cockfighting calendar 2023
49ers QB Brock Purdy, DE Nick Bosa out, Brandon Allen to start at Green Bay
UK ready for ‘all eventualities’ if Trump launches trade war, says ReynoldsWashington : Kamala Harris has spoken out about her election defeat in a widely pilloried video in which she talked up her losing campaign’s record fundraising haul and urged demoralised Democrats to continue to mobilise against Donald Trump. After weeks of silence and a brief holiday in Hawaii, the vice president appeared in a 10-minute video to thank supporters and encouraged them to remain resilient after Trump’s election victory. “Ability to engage and inspire”: Vice President Kamala Harris. Credit: X/TheDemocrats “The outcome of this election, obviously, is not what we wanted,” she said. “It is not what we worked so hard for, but I am proud of the race we ran, and your role in this was critical. What we did in 107 days was unprecedented ... Don’t let anyone take your power.” The video went viral on social media, but was widely mocked by critics noting the vice president’s tired and somewhat rattled appearance, with some going so far as to question whether she was under the influence of alcohol. In a sentiment shared by many, TV personality Meghan McCain, the daughter of former Arizona Republican Senator John McCain, also called for Democrats to remove the short clip posted to the party’s X account. Emotional supporters as US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks following her election defeat. Credit: Bloomberg “Take this down,” McCain wrote. “She’s still the sitting Vice President for God’s sake – this is awful. Like really, really awful.” Harris’ comment about the “historic $1.4 billion” raised from grassroots supporters angered some donors, who questioned how so much money could be spent, only to lose all seven battleground states, the popular vote and both houses of Congress. Speaking on News Nation, mega-donor John Morgan, who refused to back Harris’ presidential bid, said the expenditure would “follow Harris for the rest of her career”. “I think this disqualifies her forever,” said the founder of Washington-based law firm Morgan & Morgan. “If you can’t run a campaign, you can’t run America.” Elise Stefanik, Donald Trump’s pick for UN ambassador, said she had been threatened. Credit: Bloomberg Harris’ video was the first time she had spoken publicly about the election since her concession speech at Howard University on November 6. It came as Trump’s campaign revealed that several of his cabinet and staffing picks had been targeted by bomb threats and swatting – a process that has become quite common in America, whereby police are called to someone’s home to check what often turns out to be a hoax. The campaign has not disclosed who was targeted, however, the office of New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, Trump’s pick for UN ambassador, posted that she was among them. “Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them,” said Trump’s spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt. “In response, law enforcement acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted. President Trump and the entire Transition team are grateful for their swift action.” President Joe Biden’s decision to stand down on July 21 and elevate Harris as the Democratic candidate changed the trajectory of the 2024 presidential race and broke fundraising records in the three months up to election day. However, after her crushing defeat, the campaign’s spending and political strategy have come under growing scrutiny amid recriminations about what went wrong. As the soul-searching continued, Harris campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon, senior adviser David Plouffe, deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks and senior adviser Stephanie Cutter, appeared on the left-leaning Pod Save America podcast to provide their insights, blaming Biden, the media, and the truncated campaign time frame. Kamala Harris and Joe Biden at a rally together for her campaign in Maryland in August. Credit: Eric Lee/The New York Times Plouffe, a former Obama adviser, rejected as “nonsense” the idea that Harris should have done more to educate voters about who she was as a candidate, rather than focus on Trump. “To win a race like this given the political atmospherics, which were quite challenging, we had to raise the risk of a Trump second term,” he said. Dillon, meanwhile, said perceptions that the vice president spent too many weeks avoiding interviews were “completely bullshit” and said that when Harris did do interviews, the questions were “small and processy” and they did not help to inform voters wanting to know about her. Cutter added that many of the questions were just “dumb”. Harris also received a lot of criticism during the campaign over comments she made on the TV show The View in which she said there wasn’t anything she would have done differently than Biden. This became an instant attack ad for the Trump campaign, and one of the most damaging errors for Harris as she tried to present herself to voters as the candidate of change. Asked about this on the podcast, Cutter said the campaign tried to differentiate Harris from Biden by talking about her as a new generational leader who spent most of her career outside the Washington beltway. “We were trying to tell a story and give the impression that she was different without pointing to a specific issue,” she explained. Elsewhere, veteran Democratic Party strategist James Carville hit out at young progressives in the Harris campaign, suggesting their role in thwarting a potential interview with Joe Rogan may have contributed to her crushing defeat. “The vice president was thinking about going on Joe Rogan’s show and a lot of the younger, progressive staffers pitched a hissy fit,” he said. “What I would tell them: ‘Not only am I not interested in your f---ing opinion, I’m not even gonna call you by your name. You’re 23 years old, I don’t really give a shit what you think’.” Harris, meanwhile, used her video to urge supporters to stay positive. “You have the same ability to engage and inspire,” she said. “So don’t ever let anybody or any circumstance take your power from you.” Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here .
SINGAPORE: Pacing up and down near the Singapore Sports Hub's Water Sports Centre, with brows furrowed and sweat trickling down their faces, they checked their phones every 10 seconds. Then, amid the charged atmosphere of nervousness mixed with excitement, a shout: “One minute and one second ... second place!” The team, dressed in bright turquoise T-shirts emblazoned with the words "Different Dragons", erupted into cheers and hugs as they celebrated their silver medal at the Singapore Regatta Waterfest in November. At this annual dragon boat race, hundreds of competitors - from educational institutions, business organisations and other entities - vie to be the quickest over a 200m distance in the Kallang Basin. For Different Dragons, a second-place finish in the adaptive open category was especially sweet - and perhaps more so for nine members who are paddlers with disabilities of both physical and intellectual nature. “I find it difficult to paddle because of a back problem I’ve had, and it’s also difficult to paddle at the same speed as everyone,” said Jarran Ng, who has Williams syndrome. The genetic condition affects physical features, cognitive development and other parts of the body like the heart. “(But) the team never made me feel like I couldn’t do it and I felt like I belonged." SERIOUS ABOUT HAVING A GOOD TIME At the Singapore Regatta Waterfest, one of the biggest dragon boat contests in the country, teams were heard chanting "in it to win it". Different Dragons, which was founded in 2019, has other goals in mind. “We’re a very chill team, having fun is one of the most important aspects for us,” said Rayson Oon, a volunteer coach since the team started out. This approach should not be mistaken for a lack of focus and determination. They had trained for the November race all year, aiming to prove their abilities matter more than their disabilities - which they ultimately did. Naturally, it hasn't been all smooth sailing. The past few years have been a constant exercise in trial-and-error, patience and positivity, as volunteers sought to find the right ways to teach the sport, even in basics such as holding a paddle. When Tan Cher Hui first signed up with Different Dragons as a volunteer, she struggled to support her twin brother with autism, who had also joined the team as a competitor. Race rules dictate that each paddler with a disability can be accompanied by one able-bodied caregiver or volunteer inside the boat. For instance, her brother couldn't cope with changes to the training schedule caused by rain, and would often have meltdowns. "Because to him, dragon boating happens every Sunday,” said Tan, 26, who added that this was a huge challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic when such activities came to a halt. “It took a toll on him and I didn’t know if it was worth carrying on." But the encouragement and perseverance of other volunteers that pushed her to stay on, and the siblings have now reaped the rewards. “I learnt how to interact and engage with people of all different disabilities, and even picked up sign language," she said. "And it was heartwarming to see the other members be welcoming and inclusive with my brother." ANOTHER FAMILY For members of Different Dragons, being part of a team - and one that empathises with each other - was something especially precious. Jimmy Chan, a deaf paddler, told CNA how his condition made it tough in work settings and that he often felt isolated during conversations. "I wanted a space where I would not feel judged or different, and the team offered that," he said. The 53-year-old relies on vibrations from the dragon boat drum beat, along with the strokes of the first paddler seated in front, to sync with the rest of the team. “We share resilience, teamwork and a drive to break barriers. Each step feels like a victory, and our strong bonds make every challenge worthwhile, keeping us going,” Chan said. Outside of training, the team makes a conscious effort to do activities together, from meals to hikes and an annual Christmas party. “There are days when the paddlers aren’t feeling their best, but they look forward to seeing each other and that motivates them to come for trainings,” said Hamza Lu, another volunteer coach. “We may not be as competitive as other teams, but we have more of a family bond. When I miss sessions, they’ll be spamming my phone and asking me when they’ll see me next.” Take Teng Der Shuin, a paddler with an intellectual disability, who every Saturday makes sure to remind his mother Teo Leng Leng that he needs to wear his "dragon boat clothes" the next day. "(He) isn’t very active when he’s at home. It was a very big problem that I was worried about. So I’m happy that this is an activity that he enjoys,” said Teo, 57. “This gave him an opportunity to make new friends and be exposed to the world outside." Outside of training, the team makes a conscious effort to do activities together, from meals to hikes and an annual Christmas party. “There are days when the paddlers aren’t feeling their best, but they look forward to seeing each other and that motivates them to come for trainings,” said Hamza Lu, another volunteer coach. “We may not be as competitive as other teams, but we have more of a family bond. When I miss sessions, they’ll be spamming my phone and asking me when they’ll see me next.” Take Teng Der Shuin, a paddler with an intellectual disability, who every Saturday makes sure to remind his mother Teo Leng Leng that he needs to wear his "dragon boat clothes" the next day. "(He) isn’t very active when he’s at home. It was a very big problem that I was worried about. So I’m happy that this is an activity that he enjoys,” said Teo, 57. “This gave him an opportunity to make new friends and be exposed to the world outside." MOVING DISABILITY SPORTS FORWARD Having an adaptive category in a prestigious dragon boat event like the Regatta Waterfest gives people with disabilities access to the right resources and a level playing field, said Ms Kelly Fan, executive director of the Singapore Disability Sports Council. “Inclusive sports focus on creating platforms where persons with and without disabilities can play together. "The primary goal is to foster firsthand understanding and appreciation of the challenges that individuals with disabilities overcome to participate in sports, while also providing opportunities for meaningful social interaction,” she added. Singapore is set to launch an Enabling Sports Fund next year, which aims to "encourage impactful community-initiated disability sports initiatives.” The government will match dollar for dollar donations made to this fund, which hopes to raise at least S$10 million (US$7.4 million) by 2030. It's part of Singapore's Enabling Masterplan 2030 , a national roadmap for people with disabilities to live and participate more actively in the community. Progress has been made but more needs to be done to continue promoting inclusivity, said Ms Fan, pointing to costs and accessibility as remaining barriers. “It is not just about ramps or lifts within a venue," she said. "It extends to the awareness that sport opportunities exist for persons with disabilities; the affordability of sport involvement on top of enhanced costs of living of a (person with disability); the proximity and accessibility of an accessible venue; and the readiness of a venue to cater to disability sports.” Members of Different Dragons, meanwhile, are happy to continue playing their part in not just raising awareness, but sending out a more profound message - that paddlers with disabilities can be capable of anything, said Lu, the volunteer coach. “The perception many have is that members with disabilities can’t paddle as well as able-bodied individuals, but that’s not true,” said Oon, the other coach. Paddler Lee Wei Kiong, who has an intellectual disability, told CNA how the team has inspired him to work hard and keep practising. “I never thought we could beat other teams, but our process is getting better,” he said, while standing next to a trolley filled with bottled drinks he lugged from home to give out to his teammates. “When I was younger, people used to say that I have a low IQ (intelligent quotient) and I wouldn’t be able to do anything. But I learnt that whatever others can do, I can do too." "Normal people can dragon boat, so can I.”When Hamas's Yahya Sinwar launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel on October 7, 2023, he intended to deal a decisive blow against a powerful nation-state—and he succeeded. But the state his attack has devastated turned out not to be Israel, but Iran, his key sponsor. It is a persistent folly of progressive thought to believe that wars do not achieve meaningful political consequences. The past 15 months in the Middle East suggest otherwise. After suffering terribly on October 7, Israel has pulverized Hamas, ending the threat it posed as an organized military force. The challenge it now faces in Gaza is a humanitarian and administrative crisis, not a security one. Israel has likewise shattered Hezbollah in Lebanon, forcing it to accept a cease-fire after losing not only thousands of foot soldiers but much of its middle management and senior leadership. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin's brutal but botched war of conquest in Ukraine has undermined his other strategic goals. In Syria, Russia's one solid foothold in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine has leached away Russian forces, depriving it of the ability to influence events. All of this set the stage for the dramatic events of the past two weeks, as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Sunni fundamentalist militia, spearheaded the seizure of Aleppo, Hama, Homs, and Damascus and brought about the overthrow and collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria. Neither Tehran nor Moscow could do anything about it. The biggest loser in all of this—after Assad, his family, his cronies, and possibly his Alawite sect—is Iran. Decades of patient work assembling proxy movements throughout the Middle East, specifically but not exclusively focused on Israel, have collapsed. Hamas was never a cat's paw of Tehran, but it received weapons and training from Iran, and coordinated with Hezbollah, a far more formidable force, and one much more tightly aligned with, if not always entirely controlled by, Iran. Hezbollah had helped turn... Eliot A. Cohen
Jimmy Carter age: How old was the longest-living president in US history?LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Kylian Mbappe hoped his move to Real Madrid would finally see him end his wait to win the Champions League. Instead, the France international and defending champion Madrid are in danger of being eliminated from European club soccer's elite tournament at the first stage after Wednesday's 2-0 loss to Liverpool leaves them in a fight just to make the playoffs for the next round. And if Madrid does make an early exit, Mbappe may look back on a miserable night at Anfield where he was humbled by a young defender and then missed a penalty that would have leveled the score. World Cup winner Mbappe looked a shadow of himself against a Liverpool team that leads the way in the Premier League and the Champions League this season. He was brought crashing down by a crunching tackle from 21-year-old right back Conor Bradley when threatening to burst through on goal in the first half — sparking a huge cheer from the home crowd. It got worse for Mbappe after the break when he had the chance to make it 1-1 from the penalty spot after Alexis Mac Allister had given six-time European champion Liverpool the lead. But with Caoimhin Kelleher to beat, he saw his effort pushed away by Liverpool's back-up goalkeeper. Mohamed Salah also missed a spot kick of his own, but substitute Cody Gakpo doubled the home team's advantage. Record 15-time European Cup winner Madrid is 24th in the new-look 36-team league phase of the Champions League. The top eight teams advance to the round of 16, while teams ranked ninth to 24th go into a playoff. Victory saw new Liverpool head coach Arne Slot manage something his predecessor Jurgen Klopp never could by beating Real in the Champions League. His team extended its perfect record in the competition and is top of the standings after five games. Each team plays eight games in the opening phase. Madrid plays Atalanta next month and Liverpool faces Girona. James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Dangerous skies: on the crash of an Azerbaijani airliner
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