5jili

5jili World reaction to end of Assad rule in SyriaCHENNAI: Amidst severe criticism from various political parties over his whiplash agitation, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai on Saturday said his action should be likened to that of a "brother's primal anger" over the sexual assault of his sister. His action should not be viewed as political but ought to be seen as an elder brother's outburst over the "system failure" in the state, Annamalai said a day after he staged a unique whiplash agitation of flogging himself to condemn the ruling DMK and the state police over the handling of the case of sexual assault on a Chennai college student. "Don't see me as a political party leader but see me as the affected girl's elder brother. It's (inflicting whiplash on himself) like primal anger of a brother because the system has failed," Annamalai told reporters at the airport here when sought for his reaction. "Has the police been impartial in handling the case? No. There was no chance for the FIR to get leaked. How did it get leaked?" the BJP president asked. He lashed himself several times with a whip in front of his house in Coimbatore demanding justice for the Anna University student who was sexually assaulted on Christmas Eve. The police had arrested the suspect in the case. Several political parties including the ruling DMK had mocked Annamalai for the agitation which was also to dislodge the DMK government . He had vowed not to wear sandals till the DMK was dethroned and had even begun a 48-day ritual for a pilgrimage to Murugan temples. Also, he justified his stance on the issue. He said the "system has deteriorated" in the state. Former Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan and BJP members were arrested when they staged a protest demanding justice for the affected girl student. "So I was constrained to take up this agitation. I have taken up the issue with a religious zeal," Annamalai said. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword .

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Tehran, Dec 25 (AP) Iran's government on Tuesday said it had lifted a ban on access to WhatsApp and Google Play after more than two years, the official IRNA news agency reported. The report said the country's Supreme Council of Cyber Space made the decision in a meeting led by reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, who has vowed to remove restrictions on social media. Iran's telecommunication minister Sattar Heshemi in a post on X called the decision a “first step” in removing restrictions and said “the path will continue" — indicating the possibility of unblocking other services. Many people reached by The Associated Press across the capital, Tehran, and other cities said they had access to the services on computers but not yet on mobile phones. WhatsApp has been the third most popular messaging platform in Iran after Instagram and Telegram. The ban on WhatsApp and Google Play was put in place in 2022 during mass protests against the government over the death of a woman held by the country's morality police for allegedly violating the strictly enforced dress code. The protests calmed in 2023 after a crackdown by police and security forces that led to the death of hundreds of people and the imprisonment of thousands. Iran has blocked access to various social media platforms over the years but many people in the country use proxies and VPNs to access them. (AP) AS AS (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)NEW YORK (AP) — A number of President-elect Donald Trump 's most prominent Cabinet picks and appointees have been targeted by bomb threats and “swatting attacks," Trump's transition team said Wednesday. The FBI said it was investigating. “Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and Administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them," Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. The attacks ranged from bomb threats to swatting, in which attackers initiate an emergency law enforcement response against a target victim under false pretenses, she said. The tactic has become a popular one in recent years. Leavitt said law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted and Trump and his transition team are grateful. Among those targeted were New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s pick to serve as the next ambassador to the United Nations ; Matt Gaetz, Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general ; Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, whom Trump chose to lead the Department of Labor , and former New York congressman Lee Zeldin, who has been tapped to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Law enforcement officials are also looking into whether Susie Wiles, Trump’s incoming chief of staff, and Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general whom Trump has chosen as Gaetz’s replacement, and other incoming administration officials were also victims — as well as how each was targeted, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity as the investigation continues. Wiles and Bondi did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The FBI said in a statement that it was “aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees" and was investigating with its law enforcement partners. White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma said President Joe Biden had been briefed and the White House is in touch with federal law enforcement and Trump's transition team. Biden “continues to monitor the situation closely," Sharma said, adding the president and his administration “condemn threats of political violence.” Stefanik's office said that, on Wednesday morning, she, her husband, and their 3-year-old son were driving home from Washington for Thanksgiving when they were informed of a bomb threat to their residence in Saratoga County. Police swept Stefanik’s home on Wednesday morning in response to the bomb threat but did not locate any explosive devices, New York State Police said. Zeldin said in a social media post that he and his family had also been threatened. “A pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family at our home today was sent in with a pro-Palestinian themed message,” he wrote on X . “My family and I were not home at the time and are safe." In Florida, the Okaloosa County sheriff’s office said on Facebook that it “received notification of a bomb threat referencing former Congressman Matt Gaetz’s supposed mailbox at a home in the Niceville area" Wednesday. While a family member resides at the address, the office said, Gaetz “is NOT a resident.” No threatening devices were found. Gaetz was Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general, but he withdrew from consideration after allegations that he paid women for sex and slept with underage women. Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, and a Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations ended with no charges against him. The threats follow a political campaign marked by disturbing and unprecedented violence. In July, a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing the then-candidate in the ear with a bullet and killing one of his supporters. The Secret Service later thwarted a subsequent assassination attempt at Trump's West Palm Beach, Florida, golf course when an agent spotted the barrel of a gun poking through a perimeter fence while Trump was golfing. Trump was also the subject of an Iranian murder-for-hire plot , with a man saying he had been tasked with planning the assassination of the Republican president-elect. Also this week, authorities arrested a man they say posted videos on social media threatening to kill Trump, according to court documents. In one video posted on Nov. 13, Manuel Tamayo-Torres threatened to shoot the former president while holding what appeared to be an AR-15 style rifle, authorities said Among the other videos he posted was one from an arena in Glendale, Arizona on Aug. 23, the same day Trump held a campaign rally there, according to court papers. An attorney for Tamayo-Torres did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Public figures across the political spectrum have been targeted in recent years by hoax bomb threats and false reports of shootings at their homes. About a year ago the FBI responded to an uptick in such incidents at the homes of public officials, state capitols and courthouses across the country around the holidays. Many were locked down and evacuated in early January after receiving bomb threats. No explosives were found and no one was hurt. Some of those targeted last year were Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. The judges overseeing the civil fraud case against Trump in New York and the criminal election interference case against him in Washington were both targeted earlier this year. Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, who recently abandoned the two criminal cases he brought against Trump, was also the subject of a fake emergency call on Christmas Day last year. Earlier this year, schools, government buildings and the homes of city officials in Springfield, Ohio, received a string of hoax bomb threats after Trump falsely accused members of Springfield’s Haitian community of abducting and eating cats and dogs. And in 2022, a slew of historically Black colleges and universities nationwide were targeted with dozens of bomb threats, with the vast majority arriving during the celebration of Black History Month. The U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement Wednesday that anytime a member of Congress is the victim of a swatting' incident, “we work closely with our local and federal law enforcement partners.” The force declined to provide further details, in part to “minimize the risk of copy-cats.” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson called the threats “dangerous and unhinged.” “This year, there was not just one but TWO assassination attempts on President Trump," he wrote on X . “Now some of his Cabinet nominees and their families are facing bomb threats.” He added: “It is not who we are in America.” ___ Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Colleen Long and Eric Tucker in Washington, Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, and Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, contributed to this report.

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NoneThe smartphone world is abuzz with rumors of Qualcomm’s latest chipset, the Snapdragon 8s Elite. Positioned to power the next generation of sub-flagship Android phones, this new processor promises a compelling blend of performance and affordability. But what exactly does this mean for consumers? Will this chip reshape the landscape of mid-range devices? Let’s dive into the details. What We Know So Far: Leaked information suggests that the Snapdragon 8s Elite, model number SM8735, is set to outperform the current Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, though it may not quite reach the heights of the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. This positions it perfectly for the “sub-flagship” segment, offering a compelling alternative to both budget-oriented and top-tier devices. Why This Matters: The smartphone market is constantly evolving. While flagship phones push the boundaries of technology with cutting-edge features and sky-high prices, the sub-flagship category has emerged as a sweet spot for many consumers. These devices offer a balance of performance, features, and price, making them an attractive option for those seeking value without sacrificing too much on the experience. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8s Elite enters this arena with the potential to redefine what we expect from sub-flagship phones. By offering near-flagship performance at a more accessible price point, it could empower manufacturers to create devices that blur the lines between mid-range and premium. Expected Release and Devices: While Qualcomm remains tight-lipped about the official launch date , rumors suggest that the first Snapdragon 8s Elite powered phones could hit the market as early as April 2025. These devices are anticipated to fall within the mid-range category and may boast impressive features like large 7000mAh batteries. Performance and Features: Though concrete benchmarks are not yet available, the Snapdragon 8s Elite is rumored to surpass the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in performance. This suggests a significant leap in processing power, enabling smoother multitasking, enhanced gaming capabilities, and improved overall responsiveness. Furthermore, the chip is expected to inherit some of the architectural advancements and AI capabilities of its flagship counterparts, leading to better efficiency and potentially new user experiences. My Take: Having closely followed Qualcomm’s processor development over the years, I’m particularly excited about the potential of the Snapdragon 8s Elite. In my experience, the “s” series chipsets have consistently delivered impressive performance for their price point. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 1, for instance, powered some of my favorite mid-range phones in 2023, offering a smooth and responsive user experience that rivaled some flagship devices. With the 8s Elite, Qualcomm seems to be raising the bar even higher. The prospect of near-flagship performance in a more affordable package is enticing, and I believe it will drive innovation and competition in the sub-flagship segment. I’m eager to see how manufacturers leverage this chip to create compelling devices that cater to a wider range of users. The Sub-Flagship Segment: A Battleground for Innovation: The sub-flagship segment has become increasingly competitive in recent years. Manufacturers like OnePlus, Xiaomi, and Google have all released impressive devices that offer a compelling alternative to expensive flagship models. This trend is driven by several factors: The Snapdragon 8s Elite is poised to further intensify competition in this space. By offering a powerful and efficient chipset, Qualcomm is empowering manufacturers to create even more compelling sub-flagship devices. This could lead to a wider variety of choices for consumers, with more features and performance available at lower price points. Potential Impact on the Market: The introduction of the Snapdragon 8s Elite could have a significant impact on the smartphone market. Here are some potential outcomes: The Snapdragon 8s Elite represents an exciting development in the smartphone industry. By offering a compelling blend of performance and affordability, it has the potential to reshape the sub-flagship segment and drive innovation across the market. As we await its official launch, one thing is certain: the competition in the smartphone world is about to heat up.