Conference from January 23 to 25, 2025. The summit, the union said will provide a platform for open dialogue on industry reforms and policies, while the conference aims to establish a new leadership framework for the union. These events will focus on fostering transparency, professionalism, and growth within the sector. The union also called for a paradigm shift, emphasizing the critical role of workers as ambassadors of the industry. Initiatives such as accreditation of the Gaming Workers Institute, micro-pension schemes, health insurance coverage, and thrift and savings programs were announced to improve workers’ welfare and professional standards. Additionally, the union criticised cultural and religious stigmatisation of gaming, arguing that it is widely misunderstood. Omaghomi urged stakeholders to highlight the industry’s positive contributions instead of perpetuating negative stereotypes. In line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, NUGLOW pledged to align its efforts with the administration’s goals of fostering job creation, spurring economic growth, and promoting societal development.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, has claimed, without offering details, that Gabbard is in Russian President Vladimir “Putin's pocket”. Fort Lauderdale: Republican senators pushed back on Sunday against criticism from Democrats that Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump 's pick to lead US intelligence services, is “compromised” by her comments supportive of Russia and secret meetings, as a congresswoman, with Syria's president, a close ally of the Kremlin and Iran. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, a veteran of combat missions in Iraq, said she had concerns about Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's choice to be director of national intelligence. “I think she's compromised," Duckworth said on CNN's “State of the Union," citing Gabbard's 2017 trip to Syria, where she held talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad. Gabbard was a Democratic House member from Hawaii at the time. “The US intelligence community has identified her as having troubling relationships with America's foes. And so my worry is that she couldn't pass a background check,” Duckworth said. Gabbard, who said last month she is joining the Republican party, has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades. She was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait and, according to the Hawaii National Guard, received a Combat Medical Badge in 2005 for “participation in combat operations under enemy hostile fire in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III". Duckworth's comments drew immediate backlash from Republicans. “For her to say ridiculous and outright dangerous words like that is wrong," Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, said on CNN, challenging Duckworth to retract her words. “That's the most dangerous thing she could say — is that a United States lieutenant colonel in the United States Army is compromised and is an asset of Russia.” In recent days, other Democrats have accused Gabbard without evidence of being a “Russian asset”. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, has claimed, without offering details, that Gabbard is in Russian President Vladimir “Putin's pocket”. Mullin and others say the criticism from Democrats is rooted in the fact that Gabbard left their party and has become a Trump ally. Democrats say they worry that Gabbard's selection as national intelligence chief endangers ties with allies and gives Russia a win. Rep. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat just elected to the Senate, said he would not describe Gabbard as a Russian asset, but said she had “very questionable judgment”. “The problem is if our foreign allies don't trust the head of our intelligence agencies, they'll stop sharing information with us,” Schiff said on NBC's “Meet the Press”. Gabbard in 2022 endorsed one of Russia's justifications for invading Ukraine: the existence of dozens of US-funded biolabs working on some of the world's nastiest pathogens. The labs are part of an international effort to control outbreaks and stop bioweapons, but Moscow claimed Ukraine was using them to create deadly bioweapons. Gabbard said she just voiced concerns about protecting the labs. Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, said he thought it was “totally ridiculous” that Gabbard was being cast as a Russian asset for having different political views. “It's insulting. It's a slur, quite frankly. There's no evidence that she's a asset of another country,” he said on NBC. Sen. James Lankford, another Oklahoma Republican, acknowledged having “lots of questions” for Gabbard as the Senate considers her nomination to lead the intelligence services. Lankford said on NBC that he wants to ask Gabbard about her meeting with Assad and some of her past comments about Russia. “We want to know what the purpose was and what the direction for that was. As a member of Congress , we want to get a chance to talk about past comments that she's made and get them into full context,” Lankford said. Published 01:23 IST, November 25th 2024Florida knocks No. 9 Ole Miss out of College Football Playoff contention
SUMMARY: (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Partial Data Leak : Hackers leaked 2.9GB of Cisco’s data on Breach Forums on December 16, 2024. Exposed Records : The leaked data is part of a 4.5TB dataset that was allegedly left unprotected by Cisco in October 2024. Previous Incident : IntelBroker previously claimed responsibility for accessing the exposed data and attempted to sell it, including sensitive information from companies like Verizon, AT&T, and Microsoft. Cisco’s Response : Cisco previously denied any compromise of core systems, attributing the issue to a misconfigured public-facing DevHub resource. Proof of Legitimacy : IntelBroker released this partial leak to demonstrate the validity of their claims and attract buyers for the remaining data. RIBridges Breach : Hackers infiltrated Rhode Island’s health and benefits system, demanding ransom and threatening to leak sensitive data. On Monday, December 16, 2024, hackers leaked what they referred to as “partial data” belonging to technology and cybersecurity giant Cisco. The leak occurred on the cybercrime and data breach platform Breach Forums, where IntelBroker, a notorious hacker and the forum’s owner, released 2.9 GB of data for download. Important Background The leaked data is part of the 4.5TB content that hackers claim was left exposed by Cisco without any password protection or security authentication, allowing them to download the entire dataset in October 2024. Hackread.com exclusively reported on the incident on October 14, 2024, when IntelBroker attempted to sell the data, which allegedly included source codes, confidential documents, and credentials belonging to global firms like Verizon, AT&T, Microsoft, and others. At the time, Cisco did not respond to Hackread.com but denied any compromise of their core systems, attributing the incident to a misconfigured public-facing DevHub resource. However, IntelBroker maintained they had access until October 18 and provided evidence to Hackread.com showing they exploited an exposed token for JFrog, a software supply chain platform, to access the exposed content. What’s in the Leaked Data? This time, IntelBroker has leaked a portion of the data in an attempt to prove its legitimacy to potential buyers. “Hopefully, this proves the legitimacy of the breach to others wanting to buy the full version,” the hacker stated. The 2.9GB leak reportedly contains the following: Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) : A security policy platform that provides secure network access control and identity management. Cisco SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) : A cloud-delivered solution that combines networking and security functions for secure access from anywhere. Cisco Webex : A collaboration platform offering video conferencing, messaging, and calling solutions for teams and businesses. Cisco Umbrella : A cloud-based DNS security solution that protects users from threats by securing internet access and blocking malicious domains. Cisco IOS XE & XR : Network operating systems used in Cisco routers and switches, enabling advanced networking, automation, and programmability. Cisco C9800-SW-iosxe-wlc.16.11.01 : A software-based Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) image that manages and controls wireless networks running on Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series platforms. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Here’s a screenshot from Breach Forums showing what the hackers have leaked and the claims they are making: Intel Broker and Previous Breaches Intel Broker is known for high-profile data breaches. In June 2024 , the hacker claimed to have breached Apple Inc., stealing source code for internal tools. The same hacker boasted about breaching AMD (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.), and stealing employee and product information. In May 2024 , Intel Broker hacked Europol, a breach that the agency later confirmed. Some of the hacker’s previous data breaches are listed below: Tech in Asia Space-Eyes Home Depot Facebook Marketplace Staffing giant Robert Half U.S. contractor Acuity Inc. Los Angeles International Airport Alleged breaches of HSBC and Barclays Bank Nevertheless, the partial leak goes on to show ongoing exploitation of misconfigured systems and exposed data. The scale of exploitation is evident, as even high-profile hackers like ShinyHunters and Nemesis have targeted misconfigured servers and S3 buckets. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); While Cisco has yet to respond to this latest development, IntelBroker’s actions also show how such incidents can escalate into extortion attempts. Whether the remaining 4.5TB dataset will be sold, leaked, or resolved remains to be seen, but it’s a reminder for organizations to maintain their security practices and protect sensitive data. RELATED TOPICS IntelBroker Claim Access to Nokia Internal Data, Selling for $20K Europol Hacked: IntelBroker Claims Major Law Enforcement Breach IntelBroker Space-Eyes Breach, Targeting US National Security Data IntelBroker Claims Breach of Top Cybersecurity Firm, Selling Access AMD Data Breach: IntelBroker Claims Theft of Employee, Product Info
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