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New York’s highest appeals court declines to block Trump’s sentencing in hush money case

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New York’s highest appeals court declines to block Trump’s sentencing in hush money case

ALBANY, USA — New York’s highest court on Thursday declined to block Donald Trump’s upcoming sentencing in his hush money case, leaving the U.S. Supreme Court as the president-elect’s likely last option to prevent the hearing from taking place Friday.

One judge of the New York Court of Appeals issued a brief order declining to grant a hearing to Trump’s legal team.

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Trump has asked the Supreme Court to call off Friday’s sentencing. His lawyers turned to the nation’s highest court Wednesday after New York courts refused to postpone the sentencing by Judge Juan M. Merchan, who presided over Trump’s trial and conviction last May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Trump has denied wrongdoing.

In a filing to the top New York court, Trump’s attorneys had said Merchan and the state’s mid-level appellate court both “erroneously failed” to stop the sentencing, arguing that the Constitution requires an automatic pause as they appeal the judge’s ruling upholding the verdict.

While Merchan has indicated he will not impose jail time, fines or probation, Trump’s lawyers argued a felony conviction would still have intolerable side effects, including distracting him as he prepares to take office.

Trump’s attorneys have argued that the Manhattan trial violated last summer’s Supreme Court ruling giving Trump broad immunity from prosecution over acts he took as president. At the least, they have said, the sentencing should be delayed while their appeals play out on the immunity issue.

Judges in New York have found that Trump’s convictions related to personal matters rather than official acts.

Trump’s attorneys called the case politically motivated, and said that the sentencing threatens to disrupt the Republican’s presidential transition as he prepares to return to the presidency on Jan. 20.

Sentencing Trump now would be a “grave injustice,” his attorney D. John Sauer wrote. Sauer is also Trump’s pick to be solicitor general, who represents the government before the high court.

The emergency motion to the U.S. Supreme Court was submitted to Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who hears emergency appeals from New York.

SOURCE : APNEWS | Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Global alcohol firms demand $466 mln from Indian state in payments row, sources say

Diplomat Times
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Global alcohol firms demand $466 mln from Indian state in payments row, sources say

Global alcohol companies, including Heineken’s United Breweries, Diageo, and Pernod Ricard, are demanding $466 million in unpaid dues from India’s Telangana state.

New Delhi, India — Global alcohol companies such as Diageo, Pernod Ricard and Carlsberg are demanding unpaid dues of about $466 million from India’s Telangana state, where Heineken suspended supplies this week in an unprecedented move, three industry sources said.

India is the world’s eighth-biggest alcohol market by volume, with annual revenues that Euromonitor estimated last year at $45 billion. Its states individually regulate pricing of alcohol products, which are major contributors to their revenue.

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Heineken’s United Breweries has said it will halt supplies to southern Telangana, India’s biggest beer consumer, because of delayed payments and lack of government approval for higher prices since fiscal 2019/20, which hurt its finances.

Wednesday’s unusual move by India’s biggest beer company sparked a fall of 7 per cent in its shares at a time when the industry faces intense scrutiny nationwide.

The antitrust watchdog is separately investigating accusations of collusion by Anheuser-Busch InBev and France’s Pernod to boost market share, having raided their offices in December. Both are cooperating with Indian authorities.

Many places like Telangana require liquor companies to supply only to state-run depots, which then sell to retailers, forcing the companies to rely on state governments for payment.

Alcohol industry sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said Telangana owed total unpaid dues of about 40 billion rupees ($466 million) to whisky and beer companies.

Late on Wednesday, Telangana minister Jupally Krishna Rao said United Breweries, which has 70 per cent of the market in the state, had suspended supplies as a “tactic” to press for price increases, which tend to blunt consumer demand.

Rao said the state owed United Breweries 6.6 billion rupees ($77 million), but did not give exact reasons for the delay.

He did not reveal outstanding dues to its peers, but sources said Carlsberg is owed nearly 400 million rupees ($5 million) while outstandings for AB InBev amount to 1.5 billion ($17 million).

Dues owed to whisky and Scotch makers are much more. Pernod Ricard has been demanding 15 billion rupees ($175 million), while Diageo’s unpaid dues are estimated at 10 billion rupees ($116.40 million), two of the sources said.

None of the companies responded to requests for comment on Friday, and neither did Telangana state officials.

Lack of timely payments was “creating tremendous difficulties for companies”, the Brewers’ Association of India and International Spirits and Wines Association of India told the Telangana government in a letter.

The areas worst hit were operations and efforts to sustain and plan investments, the groups added in their Oct. 3 letter, seen by Reuters, which estimated that total outstanding payments were $606 million by then.

Heineken-owned United Breweries reported sales of 183 billion rupees ($2.1 billion) in fiscal 2023/24. Elara Capital estimates that Telangana accounts for about 15 per cent to 20 per cent of the company’s annual sales by volume.

SOURCE : REUTERS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Armenia floats EU referendum amid split with Russia

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Armenia floats EU referendum amid split with Russia

Yerevan, Armenia — Armenia could soon be on the path to joining the European Union, the country’s prime minister claimed Thursday against a backdrop of growing tensions with the Kremlin, which was once one of its top allies.

At a Cabinet meeting in the capital, Yerevan, Nikol Pashinyan said the government would back a new bill introduced in parliament that would effectively launch the South Caucasus nation’s bid to become a member of the 27-country bloc.

Pashinyan said the bill would only begin the process of diplomatic negotiations. “Adopting the law doesn’t literally mean Armenia is joining the EU, because that cannot be done through a law or government decision — the decision on that can only be made through a referendum,” he said.

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The day prior, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan announced that the country could sign a “comprehensive” new partnership agenda with Brussels “in the coming months,” which could include visa liberalization.

Armenia has historically maintained close ties with Russia, but froze its membership of Moscow’s CSTO military alliance last year after accusing it of failing to support the country in an conflict with neighboring Azerbaijan. Yerevan has also dispatched humanitarian aid to Ukraine and confirmed that it would work to comply with EU sanctions on the Russian economy.

While officials have previously hinted that the tiny democratic nation could seek to join the bloc, those ambitions face a tough challenge as Armenia remains heavily economically dependent on Moscow and even hosts a Russian military base.

Shortly after Pashinyan’s announcement, Russia reacted with displeasure to his EU aspirations.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Armenia, which is also a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, couldn’t be part of both the Moscow-led cooperation and the EU.

He added that “of course it’s Armenia’s sovereign right” to pursue EU membership, but with a nod of skepticism he pointed to Turkey’s decadeslong unsuccessful bid to join.

SOURCE : POLITICO |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Who is Naomi Seibt, the German influencer publicly engaged by Elon Musk over many times?

Endrit Pjetri
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Who is Naomi Seibt, the German influencer publicly engaged by Elon Musk over many times?

Berlin, Germany — On his public journey to embracing Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany, Elon Musk has frequently amplified the online content of one young supporter of the party – climate change and COVID-19 lockdown sceptic Naomi Seibt.

Shortly after polls closed in June for the European Parliament elections, in which the AfD performed strongly, Seibt announced that she had voted for the party in a post to her tens of thousands of followers on X, Musk’s social media platform. An hour later, Musk responded, opens new tab with a question.

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“Why is there such a negative reaction from some about AfD?” the Tesla chief executive asked in a public reply. He followed up with a private message asking for more details, Seibt told Reuters in an interview. Reuters has not seen the private message.

“I explained to him the AfD is not similar to the Nazi ideology or Hitler, but is like the 19th century liberal nationalist movement … because they wanted to be free from authoritarians in their own territory,” said the 24-year-old, who posts in English, describing their private exchange.

The billionaire entrepreneur responded with a humorous Roman Empire-themed meme, said Seibt, who has around 368,000 followers on X.

Since asking Seibt about the AfD in June, Musk has engaged publicly with the self-professed libertarian more than 40 times, following two previous engagements with her on the platform earlier that year, putting her among a small group of European influencers whose content he has heavily interacted with in recent months, according to a Reuters review of his posts on X.

Musk, who has more than 211 million followers on the platform, did not respond to requests for comment for this story. Reuters could not establish how influential Seibt’s content has been on his thinking.

Seibt, who rose to prominence several years ago posting content to counter climate activist Greta Thunberg, said Musk has sent her a handful direct messages asking about German politics in the same period. Reuters has not seen these posts.

Reuters could not establish to what extent he is acting at the behest of Trump, who has appointed him the joint head of a new government efficiency department. On Tuesday, the president-elect said “Elon’s doing a good job” when asked for his reaction to Musk’s statements about foreign affairs in Europe and elsewhere.

Seibt has dedicated herself to online activism since dropping out of university after one semester of economics, she said.
In 2019, she met British climate sceptic Christopher Monckton who connected her with the Heartland Institute, a U.S.-based think tank that has worked on climate change denial and cast doubt on the harm caused by passive smoking.


Heartland paid her $4,000 a month for three months, in what she described as a scholarship, she said. Heartland did not respond to a request for comment.

Musk’s takeover of X has helped elevate her profile.
“When I saw in 2022 that Twitter was being bought by Elon, I didn’t know what was going to happen,” she said. “But I knew one thing: I could trust this Elon Musk guy.”

Source : REUTERS/AGENCIES |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Jharkhand Minister Sanjay Prasad Yadav Wins Hearts Across the State, Including Godda

Ahsan Ansari
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Jharkhand Minister Sanjay Prasad Yadav Wins Hearts Across the State, Including Godda

Ranchi,India – After returning to Godda after 10 years, Godda MLA Sanjay Prasad Yadav is seen in full action to ensure development and the benefits of every government scheme by the Jharkhand government reach every household of Godda.

After 10 years of political exile, RJD leader Sanjay Prasad Yadav made a remarkable comeback in the 2024 Jharkhand Assembly elections, winning the trust and votes of the people of Godda. Known for standing by his constituents in every moment of joy and sorrow, the people of Godda elected him as their MLA, hoping he would bring progress and prosperity to the region.

Now serving as the Minister of Industry, Labor, and Employment in the Jharkhand government, Sanjay Prasad Yadav wasted no time in fulfilling his promises. Immediately after his victory, he visited villages in his constituency, engaging directly with residents.

His unique approach—personally asking villagers about their needs and expectations—has earned him immense respect. “Tell me what your village lacks, what you expect, and how I can help,” he says to the public, emphasizing his commitment to deliver on every promise.

Sanjay Prasad Yadav’s dedication and approachable style have made him a standout leader, sparking discussions from Jharkhand to Delhi. His work ethic and genuine concern for his constituency have set a benchmark for leadership, making him an inspiration for MLAs and ministers across the country. For the people of Godda, he is more than a leader—he is a ray of hope for a brighter future, proving that true leadership lies in action, not just words.

Palisade, California Wildfires Live Updates: 2 Confirmed Dead, Over 1,000 Buildings Destroyed

Diplomat Times
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Palisade, California Wildfires Live Updates: 2 Confirmed Dead, Over 1,000 Buildings Destroyed

California, USA — At least two people have been confirmed dead and numerous others injured as several massive wildfires break out across Southern California, fueled by dangerously dry conditions and fierce winds. Tens of thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate as multiple fires threaten communities throughout the region.

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The Palisades Fire, which erupted in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, has scorched over 5,000 acres, while the Eaton Fire, located in Altadena, has grown to 2,227 acres with no containment. Meanwhile, the Hurst Fire, burning northeast of San Fernando, has consumed at least 500 acres.

These fires, driven by the powerful Santa Ana winds, have created perilous conditions, forcing residents to flee their homes through blinding smoke and violent gusts of wind. Thousands of firefighters are engaged in intense efforts to contain the blazes, which stretch from the Pacific coastline inland to Pasadena, as the threat of further destruction looms.

Air Quality Alert Issued for Los Angeles Amid Wildfire Smoke

An air quality alert has been issued for the Santa Monica Mountains, San Gabriel Valley and the Los Angeles County coastal areas due to increased fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke.

The alert will remain in effect until 5 p.m. PST.

“Particles in wildfire smoke can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems such as heart attacks, strokes, asthma attacks, and difficulty breathing. Everyone can be affected, but people with lung or heart disease, older adults, people who are pregnant, children, and those who spend a lot of time outdoors are at greater risk,” according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Source : ABC/AGENCIES |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

EU Accuses Russia of Weaponizing Gas Supplies Against Moldova

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EU Accuses Russia of Weaponizing Gas Supplies Against Moldova

Brussels, Belgium — The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, on Tuesday accused Russia of using gas as a “weapon” in its “hybrid warfare” against Moldova.

“Russia continues to use gas as a weapon and once again Moldova is a target of its hybrid warfare,” Kallas posted on X after meeting Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean, and expressed the EU’s “unwavering solidarity” with the former Soviet republic.

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“Thanks to EU support Moldova remains resilient and well-connected to European energy networks,” she added.

On Dec. 13, 2024, Moldova declared a 60-day state of energy emergency amid the threat of a humanitarian crisis due to the planned cut-off of Russian gas transit through Ukraine, which came into effect on Jan. 1.

The energy problems are being felt in the Moldovan separatist region of Transnistria, where authorities have doubled power cuts to eight hours a day in two parts since Tuesday.

Local authorities said thousands of homes in the area – home to less than half a million people – have no access to electricity, gas, or hot water.

As a result of the reduced supply, the separatist authorities have been forced to shut down all businesses except the food industry.

The Kurchugan thermal power plant, which also supplied electricity to the rest of Moldova, had to stop pumping and start using coal instead of gas.

According to the authorities, the plant has coal reserves that will guarantee almost two months of electricity for consumers in the region, which has been loyal to Russia since it broke ties with Chisinau more than 30 years ago.

Until recently, the plant also supplied 80 percent of the needs of Moldova, which has been importing energy from Romania, albeit at a higher price, since the outbreak of war in neighboring Ukraine.

Moldova, which has announced plans to supply electricity to several areas of the separatist region, has also offered Transnistria help in buying gas on the European market.

SOURCE : EFE |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

India’s Foreign Secretary Holds Landmark Meeting with Taliban Minister in Dubai

Shasi Kumar
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India’s Foreign Secretary Holds Landmark Meeting with Taliban Minister in Dubai

Dubai, UAE — In a significant diplomatic development, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, for the first time in Dubai. The meeting marked a milestone in India’s engagement with Afghanistan under the current regime and focused on fostering bilateral relations and addressing regional developments.

Reaffirming Historic Ties
During the talks, Foreign Secretary Misri emphasized India’s longstanding friendship with the Afghan people and highlighted the deep cultural and people-to-people connections between the two nations.

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He conveyed India’s readiness to address Afghanistan’s urgent developmental needs, reaffirming the country’s commitment to supporting its neighbor.

Review of Humanitarian Assistance
The meeting included a review of ongoing Indian humanitarian programs in Afghanistan. Foreign Minister Muttaqi expressed gratitude to India for its sustained assistance and engagement, acknowledging India’s vital role in providing aid. It was agreed that India would consider additional development projects in response to the Afghan people’s immediate needs, complementing its current humanitarian efforts.

India’s Extensive Aid Contributions
India has already provided significant aid to Afghanistan, including:

  • 50,000 MTs of wheat
  • 300 tons of medicines
  • 27 tons of earthquake relief materials
  • 40,000 liters of pesticides
  • 100 million polio vaccine doses
  • 1.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses
  • Winter clothing, hygiene kits, and stationery for social welfare programs

Further Support Planned
India has pledged additional support to Afghanistan’s health sector and refugee rehabilitation efforts. In addition, both sides discussed enhancing cooperation in cricket, a sport beloved by Afghanistan’s youth, and leveraging the Chabahar Port to bolster trade and humanitarian operations.

Commitment to Security and Regular Engagement
The Afghan side assured sensitivity to India’s security concerns, while both parties agreed to maintain regular communication and explore further avenues for collaboration.

Diplomatic Milestone
This meeting underscores India’s proactive approach to engaging with Afghanistan in a challenging geopolitical landscape, focusing on development, humanitarian aid, and mutual interests.

SOURCE : MFAINDIA |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Palisade, Los Angeles fire out of control, 30,000 residents evacuated

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Palisade, Los Angeles fire out of control, 30,000 residents evacuated

Los Angeles, USA — A fire in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Los Angeles forced the evacuation of 30,000 people Tuesday as flames spread out of control, driven by strong winds that are hitting the region.

The rapid advance of the flames threatens some 10,000 homes and some 13,000 structures while some 30,000 have had to be evacuated from their homes, Kristin Crowley, head of the Los Angeles Fire Department, said at a press conference.

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The fire, which started at about 10:30am local time (18:30 GMT) in the Pacific Palisade neighborhood in the north of the metropolis, grew to 1,200 acres (485 hectares) in a matter of hours, the fire department reported in its latest bulletin.

Authorities have declared a state of emergency in the Pacific Palisades area due to the strong gusts of wind expected in the next 24 hours.

Smoke Fills the Sky Over Southern California

“Wind gusts of up to 60mph (more than 90 kmph) are expected to continue through Thursday, which could help fuel fire activity,” it added.

Local media show dramatic images of smoke blanketing the sky, visible from Santa Monica and surrounding areas, as rescue teams race to secure the neighborhood.

Celebrity Residents in Harm’s Way

Pacific Palisades, home to several Hollywood celebrities, has become the latest hotspot in California’s ongoing battle with wildfires.

Weather Service Issues Critical Fire Warnings

The National Weather Service cautioned Monday that a severe windstorm would hit Southern California, with Los Angeles and Ventura counties being most affected.
“Strong winds and low humidity will create critical and extremely critical fire weather conditions through Thursday,” the agency warned on its website.

Source : AGENCIES |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

A seaplane crashes near an Australian Tourist island, leaving 3 people dead and 3 others injured

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A seaplane crashes near an Australian Tourist island, leaving 3 people dead and 3 others injured

Melbourne, Australia — A seaplane crashed during takeoff from an Australian tourist island, killing three people, including Swiss and Danish tourists, and injuring three others, according to The Washington Post.

The crash occurred Tuesday afternoon on Rottnest Island, also known by its Indigenous name Wadjemup, as the Cessna 208 Caravan was returning to its base in Perth, 30 kilometers (19 miles) east of the island. Police reported that only one of the seven people aboard escaped without injury.

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The victims included a 65-year-old Swiss woman, a 60-year-old Danish man, and the 34-year-old male pilot from Perth, Western Australian Premier Roger Cook confirmed.

The survivors included the partners of the deceased tourists, a 63-year-old Swiss man and a 58-year-old Danish woman. Additionally, a Western Australian couple, a 65-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man, also survived.

The seaplane, owned by Swan River Seaplanes, was on a scenic flight when the tragedy struck, leaving authorities to investigate the cause of the fatal crash.

It is not clear which passenger was uninjured. Western Australian Police Commissioner Col Blanch said no survivor sustained life-threatening injuries.

The three injured people were flown to a Perth hospital.

Cook said the cause of the crash was not yet known. Reports that the plane had struck a rock at the entrance of a bay on the west side of the island could not be confirmed from video viewed so far, Cook said.

Rottnest Island is renowned for its sandy beaches and cat-sized hopping marsupials called quokkas which are rare on the Australian mainland. The island’s tourist accommodation is fully booked during the current Southern Hemisphere summer months.

“Every Western Australian knows that Rottnest is our premier tourism destination,” Cook told reporters.

“For something so tragic to happen in front of so many people, at a place that provides so much joy, especially at this time of the year, is deeply upsetting,” Cook added.

Blanch said police divers had recovered the bodies on Tuesday night from a depth of 8 meters (26 feet). Wreckage of the plane was still being recovered.

Greg Quin, a tourist who was vacationing on Rottnest, said he saw the plane crash.

“We were watching the seaplane take off and just as it was beginning to get off the water, it just tipped over and it crashed,” Quin told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio in Perth.

“A lot of people in the water on their boats rushed to the scene and I think got there really, really quickly,” he added.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the crash as “terrible news.”

“The pictures would have been seen by all Australians as they woke up this morning,” Albanese told ABC television. “My heart goes out to all those involved.”

Source : AGENCIES |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

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