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Protesters Disrupt Antony Blinken During US Senate Hearing On Anti-War Demonstrations

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(CTN NEWS) – During a Senate hearing featuring US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, impassioned protesters demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza created a tumultuous interruption.

Within the crowd, numerous individuals stood up and, in unison, repeatedly shouted, “Ceasefire now!”

Their fervent cries echoed through the chamber as Secretary Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin testified about the White House’s substantial $106 billion national security funding request, which notably allocated $14.3 billion to support Israel’s military efforts against Hamas.

The protesters, acting in a coordinated manner, awaited the commencement of Mr. Blinken’s testimony before launching their impassioned demands.

This disrupted the proceedings to the extent that lawmakers were compelled to temporarily suspend the hearing on multiple occasions.

Capitol Police officers swiftly took action, escorting the demonstrators out of the room.

Later reports confirmed that a total of 12 people had been arrested for their involvement in what was deemed an unauthorized protest inside the hallowed Dirksen Senate Office Building.

It is worth noting that a

portion of the protesters involved in this compelling act of civil disobedience were associated with the prominent anti-war group CODEPINK.

This organization has not only called for an end to the conflict in Gaza but has also passionately advocated for the cessation of US arms shipments to Ukraine.

Dressed predominantly in pink attire and brandishing signs emblazoned with the message “No to the siege of Gaza,” these demonstrators passionately called for an immediate cessation of US funds flowing to Israel.

Their commitment to this cause was manifest in their symbolic gesture, as some had painted their hands in red, signifying the shedding of blood.

CODEPINK later confirmed that some of its members had been among those arrested.

Their steadfast commitment to their cause and their willingness to engage in acts of civil disobedience underscore the depth of their conviction.

The Senate hearing, which was intended to discuss critical matters of national security funding, transformed into a powerful stage for voices seeking change and advocating for peace.

At the conclusion of his statement, Mr. Blinken acknowledged the presence of the protesters and the fervent expressions within the room.

He stated, “All of us are committed to the protection of civilian life.

All of us know the suffering that is taking place as we speak, all of us are determined to see it end.”

His words underlined the shared commitment to ending the suffering and turmoil that had unfolded.

Simultaneously, he emphasized the importance of the United States standing with its allies, reiterating a core principle of American foreign policy.

Secretary Blinken, along with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, were fervently advocating for the support of President Joe Biden’s comprehensive national security package.

This package encompassed a range of critical allocations, including:

  • $61.4 billion for Ukraine’s defense, underscoring the United States’ support for the nation in its ongoing conflict.
  • $9.2 billion earmarked for humanitarian assistance, signifying a commitment to providing aid in times of crisis and need.
  • $2 billion allocated for Indo-Pacific security, reinforcing the strategic importance of this region.
  • $10.9 billion designated for southern border security and addressing migrant issues, highlighting the multifaceted challenges that the nation faces.

The Senate hearing was thus a forum for the discussion of critical matters pertaining to national security and foreign policy, with the voices of protesters and the statements of government officials converging in a complex and important dialogue.

As support for Ukraine faces challenges among conservative voters, Congressional Republicans have begun to explore the possibility of treating funding for Israel as a distinct and separate request.

Mike Johnson, the newly elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, has introduced legislation aimed at allocating $14.3 billion in emergency funding to Israel.

Notably, this funding proposal stands apart from the White House’s broader national security priorities and seeks to offset the allocated funds by cutting an equivalent amount from the budget of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the federal tax collection agency.

In defense of his proposed bill, Speaker Johnson argued his case on Fox News, asserting that many Americans would consider standing with Israel and safeguarding the innocent lives there to be a matter of national interest and a more immediate need than IRS agents.

The White House, on the other hand, expressed its concerns, stating that Republicans were exploiting the ongoing crisis to benefit the wealthy and large corporations by allowing tax evasion.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stressed that politicizing the nation’s security interests was unacceptable.

Meanwhile, Representative Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, a Democrat with strong ties to Israel, voiced her deep concern over Mr. Johnson’s legislation, denouncing it as “offensive to all pro-Israel Americans.”

The United States has a longstanding history of supporting Israel, providing substantial aid that amounts to $158 billion since World War Two, primarily in the form of military assistance, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Since Hamas’s attack on October 7, the White House and senior American officials have consistently reiterated their support for Israel.

President Joe Biden, in the immediate aftermath of the attack, declared, “We stand with Israel.

And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself, and respond to this attack.”

However, as the conflict has evolved, there has been a subtle shift in the President’s tone.

While he continues to express support for Israel, he has also issued cautions to Israeli leaders, emphasizing the importance of adhering to international law and responding responsibly to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has taken a devastating toll on Palestinian civilians.

The toll of the conflict has been heavy on both sides.

Israel reports that since Hamas’s incursion and the subsequent rocket attacks that began on October 7, the violence has led to the deaths of approximately 1,400 people, with at least 239 individuals taken hostage by Hamas.

Israel, in response to the attacks, has conducted a sustained bombing campaign in Gaza.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, more than 8,500 people have lost their lives since Israel’s bombardment commenced.

The ongoing conflict has created a dire humanitarian situation in the region, which has drawn increased attention and concern from the international community.

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Trudeau’s Gun Grab Could Cost Taxpayers a Whopping $7 Billion

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Trudeau's Gun Grab
Trudeau plans to purchase 2,063 firearm from legal gun owners in Canada - Rebel News Image

A recent report indicates that since Trudeau’s announcement of his gun buyback program four years ago, almost none of the banned firearms have been surrendered.

The federal government plans to purchase 2,063 firearm models from retailers following the enactment of Bill C-21, which amends various Acts and introduces certain consequential changes related to firearms. It was granted royal assent on December 15 of last year.

This ban immediately criminalized the actions of federally-licensed firearms owners regarding the purchase, sale, transportation, importation, exportation, or use of hundreds of thousands of rifles and shotguns that were previously legal.

The gun ban focused on what it termed ‘assault-style weapons,’ which are, in reality, traditional semi-automatic rifles and shotguns that have enjoyed popularity among hunters and sport shooters for over a century.

In May 2020, the federal government enacted an Order-in-Council that prohibited 1,500 types of “assault-style” firearms and outlined specific components of the newly banned firearms. Property owners must adhere to the law by October 2023.

Trudeau’s Buyback Hasn’t Happened

“In the announcement regarding the ban, the prime minister stated that the government would seize the prohibited firearms, assuring that their lawful owners would be ‘grandfathered’ or compensated fairly.” “That hasn’t happened,” criminologist Gary Mauser told Rebel News.

Mauser projected expenses ranging from $2.6 billion to $6.7 billion. The figure reflects the compensation costs amounting to $756 million, as outlined by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO).

“The projected expenses for gathering the illegal firearms are estimated to range from $1.6 billion to $7 billion.” “This range estimate increases to between $2.647 billion and $7 billion when compensation costs to owners are factored in,” Mauser stated.

Figures requested by Conservative MP Shannon Stubbs concerning firearms prohibited due to the May 1, 2020 Order In Council reveal that $72 million has been allocated to the firearm “buyback” program, yet not a single firearm has been confiscated to date.

In a recent revelation, Public Safety Canada disclosed that the federal government allocated a staggering $41,094,556, as prompted by an order paper question from Conservative Senator Don Plett last September, yet yielded no tangible outcomes.

An internal memo from late 2019 revealed that the Liberals projected their politically motivated harassment would incur a cost of $1.8 billion.

Enforcement efforts Questioned

By December 2023, estimates from TheGunBlog.ca indicate that the Liberals and RCMP had incurred or were responsible for approximately $30 million in personnel expenses related to the enforcement efforts. The union representing the police service previously stated that the effort to confiscate firearms is a “misdirected effort” aimed at ensuring public safety.

“This action diverts crucial personnel, resources, and funding from tackling the more pressing and escalating issue of criminal use of illegal firearms,” stated the National Police Federation (NPF).

The Canadian Sporting Arms & Ammunition Association (CSAAA), representing firearms retailers, has stated it will have “zero involvement” in the confiscation of these firearms. Even Canada Post held back from providing assistance due to safety concerns.

The consultant previously assessed that retailers are sitting on almost $1 billion worth of inventory that cannot be sold or returned to suppliers because of the Order-In-Council.

“Despite the ongoing confusion surrounding the ban, after four years, we ought to be able to address one crucial question.” Has the prohibition enhanced safety for Canadians? Mauser asks.

Illegally Obtained Firearms are the Problem

Statistics Canada reports a 10% increase in firearm-related violent crime between 2020 and 2022, rising from 12,614 incidents to 13,937 incidents. In that timeframe, the incidence of firearm-related violent crime increased from 33.7 incidents per 100,000 population in 2021 to 36.7 incidents the subsequent year.

“This marks the highest rate documented since the collection of comparable data began in 2009,” the criminologist explains.

Supplementary DataData indicates that firearm homicides have risen since 2020. “The issue lies not with lawfully-held firearms,” Mauser stated.

Firearms that have been banned under the Order-in-Council continue to be securely stored in the safes of their lawful owners. The individuals underwent a thorough vetting process by the RCMP and are subject to nightly monitoring to ensure there are no infractions that could pose a risk to public safety.

“The firearms involved in homicides were seldom legally owned weapons wielded by their rightful owners,” Mauser continues. The number of offenses linked to organized crime has surged from 4,810 in 2016 to a staggering 13,056 in 2020.

“If those in power … aim to diminish crime and enhance public safety, they ought to implement strategies that effectively focus on offenders and utilize our limited tax resources judiciously to reach these objectives,” he stated.

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Google’s Search Dominance Is Unwinding, But Still Accounting 48% Search Revenue

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Google is so closely associated with its key product that its name is a verb that signifies “search.” However, Google’s dominance in that sector is dwindling.

According to eMarketer, Google will lose control of the US search industry for the first time in decades next year.

Google will remain the dominant search player, accounting for 48% of American search advertising revenue. And, remarkably, Google is still increasing its sales in the field, despite being the dominating player in search since the early days of the George W. Bush administration. However, Amazon is growing at a quicker rate.

google

Google’s Search Dominance Is Unwinding

Amazon will hold over a quarter of US search ad dollars next year, rising to 27% by 2026, while Google will fall even more, according to eMarketer.

The Wall Street Journal was first to report on the forecast.

Lest you think you’ll have to switch to Bing or Yahoo, this isn’t the end of Google or anything really near.

Google is the fourth-most valued public firm in the world. Its market worth is $2.1 trillion, trailing just Apple, Microsoft, and the AI chip darling Nvidia. It also maintains its dominance in other industries, such as display advertisements, where it dominates alongside Facebook’s parent firm Meta, and video ads on YouTube.

To put those “other” firms in context, each is worth more than Delta Air Lines’ total market value. So, yeah, Google is not going anywhere.

Nonetheless, Google faces numerous dangers to its operations, particularly from antitrust regulators.

On Monday, a federal judge in San Francisco ruled that Google must open up its Google Play Store to competitors, dealing a significant blow to the firm in its long-running battle with Fortnite creator Epic Games. Google announced that it would appeal the verdict.

In August, a federal judge ruled that Google has an illegal monopoly on search. That verdict could lead to the dissolution of the company’s search operation. Another antitrust lawsuit filed last month accuses Google of abusing its dominance in the online advertising business.

Meanwhile, European regulators have compelled Google to follow tough new standards, which have resulted in multiple $1 billion-plus fines.

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Pixa Bay

Google’s Search Dominance Is Unwinding

On top of that, the marketplace is becoming more difficult on its own.

TikTok, the fastest-growing social network, is expanding into the search market. And Amazon has accomplished something few other digital titans have done to date: it has established a habit.

When you want to buy anything, you usually go to Amazon, not Google. Amazon then buys adverts to push companies’ products to the top of your search results, increasing sales and earning Amazon a greater portion of the revenue. According to eMarketer, it is expected to generate $27.8 billion in search revenue in the United States next year, trailing only Google’s $62.9 billion total.

And then there’s AI, the technology that (supposedly) will change everything.

Why search in stilted language for “kendall jenner why bad bunny breakup” or “police moving violation driver rights no stop sign” when you can just ask OpenAI’s ChatGPT, “What’s going on with Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny?” in “I need help fighting a moving violation involving a stop sign that wasn’t visible.” Google is working on exactly this technology with its Gemini product, but its success is far from guaranteed, especially with Apple collaborating with OpenAI and other businesses rapidly joining the market.

A Google spokeswoman referred to a blog post from last week in which the company unveiled ads in its AI overviews (the AI-generated text that appears at the top of search results). It’s Google’s way of expressing its ability to profit on a changing marketplace while retaining its business, even as its consumers steadily transition to ask-and-answer AI and away from search.

google

Google has long used a single catchphrase to defend itself against opponents who claim it is a monopoly abusing its power: competition is only a click away. Until recently, that seemed comically obtuse. Really? We are going to switch to Bing? Or Duck Duck Go? Give me a break.

But today, it feels more like reality.

Google is in no danger of disappearing. However, every highly dominating company faces some type of reckoning over time. GE, a Dow mainstay for more than a century, was broken up last year and is now a shell of its previous dominance. Sears declared bankruptcy in 2022 and is virtually out of business. US Steel, long the foundation of American manufacturing, is attempting to sell itself to a Japanese corporation.

Could we remember Google in the same way that we remember Yahoo or Ask Jeeves in decades? These next few years could be significant.

SOURCE | CNN

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The Supreme Court Turns Down Biden’s Government Appeal in a Texas Emergency Abortion Matter.

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(VOR News) – A ruling that prohibits emergency abortions that contravene the Supreme Court law in the state of Texas, which has one of the most stringent abortion restrictions in the country, has been upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States. The United States Supreme Court upheld this decision.

The justices did not provide any specifics regarding the underlying reasons for their decision to uphold an order from a lower court that declared hospitals cannot be legally obligated to administer abortions if doing so would violate the law in the state of Texas.

Institutions are not required to perform abortions, as stipulated in the decree. The common populace did not investigate any opposing viewpoints. The decision was made just weeks before a presidential election that brought abortion to the forefront of the political agenda.

This decision follows the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that ended abortion nationwide.

In response to a request from the administration of Vice President Joe Biden to overturn the lower court’s decision, the justices expressed their disapproval.

The government contends that hospitals are obligated to perform abortions in compliance with federal legislation when the health or life of an expectant patient is in an exceedingly precarious condition.

This is the case in regions where the procedure is prohibited. The difficulty hospitals in Texas and other states are experiencing in determining whether or not routine care could be in violation of stringent state laws that prohibit abortion has resulted in an increase in the number of complaints concerning pregnant women who are experiencing medical distress being turned away from emergency rooms.

The administration cited the Supreme Court’s ruling in a case that bore a striking resemblance to the one that was presented to it in Idaho at the beginning of the year. The justices took a limited decision in that case to allow the continuation of emergency abortions without interruption while a lawsuit was still being heard.

In contrast, Texas has been a vocal proponent of the injunction’s continued enforcement. Texas has argued that its circumstances are distinct from those of Idaho, as the state does have an exemption for situations that pose a significant hazard to the health of an expectant patient.

According to the state, the discrepancy is the result of this exemption. The state of Idaho had a provision that safeguarded a woman’s life when the issue was first broached; however, it did not include protection for her health.

Certified medical practitioners are not obligated to wait until a woman’s life is in imminent peril before they are legally permitted to perform an abortion, as determined by the state supreme court.

The state of Texas highlighted this to the Supreme Court.

Nevertheless, medical professionals have criticized the Texas statute as being perilously ambiguous, and a medical board has declined to provide a list of all the disorders that are eligible for an exception. Furthermore, the statute has been criticized for its hazardous ambiguity.

For an extended period, termination of pregnancies has been a standard procedure in medical treatment for individuals who have been experiencing significant issues. It is implemented in this manner to prevent catastrophic outcomes, such as sepsis, organ failure, and other severe scenarios.

Nevertheless, medical professionals and hospitals in Texas and other states with strict abortion laws have noted that it is uncertain whether or not these terminations could be in violation of abortion prohibitions that include the possibility of a prison sentence. This is the case in regions where abortion prohibitions are exceedingly restrictive.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which resulted in restrictions on the rights of women to have abortions in several Republican-ruled states, the Texas case was revisited in 2022.

As per the orders that were disclosed by the administration of Vice President Joe Biden, hospitals are still required to provide abortions in cases that are classified as dire emergency.

As stipulated in a piece of health care legislation, the majority of hospitals are obligated to provide medical assistance to patients who are experiencing medical distress. This is in accordance with the law.

The state of Texas maintained that hospitals should not be obligated to provide abortions throughout the litigation, as doing so would violate the state’s constitutional prohibition on abortions. In its January judgment, the 5th United States Circuit Court of Appeals concurred with the state and acknowledged that the administration had exceeded its authority.

SOURCE: AP

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