Minnesota Vikings ruthlessly cut a player on his birthday... and their fans are all predicting the same thing

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New York To Close 12 Migrant Shelters Ahead Of Trump Deportation Agenda

NEWARK — After a recount, the results of a Newark City Council race have held, with Jactina Arteaga headed toward victory with a four vote advantage. By Friday afternoon, Arteaga had a 0.1% lead, with 6,446 votes to Julie Del Catancio’s 6,442 votes. The Alameda County Registrar of Voters manually recounted all of the race’s ballots by Friday afternoon and the results appeared to hold the same, an official said Friday. Tim DuPuis, the Alameda County registrar, said Friday that he personally made the decision to review the race’s results because it was within 10 votes of separation – the closest race in the county. The results of the recount appeared to hold, Dupuis said Friday. The only other tight race in the county, he added, was the Fremont District 6 council race where Raymond Liu had a 36-vote lead over incumbent Teresa Cox. At one point, the contest had been as close as 12 votes before more ballots were counted.Dupuis said he did not elect to recount that race. Arteaga received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Cal State University, Hayward. She has previous experience as a child support officer for San Mateo County, in finance and public safety administration in San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe’s office and as an assistant agency director with the Social Services Agency. “Although it has been a roller coaster with the results these past few weeks, it is important that every vote gets counted. I’m glad the ROV is doing a manual count and I hope that I remain in the lead,” Arteaga said in a statement Friday before the recount was completed. “Either way the voters have spoken and we will have new leadership on the council beginning in December.” The latest campaign finance records show Arteaga raised $14,902 through October, mostly through small donations, including a $2,500 personal loan. She spent $5,820, largely on print ads and other campaign advertising materials. “It seems like what people really want to see is that they’re safe, that their families are safe, and that we’re responsible,” Del Catancio said in an interview Friday. “I feel like I’d fit in wholeheartedly because I really love Newark, I’m a long term resident here and I also work in the area.” Del Catancio received a law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law and a master’s degree in administration from the University of Kansas. She is currently a Newark planning commissioner and educator in the Newark Unified School District. “Win or lose, I feel like we put our heart and soul into it and we tried the best that we could. And so I think that it’s really up to the people,” Del Catancio added. “The fact is that in any race, you set out, you try your hardest, you meet the people and they make a decision. We’ll see how it goes, fingers crossed.” The registrar’s office expects to certify the Nov. 5 election results in December.AP News Summary at 3:17 p.m. EST

DONALD Trump's January 6 criminal charges are set to be dropped after the Department of Justice filed a motion to dismiss the case. Trump was first indicted on four felony counts in 2023 and was accused of orchestrating a "criminal scheme" in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. But special counsel Jack Smith asked a federal judge to dump the case today, citing a longstanding Justice Department policy that shields presidents from prosecution while in office. Smith's team wrote in the legal filing: "After careful consideration, the Department has determined that OLC’s prior opinions concerning the Constitution’s prohibition on federal indictment and prosecution of a sitting President apply to this situation and that as a result this prosecution must be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated. "That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind." This marks the end of the Justice Department's landmark effort to hold Trump accountable for what prosecutors called a criminal conspiracy to cling to power in the run-up to his supporters' attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The decision was expected after Smith's team began assessing how to wind down both the 2020 election interference case and the separate classified documents case in the wake of Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump has cast both cases as politically motivated and had pleaded not guilty to all four counts. He had also vowed to fire Smith as soon as he took office in January. Soon after the announcement, the Trump campaign wrote in a statement: "Today's decision by the DOJ ends the unconstitutional federal cases against President Trump, and is a major victory for the rule of law." The US Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to US District Judge Tanya Chutkan. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year's election. S Smith's team in October filed a lengthy brief laying out new evidence they planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of resorting to crimes in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will of voters after he lost to President Joe Biden. The special counsel also asked a judge to dismiss the classified documents case against Trump in Florida shortly after the first DOJ announcement was made in Washington, DC. In June 2023, a federal grand jury in Miami indicted Trump for taking classified defence documents from the White House after leaving office in January 2021. Prosecutors accused Trump of resisting the government's efforts to try to recover the documents. However, a US district judge dismissed the case on July 15, ruling that the appointment of Special Council Jack Smith violated the Constitution. It comes just days after Trump's sentencing in his hush-money case was cancelled indefinitely, removing another major legal hurdle for the president-elect. Sentencing was originally scheduled for November 26 but has now been delayed indefinitely, with no new potential sentencing date on the calendar. Judge Juan Merchan announced the adjournment in a letter on Friday morning. In May, Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a hush-money deal his former fixer made with adult movie actress Stormy Daniels to cover up an alleged affair ahead of the 2016 election. Trump has repeatedly denied the allegations. The halting of Trump's sentencing gives his legal team time to prepare their case that his election victory means his felony convictions should be thrown out completely. Trump's team must submit their additional papers by December 2. His spokesperson Steven Cheung called the sentencing delay a "decisive win." The New York hush money case stemmed from a $130,000 payment made by Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen to adult film star Stormy Daniels. She had claimed that Trump and she had a sexual encounter in the 2000s, something he denies. The money was to pay for Daniels' silence ahead of the 2016 election. A Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records to cover up his reimbursement of Cohen. In May, Trump became the first US president - former or sitting - to be charged or convicted of a criminal offence. Trump pleaded not guilty and portrayed Bragg's actions as a politically motivated witch hunt, targeted to interfere with his 2024 presidential campaign. If sentenced, Trump could have faced up to four years in prison for falsification of business records. However, before the election, experts said that it was unlikely Trump would be jailed, with a fine or probation a more likely punishment. Trump's victory in November's election over Kamala Harris made the prospect of prison or probation even trickier, as it could impede his ability to carry out the president's duties. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun .Mincey scores 27, UMass-Lowell knocks off UMass 96-83Limited again, 49ers QB Brock Purdy still fighting sore shoulder

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AP News Summary at 5:04 p.m. EST

SAO PAULO -- Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro has been a target for investigations since his early days in office, and the swarm of cases since his failed reelection bid in 2022 has left him in ever-deeper legal jeopardy. In the latest indictment Thursday, he was accused of attempting a coup to keep himself in the presidency. In another case, the electoral court ruled the far-right leader ineligible to run for office until 2030. There are dozens of other probes that could produce criminal charges at low-level courts, where he could appeal any eventual conviction. But the country's Supreme Court will have the final say regarding more than five in-depth investigations, including into the alleged coup attempt, which could land the former president behind bars or under house arrest. Bolsonaro has denied wrongdoing in all of the cases, and his allies have alleged they are political persecution, while recognizing the severity of the legal risks on multiple fronts. Here's a look at the biggest threats and where they stand: Federal police on Thursday indicted Bolsonaro and 36 others for allegedly attempting a coup to keep him in office after his defeat in the 2022 elections. The indictment is sealed, but among other things authorities had been investigating whether he incited the Jan. 8, 2022 riot in which his followers ransacked the Supreme Court and presidential palace in the capital of Brasilia. STATUS: Police sent their findings to Brazil’s Supreme Court, which will refer them to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet. He will either formally charge Bolsonaro and put him on trial, or toss the investigation. Brazil’s highest electoral court in June ruled that Bolsonaro used government communication channels in a meeting with diplomats to promote his reelection bid and sow distrust about the vote. The case focused on a meeting the prior year, during which Bolsonaro used government staffers, the state television channel and the presidential palace in Brasilia to tell foreign ambassadors that the country’s electronic voting system was rigged. The ruling rendered him ineligible for office until 2030, although he has insisted that he will run in the 2026 race. The court also found that Bolsonaro abused his power during Brazil’s Independence Day festivities, a month before the election. The ruling didn’t add years to Bolsonaro’s ineligibility, but made any appeal less likely to succeed. A third case is also pending at the court. STATUS: Bolsonaro’s appeal of the initial ruling was denied. Bolsonaro has been indicted for directing an official to tamper with a public health database to make it appear as though he and his 12-year-old daughter had received the COVID-19 vaccine in order to bypass U.S. entry requirements. During the pandemic, he railed against the vaccine , characterized the choice to receive a shot as a matter of personal freedom and has repeatedly said he never did so. The Federal Police accused Bolsonaro of criminal association and inserting false data into public records, which carry maximum penalties of 4 and 12 years in prison, respectively. It was his first indictment since leaving office. STATUS: Brazil's Supreme Court sent the indictment to the prosecutor-general, who is weighing whether to use it to press charges. Local media reported that he was seeking to consult American authorities about whether Bolsonaro used the forged document to enter the country, and that having done so could result in U.S. legal action. Federal Police have probed whether Bolsonaro directed officials to smuggle luxury jewelry worth millions into Brazil from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, then acted to prevent them from being incorporated into the presidential collection and instead retain ownership for himself. Investigators summoned Bolsonaro for questioning in April and August of 2023. He has returned the jewelry in question. STATUS: The Federal Police indicted Bolsonaro for money laundering and criminal association, according to a source with knowledge of the accusations. A second source confirmed the indictment, although not for which specific crimes. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly. Brazil’s Federal Police is investigating Bolsonaro for inciting crimes against public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, which include encouraging people not to wear masks and causing alarm about non-existent danger of vaccines accelerating development of AIDS . A Senate inquiry commission also spent months investigating his pandemic-era actions and decisions, and recommended nine criminal charges. Brazil’s former prosecutor-general Augusto Aras, widely seen as a Bolsonaro ally, decided not to file any charges based on the lawmakers' findings. They have urged his Aras' successor to reopen the case. STATUS: The investigation is ongoing. Brazil's Supreme Court in 2020 ordered an investigation into a network allegedly spreading defamatory fake news and threats against Supreme Court justices . The probe has yielded the imprisonment of lawmakers from the former president's circle and raids of his supporters' homes. In 2021, Bolsonaro was included as a target. As an offshoot of that probe, the Federal Police is also investigating whether a group operating inside Bolsonaro’s presidential palace produced social media content aimed at undermining the rule of law. The group, allegedly comprised of aides and Bolsonaro’s politician son, has been widely referred to as a digital militia and “the hate cabinet.” STATUS: Both investigations are ongoing. ___ Biller reported from Rio de Janeiro

In the immediate wake of Dakota Ditcheva's title winning performance over Taila Santos at the PFL 2024 Championships, the Manchester native is one of the biggest names in the sport for at least one weekend. Fans have immediately begun speculation over how she would do against other great fighters like Valentina Shevchenko, where Ditcheva sits on the pound-for-pound list, and if she will move to the UFC in the near future. In an interview with TalkSport MMA , the martial arts star shed light on at least one of these questions. "It's difficult now because I've just beat the best girl here. I think big fights suit me better, but will anyone watch the PFL season without me?" The question is a valid one. The women's flyweight division did not even exist in PFL until this season, as the promotion shut down their lightweight division following Kayla Harrison's departure, instead forming the 125-lb division for Ditcheva, Santos, and Bellator champ Liz Carmouche. As far as big fights, the reference is clear. Valentina Shevchenko barely beat the woman Dakota just annihilated and is coming off a trilogy where she both lost and drew a fight. The UFC flyweight champion is scheduled to defend her title against French kickboxer Manon Fiorot soon. If Fiorot snatches the belt from Valentina, Manon vs. Ditcheva would also instantly become a big fight, as would fights against the likes of Zhang Weili, who may move up to flyweight, and Alexa Grasso. Even Natalia Silva could be a big fight one day, as a young, rising striking talent like Ditcheva herself. The status of 'Dangerous' Dakota's contract is unknown at present, she may be tied to PFL for the 2025 season and even beyond. Yet if she is not, a bidding war may ensue for her services, or she may go looking for big fights anyways now that she has $1 million in her wallet and money is less of an issue. BODY SHOT FINISH! DAKOTA DITCHEVA IS THE 2024 PFL WOMENS FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION! #ANDNOW #PFLWorldChampionship LIVE NOW ON ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/cU8qbGIiSeStrictly fans took to social media to air their grievances during the semi-final, feeling incensed by Shirley Ballas who they perceived as lavishing unjust praise and high scores on Pete Wicks. Despite never facing a dance-off, ex-TOWIE personality Pete Wicks has reached the semi-finals, leaving some to question his place, especially when more accomplished dancers have been sent home. The discontent bubbled over almost as soon as the show began, with viewers quick to express their doubts about his standing next to fellow semi-finalists Chris McCausland, Tasha Ghouri, JB Gill, and Sarah Hadland. Tensions heightened after Pete's initial performance, during which head judge Shirley Ballas even bestowed upon him the title 'Mr Strictly'. Shirley conveyed to Pete her unique judging perspective, focusing on his journey within the contest rather than a direct comparison with others. She commented, "You are Mr Strictly Come Dancing. You are what this show is about. Everybody at home, all the parents, will be sitting there and thinking, 'if Pete can do it, I can do it' and you will inspire people to go to the dance studio." "You had no experience whatsoever coming in. I thought you did a very good job on your footwork and your neckline.... week one you were like this and today you were shining. You didn't make any mistakes, you did a grand job. You should walk with your head high - you are absolutely Mr Strictly Come Dancing.", reports the Mirror . She went on to award him the highest mark of all the judges - nine out of 10 - giving him a total of 32 out of 40. But viewers were not entirely convinced by Shirley's generous critique and took to Twitter to voice their displeasure. One user commented: "SHIRLEY CALLING PETE MR STRICTLY COME DANCING LIKE MONTELL DIDNT ALSO START FROM NOTHING BUT NEVER GOT THAT PRAISE. The bias is RIDICULOUS." Another added: "Sh*rley can retire after calling pete mr strictly come dancing after criticising tasha for coming out of lifts, it's completely unfair to treat contestants so differently. Pete is not the first or last person to start at nothing NOT EVEN IN THIS SERIES." Yet another tweet read: "shirley calling pete "mr strictly come dancing" when he shouldn't even be in the semi finals in the first place..." Alongside: "Shirley acting like Pete is God's gift to dancing and giving him a bloody 9." One more disgruntled fan wrote: "Shirley giving that a 9? ? I've defended her all series but scoring that the same as JB and Sarah? Please.." The controversy follows the shock of last weekend's dance-off which saw Olympian Montell Douglas and Tasha Ghouri end up in the bottom two, resulting in Montell being sent home following the judges' decision.

South Africans spent R214 billion ($11.79bn) on Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) and Technology & Durable products in the third quarter of 2024. This marks a 4.1% growth compared to the same time last year, according to the NIQ Retail Spend Barometer. The barometer, based on data from GfK (an NIQ company), tracks sales of everyday and non-food products in retail stores nationwide. The NIQ Retail Spend Barometer gives a clear picture of how much South Africans are spending on everyday goods like food, healthcare, and homecare products, as well as durable goods like appliances and electronics. Published quarterly, it highlights trends in household spending. FMCG Growth Slows, But... Staff Writer

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