#High Court Recruitment 2017

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: David Barrett

Published: Sep 27, 2024

The number of females being arrested is surging faster than the number of males, driven by violent and sex crimes, new figures have revealed.

Home Office data published yesterday showed the number of women and girls detained in England and Wales in the year to March jumped 12 per cent compared with the previous year to almost 114,000.

There were significant increases in the number of females held for violence, robbery and even sex offences.

By comparison there was a seven per cent rise in the number of males arrested, with 603,000 during the year.

The figures were released just two days after Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood unveiled plans to slash the number of women in jail, as she insisted ‘prison isn’t working’ for female offenders.

Her remarks amounted to a reversal of then-Tory home secretary Michael Howard’s famous ‘prison works’ mantra from 30 years ago.

Women offenders could be housed in ‘residential centres’ instead of behind bars, while other criminal charges against female offenders could be ‘resolved before they go to court’, the Labour Party conference in Liverpool heard.

‘It is high time we stopped sending so many women to prison,’ Ms Mahmood said.

‘For women, prison isn’t working.’

There are currently 3,453 women in jail in England and Wales – more than double the number three decades ago.

Ms Mahmood noted that two-thirds of women prisoners are inside for non-violent crimes.

The new figures showed forces in England and Wales made 720,506 arrests in the year to March, up eight per cent from the previous 12 months, and the highest number since 2017.

Some forces used ‘other’ categorisations for the gender of arrestees.

It is unclear why the number of females being arrested is on the rise.

But David Spencer, head of crime and justice at the Policy Exchange think-tank, said the overall increase was likely to be down to the previous Conservative government’s recruitment of 20,000 police officers.

Police numbers in England and Wales stood at a record 147,746 at the end of March.

‘This suggests the 20,000 additional police officers are starting to lead to more arrests,’ Mr Spencer said.

‘That reflects positively on the decision of Boris Johnson’s government to increase police numbers.’

The Home Office figures showed the largest percentage increase for females was seen in arrests for robbery, which jumped by 29 per cent from 403 to 1,783.

There was also a large rise in the number of females held for sexual offences, which rose 27 per cent from 237 to 1,124.

The overall increase in the number of females arrested was driven by a surge in ‘violence against the person’, which was up by 6,541 to 63,188, or 12 per cent.

==

‘For women, prison isn’t working.’

And what makes you think it is working for men? People wronged by these women sure wouldn't agree with this.

Ms Mahmood noted that two-thirds of women prisoners are inside for non-violent crimes.

And how many men are?

‘It is high time we stopped sending so many women to prison,’

Maybe so many women should stop committing crimes? For this to be true, female incarceration would have to be disproportionate to criminal perpetration, when compared to male incarceration vs criminal perpetration. That is, are they in prison for a reason that would not have landed a man in prison? Are they in prison longer for their crime than a man would get for the same crime?

Not only do we know that's not the case, we know that it's actively and deliberately untrue.

Even with this discrepancy, the (white) female incarceration rate has risen.

[ Source ]

What we're actually learning is that female crime has been historically under-prosecuted, suggested to be due to under-resourcing, and ideologues regard the more recent correction as a problem.

Either a crime is severe enough to warrant a custodial sentence or it's not. Its severity and whether it's deserving of incarceration doesn't change because of the sex of the perpetrator.

This is fundamentally saying that crimes committed by women are inherently lesser than those committed by men. That women are less capable of committing a crime warranting incarceration than men. Imagine if it was "women are less capable of being a CEO than men."

For some reason, we don't see the champions of "equality" bleating about this.

If A must equal B, then B must also equal A.

Equality is not a buffet from which you can pick and choose. That's what Xians do with their bible and their god's commands.

[ridenwithbiden]

Summary

Ex-spy Steele says Trump suing investigation firm for "revenge"

Says declassification did "serious damage" to US operations in Russia

Ivanka friendship "deepened his animus", Steele says

LONDON, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Donald Trump's decision to declassify evidence given by ex-British spy Christopher Steele over the former U.S. president's alleged links with Russia led to the disappearance of two sources, Steele said in court documents made public on Tuesday.

Steele said in a witness statement that Trump's decision to declassify his 2017 testimony to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation was "one of the most egregious breaches of intelligence rules and protocol by the US government in recent times".

The former intelligence officer also said: "Two of the named Russian sources have not been seen or heard of since."

His witness statement was made public on Tuesday, the day after Trump asked London's High Court to allow his data protection lawsuit against a British private investigations firm co-founded by Steele to continue.

Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, is suing Orbis Business Intelligence over the "Steele dossier" in order, he said in his own witness statement, to prove its claims were false.

The dossier, published by the BuzzFeed website in 2017, alleged ties between Trump's campaign and Russia, and said Trump engaged in sexual behaviour that gave Russian authorities material with which to blackmail him.

Many of the allegations were never substantiated and lawyers for Trump, 77, said in court filings the report was "egregiously inaccurate", while the former president said it contained "numerous false, phoney or made-up allegations".

Orbis, however, says Trump is bringing the claim simply to address his grievances against the company and Steele.

'UNTRUE AND DISGRACEFUL'

Steele had given evidence in an interview with two FBI agents as part of Mueller's probe into an alleged conspiracy between Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia.

Mueller concluded in 2019 that there was no evidence of a criminal conspiracy between Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia.

On the last day of his presidency, Trump declassified Steele's evidence and provided a copy of his testimony to a journalist, Steele said in his statement.

"The publication of this document did serious damage to the U.S. government's Russian operations and their ability to recruit new Russian sources," Steele said.

Steele also said in his witness statement that he believed Trump was "motivated by a personal vendetta against me and Orbis and a desire for revenge".

He suggested Trump's discovery of Steele's friendship with his daughter Ivanka had damaged their relationship and also "deepened his animus towards me and is one of the reasons for his vindictive and vexatious conduct towards me and Orbis".

In his witness statement, Trump said Ivanka was "completely irrelevant to this claim and any mention of her only serves to distract this court from (Orbis') and Mr Steele's reckless behavior".

"Any inference or allegation that Mr Steele makes about my relationship with my daughter is untrue and disgraceful," Trump added.

Reporting by Sam Tobin; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise

[nicklesonraison]

The Biggest Names from Jeffrey Epstein’s Unsealed Court Documents

The names of acquaintances and associates of wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein—including that of former U.S. presidents and British royalty—were released on Wednesday evening in a set of court documents that were part of a suit against Ghislaine Maxwell in 2015.#Epstein  #EpsteinList #Epsteinadasi #EpsteinClientList EpsteinIsland EpsteinFiles EpsteinDocs

The documents, the first in more than 200 that are expected to be unsealed over the next few days, are part of the defamation lawsuit filed by victim Virginia Roberts Giuffre. Maxwell has previously called Giuffre a liar after she alleged that Epstein and Maxwell had abused her. (That case was eventually settled in 2017, but Maxwell was later sentenced to 20 years in prison for recruiting young girls for Epstein to sexually exploit in a criminal investigation of Epstein’s acts after his death.)

Watch more from TIME Click to unmute

Names of figures that were previously associated with Epstein, such as Prince Andrew and former presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, were mentioned in the court documents, but there was little new information outside of what was already known to the public. Some documents had previously been released in other court cases, while Epstein’s high-profile contacts have been covered extensively in the media.

In December, U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska ordered the documents to be released, though she gave people until Jan. 1 to appeal the order in case they did not want their name to be revealed. The names of victims who were minors when they suffered abuse were not released, though some have previously spoken out about Epstein’s actions in media interviews.

Here’s what to know.

What the documents reveal For the most part, the documents say little about the actions taken by individuals outside of Epstein, though there is a 2016 deposition from Johanna Sjoberg, one of Epstein’s victims, that mentions politicians and figureheads in the U.S. and abroad.

While celebrities like Bruce Willis, Cameron Diaz, Cate Blanchett, Kevin Spacey, Naomi Campbell, and Leonardo DiCaprio are also mentioned in the records, they have not been accused of helping Epstein in any capacity. Sjoberg was only asked if she had met the aforementioned people, which she denied.

Connections to Epstein previously led high-level executives to resign from their positions, including Barclays chief executive Jes Staley. Jean-Luc Brunel, a French modeling agent suspected of scouting girls for Epstein, killed himself in a Paris jail in 2022 while awaiting trial for rape accusations.

The documents on Wednesday confirmed the scale of both Epstein’s alleged sex-trafficking ring and his powerful social network. Prince Andrew—the younger brother of King Charles III—was one of the names referenced in the documents, mentioned by a witness for touching her breast.

Andrew was also previously accused of raping Giuffre when she was a teenager. After a lawsuit filed by Giuffre in 2021 and amid growing public pressure, Andrew was forced to relinquish his military titles and public duties—even as he repeatedly denied the allegations. The two settled the lawsuit in 2022 after Andrew paid Giuffre an undisclosed sum of money.

The case against Epstein Jeffrey Epstein was a convicted sex offender who would lure young girls under the impression that they would be giving him massages that would then “become increasingly sexual in nature,” according to the 2019 indictment against him. Jennifer Araoz, one of the victims, said that Epstein would invite her to his house and pay her hundreds of dollars after her visit. While they initially spoke about her life and goals, he later became abusive, Araoz said.

Epstein had long avoided facing any consequences for his actions. He was first investigated for sexual misconduct in 2005 after a woman claimed that he had molested her teenage stepdaughter. Palm Beach police eventually charged Epstein with counts of unlawful sex with a minor in May 2006, but then State Attorney Barry Krischer sent the case to a grand jury, which indicted him with one count of soliciting prostitution. The charge was minor, leading to much criticism and causing the FBI to open a federal investigation against Epstein. But Epstein ended up serving a short 18-month sentence in 2008 for recruiting an underage girl for prostitution after he struck a plea deal with U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta to avoid being charged with any federal crimes.

Epstein later came back under scrutiny in 2018, after the Miami Herald looked at Acosta’s role in negotiating a short sentence for Epstein. In July 2019, Epstein was arrested after federal prosecutors looked at his behavior between 2002 and 2005.

The case against him revealed that the victims, some as young as 14, were paid to provide sexual services to him and his friends, and to recruit other young girls to his circle of victims. Epstein’s employees would also sexually abuse the young girls.

He was facing charges for sex trafficking and conspiracy in July 2019 when one month later, he died by suicide in a New York federal jail. The investigation continued after his passing, leading prosecutors to convict Maxwell for sex crimes in connection to her dealing with Epstein.

Here are other names high-profile mentioned in the documents:

Bill Clinton The former president was mentioned in the documents released on Wednesday, in Sjoberg’s testimony that Epstein had told her “Clinton likes them young, referring to girls.” She also said that she knew Epstein had “dealings” with Clinton but did not know they were friends until later media reports.

The former president’s ties with Epstein has long been the subject of media scrutiny—intensified in the wake of the financier’s indictment. The two had connected while Clinton was working on his nonprofit group the Clinton Foundation, and in 2002, they took a trip to Africa on Epstein’s private jet.

In 2019, Clinton’s office said that the former president did not know about Epstein’s “terrible crimes,” and that he had not spoken to Epstein in “well over a decade.” A spokesperson for Clinton told CNN on Wednesday that it has “been nearly 20 years since President Clinton last had contact with Epstein.”

Records show that Giuffre’s attorneys wanted to get a deposition from Clinton. Giuffre, the plaintiff in the defamation lawsuit against Maxwell, did not accuse the former president of doing anything with her, but attorneys saw Clinton as a “key person who can provide information about his close relationship with Defendant and Mr. Epstein and disapprove Ms. Maxwell’s claims.”

Donald Trump The former president—whose relationship with Epstein was also widely reported—was also mentioned in Sjoberg’s 2016 deposition. Sjoberg testified that she and Epstein once made an impromptu stop in Atlantic City due to poor flying weather. Asked if she had given Trump a massage, Sjoberg said no. Trump once called Epstein a “terrific guy,” but later said he had a falling out with him. “I don’t think I’ve spoken to him for 15 years. I was not a fan of his,” Trump said in 2019.

Michael Jackson Sjoberg recalled meeting late musician Michael Jackson at Epstein’s house in Palm Beach, but said no when asked if she had massaged him.

Sarah Kellen Kellen, Epstein’s former assistant, was named in testimonies of victims detailing their encounters with Epstein. She was said to have helped schedule his “massages,” which his victims said was a euphemism for sexual services.

A judge had described Kellen as “a criminally responsible participant” in Epstein’s scheme.

But Kellen was never charged and has remained out of the public eye. Kellen said through a spokesperson in 2020 that she herself had been sexually and psychologically abused by Epstein for years.

Jean-Luc Brunel Jean-Luc Brunel, a French modeling agent suspected of scouting girls for Epstein, killed himself in a Paris jail in 2022 while awaiting trial for rape accusations.

Giuffre said in her deposition that she was sent by Maxwell to have sex with Brunel “at many places.” The documents also say that Brunel would bring girls as young as twelve "to the United States for sexual purposes and farm them out to his friends, especially Epstein."

Bill Richardson Bill Richardson, the former governor of New Mexico who died in September, was also mentioned. Giuffre said in her deposition that Maxwell had instructed her to give Richardson a massage. In 2019, a spokesperson for Richardson denied he ever met Giuffre, according to Las Cruces Sun News.

Leslie Wexner Leslie Wexner, the billionaire founder of L Brands (which owns Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works), was also mentioned in Maxwell’s deposition. When asked if she had ever provided Giuffre with “an outfit of a sexual nature to wear for Les Wexner,” Maxwell said “categorically no.”

Epstein was Wexner's money manager and a trustee of the Wexner Foundation During an L Brands investor conference in Sept. 2019, Wexner called Epstein's action "abhorrent." Wexner says he cut ties with Epstein in 2007.

Glenn Dubin Hedge fund manager and billionaire Glenn Dubin was mentioned in the documents, with Giuffre testifying that “Ghislaine told me to go to Glenn Dubin and give him a massage, which means sex,” Giuffre said in her deposition..

Dubin has previously denied Giuffre’s allegations.

Dubin’s wife, Eva Andersson-Dubin, was also referenced in the unsealed documents. Maxwell said in her deposition that she was friends with Andersson-Dubin.

Alan Dershowitz Alan Dershowitz, Epstein’s lawyer, was also mentioned in the newly-released records. The documents say that Epstein forced a minor to have sex with the former Harvard law professor multiple times. The documents also say that Dershowitz “was an eye-witness to the sexual abuse of many other minors by Epstein and several of Epstein’s co-conspirators.

Dershowitz would later play a significant role in negotiating the NPA on Epstein’s behalf.” NPA stands for non-prosecution agreement, which allowed Epstein to avoid serving a severe sentence when he was first charged with soliciting a minor for prostitution.

“Of course I’m on that list, I was his lawyer. I flew on his plane,” said Dershowitz in a Youtube livestream after the list came out.

Marvin Minsky Computer scientist and former MIT professor Marvin Minsky was also mentioned in the documents. Giuffre said she was asked to have sex with Minsky when he went to Epstein’s island in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

[mariacallous]

Nine others died in the August 23 plane crash that reportedly killed Yevgeny Prigozhin, the mercenary leader who staged a brief mutiny against Russia’s Defense Ministry in late June. Prigozhin’s death isn’t verified yet, but Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency has confirmed that he was on the passenger list. The other high-profile passenger aboard the doomed flight was Dmitry Utkin, the Wagner Group commander whose callsign is the basis for the company’s very name. Journalists at BBC Russian and the Dossier Center collected information about the other passengers and crew members who perished in the crash. Meduza summarizes these reports.

Passengers

Valery Chekalov

Chekalov managed multiple companies in St. Petersburg that were linked to Prigozhin. BBC Russia learned that his acquaintances logged his number in their phones as “Valery Evgenievich Syria,” “Valery Chekalov Concord Army,” and “Valery Evgenievich Chekalov from Prigozhin.” From 2011 to 2018, he headed the company “Kollektiv-Servis,” which won a contract with the Defense Ministry’s Commissary in 2012 to supply food to the army. Around the same time, the company registered an entity with a mess hall in Sevastopol, the home of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.

Chekalov also managed a company created in 2014 called “Neva,” which operated the subsidiary “Evro Polis” — the same Evro Polis that signed a memorandum with the Syrian government in 2016 to recapture and guard oil facilities in exchange for the value of 25 percent of the oil and gas produced there, according to reporting by the news outlet Fontanka. 

Evgeny Makaryan

Born in Magnitogorsk, Makaryan was a former police officer. According to the Dossier Center, he joined Wagner Group in March 2016, serving in its fourth assault detachment in Syria, where he was wounded. BBC Russian calls him one of Prigozhin’s bodyguards.

Sergey Propustin

Propustin is listed at Myrotvorets, the Ukrainian website that names and sometimes doxxes people its authors consider to be “enemies of Ukraine.” Myrotvorets identifies him as a grenadier reconnaissance officer and Wagner Group fighter. According to the Dossier Center, Propustin fought in the Second Chechen War. He reportedly joined Wagner in March 2015 and fought in its second reconnaissance assault detachment, from which Prigozhin would later recruit several of his personal bodyguards. Accordingly, BBC Russian reports that Propustin was another Prigozhin bodyguard.

Alexander Totmin

Myrotvorets lists Totmin too. It’s unknown when he started working for Prigozhin, but journalists learned that he was living in St. Petersburg as recently as 2022. His phone number shows up in shared databases identified as “Sanya Work PMC,” “Totmin Sanya Kontora Piter,” and “Alexander W.” In August 2012, a court in the Altai Krai sentenced him to 300 hours of community service for stealing a chainsaw from a bathhouse located on someone else’s property. In September 2014, he was sentenced to two years of probation for car theft.

Nikolai Matuseev

Researchers at the Dossier Center believe that the Nikolai Matuseev listed among the plane-crash passengers is the same one who joined Wagner Group in January 2017. He was a gunner in the organization’s fourth assault detachment in Syria.

Crew

Rustam Karimov

The aircraft’s 29-year-old second pilot, Karimov lived with his wife in Perm. He graduated from the Sasovo Flight School in Russia’s Ryazan region in 2014. Karimov’s father told reporters that his son was unemployed at the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He says Rustam found work three months ago with MNT-Aero, the company that owns the crashed plane, and then moved to St. Petersburg.

Alexey Levshin

Levshin was the plane’s captain. His daughter Anastasia told the news outlet RBC that her father had worked with Prigozhin for many years, though she provided no further details. BBC Russian discovered that Levshin was featured in a 2018 broadcast by the television network Vesti Novosibirsk about an airshow that included military pilots. In the story, he was identified as the navigator of a Sukhoi Su-34 crew.

Kristina Raspopova

Raspopova was the plane’s flight attendant. Thirty-nine years old, she was born in what is now Kazakhstan. According to the news outlet 74.ru, her younger brother is the deputy prosecutor in Yemanzhelinsk, a city in Russia’s Chelyabinsk region. She attended the Moscow Finance and Law University and lived for some time in Yekaterinburg before moving to Moscow. The Telegram channel Baza reports that she relocated to St. Petersburg after finding a job at MNT-Aero.

Posts on social media indicate that Raspopova often traveled abroad, sharing photos from Jamaica, Singapore, Austria, and other countries. Multiple times, she flew aboard a business jet similar to the plane that crashed: an Embraer Legacy with the tail number RA-02857 based at Vnukovo International Airport, which she frequented. According to Baza, Raspopova spoke to her family a few hours before her final flight departed and said that the plane had been delayed for some reason.

[prettyhennytea]

Dawn Staley, the esteemed head coach of the South Carolina Gamecock's women's basketball team, has left an indelible mark on the sport. Her journey from humble beginnings to becoming a prominent figure in the league is nothing short of inspiring. Let's take a closer look at her childhood years, high school experiences, how she entered the league, and her remarkable career.

Childhood Years Born on May 4, 1970, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dawn Staley grew up in a challenging environment. Raised by her mother and grandmother in North Philadelphia's Raymond Rosen housing project - a neighborhood known for its economic hardships, Staley faced adversity from an early age. However, it was during these formative years that she developed resilience and determination that would shape her future success.

High School Years Staley attended Dobbins Technical High School where she quickly made a name for herself as an exceptional athlete. Excelling not only in basketball but also track and field and tennis, she showcased versatility and raw talent across multiple sports. As a standout point guard on the basketball court with unmatched skills and leadership qualities, Staley caught the attention of college recruiters nationwide.

Entering the League After graduating from high school in 1988 as one of Pennsylvania's most highly recruited players ever seen at that time. Dawn Staley faced numerous offers from top-tier universities across America. Ultimately choosing to attend the University of Virginia under legendary Coach Debbie Ryan was a physical decision that would set her on course for greatness.

Career in College Basketball During her time at Virginia (1998-1992), Staley became one of college basketball's most electrifying players. She led her team to three Final Four appearances (1990-1992) while earning All-American honors each year - an impressive feat indeed! Known for her exceptional ball-handling skills and court vision, Staley's ability to control the game and make her teammates better was unparalleled. Her leadership qualities were also recognized when she was named ACC Female Athlete of the Year in 1991 and 1992.

Professional Career Following her illustrious college career, Staley transitioned into professional basketball. In 1996, she joined the American Basketball League (ABL) as a member of the Richmond Rage. Her impact on the court continued to shine as she earned All-Star selections and led her team to an ABL Championship in 1997.

When the ABL folded in late 1998, Staley seamlessly transitioned to the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was selected with the ninth overall pick by the Charlotte Sting in its inaugural draft. Throughout her WNBA career, which spanned from 1999-2006, Staley played for both Charlotte and Houston Comets. Known for her tenacity on defense and play-making abilities on offense, she left an indelible mark on each team she represented.

Coaching Career After retiring as a player in 2006, Dawn Staley embarked on a new chapter of her basketball journey, coaching. She began as an assistant coach at Temple University before taking over as head coach at South Carolina in April 2008. Under her guidance, South Carolina has experienced unprecedented success. Staley has transformed South Carolina into a powerhouse program that consistently competes at the highest level. The Gamecocks have won multiple Southeastern Conference (SEC) regular season championships and SEC Tournament titles under her leadership. Most notably, Staley guided South Carolina to their first-ever NCAA National Championship victory in women's basketball during the historic season of 2016-2017.

Beyond coaching at South Carolina, Dawn Staley has also made significant contributions internationally by serving as head coach for Team USA Women's Basketball since March 2017. Under her guidance, Team USA won gold medals at the 2018 FIBA World Cup and the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Dawn Staley's journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a revered figure in women's basketball is a testament to her unwavering determination, resilience, and exceptional skills. As she continues to inspire both on and off the court, Staley remains an influential force in shaping the future of women's basketball for generations to come.

[head-post]

Durov still behind bars: FM comments, phone hacking and dinner with Macron

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, is still behind bars in France, which is a source of bewilderment and criticism for many of the world’s political and media figures. The French police and authorities are still unable to explain the many oddities of his detention.

Failed meeting with Macron

Pavel Durov told police officers during his detention at the French airport that he was to have a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, French media reported.

The media wrote:

Pavel Durov, the head of Telegram, told police officers who detained him as he exited the plane that he was supposed to have dinner with Macron.

Journalists sought comment from the Elysee Palace, where they were officially denied the information. Macron’s administration said:

The president was at Le Touquet’s that evening.

A few days after the detention of Durov, French President Emmanuel Macron reacted to the incident. He wrote on X:

I have seen false information regarding France following the arrest of Pavel Durov. France is deeply committed to freedom of expression and communication, to innovation, and to the spirit of entrepreneurship. It will remain so.In a state governed by the rule of law.

According to Macron, he was confronted with untrue information about France after the high-profile arrest of businessman Pavel Durov. Paris is deeply committed to freedom of speech, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. These norms, Macron noted, will always apply. He also added:

In a state governed by the rule of law, freedoms are upheld within the law, both on social media and in real life, to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights. The enforcement of the law is entrusted to the judiciary, which has full independence.

Hacked phone and moving to Paris

Special services of France and the UAE hacked the phone of the founder of the messenger Telegram Pavel Durov in 2017, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The publication of the edition reports that in 2018 Pavel Durov had lunch with French President Emmanuel Macron. Sources told the publication that Macron offered Durov to move Telegram’s office to Paris, but Durov refused. At the time, the issue of granting him French citizenship was also discussed.

The publication also writes that in 2017, a year before the meeting with Macron, the French intelligence services pursued Durov in a joint operation with the United Arab Emirates. His iPhone was reportedly hacked at the time. The spying operation, which was also previously unreported, was codenamed “Purple music.”

French security officials were concerned that the Islamic State organisation was using Telegram to recruit fighters and plan attacks.

Telegram reportedly ignored subpoenas and court orders sent by law enforcement for several years after that. The source said the subpoenas were piling up on the company’s rarely verified email address.

The UAE “closely following”

The UAE Foreign Ministry said early Tuesday that it was “closely following” Durov’s case and that it had “sent a request to the French government to urgently provide him with all consular services.” The ministry said in a statement:

Taking care of citizens, safeguarding their interests, following up on their cases and providing them with all aspects of care is a top priority for the UAE.

Durov was born in Russia but spent most of his childhood in Italy. He is a citizen of the UAE, France, Russia and the Caribbean island of St Kitts and Nevis.

France and the UAE have a close military relationship: the French have a naval base in Abu Dhabi, and Emirati troops use French-built Leclerc tanks and Rafale fighter jets, according to reports. Russian government officials expressed outrage over Durov’s detention, with some calling it politically motivated and proof of Western double standards on free speech.

Russia-France relations at “lowest” level

Relations between Russia and France are at their “lowest” level since Durov’s arrest, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday. France has brought “very serious” charges against Durov, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, warning against attempts to intimidate him.

Telegram defended its operations in a statement, saying it complies with EU laws and content moderation “meets industry standards and is constantly being improved.” Durov, the company added, “has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe.”

French media reported that Durov was detained on an arrest warrant that said his messaging platform was being used for money laundering, drug trafficking and other offences.

On Sunday night, a French investigating judge renewed the warrant for Durov’s detention, French media reported, but he has not been charged and details of the investigation are scarce.

The Paris prosecutor’s office said in a statement that the order to detain Durov was extended for up to 48 hours on Monday evening. Under French law, Durov can remain in custody for questioning for no more than four days. After that, judges must decide whether to charge him or release him.

Countries save their citizen. Not France

Durov became a citizen of the UAE in 2021, after certain amendments to local legislation. This gave him the right to visa-free entry to 170 countries around the world.

According to international legal logic, any state, when its citizen is imprisoned in a foreign land, should try to get him out. The UAE has already asked French authorities for access to Durov. “Providing him with all necessary consular services is an urgent matter,” diplomats said.

“Russia is ready to assist Durov,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. But unlike Dubai, Moscow recognises a bitter truth for Pavel. Peskov added:

The situation is complicated by the fact that he has French citizenship.

France does not allow extradition of its citizens. Experts speculate that France may offer Durov cooperation with intelligence services in exchange for his freedom.

Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and the management of TikTok France should have detained even before the situation with Pavel Durov for the same violations in cyberspace, a French expert on information control said in an interview with French media.

Paris had more claims against X, while Telegram has never been subjected to such attacks. The more revealing is the French police’s personalised attitude towards Durov: there are no details on the charges, but questioning continues. Eva Galperin, director of cybersecurity at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said:

A number of the charges that may be brought against him are not related to specific violations of the law at all. We don’t even know what activity Durov was arrested for. The platform is simply not in a position to prosecute criminals because governments have very different ideas about who is considered a criminal and who is not.

Elon Musk wrote under the French president’s post in which he said the investigation against Durov was not political:

It would be helpful to the global public to understand more details about why he was arrested.

Durov and the EU-US information space

Some experts believe that the detention of Pavel Durov comes in connection with the need to introduce censorship into the information space of the EU and the US. This need arose after mass protests first in French New Caledonia, then during the riots in the UK and finally against the backdrop of the beginning of a tough informational campaign in the US presidential election.

And in all three cases Telegram, first of all as a messenger, can play a very big role, and in the US it can also have a strong impact as an information platform that is not controlled by the authorities.

In France, Macron banned press coverage of the ongoing protests in New Caledonia, due to social media, the UK riots are on everyone’s radar.

In the US, Biden and the forces behind him, as Kamala Harris’s initial impetus begins to burn out quickly, need to remove all incoming factors of informational influence, and Telegram is just such a factor, powerful and dangerous.

All the talk about “Russian interference” in the 2016 US presidential election was an attempt by the Democrats to justify losing. But now that they felt that some threat, virtually unrelated to Russia, was real, they are cracking down on it at once. And this is even more nuanced by the lies that have been spouted about “Russian interference.”

Read more HERE

[ozzyscollectiblehub]

Patrick Ewing and Georgetown: Building a Legacy in College Basketball

Patrick Ewing’s name is synonymous with Georgetown basketball, representing a transformative era in college hoops that elevated both the player and the program to national prominence. Ewing’s journey at Georgetown University under the guidance of legendary coach John Thompson is a story of talent, determination, and a lasting impact on the sport.

The Arrival of a Game-Changer

Patrick Ewing arrived at Georgetown in 1981 as one of the most highly touted high school basketball recruits in the country. Standing at 7 feet tall with an imposing physical presence, Ewing was expected to make an immediate impact — and he did just that. Under Coach Thompson, Ewing quickly became the cornerstone of a Georgetown team that would soon become a powerhouse in college basketball.

Ewing’s freshman year was marked by his fierce defensive play and shot-blocking ability. The Hoyas, led by Ewing, made it to the NCAA Championship Game in 1982, where they faced off against the University of North Carolina in one of the most memorable finals in college basketball history. Despite losing by a narrow margin, Ewing had announced his arrival on the national stage.

Dominance in the Big East

Over the next three years, Ewing and Georgetown would dominate the Big East Conference, solidifying the program’s reputation as a national contender. Ewing’s presence in the paint was unmatched, as he averaged over 3.5 blocks per game during his college career and altered countless shots with his intimidating defense. Offensively, he developed into a reliable scorer, showcasing a soft touch around the basket and a formidable mid-range game.

In 1984, Ewing led the Hoyas to their first-ever NCAA Championship. The victory was a culmination of years of hard work and dedication by both Ewing and Coach Thompson, who became the first Black coach to win a national title in Division I men’s basketball. Ewing’s performance in the tournament, particularly in the championship game against the University of Houston, cemented his legacy as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time.

Beyond the Stats: Ewing’s Impact

Patrick Ewing’s impact at Georgetown went beyond his impressive statistics. He embodied the physicality and defensive intensity that became the hallmark of Georgetown basketball under John Thompson. Ewing’s success also played a significant role in increasing the visibility and opportunities for Black athletes in college sports, with Georgetown serving as a model program during a pivotal time in American history.

Ewing’s presence on campus helped to create a sense of pride and identity for Georgetown University, which had not previously been known as a basketball powerhouse. His influence also extended off the court, where he was a respected leader among his peers, demonstrating a strong work ethic and commitment to excellence.

A Lasting Legacy

After leaving Georgetown, Patrick Ewing went on to have a Hall of Fame career in the NBA, most notably with the New York Knicks. However, his time at Georgetown remains a defining chapter in his life and career. Ewing returned to his alma mater as the head coach in 2017, continuing to build on the legacy he helped create.

Patrick Ewing and Georgetown are forever linked in the annals of college basketball history. His contributions to the university and the sport have left an enduring legacy, inspiring future generations of players and solidifying Georgetown’s place as one of the premier basketball programs in the country.

[niharranjannayak]

Punjab and Haryana High Court: Procedural lapses in documents should be ignored by Recruitment Agencies

The candidates work hard and make their best efforts to secure good marks in the competitive examinations. Therefore, only because of the date of issuance of degree/certificate, they should not be denied appointment as these were only procedural delays/lapses. In a letters patent appeal filed against the order dated 15-02-2023, passed by the Single Judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court, whereby the writ petition filed by the appellant for quashing the provisional select list of Science Master cadre prepared by the respondents was dismissed, the Division Bench of Sureshwar Thakur and Sudeepti Sharma, JJ., stated that once it was certified that the appellant passed the examination in May, 2017, the recruitment agencies who were presumed to be consisting of members of experts, rather than going into the date of issuance of certificate, should consider the date of passing of the examination. The Punjab and Haryana High Court stated that these were all procedural lapses/delays for which the students/candidates/aspirants for job should not suffer. The recruitment agencies should be prudent enough to select best candidates by ignoring procedural lapses in the documents.

🌐

https://niharranjannayak.in/

[planetofsnarfs]

NEW YORK (AP) — The charity was called Modest Needs but federal prosecutors who filed charges against its founder say his weren’t.

Rather, prosecutors in the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan say, Modest Needs founder Keith Taylor had such expensive tastes that he embezzled more than $2.5 million from the charity between 2016 and May 2024 and spent it on meals at some of New York City’s priciest restaurants as well as cosmetic surgery and a luxury apartment.

Taylor, 56, was accused in a federal complaint unsealed Tuesday with embezzling funds intended to serve Modest Needs’ mission of helping the needy, evading more than $1 million in taxes and creating a fake board of directors who supposedly had approved his personal expenses.

“As alleged, Keith Taylor falsely claimed that donations to his charity would help working families with unexpected expenses that put them at risk of homelessness,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a news release. “Instead, Taylor allegedly took those donations to pay for his meals at upscale restaurants, rent for a luxury apartment in a Manhattan skyscraper, and even cosmetic surgery.”

Williams said Taylor “unconscionably took money from the pockets of those most in need, and he is now facing federal charges for his alleged crimes.”

Taylor’s attorney, Brian Ketcham, said his client “denies the charges and looks forward to clearing his name.”

Taylor founded Modest Needs in 2002 to help low-income families and individuals pay for expenses like medical bills or broken appliances. 

The charity, which used crowdfunding to recruit donors, won praise for its small-scale philanthropy.

“Modest Needs is one of a new crop of Web not-for-profits that put a face on charity and give donors the sense that they’re fixing problems directly,” Forbes reported in 2008.

But federal prosecutors say that Taylor stole more than $2.5 million from Modest Needs and its donors and used the money on his own expenses such as $300,000 for his own rent on the 30th floor of a Manhattan high-rise and $320,000 on expensive restaurants including Per Se, Jean-Georges, Masa and Marea.

The menu at Marea lists a dry-aged ribeye at $240, and Per Se’s nine-course tasting menu is $390.

According to the complaint, Taylor tried to hide his embezzlement by falsely listing acquaintances as members of the charity’s board of directors and claiming that the board had approved his expenses.

The purported board members included a bartender at Jean-Georges, a friend and the friend’s house cleaner, none of whom knew that they had been listed on the charity’s website as board members, prosecutors said.

Additionally, prosecutors said, Taylor did not file personal income tax returns or pay income taxes on the money he had received from the charity for at least the calendars years of 2017 through 2022.

Taylor is charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. He appeared in court Tuesday and was released on bond.

It was unclear whether Modest Needs was still operating Wednesday. An email sent through its website seeking comment was not returned.

[howwelldoyouknowyourmoon]

Monday, June 10, 12:13

Japan's Supreme Court has held a hearing in a lawsuit against the group previously known as the Unification Church. A woman who was a member of the group and her daughter sued the group, seeking the return of huge donations the woman made.

The hearing held on Monday was the first of its kind about donations to the group and its recruiting.

The woman who lived in Nagano Prefecture filed a lawsuit with her daughter in 2017, demanding that the group pay more than 180 million yen, or about 1.15 million dollars. They claimed that the woman was forced to donate a large amount of money through illegal practices.

The Tokyo District and High courts rejected their request because two years before the lawsuit was filed the woman signed a note that she would not ask the group to give back her donations. The courts acknowledged that the woman, who was then 86, was also filmed confirming the note's content.

She has since died, and her daughter filed an appeal at the Supreme Court.

A representative for the daughter said her mother was elderly and diagnosed with dementia about half a year after signing the note, so she lacked the ability to make proper judgement.

The representative also argued that the group broke the law by inciting anxiety and fear to pressure its members to donate.

The group argued that the note is valid and it is clear that her mother made the donations of her own free will.

It said if a court acknowledges that people who did not consider themselves victims have the right to sue religious groups they belonged to, all members of any religious organization are eligible to file damages suits.

The top court is scheduled to rule on the case on July 11.

______________________________

The Ungodly Gains Of The World’s Greediest Church

[kylzz]

NBA star: Jonathan Isaac

Jonathan Isaac's high school career was marked by his growth both physically and as a player. Transitioning from Barron Collier High School to the International School of Broward and eventually IMG Academy, he showcased his versatility and skill set, evolving into a highly sought-after prospect. His senior year at IMG Academy solidified his status as a top recruit, earning him invitations to prestigious All-Star games like the Jordan Brand Classic and Nike Hoop Summit.

In college, Isaac continued to impress as a member of the Florida State Seminoles. His freshman season saw him making significant contributions on both ends of the floor, demonstrating his scoring ability, rebounding prowess, and defensive presence. Despite his standout performance, Isaac opted to enter the NBA draft after just one year of collegiate play, joining the ranks of one-and-done prospects.

Selected by the Orlando Magic in the 2017 NBA draft, Isaac began his professional journey, showing promise despite facing challenges such as injuries. His versatility and defensive skills quickly made him a valuable asset for the team, earning him a spot in the starting lineup and garnering attention for his potential to become a defensive stalwart in the league.

Off the court, Isaac's personal life and beliefs have also made headlines. His commitment to his Christian faith and conservative political views, coupled with his stance on social issues like the Black Lives Matter movement, have sparked conversations about the intersection of sports and activism. Through it all, Jonathan Isaac has emerged as not only a talented basketball player but also a figure unafraid to stand by his convictions, both on and off the court. His journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes and a reminder of the power of staying true to oneself.

[df23efe]

The Biggest Names from Jeffrey Epstein’s Unsealed Court Documents

The names of acquaintances and associates of wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein—including that of former U.S. presidents and British royalty—were released on Wednesday evening in a set of court documents that were part of a suit against Ghislaine Maxwell in 2015.

The documents, the first in more than 200 that are expected to be unsealed over the next few days, are part of the defamation lawsuit filed by victim Virginia Roberts Giuffre. Maxwell has previously called Giuffre a liar after she alleged that Epstein and Maxwell had abused her. (That case was eventually settled in 2017, but Maxwell was later sentenced to 20 years in prison for recruiting young girls for Epstein to sexually exploit in a criminal investigation of Epstein’s acts after his death.) 

Names of figures that were previously associated with Epstein, such as Prince Andrew and former presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, were mentioned in the court documents, but there was little new information outside of what was already known to the public. Some documents had previously been released in other court cases, while Epstein’s high-profile contacts have been covered extensively in the media.

In December, U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska ordered the documents to be released, though she gave people until Jan. 1 to appeal the order in case they did not want their name to be revealed. The names of victims who were minors when they suffered abuse were not released, though some have previously spoken out about Epstein’s actions in media interviews.  

Here’s what to know. 

What the documents reveal 

For the most part, the documents say little about the actions taken by individuals outside of Epstein, though there is a 2016 deposition from Johanna Sjoberg, one of Epstein’s victims, that mentions politicians and figureheads in the U.S. and abroad. 

While celebrities like Bruce Willis, Cameron Diaz, Cate Blanchett, Kevin Spacey, Naomi Campbell, and Leonardo DiCaprio are also mentioned in the records, they have not been accused of helping Epstein in any capacity. Sjoberg was only asked if she had met the aforementioned people, which she denied. 

Connections to Epstein previously led high-level executives to resign from their positions, including Barclays chief executive Jes Staley. Jean-Luc Brunel, a French modeling agent suspected of scouting girls for Epstein, killed himself in a Paris jail in 2022 while awaiting trial for rape accusations.

The documents on Wednesday confirmed the scale of both Epstein’s alleged sex-trafficking ring and his powerful social network. Prince Andrew—the younger brother of King Charles III—was one of the names referenced in the documents, mentioned by a witness for touching her breast. 

Andrew was also previously accused of raping Giuffre when she was a teenager. After a lawsuit filed by Giuffre in 2021 and amid growing public pressure, Andrew was forced to relinquish his military titles and public duties—even as he repeatedly denied the allegations. The two settled the lawsuit in 2022 after Andrew paid Giuffre an undisclosed sum of money.

The case against Epstein 

Jeffrey Epstein was a convicted sex offender who would lure young girls under the impression that they would be giving him massages that would then “become increasingly sexual in nature,” according to the 2019 indictment against him. Jennifer Araoz, one of the victims, said that Epstein would invite her to his house and pay her hundreds of dollars after her visit. While they initially spoke about her life and goals, he later became abusive, Araoz said. 

Epstein had long avoided facing any consequences for his actions. He was first investigated for sexual misconduct in 2005 after a woman claimed that he had molested her teenage stepdaughter. Palm Beach police eventually charged Epstein with counts of unlawful sex with a minor in May 2006, but then State Attorney Barry Krischer sent the case to a grand jury, which indicted him with one count of soliciting prostitution. The charge was minor, leading to much criticism and causing the FBI to open a federal investigation against Epstein. But Epstein ended up serving a short 18-month sentence in 2008 for recruiting an underage girl for prostitution after he struck a plea deal with U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta to avoid being charged with any federal crimes.  

Epstein later came back under scrutiny in 2018, after the Miami Herald looked at Acosta’s role in negotiating a short sentence for Epstein. In July 2019, Epstein was arrested after federal prosecutors looked at his behavior between 2002 and 2005.

The case against him revealed that the victims, some as young as 14, were paid to provide sexual services to him and his friends, and to recruit other young girls to his circle of victims. Epstein’s employees would also sexually abuse the young girls.

He was facing charges for sex trafficking and conspiracy in July 2019 when one month later, he died by suicide in a New York federal jail. The investigation continued after his passing, leading prosecutors to convict Maxwell for sex crimes in connection to her dealing with Epstein. 

Here are other names high-profile mentioned in the documents:

Bill Clinton

The former president was mentioned in the documents released on Wednesday, in Sjoberg’s testimony that Epstein had told her “Clinton likes them young, referring to girls.” She also said that she knew Epstein had “dealings” with Clinton but did not know they were friends until later media reports.

The former president’s ties with Epstein has long been the subject of media scrutiny—intensified in the wake of the financier’s indictment. The two had connected while Clinton was working on his nonprofit group the Clinton Foundation, and in 2002, they took a trip to Africa on Epstein’s private jet. 

In 2019, Clinton’s office said that the former president did not know about Epstein’s “terrible crimes,” and that he had not spoken to Epstein in “well over a decade.” A spokesperson for Clinton told CNN on Wednesday that it has “been nearly 20 years since President Clinton last had contact with Epstein.”

Records show that Giuffre’s attorneys wanted to get a deposition from Clinton. Giuffre, the plaintiff in the defamation lawsuit against Maxwell, did not accuse the former president of doing anything with her, but attorneys saw Clinton as a “key person who can provide information about his close relationship with Defendant and Mr. Epstein and disapprove Ms. Maxwell’s claims.”

Donald Trump

The former president—whose relationship with Epstein was also widely reported—was also mentioned in Sjoberg’s 2016 deposition. Sjoberg testified that she and Epstein once made an impromptu stop in Atlantic City due to poor flying weather. Asked if she had given Trump a massage, Sjoberg said no. Trump once called Epstein a “terrific guy,” but later said he had a falling out with him. “I don’t think I’ve spoken to him for 15 years. I was not a fan of his,” Trump said in 2019.

Michael Jackson

Sjoberg recalled meeting late musician Michael Jackson at Epstein’s house in Palm Beach, but said no when asked if she had massaged him.

Sarah Kellen

Kellen, Epstein’s former assistant, was named in testimonies of victims detailing their encounters with Epstein. She was said to have helped schedule his “massages,” which his victims said was a euphemism for sexual services. 

A judge had described Kellen as “a criminally responsible participant” in Epstein’s scheme. 

But Kellen was never charged and has remained out of the public eye. Kellen said through a spokesperson in 2020 that she herself had been sexually and psychologically abused by Epstein for years.

Jean-Luc Brunel

Jean-Luc Brunel, a French modeling agent suspected of scouting girls for Epstein, killed himself in a Paris jail in 2022 while awaiting trial for rape accusations.

Giuffre said in her deposition that she was sent by Maxwell to have sex with Brunel “at many places.” The documents also say that Brunel would bring girls as young as twelve "to the United States for sexual purposes and farm them out to his friends, especially Epstein."

Bill Richardson

Bill Richardson, the former governor of New Mexico who died in September, was also mentioned. Giuffre said in her deposition that Maxwell had instructed her to give Richardson a massage. In 2019, a spokesperson for Richardson denied he ever met Giuffre, according to Las Cruces Sun News.

Leslie Wexner

Leslie Wexner, the billionaire founder of L Brands (which owns Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works), was also mentioned in Maxwell’s deposition. When asked if she had ever provided Giuffre with “an outfit of a sexual nature to wear for Les Wexner,” Maxwell said “categorically no.”

Epstein was Wexner's money manager and a trustee of the Wexner Foundation During an L Brands investor conference in Sept. 2019, Wexner called Epstein's action "abhorrent." Wexner says he cut ties with Epstein in 2007.

Glenn Dubin

Hedge fund manager and billionaire Glenn Dubin was mentioned in the documents, with Giuffre testifying that “Ghislaine told me to go to Glenn Dubin and give him a massage, which means sex,” Giuffre said in her deposition..

Dubin has previously denied Giuffre’s allegations. 

Dubin’s wife, Eva Andersson-Dubin, was also referenced in the unsealed documents. Maxwell said in her deposition that she was friends with Andersson-Dubin.

Alan Dershowitz

Alan Dershowitz, Epstein’s lawyer, was also mentioned in the newly-released records. The documents say that Epstein forced a minor to have sex with the former Harvard law professor multiple times. The documents also say that Dershowitz “was an eye-witness to the sexual abuse of many other minors by Epstein and several of Epstein’s co-conspirators.

Dershowitz would later play a significant role in negotiating the NPA on Epstein’s behalf.” NPA stands for non-prosecution agreement, which allowed Epstein to avoid serving a severe sentence when he was first charged with soliciting a minor for prostitution.

“Of course I’m on that list, I was his lawyer. I flew on his plane,” said Dershowitz in a Youtube livestream after the list came out.

Marvin Minsky

Computer scientist and former MIT professor Marvin Minsky was also mentioned in the documents. Giuffre said she was asked to have sex with Minsky when he went to Epstein’s island in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

https://time.com/6552063/jeffrey-epsteins-unsealed-court-documents/

[shortfeedshq]

Stephen Curry: From High School Star to NBA Legend - A Journey of Achievements and Impact

Stephen Curry is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Golden State Warriors in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is widely considered to be one of the greatest shooters in NBA history and has been named the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) twice. In this SEO-friendly autobiography, we will take a look at his life, career, and achievements. Table of Contents I. Early Life and Family Background II. High School Career III. College Career IV. NBA Career V. Achievements and Awards VI. Personal Life and Philanthropy VII. Legacy and Impact VIII. FAQs I. Early Life and Family Background Stephen Curry was born on March 14, 1988, in Akron, Ohio. His father, Dell Curry, was a former NBA player, and his mother, Sonya Curry, was a volleyball player. Stephen grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, where his father played for the Charlotte Hornets. He has two younger siblings, Seth and Sydel. II. High School Career Stephen attended Charlotte Christian School, where he played basketball and led his team to three conference titles. He was named all-conference and all-state in his junior and senior years. Despite his success in high school, he was not highly recruited by college basketball programs. III. College Career Stephen attended Davidson College, where he played basketball for three years. In his sophomore year, he led the nation in scoring and was named a consensus first-team All-American. He also led Davidson to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament, where they lost to Kansas. In his junior year, he was again named a first-team All-American and led the Wildcats to the NCAA tournament, where they lost in the second round. IV. NBA Career Stephen was drafted by the Golden State Warriors with the seventh overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft. In his rookie season, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. In the following years, he established himself as one of the best shooters in NBA history. He has won three NBA championships with the Warriors and has been named the league's MVP twice. He has also set numerous records, including the record for most three-pointers made in a single season. V. Achievements and Awards Stephen Curry's achievements and awards include: - Three-time NBA champion (2015, 2017, 2018) - Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player (2015, 2016) - NBA scoring champion (2016) - Six-time NBA All-Star (2014-2019) - Three-time All-NBA First Team (2015-2017) - NBA All-Rookie First Team (2010) VI. Personal Life and Philanthropy Stephen Curry is married to Ayesha Curry, and they have three children together. He is known for his philanthropy and has established the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, which aims to improve the lives of children in the Bay Area. He has also been involved in various other charitable causes, including raising awareness for malaria prevention in Africa. VII. Legacy and Impact Stephen Curry's impact on the game of basketball has been significant. He has revolutionized the way the game is played, with his emphasis on three-point shooting and his ability to make shots from long range. He has also inspired a new generation of basketball players, who look up to him as a role model both on and off the court. VIII. FAQs Q: How many NBA championships has Stephen Curry won? A: Stephen Curry has won three NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors. Q: What is Stephen Curry's net worth? A: Stephen Curry's net worth is estimated to be around $130 million. Q: What is Stephen Curry's shooting percentage? A: Stephen Curry has a career field goal percentage of 47.6% and a career three-point percentage of 43.3%. Q: What is the name of Stephen Curry's foundation? A: Stephen Curry's foundation is called the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation. Q: Has Stephen Curry ever won an Olympic gold medal? A: Yes, Stephen Curry won an Olympic gold medal with the United States men's basketball team in 2016. Q: How has Stephen Curry impacted the game of basketball? A: Stephen Curry has revolutionized the game of basketball with his emphasis on three-point shooting and his ability to make shots from long range. He has also inspired a new generation of basketball players with his style of play and his dedication to hard work and perseverance. Stephen Curry's life and career have been nothing short of remarkable. From his humble beginnings in North Carolina to his status as one of the best basketball players in the world, he has inspired countless fans with his talent, work ethic, and dedication to giving back. As he continues to play at the highest level of the sport, there is no doubt that he will continue to leave his mark on the game and inspire others to follow in his footsteps. Read the full article

[creative-pens]

Bengal SSC scam: High court hears challenge petition, but fate of 803 teachers undecided

Division Bench reserves order; last week, judge asked that steps be taken to cancel appointments of 1,911 Group D school staff.

The West Bengal School Service Commission finds no reason to re-examine the Optical Marks Recognition (OMR) sheets -- whose digital records were seized from Ghaziabad by the CBI and sent to the Commission to ascertain recruitment fraud -- or question their authenticity since they were “identical replicas” of the original answer scripts which are now destroyed.

The submission was made by the Commission before the Division Bench of Justices Subrata Talukdar and Supratim Bhattacharya of the Calcutta High Court which kept its order in reserve after concluding the hearing of challenge petitions moved before the court by the aggrieved secondary school teachers whose appointments are all set to be revoked on the basis of an SSC affidavit submitted in court.

Last week, following the Commission’s admission of its “fault”, Justice Abhijit Ganguly set a one-week deadline and directed the SSC to initiate the termination process of 803 currently-employed teachers of classes IX and X whose appointments were given back in 2017 by means of answer script result manipulation. The plea of these teachers to be added as a party to the case and be allowed to defend themselves in court was rejected by Justice Biswajit Basu. Challenging both orders, the litigants moved the Division Bench and argued their case before the judges on Monday.

Based on the same SSC affidavit, Justice Ganguly has already passed an order on Friday to take appropriate steps to cancel appointments of 1911 Group D staff in schools whose OMR sheet results were found tampered with. Both SSC and the state secondary education board have subsequently notified the termination. The appeal petition against that order could not be heard by the Division Bench on Monday since the Single Bench order was yet to be uploaded on the court’s Website.

In September last year the CBI, which is probing the SCC recruitment scam on the Calcutta High Court’s orders, had seized hard disks containing digital records of the 2017 TET exam from the Ghaziabad office of NYSA Communications Pvt Ltd, which was among the companies responsible for OMR sheet evaluation. Although the Commission has, by its own protocol, already destroyed the original OMR sheets of the candidates in question a year of the exams were conducted, the CBI argued in court that the OMR records seized from Ghaziabad vastly differed from the digital records recovered from the Commission’s office in Salt Lake, Kolkata and that a large number of candidates had their marks enhanced in the latter. The commission accepted its “mistake” under an oath before the court, identified 952 such candidates out of which 803 are employed for over five years now, and recommended that the appointments under question be cancelled.

Counsels for aggrieved teachers argued that the Commission based its conclusion on “secondary evidence” since the original documents have been destroyed which should bring the basis of comparison of the records under judicial scrutiny. The principles of natural justice and civil consequences of the job-losers must be kept in mind and the Commission should be directed not to proceed any further on its termination process under Rule 17 of the Commission’s Act till all stakeholders are heard by the court.

“Destruction of the original documents doesn’t make the evidence weak since they were mirror images of the original ones with no scope of human intervention. We have sufficient grounds to believe that mistakes were made,” Dr Sutanu Patra, appearing for the Commission submitted and added there was no scope of hearing the eliminated candidates as per SSC rules. Read More On..

[coochiequeens]

It’s February 2020. I’m crouched at the starting line of the high school girls’ 55-meter indoor race. This should be one of the best days of my life. I’m running in the state championship, and I’m ranked the fastest high school female in the 55-meter dash in the state. I should be feeling confident. I should know that I have a strong shot at winning.

Instead, all I can think about is how all my training, everything I’ve done to maximize my performance, might not be enough, simply because there’s a runner on the line with an enormous physical advantage: a male body.

I won that race, and I'm grateful. But time after time, I have lost. I’ve lost four women’s state championship titles, two all-New England awards, and numerous other spots on the podium to male runners. I was bumped to third place in the 55-meter dash in 2019, behind two male runners. With every loss, it gets harder and harder to try again.

That’s a devastating experience. It tells me that I’m not good enough; that my body isn’t good enough; and that no matter how hard I work, I am unlikely to succeed, because I’m a woman.

Don't eliminate women's sports

That experience is why three of my fellow female athletes and I filed a lawsuit last year with Alliance Defending Freedom against the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC): because girls and women shouldn’t be stripped of their right to fair competition.

The CIAC allows biological males to compete in girls’ and women’s sports. As a result, two males began racing in girls’ track in 2017. In the 2017, 2018, and 2019 seasons alone, these males took 15 women’s state track championship titles (titles held in 2016 by nine different girls) and more than 85 opportunities to participate in higher level competitions that belonged to female track athletes.

That’s because males have massive physical advantages. Their bodies are simply bigger and stronger on average than female bodies. It’s obvious to every single girl on the track.

But Connecticut officials are determined to ignore the obvious. And unfortunately, a federal district court recently dismissed our case. The court’s decision to do so tells women and girls that their feelings and opportunities don’t matter, and that they can’t expect anyone to stand up for their dignity and their rights.

That’s wrong. And it chips away at women’s confidence and our belief in our own abilities.

It’s happened to me over and over. Every time I walk up to the starting line, I try to tell myself that I can overcome the unfair odds — I can win, even though the race is stacked against me.

Hurting female athletes' futures

But besides the psychological toll of experiencing unfair losses over and over, the CIAC’s policy has more tangible harms for women. It robs girls of the chance to race in front of college scouts who show up for elite metes, and to compete for the scholarships and opportunities that come with college recruitment. I’ll never know how my own college recruitment was impacted by losing those four state championship titles to a male. When colleges looked at my record, they didn’t see the fastest girl in Connecticut. They saw a second- or third-place runner.

And it’s not just happening to me. My friend and fellow plaintiff Selina Soule was bumped from qualifying for the state championship 55-meter final and an opportunity to qualify for the New England championship by a male runner in 2019. Meanwhile, Alanna Smith, an incredibly talented female athlete, was the second-place female runner in the 200-meter at the New England Regional Championships, but was dropped to third behind a male competitor.

It’s discouraging that the federal district court has decided that these experiences — these lost opportunities — simply don’t matter.

But I’m not beaten yet. And neither are my fellow female athletes.

Through our ADF attorneys, my fellow athletes and I are appealing the federal district court’s ruling. We’re taking our case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, where we are going to ask once again for the court to recognize our right to fair competition — a right that Title IX has promised to girls and women for 50 years. And we’re fighting not just for ourselves, but for all female athletes.

So as we prepare for this next step in the case, I’m settling into my starting blocks again, but for a different kind of race. And this time, I’m confident that we can win.

Chelsea Mitchell is an award-winning athlete from Canton High School in Connecticut. She is running track at the collegiate level.

Have there been any top male athletes transing and playing women’s sports? Or is it just mediocre male athletes who couldn’t get a scholarship as men?

[aftgficrec]

Dragon/Magical/mythical AU pretty please 🥺

There are just so many aus with magic, mythical creatures and fantasy out there! We’ve put a small collection together here, and you can find more in our previous recs as well as under our fantasy tag (see below). The fantasy tag is under AUs. - S

Also see...

supernatural compilation here (see top of post for further recs)

fantasy aus (with dragons!) here

HTTYD/Dragon!Andrew aus here

new/fave fantasy fics here

fave fantasy fics here

Neil as a fantasy creature here

andreil shapeshifters/soulmates/omegaverse here

long fae/magic aus here

magic/urban fantasy aus here

Neil with wings and lots of magic here

werewolf!Andrew here

fairy tale aus here

staff recs may 21 - mermay here

Greek mythology aus here

‘Spun Like Gold’ here

‘On Dragon's Wings (Under the Blue)’ here

‘Imp’ here

Of Smoke & Bone by wishbonetea [Rated M, 23905 words, incomplete, last updated Sept 21]

In general, Neil Josten managed to keep his two lives in balance. On the one hand, he was a nineteen year old art student in Prague with a part-time job in a mostly-normal coffee shop. On the other, he, Allison, and Renee worked for an inhuman creature, running errands in exchange for wishes. For the most part, these two lives rarely intersect. But it's fair to say that the Foxes bring their own brand of trouble, and Neil's two lives soon start to collide.

tw: violence, tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: recreational drug use

little ghost by redskiesandsailboats [Rated G, 5224 words, complete, 2021]

Everything comes with a price.

He should have known.

All of them should have.

But that’s the thing about hope.

Sometimes, if you let it grow past a spark, it’s so bright that it’s blinding.

Or: the one in which there is a quest with dubious guidelines, a ghost with an aversion to names, and a hero who never asked for any of this, but he keeps his promises anyways.

tw: implied/referenced abuse, tw: implied/referenced murder

Our Liminal Souls by glowingbee [Rated E, 27352 words, incomplete, last updated July 21]

Neil Josten doesn't believe in Gods, ghosts, nor destiny. If there is anything he has come to believe from years of out running certain death is that, firstly, not even a perfect utopia can protect everyone and second that everyone dies alone. A born wizard with a need for adrenaline, Neil knows he can only protect himself by learning combat, languages, and magic by participating in academic tournaments that are intense physical, magical, and psychological tests that honor their lineages of magic and otherworldly-given powers.

A lapse in Neil's plans securing his passage to his next hideaway has him dumped onto the world-stage of collegiate magic tournaments after being contracted to a high-profile A1 tournament court shadowed by recent suspicious deaths and a secretive court. Neil runs the risk of his secrets finding him before he can even begin to make sense of his invisible ties to his new teammates' own pasts and deciphering strange dreams that haunt him of mother's last moments.

tw: violence, tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: implied/referenced torture, tw: blood

From The Ashes by tigerrlilyy [Not Rated, 4482 words, incomplete, last updated May 21]

After spending his entire life on the run, the death of Neil's mother throws him into a world where he's being hunted by dragons and a lot of people are wanting to see his blood spilled.

That is until he's whisked away to a special school for people just like him where he meets the beautiful asshole Andrew Minyard who seems to have a burning hatred for his existence the minute he steps foot in the school.

To top it all off? Andrew's a dragon. A dragon who wants him dead.

tw: violence, tw: minor character death, tw: blood, tw: implied/referenced rape/noncon, tw: implied/referenced child abuse

Fang and Stake by darkbluebox [Rated T, 2658 words, complete, 2020]

For most hunters, it would have been a wet dream: his quarry beaten, bleeding, trapped and prone before him. He might as well have been holding a stake on a silver platter. If it had been any other vampire in the world, Andrew wouldn’t have hesitated to drive the splintering chunk of wood through his chest and be done with it.

Unfortunately, Neil wasn’t any other vampire.

tw: blood, tw: implied/referenced abuse

you hit me like a vision by paleromantic [Rated G, 2181 words, complete, 2019]

Andrew opened his mouth, closed it again. “Uh, who the fuck are you?”

The man blinked, and underneath him in the water Andrew swore that he saw something moving, a quick swish under the water every once in a while. He had auburn hair like red that had cooled in the pale spring sunshine to a duller brown, and when the sun caught it it turned to copper. “You can call me Neil if you’d like, I live around here.”

BITE by poetatertot [Rated M, 23338 words, incomplete, last updated Sept. 2019]

Nathaniel was terrified. A hulking mass, all bristling fur and slavering jaws, stood and stared back at him. It was greater than any man—greater than any raven-shifter he’d ever seen. It was massive.

“Fox,” he breathed.

tw: violence, tw: implied/referenced abuse

A Midsummer Night's Fib by NachtGraves [Rated G, 3620 words, complete, Andreil Week 2018]

Neil doesn’t know why he did it but Nicky wasn’t going to quit and Allison had her phone out with that plotting gleam in her eyes and Dan and Matt were looking at him in certain ways and he just blurt it out: “I’m going with Andrew.”

Ouroboros by ANEMONEXVI [Rated M, 34420 words, incomplete, last updated Nov 2018]

“I don’t have any desire to be part of a group of rebels who aid townspeople and give warmongering nations the metaphorical finger,” Neil stoked his words with distain, hoping to discourage the group into the short version of the conversation he knew they were trying to have.

...

With no time to grieve the violent death of his mother, Neil finds himself alone in an unforgiving land with a heavy target on his back. In his aimlessness he encounters a group of roguish crusaders, The Foxes. A team of misfits who attempt to work together to bring peace to nations or peoples in crisis. And they want to recruit Neil for his rumored illusory magic.

But Neil's magical lineage doesn't speak of subtlety and he can't afford to catch any unwanted attention.

A roughshod fantasy/magic/government intrigue/familial drama/torture/mental and physical healing/aliens/ saga

tw: violence, tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: cannibalism, tw: blood/gore

what light tastes like by knoxxed (badmatch) [Rated T, 6516 words, complete, Aftg Exchange 2017]

Los Angeles is Jeremy Knox’s frown of concern whenever Jean pushes himself to the point of strain, the delighted grin when Jean surprises him. It’s cat fur being one more reason to stop wearing black.

Los Angeles is Jean never once being asked to confirm or deny who or what he is.

Los Angeles takes some getting used to.

(urban fantasy AU)

A Natural History of Dragons JereJean AU by @rhododendronbeware [tumblr, 2020]

- Jean Moreau only ever wanted to study dragons but instead he gets married off to Riko Moriyama to pay off his family’s debt.

Art

Demon Neil by EstaVS on deviantart

winged neil by @mistykaru [tumblr, 2021]

demon andrew by @mistykaru [tumblr, 2021]