A Canadian parliamentary committee led by an opposition Conservative Party lawmaker will hold meetings during legislative recess in hopes of expediting the defeat of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, the lawmaker said on Friday. The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee will begin meetings on January 7 to consider and vote on a motion of no-confidence in the Liberal government, committee Chair John Williamson said in a letter to panel members. The motion would have to ultimately pass in the House of Commons to defeat the government. Parliament will reconvene on January 27. Trudeau, in power since 2015, has been under increasing pressure to quit since his former finance minister Chrystia Freeland resigned on December 16. Williamson, a Conservative lawmaker, said he was prepared to hold meetings throughout January with the goal of holding a non-confidence vote as early as January 30. That would be weeks earlier than it would otherwise take an opposition party to propose such a motion. Trudeau’s options have narrowed since New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh, who has been helping keep the Liberals in power, said last week that he would move to bring down the minority Liberal government and trigger an election. “It is now clear that the Liberal Government does not have the confidence of Parliament. Conservative, Bloc Quebecois and NDP members – representing a majority of MPs – have all announced they will vote non-confidence in the Liberal Government,” Williamson said in a copy of the letter he posted on social media. Trudeau, however, could prorogue parliament, which would formally end the current session and prevent lawmakers from voting on a no-confidence motion. Singh has said he would present a motion of no-confidence after the House of Commons elected chamber returns from the winter break but he did not say how his party would vote on motions introduced by other parties. All opposition parties would need to back a single motion to bring down the government. The Williamson-led panel has five Liberal MPs, four Conservative MPs, and one each from the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois. Canadian governments must show they have the confidence of the House of Commons elected chamber. Votes on budgets and other spending are considered confidence measures and if a government loses one, it falls. In virtually all cases, an election campaign starts immediately. Related Story QSWF participates in Unesco's Global Forum against Racism and Discrimination QSWF participates in Unesco's Global Forum against Racism and DiscriminationGlobal Photoionization Detection Gas Analyzer Market Forecasts 9.3% CAGR from 2024 to 2034
Appeals court rejects emergency bid to ban transgender San Jose State volleyball player from championship tournamentCOLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Wade Taylor IV had 15 points and a career-high 10 assists, and Zhuric Phelps had 12 points and 10 rebounds in No. 13 Texas A&M's 92-54 win over Abilene Christian on Saturday. Taylor's 15 points passed Vernon Smith, who scored 1,778 points at A&M from 1977-81, for second on Texas A&M's all-time scoring list. Taylor now has 1,779 career points and needs 212 more to pass Bernard King, who scored 1,990 points from 1999-2003, as Texas A&M’s all-time scoring leader. Taylor returned to action after he missed his first career game on Dec. 20 against Houston Christian. The Aggies (11-2) opened the game on a 7-0 run and never looked back. Texas A&M led 48-29 at halftime and ended the game on a 12-0 run over the final 5:24. Quion Williams led Abilene Christian (8-6) with 14 points. Abilene Christian: The Wildcats lost to Texas A&M 81-80 in November 2021 but were too overmatched this season to have a chance at an upset bid. Texas A&M: The Aggies closed nonconference play on a seven-game winning streak in Taylor’s return. The Aggies used a 14-0 run in the first half to build an 18-point lead. Texas A&M guard CJ Wilcher made three straight 3-pointers during the run, including back-to-back from the right wing during fastbreaks. The Wildcats never got within single digits again. Texas A&M continued to show its depth as the Aggies had 45 bench points. Wilcher led the way with a season-high 14 points and forward Andersson Garcia had 12. Twelve players saw action and all 12 scored. The Aggies start Southeastern Conference play against rival Texas on Jan. 4. Abilene Christian closes nonconference action on Dec. 31 at home against Stephen F. Austin. Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
A fire that tore through a Melbourne synagogue in the early hours of Friday has led to an ongoing police search and an outpouring of condemnation from politicians, ambassadors and multicultural community representatives. Around 60 firefighters and 17 trucks were called to the Adass Israel synagogue at Ripponlea in Melbourne's south shortly after 4am on Friday after a large blaze engulfed the building. The fire, which police say was deliberately lit, was brought under control just before 5am. Victorian Police have launched an investigation but are yet to make any arrests. Federal and state political leaders have condemned the incident, as have community figures and heads of multicultural organisations. Here's what you need to know about the suspected arson attack on the Adass Israel synagogue. Source: AAP / Con Chronis Was anyone in the synagogue when it was set alight? Yumi Friedman, founder of Yumi's dips, was preparing to perform morning prayers at about 4am on Friday when the attack occurred. "I heard a big bang on the door with a sledgehammer, it looked like," he told AAP at the scene in south-east Melbourne. "I stopped for a second and then suddenly heard another bang on the glass, and I saw glass fling. So I knew someone was out there trying to break in." Friedman fled the building to call police before returning to find the synagogue alight. "There wasn't much of a fire when I started, so I just thought maybe I would come inside to get my phone," he said. Source: AAP / Con Chronis "But I touched the door, it was hot, and I burnt my hand so I didn't go inside." The fire quickly tore through the synagogue, engulfing it in flames and gutting two of its three buildings. The Adass Israel has been described as one of the most active Jewish houses of worship in Melbourne and is regularly attended by members of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. Victorian Multicultural Affairs Minister Ingrid Stitt has: "We are lucky people weren't seriously injured or killed." Federal MP Josh Burns, whose electorate is home to the synagogue, described it as a "centre of Jewish life of learning and spirituality". "I've been inside many times, and to see it burnt today is devastating," he told reporters in Melbourne. Have police arrested any suspects? Victoria Police detective inspector Chris Murray told reporters a witness attending morning prayers at the synagogue had spotted two men wearing masks who "appeared to be spreading an accelerant" inside the building. The police are still investigating the incident and are asking members of the public to come forward with any dash-cam or CCTV footage taken in the area around the time of the attack. They also believe the incident is a "deliberate" and "targeted" attack. "What we don't know is the why, and we will get to the why. We will do everything we can to bring these individuals before the courts," Murray said. "We are throwing everything at this," he said. How much damage was done to the Adass Israel synagogue? It's believed the damage caused to the inside of the synagogue is significant. One congregation member estimated millions of dollars worth of holy books and valuable handwritten Torah scrolls were inside, which were carefully loaded into a car later in the day. Some scrolls could not be retrieved as they were in an area where the roof had collapsed. Source: AAP / Con Chronis Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said "every available resource" would be deployed to find the arsonists and committed $100,000 to help rebuild the synagogue. "We stand with the entire Jewish community who have every right to go to shul, pray openly, and be proud of who they are — without fearing personal consequences," she said. 'Shul' is a word for synagogue that derives from Yiddish — the language spoken by European Jews for centuries and largely kept alive by Orthodox communities today. Allan also confirmed there would be increased police presence in the Jewish community over the coming days, including at synagogues and in public community spaces. What is Adass Israel? Adass Israel is an ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect and regular attendees of the Adass Israel synagogue were largely members of this community — the male members of which are recognisable by their white collared shirts, long black coats, broad-brimmed black hats and circular fur hats (shtreimel). However, like any Jewish house of worship, Jews from outside this community would attend events at the synagogue such as weddings and bar mitzvahs — a Jewish rite of passage into adulthood for boys. Melbourne's Adass Israel community — which is known to be highly insular and observant of halakhah (Jewish religious law) — traces its origins to Holocaust survivors who emigrated from countries like Hungary and Czechoslovakia. 17/04/2016 07:57 Play Many of the community's members, which several years ago was estimated at around 2,000 people , are second, third and fourth-generation descendants of those survivors. The Adass Israel cemetery was Melbourne's first Jewish cemetery, according to Dan Goldberg and Danny Ben-Moshe, who created a documentary on the community broadcast on SBS in 2016. Reaction to the fire Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said antisemitism had "absolutely no place in Australia". "This violence and intimidation and destruction at a place of worship is an outrage," he said in a statement shared on X. "This attack has risked lives and is clearly aimed at creating fear in the community. "This deliberate, unlawful act goes against everything we are as Australians and everything we have worked so hard to build as a nation." Opposition leader Peter Dutton echoed Albanese's remarks, saying the attack had "no place" in Australia. "That has been a sad and shocking turn of events in Melbourne overnight," he said. Israel's ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, also spoke of the incident during an unrelated event at the German embassy today. "Antisemitism is not a relic of the past, but a growing threat that demands immediate actions," he said. "'Never again' has become a hollow promise as the very evils it sought to prevent are happening once more. "Jewish people around the world are under siege, enduring, relentless acts of intimidation and violence." Jewish organisation the New Israel Fund said the "terrible attack" could not be tolerated as it welcomed bipartisan condemnation. "We must respond swiftly to ensure that Jewish Australians are protected and continue to feel safe and secure in the multicultural Australia that we all know and cherish," New Israel Fund executive director Michael Chaitow said in a statement. 09/07/2024 07:27 Play Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion said it was a "tragic day", adding that his organisation and community "have been warning about the risk of this since last year 7 October". Jewish Community Council of Victoria chief executive Naomi Levin said the suspected attack was "not just a crime against a place of worship, but an affront to the values of tolerance". Australian Multicultural Foundation executive director Hass Dellal said antisemitism must not be tolerated and that it would be a "distressing time" for synagogue members and the broader Jewish community. "We are a multicultural and multifaith society where people have the right to practice and express their religion without fear of vilification or violence," Dellal said in a statement. "This is not who we are as a multicultural nation." The Australian Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) has also condemned the incident in a statement on Instagram. "Attacks on religious institutions have no place in our community," the group said. "Racist attacks rooted in antisemitism, Islamophobia or anti-Palestinian racism must be opposed and condemned in equal measure."
Court hears legal arguments in sex assault case of five hockey players
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Gaya: The academic council of Magadh University on Wednesday proposed to establish a Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence (AI) on its campus in Bodh Gaya, and approved new courses — a 45-day certificate course, one-year diploma, bachelor of science and master of science — in the subject. The approval was granted on the basis of a detailed project report by computer science and engineering department of Indian Institute of Technology-Patna. The centre aims to promote research in the field of AI and interdisciplinary collaboration in the university, as well as prepare the youth with modern skills to make them competent for future jobs. Vice-chancellor Prof Shashi Pratap Shahi said the university is committed to providing state-of-the-art technical education to the youth. “The centre will not only open new career dimensions for the students of Bihar but also has the potential to bring major changes in areas like education, health and agriculture in rural and urban areas. Apart from strengthening the academic and technical infrastructure of the university, the initiative will play an important role in making Bihar a centre of technological innovation,” he said. We also published the following articles recently Magadh University to launch AI courses Magadh University in Bodh Gaya is poised to launch a Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence, offering certificate, diploma, bachelor's, and master's programs. Collaborating with IIT-Patna, the center aims to boost AI research and equip students with future-ready skills. Vice-Chancellor Shahi emphasized the potential for transformative impact across various sectors in Bihar. Science centre in Karimedu to provide unique learning experience A new science centre is coming to Madurai! The Madurai Corporation and Ankuran Foundation are partnering to build a 2.5 crore, 10,000 sqft facility in Karimedu. Featuring state-of-the-art labs, VR classrooms, and interactive exhibits, the centre aims to make science engaging for students of all levels. Free entry for government school students makes it accessible to all. Science PG courses lead in self-financed admissions at MU Mangalore University's postgraduate science programs, especially chemistry, are witnessing a surge in self-financed admissions, exceeding other disciplines. Medical physics, a unique offering, attracts students nationwide. While science and commerce courses generally see high self-financing enrollment, humanities struggle, with only MA English attracting such candidates. A delay in university results this year contributed to an overall dip in self-financed admissions. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .Drones, helicopters being considered for U.S. border, public safety minister says
Big Ten slate features Indiana-Ohio State showdown and Penn State-Minnesota matchup Things to watch this week in the Big Ten Conference: No. 5 Indiana (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten, No. 5 CFP ) at No. 2 Ohio State (9-1, 6-1, No. 2 CFP), Saturday, noon ET (Fox) This marks the 98th matchup between these two teams, but it's only the fourth time both teams have been ranked. Although Indiana is unbeaten, its soft schedule means the Hoosiers aren't assured of making the 12-team field if they lose this game. The only team with a winning record that Indiana has beaten is Washington (6-5). Ohio State needs a win to have a realistic shot at a rematch with top-ranked Oregon in the Big Ten championship game. Ohio State has beaten Indiana 28 straight times since the Hoosiers posted back-to-back victories in 1987-88. No. 4 Penn State (9-1, 6-1, No. 4 CFP) at Minnesota (6-4, 4-3), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. (CBS) This is likely Penn State's biggest obstacle on its way to a potential playoff berth. The Nittany Lions' lone remaining regular-season game is a Nov. 30 home matchup with Maryland (4-6, 1-6). Minnesota has had an extra week to prepare this game since its 26-19 loss at Rutgers on Nov. 9, which snapped a four-game winning streak. Penn State and Minnesota have split their last four meetings, with the home team winning each time. Penn State DE Abdul Carter has multiple tackles for loss in each of his last three games. He ranks second among all Bowl Subdivision players in tackles for loss (17 1⁄2). Southern California RB Woody Marks rushed for a career-high 146 yards in a 28-20 win over Nebraska. Marks has six 100-yard rushing performances this season. Rutgers RB Kyle Monangai is the first Scarlet Knight to rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons since Ray Rice did it three straight years from 2005-07. Monangai has run for 1,028 yards this season and rushed for 1,262 yards last year. Oregon OLB Matayo Uiagalelei recorded a sack and had a game-clinching interception as the top-ranked Ducks won 16-13 at Wisconsin last week. He has 8 1⁄2 sacks this season to rank second in the Big Ten. Four of the top seven Bowl Subdivision quarterbacks in passer rating are from the Big Ten. Indiana's Kurtis Rourke is second, Ohio State's Will Howard is third, Penn State's Drew Allar is fifth and Oregon's Dillon Gabriel is seventh. ... Illinois QB Luke Altmyer has thrown 18 touchdown passes with only three interceptions. The only Power Four quarterback with a better touchdown/interception ratio while throwing at least 10 touchdown passes is Clemson's Cade Klubnik, who has 26 touchdowns and four interceptions. ... Rutgers' three Big Ten wins matches its largest total since joining the league in 2014. Rutgers also had three conference wins in 2014, 2017, 2020 and 2023. A victory Saturday over No. 24 Illinois would give Rutgers three straight Big Ten wins for the first time. ... Washington's 31-19 win over UCLA was its 20th straight home victory, representing its second-longest such streak in school history. The Huskies won 45 straight home games from 1908-17. ... Wisconsin heads to Nebraska this week having won its last 10 matchups with the Cornhuskers. Penn State justifiably is favored on the road against Minnesota, but Bet MGM's 12 1⁄2-point spread seems way too big. Expect this game to have a single-digit margin. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
North Carolina interviews Bill Belichick for head coaching job, AP sources say
