OTTAWA — Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said foreign interference did not tip the scales in the Conservative party’s last leadership race that installed Pierre Poilievre at the helm. But he offered up Thursday that he changed some of the language he was using after getting pushback from an Indian diplomat that some of his comments could sound like he was endorsing ideas of Sikh nationalism. Brown, who was a candidate for the leadership in 2022, was summoned to a House of Commons committee Thursday to answer questions on the 2022 race after a report from a committee on national security referred to allegations of Indian interference in an unspecified Conservative leadership campaign. “I don’t believe foreign intervention affected the final outcome of the Conservative leadership race,” Brown told the House of Commons public safety and national security committee Thursday. A CBC/Radio-Canada article this week quoted several confidential sources from Brown’s campaign alleging that representatives from India’s consulate interfered to undermine his leadership bid. On Monday, Brown posted on social media about the committee’s summons to say that he had no new evidence to add, and that the public inquiry on foreign interference was the proper venue to evaluate the allegations. Brown insisted to the committee Thursday that no members of the Indian government reached out to him or his campaign workers during his leadership bid, saying the relationship was “already very strained” at that point. The CBC News story also contained allegations that his national campaign co-chair Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner was pressured to withdraw her support for Brown — something she denied. When NDP MP Alistair MacGregor quizzed him on the news report, asking why she left the campaign, Brown said she left seeking to launch her own leadership bid to replace UCP leader Jason Kenney in Alberta — not from pressure from India. “At no time when we talked about her departing the campaign did she ever say it was over pressure from the consul general,” he said. He said the article likely referred to a conference call more than a month before she left, after the consul general raised concerns with Rempel Garner about Brown using the words “Sikh nation.” “The consul general had expressed directly to (Rempel Garner) that, obviously that was something they didn’t agree with, that it could be viewed in nationalistic terms towards the Sikh community,” he said. That led him to change the language he was employing to a Punjabi term that he said meant the same thing. Liberal MP Jennifer O’Connell asked if that’s “an appropriate election activity by a foreign government,” charging it was a clear instance of foreign interference. Brown replied that Indian officials “have been more robust in their opinions than some of us would be comfortable with.” A bombshell report by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians into foreign interference released last spring referred to “India’s alleged interference in a Conservative Party of Canada leadership race.” Brown said he was not under any kind of non-disclosure agreement with the Conservative Party that prevents him from speaking publicly about what happened during the race. He said he believes it’s important to guard against foreign meddling in democracy but that he does not want to get drawn into partisan debates on Parliament Hill. Brown was not included as a witness in the public inquiry into foreign interference, which wrapped up hearings earlier this fall with a final report due in the new year. He was disqualified from the party’s 2022 leadership race due to allegations related to financing rules in the Canada Elections Act. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024. Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press
Pete Hegseth says he will be 'standing right here in this fight' after meeting with senators(In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful)TEHRAN - Every year, on the first of Rajab (the seventh month of the Islamic calendar), the anniversary of the honorable martyr Sayyed Mohammad Baqir al-Hakim is designated as Iraq’s Martyrs Day. The first of Rajab (the seventh month of the Islamic calendar), the day Sayyed Mohammad Baqir al-Hakim was martyred, is designated as Martyrs Day in Iraq. Throughout his life, Martyr al-Hakim consistently fought against oppression, dictatorship, and tyranny. A summary of the ideals and principles that defined his path is presented below on the occasion of his martyrdom anniversary: 1. Reliance on Almighty Allah and belief in divine tradition for achieving ideals: Martyr al-Hakim always relied on Allah and remained steadfast in pursuing divine goals, even in the most difficult times of his blessed life. He never despaired of Allah’s support despite immense hardship and pressure. By Allah’s grace, this divine promise was fulfilled with the fall of the despised Iraqi Baathist regime on April 9, 2003. 2. Trust in the Iraqi people and rejection of foreign promises: Another key principle in the life of Martyr al-Hakim was his complete trust in the will of the Iraqi people and his avoidance of relying on foreign initiatives. This trust in the people and his efforts to inspire resistance against oppression strengthened the Iraqi popular resistance, leading to the overthrow of the Baathist regime and the failure of foreign schemes to define Iraq’s future according to their designs. 3. Persistent effort and tireless struggle: Martyr al-Hakim never grew weary of work, struggle, and holy war. In every phase of his fight, he tirelessly worked toward the lofty goals of the Iraqi people. His relentless and uninterrupted efforts became one of the most significant factors in his success in toppling the Baathist regime. 4. Firm belief in religious authority and esteemed Islamic scholars: Although Martyr al-Hakim was himself a prominent jurist and an intellectual leader in both political and religious affairs, he always considered himself a servant of religious authority and jurisprudence, aligning his efforts with their directives. 5. Self-discipline and spiritual nurturing of followers: One of Martyr al-Hakim’s unique traits was his devotion and special attention to fostering committed Islamic cadres. Alongside his political and social activities, he worked daily to instill ethical and spiritual values in his followers. Today, the political, religious, cultural, and social structures stemming from his school of thought serve as a positive influence in Iraq and the broader Islamic world. 6. Continuous intellectual and scientific efforts: Despite focusing on the struggle against the Baathist regime, Martyr al-Hakim was deeply committed to intellectual and scientific development. His lectures on Quranic sciences at Imam Sadiq University in Qom, his contributions at the University of Proximity, and his profound scholarly articles are widely recognized. 7. Humility and connection with the people: Martyr al-Hakim lived a very humble life, maintaining direct contact with people and addressing their concerns. His visits to camps and cities housing displaced Iraqis exemplified his dedication to resolving their problems. 8. Special attention to the youth: Martyr al-Hakim prioritized engaging with youth. Most of his leadership team and close associates were young individuals whom he nurtured intellectually, religiously, and scientifically. Many of today’s prominent Iraqi leaders were his students or close companions, reflecting the fruits of his efforts. 9. Focus on the affairs of the broader Muslim world, especially Palestine: Martyr al-Hakim paid close attention to the concerns of Muslims worldwide, including Palestine, Lebanon, Kashmir, Yemen, Afghanistan, Africa, and Southeast Asia. He diligently followed their issues and, through his position in the religious authority of his late father Ayatollah Sayyed Mohsin al-Hakim, worked tirelessly to address their challenges. Palestine, as the central issue of the Islamic world, always held a special place in his priorities. 10. Foundational principles for political governance: Martyr al-Hakim’s vision for governance rested on three essential pillars: a. The Iraqi government must represent all segments of the Iraqi people. b. The Iraqi government must be elected by the people. c. Islam, as the cornerstone of Iraqi society, must be respected by all communities. These principles underpinned his vision for peaceful coexistence among Iraq’s diverse social, political, and cultural groups, reflected in Iraq’s current governmental structure. 11. Relations with other countries: Martyr al-Hakim believed in preventing foreign interference in Iraq and other Islamic countries. He advocated for defining relations with Islamic and foreign nations based on national and Islamic interests. He emphasized that the unity and cohesion of Islamic nations could transform them into a global power. His commitment to Islamic unity was evident in his role as President of the Supreme Council for the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought. Although Martyr al-Hakim is no longer physically among us, his spirit, ideas, and principles remain our guiding light. We hope that his vision for Islamic unity will continue to foster connections, define shared interests, and unite Muslims worldwide.
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On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. For more On Football analysis, head here . Getting benched may have been the best thing that happened to Bryce Young and Anthony Richardson. Both second-year quarterbacks are playing well since returning to the starting lineup. Young has steadily improved after coming back in Week 8. He’s displayed the skills that earned him a Heisman Trophy at Alabama and convinced the Carolina Panthers to draft him ahead of C.J. Stroud with the No. 1 overall pick in 2023. Young had his best game on Sunday, nearly leading Carolina to an overtime win over Tampa Bay if it weren’t for Chuba Hubbard’s fumble in field-goal range. He threw for 298 yards and a go-ahead touchdown pass in the final minute of a 26-23 loss . Young almost led the Panthers to a win over the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs a week earlier only to see Patrick Mahomes drive Kansas City into position for a winning field goal as time expired. Rookie coach Dave Canales benched Young for veteran Andy Dalton after just two games in which he had a 44.1 passer rating. The 23-year-old has completed 60.4% of his passes for 1,062 yards, six TDs and three interceptions — none in the past three games — while going 2-3 in the five starts since Young got another opportunity to lead the Panthers (3-9). Richardson has led Indianapolis to a pair of comeback wins late in the fourth quarter in three starts after he regained his starting job. The Colts (6-7) selected Richardson No. 4 last year and he started just 10 games before coach Shane Steichen benched him for Joe Flacco in Week 9. Richardson completed only 44.4% of his passes with four TDs and seven picks in his first six starts. He’s improved to 52.4% with three TDs and two picks since coming back. The 22-year-old tossed a 3-yard TD pass to Alec Pierce on fourth-and-goal with 12 seconds remaining and then ran in for a 2-point conversion to lift the Colts to a 25-24 win over New England on Sunday. Young and Richardson both have a long way to go to prove they can be franchise quarterbacks. But there’s far more optimism now that they’re not busts. Young is on his third head coach and second offensive coordinator in two seasons. Canales is known for getting the best out of quarterbacks, helping Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield revive their careers. He made a bold decision to bench Young after just two games but that allowed him to watch, grow and learn without the pressure of having to perform. Now it appears Young might have a future in Carolina when that seemed unlikely in September. Richardson just needs more experience. He threw only 393 passes in college and started four games as a rookie before he was injured. Steichen’s decision to bench him for Flacco didn’t work out. Flacco, who was the AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year last year after leading Cleveland to the playoffs by going 4-1 in five starts, struggled in two games. Still, that gave Richardson a chance to reset after tapping out for a play in the game before he was benched. Quarterbacks need time to develop. They can’t be judged fairly after one or two seasons, especially when they were high draft picks who joined bad teams that lacked talent. Matt Eberflus lost his job as Chicago’s head coach a day after he watched the offense run out of time with a timeout in hand, missing an opportunity to push Detroit to overtime on Thanksgiving. But Antonio Pierce made an even worse decision on Black Friday that cost the Raiders a chance to beat the Chiefs. Aidan O’Donnell drove Las Vegas to the Chiefs 32 with 15 seconds left. Instead of trying for a game-winning field goal down 19-17, Pierce wanted O’Donnell to take the snap, allow more time to tick and throw the ball away. But O’Donnell wasn’t ready for the snap, the Chiefs recovered the fumble and escaped with the win. aManaging the clock shouldn’t be this difficult for NFL head coaches. Ravens kicker Justin Tucker is having the worst season of his 13-year career. If he wasn’t one of the best kickers in NFL history, Baltimore would’ve made a switch already. But coach John Harbaugh has too much respect for Tucker, who began the season as the most accurate kicker in league history. Tucker has missed a career-high eight field-goal attempts, including two in a 24-19 loss to Philadelphia. Harbaugh, a former special teams coach, isn’t planning to replace Tucker. But the Ravens (8-5) have Super Bowl aspirations and Tucker needs to straighten things out. One solution would be to place him on injured reserve to work on his technique. In this case, Tucker has earned the right not to be released. Plus, he’s signed through 2027. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflTrump invited China's Xi to his inauguration even as he threatened massive tariffs on Beijing
KIA K4 SEDAN NAMED FINALIST FOR 2025 NORTH AMERICAN CAR OF THE YEARTM (NACTOY)Geir Otto Pedersen issued the warning while briefing the UN Security Council during an emergency meeting on recent developments in Syria on Tuesday local time. If we do not see de-escalation and a rapid move towards a serious political process that includes the Syrian parties and key international players, it is feared that we will witness a deepening of the crisis, he said. At the beginning of his speech, the UN official called on all parties to protect the lives of civilians, stating that the recent developments in northern Syria pose severe risks to civilians and have dangerous effects on regional and global peace and security. While referring the Tahrir al-Sham (previously Nusra Front) to a designated terrorist group by the UN, Pedersen also warned that the resurgence of terrorism puts Syria at grave risk of further division, deterioration and destruction, and endangers the Arab country’s sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity. Fourteen years of conflict have conclusively shown that none of the Syrian parties or existing actors and groups can resolve the Syrian conflict militarily, Pedersen told the Security Council and stressed: "We must de-escalate and ensure a cooperative approach to confronting terrorist groups." While calling for serious international efforts and negotiations in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2254 to find a way to end the conflict, and prevent bloodshed, the UN envoy clarified that he is in contact with the Syrian parties and international actors to this end, including the Syrian government, the Syrian opposition, Turkey, Russia, Iran, the United States, and Arab and European countries. The emergency meeting of the UN Security Council convened at the request of Damascus and with the support of Russia, China and Algeria, following attacks by foreign-backed terrorist on parts of several provinces including Aleppo, Idlib and Hama. The permanent and non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, and the ambassador and permanent representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the UN are scheduled to speak at the meeting. 4399
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Rivers Crisis: I Get Stronger Everyday, God Has Proven To Be Our Ultimate Liberator – Gov Fubara
