TNS International Budget for Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022

Updated at 0100 UTC (8 p.m. U.S. ET)

Additional news stories appear on MCT-NEWS-BJT and MCT-NEWSFEATURES-BJT.

TOP STORIES

Jiang Zemin, former president who guided China's rise, dies at 96

JIANG-OBIT:LA — Jiang Zemin, the unlikely former leader who stewarded China through groundbreaking economic reforms and served as a bridge between the country's strongman era and a more consensus-driven government, has died. He was 96.

Chinese state television reported Jiang's death Wednesday, saying the former leader had died in Shanghai, a city he once led as mayor.

1028 words by David Pierson, Los Angeles Times. MOVED

PHOTOS

Russian military reports progress after heavy fighting in Donbass

UKRAINE:DPA — MOSCOW — After heavy fighting in Donbass, Moscow said its troops have taken a village near Bakhmut and made further gains near the city of Donetsk on Wednesday as Russia and Ukraine continue to battle for control of the eastern region.

Russian troops captured the village of Andriivka about nine kilometers (5.6 miles) south of the town of Bakhmut, the Russian Defense Ministry said. It also reported a successful attack on Vodyane near Donetsk.

747 words by dpa correspondents, dpa. MOVED

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CORONAVIRUS

COVID hospitalization rates in babies as bad as for seniors amid omicron wave, study shows

CORONAVIRUS-BABIES:LA — Infants younger than 6 months had the same rate of hospitalization as seniors age 65 to 74 during this summer’s omicron wave, according to a new report.

The findings, published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, show that COVID-19 can still cause severe and fatal outcomes in children too young to be vaccinated.

361 words by Rong-Gong Lin II and Luke Money, Los Angeles Times. MOVED

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WORLD NEWS

Iran authorities kill man celebrating World Cup loss to US, activists say

IRAN-WORLDCUP-PROTESTER:NY — Iranian police fatally shot a man celebrating the country’s World Cup elimination Tuesday, according to human rights groups.

Activists said Mehran Samak, 27, was killed after honking his car horn at a protest celebration in Bandar Anzali, the Guardian reported.

289 words by Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News. MOVED

PHOTOS

Prince William’s godmother resigns from royal duties after racist exchange with Black Palace guest

BRITAIN-ROYALS-OFFICIAL:NY — A Buckingham Palace official has stepped down from her royal duties following “unacceptable” remarks she made to a Black VIP guest.

Lady Susan Hussey, the 83-year-old godmother of Prince William, resigned after questioning Ngozi Fulani about her nationality during a reception hosted by the Queen Consort on Tuesday in London.

318 words by Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News. MOVED

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UNITED STATES

After Club Q shooting, Colorado Gov. Polis and state lawmakers consider next steps on gun control

COLO-GUNS:DP — COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — On a frigid Tuesday afternoon in Colorado Springs, Gov. Jared Polis knelt in front of a makeshift memorial and drew a heart on the asphalt.

A sea of roses and candles splayed in front of him, leading up to the portraits of five club-goers and Club Q, the scene of the latest mass shooting to shatter Colorado.

1727 words by Seth Klamann, The Denver Post. MOVED

PHOTOS

House Democrats elect Hakeem Jeffries as Congress’ first Black party leader

CONGRESS-JEFFRIES-1ST-LEDE:LA — WASHINGTON — House Democrats tapped Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York on Wednesday to lead them in the next Congress, and elected California Rep. Pete Aguilar as House Democratic Caucus chair.

The historic selection of Jeffries as the incoming minority leader means he will replace Rep. James E. Clyburn, D-S.C., in January as the highest-ranking African American member of the House and become the first Black lawmaker to lead either party in the chamber.

1197 words by Nolan D. McCaskill, Los Angeles Times. MOVED

PHOTOS

Also moving as:

Jeffries elected first Black leader of a congressional caucus

CONGRESS-JEFFRIES-1ST-LEDE:CON — WASHINGTON — House Democrats on Wednesday officially elected New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries as their next leader by unanimous consent, making him the first Black lawmaker to lead a congressional party caucus.

Jeffries’ new role won’t start until January when the new Congress is sworn in and Republicans take control of the House. His No. 1 priority for the next two years is to lead Democrats back to the majority in 2024.

1176 words by Lindsey McPherson, CQ-Roll Call. MOVED

PHOTOS

How Biden is navigating his rocky relationship with McCarthy

BIDEN-MCCARTHY:LA — WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden, addressing a postelection gathering of congressional leaders at the White House on Tuesday, said he hoped he could work with Congress on funding the government, responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting Ukraine.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy looked on stoically as Biden spoke. After the meeting, he walked out of the White House and told the waiting cameras that while he "can work with anybody," he had told the president "it's going to be different" once Republicans take control of the House of Representatives next year.

1314 words by Courtney Subramanian, Los Angeles Times. MOVED

PHOTOS

House OKs rail labor agreement, sick leave measures

CONGRESS-RAIL-STRIKE:CON — WASHINGTON — The House on Wednesday approved resolutions that would enact a labor agreement reached by the White House, freight rail carriers and rail unions and provide an additional seven days of paid sick leave to rail workers.

Both resolutions have been deemed necessary by Democrats, some Republicans and President Joe Biden. Progressives in the Senate have said they would delay a version of the resolution that includes one “paid personal day.”

869 words by Valerie Yurk, CQ-Roll Call. MOVED

PHOTOS

Treasury turns over Trump tax returns sought by House committee

TRUMP-TAXRETURNS:BLO — WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department turned over six years of Donald Trump’s tax returns to a House committee after the Supreme Court cleared the way for the release.

A spokesperson Wednesday said Treasury complied with the court’s decision.

146 words by Naomi Jagoda, Bloomberg News. MOVED

PHOTOS

Final Jan. 6 report will be 8 chapters long, out by Christmas, panel chair says

CAPITOL-RIOT-PANEL-REPORT:LA — WASHINGTON — The chairman of the House panel investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol says the body of the final report is nearly complete and should be released before Christmas.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., told reporters that the committee's report will not be completed before Congress is scheduled to leave for the month on Dec. 16, but that there is a "good possibility" it will be out before Christmas.

601 words by Sarah D. Wire, Los Angeles Times. MOVED

PHOTOS

Illinois commemorates Barack Obama’s 2007 presidential announcement with marker at Old State Capitol

ILL-OBAMA-MARKER:TB — SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The weather turned frigid in the state capital on Wednesday, just in time for the dedication of a marker commemorating the day nearly 16 years ago when thousands braved single-digit temperatures to see then-U.S. Sen. Barack Obama announce his 2008 presidential bid from the steps of the Old State Capitol.

The roughly 47-inch-by-44-inch marker, which stands on the southeast corner of the Old Capitol grounds in downtown Springfield, also commemorates Obama’s 2008 announcement that then-Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware would be his running mate. It adds historical resonance to a building most famous as the site of Abraham Lincoln’s “House Divided” speech to the 1858 Republican State Convention.

686 words by Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune. MOVED

PHOTOS

Florida lawmakers may work to ensure DeSantis can run for president without resigning

DESANTIS-FLA-ELECTION-RULES:MI — MIAMI — Just four years after Florida’s Legislature made sure politicians would have to resign before running for federal office, they seem poised to change the rules again.

The impetus is Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is widely speculated to be eyeing a presidential run, especially following this year’s landslide reelection victory.

537 words by Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald. MOVED

PHOTOS

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan ramps up fundraising efforts ahead of potential 2024 presidential run

MDGOV-FUTURE:BZ — BALTIMORE — Maryland Gov Larry Hogan, turning his sights more intensely on his political future with less than two months left in office, will host a pair of major fundraisers Wednesday night as he considers running for president in 2024.

The two-term Republican has campaigned around the country and become a regular presence on television this year as he’s pitched his brand of centrist GOP politics and criticized former President Donald Trump, who kicked off his campaign this month.

944 words by Sam Janesch, Baltimore Sun. MOVED

PHOTOS

911 calls reveal Dallas Museum of Art intruder called police on himself during break-in

DALLAS-MUSEUM-BREAKIN:DA — DALLAS — Newly released 911 calls obtained by The Dallas Morning News reveal that the man police say broke into the Dallas Museum of Art in June and smashed objects went undetected until he picked up a museum phone and called 911 on himself.

“Hey, I’m in the Dallas Museum of Art,” he told a dispatcher nearly 15 minutes after police say he entered. “Come get me.”

2383 words by Dan Singer Michael Granberry, The Dallas Morning News. MOVED

PHOTOS

ICE accidentally released the identities of 6,252 immigrants who sought protection in US

IMMIGRATION-DATA-PRIVACY:LA — Immigration and Customs Enforcement accidentally posted the names, birth dates, nationalities and locations of more than 6,000 immigrants who claimed to be fleeing torture and persecution to its website this week.

The unprecedented data dump could expose the immigrants — all of whom are currently in ICE custody — to retaliation from the very individuals, gangs and governments they fled, attorneys for people who have sought protection in the U.S. said. The personal information of people seeking asylum and other protections is supposed to be kept confidential; a federal regulation generally forbids its disclosure without sign-off by top officials in the Department of Homeland Security.

980 words by Hamed Aleaziz, Los Angeles Times. MOVED

PHOTOS

Nearly 20% of California water agencies could see shortages if drought persists, state report shows

CALIF-WATER-SHORTAGES:LA — LOS ANGELES — Most of California’s urban water agencies believe they have enough supplies to last through another seven months of drought, but nearly 20% of them — including many in Southern California — say they could be facing significant shortages, according to a new state report.

The California Department of Water Resource’s first annual water supply and demand assessment surveyed the state’s urban water agencies to see how they are managing tight supplies through conservation efforts and improved drought planning. The report, which includes yearly data through July 1, focuses on water agencies that serve at least 3,000 connections, representing about 90% of the population.

1327 words by Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times. MOVED

PHOTOS

Catfishing cop pretended to be 17, ‘groomed’ California girl before killing her family, police say

CALIF-CATFISHING-DEATHS:LA — LOS ANGELES — The 28-year-old Virginia cop who killed three family members of a Riverside teenager had posed online as a teen to “groom” the 15-year-old girl, the Riverside Police Department said Wednesday.

Austin Lee Edwards portrayed himself as a 17-year-old while communicating online with the girl, using “grooming” methods such as asking for or trading sexually explicit images, providing gifts such as drugs, alcohol or gift cards and giving out compliments, Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez said Wednesday at a news conference. He said it is still under investigation how long the digital relationship between Edwards and the teen girl transpired and on what platform they used to meet or communicate.

1161 words by Grace Toohey and Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times. MOVED

PHOTOS

British Royals William, Kate hold court at Boston City Hall

ROYALS-BOSTON:YB — BOSTON — The visiting royals enjoyed something of a Boston tea party with Mayor Michelle Wu and Gov.-Elect Maura Healey in City Hall before a brief and soggy address about the climate to a crowd outside.

Prince William thanked “all the hearty Bostonians” who spent the Wednesday afternoon getting rained on as they waited for him to speak for a total of about 2 minutes and 20 seconds — and his wife Princess Kate to remain silent in the background.

703 words by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald. MOVED

Girl abandoned at Mojave Desert gas station after father beat mother to death, authorities say

MOTHERKILLED-GIRL-ABANDONED:LA — A man is in custody after authorities say he beat a woman to death before abandoning their daughter at a gas station in a remote area of San Bernardino County last week.

Deputies were called around 11:45 p.m. Friday to a Shell gas station on Cima Road — east of Barstow in the Mojave Desert near the Nevada border — after a 12-year-old girl walked into the station and asked for help, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

253 words by Gregory Yee, Los Angeles Times. MOVED

PHOTOS

‘Average’ hurricane season brought death, mayhem to Florida

WEA-HURRICANE-SEASON-FLA:OS — ORLANDO, Fla. — This year’s hurricane season ended Wednesday, the last day of November, with a portfolio of nearly normal storm activity during the past six months — except for the havoc on lives and property in Florida.

Of 14 named storms that rode the Atlantic basin in 2022, Florida was unbothered by all but two, hurricanes Ian and Nicole. With very different qualities, they sliced a neat X across the state’s peninsula with paths that met just southeast of Orlando.

935 words by Kevin Spear, Orlando Sentinel. MOVED

PHOTOS

'No precedent': Ahead of Joel Greenberg’s sentencing, judge seeks punishment to fit crimes

FLA-GREENBERG:OS — ORLANDO, Fla. — A day before Joel Greenberg is slated to face sentencing, a federal judge was struggling to determine an appropriate penalty for the disgraced former elected official due to the breadth of his offenses — ranging from sex trafficking to stalking and bribery.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys told U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell in a presentencing hearing Wednesday that federal sentencing guidelines, based on Greenberg’s plea agreement and subsequent cooperation with investigators, would call for him to be sentenced to between 9.25 and 11 years in prison.

797 words by Martin E. Comas, Orlando Sentinel. MOVED

PHOTOS

Watchdog wants Gov. DeSantis’ office held in contempt over unreleased migrant flight records

FLAGOV-MIGRANTS-FLIGHTS:MI — TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A public records watchdog on Wednesday asked a Tallahassee judge to charge the DeSantis administration with contempt of court for continuing to withhold public records about its handling of the relocation of migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard in September.

The Florida Center for Government Accountability asked Judge J. Lee Marsh of the 2nd Judicial District to hold the governor’s office in contempt for violating Florida’s Public Records Act after the judge ordered the state on Oct. 25 to turn over by Nov. 14 text messages, call logs and other communications for his chief of staff James Uthmeier about the migrant flights.

725 words by Mary Ellen Klas, Miami Herald. MOVED

PHOTOS

Mistrial in Danny Masterson rape trial after jury deadlocks

MASTERSON:LA — LOS ANGELES — The judge in Danny Masterson’s rape trial declared a mistrial Wednesday after jurors said they were unable to reach a decision on the actor’s innocence or guilt.

The jury deadlocked after hearing weeks of testimony from three women who accused Masterson of raping them and others who corroborated their accounts. In failing to reach a decision, the Los Angeles County Superior Court panel left unresolved the women’s claims that the actor, who is best-known for his role on the sitcom “That ‘70s Show,” violently assaulted them at his Hollywood Hills home in the early 2000s.

1056 words by Noah Goldberg and Christian Martinez, Los Angeles Times. MOVED

PHOTOS

Man who killed ‘Gone Girl’ actress Lisa Banes in hit-and-run gets 1 to 3 years in prison

BANES-HITRUN-1ST-LEDE:NY — NEW YORK — The unlicensed driver who fatally mowed down “Gone Girl” actress Lisa Banes with his moped on a Manhattan street was sentenced to one to three years in prison Wednesday — infuriating her loved ones after he tried to dodge accountability one last time.

The sentence handed down to Brian Boyd by state Supreme Court Judge Gregory Carro came over objections from prosecutors. They said the 27-year-old’s lies to probation officials, after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and leaving the scene in September, negated his plea deal.

851 words by Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News. MOVED

PHOTOS

Accused NYC subway shooter can be forced to go to court

NY-SUBWAY-SHOOTING:NY — NEW YORK — A Brooklyn federal court judge is ordering accused subway shooter Frank James to be hauled to court by force if necessary, after the terrorism suspect tried to dodge his last appearance.

Judge William Kuntz is taking no chances with the 63-year-old James, who on Oct. 12 initially refused to come to court from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

386 words by John Annese, New York Daily News. MOVED

PHOTOS

California gave drivers a new option for gender on their IDs. Here’s how many took it

CALIF-NONBINARY-IDS:SA — SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Four years after California began issuing nonbinary IDs, fewer than 16,000 people have asked the state for a little piece of plastic with their gender marked by an X rather than an F or M.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles released the number in response to a California Public Records Act request from The Sacramento Bee.

810 words by Ariane Lange, The Sacramento Bee. MOVED

PHOTOS

Gun-toting Las Vegas Walmart shoplifter fired shot after confrontation with staffer

LASVEGAS-WALMART-ROBBERY:LV — LAS VEGAS — A woman who packed her Walmart shopping cart with stuff to steal was seen on the store’s surveillance video carrying a gun in her right hand while wheeling the loaded cart toward the doors, police said.

When confronted by a Walmart staffer, Makenna Findley, 21, pointed the silver revolver at the 61-year-old worker and then fired a shot into the ceiling, according to a Metropolitan Police Department arrest report.

356 words by Brett Clarkson, Las Vegas Review-Journal. MOVED

PHOTOS

ENTERTAINMENT

In a band of tempestuous geniuses, Christine McVie was every bit their equal, minus the drama

MCVIE-OBIT-3RD-LEDE:LA — Christine McVie, the singer, songwriter and keyboardist whose dreamily optimistic tunes for Fleetwood Mac — including such FM-radio staples as “Don’t Stop,” “Little Lies,” “Songbird,” “Everywhere” and “You Make Loving Fun” — helped make the band one of the most successful acts in music history, died Wednesday. She was 79.

Her death was announced by her family in a statement that said she’d “passed away peacefully” at a hospital following “a short illness.” The statement didn’t specify the hospital’s location. McVie, who lived in London, told Rolling Stone in June that she was in “quite bad health,” describing a chronic back problem that made it difficult for her to stand.

1111 words by Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times. MOVED

PHOTOS

In a band of tempestuous geniuses, Christine McVie was every bit their equal, minus the drama

MCVIE-OBIT-3RD-LEDE:LA — Christine McVie, the singer, songwriter and keyboardist whose dreamily optimistic tunes for Fleetwood Mac — including such FM-radio staples as “Don’t Stop,” “Little Lies,” “Songbird,” “Everywhere” and “You Make Loving Fun” — helped make the band one of the most successful acts in music history, died Wednesday. She was 79.

Her death was announced by her family in a statement that said she’d “passed away peacefully” at a hospital following “a short illness.” The statement didn’t specify the hospital’s location. McVie, who lived in London, told Rolling Stone in June that she was in “quite bad health,” describing a chronic back problem that made it difficult for her to stand.

1111 words by Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times. MOVED

PHOTOS

Fleetwood Mac honors 'one-of-a-kind' Christine McVie: 'Talented beyond measure'

MUS-MCVIE-DEATH-REACT-1ST-LEDE:LA — The members of Fleetwood Mac have released a joint statement honoring their longtime friend and bandmate Christine McVie.

The British vocalist and keyboardist died Wednesday at a hospital after experiencing "a short illness," her family announced. She was 79.

652 words by Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times. MOVED

PHOTOS

Mila Kunis describes 'meet-cute' with Ukraine's Zelenskyy before he became president

KUNIS-ZELENSKYY:LA — "That '70s Show" star Mila Kunis had a self-desribed meet-cute with fellow Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelenskyy, long before he was elected president of the embattled European nation in 2019.

Kunis — who on Wednesday was named among People magazine's People of the Year for fundraising efforts benefiting her war-torn homeland — shared the details of their first meeting, which came nearly a decade ago when a remake of the comedian-turned-politician's TV series "Servant of the People" was being shopped around Hollywood.

871 words by Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times. MOVED

PHOTOS

Bad Bunny pulls off a Spotify hat trick as the most-streamed artist in the world

MUS-SPOTIFY-WRAPPED:LA — Happy Spotify Wrapped day to all who celebrate — especially Bad Bunny, the most-streamed artist in the world for three years in a row.

The streaming platform revealed Wednesday that the reggaeton sensation is the first musician to pull off a global Spotify hat trick. Rounding out the global top five artists this year were Taylor Swift, Drake, the Weeknd and BTS. In the United States, Bad Bunny was the third most-streamed artist, behind No. 1 Drake and No. 2 Swift.

437 words by Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times. MOVED

PHOTOS

Rod Stewart's 2 brothers, his 'irreplaceable buddies,' die 2 months apart

MUS-STEWART-BROTHERS-DEATH:LA — Rod Stewart is mourning the loss of another brother in the span of two months.

The British pop rocker shared Wednesday on Instagram that his brother Bob died Tuesday, just a few months after his brother Don died.

389 words by Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times. MOVED

PHOTOS

What is 'Love Actually' about? Pain and suffering, according to Hugh Grant's wife

MOVIE-LOVE-ACTUALLY-REUNION-GRANT:LA — Hugh Grant is just like us: ringing in the holiday season by "drunkenly" watching "Love Actually."

In a Tuesday interview with ABC News' Diane Sawyer, Grant recalled viewing his 2003 holiday film earlier this year with his wife, Anna Eberstein, who profoundly reflected on the movie's themes of love and heartbreak. Grant portrayed David, a fictional prime minister of the United Kingdom who develops feelings for a member of his staff (Martine McCutcheon), in the classic romantic comedy.

463 words by Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times. MOVED

PHOTOS

Helena Bonham Carter supports Johnny Depp, J.K. Rowling amid controversies

BONHAMCARTER-ROWLING-DEPP:NY — Helena Bonham Carter is defending two of the most polarizing celebrities in her life, J.K. Rowling and Johnny Depp.

She tackled remarks from the “Harry Potter” scribe viewed by many as transphobic, along with her “Sweeney Todd” co-star’s defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard.

282 words by Jami Ganz, New York Daily News. MOVED

PHOTOS

George Takei stokes feud, says William Shatner was a 'prima donna' on 'Star Trek' set

TV-STAR-TREK-TAKEI-SHATNER:LA — George Takei continued his public feud with his "Star Trek" co-star William Shatner this week by describing him as a "prima donna" whom "none" of the sci-fi show's cast got along with.

"He's just a cantankerous old man and I'm going to leave him to his devices," Takei told the Guardian in an interview. "I'm not going to play his game."

469 words by Jonah Valdez, Los Angeles Times. MOVED

PHOTOS

LZ Granderson: The late Irene Cara and 'Fame' were so much more than a fad

GRANDERSON-COLUMN:LA — I'm far from a vinyl expert, but I do have a collection that's mostly for nostalgia.

One album that's far more is the soundtrack to the movie "Fame," a high school graduation gift from my best friend, Kyle.

806 words by LZ Granderson, Los Angeles Times. MOVED

PHOTOS

Tom Stoppard's Jewish roots: Carey Perloff on Broadway's acclaimed play of the season

STAGE-STOPPARD-PERLOFF-QA:LA — "Leopoldstadt," Tom Stoppard's stunning new play on Broadway about a highly cultivated extended family in Vienna that was decimated in the Holocaust, isn't autobiographical. But the work springs from the Czech-born English playwright's long-deferred examination of his Jewish roots.

In 1999, Stoppard published "On Turning Out to Be Jewish" in the inaugural issue of Tina Brown's Talk magazine. The death of his mother in 1996 prompted him to search deeper into his heritage. He knew bits and pieces about his background but not the extent of the tragedy that befell his relations after Hitler rampaged through Europe.

1442 words by Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times. MOVED

PHOTOS

‘Slow Horses’ review: In Season 2 of this darkly funny British espionage drama, it’s a hunt for Russian sleeper agents

VID-SLOW-HORSES-REVIEW:TB — Banished by their MI5 betters to the mildewing outpost of Slough House in London, the disgraced British intelligence agents of “Slow Horses” — a nickname that reflects their “put out to pasture” limbo — are back for a second season on Apple TV+.

With its dark sense of humor and propulsive pacing, the linchpin of the series is the head outcast himself, Jackson Lamb. The new season doesn’t bother with a preamble but dives headfirst into the story: An aging British spy from the Cold War era is found dead on a bus. Heart attack, says the official report. Lamb suspects murder.

1070 words by Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune. MOVED

PHOTOS

OP-ED

Commentary: Putin will carpet-bomb Ukraine unless the West acts

UKRAINE-WEST-COMMENTARY:BLO — The strategically vital city of Kherson is back in the hands of Ukrainians, albeit under threat of Russian shelling and attacks on its electricity supply. But as combatants on both sides of an increasingly static firing line prepare for winter war, there are effectively two separate conflicts emerging: one on the land, the other in the air. What can the West do to help Ukraine meet the immediate tactical challenges, and ultimately seize the longer-term advantage?

On land, the arrival of a wet, rainy fall and a harsh winter will lead to a decrease in operations. Both Russia and Ukraine need to rest and reinforce their troops, as well as repair equipment. A return to full-blown combat operations isn’t likely until late winter when the ground freezes, presenting a better opportunity for the heaviest equipment.

884 words by James Stavridis, Bloomberg Opinion. MOVED

PHOTOS

Commentary: Turkey has put the US in a tough spot by threatening another Syria incursion

USTURKEY-SYRIA-COMMENTARY:TB — Syria’s civil war, which entered its 11th year this March, may at first look like a clear-cut case of good versus evil, in which a bloodthirsty dictator, Bashar Assad, tries to snuff out any semblance of opposition to his rule. Yet, the conflict is far more complicated than that. Far from being a game of checkers, Syria best resembles an unsolvable Rubik’s Cube, in which the different sides are rarely in alignment.

While the Syrian government has recaptured approximately two-thirds of Syrian territory with the help of its Iranian and Russian partners, the territory outside Damascus’ control is divided among a jihadist faction in the northwest of Idlib, Turkish-supported militias in the north, the Syrian Kurds in the northeast and a smattering of Islamic State cells in the east and center.

1014 words by Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune. MOVED

PHOTOS

Commentary: Ending affirmative action won’t level the playing field. It took me over 30 years to do that for my family

AFFIRMATIVE-ACTION-COMMENTARY:LA — My son chose “Hispanic or Latino/a/x” in the demographics section of college applications he began filling out two months ago. It was an easy decision for him, though I have quietly agonized over this one box for years. I have encouraged him to excel academically so that no one could claim he had gotten into college because of his ancestry.

As someone who benefited from affirmative action to get into college, I have heard all the ugly insinuations from critics of the policy that considers race and ethnicity during the admissions process. How I didn’t deserve to take up the spot of someone with better academic qualifications. How life must be easy for me since I can check the “Latino” box and automatically get scholarships, awards, jobs, etc.

1197 words by Minerva Canto, Los Angeles Times. MOVED

PHOTOS

Commentary: Sleep is getting more respect — as a way to increase productivity. We need a better mindset

SLEEP-COMMENTARY:TB — Sleep is finally having its moment. I’m a sleep researcher and clinician, and it’s exhilarating to see broader recognition that sleep is important, yet I am often dismayed about the framing of why sleep is valuable. Messages equating sleep with laziness have long been woven into our cultural consciousness, with aphorisms such as “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” and “the early bird gets the worm” reflecting our fears that sleep is a hindrance to success and accomplishments.

We find inspiration in legends of historical figures such as Leonardo da Vinci whose fantastic achievements supposedly required only a modicum of sleep. These messages characterize sleep as an impediment to productivity; it is encouraging that we are increasingly turning away from that mindset and recognizing the importance of sleep. However, in our emerging embrace of sleep, the end goal often remains productivity, and the shift in perspective is only that sleep is now seen as a facilitator of productivity rather than an impediment.

887 words by Jennifer Mundt, Chicago Tribune. MOVED

PHOTOS

Commentary: Why wearing wool is as cruel as wearing fur

WOOL-PETA-COMMENTARY:MCT — To many animal advocates, the day after Thanksgiving has long been known as “Fur-Free Friday.” Compassionate people have held demonstrations, used donated fur coats as bedding for injured or orphaned wildlife, given unwanted furs to homeless people—the only ones with any legitimate excuse for wearing fur—and much more. But now that nearly every top designer has shunned fur and countries are shutting down fur farms, sparing fur-bearing animals, more and more people are starting to consider other “fashion victims,” including sheep, who are abused and exploited for their wool.

Sheep’s wool, like foxes’ fur, is not “fabric.” It doesn’t belong to us: It’s violently stolen from its rightful owners. Starting this holiday season, let’s enjoy a wool-free winter and help prevent sheep from suffering at the hands of the wool industry.

571 words by Heather Moore, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. MOVED

PHOTOS

Michael Hiltzik: Elon Musk's engagement with the far right on Twitter is out of control

HILTZIK-COLUMN:LA — In the first days after his acquisition of Twitter on Oct. 27, Elon Musk rattled the platform's users and advertisers with a series of tweets associating himself with far-right memes.

These included a grotesque conspiracy claim about the violent assault on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul, and an accusation that "activist groups" had pressured advertisers into abandoning Twitter.

1606 words by Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times. MOVED

PHOTOS

Stephen L. Carter: Supreme Court should separate sleazy lobbying from the criminal kind

CARTER-COLUMN:BLO — The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument Monday in the most important case you’ve never heard of. Although Percoco v. United States has generated few headlines, its reach could alter the way businesses deal with regulators and legislators.

The case arises from the 2018 conviction of one Joseph Percoco, who took a break from his job in Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office to run Cuomo’s reelection campaign. During his time away, a company having trouble with state labor regulators offered him $35,000 if he could, let us say, make the problems disappear. Percoco placed a few calls to key officials, the regulators backed off, and the company was happy. And Percoco then returned to his senior role in state government after Cuomo won his new term.

875 words by Stephen L. Carter, Bloomberg Opinion. MOVED

PHOTOS

Jonathan Bernstein: How Trump could win the 2024 Republican nomination

BERNSTEIN-COLUMN:BLO — Can Donald Trump win the Republican presidential nomination?

The contest is now in full flight, even though only one candidate, Trump, has formally announced. In echoes of 2016, political observers have been debating whether Trump could capture the nomination with a relatively small share of the overall vote.

989 words by Jonathan Bernstein, Bloomberg Opinion. MOVED

PHOTOS

Eduardo Porter: Migrant workers face worse choices than building World Cup stadiums

PORTER-COLUMN:BLO — The global financial crisis of 2008 dealt a blow to thousands of Indian laborers. They were set to join hundreds of thousands of compatriots providing the workforce for a construction boom in Dubai. Then the world economy spasmed, the price of oil tanked and international finance dried up. Hundreds of construction projects across the United Arab Emirates stalled. And the workers were left stranded at home, work permits in hand.

Three years later, survey teams deployed across India to interview thousands of these workers, many who managed to get to jobs in the UAE just before the crisis hit and others who drew the short straw: Hired by the same construction company just a few months later, they never left India and had to settle for a local job.

1133 words by Eduardo Porter, Bloomberg Opinion. MOVED

PHOTOS

Editorial: End the kingmaking in Iowa and New Hampshire

2024-IOWA-NEWHAMPSHIRE-EDITORIAL:MS — Thank you for your service, Iowa and New Hampshire. But it's time to end the prominent, influential perch you two small rural states have long enjoyed in winnowing the list of presidential contenders.

Another state or states should get a chance to sort through candidates and make an early choice in the nation's first caucus or primary. Officials for both political parties should acknowledge a switch is overdue and then swiftly offer alternatives — preferably before the end of the year.

725 words by Star Tribune Editorial Board, Star Tribune. MOVED

PHOTOS

Editorial: Twitter, Trump and Musk help empower and legitimize modern-day brownshirts

TWITTER-EXTREMISTS-EDITORIAL:SL — There comes a time when the social media-consuming public needs to step back and ask whether their continued use of a particular service might be doing more harm than good. Elon Musk’s Twitter might have reached such a turning point in the public’s eye, just as Donald Trump’s recent dinner with two well-known antisemites is causing longtime Trump supporters in the Republican Party to reach their breaking point.

Both Musk and Trump profess ignorance for recent actions that helped empower white supremacists and antisemites. If they are, in fact, ignorant, that should be reason enough for the general public to shun them for the fools they clearly are. If they’re only feigning ignorance, that’s all the more reason to start treating them as pariahs rather than rock stars.

492 words by St. Louis Post-Dispatch Editorial Board, St. Louis Post-Dispatch. MOVED

PHOTOS

Editorial: The world needs another Tiananmen Square hero

CORONAVIRUS-CHINA-PROTESTS-EDITORIAL:YB — History will never forget a Chinese man who stood alone to block a line of tanks in Tiananmen Square.

It was June 5, 1989, and the world was watching.

429 words by Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald. MOVED

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SPORTS

Mexico's offense finally comes to life, but it's not enough to save World Cup dream

SOC-WORLDCUP-MEXICO-SAUDIARABIA:LA — DOHA, Qatar — For 2 1/2 games Mexico did nothing in Qatar — as in no goals, no wins and no chance to advance to the Round of 16, something it had done in every World Cup it has played in since 1978.

Then in the second half of Wednesday's group-play finale, El Tri finally came alive, with Henry Martín and Luis Chávez scoring goals six minutes apart in a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia that very nearly earned it a spot in the next round.

682 words by Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times. MOVED

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Michelle Kaufman: Political overtones made U.S. 1-0 World Cup win over Iran even more tense, meaningful

SOC-KAUFMAN-COLUMN:MI — It was 3 a.m. in Lyon, France, and hundreds of Iranians were still partying at the Place Bellecour, a park in the center of town.

“I-ran! I-ran!” they chanted, waving their green, red and white flags. Their team had just eliminated the favored United States from the 1998 World Cup with a 2-1 victory in one of the most politically charged games in tournament history. The tensions ran so high that security officers labeled the match “high risk.”

932 words by Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald. MOVED

PHOTOS

An early look at the Netherlands, the USMNT’s next World Cup opponent

SOC-WORLDCUP-NETHERLANDS-BREAKDOWN:PH — On the face of it, you’d rather finish first in a World Cup group and play a second-place finisher than the other way around. But for the U.S. men’s soccer team, finishing second in Group B in Qatar might have produced a better matchup for them than finishing first would have.

The Netherlands undoubtedly has a very good team. Forward Cody Gakpo is on fire, with a goal in each of the Dutch squad’s group stage games — and they were all terrific plays. Midfielder Frenkie de Jong is an elite playmaker and tempo-setter who has two goals, one assist, and three chances created so far. Centerback Virgil van Dijk is one of the world’s very best at his position.

734 words by Jonathan Tannenwald, The Philadelphia Inquirer. MOVED

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Christian Pulisic day to day with ‘pelvic contusion’ suffered in USMNT’s World Cup win over Iran

SOC-WORLDCUP-US-PULISIC:PH — Christian Pulisic suffered a “pelvic contusion,” the U.S. men’s soccer team said Tuesday evening, on the play when he scored the goal that sent the Americans to the World Cup’s round of 16.

When Pulisic crashed the net to finish Sergiño Dest’s setup pass in the 38th minute, his lower body — to put it politely — slammed into Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand’s onrushing left knee. Pulisic immediately grimaced and reached for the area in question, then stayed down.

495 words by Jonathan Tannenwald, The Philadelphia Inquirer. MOVED

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