Breaking
Supperious.com
Author

admin

Browsing
World News

This country’s internet freedom is now as bad as China’s, report finds

For the past decade, China has consistently ranked last in the world for internet freedom due to its all-pervading online surveillance and content control system dubbed the “Great Firewall.”

But a new report out Wednesday shows that internet freedoms in China’s neighbor Myanmar are now just as lacking.

The report from Freedom House, a US government-funded NGO, found that global internet freedom has declined for the 14th consecutive year. China and Myanmar ranked joint last for 2024, with a score of nine out of 100.

Since seizing power in a 2021 coup, Myanmar’s military junta has violently cracked down on dissent, imposing restrictions on online access and speech including widespread internet shutdowns, and built “a mass censorship and surveillance regime,” said the authors of “Freedom on the Net 2024: The Struggle for Trust Online.”

The report points to censorship technology introduced in May that blocked most virtual private networks, or VPNs, “cutting residents off from tools they had relied on to safely and securely bypass internet controls.”

Myanmar’s throttling of internet freedoms was designed to “suppress the activities of civilian prodemocracy activists and armed resistance groups,” the report said.

Human rights groups and United Nations experts have long documented evidence to support the report’s claims. In 2022, the UN special rapporteur for human rights in Myanmar said the junta was building a “digital dictatorship” to curtail online freedoms and ramp up surveillance of civilians.

Access to information online was “a matter of life and death for many people in Myanmar,” the UN report found, especially for “those seeking safety from indiscriminate attacks by the military and the millions trying to navigate a devastating economic and humanitarian crisis.”

Meanwhile in China, the Freedom House report found the government has continued efforts to “isolate China’s domestic internet from the rest of the world, blocking international traffic to some government websites and imposing huge fines on people using VPNs.”

In recent years, China’s internet watchdog has stepped up regulation of cyberspace as authorities intensified a crackdown on online dissent. China’s censors have reined in blogs, US search giants, and social media – even regulating “likes” of public posts.

In response to the report, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday that “Chinese citizens enjoy all rights and freedoms in accordance with the law.”

Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said “this so-called report is completely false and has ulterior motives.”

Elsewhere, the report paints a dim view of global internet freedom, with conditions for human rights online deteriorating in 27 out of 72 countries surveyed.

Of those covered by the report, almost 80% of people live in countries where individuals were arrested for posting their political, social, or religious views online. In a record 43 countries, people were physically attacked or killed in retaliation for their online activities, the report found.

It points to Thailand’s strict royal insult laws, that have ensnared hundreds of people in recent years, including one man who was sentenced to a record 50 years in prison in January for social media posts deemed damaging to the king.

The Central Asian nation Kyrgyzstan showed the biggest drop in internet freedoms, according to the report, as President Sadyr Japarov ramped up efforts to silence digital media and suppress online organizing.

Kyrgyz authorities blocked and later shut down investigative media website Kloop “after it reported on an imprisoned opposition figure’s allegations of torture in detention,” the report said.

Conversely, Iceland retained its status as having the “most free” online environment with a score of 94 out of 100.

The report also covers online disinformation campaigns and political interference in the run-up to elections, including harassment of independent researchers and fact checkers.

In the United States, pressure on independent experts “has left people less informed about influence operations ahead of the November elections,” the report said.

False allegations against such researchers “prompted a wave of litigation, subpoenas from top Republicans on the US House of Representatives’ Judiciary Committee, and online harassment aimed at … participants,” which had a “chilling effect,” the report found.

This post appeared first on cnn.com

Keep Reading
By
Science

Scientists claim breakthrough to bringing back Tasmanian tiger from extinction

The Tasmanian tiger, a wolf-like marsupial that once stalked the forests of Tasmania, could be brought back from extinction after a team of US and Australian researchers claimed a series of scientific breakthroughs.

Also known as the thylacine, the labrador-sized beast was Australia’s only native apex predator.

The last one died in a Hobart zoo in 1936 after the rest had been hunted to extinction in a bid to protect Tasmania’s growing livestock industry.

However, its recent demise makes it an ideal candidate for “de-extinction”, according to Colossal Biosciences, the Dallas-based company behind the effort.

Colossal has previously announced plans to use the latest advances in gene editing and reproductive biology to bring woolly mammoths and even the dodo back from the dead.

“The thylacine samples used for our new reference genome are among the best-preserved ancient specimens my team has worked with,” according to Beth Shapiro, Colossal’s chief science officer.

“It’s rare to have a sample that allows you to push the envelope in ancient DNA methods to such an extent.”

Most attempts to reconstruct the genetic code of long-extinct species are thwarted by the fact that DNA is fragile and breaks down over time.

But a 108-year-old specimen preserved in alcohol at a museum in Melbourne has allowed the team to extract a thylacine DNA sequence they claim is 99.9% the same as the original.

They were even able to extract more fragile RNA molecules from the sample. This allowed the team to see which of the thylacine’s genes were being expressed in certain tissues.

“With this new resource in hand we will be able to determine what a thylacine could taste, what it could smell, what kind of vision it had and even how its brain functioned,” said Professor Andrew Pask from the University of Melbourne, who is collaborating on the project.

Experts tweak genes in closest living relative

But having the thylacine’s genes is only one step towards resurrecting it.

Colossal’s approach uses gene editing techniques to change the genome of the thylacine’s closest living relative – a hamster-sized marsupial called the fat-tailed dunnart – to create a creature as close to the thylacine as possible.

They claim to have made more than 300 thylacine-derived genetic “edits” to dunnart cells grown in the lab, as well as learning how to induce ovulation in the tiny marsupial and grow its embryos outside of its womb – similar to techniques used in human IVF.

The plan is not without its critics, however.

Some conservationists argue the millions of dollars being invested by companies like Colossus would be better spent preserving the habitats of animals currently at risk of extinction – which includes a fifth of Australia’s native mammals.

Others argue it would be unethical to return long-extinct animals to habitats so degraded by human activity they may not support their long-lost inhabitants.

De-extinction is a ‘fairy tale science’

Some scientists believe it’s just too technically difficult.

“De-extinction is a fairy tale science,” Professor Jeremy Austin from the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA told the Sydney Morning Herald in 2022 when the project was announced.

However, others argue de-extinction research can’t hurt – even if it just ends up advancing understanding of long-extinct species and preserving their DNA for future research.

The advances made in marsupial IVF for the thylacine project “can be applied across the marsupial family tree”, argues Prof Pask of the Thylacine Integrated Genomic Restoration Research Laboratory.

It’s suggested they could help ongoing efforts to protect threatened species like the Tasmanian devil that currently faces a similar fate to the Tasmanian tiger.

This post appeared first on sky.com

Keep Reading
By
Science

Weight loss drugs could help people with alcohol addiction, study suggests

Jabs used for weight loss and treating type 2 diabetes could help people with alcohol abuse problems, according to a study.

The injections led to a 50% lower rate of alcohol intoxication in people taking them compared to those who had not been prescribed them, researchers found.

They also found off-label use of the drugs could help people addicted to opioids.

In a study published in the journal Addiction, the researchers looked at glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA), which they said included the drug Ozempic, and/or glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) drugs, which they said include brand name Mounjaro.

Such drugs may help curb addictions because, in addition to working on appetite, they also affect parts of the brain which maintain addictive behaviour, health experts suggest.

Researchers looked at 817,309 people with a history of alcohol use disorder, of which 5,621 had a prescription for a GLP-1 RA or GIP.

They found people with alcohol use disorder who had a GLP-1 RA or GIP prescription had a 50% lower rate of alcohol intoxication compared to those who did not.

Drugs could help people with opioid addictions

The study, led by Loyola University Chicago in the US, also looked at 503,747 people with a history of opioid use disorder, of which 8,103 had been prescribed a GLP-1 RA or GIP.

It found people with the disorder who had a GLP-1 RA or GIP prescription had a 40% lower use of opioid overdose.

The results showed the drugs “should be investigated as a novel pharmacotherapy treatment option” for people with alcohol and opioid addiction,” the authors said.

It comes after Health Secretary Wes Streeting told Sky News weight loss jabs such as Ozempic and Wegovy should not be used to get the “Instagram perfect body”.

And Sir Keir Starmer said such treatments could get people “back to work” to boost the economy.

The prime minister also said the injections could also help reduce pressure on the NHS.

This post appeared first on sky.com

Keep Reading
By
Politics

Everything you need to throw an election party after you get out and vote

Election Day is almost here! To celebrate your right to vote, an election party can help keep the mood high as results roll in. When hosting an election party, decorate your house in red, white and blue everything.

From candidate signs to American flags and patriotic platters, this election party decor can help you get your home ready for an exciting election night.

Political signs: on sale for $18.99

Be proud of who you vote for and show your support with a lawn sign featuring your pick for president. Amazon has both Harris and Trump lawn signs that you can easily put anywhere in your yard.

If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can get these items sent to your door ASAP. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today.

Red, white and blue foil fringe curtains: on sale for $13.99

Red, white and blue are the signature colors of any election night party, and these red, white and blue foil fringe curtains from Amazon add to the aesthetic. You can also get a set of metallic fringe curtains from Walmart that are easy to hang.

Vote stickers: $9.99

You get an ‘I voted’ sticker if you vote in person, but everyone loves more stickers! Reward your guests who voted with more vote stickers. They come in different designs with different sayings, so all your guests can choose the stickers they want most.

Patriotic tablecloth: $9.99

An American flag tablecloth not only protects your table, but it helps add to the spirit of the night. Get a three pack of plastic American Flag tablecloths from Amazon or just a single flag tablecloth from Walmart.

Monopoly house divided board game: $29.70

While you’re waiting for the results to roll in, a political board game can help you pass the time. There’s a Monopoly house divided board game that’s based around government and politics. Instead of the traditional game, you buy states and earn votes as you move around the board.

Patriotic serving trays: $9.99

Serve all your snacks on red, white and blue serving trays to keep with the theme. Amazon has American Flag paper plate serving trays that you can just throw away once the party is over. 

If you prefer to reuse your trays, Amazon also has plastic trays with handles for easy carrying.

Presidential toothpicks: $9.95

Toothpicks with flags supporting your candidate are the perfect baked goods topper or help your guests pick up olives, cheese, fruit or whatever else you’re serving. Find Trump toothpick flags and Harris toothpick flags on Amazon.

Vote yard flag: on sale for $5.99

Remind anyone who drives by your house that the election is coming up with a vote yard sign or flag. This yard flag can be easily attached to any small flag pole you have, or you can put out an additional lawn sign that features a reminder to vote.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Keep Reading
By
Politics

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.’

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. 

‘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.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Keep Reading
By
Politics

Sen Cotton says Biden-Harris likely prolonged Gaza war, let aid go to terrorists: ‘Betrayed’ taxpayers

JERUSALEM—Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., recently sent a letter to the head of the U.S. Agency for International Development, disclosing that some of the $1 billion in American taxpayer money was likely diverted to Hamas.

Cotton’s shocking claim came just weeks after the U.S.-designated terrorist organization, Hamas, executed the 23-year-old American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin in late August.

Cotton slammed the main U.N. relief agency for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, known as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA),for its links to Hamas terrorists.

The senator told Fox News Digital ‘It has become very clear that not another dime of American taxpayer money should ever go to UNRWA again. All aid to Gaza should be paused immediately.’  

Last month, Fox News Digital reported that Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon said the scandal-plagued UNRWA has been taken over by Hamas terrorists.

Cotton wrote in his letter to Samantha Power, the administrator of USAID, that he has ‘grave concerns about the likely misuse of more than one billion dollars in U.S. humanitarian aid sent to Gaza since October 2023. As I predicted would happen from the outset, credible reporting indicates that Hamas terrorists have diverted this aid; indisputable evidence demonstrates that the aid was always at high risk of diversion.’

He added that ‘In all likelihood, the Biden-Harris administration has prolonged the Gaza war, allowed aid to flow to Israel’s enemies, and misused taxpayer funds.’

Cotton wrote that last month, USAID ‘announced approximately $336 million in additional humanitarian funding for Gaza, Judea, and Samaria. On the same day, the United Nations acknowledged that Fateh al-Sharif, a Hamas leader in Lebanon killed in an Israeli airstrike, was employed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. UNRWA, a major USAID partner before October 7, remains a chief conduit for U.N. humanitarian assistance in Gaza despite extensive evidence of its ties to Hamas.’ 

Judea and Samaria is also known as the West Bank. 

Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 and slaughtered nearly 1,200 people, including over 30 Americans.

When approached for a comment about Cotton’s accusations, UNRWA Washington Office Director William Deere told Fox News Digital, ‘We wish the Senator’s office would have reached out to us as the letter contains numerous errors, the sum of which renders it largely a series of mismatched facts and unsubstantiated allegations – particularly its assertion that providing desperate people with food, medicine and shelter somehow prolongs a war. First, UNRWA is not a partner with USAID, not before or after October 7, which makes even the letter’s addressee, USAID Administrator Power, the wrong person to whom to write if the Senator’s concerns are with UNRWA.’

He added that ‘The only credible reporting on possible aid diversion by Hamas in Gaza comes from the recent U.S. Special Envoy for Middle Eastern Humanitarian Affairs, Ambassador David Satterfield, who stated, ‘No Israeli official has come to me, come to the administration, with specific evidence of diversion or theft of assistance delivered by the U.N.’’

Deere said ‘Fateh al-Sharif was placed on administrative leave without pay in March and the Agency investigation was proceeding despite protests, which included the closing of UNRWA’s Lebanon field office for several months and ongoing threats against UNRWA staff.’

Cotton added that ‘In July, the USAID Inspector General identified multiple ‘shortcomings and vulnerabilities in its overnight mechanisms’ for Gaza aid, such as inadequate vetting of local partners, reliance on self-reporting of terrorist ties from partners, reliance on inadequate vetting by U.N. partners.’

He urged Power to ‘immediately suspend all aid until taking credible and serious steps to stop Americans’ tax dollars from funding terrorists.’

A USAID spokesperson refuted the allegations against it, claiming in a statement to Fox News Digital that, ‘USAID does not provide any funding to UNRWA, nor did we do so prior to October 7, 2023. In addition to extensive risk mitigation procedures, USAID works closely with the Government of Israel to assist with the coordination of and discuss potential risks to all humanitarian assistance entering Gaza. USAID has not received evidence from the Government of Israel, our partners, or other sources to support the claims in Senator Cotton’s letter.’

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department told Fox News Digital, ‘The United States ceased funding UNRWA in January immediately following knowledge of allegations that some UNRWA staff may have participated in the heinous October 7th attacks.’

The spokesperson added ‘In March, the U.S. Congress prohibited any U.S. funding of UNRWA through at least 2025. We have and continue to redirect our assistance to other partners and avenues to help Palestinians. We support steps to strengthen UNRWA impartiality and neutrality, including to respond to allegations of ties to terrorism. ‘

According to the State Department spokesperson, ‘UNRWA is not a terrorist organization.  We appreciate UNRWA’s critical role in providing life-saving assistance to Palestinians and essential education, health, relief and social services programs and emergency assistance in Gaza and the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.’

In July, Israeli lawmakers approved the first reading of a bill that would cut ties with the controversial UNRWA agency and declare it a terrorist entity. Knesset member Yulia Malinovsky, the bill’s sponsor, called UNRWA ‘a fifth column within the State of Israel’ and said it was high time that the agency was outlawed in the country.

Congress’ House Foreign Affairs Committee passed initial legislation in July that would build on an already existing funding freeze of the multimillion-dollar organization and direct the State Department to recover previously donated monies.

After Israel revealed that UNRWA employed Hamas terrorists, including many who reportedly participated in the massacre on Oct. 7, the U.S. suspended aid to UNRWA. 

Deere said that ‘Left out of Senator Cotton’s analysis was the fact the Israeli Government had not informed UNRWA since 2011 of any concerns relating to Agency staff.’

A spokesman for Cotton told Fox News Digital in response to UNRWA’s charges that, ‘Administrator Power and USAID do not have an adequate vetting process to ensure that American taxpayer dollars do not end up with terrorists. If a terrorist front organization like UNRWA is the only ‘distribution system’ in Gaza, Power should reconsider sending aid there in the first place. Our tax dollars should not fund a group that has assisted in the kidnapping and murder of Americans.’ 

Former President Donald Trump’s administration had pulled the plug on UNRWA. The Biden administration quickly restored funding. 

Last week, Israel’s mass circulation daily, Israel Hayom, reported that ‘The Israel Land Authority (ILA) is seizing the land of UNRWA’s headquarters in Jerusalem, in order to build 1,440 housing units.’

The paper said ‘As the extent of UNRWA and its employees’ collaboration in the massacre at Gaza border communities by Hamas and their role in providing assistance for murder, kidnapping, and more continues to be revealed, a significant step has been taken for the first time against the refugee agency.’

Fox News’ Ruth Marks Eglash contributed to this report.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Keep Reading
By
Politics

White House: Biden is not holding Harris back, has been ‘really clear about passing the torch’

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre insisted Wednesday that President Biden is ‘not at all’ holding Vice President Kamala Harris back and has been ‘really clear about passing the torch’ following his decision to drop out of the 2024 race. 

Jean-Pierre made the remark after Biden said last night that Harris is ‘going to cut her own path’ if elected president, and just days after reports emerged of growing tension and miscommunication between the White House and the Harris campaign. 

‘Kamala and I have specific plans to bring down the cost of housing, child care, elder care and more,’ Biden said during a campaign event for Harris in Philadelphia.  

‘Every president has to cut their own path. That’s what I did. I was loyal to Barack Obama, but I cut my own path as president. That’s what Kamala is going to do. She’s been loyal so far, but she’s going to cut her own path,’ Biden added. 

When asked Wednesday at the White House press briefing if Biden feels he has held Harris back, Jean-Pierre said, ‘No, not at all.’ 

‘I’m not going to speak to politics from here, but what I can say more broadly is that every president has the opportunity to cut their own path. And the president has been really clear about passing the torch,’ Jean-Pierre said, ‘and seeing Vice President Harris as a leader from day one.’ 

‘He’s incredibly proud of her. He has supported her from day one,’ she also said. ‘He has said many times the best decision that he made in 2020 was asking her to be his running mate.’

However, an Axios report alleged Sunday that there are growing tensions between the White House and the Harris campaign. 

National political correspondent Alex Thompson reported that ‘many senior Biden aides remain wounded by the president being pushed out of his re-election bid and are still adjusting to being in a supporting role on the campaign trail.’ 

Thompson wrote the main issue with some Harris campaign members is that White House aides ‘aren’t sufficiently coordinating Biden’s messaging and schedule to align with what’s best for the vice president’s campaign.’ 

Thompson cited recent conflicts such as Biden holding an impromptu press conference on Friday while Harris was attending an event in Michigan.  

Another notable incident included Biden complimenting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for handling recent hurricanes shortly after Harris criticized DeSantis for not taking her calls. Thompson wrote that a person familiar with the situation said Biden wasn’t briefed on Harris’ comments before praising DeSantis. 

Fox News’ Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Keep Reading
By
Politics

‘China is our enemy’: GOP lawmaker shoots down Chinese spy balloon in new ad

A Republican congressman released a new advertisement showing him shooting a Chinese spy balloon out of the sky.

Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., is running for a second full term in the House of Representatives, having first won a special election in 2022 to succeed indicted Rep. Jeff Fortenberry.

The 30-second video clip emphasizes Flood’s record as a China hawk by using comments from the congressman himself, while emphasizing China’s imminent threat with a Chinese flag-covered balloon floating across the screen.

‘China is our enemy. Plain and simple. The Chinese Communist Party hacks our computers, buys up land near military bases, and spies on our armed forces, even here in Nebraska,’ Flood says in the ad.

‘That’s why I’m fighting to keep Chinese technology off our cell towers, stop China from buying Nebraska farmland, and protect Americans from Chinese spying and cyberattacks.’

Toward the end of the video, Flood promises to do ‘whatever it takes’ to defend Nebraska while cocking a pistol and blowing the balloon to smithereens. 

It’s a callback to when a suspected Chinese spy balloon entered U.S. airspace and subsequently floated across multiple states, at a level low enough to be seen with the naked eye, before being shot down off the coast of South Carolina after several days.

Republicans used the incident as evidence of their criticism that President Biden has not been tough enough on China, arguing that the surveillance device was sent by the Chinese military with little fear of U.S. reprisal.

Beijing has denied that the balloon was a spying tool.

It comes after new revelations of a swarm of unidentified drones over a sensitive military site in Virginia caused alarm. 

U.S. officials were stumped in December last year when the unidentified aircraft flew over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia for more than two weeks, the Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Keep Reading
By
Politics

Biden admin outlaws Palestinian organization for funding terrorism: ‘Sham charity’

JERUSALEM—The Biden administration on Tuesday designated the Palestinian non-governmental organization Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network as an ‘international fundraiser’ for a Palestinian terrorist group.

The classification of Samidoun as a terrorist organization comes six months after Fox News Digital published a May expose on calls for the Biden administration to outlaw the Palestinian group in the U.S.

The U.S. Treasury Department announced on its website that ‘In a joint action with Canada, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, or ‘Samidoun,’ a sham charity that serves as an international fundraiser for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terrorist organization.’

The U.S. government designated the PFLP a foreign terrorist organization in 1997. According to Treasury, the PFLP ‘uses Samidoun to maintain fundraising operations in both Europe and North America. Also designated today is Khaled Barakat, a member of the PFLP’s leadership. Together, Samidoun and Barakat play critical roles in external fundraising for the PFLP.’

Samidoun has chapters in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Iran, as well as in numerous European countries, including Sweden, France and Spain. Germany outlawed Samidoun in November and Israel classified the Palestinian organization as a terrorist entity in 2021. 

‘Organizations like Samidoun masquerade as charitable actors that claim to provide humanitarian support to those in need, yet in reality divert funds for much-needed assistance to support terrorist groups,’ said Bradley T. Smith, acting under secretary of the treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence. ‘The United States, together with Canada and our like-minded partners, will continue to disrupt those who seek to finance the PFLP, Hamas, and other terrorist organizations.’

Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s minister of public safety, democratic institutions and intergovernmental affairs, followed suit, annoucing that ‘Canada remains committed to working with our key partners and allies, like the United States, to counter terrorist organizations and their fundraisers.’ He continued, ‘Today’s joint action with the U.S. sends a strong message that our two nations will not tolerate this type of activity and will do everything in our power to ensure robust measures are in place to address terrorist financing.’

The Trudeau administration has faced criticism for failing to act to combat huge levels of antisemitism since the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre of Israelis. Canada’s Global News reported a Jewish school for girls was shot at for a second time in a year on the eve of Yom Kippur on Friday in Toronto.

The Treasury Department said the ban on Samidoun builds on its actions to counter terrorism after Hamas’ massacre of nearly 1,200 people, including over 30 Americans, in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

The goal of the latest Treasury sanction is to crack down on ‘terrorists and terrorist organizations that abuse the nonprofit organization sector by raising funds under the guise of charitable work,’ wrote the agency.

Samidoun lashed out at the U.S.and Canada for listing its organization as a terrorist group, writing on its website, ‘Samidoun is particularly targeted because of our political and vocal support for the Palestinian prisoners movement and the Palestinian people’s right to resistance.’

The outlawed group defiantly declared, ‘Our response to this designation is clear: we will keep struggling to stop the genocide, stop imperialist support for Israel, until the liberation of Palestine from the river to the sea.’ 

The slogan ‘from the river to the sea’ is widely viewed as a genocidal call to abolish the Jewish state and replace it with a Muslim-majority Palestinian state. In April, the House of Representatives passed a resolution condemning the slogan as antisemitic.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Keep Reading
By
Politics

Fox News Poll: Trump ahead of Harris by 2 points nationally

Former President Donald Trump is ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential contest, 50-48% according to a new Fox News national survey. That’s a reversal from last month when Harris had a narrow advantage.

Harris, however, is ahead by 6 points among voters from the seven key battleground states and the candidates tie 49% each among voters in close counties (where the Joe Biden-Trump 2020 margin was less than 10 points). Trump’s advantage comes from a larger share in counties he won by more than 10 points in 2020 (64-35%) than Harris has in counties Biden won by more than 10 points (58-39%).

That raises the question of whether the Democrat could win the Electoral College while losing the national popular vote. In 2000 and 2016, it was the GOP candidate who lost the popular vote but won the Electoral College.

Trump’s 2-point edge among likely voters falls well within the margin of error. The results are identical among the larger group of registered voters. Last month, Harris was up by 2 points (50-48%) among both likely and registered voters. 

This analysis uses registered voter results for apples-to-apples trend comparisons.

These are Trump’s best numbers since Harris became the nominee in August. The movement toward him mainly comes from an increase in support among White voters, who now favor him by 10 points, up from 4 points last month and 6 points in August. He is also at record highs among voters 65 and over (49%) and those with a college degree (48%).  

At the same time, Harris receives her lowest support since becoming the nominee among Black voters (67%), college graduates (49%), voters 65 and over (47%), and Whites with a college degree (46%). 

Yet on the surface, the race has stayed within a small range. In August, Trump was ahead by 1 point, then Harris was up by 2 points in September, and now Trump has a 2-point edge.  

‘Overall, the movement toward Trump is subtle but potentially consequential, especially if he is making gains among college-educated voters,’ says Democratic pollster Chris Anderson, who conducts Fox News surveys with Republican Daron Shaw. ‘However, the race has been well within the margin of error for three months and the outcome will likely hinge on which side is more effective at getting their voters to the polls as opposed to persuasion.’ 

The 20-point gender gap remains, as men back Trump and women go for Harris.

The good news for Harris is she gets 52% of new voters (those who haven’t voted in the last two presidential elections) and 20% non-MAGA Republicans.

She is also maintaining her double-digit lead over Trump among independents. That keeps the contest close, as each candidate receives backing from over 9 in 10 of their respective partisans. On the other hand, more voters nationally identify as Republican than Democrat, and that is what gives Trump the edge in this race.

While the vice president gets majority support among Hispanics (52%) and voters under age 30 (54%), both numbers trail President Joe Biden’s support in 2020 according to the Fox News Voter Analysis election survey (6 in 10 from each group). 

For Trump, the good news is that he improved on every issue and character trait since September. And a majority remembers his time in office positively: 53% approve of the job he did as president. That is 4 points higher than he ever received while in office. Fully 93% of Republicans approve as do 74% of non-MAGA Republicans and 45% of independents.

By comparison, currently only 40% of voters approve of Biden’s job performance, which matches previous lows in November 2023 and July 2022. 

Only slightly more, 43%, approve of the government’s response to recent hurricanes, with most Democrats approving and most Republicans and independents disapproving.

The economy continues to outrank all other issues, as 40% say it is the most important issue in deciding their choice for president. Less than half as many prioritize immigration and abortion, and far fewer cite issues such as election integrity, health care, climate change, guns, crime, and foreign policy.

Seven in 10 view the economy negatively. The 30% who rate conditions positively is up from a low of 17% in 2022, and close to the 33% who felt good about the economy at the end of Trump’s term. Half of Democrats give positive ratings while majorities of Republicans and independents rate economic conditions negatively.

Overall, 44% say they are falling behind financially, which is worse by 17 points compared to three years ago when only 27% felt that way. Some 13% feel they are getting ahead financially, while 43% are holding steady.  

Trump is seen as better than Harris at handling the economy (by 8 points). He also bests her on immigration (+15), crime (+8), and guns (+6). With the expanding conflict in the Middle East, it is noteworthy Trump is favored by 13 points on Israel and the war, up from a 7-point lead in September. He has improved his standing on every issue compared to September, mostly by small margins.

More voters trust Harris to handle abortion (by 14 points), climate change (+12), and health care (+8). The two candidates are rated about evenly on taxes (Trump +4), Supreme Court nominations (Trump +1), and election integrity (Harris +3).  

‘Sometimes, elections are simple,’ says Shaw. ‘In three weeks, we may be wondering how we thought the sitting vice president would win when only two in five voters think the incumbent administration has done a good job and only one in seven say they are getting ahead financially.’

Democrats and Republicans prioritize the issues differently, with the widest gap (28 points) on immigration. There’s an 18-point gap on abortion and 15 points on the economy.

Some 12% of Democrats see Trump as better at handling the economy and 18% feel that way about immigration, while 17% of Republicans trust Harris more on abortion and climate change.

Trump is helped by more voters saying they know a great deal about where he stands on their priority issues than they do about Harris (57% vs. 44%). Fully 78% of Republicans feel they know a great deal about Trump’s stances while 65% of Democrats say the same about Harris.

Less than half believe Trump (43%) and Harris (48%) are honest and trustworthy, though Trump’s number is a personal best. Voters are also more likely to see him as a strong leader (55% vs. 47% for Harris) and ‘up to the job’ of president (53% vs. 50%). Harris has an edge on having the mental soundness to be president (54% vs. 52% for Trump), but here again Trump is at a personal best. 

Harris has lost ground on some key characteristics. She was seen as better at helping the middle class by 9 points in September and that has declined to 4 points now. Her 5-point edge on ‘fighting for people like you’ is now 2 points, and her 6-point advantage on ‘protecting personal rights and freedoms’ has disappeared as the candidates are tied. 

Voters also narrowly see Trump as the one bringing needed change and protecting free speech, both traits where Harris was favored last month. 

The race continues to be more about Trump than Harris, as most of his backers say their vote is for him rather than against Harris. Among Harris supporters, two-thirds describe their vote as for her, but one-third say it is against Trump. For comparison, in May, nearly half of Biden supporters said their vote was mainly against Trump. Among Trump supporters, 80% say they are voting for him rather than against Harris (18%).

When saying in their own words what one issue or factor was motivating them to get out and vote this year, the top response from Harris supporters is dislike of the other candidate, followed by protecting democracy, and abortion. For those backing Trump, the economy and immigration are the top two motivators, followed by candidate characteristics. Among men, it’s dislike of the other candidate, the economy, and traits (in that order), while for women the economy and abortion tie as the top motivator, followed by candidate traits.  

– As red and blue states become shades of purple it is tough to know what level of a popular vote suggests a win in the Electoral College. In 2016, Hillary Clinton got more votes nationally by a 2-point margin but lost the Electoral College (by 77 electoral votes), while Joe Biden had a 4-point advantage in the popular vote and won the Electoral College (by 74). 

– About one-third of voters overall and one-third of women say Harris becoming the first female president matters to their vote. Among the 17% saying it matters a great deal, 80% back Harris.

– About 3 in 10 voters say they check news multiple times a day and they favor Trump by 10 points. At the other end of the spectrum, 1 in 10 say they don’t pay attention to news, and these disengaged voters favor Trump by 16 points. The 57% who follow news regularly but not constantly back Harris by 6 points.

– Most of each candidate’s backers feel certain of their vote, and two-thirds of both Harris’ and Trump’s supporters say they are ‘extremely’ motivated to vote. 

Conducted October 11-14, 2024 under the direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News survey includes interviews with a sample of 1,110 registered voters randomly selected from a national voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (129) and cellphones (719) or completed the survey online after receiving a text (262). Results based on both the full registered voter sample and the subsample of 870 likely voters have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points. Sampling error associated with results among subgroup is higher. In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education, and area variables to ensure the demographics of respondents are representative of the registered voter population. Sources for developing weight targets include the American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis, and voter file data. Likely voters are based on a probabilistic statistical model that relies on past vote history, interest in the current election, age, education, race, ethnicity, church attendance, and marital status.

Fox News’ Victoria Balara contributed to this report.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Keep Reading
By