ustar 2021 results

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) — Victims' families and others affected by crimes that resulted in federal death row convictions shared a range of emotions on Monday, from relief to anger, after President Joe Biden commuted dozens of the sentences . Biden converted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The inmates include people who were convicted in the slayings of police, military officers and federal prisoners and guards. Others were involved in deadly robberies and drug deals. Three inmates will remain on federal death row: Dylann Roof , convicted of the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; the 2013 Boston Marathon Bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev , and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. Opponents of the death penalty lauded Biden for a decision they'd long sought. Supporters of Donald Trump , a vocal advocate of expanding capital punishment, criticized the move as an assault to common decency just weeks before the president-elect takes office. Donnie Oliverio, a retired Ohio police officer whose partner was killed by an inmate whose death sentence was commuted, said the execution of “the person who killed my police partner and best friend would have brought me no peace.” “The president has done what is right here,” Oliverio said in a statement also issued by the White House, “and what is consistent with the faith he and I share.” Heather Turner, whose mother, Donna Major, was killed in a bank robbery in South Carolina in 2017, called Biden's commutation of the killer's sentence a “clear gross abuse of power” in a Facebook post, adding that the weeks she spent in court with the hope of justice were now “just a waste of time.” “At no point did the president consider the victims,” Turner wrote. “He, and his supporters, have blood on their hands.” There has always been a broad range of opinions on what punishment Roof should face from the families of the nine people killed and the survivors of the massacre at the Mother Emanuel AME Church. Many forgave him, but some say they can’t forget and their forgiveness doesn’t mean they don’t want to see him put to death for what he did. Felicia Sanders survived the shooting shielding her granddaughter while watching Roof kill her son, Tywanza, and her aunt, Susie Jackson. Sanders brought her bullet-torn bloodstained Bible to his sentencing and said then she can’t even close her eyes to pray because Roof started firing during the closing prayer of Bible study that night. In a text message to her lawyer, Andy Savage, Sanders called Biden’s decision to not spare Roof’s life a wonderful Christmas gift. Michael Graham, whose sister, Cynthia Hurd, was killed, told The Associated Press that Roof’s lack of remorse and simmering white nationalism in the country means he is the kind of dangerous and evil person the death penalty is intended for. “This was a crime against a race of people," Graham said. “It didn’t matter who was there, only that they were Black.” But the Rev. Sharon Richer, who was Tywanza Sanders’ cousin and whose mother, Ethel Lance, was killed, criticized Biden for not sparing Roof and clearing out all of death row. She said every time Roof’s case comes up through numerous appeals it is like reliving the massacre all over again. “I need the President to understand that when you put a killer on death row, you also put their victims' families in limbo with the false promise that we must wait until there is an execution before we can begin to heal,” Richer said in a statement. Richer, a board member of Death Penalty Action, which seeks to abolish capital punishment, was driven to tears by conflicting emotions during a Zoom news conference Monday. “The families are left to be hostages for the years and years of appeals that are to come,” Richer said. “I’ve got to stay away from the news today. I’ve got to turn the TV off — because whose face am I going to see?” Biden is giving more attention to the three inmates he chose not to spare, something they all wanted as a part of what drove them to kill, said Abraham Bonowitz, Death Penalty Action’s executive director. “These three racists and terrorists who have been left on death row came to their crimes from political motivations. When Donald Trump gets to execute them what will really be happening is they will be given a global platform for their agenda of hatred,” Bonowitz said. Biden had faced pressure from advocacy organizations to commute federal death sentences, and several praised him for taking action in his final month in office. Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the ACLU, said in a statement that Biden “has shown our country — and the rest of the world — that the brutal and inhumane policies of our past do not belong in our future.” Republicans, including Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, on the other hand, criticized the move — and argued its moral ground was shaky given the three exceptions. “Once again, Democrats side with depraved criminals over their victims, public order, and common decency,” Cotton wrote on X. “Democrats can’t even defend Biden’s outrageous decision as some kind of principled, across-the-board opposition to the death penalty since he didn’t commute the three most politically toxic cases.” Liz Murrill, Louisiana's Republican attorney general, criticized the commuted sentence of Len Davis, a former New Orleans policeman convicted of orchestrating the killing of a woman who had filed a complaint against him. “We can’t trust the Feds to get justice for victims of heinous crimes, so it’s long past time for the state to get it done,” the tough-on-crime Republican said in a written statement to the AP. Two men whose sentences were commuted were Norris Holder and Billie Jerome Allen, on death row for opening fire with assault rifles during a 1997 bank robbery in St. Louis, killing a guard, 46-year-old Richard Heflin. Holder’s attorney, Madeline Cohen, said in an email that Holder, who is Black, was sentenced to death by an all-white jury. She said his case “reflects many of the system’s flaws,” and thanked Biden for commuting his sentence. “Norris’ case exemplifies the racial bias and arbitrariness that led the President to commute federal death sentences,” Cohen said. “Norris has always been deeply remorseful for the pain his actions caused, and we hope this decision brings some measure of closure to Richard Heflin’s family.” Swenson reported from Seattle. Associated Press writers Jim Salter in O'Fallon, Missouri, and Sara Cline in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, contributed to this report.The signboard screams “Hair Studio” in neon lights, and the dimly lit shop has a row of barber chairs and large mirrors. But the twist is how the hair salon charges for its services – $40 for 30 minutes, and more if you want a massage thrown in. Dozens of hair salons have mushroomed all over Geylang in the past few months. The Straits Times counted at least 15 hair salons within 1km on the main stretch of Geylang Road alone, between Lorong 8 and Lorong 30. Across six visits by ST to the area between October and November, suspicions of vice in the establishments were strong. “Hairstylists” who wait outside their salons would offer hair washes and massages to men who walk by. After brief negotiations, men are led to the back of the salons, behind partitions or thin curtains. SFA suspends, fines Geylang eatery for dirty premises, unregistered worker Some of the units operated during the day like legitimate salons, with stylists and barbers. An ST reporter visited one of the salons for a hair wash on Nov 25. The reporter was propositioned with additional massage services within two minutes of agreeing to a hair wash for $40. Once inside, a woman grabbed the reporter’s hand and placed it on her bosom. As she guided the reporter to lie down for the hair wash, a few other women started touching his legs and arms, hoping he would pay more for full-body massages. The services of another woman were offered for $40. Even after being repeatedly turned down, the women kept trying. One offered to provide an hour of company in a more private area, whispering in the reporter’s ear in Mandarin that she could do “whatever you like” during that time. She also said she could “look after” him. The salon the reporter patronised also brazenly touts its massage services on social media. In one TikTok video, it advertises a “12-hand massage“, which sees six women simultaneously massaging a male customer from head to toe. In another video, it brags that a customer had tipped staff $250 for a supposed haircut. The man in the video was bald. ST visited another hair salon during the day near Lorong 14. The place was empty, except for two women who nodded when asked if they were hairstylists. The reporter asked for a haircut, and was immediately pressured into booking both women for a massage at an “early early discount” of $70. The reporter was shown the back of the salon, where a thin curtain hid a massage bed. The offer was declined. Strict laws Hair salons are not supposed to provide full-body massage services unless explicitly approved to do so by the authorities. They are not classified as a massage establishment under the Massage Establishments Act. Under the same law, massage parlours and spas are governed by a strict licensing regime that adds controls on their operations and hours. Hair salons do not have such restrictions placed on them. The Act was passed in 2017 after police detected a 40 per cent increase in unlicensed massage establishments between 2013 and 2016. Many of these were found to be a front for vice activities. Hair salons were deemed to be a lower risk because they did not typically offer full-body massages, and so were exempt from the massage establishment licensing regime. Among other things, the Police Licensing and Regulatory Department, which oversees the issuing of the massage establishment licence, requires that 80 per cent of employees in massage parlours and spas be certified in beauty therapy services. Employees must also wear uniforms and be decently dressed. There are no such requirements for hair salons. When the authorities began clamping down on errant massage parlours and spas, vice operators have in the past pivoted, registering their establishments as beauty salons, which are also exempt from having to obtain a massage establishment licence. ST previously reported about such beauty salons at Orchard Towers that offered sex and little else. The authorities quickly closed the gap. One of the largest operations in 2024 saw 102 investigated for their suspected involvement in vice activities following raids at 55 locations around Singapore, including massage parlours, beauty salons, hotels and residential units. It appears vice operators are now exploiting another gap. Ungoverned sector Mr Simon Lee, founder of the Hair and Cosmetology Association (Singapore), said he is aware that hair salons are popping up all over Geylang, with some operating as a front for vice activities. “These people are clearly just making the front look like a salon, but behind, it’s all hanky-panky,” he added. “We’ve seen a rising number of vice operators swinging to ungoverned sectors like hair salons. We’ve tried giving feedback to the authorities. “Many legitimate salons that used to be in Geylang have already moved out,” he said. He added that none of the new salons, which established themselves in the area over the past year, are among the association’s member base of over 300 salons and hairdressers. “Everyone in the industry knows what’s happening in Geylang and are staying away. If you’re a legitimate salon, you won’t be opening up there,” he said. The police told ST they did not detect any vice activities at hair salons during enforcement operations in 2023. But a spokesman added: “Any errant operator who uses a hair salon as a front for any illegal or unlicensed activities will be subject to enforcement action and dealt with under the relevant laws. “The police take a zero-tolerance approach towards such activities and will take firm action against those who blatantly disregard the law.” The police added that they will continue to partner the community and members of the public on the information submitted and will take appropriate action against any illegal activities detected. Mr Lee hopes the authorities can step in soon, even if it means scrutiny and licensing for all hair salons. “It may be painful for some salons in the short run, but in the long run, it’s good,” he said. “Because right now, our industry is being tarnished by these errant operators and there’s nothing much we can do.”None

Trump threatens 100% tariff on the BRIC bloc of nations if they act to undermine US dollar WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is threatening 100% tariffs against a bloc of nine nations if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. His threat was directed at countries in the so-called BRIC alliance, which consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.. Trump says he wants a commitment from the bloc that it will not create a new currency or otherwise try to undermine the U.S. dollar. Emboldened 'manosphere' accelerates threats and demeaning language toward women after US election CHICAGO (AP) — An emboldened fringe of right-wing “manosphere” influencers has seized on Donald Trump’s presidential win to justify and amplify misogynistic derision and threats online. Many have appropriated a 1960s abortion rights rallying cry, declaring “Your body, my choice,” and have been using it publicly on college campuses and even in public schools. While none of the current online rhetoric is being amplified by Trump, experts say many young men see the former president’s return to the White House as vindication of their views on women. For many women, the words are a worrying sign of what might lie ahead as some men perceive the election results as a rebuke of reproductive rights and women’s rights. Young men swung to the right for Trump after a campaign dominated by masculine appeals WASHINGTON (AP) — Young men shifted toward Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election in a change from recent years, when most young male voters backed the Democratic candidate. Young white men already supported him in 2020 and shifted slightly farther right this time. Young Latino men were about evenly split between the two candidates. Most young Black men backed Democrat Kamala Harris, though about a third supported Trump. Trump's campaign for the Oval Office was dominated by appeals to traditional masculinity, conveyed in appearances in nontraditional media. His campaign believed that tactic would boost his support among men who otherwise do not pay attention to political media. After entering Aleppo, Syrian insurgents advance to a nearby province. Assad says he'll defeat them BEIRUT (AP) — Thousands of Syrian insurgents have taken over most of Aleppo, establishing positions in the country’s largest city and controlling its airport before expanding their shock offensive to a nearby province. They faced little to no resistance from government troops Saturday, according to fighters and activists. Thousands of fighters also moved on, facing almost no defense from government forces. They seized towns and villages in northern Hama, a province where they had a presence before being expelled by government troops in 2016. They claimed to have entered the city of Hama. In his first public comments since the offensive began, President Bashar Assad said Syria will continue to “defend its stability and territorial integrity against terrorists and their supporters.” An Israeli strike in Gaza kills World Central Kitchen workers. Israel says 1 was an Oct. 7 attacker DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An Israeli airstrike on a car in the Gaza Strip killed five people including employees of World Central Kitchen. The charity says it is “urgently seeking more details” Saturday after Israel’s military said it targeted a World Central Kitchen worker who had been part of the Hamas attack that sparked the war. The charity says it is “heartbroken” and adds that it had no knowledge anyone in the car had alleged ties to the Oct. 7, 2023 attack. It says it is pausing operations in Gaza. It paused them earlier this year after an Israeli strike killed seven of its workers. Also on Saturday, Hamas released a new hostage video of Israeli-American Edan Alexander. Lebanese fishermen hope ceasefire with Israel means normal life returning TYRE, Lebanon (AP) — The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is bringing hope for normality back to many in southern Lebanon. That includes fishermen who’ve long launched their single-engine wooden boats into the Mediterranean at dawn. For months, Israel imposed a siege that kept hundreds of fishermen at this ancient Phoenician port ashore. That upended their lives and dealt the industry a major blow. The port siege also cut people off from key ingredients for traditional Lebanese dishes. As war devastated their country, the loss of fish damaged a deep association with home. Now, the possibility of renewed fishing is helping fuel hope. Heavy snow blankets parts of the US during busy holiday travel weekend BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The first big snowfall of the season is blanketing towns in upstate New York and northwestern Pennsylvania as the hectic holiday travel and shopping weekend winds down. Numbing cold and heavy snow could persist into next week and cause hazards in the Great Lakes, Plains and Midwest regions. A state of emergency has been declared for parts of New York, making it problematic for Thanksgiving travelers. This week’s blast of frigid Arctic air also brought bitterly cold temperatures of 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit below average to the Northern Plains. Cold air is expected to move over the eastern third of the U.S. by Monday with temperatures about 10 degrees below average. Southwest Airlines says it is ending cabin service earlier to reduce chance of injury Southwest Airlines is ending its cabin service earlier starting next month. Beginning on Dec. 4, a company spokesperson says flight attendants will begin preparing the cabin for landing at an altitude of 18,000 feet instead of 10,000 feet. The company says it's making the changes to reduce the risk of in-flight turbulence injuries. For passengers, that means they will need to return their seats to an upright position or do other pre-landing procedures earlier than before. While turbulence-related fatalities are quite rare, injuries have piled up over the years. What to know about the plastic pollution crisis as treaty talks conclude in South Korea BUSAN, South Korea (AP) — The world’s nations will wrap up negotiating a treaty this weekend to address the global crisis of plastic pollution. The world produces more than 400 million tons of new plastic yearly. That could climb about 70% by 2040 without policy changes. China was by far the biggest exporter of plastic products in 2023, followed by Germany and the United States. Less than 10% of plastics are recycled. Many plastics are used for packaging. Every day, the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic are dumped into the world’s oceans, rivers and lakes. Romania's parliamentary vote risks being overshadowed by presidential race chaos BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romanians are preparing to go to the polls in a parliamentary vote that will determine a new government and prime minister to lead the European Union and NATO member country. However, Sunday's vote is sandwiched between a two-round presidential race and is overshadowed by controversies and chaos following the outcome of the first vote. While the president has significant decision-making powers in areas such as national security and foreign policy, the prime minister is the head of the nation’s government. Sunday’s vote will determine the formation of the country’s 466-seat legislature.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina coach Dawn Staley is not in panic mode, even if some of her famous “Fams” are following the Gamecocks’ first loss in two seasons. Sure, South Carolina has only lost twice in its past 87 games. Yet, even Staley can’t understand worries she has heard since the program’s record 43-game win streak ended with a 77-62 loss at UCLA. The sky is not falling, Staley said before the Gamecocks (5-1), who slipped from No. 1 to No. 4, get back at it against No. 15 Iowa State (5-1) at the Fort Myers Tip-off in Florida. “This is a team that hasn’t dealt with a whole lot of losing,” said Staley, whose teams have lost a total of four games the past four seasons, a stretch that included national titles in 2022 and this past season. “But you handle it with grace and you hand it with learning lessons,” Staley said. “Things were exposed and hopefully we can fill some of those holes.” South Carolina has struggled with slow starts this season and it happened again in the loss to the Bruins. The Gamecocks shot just nine of 34 in the opening two periods and trailed 43-22, a hole they could not dig themselves out of. Part of the problem is the team has yet to fully adjust to playing without last year’s leading scorer and rebounder in centerpiece player Kamilla Cardoso. The 6-foot-7 Cardoso was a virtual lock to score down low once she got the entry pass. Staley said the Gamecocks haven’t found that same comfortability in the post so far this season. The team’s outside shooting could not make up the difference at UCLA. The outside reaction to defeat took Staley by surprise. Some on social media — Staley continually has her head in her phone to soak up the outside comments — questioned why dynamic guard MiLaysia Fulwiley played less than three minutes and had zero points after averaging 12.8 points over her previous five games. Are lineup changes ahead for Staley? “No, no, no, no,” she said emphatically. And all is OK with Fulwiley, the sophomore who was the Southeastern Conference Tournament MVP a season ago, Staley said. “MiLaysia is a generational talent,” Staley said. “Does that mean she’s not going to go through some things? Yeah, she is.” Fulwiley and the rest of the team, after a mostly quiet cross-country flight home, returned to practice to flush the defeat and get back to what they know best in winning. “We came in with the mindset that, ‘Hey, it was an early loss,’” said Te-Hina Paopao, South Carolina’s leading scorer at 14.2 points a game. “The world isn’t going to end. We’re still here.” South Carolina’s early challenging stretch — it will have faced four ranked opponents in its first 10 games — continues with the Cyclones, who are led by Audi Crooks, a center who is tied for 15th in the country at 21.7 points a game. The Gamecocks must not give Crooks easy, open touches inside and make her move a couple of times before getting off a shot, Staley said. “I think that favors us,” she said. South Carolina has not lost two straight since 2019 when it fell to Mississippi State to close the regular season and then were beaten by Arkansas to start the SEC Tournament. It’s been 14 years since the Gamecocks lost consecutive non-conference games when they were defeated by Penn State, Stanford and UC Davis in November 2010. Staley’s message to those making the outside noise? Stay calm. The season is long, and South Carolina is loaded with talented players who are still finding the best way to blend. “We’re going to continue to get this team where it needs to be,” said Staley, in her 17th season with the Gamecocks. “It’s unfortunate that we’ve got the type of schedule that doesn’t lend itself to happier times for everybody. “To do that is our choice,” she continued. “So it’s only going to make us better.”Joey Logano calls out critics of NASCAR Cup Series championship win