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Trump Cabinet picks, appointees targeted by bomb threats and swatting attacksThe leadership of the Georgian Dream party has tried to manage the fallout from their decision to the EU accession, as waves of angered citizens filled the streets of the capital and other Georgian cities. by the police and brutality from non-uniformed “black men” that accompany the riot police forces are fuelling public anger. Starting yesterday, civil servants from various key ministries, including , , and justice, have spoken out in favor of Georgia’s European future, distancing themselves from the GD decision. The crisis comes while the party that ruled Georgia for the past twelve years struggles to affirm its international legitimacy following the elections on October 26. The scale and breadth of violations led the observers and the to condemn them as not fair and not representative of the people’s will. President Salome Zurabishvili also said the elections “did not take place.” By ignoring the legislative procedures for recognizing the credentials of MPs which are being challenged in the Constitutional Court, the Georgian Dream put itself in constitutional and legal limbo. Thus, the government endorsed by this parliament is considered illegitimate by the opposition, large part of the civil society actors, and influential voices . Despite the pressure they feel from the streets, the Georgian Dream officials try to remain on the offensive, advancing the following narratives. To critics who say they halted Georgia’s EU accession, the Georgian Dream officials retort that it was Europe that stopped the process. This statement omits the fact that the conditionalities of accession to the European Union are not for Georgia to establish and that the government led by the Georgian Dream has refused to meet the twelve conditions for candidacy fully and then, after having received candidacy nonetheless, ignored the reformulated nine conditions for opening the accession negotiations. Irakli Kobakhidze, who made a statement about halting the accession, said that the EU used the candidacy and then the accession talks to “blackmail” Georgia. By ending this blackmail, he argued, Georgia is free to enter the EU on its terms – coded as its “values” and its “dignity.” On November 30, GD spokesman Mamuka Mdinaradze , trying to put the blame on the EU: “If they [the EU] were to put on the table the paper that says they are ready to start accession negotiations, we would sign it immediately.” Kakha Kaladze, the mayor of Tbilisi and GD Secretary-General, made an point. Kobakhidze also argued that the EU used the candidacy and then the accession talks to “blackmail” Georgia and elicit concessions that were counter to Georgian values. By flipping the narrative GD also built on its conspiracy theory, claiming that Western powers and their domestic lackeys have been plotting “Georgian Maidan,” or “Natsmaidan”, from the pejorative nickname “Natsi” referring to supporters of the opposition United National Movement. GD claims that the opposition and the Global Party of War conspire to instigate a regime change event similar to Ukraine’s Euromaidan in 2013, which is bound to bring similar results – war and destruction – while the ruling party has been foiling their plots at every step. , at the briefing on November 30, said: “Already for the third year, specific European politicians and bureaucrats, whose attempts at Ukrainization of Georgia have failed before, insist on using the [EU] candidacy and [accession] negotiations for weakening the country, promoting so-called polarization and dividing our society. ‘[...] A responsibility for yesterday’s violent manifestation rests with these European politicians and bureaucrats, and their local agents, the fifth column, represented by four [opposition] parties.” further : “We have correctly decided to get ahead of, so to say, the very bad developments [the inspirations of the Maidan] planned for December 16-20.” This cryptic statement is wrapped in a conspiracy theory, so it begs explanation: by this statement, a GD official implies that the opposition planned protests for December when GD is set to install their loyal president and the EU Foreign Affairs Council is set to deliberate. In Mdinaradze’s words, the GD made a statement to halt the accession process to provoke protests early and thus catch the conspirators before they were ready. This “tactic” echoes the statement by party patron , who claimed to have re-submitted the law on Foreign Agents in the spring of 2024 so that the protesters “get exhausted” before the October 26 elections. The State Security Service chimed in on November 30, saying the “destructive developments” have commenced “in accordance with the indications of the case about the violent overthrow of the government, which the SSSG has been informing the public about previously.” The Security Service has been repeatedly launching “coup investigations,” which led to some interrogations publicized by the GD-aligned media and then shelved. They are diligently “re-activated” during the crisis. GD MPs also started spinning rumors that “foreign citizens” were detained during protests. “This is an interesting question ... what are they doing on Rustaveli Avenue today?” Rati Ionatamishvili. Faced with the video proof of police violence, GD admits it, condemns it, but also demonstrators have instigated it. “It is, of course, horrible to see a lying man kicked in the face, and there can be no justification for this, but if we want to be even a bit more objective, we have to point out that the instigators of violence are not one, two, five or ten, but hundreds of demonstrators.” Both and thanked the police for keeping their cool when the protesters “simply came out for seeking violence.” The has been repeatedly about the injuries sustained by the police officers, statements that are given high prominence in GD-loyal media. As more civil servants and diplomats have distanced themselves from the ruling party, they felt the need to react. GD MP Nino Tsilosani’s first reaction to such statements from Foreign Ministry employees was to say, “You will sound even more convincing if you just resign and then think about your values.” The subsequent response from GD was to disparage and patronize the signatories. Mdinaradze gaslighted the signatories saying: “To those people who can’t resist the pseudo-liberal fascism and their bullying: don’t strain yourselves too much, no need to send up the apologies from the back door either, post freely [on social media] that Georgia’s place is in Europe. [...] We are there, holding that very position, but those who bully you – as yourselves, where do they stand really? [...] Ask yourselves how you allowed yourself to be bullied [by the opposition] this way.” The Georgian Dream’s attempt to remain on the offensive is hitting the wall of mounting widespread anger, which does not seem to be dampened – so far – by the police violence or public relations tactics. On the contrary. Now, by demanding access to the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GBP) the opposition is trying to break the ruling party’s monopoly on nationwide television broadcasters, which gives them preferential access to the suburban voters.

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MONACO — Canadians Alex Tessier, Sophie de Goede and Laetitia Royer have been named to World Rugby's Women’s 15s Dream Team of the Year. Canada sevens captain Olivia Apps, meanwhile, was selected to World Rugby's Women’s Sevens Dream Team. The women's 15s world all-star squad also featured six players from top-ranked England and three from No. 2 New Zealand. The other three came from the U.S., Ireland and France. Tessier was also a finalist for the World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year award won by England fullback Ellie Kildunne. France's Pauline Bourdon Sansus and England's Alex Matthews were the other finalists. Tessier won her 50th cap in 2024 and, playing at inside centre alongside fly half Claire Gallagher, led the Canada women to a historic first-ever victory over New Zealand to win the 2024 Pacific Four Series in May. The 22-19 comeback victory lifted Canada into second place in the women’s world rankings, its highest position since November 2016. Tessier's strong kicking game was also key for Canada. The 31-year-old from Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, Que., scored 27 points in starting all six matches for Canada in 2024 to up her career total to 48 points (including five tries) in 54 appearances. Tessier plays professionally in England for the Exeter Chiefs. De Goede made the all-star team despite tearing her anterior cruciate ligament in training in June. A finalist for the Women's Player of the Year award in 2022, the Victoria back-rower plays in England for Saracens. Royer, from Loretteville, Que., is a second-row forward who plays in France for ASM Romagnat. Top-ranked South Africa dominated the men's 15s all-star squad with seven players represented. Ireland had four players with New Zealand three and Argentina one. --- World Rugby's 15s Dream Teams of the Year Women 1. Hope Rogers (U.S.); 2. Georgia Ponsonby (New Zealand); 3. Maud Muir (England); 4. Zoe Aldcroft (England); 5. Laetitia Royer (Canada) ; 6. Aoife Wafer (Ireland)' 7. Sophie de Goede (Canada) ; 8. Alex Matthews (England); 9. Pauline Bourdon Sansus (France); 10. Holly Aitchison (England); 11. Katelyn Vahaakolo (New Zealand); 12. Alex Tessier (Canada) ; 13. Sylvia Brunt (New Zealand); 14. Abby Dow (England); 15. Ellie Kildunne (England). Men 1. Ox Nche (South Africa); 2. Malcolm Marx (South Africa); 3. Tyrel Lomax (New Zealand); 4. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa); 5. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland); 6. Pablo Matera (Argentina); 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa); 8. Caelan Doris (Ireland); 9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland); 10. Damian McKenzie (New Zealand); 11. James Lowe (Ireland); 12. Damian de Allende (South Africa); 13. Jesse Kriel (South Africa); 14. Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa); 15. Will Jordan (New Zealand). World Rugby Sevens Dreams Team of the Year Women Olivia Apps (Canada) , Michaela Blyde (New Zealand), Kristi Kirshe (U.S.), Maddison Levi (Australia), Ilona Maher (U.S.), Jorja Miller (New Zealand), Séraphine Okemba (France). Men Selvyn Davids (South Africa), Antoine Dupont (France), Aaron Grandidier Nkanang (France), Terry Kennedy (Ireland), Nathan Lawson (Australia), Ponipate Loganimasi (Fiji), Matías Osadczuk (Argentina). This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2024. The Canadian Press

Lawyer says ex-Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller met with NCAA for hours amid gambling probeHemant Soren to take oath as Jharkhand's 14 CM tomorrow, several key leaders to attend eventFour Canadian women honoured in World Rugby's Dream Teams of the Year