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VERIFYING 6 kinds of social media scamsContacts between the parties suggest that the early post-election preference of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael for Labour to join them in government will not be reciprocated, at least not in the immediate future. Labour leader Ivana Bacik has instead been pursuing the broad red-green alliance with the Greens and the Social Democrats that she repeatedly flagged during the election campaign. The results of her efforts have not been encouraging, however; the Greens have been left without a meaningful parliamentary presence, while the Social Democrats – never visibly enthused by Bacik’s proposal – gave it the thumbs down on Friday. The Social Democrats said they would meet separately from Labour with other parties, including Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. So that’s that. Labour must now decide whether to seek a coalition deal with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael – and there is a difference between actually seeking a deal and just meeting for the optics, remember – or whether it wishes to continue in Opposition for another five years. The political dangers of going into government are well understood in Labour, and their fears are unlikely to have been assuaged by the fate of the Greens. At the same time, nobody knows better than Labour that government is where parties can achieve their aims, implement their policies and force the changes they have promised voters. There is, reportedly, division between Labour TDs on the issue, but the prospects of the party playing a role in the next government seem to be diminishing. And so, the focus will inevitably move to the Independents . A group convened by the Tipperary North TD Michael Lowry has made the early running, signalling its availability, and there have been some preliminary discussions. It is not yet clear whether they will seek positions in government, as Independents did in the 2016-20 administration, or be content to support the coalition from the outside, as Independents did previously. In any case, a series of deals with the Independents will not be straightforward. Each Independent TD speaks for himself or herself, and has only their own vote to trade; that is the nature of their status. They will be focused on their constituencies, but any new government will need them to stay on board for broader matters such as budgets, motions of confidence and controversial issues. A good deal of foresight will be required to future-proof any agreement. It seems unlikely that matters will have moved on conclusively when the new Dáil meets for the first time on December 18th. That means a new government is unlikely before mid-January. It should not take longer than that. The options are clear and the participants need to get on with it.
Letter: 'Taking on the work which we no longer want to do'MISTRAS Group Appoints Natalia Shuman as President and Chief Executive Officer
Lebanon is closing all its land border crossings with Syria except for a main one that links Beirut with the Syrian capital Damascus, the General Security Directorate said Friday. The decision came hours after an Israeli airstrike damaged a border crossing in northern Lebanon just days after it was reopened. Separately, Jordan’s interior minister said the Naseeb border crossing with Syria had been closed because of the security situation on the Syrian side. He spoke after Syrian opposition activists said insurgents had captured the main border crossing with Jordan, forcing the Syrian authorities to leave. Israel’s military said it planned to reinforce its positions in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights and near the border with Syria. Israel said it was “monitoring developments and is prepared for all scenarios, offensive and defensive alike.” Meanwhile, Syrian insurgents entered the central towns of Rastan and Talbiseh early Friday just north of the central city of Homs, bringing them closer Syria’s third largest city, an opposition war monitor and pro-government media both reported. The breakthrough came a day after jihiadi-led opposition fighters captured the central city of Hama , Syria’s fourth largest. In other developments, a Hamas official said international mediators have resumed negotiations with the Palestinian militant group and Israel over a ceasefire in Gaza, and he was hopeful a deal to end the 14-month war is within reach. Israel's war against Hamas has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced 90% of the population of 2.3 million, often multiple times. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel in October 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage . Israel’s blistering retaliatory offensive has killed at least 44,600 Palestinians , more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. Here's the Latest: DEIR AL-Balah, Gaza Strip — An Israeli strike hit a residential building in central Gaza's Nuseirat refugee camp on Friday evening, killing at least 12 people, including six children and four women, according to officials at Awda Hospital. The strike wounded at least 46 others, including 13 children and 12 women, and damaged several neighboring houses, the hospital said. Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,600 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. CAIRO — Israel said Friday that “thousands of food packages and sacks of flour” were delivered to the isolated northernmost reaches of Gaza, where hunger experts warn famine could be underway. The delivery would mark one of the first successful convoys to the area, which is besieged by Israeli troops that have mounted a fierce offensive in Gaza’s north since early October. COGAT, the Israeli military agency that controls the border crossings into Gaza, said the aid was delivered to the town of Beit Hanoun. Israeli authorities did not publicly say who delivered the aid, and did not provide details on the exact amount of aid involved. COGAT released photos of flatbed trucks driving past rubble, some carrying what appeared to be 25-kilogram (55 pound) sacks of aid and others with cargo covered under tarps. The U.N. has struggled to deliver aid to the area in recent weeks. Alia Zaki, a spokesperson for the World Food Program, told The Associated Press that nearly no food has entered the area for two months, and that the agency’s daily requests to enter the area have been denied by Israel. Of two missions that have been approved since Oct. 6, Zaki said, only two trucks of aid were delivered to a shelter that Israeli soldiers ordered to evacuate soon after and then burned. The situation in northern Gaza has prompted hunger experts to warn that famine is either near or may already be underway. BEIRUT — A Kurdish-led force in Syria that's backed by the United States says it has taken positions along the border with Iraq, replacing Syrian government forces. The move by the Syrian Democratic Forces to capture areas on the west bank of the Euphrates River is likely to cut the land line that links Iran with the Mediterranean coast. The SDF said in a statement that its fighters were deployed in the eastern city of Deir el-Zour and west of the Euphrates for the safety of civilians. “Our primary objective is to protect our security and the security of our people,” it said about the deployment. SDF spokesman Farhad Shami told The Associated Press that their fighters are not in control of the Boukamal border crossing with Iraq. Rami Abdurrahman of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said Iran-backed fighters have evacuated the border crossing point of Boukamal and the SDF is expected to control it later. The Boukamal border crossing has been a main supply line for Iran-backed fighters, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah, who had opened the corridor that links Iran with the Mediterranean in 2017. The developments come as jihadi-led insurgents in northwestern Syria have made stunning advances over the past week that have so far met little resistance from government troops. KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — Crowds of displaced Palestinians, some carrying cooking pots and crying children, gathered at an aid kitchen in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Friday, but many left with nothing. “The food ran out,” said Adel Mohammad, who was hoping to get a meal of rice – the only food being served — for his children. “At night they wake up hungry.” After the kitchen shut down, children used their hands to scoop bits of rice left in large empty cooking pots. The World Food Program has warned that the humanitarian response in Gaza is “nearing collapse as famine looms.” The U.N. agency says Israeli restrictions on aid deliveries, along with the breakdown of law and order in Gaza, has made it difficult for aid convoys to reach displaced Palestinians. Concerns are growing with the onset of another winter of war. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, many displaced repeatedly by Israeli attacks, are living in tent camps, reliant on international aid. Experts have already warned of famine in northern Gaza, which Israeli forces have almost completely isolated since early October. BEIRUT -- Lebanon’s General Security Directorate said Friday the country is closing all land border crossing with Syria except for a main one that links Beirut with the Syrian capital Damascus. The decision by the security agency in charge of border crossings came hours after an Israeli airstrike damaged the Arida border crossing with Syria in north Lebanon, days after it was reopened. “Border crossings will be closed until further notice for the safety of travelers,” the agency said in a statement posted on X. It said that the only border crossing that will be kept open is Masnaa in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley. Lebanon’s state news agency said Friday the airstrike on the Arida crossing caused heavy material damage and cut the road. The Israeli military said fighter jets attacked the border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, adding that they were used to transfer munitions for Lebanon’s Hezbollah group. BEIRUT - Syrian opposition activists say insurgents have captured a main border crossing with Jordan forcing Syrian authorities to leave it. Shortly afterward, Jordan’s Interior Minister al-Frayeh said the Naseeb border crossing with Syria had been closed because of the security situation on the Syrian side. Opposition activists posted videos online showing people storming the border crossing with Jordan, which was in rebel hands until government forces regained control of it in 2018. Ahmad al-Masalmeh, an opposition activist based in France who covers events in southern Syria, told The Associated Press that local gunmen have captured the Naseeb crossing as well as several other areas in the southern province of Daraa where the uprising against President Bashar Assad began in March 2011. Syrian troops have evacuated checkpoints in several areas including the villages of Inkhil, Nawa and Jassem, he added. JERUSALEM — Israel’s military said on Friday that it planned to reinforce its forces stationed in the Golan Heights and near the border with Syria, where civil war has reignited between the government and rebel groups. The Israeli military said in a statement that it was “monitoring developments and is prepared for all scenarios, offensive and defensive alike.” After 13 years of civil war, Syrian insurgents are gaining ground, first taking cities in the country’s north and on Friday entering cities in central Syria. It comes as rebel groups mount new challenges to Russia- and Iran-backed Syrian forces, including in Aleppo, the country’s largest city. Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has intermittently struck areas in Syria seen as strongholds of Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group it is at war with in Lebanon. The advances of the Syrian insurgents adds new instability on Israel’s northern border, two months after it invaded neighboring Lebanon. Israel’s defense minister and military chief of staff met to discuss the situation Thursday. Israeli media reported there is concern in the country’s security establishment that the rebels would advance until they reached the Golan Heights, territory occupied by Israel, gaining control of Syrian weapons stockpiles along the way. Writing in the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahoronoth Friday, veteran military correspondent Ron Ben-Yishai wrote that Israel may “prefer” to destroy the weapons storehouses so they won’t fall into the hands of the rebels. Israel seized control of the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war. Syria has constantly accused Israel of launching attacks against it from territory it occupies in the Golan Heights. Israel has frequently struck Syria over the years. BEIRUT — Syrian insurgents entered two central towns early Friday just north of the central city of Homs, bringing them closer Syria’s third largest city, an opposition war monitor and pro-government media both reported. The break into Rastan and Talbiseh came a day after opposition gunmen captured the central city of Hama , Syria’s fourth largest, after the Syrian army said it withdrew to avoid fighting inside the city and spare the lives of civilians. The insurgents, led by the jihadi Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have said that they will march to Homs and Damascus, President Bashar Assad’s seat of power. The city of Homs, parts of which were controlled by insurgents until 2014, is a major intersection point between the capital, Damascus, and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus where Assad enjoys wide support. Homs province is Syria’s largest in size and borders Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan. Insurgents are now 5 kilometers (3 miles) away from Homs, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor. “The battle of Homs is the mother of all battles and will decide who will rule Syria,” said Rami Abdurrahman, the Observatory’s chief. MANAMA, Bahrain — Iran said Friday it conducted a successful space launch, the latest for its program the West alleges improves Tehran’s ballistic missile technology. Iran conducted the launch using its Simorgh program , a satellite-carrying rocket that had had a series of failed launches, at Iran’s Imam Khomeini Spaceport in rural Semnan province. That’s the site of Iran’s civilian space program. The Simorgh carried what Iran described as an “orbital propulsion system,” as well as two research systems to a 400-kilometer (250-mile) orbit above the Earth. A system that could change the orbit of a spacecraft would allow Iran to geo-synchronize the orbits of its satellites. Tehran has long sought that ability. Iran also put the payload of the Simorgh at 300 kilograms (660 pounds), heavier than its previous successful launches. There was no immediate independent confirmation the launch was successful. The U.S. military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The announcement comes as heightened tensions grip the wider Middle East over Israel’s continued war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip and as an uneasy ceasefire holds in Lebanon. MELBOURNE, Australia — Arsonists extensively damaged a Melbourne synagogue on Friday in what Australia’s prime minister condemned as an antisemitic attack on Australian values. The blaze in the Adass Israel Synagogue is an escalation in targeted attacks in Australia since the war began between Israel and Hamas last year. Cars and buildings have been vandalized and torched around Australia in protests inspired by the war. A witness who had come to the synagogue to pray saw two masked men spreading a liquid accelerant with brooms inside the building at 4:10 a.m., officials said. About 60 firefighters with 17 fire trucks responded to the blaze, which police said caused extensive damage. Investigators have yet to identify a motive, but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese blamed antisemitism. “This was a shocking incident to be unequivocally condemned. There is no place in Australia for an outrage such as this,” Albanese told reporters. “To attack a place of worship is an attack on Australian values. To attack a synagogue is an act of antisemitism, is attacking the right that all Australians should have to practice their faith in peace and security,” he added. ISTANBUL — A Hamas official says international mediators have resumed negotiating with the militant group and Israel over a ceasefire in Gaza, and that he was hopeful a deal to end the 14-month war was within reach. Ceasefire negotiations were halted last month when Qatar suspended talks with mediators from Egypt and the United States because of frustration over a lack of progress between Israel and Hamas. But there has been a “reactivation” of efforts in recent days to end the fighting, release hostages from Gaza and free Palestinian prisoners in Israel, according to Bassem Naim, an official in Hamas’ political bureau who spoke with The Associated Press in Turkey on Thursday. Another official familiar with the talks confirmed the return of Qatari mediators. The official spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the negotiations with the media. Since the talks broke down, there have been significant shifts in the global and regional landscape. Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election, and a ceasefire was declared last week between Israel and Hamas ally Hezbollah in Lebanon. Trump is a staunch supporter of Israel, but Naim said he believes the incoming administration could “affect the situation positively” given that Trump had made halting wars in the region part of his campaign platform. Trump this week called for the release of all hostages held in Gaza by the time he takes office on Jan. 20, saying there would be “hell to pay” if that doesn’t happen. WASHINGTON -- Three U.S. service members were being evaluated for potential traumatic brain injuries following an attack near a base in eastern Syria this week, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Thursday. Ryder said U.S. Central Command is still evaluating who was behind the attack near Mission Support Site Euphrates, which prompted the U.S. to conduct counter strikes on Tuesday. At the time, the Pentagon said rockets and mortars had landed in the vicinity of the base. The U.S. has about 900 troops in Syria to conduct missions to counter the Islamic Stage group. By Lolita BaldorFormer prime minister Scott Morrison has called out the Albanese government after it received scathing criticism from Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu over Australia's position on Palestine at the UN. The Israeli Prime Minister accused Australia of inviting "terrorism" by supporting Palestine in UN motions. Mr Morrison took to social media early on Friday morning to lament the straining of relations between Israel and Australia. "Shameful. Labor have betrayed freedom and their own proud heritage on Israel," he posted on X. "They have ended bipartisanship on Israel in Australia and been played the fool by accepting the lie of antisemitism masquerading as progressivism." Foreign Minister Penny Wong supported a UN resolution recognising "permanent sovereignty" of Palestinians in November. The move came as a surprise with Sky News revealing last month Australia's top UN diplomats recommended the government abstain from the resolution, in order to maintain Canberra's position over the past decade, and remain consistent with the views of Canada and the United States. Earlier this week, the Albanese government again backed a UN motion in favour of Palestine, supporting an "irreversible pathway" to Palestinian statehood while also calling for Israel to withdraw its "unlawful presence" from the West Bank, Gaza and eastern Jerusalem. Australia's decision marked a two-decade change in its position on the matter, having last backed the Palestinian statehood resolution under the Howard government. The resolution passed 157-8, with Argentina, Hungary, Israel, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea and key Australian ally, the United States of America, voting against, while seven members abstained from the vote. A statement released from Netanyahu's office condemned Australia's new position, saying Australia's "flip-flop is disappointing". “Awarding anti-Semitism and terrorism with a state in the heart of the Jewish ancient homeland and cradle of civilisation will invite more terrorism and more anti-Semitic riots at campuses and city centres, including in Australia," the statement said. “To the contrary, they have embraced those atrocities that included the rape, murder and beheading of Jews. It’s a shame that the current Australian government wants to award these savages with a state. “Thankfully, our key allies support Israel as we strive for true peace and security." The Israeli Prime Minister's criticism comes after Australian Opposition Leader Peter Dutton claimed Anthony Albanese abandoned the Jewish community to win votes in Western Sydney. “He sold the Jewish community out in this country for Green votes in western Sydney and in places like Marrickville (in Mr Albanese’s seat),” Mr Dutton said. “I think we should be standing with allies like the United States. Instead, the Albanese government is chasing Green votes and they’ve been prepared to sacrifice the wellbeing of the Jewish community here in Australia to do so.”
Morning Bid: India rate call in focus, political crises coolEach holiday season, scammers hope to turn consumers’ Christmas shopping into gifts for themselves. People under the age of 70 fall for social media scams more often than any other type of scam, such as phone calls, texting and email, according to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) data . There are many types of social media scams and many different methods scammers use to trick victims. We VERIFIED six different ways scammers use social media to target victims and teach you how to avoid these scams. THE SOURCES Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation Terranova Security , a cybersecurity company Wells Fargo Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) , an Irish consumer protection agency Aura , a cybersecurity company Online shopping scams The most common social media scams are ads, particularly on Facebook and Instagram, that lead to fake online stores that never deliver items their victims have purchased, according to the FTC . A red flag that an online store’s website may be fraudulent is if it’s missing basic information, such as shipping times, costs, address and direct contact information, the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs says. If you’re unsure about an online store, you can check for consumer reviews or scam reports on the Better Business Bureau’s website. A store can fake the reviews on its own website, so it’s best to look at information posted on other sites. The FTC recommends simply searching for a store’s name and “scam” or “complaint” on Google before buying items. Using a credit card instead of a debit card for online purchases can also give you more protection against fake stores, the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs says. That’s because credit cards “offer better fraud protection and provide a safer way to dispute unauthorized charges if necessary.” Most people who use social media marketplaces, such as Facebook Marketplace, are genuine people selling legitimate items, but scammers may also pose as sellers or customers, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) says. The CCPC recommends that buyers not hand over any money unless they’re sure the item is legitimate. It advises sellers not to click any link a buyer sends them and to not send the buyer any details that might allow them to gain access to their bank account. Impersonators of family and friends This scam begins when the scammer either hacks a person’s profile or creates a brand new, fake profile meant to look like someone else’s. Then, the scammer will usually directly message family and friends of the person they’re impersonating, claim there’s an emergency and ask for money, says Terranova Security , a cybersecurity company. Alternatively, the scammer may send their victims links to malicious websites instead of asking for money, according to Wells Fargo . Whether it’s a request for money or an unexpected link, you should double-check the identity of the sender, say Terranova Security and Wells Fargo. Do that by contacting the person through other means, such as a call, text or email. Only take action after they’ve confirmed the message is really from them. You should generally be suspicious of profiles that are brand new or if you receive a friend request from a profile you thought you were already friends with, the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs says. Other fake lookalike accounts In some cases, scammers will create profiles impersonating a well-known company, a government agency or a popular celebrity by using their names, logos and photos. These types of imposter accounts may post malicious links disguised as fake giveaways, promote investment scams or request money through direct messages, according to Aura , a cybersecurity company. Fake giveaways are used to harvest user data, steal personal information or spread malware. Terranova says genuine giveaways won’t ask for sensitive information and will always be conducted through a company’s official channels. These imposter accounts are usually new profiles. Their posts, messages and account information will often have poor grammar and spelling, the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs says. These accounts will also lack the official verification given to companies on most social media websites. Aura notes that scammers may also pose as celebrities and directly contact people to ask for money or claim they’re raising money for charities. Neither Taylor Swift nor any other celebrity will ever directly message random fans to ask for money. Phony money-making opportunities For some schemes, scammers don’t need to impersonate someone you already know. They can lure in victims by posting publicly about fake investment or job opportunities. Victims reported losing more money to investment scams than any other kind of social media scam in the first half of 2023, according to the FTC. Social media investment scams, which are often based around cryptocurrency, often promote the scammer’s own supposed success to lure people to investment websites or apps that turn out to be phony and leave victims empty-handed after they invest, the FTC said. Job offer scammers will usually promise their victims a good job, sometimes in the form of attractive work-from-home opportunities, but then require some kind of fee to actually secure the phony position, Wells Fargo and Terranova say. Legitimate employers, both online and off, will never ask you for a payment as a condition for employment, Terranova Security says. And you should generally be suspicious of anyone on social media who is asking for money or offering you money, Wells Fargo says. Romance scams Romance scams often start with a seemingly innocent friend request from a stranger, quickly followed by love bombing and eventually requests for money, according to the FTC. These scams often start on Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat. These kinds of scammers tend to profess their “love” for you unusually quickly and may even offer to move closer to you, Wells Fargo says. Treat any quick profession of love from an online stranger as a red flag, Terranova says. Wells Fargo says other common signs of this scam include poor or vague communication, flowery language and a small number of pictures and posts on the stranger’s account. You should avoid sending money to anyone you have only met online, Wells Fargo says. Malicious surveys and quizzes Personality quizzes and surveys are popular on social media, and are thus popular among scammers, too. These malicious quizzes might ask for permissions that give them access to your account or ask for personal details that can be used to steal your identity or financial information. “When you encounter a quiz or social media test that asks for unnecessary personal details or permissions, do not proceed,” Terranova Security says. Keeping yourself from being scammed There is no 100% foolproof way to avoid being targeted by scammers on social media, but there are ways to reduce the likelihood. Wells Fargo recommends setting your profiles to be private, so only people you know can see your information and posts. You should also restrict your contacts to people you know personally. Don’t accept random friend requests from strangers. If you can turn off messages from strangers or filter them, it’s a good idea to do that, too. The Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs recommends that you regularly review your accounts’ privacy settings so you can ensure your information is only visible to people you know and trust. It also recommends regularly changing your password and using two-factor authentication for logins.COLUMBIA — The chairman of the South Carolina Young Republicans will resign after showing nude images of himself to fellow party members. Joe Bowers, 33, was accused of showing the images to several women at official events this year in Tucson, Ariz., and San Diego. "I was stunned by this reckless and inappropriate behavior but initially hoped it was an isolated lapse in judgment," one of the women, Christen Norman, wrote in her complaint to other committee members. Norman is a Young Republican member who serves as third vice chair for the state party. SC school board races are often partisan, even if the ballot says otherwise Bowers admitted to showing an explicit image of himself but disputed the allegations. He told party members and a Post and Courier reporter that the sharing of images was consensual. Norman denied this. His defenders included Arizona Young Republicans national committeewoman Katie Ward, the daughter of indicted former Arizona Republican Party Chairwoman Kelli Ward. She wrote a letter to the S.C. Young Republicans asserting the images shown to her in Tucson took place during a private conversation at the back of a reception hall and were consensual. Young Republicans Chairman Joe Bowers "This was a discussion between consenting adults," wrote Ward. "The attempt to make it into something more is disgusting." On Dec. 4, Bowers told The Post and Courier that he was stepping down and would release a statement later. The Young Republicans is a national organization open to those ages 18 to 40 interested in advancing the party's politics. Bowers, who lives in Greenville, was once an active participant on the Lowcountry political scene and recently led an unsuccessful bid to lead the Charleston County Republican Party. Shortly after graduating high school, he ran for a town council seat in Awendaw in 2011. Two years later, he ran for mayor . He was unsuccessful in both bids. He eventually earned a seat on the Charleston County District 1 Constituent School Board. In 2015, the then 23-year-old suggested in a Facebook post there may be "more to this than meets the eye" after the arrest of a Goose Creek school principal for the sexual assault of a 16-year-old student, drawing widespread condemnation . The latest allegations come amid ongoing questions about Bowers' leadership and infighting over the party's finances and organization. One county Y-R chairman, Charleston's Garrett Lacy, left the organization this week — the culmination of a series of internal disputes with chapter leaders that led some former members to leave the organization entirely. Prominent Bluffton GOP activist was ruled in contempt of court. SC Supreme Court overturned decision. S.C. Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick was among those calling for Bowers' resignation. "The South Carolina Young Republicans is an outstanding organization, and its leadership at every level should reflect the values of our party," McKissick told The Post and Courier. "The reported behavior falls far short of that standard and current leadership should step aside so that the group can get back to the business of growing our party.” Political leaders aren't getting younger. South Carolina's young people hope to change that. The allegations had spurred a minor scandal within the Young Republican National Federation — the national organization for state chapters — ahead of its upcoming annual meeting in Charleston on Feb. 21.
Stock market today: Tech stocks and AI pull Wall Street to more recordsDeal on Elgin Marbles ‘still some distance’ away, says George Osborne
Apple puts a lot of effort into promoting accessibility with things like the hearing aid feature for AirPods Pro. This time, however, the company showed an example of how the iPhone’s Action Mode has been helping people with Parkinson’s in their routines. iPhone’s Action Mode has become an accessibility feature for people with Parkinson’s Apple’s latest campaign filmed in Brazil not only promotes Action Mode, but also shows how important the feature has become for those living with hand tremors from Parkinson’s disease. For those unfamiliar, Action Mode is a camera option available for iPhone 14 and later that significantly corrects shakes and vibrations when capturing video, making them super stable. While for some people Action Mode is just one of many camera features on the iPhone, for others it has become an important accessibility feature. The new videos promoted by Apple tell stories of people living with Parkinson’s and how the iPhone lets them film videos despite their shaking hands. One of these stories is about Rodrigo Mendes, who has been living with Parkinson’s since 2009 and still pursues his hobby of mountain climbing and hiking. “Climbing the mountain itself is already amazing, but capturing it is important too, right? The Action Mode on iPhone makes a huge difference because, imagine trying to film with your hand shaking like this, you know? [...] being able to capture an image on yout own in the end makes all the difference,” Mendes says in the video. Apple also shared the stories of other people living with Parkinson’s in its new campaign. In all the videos, the company shows the difference between filming with and without Action Mode. Mendes’ video was posted on Apple’s official Instagram account , and although it was recorded in Portuguese, the video has English subtitles. You can watch it below: More about Apple and accessibility Earlier this week, Apple’s global head of accessibility Sarah Herrlinger discussed in an interview how the company wants to make technology accessible to anyone. More recently, Apple released an update for the AirPods Pro 2 that turns them into hearing aids . The feature was promoted in this year’s Apple holiday ad . The company also often shares stories about people who have had their lives saved with the help of Apple devices and technologies such as Emergency SOS and irregular heart rhythm notifications from the Apple Watch. Read also: iPhone’s Emergency SOS via satellite feature ‘literally saved their lives,’ rescue team says after wildfire left hikers stranded Apple Watch owner credits device for saving his life with low heart rate feature Apple Watch praised for saving UK man’s life after wild 48 hours when heart stopped 138 times Apple Watch ECG feature saves pregnant woman and her babyNone
