Internal data shows member credit card balances are up more than 50% for Gen Z and millennial members since March 2022, when the Fed started raising interest rates.
Summary
Gen Z is increasingly relying on “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) services for holiday shopping, with spending projected to rise 11.4% this year, totaling $18.5 billion.
These services appeal to younger consumers with limited credit histories but can lead to overextension, as they lack centralized reporting and encourage overspending.
Experts warn of accumulating fees, particularly when BNPL plans are tied to credit cards.
With inflation and rising credit card debt already burdening Gen Z, consumer advocates caution that these services may worsen financial instability despite their convenience.
Consideration centers on whether to appoint Lara Trump to fill the Senate seat being left by Rubio, who has been tapped for secretary of state, but other names are on the shortlist.
Summary
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is delaying his decision to fill Marco Rubio’s Senate seat, vacated due to Rubio’s appointment as Secretary of State under Trump.
DeSantis is conducting a thorough vetting process and is not considering a placeholder or appointing himself.
Trump allies, including Lara Trump, are lobbying for her to take the seat, complicating DeSantis’ decision given their tense political history.
Other potential candidates include Florida officials like Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez and Attorney General Ashley Moody. DeSantis’ decision could influence his 2028 presidential ambitions.
European investigators believe a Chinese-owned commercial ship deliberately dragged its anchor to sabotage the two undersea telecommunications cables cut in the Baltic Sea earlier this month. Western law enforcement suspects Russian intelligence was behind the operation.
Summary
European investigators allege that the Chinese-owned ship Yi Peng 3 deliberately dragged its anchor to sever two Baltic Sea undersea data cables connecting Lithuania-Sweden and Finland-Germany.
While the Chinese government is not suspected, officials are probing possible Russian intelligence involvement.
The ship’s suspicious movements, including transponder shutdowns and zig-zagging, suggest deliberate action.
The vessel, linked to Russian trade since March 2024, was carrying Russian fertilizer when stopped.
NATO warships surround the ship, but international maritime laws limit investigators’ access.
Biden said that he hopes Trump "rethinks" his tariff announcement, which would impact two close U.S. allies.
Summary
President Joe Biden criticized President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico as “counterproductive,” warning it could harm relationships with key trade partners.
Trump announced the tariffs would remain until illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking are stopped, drawing criticism from economists who argue the costs would fall on consumers.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum disputed Trump’s claim that she agreed to “close borders.” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stressed the importance of maintaining strong U.S.-Canada trade ties in response to the proposal.
Across what was once South America’s second-largest producer of natural gas, everyone is searching for fuel.
Summary
Bolivia faces an economic collapse due to a fuel shortage, foreign currency reserves depletion, and rising inflation.
The crisis has led to protests, food shortages, and a decline in the government’s popularity.
The government’s denial of the problems and its handling of the situation have further exacerbated the situation.
Jurors were told of the convictions at the start of a trial of three other alleged spies.
Summary
Two Bulgarian men, Orlin Roussev and Biser Dzhambazov, have pleaded guilty to spying for Russia in the UK, admitting to conspiracy to gather intelligence for Russian benefit.
Their activities included surveillance of individuals and locations, using false identities, and advanced technology.
Three other alleged spies, currently on trial, deny similar charges.
Prosecutors described a coordinated operation directed by Roussev, who received orders from Jan Marsalek, an Austrian linked to Russian intelligence.
The espionage involved high-level deceit, including the use of “honey traps” to extract information from targets.
Trump mocked after Mexico’s president blows up his brag about their call
Problem solved, Trump claims.
Summary
Trump claimed Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed to “stop Migration through Mexico” after a call, declaring it a win for U.S. border security.
Sheinbaum quickly refuted this, stating Mexico opposes closing borders and prioritizes collaboration.
The exchange drew mockery online, with critics comparing it to Trump’s past unfulfilled claim that Mexico would pay for a border wall.
Social media users ridiculed Trump for exaggerating the conversation’s outcome and manufacturing a crisis with Mexico over proposed tariffs he’s vowed to implement upon taking office.
Ex-British soldier found guilty of spying for Iran
Daniel Khalife said he was trying to act as a "double agent," arguing that he was against the Iranian regime. But the jury in London found the 23-year-old former soldier guilty of espionage and terrorism charges.
Summary
Former British soldier Daniel Khalife, 23, was convicted in London of espionage and terrorism for spying for Iran.
Prosecutors said Khalife gathered and shared classified military information, potentially endangering lives and national security, while claiming to be a “double agent” against the Iranian regime.
Khalife’s September 2023 escape from prison triggered a high-profile manhunt before his recapture.
Found guilty under the Official Secrets Act and Terrorism Act, Khalife denied wrongdoing, portraying himself as a patriot. He was acquitted of a separate bomb hoax charge.
Romania orders election recount after shock far-right win
The recount was ordered by Romania's Consitutional Court. Far-right populist Calin Georgescu won the first round of the presidential election and was set to go against centrist Elena Lasconi in a December runoff.
Summary
Romania’s Constitutional Court has ordered a recount of the November 24 presidential election after far-right candidate Calin Georgescu unexpectedly won the first round, despite polling below 5% beforehand.
Georgescu, critical of NATO and supportive of Russia’s Putin, will face centrist Elena Lasconi in a December 8 runoff.
The court rejected an application to annul the election, citing a missed deadline.
The decision comes amid reports of cyberattacks and allegations of TikTok of favoring the far-right candidate.
The man's attorneys said the punitive and compensatory damages total the largest amount to ever be awarded by a jury in a medical malpractice case in the U.S.
Summary
A New Mexico jury awarded $412 million in a medical malpractice case against NuMale Medical Center, marking the largest U.S. malpractice award to date.
The case involved a 66-year-old man who suffered irreversible damage from unnecessary penile injections prescribed under a scheme to exploit patients for profit.
Jurors found the clinic’s actions fraudulent, negligent, and in violation of the Unfair Practices Act.
The plaintiff’s attorneys hope the verdict deters similar misconduct. NuMale disputes the ruling and plans to appeal.
Less than two full days into a ceasefire, Israel's military and Hezbollah were both claiming isolated breaches of the deal.
Summary
Israel and Hezbollah accused each other of ceasefire violations two days into a truce that ended 14 months of conflict.
Israel claims Hezbollah breached terms by approaching border zones, while Hezbollah accuses Israel of firing on civilians.
Brokered by the US and France, the ceasefire involves a gradual Israeli withdrawal and Hezbollah’s pullback north of the Litani River, with U.N. peacekeepers taking over.
The war killed over 3,700 in Lebanon and 70 in Israel, displacing 1.2 million in Lebanon and 50,000 in Israel.
The ban, among the toughest in the world, has broad public support but has been criticized by experts who say it could have unintended negative consequences.
Summary
Australia has passed a groundbreaking ban on social media use for children under 16, the strictest of its kind globally.
Platforms like X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Reddit have one year to implement the age limit, with fines up to AU$50M for non-compliance.
Supporters cite mental health concerns, while critics argue the ban risks isolation for marginalized youth, lacks proper research, and excludes harmful platforms like 4chan.
Privacy concerns surround proposed age-verification methods. Opponents, including parents, scholars, and tech companies, argue the legislation is rushed and poorly designed, potentially exacerbating existing issues.
Lawyer for man who drugged wife and invited strangers to rape her says she has felt like ‘devil’s advocate’
Summary
Dominique Pelicot, on trial in France for drugging his wife and enabling over 70 men to rape her while unconscious, has claimed a split personality caused by childhood trauma, according to his lawyer.
Béatrice Zavarro argued that Pelicot’s actions stem from a “perverse” side of his personality, shaped by witnessing abuse and experiencing sexual violence as a child.
The case, which includes 50 other defendants, has spotlighted domestic sexual violence and drug-facilitated assault.
Prosecutors seek a 20-year sentence for Pelicot, with verdicts expected by December 20.
Hegseth’s conspiracy theory- and falsehood-laden book American Crusade depicts Islam as historic enemy of west
Summary
Trump’s Pentagon nominee, Pete Hegseth, faces criticism for promoting anti-Muslim rhetoric and far-right conspiracy theories in his books, notably American Crusade.
Hegseth depicts Islam as an existential threat to the West, distorts Islamic doctrine, and links Muslim immigration to “great replacement” theories.
He also scapegoats Muslims and leftists as colluding to undermine the U.S.
Critics, including historians and sociologists, refute his narratives as false and harmful.
Hegseth’s nomination raises concerns about his influence on U.S. military policy, particularly in the Middle East, and his disregard for international norms like the Geneva Conventions.
Many have passed ordinances intended to shield migrants from efforts by the incoming Trump administration to eject them from the country.
Summary
Democratic-led cities and states are mobilizing to resist Trump’s planned mass deportations, with measures like sanctuary policies, legal challenges, and public opposition.
Cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Philadelphia have vowed to shield undocumented residents, and LA’s school district declared itself a migrant sanctuary.
Trump plans to sign executive orders and withhold federal grants to enforce deportations, but legal obstacles are expected, as seen during his first term.
Opponents argue deportations harm communities and families, while Trump allies assert a mandate for strict immigration enforcement.
Deputy PM says ‘we need to be smart, strong and united’ after meeting on threat by US president-elect of a blanket 25% tax on imports from Canada
Summary
Canadian leaders, including Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland and provincial premiers, pledged unity against US president-elect Trump’s threat of a 25% blanket tariff on Canadian imports.
The tariffs, aimed at addressing drug and migrant flows, could disrupt key trade, including oil, driving up US fuel costs.
Canada is preparing retaliatory measures, echoing its response to Trump’s 2018 tariffs.
Officials argue such actions harm both economies, noting Canada is a critical supplier of energy and materials to the US. American oil groups also oppose the tariffs, citing potential consumer and industry harm.
Air pollution linked to 1.5 million deaths per year — study
A new Lancet study has linked heart and respiratory illnesses to air pollution from forest fires and controlled burning of cropland. China, India, Nigeria and Indonesia were among the worst-hit countries.
Summary
Air pollution from fires causes over 1.5 million deaths annually, with China, India, Nigeria, and Indonesia experiencing the highest death tolls.
Climate change is expected to exacerbate this issue, leading to more frequent and intense forest fires.
The world’s richest man, who is also closely intertwined with the incoming Trump administration, raised eyebrows on Wednesday when he accused one of his critics of treason
Summary
Elon Musk accused Alexander Vindman, a key witness in Trump’s first impeachment, of treason on social media, suggesting he should face “the appropriate penalty.”
Musk’s comments followed Vindman’s claims that Musk may have shared sensitive information with Russia’s Putin and used Twitter for disinformation.
Vindman denied the accusations and called Musk’s remarks baseless.
Critics condemned Musk’s statements as dangerous, especially given his ties to Trump’s incoming administration.
Musk provided no evidence for his claims, reviving past allegations against Vindman of “dual loyalty” rooted in antisemitic tropes.
Results of trial of benralizumab injection could be ‘gamechanger’ for millions of people around the world
Summary
A new treatment for severe asthma and COPD, using the monoclonal antibody benralizumab, could revolutionize care after a 50-year stagnation in treatment methods.
A trial showed that a single high-dose injection during flare-ups was 30% more effective than standard steroid tablets, reducing hospital visits and improving quality of life.
The drug targets eosinophils, a cause of inflammation in many attacks.
Researchers highlight its potential safety, fewer side effects compared to steroids, and home-use feasibility, though experts stress the need for increased lung health research funding.
Amid the Thanksgiving travel rush, a stowaway was discovered Tuesday night onboard a Delta Air Lines flight out of JFK Airport in New York City headed to Paris.
Summary
A stowaway was discovered on a Delta flight from New York’s JFK Airport to Paris on Tuesday.
The individual bypassed the document check podium and gate agent but was screened at a TSA checkpoint, posing no security threat, according to officials.
The person was removed after the plane landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Delta is investigating the breach in coordination with law enforcement, while the FBI is aware of the incident.
Details about the stowaway remain undisclosed. Passengers were briefly held on board during the investigation.
“Contrary to predictions” instead makes sense. I've updated the summary.
From your link (translated), the men in the survey didn't seem to engage in whataboutism:
The participants most often experienced psychological violence (40 percent) [including] aggressive shouting, insults and humiliation in front of others. 39 percent suffered from the controlling behavior of the partner, isolation and permanent blame. 30 percent would also experience physical violence...
...
...With regard to their own perpetratorship, more than half of the men stated that they had used violence in a relationship themselves, about a quarter see themselves in both the victim and the perpetrator role.
Thanks for the info. I've updated the post summary with it.
Thanks. I've updated the summary to reflect your info.
It is, but the article seems to conflate post-viral fatigue with long-term fatigue in the grouping:
Post-viral fatigue has long been poorly understood, and for many years was often dismissed as psychological. But this long-term fatigue with varying degrees of severity has been linked to infections ranging from Sars to Ebola, Epstein-Barr virus and influenza, as well as infections with tick-borne pathogens such as the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease.
Thanks, I've updated the link.
Agreed. I tried browsing those posts, but the pinned comments made it really frustrating to navigate for me.
Exactly, I think the real intent here is to cause delays and spread confusion.
The US Constitution already resolves this issue with federal preemption under the Supremacy Clause. Basically, Pennsylvania’s residency requirements apply to all elections within the state: local, state, and federal. However, in federal elections, federal law preempts and overrides any conflicting state laws. These challenges have been filed in bad faith.
At least not everyone:
Israeli media and other observers expressed skepticism about the articles, which appeared to support Netanyahu’s demands in the talks and absolve him of blame for their failure.
From reading the article, it's possible nuclear arms race, military tech transfer, and refugee crisis to name a few:
But Kim’s increasingly aggressive rhetoric against Seoul has the South once again debating whether it should have its own nuclear arsenal. North Korean troops on a Ukrainian battlefield would only further unravel Beijing’s plans.
...
Experts say Beijing is just as worried as the West about what military technology Putin might sell to Kim in exchange for troops.
“Satellites, for sure,” Mr Foster-Carter says. “But Putin is bad – not mad. Russia knows just as China knows that North Korea is a loose cannon. Giving [Kim] more technology for nukes is not a good thing for anybody.”
Experts believe Xi is unlikely to do anything drastic because China needs a stable North Korea – if he cuts off aid, he would likely have a refugee crisis at the border.
Below are all the GOP lawmakers that voted against that bill:
House:
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Representative James Baird of Indiana
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Representative Troy Balderson of Ohio
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Representative Jim Banks of Indiana
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Representative Aaron Bean of Florida
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Representative Andy Biggs of Arizona
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Representative Gus Bilirakis of Florida
-
Representative Dan Bishop of North Carolina
-
Representative Lauren Boebert of Colorado
-
Representative Mike Bost of Illinois
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Representative Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma
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Representative Tim Burchett of Tennessee
-
Representative Eric Burlison of Missouri
-
Representative Kat Cammack of Florida
-
Representative Michael Cloud of Texas
-
Representative Andrew Clyde of Georgia
-
Representative Mike Collins of Georgia
-
Representative Eli Crane of Arizona
-
Representative John Curtis of Utah
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Representative Warren Davidson of Ohio
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Representative Byron Donalds of Florida
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Representative Jeff Duncan of South Carolina
-
Representative Ron Estes of Kansas
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Representative Mike Ezell of Mississippi
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Representative Randy Feenstra of Iowa
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Representative Brad Finstad of Minnesota
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Representative Michelle Fischbach of Minnesota
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Representative Russell Fry of South Carolina
-
Representative Russ Fulcher of Idaho
-
Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida
-
Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas
-
Representative Bob Good of Virginia
-
Representative Lance Gooden of Texas
-
Representative Paul Gosar of Arizona
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Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia
-
Representative Morgan Griffith of Virginia
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Representative Michael Guest of Mississippi
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Representative Harriet Hageman of Wyoming
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Representative Andy Harris of Maryland
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Representative Clay Higgins of Louisiana
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Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio
-
Representative John Joyce of Pennsylvania
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Representative Trent Kelly of Mississippi
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Representative Darin LaHood of Illinois
-
Representative Laurel Lee of Florida
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Representative Debbie Lesko of Arizona
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Representative Greg Lopez of Colorado
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Representative Anna Paulina Luna of Florida
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Representative Morgan Lutrell of Texas
-
Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina
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Representative Tracey Mann of Kansas
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Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky
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Representative Tom McClintock of California
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Representative Rich McCormick of Georgia
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Representative Mary Miller of Illinois
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Representative Max Miller of Ohio
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Representative Cory Mills of Florida
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Representative Alex Mooney of West Virginia
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Representative Barry Moore of Alabama
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Representative Nathaniel Moran of Texas
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Representative Ralph Norman of South Carolina
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Representative Andy Ogles of Tennessee
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Representative Gary Palmer of Alabama
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Representative Scott Perry of Pennsylvania
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Representative Bill Posey of Florida
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Representative John Rose of Tennessee
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Representative Matt Rosendale of Montana
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Representative Chip Roy of Texas
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Representative David Schweikert of Arizona
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Representative Keith Self of Texas
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Representative Victoria Spartz of Indiana
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Representative Claudia Tenney of New York
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Representative William Timmons of South Carolina
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Representative Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey
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Representative Beth Van Duyne of Texas
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Representative Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin
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Representative Mike Waltz of Florida
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Representative Randy Weber of Texas
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Representative Daniel Webster of Florida
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Representative Bruce Westerman of Arkansas
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Representative Roger Williams of Texas
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Representative Rudy Yakym of Indiana
Senate:
- Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee
- Senator Mike Braun of Indiana
- Senator Katie Britt of Alabama
- Senator Ted Budd of North Carolina
- Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho
- Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska
- Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee
- Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri
- Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin
- Senator Mike Lee of Utah
- Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas
- Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma
- Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky
- Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska
- Senator James Risch of Idaho
- Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri
- Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina
- Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama
Not entirely sure what you're getting at. Are you suggesting that Taiwanese Indigenous people might have a problem that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is older than the PRC?
Looks like AP dropped the ball on this one because that's not what the prosecutors said. They said:
...With his co-conspirators, LOPEZ REYES set up dozens of online pharmacy websites, designed to appear legitimate in order to lure customers into buying, at reduced prices, tablets of fentanyl, para-fluorofentanyl, and methamphetamine disguised as real prescription medications, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, Adderall, and Xanax, among others...
OP's own “article” is copying exact sections from this Ars Technica article without giving proper credit: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/09/dell-says-sales-team-must-work-on-site-5-days-a-week-to-drive-productivity/
Yep and as recent as 2014:
The national campaign to ban geoengineering can be traced back to Rhode Island in 2014, when a lawmaker looked to the sky and saw a conspiracy.
…
Ms. MacBeth’s beliefs are better known as the “chemtrails” conspiracy theory, which posits that airplanes are secretly emitting dangerous chemical trails, as opposed to water vapor naturally released as condensation from planes’ engines, which turns to visible trails of ice crystals in the cold air. There is no evidence supporting the chemtrails theory, which has attracted many followers through social media.
TikTok is fighting a possible US ban in January 2025 and was in court last week to argue the questions that you're raising: https://www.npr.org/2024/09/16/g-s1-23194/tiktok-us-ban-appeals-court
Yeah, all vote tallies will not be released until after the polls close on Nov. 5.