Harris campaign celebrates Georgia judge blocking hand-count ballot rule
Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign is celebrating after a Georgia judge temporarily blocked a rule that would have forced election officials to hand count ballots after they have been machine-tabulated. “From the beginning, this rule was an effort to delay election results to sow doubt in the outcome, and our democracy is stronger thanks to this decision to block it,” a joint statement to several media outlets read. “We will continue fighting to ensure that voters can cast their ballot knowing it will count.” The brief comments were released by Georgia Democratic Party Chair Rep. Nikema Williams, D-Ga., DNC acting Co-Executive Director Monica Guardiola, and Harris-Walz Deputy Campaign Manager Quentin Fulks. GEORGIA GOP CHAIR SHARES 2-PRONGED ELECTION STRATEGY AS TRUMP WORKS TO WIN BACK PEACH STATE The joint statement lauding the ruling is a reflection of how lockstep state and national Democrats have been in opposing the new measure. Slated to go into effect Oct. 22, the rule would have required three county elections officials at each polling place to manually count the ballots cast – not tally the votes themselves – after ballots were tabulated by a machine. It was passed in a 3-2 vote by the State Elections Board (SEB), which is now facing several lawsuits against the measure and other changes by the GOP-majority board. FORMER REPUBLICAN US SENATOR ENDORSES KAMALA HARRIS, SAYS ELECTION OFFERS ‘STARK CHOICE’ Democrats have argued that the rule was created to purposefully sow division and uncertainty in the presidential election in Georgia – which was decided by less than 12,000 votes in 2020. In Tuesday night’s ruling, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney did not take issue with the intent of the rule itself but criticized the SEB’s decision to make changes so close to Election Day. He noted that no training had been implemented or developed to prepare election workers for the new procedure, nor had funds been allocated for that purpose. “The administrative chaos that will – not may – ensue is entirely inconsistent with the obligations of our boards of elections (and the SEB) to ensure that our elections are fair, legal, and orderly,” McBurney wrote. GEORGIA DEMS CHAIR REVEALS MESSAGE TO UNDECIDED GOP VOTERS AS HARRIS WORKS TO BUILD BROAD BASE Georgia Republican Party officials and allies of former President Trump held up the rule as a fair guardrail to increase voter confidence in the election process. McBurney wrote that the rule “on paper” appeared consistent with the SEB’s goal to ensure fair and legal elections but added any new measure “that allows for our paper ballots – the only tangible proof of who voted for whom – to be handled multiple times by multiple people following an exhausting Election Day all before they are securely transported to the official tabulation center does not contribute to lessening the tension or boosting the confidence of the public for this election.” Fox News Digital reached out to the Trump campaign for comment on the ruling.
Texas can probe ‘vote harvesting’ through Election Day, appeals court rules
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton can continue investigating allegations of so-called vote harvesting through the November elections, a U.S. appeals court said Tuesday, a decision critics fear could have a chilling effect on voter outreach and turnout in the state. The three-judge appellate court for the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court on Tuesday granted a temporary stay for certain portions of S.B. 1, or the 2021 Texas voting law, including a provision of the law that allows Paxton’s office to continue its investigations into alleged illegal “vote harvesting” efforts at least through the Nov. 5 elections. The stay will remain in place until a full appeal of the law is either granted or denied, according to the appellate decision. Their decision temporarily overturns the ruling issued by U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez late last month. Rodriguez ordered an immediate halt to the vote harvesting provision of S.B. 1, siding with plaintiffs in their contention that the provision is overly vague and a restriction of free speech. He also acknowledged their “widespread confusion” as to what constitutes the illegal practice of vote harvesting in Texas. TED CRUZ WARNS TEXAS SENATE RACE IS ‘INCREDIBLY CLOSE’ Paxton had immediately vowed to appeal that decision, arguing that the vote harvesting component of S.B. 1 is crucial to protecting election integrity in Texas and preventing voter fraud. “Blocking our ability to investigate certain election crimes would have been a serious disruption to the electoral landscape with only a month left before Election Day,” Paxton said at the time. Still, the vaguely-defined scope of vote harvesting has prompted some advocacy groups and voter outreach groups in Texas to halt their canvassing, volunteering and other in-person election events altogether, citing fears of being swept up in a raid, or providing volunteers with food or transportation that could potentially be perceived as “compensation,” which is illegal under the law. In writing for the three-judge appellate court on Tuesday, Judge James Ho appeared to back Paxton’s contention, noting that the provision in question had been on the books for “over three years” before the federal judge’s decision last month. Still, plaintiffs in the lawsuit say their confusion remains over the vaguely worded definition of vote harvesting, which in turn they say has had a chilling effect on volunteer efforts in the state. That is, in part, due to the steep punishment for individuals convicted of the crime, which is classified under S.B. 1 as a third-degree felony. BIDENS ON THE TRAIL: PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY CAMPAIGN IN THE BIGGEST OF THE BATTLEGROUNDS Individuals who give, offer, or receive some “compensation or other benefit” for so-called vote harvesting services can be convicted of the third-degree felony, S.B. 1 states, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. “Vote harvesting services” include any “in-person interaction with one or more voters, in the physical presence of an official ballot or a ballot voted by mail, intended to deliver votes for a specific candidate or measure,” according to the law’s text. Paxton’s office has said previously that “secure elections are the cornerstone of our republic.” In August, his office’s Election Integrity Unit executed searches in three South Texas counties as part of the ongoing probe, which it says was conducted only after officials gathered enough evidence to obtain proper search warrants. Plaintiffs, however, allege that his office has used the provision to carry out illegal “voter raids” against advocacy groups and organizers in Texas. Juan Proaño, the CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, lamented the ruling, telling Fox News in an interview Tuesday his group would appeal the case all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary. “It’s really frightening to our community,” Proaño told Fox News of S.B. 1, noting the provisions have already had a “significant” chilling effect on voters and advocacy groups in Texas – which they have argued are both unjustified and used as a potential means of voter suppression. “There’s no data at all that actually would show that non-citizens are participating in the election process,” he said, adding that LULAC “stands for election integrity.” “And so we will continue to litigate that all the way up to the Supreme Court, if we have to.”
Gaetz demands answers from DHS amid ethics probe into Harris’ ‘border czar’ responsibilities: ‘This is shady’
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will have to turn over unredacted copies of a White House officials’ correspondence with DHS that refers to VP Kamala Harris as the “border czar,” if Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., gets his way. Last month, Rep. Matt Gaetz demanded all correspondence from the DHS that refers to Harris as the “border czar” by Aug. 30. According to documents from a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request from the Heritage Oversight Project, Ian Sams, a White House official, reportedly intervened to block the release of the documents. “At the time [Sams] was engaged in a cover-up for her using government resources, he already had lined up his job on her campaign, which he officially started less than two weeks later,” Gaetz wrote in a letter to Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas Tuesday. “This is shady.” HERITAGE FOUNDATION SUES DHS FOR DOCUMENTS THAT SAY ‘HARRIS’ AND ‘BORDER CZAR’ Gaetz is requesting unredacted copies of the correspondence involving Ian Sams related to his oversight request by Oct. 25. “In fact, the day before the due date, on August 29, 2024, they raised the issue again to political appointees. Kudos to them. But the reason they did not respond to my request, apparently, is that the White House got involved,” Gaetz wrote. Gaetz suggests that Sams’ actions may have violated the Hatch Act and other ethics rules, and he expects DHS to produce the requested emails as well as his initial request for emails with the term “border czar” by the end of the month. The Heritage Foundation submitted their FOIA request on July 30, but DHS denied it, saying it was “too broad in scope and did not specifically identify the records which you are seeking,” the lawsuit states. The plaintiffs were asked to specify what records they wanted. AXIOS HIT WITH COMMUNITY NOTE AFTER CLAIMING HARRIS WAS NEVER ‘BORDER CZAR’ “If she wasn’t the border czar then there shouldn’t be any. Amongst other excuses, DHS says this request is too big a burden for them,” the Oversight Project posted on X. Harris’ immigration record has been a major talking point since she announced her candidacy for president after President Biden dropped out of the race. Harris was widely dubbed the “border czar” after Biden tasked her in March 2021 to address the root causes of mass migration from Central and South America. The term has become a cornerstone of GOP attacks on Harris as she continues her White House bid. The Biden administration has rejected “border czar” as an unofficial title for Harris’ role, but the term was embraced by multiple news organizations before she ascended to the top of the presidential ticket. Fox News Digital has reached out to DHS for comment but did not hear back by publication deadline. Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this report. Get the latest updates on the ongoing border crisis from the Fox News Digital immigration hub.
Harris holds small national lead as Trump increases his edge on the economy: poll
Vice President Harris continues to hold a slim lead over former President Trump, even as Trump extends his lead on the top issues for voters, according to a new poll. A Tuesday poll from Reuters/Ipsos found Harris leading Trump in a 45%-42% match-up nationally, well within the margin of error. Meanwhile, Trump sits at 45% support on the economy, compared to Harris’ 40%. Reuters had previously polled just a 3-point lead for Trump on the issue in late November. Harris, however, holds a commanding lead when it comes to healthcare, where she is 14 points ahead of Trump. She also holds a 43%-38% lead on handling political extremism and protecting democracy. The Reuters poll surveyed 938 U.S. adults online, nationwide, including 807 registered voters. Among these, 769 were considered the most likely to turn out on Election Day. The poll closed on Sunday. WHAT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLLS IN THE 2024 ELECTION SHOW Voters on both sides of the aisle say they are deeply motivated to head to the polls, according to the survey. Roughly 86% of Democrats and 81% of Republicans said they are “completely certain” that they would cast a ballot in the presidential election. CHECK OUT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS IN THE 2024 ELECTION Reuters noted that 74% of the wider electorate said they were certain to vote in the 2020 election, but 78% say the same for the 2024 election. The poll comes as the Harris campaign is sounding the alarm regarding a lack of support among Black male voters. HARRIS UNVEILS NEW AGENDA AS SHE COURTS BLACK MALE VOTERS Former President Obama, in comments that went viral, admonished Black male voters for a lack of enthusiasm for Harris this weekend. Obama’s comments came as polls indicate Trump is making gains with the demographic, who are traditionally some of the Democratic Party’s most reliable supporters. During a stop at a Black-owned coffee shop and record store in Erie, Pennsylvania, – located in another crucial battleground state – the vice president also showcased her agenda including providing 1 million loans that are fully forgivable to Black entrepreneurs and others to start a business, championing education, training and mentorship programs that help Black men get good-paying jobs in high-demand industries and lead their communities, including pathways to become teachers.
Afghan national accused in terror plot was not vetted for SIV status, despite past Biden admin claims
The Biden-Harris administration now admits that an Afghan national accused of plotting an Election Day terror attack did not undergo certain vetting they previously claimed he passed. Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, was never vetted or approved by the State Department for special immigrant (SIV) status, though officials from other agencies had claimed he cleared that stringent process. Additionally, sources familiar with the investigation tell Fox News that Tawhedi was not well known to the U.S. government when the administration facilitated his departure to the states, despite his security role with the CIA in Afghanistan. Fox News has learned Tawhedi was employed as a local guard outside the base perimeter and he would not have been among the most thoroughly vetted U.S. partners. The news upends claims officials made last week that Tawhedi was vetted three times: first to work for the CIA in Afghanistan, then to come to the U.S. on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) humanitarian parole during the withdrawal and a third time when he was approved for special immigrant (SIV) status after arriving in the U.S. AFGHAN ISIS TERROR PLOT: BIDEN ADMIN AGENCIES POINT FINGERS AS LAWMAKERS DEMAND ANSWERS Officials now acknowledge Tawhedi was never vetted or approved for special immigrant (SIV) status, a thorough State Department process which can take years to complete. The State Department has maintained all along it had no role in Tawhedi’s refugee status, despite what a DHS case agent told investigators – leading to its inaccurate mention in the DOJ criminal complaint. Last week, Biden administration officials defended the error, explaining that Tawhedi first entered the country on DHS humanitarian parole – which had its own vetting process – but later applied for SIV status, subjecting him to another round of vetting which he also cleared. Those same officials now admit that claim was wrong, and Tawhedi was never vetted or approved for SIV. However, officials now say Tawhedi was subjected to “recurrent” vetting as part of his DHS humanitarian parole under Operation Allies Welcome – but this raises new questions. DHS has repeatedly stated that no red flags were identified at any point in Tawhedi’s vetting, but three sources forcefully disputed DHS’ characterization of the vetting process as “thorough.” AFGHAN CHARGED WITH ELECTION DAY TERROR PLOT RAISES QUESTIONS, FEARS FROM LAWMAKERS: ‘THIS IS REAL’ According to a 2022 DHS Inspector General Report, DHS did not provide data or evidence to support its claim that “recurrent vetting processes were established for all paroled Afghan evacuees for the duration of their parole period.” The report also stated that DHS admitted or paroled evacuees who were not fully vetted into the United States, in many cases because information used to vet evacuees through U.S. Government databases, such as name, date of birth, identification number, and travel document data, was inaccurate, incomplete, or missing. The 2022 audit by the DHS Office of the Inspector General revealed 417 records with a first name unknown, 242 records with a last name unknown and 11,110 records with a birthdate recorded as “January 1.” Additionally, 36,400 travel records listed “facilitation document” as the document type, and 7,800 records had invalid or missing document numbers. U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not maintain a list of individuals paroled or admitted into the country without proper identification. MAYORKAS REFUSES TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ON AFGHAN ACCUSED OF ELECTION DAY TERROR PLOT Recurrent vetting was initiated by CBP for Operation Allies Welcome parolees prior to their arrival in the United States. CBP shared biographical information collected during the initial screening and vetting process with the National Vetting Center (NVC) and designated Vetting Support Agencies (VSAs) – external to DHS – for recurrent vetting against classified information in NVC and VSA data holdings. DHS stated in the 2024 final report that “the National Vetting Center recurrent vetting is ongoing and active for all OAW parolees”, but the agency has also told Fox News, “Vetting is a point-in-time check that evaluates information available to the U.S. Government at that time.” Prosecutors say Tawhedi obtained firearms and ammunition to conduct a violent attack on U.S. soil, as well as taking a number of steps to prepare for the alleged plot. He is charged with conspiring and attempting to provide material support to ISIS and receiving a firearm to be used to commit a felony or a federal crime of terrorism. Investigators are still working to determine whether Tawhedi was radicalized before or after coming to the U.S. Fox News Digital’s Louis Casioano and David Spunt contributed to this report.
Melania Trump to release ‘Collector’s Edition’ of memoir featuring images photographed by former first lady
EXCLUSIVE: Former first lady Melania Trump is releasing a special collector’s edition of her new memoir containing exclusive images she photographed at the White House and around the world. The collector’s edition of the former first lady’s first-ever memoir, “Melania,” features 256 pages in full color, with each copy signed by Trump. MELANIA TRUMP’S MEMOIR SOARS TO TOP SPOT ON SEVERAL AMAZON ‘BEST SELLERS’ LISTS WEEKS BEFORE ITS RELEASE The collector’s edition includes photos hand-selected by Trump, many she photographed herself surrounding her home and various trips she has taken around the world. Fox News Digital exclusively obtained several photos taken by the former first lady featured in the collector’s edition, including a photo of her and former President Donald Trump on their very first date. “Donald and I on our first date night,” she told Fox News Digital. “It was an enjoyable and memorable evening.” Another photo expected to be featured in the collector’s edition is one that Trump took herself, a photo of Marine One outside the first lady’s room in the White House. “The striking view from my room as my husband returns to the White House aboard Marine One,” Trump told Fox News Digital, as she described the photo she captured. “The helicopter’s iconic silhouette against the skyline symbolizes his commitment to service, while the surrounding landscape serves as a reminder of the responsibilities he carries.” Another image Trump photographed that will be featured in the collector’s edition is one inside the historic West Wing residence. “The West Wing hallway, in the residence, characterized by its iconic window, serves as a significant architectural feature that allows natural light to brighten up the space,” she told Fox News Digital. Fox News Digital has learned the collector’s edition of the book is printed on “premium art paper with a special custom white binding and adorned with black foil, blocking, and a ribbon marker.” “Writing my memoir has been an amazing journey filled with emotional highs and lows,” the former first lady told Fox News Digital. “Each story shaped me into who I am today.” MELANIA TRUMP LAUNCHES JEWELRY LINE TO HONOR MOMS AHEAD OF MOTHER’S DAY, RAISE FUNDS FOR FOSTER KIDS She told Fox News Digital that “although daunting at times, the process has been incredibly rewarding, reminding me of my strength, and the beauty of sharing my truth.” The memoir, according to the press release, is “a powerful and inspiring story of a woman who has carved her own path, overcome adversity and defined personal excellence.” “The former First Lady invites readers into her world, offering an intimate portrait of a woman who has lived an extraordinary life,” the press release says. “Melania includes personal stories and family photos she has never before shared with the public.” “Melania” is the former first lady’s first book. MELANIA TRUMP TO RELEASE FIRST MEMOIR, WILL REVEAL STORIES AND PHOTOS ‘NEVER BEFORE SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC’ During her time as first lady, Trump hosted virtual roundtables on foster care as part of her “Be Best” initiative and focused on strengthening the child welfare system. She worked with members of Congress on legislation that secured funding for grants awarded to youth and young adults currently or formerly in foster care to help pay for college, career school or training. The bill ultimately was signed by then-President Donald Trump in December 2020. Since leaving the White House, the former first lady has also created special edition Non-Fungible Tokens. A portion of those proceeds also went toward her initiative “Fostering the Future” to secure educational opportunities and scholarships for children in the foster care community. “Fostering the Future” students are currently enrolled in multiple colleges and universities across the country, with areas of focus primarily on technology and computer sciences. Earlier this year, the former first lady also rolled out a jewelry line to honor “all mothers,” telling Fox News Digital that mothers are “the bedrock of the American family.” A portion of the proceeds from the jewelry line are going toward her “Fostering the Future” initiative. The memoir is being published by Skyhorse Publishing.
Israel resumes Beirut strikes despite US ‘opposition’
Israeli air strikes have hit Beirut’s Dahiyeh area despite US assurances Israel would scale back its attacks. Israel has resumed air strikes on Beirut despite objections from the United States over the way it is conducting its campaign in Lebanon. Israeli military jets targeted the capital early on Wednesday for the first time since October 10. Three strikes were reported to have hit the southern suburbs of the city. The attack came despite Washington having expressed concern over the scope of Israeli attacks on Beirut. At the same time, the US continues to support Israel’s wars in Lebanon and Gaza, in which it says it aims to destroy Hezbollah and Hamas. The Israeli military stated on social media that Wednesday’s strikes targeted “combat equipment that was stored inside an underground warehouse”. A warning had been issued earlier that an attack on the Dahiyeh suburb was imminent, with residents warned to flee the vicinity of a building marked on a map. According to Al Jazeera reporters in Beirut, three strikes were heard at about 6:50am in the Dahiyeh area. The number of casualties remains unclear. (Al Jazeera) Al Jazeera’s Imran Khan, reporting from Hasbaiyya to the south, suggested that the damage resulting from the strikes “doesn’t really suggest that it was an arms dump” that was hit. Amnesty International and others have said that warnings from the Israeli military are often issued too late to allow people to escape and do not exonerate Israel from responsibility for civilian casualties. ‘Opposed’ The resumption of strikes on Beirut came shortly after a spokesperson for the US government expressed concern over the conduct of Israel’s military campaigns in Lebanon and Gaza, using stronger language than he had previously. “When it comes to the scope and nature of the bombing campaign that we saw in Beirut over the past few weeks, it’s something that we made clear to the government of Israel we had concerns with and we were opposed to,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said late on Tuesday. The US had previously expressed open criticism of Israeli air strikes that struck residential buildings in central Beirut on October 10, killing 22 people. Al Jazeera’s Khan noted: “This has been a period of relative calm in the Lebanese capital … But after five days it’s now back to Beirut and a very serious attack against that southern suburb.” The same day, Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that US officials had provided assurances that Israel would reduce its attacks on the capital city, and that Washington was “serious about pressuring Israel to reach a ceasefire”. It has also been reported that the US has threatened to withhold weapons deliveries unless more humanitarian aid reaches Gaza. However, the US continues to send weapons worth billions of dollars to Israel, including a missile system and troops to operate it. No ceasefire At least 1,350 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel escalated its attacks last month. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed the possibility of a ceasefire, insisting that would leave Iran-backed Hezbollah too close to Israel’s northern border and that a buffer zone is vital. Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Qassem said on Tuesday that a ceasefire is the only solution to the conflict, but also threatened to expand the scope of its missile strikes across Israel. Early on Wednesday Israel’s military said about 50 projectiles were fired from Lebanon. No casualties have been reported. Meanwhile, Israeli attacks continue across southern and eastern Lebanon. At least five people were killed as missiles struck the town of Nabatieh, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Another 15 at least were reported to have been killed in the town of Qana. Adblock test (Why?)
Legends League allows long deprived fans to enjoy cricket again in Kashmir
Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir – When Wasif Ahmad, a 34-year-old shopkeeper from Srinagar, saw a billboard announcing the arrival of international cricket stars in his hometown, he promptly bought tickets and decided to shut his business on the day of the match. Ahmad, like thousands of cricket-mad Kashmiris, cared little for the lack of glitz and glamour in the Legends League Cricket (LLC) – a franchise-based T20 cricket league involving former international cricketers – he simply couldn’t miss an opportunity to watch a live cricket match. With the arrival of the LLC’s seven matches in Srinagar from October 9 to 16, cricket finally returned to Indian-administered Kashmir – one of the world’s most heavily militarised regions and synonymous with uprisings against the central Indian government’s control. Ahmad, an avid cricket fan, grew up playing the game and listening to his father’s tales about the two international cricket matches that Kashmir hosted in the 1980s – but had never been to one. “Seeing international cricketers play live [in Kashmir] felt like a distant dream to me,” Ahmad told Al Jazeera while watching the Gujarat Greats take on the Konark Suryas Odisha at Bakshi Stadium, the region’s oldest sports venue in the heart of Srinagar. Cricket fans of all age groups formed long snaking queues outside the stadium under the stern glare of security personnel. Families with young children and groups of women flocked to watch their first live cricket match. Inside the stadium, a vibrant crowd packed the stands ahead of the 7pm (13:30 GMT) game that stretched late into the night – a rarity in a city where nightlife has been non-existent amid decades of turmoil. Floodlights illuminated the ground and cast a glow over the nearby streets as loud music from the stadium’s public address system, coupled with the roaring chants of the crowd, filtered out of the 30,000-capacity venue. The presence of hundreds of armed security personnel in camouflaged uniforms and dozens of patrolling vehicles provided a stark reminder of everyday life in Kashmir – where peace and hostility often co-exist. Despite the challenges, the weeklong cricket extravaganza seemed to have brought a temporary escape from the region’s complex and often violent history. The Legends League Cricket tournament, which brought international cricketers back to Indian-administered Kashmir after 39 years, saw thousands of fans attend the matches at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar [Shuaib Bashir/Al Jazeera] Cricket’s fractured history in Kashmir Kashmir hosted its first international cricket match in October 1983, when some of cricket’s biggest names arrived in the valley as newly crowned world champions India hosted the then mighty West Indies in a one-day international (ODI) match at the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar. The game was rocked by protests and ugly scenes as the spectators cheered for the West Indians in a mark of dissent. Some protesters entered the ground during the innings break and damaged parts of the pitch but the match was completed as the visitors won by 28 runs. In 1986, India hosted Australia in an ODI. The visitors also found unexpected support in the Kashmiri capital and beat the hosts by three wickets. Three years later, an anti-India armed rebellion erupted in the valley. The central government deployed nearly 700,000 troops to suppress the movement, making the region as one of the world’s most heavily militarised conflict zones. The Muslim-majority Himalayan region is split between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan, which rule over parts of the territory but claim it in its entirety and have fought three of their four wars over it. Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the decades-old conflict, most of them civilians. Hundreds of security checkpoints are spread across the valley to monitor locals’ movements. In August 2019, India scrapped a law that granted special status to the region, stripping Kashmir of the significant autonomy it had enjoyed for seven decades. The move was followed by an indefinite lockdown and a significant troop deployment to suppress protests. International cricket’s decades-long absence from Kashmir, then, is as unremarkable as the presence of hundreds of gun-toting security personnel in the environs of Bakshi Stadium. Students walk towards Bakshi Stadium under the gaze of security personnel in Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir [Shuaib Bashir/Al Jazeera] ‘A superficial attempt to showcase normalcy’ Bakshi Stadium, named after Jammu and Kashmir’s former prime minister Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad, has been a politically significant venue since its inauguration in the 1950s. In addition to hosting high-profile sports events, the stadium has also served as a venue for political rallies, but the armed rebellion that began in 1989 rendered the stadium non-functional and all sport events were suspended. When India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kashmir in March, he addressed a large crowd at Bakshi Stadium and promised a slew of developmental projects in the region. While the LLC’s seven matches have attracted thousands of entertainment-deprived cricket fans, many locals see the tournament’s presence in Kashmir through the prism of “enforced normalcy”. Kashmiris believe that Modi’s government has employed sport as a tool to project a peaceful image of the region, despite its fractious reality. Indian-administered Kashmir’s Chief Minister-designate Omar Abdullah, whose National Conference emerged as the single largest winning party in the recent elections, was also present at Bakshi Stadium and insisted he would encourage the upliftment of sport. For the thousands of cricket fans queueing at the stadium’s ticket booth, such as Seeban Farooq, the tournament’s popularity was a testament to the region’s “craze” for cricket but would do little to promote local cricketers. “These events have little to do with the upliftment of local talent,” he said. A young cricketer, who requested anonymity, told Al Jazeera that the LLC could “fuel the dreams” of aspiring Kashmiri cricketers – only to be crushed by the harsh reality. “Substandard infrastructure, lack of proper pitches and minimal facilities raise serious concerns about the future of cricket development in the region,” said the young player dressed in his all-white cricket attire. “It’s a superficial attempt to showcase normalcy while
Global conflicts driving up to 21,000 deaths daily from hunger: Report
Oxfam finds most food crises are ‘largely manufactured’ in new report published on World Food Day. Hunger caused by conflicts around the world has reached record high levels, a new report by Oxfam has found, which accuses warring parties of weaponising food and blocking aid. Between 7,000 to as many as 21,000 people are likely dying each day from hunger in countries affected by conflict, according to the report, published by the United Kingdom-based charity on World Food Day on Wednesday. Titled Food Wars, it examined 54 countries experiencing conflict, revealing that they account for nearly all of the 281.6 million people facing acute hunger today. Conflict has also been a major driver of forced displacement in these countries, which has now reached a record 117 million people. Oxfam emphasised that conflict not only fuels hunger, but that warring parties are actively using food as a weapon by targeting food, water and energy infrastructure, as well as blocking food aid. Palestinians receive food donated by a charity, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip [File: Haitham Imdad/EPA-EFE] In September, three humanitarian agencies warned of “a starvation crisis of historic proportions” amid Sudan’s civil war, while the proportion of households affected by high levels of acute food insecurity in Gaza has been the largest ever recorded globally since the end of last year. “As conflict rages around the world, starvation has become a lethal weapon wielded by warring parties against international laws,” said Oxfam’s Emily Farr, who works in the area of food and economic security. “Today’s food crises are largely manufactured. Nearly half a million people in Gaza – where 83 percent of needed food aid is currently not reaching them – and over three-quarters of a million in Sudan are starving as the devastating effects of wars on food are likely to persist for generations.” The analysis revealed that the crises of war, displacement and hunger occur in countries heavily reliant on primary product exports. For instance, 95 percent of Sudan’s export earnings come from gold and livestock. Mining operations have led to violent conflicts, forcing people from their homes as the degraded and polluted environments become unliveable. According to Oxfam, this underscores the failures of peace-building efforts that rely on an economic liberalisation model focused on attracting foreign investment and promoting export-driven economies, which often exacerbates inequality instead. “Large-scale private investment – both foreign and domestic – has often exacerbated political and economic instability, as investors seize control over land and water, displacing local populations,” Farr said. Conflict frequently intensifies other crises like climate shocks, economic instability and inequality. Climate-related disasters such as droughts and floods, combined with rising global food prices due to pandemic shutdowns and disruptions from the Russia-Ukraine war, have escalated hunger crises in East and Southern Africa, it said. Oxfam warned that the global commitment to “zero hunger” by 2030 is becoming increasingly unattainable. It called on the international community, including the United Nations Security Council, to hold accountable those responsible for “starvation crimes” under international law. “To break the vicious cycle of food insecurity and conflict, global leaders must confront the root causes of conflict: colonial legacies, injustices, human rights abuses and inequalities – rather than offering superficial solutions,” Farr said. Adblock test (Why?)
AOC fires back at Fetterman, accuses him of ‘bleak dunk attempt’
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) accused Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) of a “bleak dunk attempt” after he highlighted a headline about her calling out the Biden administration regarding Israel. “The tragedy in Gaza is 100% on Hamas. Stop using civilians and hospitals as shields, surrender, and release all remaining hostages—and this ends,” Fetterman tweeted when sharing the Ocasio-Cortez-related headline. Fetterman has been outspoken in supporting Israel and condemning Hamas in the wake of the terror group’s heinous Oct. 7, 2023 attack that included rape, murder, and kidnapping. AOC RIPS FETTERMAN FOR COMPARING HOUSE TO ‘JERRY SPRINGER’ SHOW: ‘I STAND UP TO BULLIES’ “I dunno man. I care about little kids dying. I care about human rights. I care that billions of US tax dollars’ worth of weapons are carrying out unspeakable atrocities. I care enough for us to do better. Hope this bleak dunk attempt gets you whatever it is you’re going for,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote in response to Fetterman’s post. Earlier this week, the congresswoman had tweeted, “The horrors unfolding in northern Gaza are the result of a completely unrestrained Netanyahu gov, fully armed by the Biden admin while food aid is blocked and patients are bombed in hospitals. This is a genocide of Palestinians. The US must stop enabling it. Arms embargo now.” SEN. FETTERMAN HITS BACK AT AOC’S SUGGESTION HE’S A BULLY AFTER HOUSE CLASH: ‘THAT’S ABSURD’ Marking the grim anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack earlier this month, Fetterman noted in a tweet, “On this traumatic One-Year Anniversary of the October 7th Hamas attacks, I share in the collective sorrow for all innocent lives lost. I will continue to be a voice for our ally, for the release of all remaining hostages, and for peace to return.” Israel launched a war effort in response to the Oct. 7 atrocities last year and Fetterman has been an unflinching supporter of the U.S. ally. FETTERMAN LAUDS ISRAEL FOR LEAVING IRAN ‘EXPOSED AND HUMILIATED’ AFTER STRIKES ON HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH “Immediately after 10/7, I strongly affirmed supporting any assistance—financial, military or intelligence—without conditions, in Israel’s war against terrorists,” the senator tweeted last month.