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"How's the josh" is a line from the 2019 Bollywood film 'Uri: The Surgical Strike', which has turned into a popular catchphrase. It is often used by various public figures and has gained huge traction on social media platforms. New Delhi : Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s party Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has been able to protect its bastion from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Earlier on Saturday, as vote counting started, the Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra was apparently leading. Around 1,300 kilometers away in Jharkhand, the BJP-led NDA was also marching ahead. However, as more trends trickled in, JMM and its partners, that formed the INDIA bloc, took the lead. Later as hours went by, the trends indicated that the INDIA bloc was poised for a massive victory in Jharkhand, where tribal votes play a vital role in deciding the success of national parties. So, after trailing in the first few rounds, JMM-led INDIA bloc made a comeback. As it did so, the JMM’s official handle posted on X: “How’s the josh?”. It referred to the remarkable chase and eventual surpassing of the NDA’s numbers. How’s the Josh? pic.twitter.com/uwGxOv46NV — Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (@JmmJharkhand) November 23, 2024 “How’s the josh” is a line from the 2019 Bollywood film ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’, which has turned into a popular catchphrase. It is often used by various public figures and has gained huge traction on social media platforms. The BJP had raised concerns about illegal immigrants entering Jharkhand, claiming they posed a threat to the indigenous population. However, it didn’t strike a chord with the local masses. Few months back, Soren was put behind bars in a land case. He had to quit as CM before he was sent to jail. Later, he came back from jail and took back the Chief Minister’s seat once again. The JMM had alleged that the Centre was involved in vendetta politics. This may have made the voters sympathetic towards Soren. Click for more latest India news . Also get top headlines and latest news from India and around the world at News9. Tirtho has 28 years of experience as a media professional. He has worked in a number of media organisations, including India Today, The Times of India, The Telegraph, Down To Earth, Hindustan Times, Muscat Daily and Khaleej Times, in key roles. He has five poetry collections under his belt, and is working on his next book on short stories.GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs left his team’s game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday because of a concussion. Doubs’ injury came on a third-quarter play in the end zone that resulted in a pass interference penalty against San Francisco’s Renardo Green. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs leaves game because of concussionHas a waltz written by composer Frederic Chopin been discovered in an NYC museum?
WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s allies on Capitol Hill rallied around Pete Hegseth , Trump’s Pentagon pick, on Thursday even as new details surfaced about allegations that he had sexually assaulted a woman in 2017. The GOP embrace of Hegseth came as another controversial Trump nominee, Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration for attorney general. Gaetz said it was clear he had become a “distraction" amid pressure on the House to release an ethics report about allegations of his own sexual misconduct. An attorney for two women has said that his clients told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017, when Gaetz was a Florida congressman. Fresh questions over the two nominees' pasts, and their treatment of women, arose with Republicans under pressure from Trump and his allies to quickly confirm his Cabinet. At the same time, his transition has so far balked at the vetting and background checks that have traditionally been required. While few Republican senators have publicly criticized any of Trump's nominees, it became clear after Gaetz's withdrawal that many had been harboring private concerns about him. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who served with Gaetz in the House, said it was a “positive move.” Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker said it was a “positive development.” Maine Sen. Susan Collins said Gaetz “put country first and I am pleased with his decision.” After meeting with Hegseth, though, Republicans rallied around him. “I think he’s going to be in pretty good shape,” said Wicker, who is expected to chair the Senate Armed Services Committee in the next Congress. Republican senators' careful words, and their early reluctance to publicly question Trump's picks, illustrated not only their fear of retribution from the incoming president but also some of their hopes that the confirmation process can proceed normally, with proper vetting and background checks that could potentially disqualify problematic nominees earlier. Gaetz withdrew after meeting with senators on Wednesday. Sen. Thom Tillis said Gaetz was “in a pressure cooker” when he decided to withdraw, but suggested that it would have little bearing on Trump’s other nominees. “Transactions — one at a time,” he said. As the Hegseth nomination proceeds, Republicans also appear to be betting that they won't face much backlash for publicly setting aside the allegations of sexual misconduct — especially after Trump won election after being found liable for sexual abuse last year. Hegseth held a round of private meetings alongside incoming Vice President JD Vance on Thursday in an attempt to shore up support and told reporters afterward: “The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared, and that’s where I’m gonna leave it.” A 22-page police report report made public late Wednesday offered the first detailed account of the allegations against him. A woman told police that she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave. The report cited police interviews with the alleged victim, a nurse who treated her, a hotel staffer, another woman at the event and Hegseth. Hegseth’s lawyer, Timothy Palatore, said the incident was “fully investigated and police found the allegations to be false.” Hegseth paid the woman in 2023 as part of a confidential settlement to head off the threat of what he described as a baseless lawsuit, Palatore has said. Wicker played down the allegations against Hegseth, a former Fox News host, saying that “since no charges were brought from the authorities, we only have press reports.” Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., said after his meeting with Hegseth that he "shared with him the fact that I was saddened by the attacks that are coming his way.” Hagerty dismissed the allegations as “a he-said, she-said thing” and called it a “shame” that they were being raised at all. The senator said attention should instead be focused on the Defense Department that Hegseth would head. It's one of the most complex parts of the federal government with more than 3 million employees, including military service members and civilians. Sexual assault has been a persistent problem in the military, though Pentagon officials have been cautiously optimistic they are seeing a decline in reported sexual assaults among active-duty service members and the military academies. Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, who will be the No. 2 Republican in the Senate next year, said after his meeting with Hegseth that the nominee is a strong candidate who “pledged that the Pentagon will focus on strength and hard power – not the current administration’s woke political agenda.” Senate Republicans are under pressure to hold hearings once they take office in January and confirm nominees as soon as Trump is inaugurated, despite questions about whether Trump’s choices will be properly screened or if some, like Hegseth, have enough experience for the job. Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed, who will be the top Democrat on the panel next year, said the reports on Hegseth “emphasized the need for a thorough investigation by the FBI on the background of all the nominees.” It takes a simple majority to approve Cabinet nominations, meaning that if Democrats all opposed a nominee, four Republican senators would also have to defect for any Trump choice to be defeated. Trump has made clear he’s willing to put maximum pressure on Senate Republicans to give him the nominees he wants – even suggesting at one point that they allow him to just appoint his nominees with no Senate votes. But senators insist, for now, that they are not giving up their constitutional power to have a say. “The president has the right to make the nominations that he sees fit, but the Senate also has a responsibility for advice and consent,” said Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota. In the case of Gaetz, he said, “I think there was advice offered rather than consent.” Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.“It’s Just Like India,” Says Indian Tourist After Japan’s Bullet Train Runs 90-Minutes Late; Netizens Defend Japan’s Punctuality
Social media users are misrepresenting a Vermont Supreme Court ruling , claiming that it gives schools permission to vaccinate children even if their parents do not consent. The ruling addressed a lawsuit filed by Dario and Shujen Politella against Windham Southeast School District and state officials over the mistaken vaccination of their child against COVID-19 in 2021, when he was 6 years old. A lower court had dismissed the original complaint, as well as an amended version. An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was filed on Nov. 19. But the ruling by Vermont's high court is not as far-reaching as some online have claimed. In reality, it concluded that anyone protected under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, or PREP, Act is immune to state lawsuits. Here's a closer look at the facts. CLAIM: The Vermont Supreme Court ruled that schools can vaccinate children against their parents' wishes. THE FACTS: The claim stems from a July 26 ruling by the Vermont Supreme Court, which found that anyone protected by the PREP Act is immune to state lawsuits, including the officials named in the Politella's suit. The ruling does not authorize schools to vaccinate children at their discretion. According to the lawsuit, the Politella's son — referred to as L.P. — was given one dose of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination clinic held at Academy School in Brattleboro even though his father, Dario, told the school's assistant principal a few days before that his son was not to receive a vaccination. In what officials described as a mistake, L.P. was removed from class and had a “handwritten label” put on his shirt with the name and date of birth of another student, L.K., who had already been vaccinated that day. L.P. was then vaccinated. Ultimately, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that officials involved in the case could not be sued. “We conclude that the PREP Act immunizes every defendant in this case and this fact alone is enough to dismiss the case,” the Vermont Supreme Court's ruling reads. “We conclude that when the federal PREP Act immunizes a defendant, the PREP Act bars all state-law claims against that defendant as a matter of law.” The PREP Act , enacted by Congress in 2005, authorizes the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to issue a declaration in the event of a public health emergency providing immunity from liability for activities related to medical countermeasures, such as the administration of a vaccine, except in cases of “willful misconduct" that result in “death or serious physical injury.” A declaration against COVID-19 was issued on March 17, 2020. It is set to expire on Dec. 31. Federals suits claiming willful misconduct are filed in Washington. Social media users described the Vermont Supreme Court's ruling as having consequences beyond what it actually says. “The Vermont Supreme Court has ruled that schools can force-vaccinate children for Covid against the wishes of their parents,” reads one X post that had been liked and shared approximately 16,600 times as of Tuesday. “The high court ruled on a case involving a 6-year-old boy who was forced to take a Covid mRNA injection by his school. However, his family had explicitly stated that they didn't want their child to receive the ‘vaccines.’” Other users alleged that the ruling gives schools permission to give students any vaccine without parental consent, not just ones for COVID-19. Rod Smolla, president of the Vermont Law and Graduate School and an expert on constitutional law, told The Associated Press that the ruling “merely holds that the federal statute at issue, the PREP Act, preempts state lawsuits in cases in which officials mistakenly administer a vaccination without consent.” “Nothing in the Vermont Supreme Court opinion states that school officials can vaccinate a child against the instructions of the parent,” he wrote in an email. Asked whether the claims spreading online have any merit, Ronald Ferrara, an attorney representing the Politellas, told the AP that although the ruling doesn't say schools can vaccinate students regardless of parental consent, officials could interpret it to mean that they could get away with doing so under the PREP Act, at least when it comes to COVID-19 vaccines. He explained that the U.S. Supreme Court appeal seeks to clarify whether the Vermont Supreme Court interpreted the PREP Act beyond what Congress intended. “The Politella’s fundamental liberty interest to decide whether their son should receive elective medical treatment was denied by agents of the State and School,” he wrote in an email to the AP. “The Vermont Court misconstrues the scope of PREP Act immunity (which is conditioned upon informed consent for medical treatments unapproved by FDA), to cover this denial of rights and its underlying battery.” Ferrara added that he was not aware of the claims spreading online, but that he “can understand how lay people may conflate the court's mistaken grant of immunity for misconduct as tantamount to blessing such misconduct.” John Klar, who also represents the Politellas, went a step further, telling the AP that the Vermont Supreme Court ruling means that “as a matter of law” schools can get away with vaccinating students without parental consent and that parents can only sue on the federal level if death or serious bodily injury results. — Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck .Social media users are misrepresenting a Vermont Supreme Court ruling , claiming that it gives schools permission to vaccinate children even if their parents do not consent. The ruling addressed a lawsuit filed by Dario and Shujen Politella against Windham Southeast School District and state officials over the mistaken vaccination of their child against COVID-19 in 2021, when he was 6 years old. A lower court had dismissed the original complaint, as well as an amended version. An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was filed on Nov. 19. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, obituaries, sports, and more.
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WASHINGTON D.C., DC — Story from The Conversation by Paula M. Carbone , Professor of Clinical Education, University of Southern California. Fast fashion is everywhere — in just about every mall, in the feeds of influencers on social media promoting overconsumption , and in ads constantly popping up online. Its focus on the continual production of new clothing is marked by speedy fashion cycles that give it its name . Fast fashion is intended to quickly copy high-end designs, but with low-quality materials, resulting in poorly made clothing intended to be worn once or twice before being thrown away . One of fast fashion’s leading companies, Zara, has a mission to put clothes in stores 15 days after the initial design. Another, Shein, adds up to 2,000 new items to its website daily. While others in the fashion industry are working toward more sustainable clothing, fast fashion is focused on profit. The market’s value was estimated at about US$100 billion in 2022 and growing quickly. It’s a large part of the reason global clothing production doubled from 2000 to 2014 . The big winners in this game are the corporations. The industry has a reputation for exploiting workers and for excessive pollution and extraordinary waste . Consumers are pulled into an unhealthy, spiraling pressure to buy more as cheap clothes fall apart fast. Fast fashion also has a growing impact on the global climate. It is responsible for an estimated 8% to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions , and its emissions are projected to grow quickly as the industry expands. I teach courses that explore fast fashion and sustainability . The industry’s growth seems unstoppable — but a combination of legislation and willpower might just rein it in. Understanding the harm About 60% of fast-fashion items are made from synthetic textiles derived from plastics and chemicals that start their life as fossil fuels. When this synthetic clothing is laundered or thrown in landfills to decompose, it can release microplastics into the environment . Microplastics contain chemicals including phthalates and bisphenol A that can affect the health of humans and animals. Natural fibers have their own impacts on the environment. Growing cotton requires large quantities of water, and pesticides can run off from farmlands into streams, rivers and bays. Water is also used in chemically treating and dyeing textiles. A 2005 United Nations-led report on cotton’s water use estimated that, on average, a single cotton T-shirt requires about 700 gallons (2,650 liters) of water from crop to clothing rack, with about 300 gallons (1,135 liters) of that water used for irrigation. The chemicals used to process textiles for clothing for the fashion industry also contaminate wastewater with heavy metals, such as cadmium and lead, and toxic dyes . And that wastewater ends up in waterways in many countries, affecting the environment and wildlife. Fast fashion’s high output also creates literally mountains of waste . More than 90 million tons of textile waste ends up in landfills globally each year, by one estimate, adding to greenhouse gases as it slowly decomposes. Only a small percentage of discarded clothing is recycled . From fashionista to environmental guardian In many cultures, people’s self-perception is intimately connected to fashion choices, reflecting culture and alliances. The allure of buying new items comes from many sources. Influencers on social media play into FOMO – the fear of missing out. Cheap items can also lead to impulse buys. Research shows that shopping can also create a euphoric sense of happiness . However, fast fashion’s speed and marketing can also train consumers into “ psychological obsolescence ,” causing them to dislike purchases they previously enjoyed, so they quickly replace them with new purchases. Famous personalities may be helping to push back on this trend. Social media explodes when a first lady or Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales , wears an outfit more than once. The movement #30wearschallenge is starting with small steps, by urging consumers to plan to wear every piece of clothing they buy at least 30 times. Upcycling — turning old clothing into new clothing items — and buying sustainable and high-quality clothes that can last for years is being promoted by the United Nations and other organizations, including alliances in the fashion industry . Some influencers are also promoting more sustainable fashion brands . Research has shown that peer influence can be a powerful driver for making more sustainable choices. The largest market for fast fashion is Gen Z, ages 12 to 27 , many of whom are also concerned about climate change and might reconsider their fast-fashion buys if they recognized the connections between fast fashion and environmental harm. Some governments are also taking steps to reduce waste from fashion and other consumer products. The European Union is developing requirements for clothing to last longer and prohibiting companies from throwing out unsold textiles and footwear. France has pending legislation that, if passed, would ban publicity for fast-fashion companies and their products, require them to post the environmental impact of their products, and levy fines for violations. Changes in consumer habits, new technologies and legislation can each help reduce demand for unsustainable fashion. The cost of cheap clothes worn a few times also adds up. Next time you buy clothing, think about the long-term value to you and the planet. This article is from The Conversation , an independent, not-for-profit news organization dedicated to spreading ideas from experts. Republished under a Creative Commons license.Now that former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) has officially withdrawn his name from consideration to be the next attorney general, President-elect Donald Trump is quickly moving on to his next choice. According to a report in NYSun.com , Trump's next attorney general-designate could be Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton. The Sun reported that an unnamed source "with close ties to Trump's team" says Paxton — who has served as the top law enforcement official in the Lone Star State since 2015 — is "the ideal choice for the America First movement." As Texas' attorney general, Paxton led the charge at the state level to try to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Paxton was the lead plaintiff in the Texas v. Pennsylvania lawsuit that sought to prevent the certification of election results in the handful of battleground states that President Joe Biden narrowly won four years ago, unsuccessfully arguing that those states' Covid-19 pandemic voting procedures violated the U.S. Constitution. READ MORE: Senate Republican slams 'criminal' Texas attorney general for 'pushing Russian propaganda' Paxton is also likely to be agreeable to Trump's stated plans to use the Department of Justice as a vehicle to hound his political enemies. As Texas' attorney general, Paxton launched an investigation into Democratic-aligned advocacy group Media Matters for America in 2023. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ultimately shut down Paxton's attempts to probe Media Matters' financial records and internal communications. The Sun's Matthew Rice noted that in addition to presumably all Senate Democrats, one unlikely opponent Paxton could have in the Senate would be Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), who has publicly feuded with Paxton in the recent past. In February, Cornyn was one of several Republicans who joined all Democrats in supporting a supplemental foreign aid package to help Israel , Taiwan and Ukraine . Paxton accused Cornyn of "stay[ing] up all night to defend other countries' borders, but not America." Cornyn clapped back, mentioning Paxton's criminal charges for alleged securities fraud ( which have since been dropped ). "Ken, your criminal defense lawyers are calling to suggest you spend less time pushing Russian propaganda and more time defending longstanding felony charges against you in Houston, as well as ongoing federal grand jury proceedings in San Antonio that will probably result in further criminal charges," Cornyn tweeted. Aside from Paxton, other potential attorneys general may include Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) — whose father served as solicitor general under President Ronald Reagan — and far-right attorney Mike Davis , who has blamed Democrats for the assassination attempts on then-candidate Trump .
CONWAY, Ark. (AP) — Elias Cato scored 23 points as Central Arkansas beat UNC Asheville 92-83 in double overtime on Sunday. Jordan Morris made two free throws with one second left for UNC Asheville (2-3) to force overtime tied at 71. Fletcher Abee's 3-pointer with 33 seconds left in the first overtime tied the game at 79 and led to the second extra period. Michael Evbagharu's layup gave Central Arkansas (2-4) the lead in the second OT and Cato followed with a 3-pointer as the Bears outscored the Bulldogs 21-12 to pull out the victory. Cato added nine rebounds for the Bears. Layne Taylor totaled 19 points, seven assists, six rebounds and five steals. Brayden Fagbemi pitched in with 19 points, seven assists and five steals. The Bulldogs (2-3) were led by Fletcher Abee, who recorded 27 points. UNC Asheville also got 17 points from Josh Banks. Toyaz Solomon finished with 15 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Book Review: A Redemptive Tale Of Losing And FindingAvior Wealth Management LLC reduced its stake in iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF ( NYSEARCA:DSI – Free Report ) by 15.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,866 shares of the company’s stock after selling 351 shares during the period. Avior Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF were worth $203,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC grew its position in iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF by 100.0% in the 2nd quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC now owns 246 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 123 shares during the last quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $28,000. MFA Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $48,000. ORG Partners LLC purchased a new position in iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $55,000. Finally, Eastern Bank purchased a new position in iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at $58,000. iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF Price Performance NYSEARCA:DSI opened at $113.61 on Friday. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $109.97 and its 200 day moving average price is $105.62. iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF has a 1-year low of $86.42 and a 1-year high of $114.84. The firm has a market cap of $5.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.01 and a beta of 1.09. About iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social Index Fund (the Fund), formerly iShares FTSE KLD 400 Social Index Fund, seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the MSCI KLD 400 Social Index (the Index). The Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index designed to measure the equity performance of the United States companies. See Also Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
It’s never just one thingWPIAL Class 2A championship game by the numbers: South Park 21, Seton LaSalle 14A Chinese film set during the Covid-19 pandemic won the top prizes in Taiwan's prestigious Golden Horse Awards, which saw the highest number of entries from China in recent years despite political tensions. Beijing banned its entertainers from joining Golden Horse -- dubbed the Chinese-language "Oscars" -- in 2019 after a Taiwanese director voiced support for the island's independence in an acceptance speech in 2018. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, which the Taipei government rejects, and Chinese A-listers and big commercial productions have largely avoided the event ever since. Despite the sensitivity of the awards, more than 200 Chinese films entered this year's competition, which Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said was the highest number in "recent years". Acclaimed Chinese filmmaker Lou Ye was awarded best director late Saturday night for his docu-drama "An Unfinished Film", which was also named best picture. Lou was absent from the ceremony but his wife Ma Yingli read his acceptance speech, describing the film set during China's lockdown of Wuhan in the earliest stages of the pandemic as "the most special directing job I have ever done". Chinese actor Zhang Zhiyong, who also did not attend the awards, won best actor for his performance in Chinese director Geng Jun's same-sex drama "Bel Ami". Hong Kong's Chung Suet-ying was named best actress for her role in "The Way We Talk", which is about the deaf community. Neither "Bel Ami" nor "An Unfinished Film" has been released in China. Ahead of the awards, MAC spokesman Liang Wen-chieh told reporters that these films "may not be able to be screened in mainland China, but they still hope to have a free platform to participate and express themselves". "We welcome (them) very much," he said. After several years absence, Chinese stars began trickling back to the awards in Taipei last year, with actress Hu Ling the first to grace the red carpet since the ban. On Saturday, Geng Jun and some of his cast were among the few Chinese entertainers to join stars and filmmakers from around the region, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan, on the red carpet. While Geng missed out on best director and best picture, his film "Bel Ami" won the awards for best cinematography and best film editing. Despite political tensions, Golden Horse remained a stage for independent Chinese films that have no distribution space on the mainland, Taiwanese film critic Wonder Weng told AFP. "This spirit remains unchanged. I think the Golden Horse Awards have always insisted on being the benchmark" that is open to all subjects, said Weng, who is a board member of Taiwan Film Critics Society. Weng said "An Unfinished Film" by Lou, who has previously taken on forbidden subjects such as gay sex and the 1989 Tiananmen protests, was "a work of conscience". Lou's latest offering is about a film crew trying to resume shooting a movie during the Covid-19 pandemic in Wuhan, as the city was placed in an unprecedented lockdown. "Lou put images that are banned or blocked into his work and reminds us that there is a director who is willing to preserve historical images for us to see... and let us know there is a different voice," Weng said. aw/amj/dhc
This week, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell made his intentions clear when asked about Monday night's primetime NFC Championship Game rematch against the San Francisco 49ers—the team that ended Detroit's Super Bowl hopes last season. " I'll make this easy for everybody that way all the critics can jump out and start attacking, but that way you don't have to debate them anymore," Campbell said. "We're bringing everything we got to this game and we are playing, I don't care what it looks like and where it's at and who's this, who's that. We're going out to play and win this game, out on the West Coast." The Lions boast the NFC's best record, with home-field advantage in the playoffs at stake. Meanwhile, the injury-plagued 49ers, sitting at 6-9, have already been eliminated from playoff contention. Despite their struggles, the 49ers remain a prideful team, determined to finish their season strong. Quarterback Brock Purdy, who celebrated his 25th birthday on Friday, emphasized the team's desire to match Detroit's intensity on Monday night. "Obviously, last year, NFC Championship Game, there's a lot of emotions that go into that, especially when we were able to go the Super Bowl from it, and their season was ended," Purdy said after Friday's practice. "So, we obviously know how that feels, for us, the year before with Philadelphia. So, it's definitely a thing, and we have to be ready for it. "And more than anything, it's how can we come in, and be ready to battle these guys for four quarters, and do what we can to obviously win and walk out and create some momentum for us, our organization, moving forward." Purdy highlighted the locker room's close bond and mental toughness as a driving force heading into the final two games of the season. "We've got nothing but real strong love in this locker room," Purdy shared. "And so, to go out there and play for each other, and do what it takes to win at Levi's, at home, that's everything for us. So, that's our mindset going into it. We know that they're going to come in with a heavy heart from last year and [be] ready to go for this game." Reflecting on playing under the bright lights of Monday Night Football, Purdy spoke about the excitement of living a childhood dream, recalling watching the primetime matchups as a child. "I was just telling all the guys, our season, it's been tough, and just the way it's gone, but we've got two games left," Purdy said. "We've got a Monday night game in front of everybody to go out and live a childhood dream. And we're all in our 20s and 30s, playing football for our job, so let's go out there. "We've got such a great opportunity in front of us to go and enjoy this game and compete. This is what we do for our job, so let's enjoy it together. So, for me, the little kid in me is always pumped for these kind of games, so I'll never take it for granted. "And more than anything, I just want Levi's to get rolling and rocking, and I want to do my part in helping it get to that point. That's how I'm looking at this game, and I know all my teammates are too, so we're excited for it." The 49ers hope to channel that energy into an inspired performance against the Lions on Monday night before closing out their season on the road against the Arizona Cardinals. This article first appeared on 49ers Webzone and was syndicated with permission.None
The NASCAR Awards Banquet was initially a low-key affair, held in the basement of the Plaza Hotel in Daytona Beach, Florida. The private event was exclusively for Cup Series drivers and teams that finished in the top 10 in the final standings, along with executives from the sport, and remained closed to the media. In 1981, seeking a more glamorous setting, the ceremony relocated to the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. Then, in 2009, in an attempt to escape the frenetic pace of the holiday shopping season in The Big Apple, the awards banquet moved to Las Vegas. A decade later, in 2019, NASCAR opted for another change of scenery, moving the event to Nashville. It marked NASCAR’s return to Music City for the first time since the Nashville Superspeedway closed in 2012. The sport’s return to the area saw an increase in demand for stock car racing in the city, necessitating the reopening of the 1.3-mile-long oval. Since 2021, champions from all three nationwide series also started getting celebrated at the Cup Series Awards Banquet. However, given North Carolina’s deep ties to many teams and NASCAR drivers, the decision was made to keep the event closer to Charlotte. Despite this, many fans hold the opinion that New York City is the quintessential backdrop for the banquet. The sentiment was echoed recently when several fans of the sport reacted to a picture of stock cars going down the iconic Times Square in the city. The caption to the post read, “I feel like the NASCAR Awards should always be somewhere cool. Where would you like to see the Awards??? My vote is NYC.” The response was overwhelming, with many rallying in the comments to support the move back to New York City. One fan enthused, “That would be great to bring it back to NYC,” while another declared, “It was the best place.” Firmly, a NASCAR enthusiast proclaimed, “It belongs in NYC !” and another chimed in with a straightforward, “Never should’ve left NYC.” Back when NASCAR celebrated in Las Vegas Darrell Waltrip, a NASCAR Hall of Fame driver and broadcaster, was the first champion to be celebrated at The Big Apple after he clinched the 1981 title, marking the ceremony’s move to New York. Reflecting on the transition to Las Vegas, later on, Waltrip remarked, “It was unbelievable, the difference between the two (venues).” “Having the dinner in New York was a huge step up. It was making a statement. This wasn’t just a backwoods sport, a bunch of good ol’ boys; these guys are professional race car drivers and this would change the image of the sport. And it did,” he added . New York remained the backdrop for the NASCAR banquet for 28 years. Yet, the city’s bustling nature posed challenges for fan-friendly events outdoors, and unpredictable weather often played spoilsport. Moreover, the local media’s lukewarm coverage meant that despite noteworthy spending, the event rarely made headlines the following day. Despite these hurdles, Waltrip admitted a lingering fondness for New York, noting, “There’s nothing wrong with Las Vegas. It’s a fun place to go and a fun place to have an event. Just a difference in times, I guess.” Jeff Gordon also shared his thoughts in 2015, saying, “I personally like New York a lot and I like to be there. But I can also remember ... trying to move from the hotel six blocks and it would take you 45 minutes; the snow and just a lot of things ... were real challenges.” It’s been 16 years since NASCAR parted ways with New York. Perhaps, as an experiment, it might be worthwhile to revisit the metropolis and see how a return would be received today.Milwaukee 69, St. Thomas (MN) 65Stray Kids ‘ Bang Chan , Lee Know , Changbin , Hyunjin , Han , Felix , Seungmin , and I.N are all incredible, multi-talented performers. But who, in your opinion, is the best singer in Stray Kids? Vote for your choice below! Votes can be cast once every 2 hours until the voting period ends. Why does your pick deserve to win? Let us know on our social media! For more, check out TWICE’s fan-voted vocal ranking here: TWICE’s Best Vocalists, Ranked By ONCE Stray Kids Debate Erupts Over TWICE And Stray Kids’ Album Inclusion Discrepancies Stray Kids Scheduled To Perform At Venue That Doesn’t Exist Stray Kids’ Bang Chan’s Iconic Performance — Did You Realize He Was Actually Paralyzed? Stray Kids’ Felix Mistakes J.Y. Park For An AI See more Stray Kids
