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Trump selects longtime adviser Keith Kellogg as special envoy for Ukraine and Russia

Party Crisis: Very critical time for PDP – Utaan calls for unity ahead of NEC meeting

I respectfully disagree with Lynn Wright’s contention (letters, Nov. 26) that our 27th Congressional District is not “filled with moderate thinking voters.” While Mr. Wright is correct that our district has become purple, that alone does not explain why Democrat George Whitesides defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Garcia. After all, Donald Trump was able to crack the so-called “blue wall” and win the popular vote. Full disclosure: I voted for Whitesides and donated money to his campaign. So, how did Whitesides prevail? There were several factors that contributed to his success, but one key reason is that Whitesides ran as a moderate Democrat who did not fall into the trap of identity politics. While some Republicans in our district may still view him as a “far-left” liberal, his positions on key issues are mainstream and resonated with moderate voters like me. For example, Whitesides campaigned to increase funding for local law enforcement, and not “defund the police.” Voters felt comfortable supporting him, knowing that he would not join the “The Squad” in the House of Representatives. A similar example can be seen with Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin, who won a U.S. Senate seat in Michigan at the same time President Trump carried the state. Slotkin has been outspoken about the dangers of identity politics, even saying that it should “go the way of the dodo.” Political strategist James Carville has described identity politics as “one of the great self-inflicted wounds of the century,” and he argues that even if Democrats avoid identity politics, it is not enough to stay silent, they must actively oppose it. As Carville points out, “In politics, the other side gets to play. It’s not just you.” The challenge for Whitesides is to stay focused on the issues that matter most to his constituents and avoid the siren song of the far left and identity politics. Like every member of Congress, Whitesides has a two-year contract that is renewable at the discretion of his employers — the voters. Philip Wasserman Stevenson RanchMarcus Johnson and Bowling Green take down New Mexico State 61-60

A three-game road trip opens for the Soo Greyhounds with a game at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines against the Niagara IceDogs. Full updates will be available throughout the game

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 30 (IANS): After close to two decades, factionalism has raised its head again in the Kerala unit of the ruling CPI-M, with various incidents reported from at least four places across the state. The incidents were reported from Alappuzha, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, and Palakkad. At Kollam, CPI-M state Secretary M.V.Govindan arrived at the party district headquarters on Saturday and after a long discussion with the local leaders, came out and said "certain undesirable things" had happened here. "The Karunagapally area committee has been disbanded and an ad hoc committee will now oversee the affairs of the party. They will take the appropriate decisions on what has happened here and actions will be there," he said. When Govindan was discussing the issue at Kollam, in Kozhinjapara at Palakkad, a strong group of CPI-M workers opened a new parallel office of the party in the name of the legendary Communist E.M.S. Namboodiripad. At Thiruvalla in the Pathanamthitta district, things did not appear good for the otherwise disciplined cadre party when a local uprising started giving a headache to the state leadership and a local party meeting had to be stopped due to serious differences of opinion breaking out. At Alappuzha in Ambalapuzha, two-time State Minister G.Sudhakaran on Saturday found out that he was not invited to the local meeting at the party office, next door to his home. But CPI-M's district Secretary R. Nassar said that since Sudhakaran is a senior leader, they invite him to only important events. Meanwhile, the CPI-M got a shock when one of its hugely popular youth faces in Alappuzha and district panchayat member, Bipin C. Babu joined the BJP. State BJP President K. Surendran said this is just the beginning and soon there will be many more CPI-M members joining the BJP. But, Nassar said that Babu had faced party action in the past and "nothing more needs to be looked into his exit". The last time this sort of factionalism happened was almost two decades back when present Chief Minister - and then state Secretary - Pinarayi Vijayan headed the very dominant group, while the other faction, though of a minuscule strength, was led by the then Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan. However, a political analyst maintained that what happened between Vijayan and Achuthanandan cannot be equated to what’s happening now. "At that time, everything rallied around these two towering party leaders. What’s happening now is totally different and if not curtailed, it could lead to serious repercussions as never before has one seen party members marching on the streets and washing dirty linen in public. More importantly, this indiscipline is taking place at the grassroots, which incidentally is the strongest strata in the cadre party," said the analyst who did not want to be identified. What has irked the top brass of the state leadership is this is happening when the state party conference is to be held at Kollam early next year and to be followed up by the Party Congress at Madurai in neighbouring Tamil Nadu in April next year.

Rams head coach Sean McVay said after Saturday’s victory over the Cardinals that he didn’t want to get too invested in Sunday’s games — even though Los Angeles had a chance to clinch if certain teams won. But if you heard some cheers around Southern California after Jayden Daniels hit Zach Ertz for a game-winning touchdown to end Sunday Night Football , there’s a good reason why. With Washington’s overtime victory over Atlanta, the Rams have clinched the NFC West and are officially headed to the postseason. The Commanders’ victory gave Los Angeles the strength-of-victory tiebreaker over Seattle, rendering the Week 18 result of the game between the Rams and Seahawks irrelevant. After the Bengals beat the Broncos and the Rams defeated the Cardinals on Saturday night, Los Angeles needed three of Minnesota, Buffalo, San Francisco, Washington, and Cleveland to win the rest of the weekend to clinch the tiebreaker. Minnesota, Buffalo, and Washington got it done for L.A. This is the fourth division title for the Rams under Sean McVay and their sixth trip to the postseason in his eight years as head coach. Los Angeles will face Seattle next week at home to finish the regular season. With the Rams as the No. 3 or No. 4 seed, they are likely to rest their starters against the Seahawks. That is what they’ve traditionally done in the final week of the season with a postseason spot clinched under McVay, including last year’s Week 18 matchup against the 49ers.The Latest: State funeral for Jimmy Carter will be Jan. 9iPhone 17 Pro set for BIG design changes in 2025- Here?s what we know

The Washington Commanders released 2023 first-rounder Emmanuel Forbes on Saturday, cutting ties with another high draft pick from the previous regime. All of previous coach Ron Rivera's first-rounders — including edge rusher Chase Young in 2020, linebacker Jamin Davis in ‘21 and wide receiver Jahan Dotson in '22 — are now gone. Forbes never showed progress to the new staff led by coach Dan Quinn and was a healthy scratch twice this season and did not play in two other games during which the 23-year-old was in uniform. It's unclear if Forbes' release means anything about the status of cornerback Marshon Lattimore , the Commanders' trade deadline pickup in early November who still has not played for them because of a hamstring injury. Lattimore was listed as doubtful for Washington's home game Sunday against Tennessee. The Commanders (7-5) also put running back Austin Ekeler on injured reserve because of a concussion . They elevated kicker Zane Gonzalez and defensive tackle Carl Davis from the practice squad in preparation for facing the Titans (3-8). Washington has lost three in a row to fall from first place in the NFC East to the conference’s final wild-card spot. The most recent loss, last weekend against division rival Dallas, came when Austin Seibert missed his second extra point of the game, which would have tied it with 21 seconds left. Seibert went on IR earlier in the week with a groin injury that Quinn said the kicker reported Monday. While injuries have piled up as the Commanders await their late bye week, the choice of Forbes has been second-guessed since the moment Rivera's front office chose the 166-pound Mississippi State defensive back with the 16th pick over Christian Gonzalez and others. Gonzalez was selected next, by New England, and has started 16 games for the Patriots. Forbes was benched last season by Rivera, who was in charge when Washington selected Davis ahead of offensive lineman Christian Darrisaw in '21 and traded down to take Dotson the following year instead of safety Kyle Hamilton or receiver Chris Olave. Forbes has two interceptions and 12 passes defensed in 20 games. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Swinney and Brown at memorial service for ‘giant of a man’ Alex SalmondDemand growing for eco-friendly materials, energy-efficient solutions in luxury home interiors: Aashita ChadhaTrump selects longtime adviser Keith Kellogg as special envoy for Ukraine and Russia

Canada's Trudeau says he had an 'excellent conversation' with Trump in Florida after tariffs threatNoneThe Qatar International Art Festival (QIAF) wrapped up its 6th edition Saturday, with a celebration of creativity, collaboration, and cultural exchange. Organised by MAPS International WLL and hosted in collaboration with Katara – the Cultural Village, the British Council Qatar, ICOM, and Qatar Sports and Olympic Museum 3-2-1, this year’s festival showcased the diversity of global artistry with the participation of more than 360 artists from 73 countries. The festival ran from November 25-30, captivating thousands of art enthusiasts and visitors who flocked to witness an exhibition featuring over 1,000 paintings and sculptures. The week-long event was marked by 14 activities, ranging from interactive art workshops to engaging panel discussions, inviting both seasoned art connoisseurs and casual visitors to immerse themselves in the vibrant world of art. The opening ceremony on November 25 featured a red carpet event attended by Katara general manager Prof Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti as the chief guest, alongside ambassadors and representatives from over 70 nations. Dignitaries and art lovers were treated to a showcase that set the tone for the week ahead. This year’s festival was distinguished by its diversity, with 16 art galleries and 22 exclusive art pavilions from every continent contributing to an inclusive dialogue that transcended geographical and cultural boundaries. Each exhibition and event harboured unique artistic expressions and perspectives, including street art, contemporary installations, and traditional crafts, fostering meaningful connections among creators and audiences alike. One of the highlights of the QIAF 2024 was the cultural evening, where attendees indulged in the rich tapestry of global traditions. The special performance by DJ Mo Ayoub from the UK, was mesmerising. This year’s festival also emphasised cultural appreciation through curated city and museum tours, allowing participants to experience Doha’s vibrant art scene and historical narratives first-hand. Additionally, guests were given the opportunity to partake in thrilling desert safari tours that offered a glimpse into Qatar’s breathtaking landscapes. For aspiring artists, the QIAF 2024 hosted 12 art workshops and 10 dedicated masterclasses, where participants learned directly from experts in their respective fields. This hands-on approach created a nurturing environment for creativity and passion to flourish, ensuring that both seasoned practitioners and emerging talents left the festival inspired and equipped with new skills. The Artistic Fashion Show, a unique feature this year, blended art with haute couture. Designers presented visionary works that transformed the runway into a living canvas, celebrating the intersection of fashion and creative expression. As the festival drew to a close yesterday, the award and felicitation ceremony recognised the outstanding contributions of participants and valued partners. Awards were presented to individuals and groups who demonstrated exceptional skills and creativity throughout the week. Their works, reflecting the essence of cultural diversity and artistic innovation, served as a testament to the festival’s mission of fostering dialogue and collaboration among artists from all backgrounds. Related Story QIAF 2024 to conclude at Katara with awards ceremony Qatar Armed Forces join OCC for Nato partner countries

Drew Lock matched his career high of four touchdown passes and also rushed for a score and the New York Giants snapped their franchise-record 10-game losing streak with an entertaining 45-33 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J. Malik Nabers had seven receptions for a career-best 171 yards and two touchdowns to exceed 100 receptions and 1,000 yards during his strong rookie campaign. New York (3-13) registered a season best for points scored by more than tripling its league-worst season average of 14.3 per game. The setback eliminated the Colts (7-9) from the AFC playoff race. Lock completed 17 of 23 passes for 309 yards, and Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Stayton also had receiving scores for the Giants, who won at home for the first time this season. Ihmir Smith-Marsette returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Joe Flacco started for Indianapolis with Anthony Richardson (back/foot) sidelined and completed 26 of 38 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns. But he also was intercepted twice and lost a fumble. Jonathan Taylor rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries, Michael Pittman Jr. had nine receptions for 109 yards and one touchdown, and Alec Pierce caught six passes for 122 yards and a score. Indianapolis pulled within 35-33 on Flacco's 7-yard touchdown pass to Pittman with 6:38 remaining. The Giants answered with Lock's 5-yard scramble with 2:57 left to push the lead to nine. After Flacco was picked off by Dru Phillips, Graham Gano tacked on a 30-yard field goal to put the game away. New York held an eight-point halftime lead before Smith-Marsette fielded the opening kickoff of the second half and returned it for a touchdown to give the Giants a 28-13 advantage. The Colts answered with Taylor's 26-yard run to move within eight with 11:03 left in the third quarter. Flacco threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Pierce with 10:53 remaining in the game to move Indianapolis within two. A trick play on the two-point conversion failed. New York increased its lead to nine just more than two minutes later when Nabers caught a short pass at midfield and easily shed two tacklers before sprinting down the right sideline for a 59-yard score. Lock tossed three first-half touchdown passes as the Giants led 21-13 at the break. Nabers caught a short pass in the right flat and raced 31 yards for a score to give New York a 7-3 lead with 1:05 left in the opening quarter. He finished the day with 104 receptions for 1,140 yards. Lock tossed touchdown passes of 32 yards to Slayton and 5 yards to Robinson while increasing the lead to 21-6. Taylor scored on a 3-yard run with 20 seconds remaining. --Field Level Media