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pag login sa ph365 com Fury as boss of Keir Starmer's 'viper's nest' union - the GMB - 'bullied and harassed' female staffers and even told one: 'We've got better lawyers than you' By IZZY LYONS and TOM KELLY Published: 17:00 EST, 24 November 2024 | Updated: 17:05 EST, 24 November 2024 e-mail View comments The head of Sir Keir Starmer ’s union is embroiled in allegations of harassing and bullying women. Former senior officials claim the GMB – one of Labour’s biggest backers which boasts the Prime Minister among its 500,000-plus members – is a ‘vipers’ nest’, and workers’ subs are ‘used like confetti’ to fight complaints. General secretary Gary Smith, who endorsed Sir Keir for PM, was allowed to run for the role despite four counts of bullying and harassment against a female union rep being upheld in their entirety by an internal GMB investigation in 2020. After securing the £148,000-a-year job, Mr Smith was secretly recorded warning a female employee ‘we’ve got better lawyers than you’ after she brought a sexual harassment claim against another official. Mr Smith admitted that the man the woman had complained about was ‘a scumbag who abused you’, but added: ‘Once you get into a fight with a big organisation, yep, we are going to come out swinging, and we’ve got better lawyers than you, and they’ll be more expensive. That’s just what happens. ‘You put a gun on the table... people just start shooting back.’ The woman signed a settlement agreement with a confidentiality clause before eventually leaving the union. ‘[They] crush anyone who tries to speak up,’ she said. The GMB says Mr Smith’s comments in the recording were taken out of context and that an independent barrister investigated the employee’s experience and found she was ‘politically motivated’ against Mr Smith. GMB head Gary Smith has been accused of harassing and bullying female staff members in the union Sir Keir Starmer with GMB general secretary Gary Smith at the Union's 2023 congress. Details of the PM's membership of the union emerged in the list of ministers' interests published this month Details of Sir Keir’s membership of the GMB emerged in the list of ministers’ interests published this month. It’s not clear why the former human rights lawyer joined the general industry union, but it is likely a nod to his late father’s factory job as a tool-maker. The GMB, which donates more than £1 million to Labour every year, is the UK’s third-biggest union with members from a wide range of industries, including the NHS, social care, retail, schools and local government. Many are in low-paid jobs. The Mail has spoken to numerous former and current GMB workers who likened the union to an ‘old men’s club’. Anne Chandler, an official who claimed she was forced out in 2022 after 25 years, said the GMB was ‘riddled with sexism’. Ms Chandler, 69, lodged a bullying complaint in 2021 against two male colleagues who hatched a ‘wholly inappropriate’ plan to sack her. Her complaint was upheld. The probe found that the two senior male figures told Ms Chandler’s new boss: ‘Your first job will be to sack Anne Chandler.’ In a letter to Ms Chandler, the regional GMB secretary who carried out the investigation admitted: ‘The fact that the two senior organisers are men seeking to influence a third male senior organiser against a woman officer colleague is deeply concerning.’ The two men were disciplined but remain working in the GMB. Ms Chandler said she felt like she had no option but to retire five years earlier than planned, adding: ‘In the end, the pressure became so bad... I just bit the bullet and said, I can’t do this any more. The whole process of the bullying was dreadful, and I’ve witnessed bullying and harassment throughout the organisation.’ Anne Chandler, 69, an official who claimed she was forced out in 2022 after 25 years, said the GMB was ‘riddled with sexism’ A GMB union stand set up during industrial action outside an Amazon warehouse in Coventry in March A female rep in the GMB, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of repercussions, said the union was full of ‘scared people’ who were ‘frightened of being suspended if they say anything’. Another, who has worked in the union movement for three decades, said: ‘The amount of fear from people is just horrible.’ Our shocking exposé comes after a damning 2020 report into the GMB concluded that ‘bullying, misogyny, cronyism, and sexual harassment were endemic’, and branded the union ‘institutionally sexist’. Karon Monaghan KC’s investigation found the GMB was a ‘hostile environment’ for women and said a ‘complete transformation’ in culture and practices was required. When Mr Smith was elected general secretary in 2021, he promised to implement the recommendations of the Monaghan Report in full and was even described as its ‘moral compass’. But members say the situation is worse under him. Paul Maloney, a former regional secretary who worked for the union for 40 years, hit out at Labour’s close affiliation with the GMB. He said: ‘It’s not very ethical that [Labour] are saying we stand for what’s right, and yet we take money from an organisation that will keep doing wrong from within and punishing women.’ A current female rep criticised the use of expensive lawyers such as top firm Carter-Ruck. ‘My members are paying for that,’ she said. ‘They are cleaners and low-paid workers – why should they be paying for Carter-Ruck?’ A spokesman for the GMB said: ‘We categorically deny claims of a bullying culture and do not recognise our union in the accounts of these former members of staff. ‘We now have clear, comprehensive and transparent procedures to fully investigate and effectively deal with any allegation of bullying, sexism or harassment. ‘We do not use non-disclosure agreements and staff leaving the organisation are asked to sign standard settlement agreements, similar to those used by virtually every organisation across the public and private sectors. ‘It is untrue to suggest Anne Chandler was compelled to leave GMB after she chose to retire two years ago. She voluntarily chose to withdraw complaints raised at an Employment Tribunal and has taken no further action.’ Mr Smith and the Labour Party were approached for comment but did not respond. Labour Keir Starmer Share or comment on this article: Fury as boss of Keir Starmer's 'viper's nest' union - the GMB - 'bullied and harassed' female staffers and even told one: 'We've got better lawyers than you' e-mail Add commentAbstract Security Joins Forces with Analytica42 to Supercharge Integration Delivery including integration to Google SecOps Platform

Nov 27 (Reuters) - Bitcoin rose 5.05% to $96,286 at 2130 GMT on Wednesday, adding $4,633 to its previous close. Bitcoin, the world's biggest and best-known cryptocurrency, is up 150.3% from the year's low of $38,505 on Jan. 23. Sign up here. Reporting by Disha Mishra in BengaluruEditing by Chris Reese Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab

No one has right to break law: BJP on Sambhal violence

Polls close in Uruguay’s election, with ruling coalition and opposition headed for photo finishElon Musk, the billionaire businessman and owner of X (previously Twitter), delighted social media enthusiasts with a lighthearted online avatar. Musk, who is frequently praised for his unorthodox sense of humor and innovative endeavors, embraced his quirkiness by fusing technology, comedy, and imagination in a string of widely shared postings. Irony Man Takes FlightMusk shared an image of himself in an Iron Man suit, humorously proclaiming his fictional ability to wield the "power of irony" against villains. In a caption accompanying the image, Musk joked, "Oh, you call yourself 'The Joker'? Then why can't you tell a joke? How ironic." Millions of people viewed the X post, which immediately became popular and sparked debates among both supporters and detractors. Musk's picture of a high-tech rescuer and his take on heroic rivalry resonated with his supporters, as NDTV noted. Hints at Media Acquisitions Musk seemed to address rumors that he was considering buying MSNBC, a well-known news network in the United States, in a different article. Donald Trump Jr.'s joke, in which he suggested Musk purchase the network after rumors circulated that its parent firm, Comcast, would sell it, sparked this conjecture. Musk's enigmatic remark sparked discussions about his increasing control over media narratives. Claims of Supernatural OriginsAdding to the intrigue, Musk engaged with a humorous claim about his alien origins. An account called DogeDesigner speculated that Musk might be a "time-traveling vampire alien" building SpaceX's Starship to return home. Musk amplified the tweet with a cryptic reply: "I mean ... yeah ofc." This recalled rumors from 2020, when Musk made fun of the fact that he was "a 3000-year-old vampire," a reference to Twilight's Edward Cullen. According to NDTV, Musk said he has taken on several identities throughout the ages in order to keep his secrets. Musk as a ‘Man from the Future’Musk has a long history of making such assertions. Due of his apparently endless productivity, a former CEO of Twitter made a joke in 2017 that Musk might be able to travel back in time. "He seems to have more hours in a day than anyone else," the CEO reportedly told NDTV. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US Buzz, World and around the world.

NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Alyssa Ustby and Lexi Donarski scored 14 points apiece, and Ustby added 14 rebounds to lead No. 16 North Carolina to a 53-36 victory over Villanova in a semifinal game at the Women's Battle 4 Atlantis on Sunday. The Tar Heels (5-1) play Indiana in the championship game on Monday. The Hoosiers upset No. 18 Baylor 73-65 in Sunday's first semifinal. Ustby made 6 of 8 shots from the floor with a 3-pointer for North Carolina on the way to her first double-double of the season. Donarski hit 6 of 10 shots with a pair of 3-pointers. Maddie Webber led the Wildcats (4-2) with 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting from beyond the arc. Lara Edmanson pitched in with 11 points and seven rebounds. The Tar Heels held Villonova's leading scorer Jasmine Bascoe to two points after she came in averaging 16.6 per game. Bascoe missed all seven of her shots — three from distance — and made 2 of 4 at the free-throw line. Ustby had seven points and Donarski scored five to guide the Tar Heels to a 17-7 lead after one quarter. Donarski scored five more in the third quarter to help North Carolina turn a 30-18 lead at halftime into a 44-23 advantage heading to the final period. North Carolina shot 40% from the floor, made 5 of 17 from beyond the arc (29.4%) and 4 of 6 at the foul line. Villanova shot 23.5% overall but made 5 of 18 from distance (27.8%) and 7 of 10 free throws. The Tar Heels scored 15 points off of 21 Villanova turnovers. They turned it over 14 times but it led to only three points for the Wildcats. North Carolina outscored Villanova 30-14 in the paint and never trailed. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketballNone

Is Ritchie running? Bronx Congress member Torres slams Hochul online, calling for Democratic challenger to governor in 2026

Vice President Sara Duterte on late Sunday night, Nov. 24, called on Filipinos to demand accountability and “genuine public service” from the government. Vice President Sara Duterte (OVP photo) Speaking during a livestream on Facebook, wherein she also thanked her supporters for protecting Office of the Vice President (OVP) Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, her chief-of-staff, and other OVP personnel, the official reminded the public of their right to gather and express themselves. “Gusto ko lang paalala sa ating mga kababayan na ayaw natin ng kaguluhan, na tayo ay may karapatan sa peaceful assembly at tayo ay may karapatan na magsalita kung ano ‘yung nararamdaman natin at gusto nating makita mula sa ating gobyerno (I’d just like to demand my fellowmen that we do not like violence, that we have a right to peaceful assembly and we have the right to express our misgivings and what we want to see from the government),” she said. “Kaya mga kababayan, paniguraduhin nyo na hinihingi ninyo sa gobyerno kung ano iyong karapat-dapat para sa ating lahat. Hindi lang karapat-dapat para sa mga pulitiko at mayayaman (That’s why to my fellowmen, make sure you are demanding what are rightfully ours from the government. Not only what’s right for the politicians and the rich),” Duterte added. The Vice President made this call after former presidential spokesperson and lawyer Harry Roque called on Filipinos to troop to Edsa as a show of force against the Marcos administration. Roque himself has been in hiding as he’s the subject of the House quad committee inquiry into his links to the alleged illegal activities of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country. Duterte, whose father called rallyists “communists” and shut down a television station and filed cases against an online news site, said that Filipinos’ right to peaceful assembly is enshrined under their rights to freedom of speech. “Ang gusto natin makita ay (We want to see) genuine public service,” she added. The official earlier held a pre-dawn Zoom press conference wherein she threatened to have the First Couple and House Speaker Martin Romualdez assassinated if she herself gets killed. This prompted some critics to hint at her mental instability. Some also said that she should seek professional help. But Duterte stressed that she is amenable to take a neuro psychiatric test and a drug test, provided that everyone in the Office of the President, OVP, the House of Representatives, Senate, and government agencies take the same tests in front of the public. “Wala na kayong mapuna sa akin. Pinagtatakpan ninyo ang mga kakulangan ng pamahalaan (You have nothing else to throw at me. You are covering up the shortcomings of the government),” she said. “Ako ang ginagawa ninyo punching bag para hindi napapansin, nakikita, naririnig, ng mga tao ang kalokohan, korapsyon, at ang katiwalian na ginagawa sa gobyerno (You are turning me into a punching bag to cover up what the people see and hear about corruption and anomalies happening in government),” she added. The Vice President has been staying at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) since Lopez, her aide, was brought there after falling ill and collapsing when the House good government committee ordered her transfer from the House detention facility to the Women’s Correctional Facility in Mandaluyong City. This was after Duterte camped at her brother’s office at the Batasang Pambansa complex to be close to Lopez, who was detained on Nov. 21 for “due interference” when she admitted to the House committee that she asked the Commission on Audit (COA) not to heed the panel’s subpoena for the OVP’s audit reports on its confidential funds use. Duterte’s supporters have camped outside the Veterans hospital, while Senators Bato Dela Rosa, Bong Go, Imee Marcos, Sagip Partylist Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, and other Duterte allies also visited Lopez.

Who won’t be CM

Mike McDaniel stepped in to keep Dolphins from trading veteran DT Calais Campbell to RavensCardi B Reveals She Went On A Massive Shopping Spree After Divorce From Offset"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.

Two arrested for allegedly flying drone ‘dangerously close’ to Boston airportThe standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.Chargers are expected to be without top RB Dobbins and could lean on QB Herbert against Falcons

Collingwood will head into next season with 10 players on their list over 30 – two more than any other team, and with Scott Pendlebury leading the age bracket at 37. When the Pies won the flag in 2023, the team contained eight players over 30; the 2024 premiership Lions had six players aged above 30 and Geelong defied the critics to win the flag in 2022 with seven players aged above 30. The ultra-consistent Magpie Jack Crisp shows no signs of slowing down as he charges into his 30s. Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images But three of this year’s preliminary finalists – Geelong, the Lions and the Sydney – are the only other teams to have more than six players aged above 30 on their list. Premiership midfielder Jack Crisp, one of the 10 over-30s in Collingwood’s team, says age is just a number. At 31, the dual best and fairest winner is the ninth-oldest player on the Magpies list as the club goes all in with their veterans to win next year’s flag after injury and form derailed this year’s campaign. Though he’s over 30, Crisp is hardly a concern. He has not missed a game in 10 seasons at the Magpies to draw his consecutive games tally to 237. He is now just seven games shy of the league record, held by Melbourne legend Jim Stynes who played 244 consecutive games from 1987-1998. He finished fourth in the club best and fairest in 2024 and could break Stynes’ record against Geelong in round eight. The midfielder was speaking at Kingston Heath, where he played on Sunday ahead of the Australian Open that starts on Thursday. “Times have changed now. Blokes are really professional and look after their body and if they can keep playing at the high level, why do they have to retire?” Crisp said. It’s the question the Magpies have had to ponder as they chased Port Adelaide’s All-Australian defender Dan Houston in the trade period, giving up a first-round pick from this year and the next year in the process. The club also added the Giants’ Harry Perryman as a free agent and veteran Saints forward Tim Membrey as a delisted free agent. Their first selection in this year’s draft was pick 47 , which they used on Sydney academy graduate Joel Cochran. Crisp said he was looking forward to several younger players on the list making their way into the team next season and cementing a spot. Ed Allan was impressive in the final round last season while Tew Jiath, Harry DeMattia, Jakob Ryan and Harvey Harrison will be looking to edge out their more experienced teammates for a spot in the line-up. “No doubt they’ll continue their development over the pre-season and probably get some looks early,” Crisp said. He finished just ahead of champion midfielder Scott Pendlebury (fifth) and his All-Australian sidekick Steele Sidebottom (sixth) to be one of the three 30-pluses to finish top 10 in the club best and fairest. Crisp said he was very optimistic the Pies could regain the form that helped them to a one-point preliminary final loss in 2022, coach Craig McRae’s first year in charge, and then become premiers in 2023 after winning a tight grand final against the Lions. Only Nathan Murphy (retired) and Jack Ginnivan (Hawthorn) are missing from their 2023 premiership team. “Last year [2024 season] we had a fair few things go wrong, particularly with injuries. We had makeshift midfields and forward lines and we didn’t really have a set team all year,” Crisp said. “If all goes to plan this year and we don’t have any injuries ... we bought in some good players, Harry Perryman and Dan Houston, to help lighten the load on a few blokes in different roles. “We’ve got what it takes. It’s just about making sure we play consistent football.” The absence of experienced football manager Graham Wright through 2024 unsettled the Collingwood football department as people were asked to step into unfamiliar roles. The Magpies are yet to appoint a football manager to replace Wright, who has since joined Carlton as their CEO elect , but are expected to do so soon. Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter .Pam Bondi, Donald Trump's pick to be attorney general, is a staunch ally of the former president, defending him against impeachment during his first term and pushing his false claims of election fraud as he sought to cling on to the White House. The 59-year-old former Florida attorney general, if confirmed by the Senate, will now serve as the top law enforcement official in a second Trump administration. "For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans -- Not anymore," Trump wrote on his Truth Social network. "Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again." Bondi's nomination means the top ranks of the Justice Department will be filled by Trump loyalists, as the president-elect has named three of the lawyers who defended him in his multiple criminal cases to its other high-ranking roles. Trump tapped Bondi to be attorney general on Thursday after his first pick, firebrand ex-Florida lawmaker Matt Gaetz, dropped out amid sexual misconduct allegations and doubts that he could obtain Senate confirmation. A graduate of the University of Florida with a law degree from Stetson University, Bondi served as a prosecutor for 18 years before being elected attorney general of the "Sunshine State" in 2010, the first woman to hold the post. Bondi, a native of Trump's adopted home state of Florida, was reelected to a second term in 2014. As attorney general, Bondi notably fought opioid addiction and human trafficking while taking a tough stance on crime and supporting the death penalty. She sued BP for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and obtained more than $2 billion in economic relief for Florida, according to her biography page at Ballard Partners, a powerful lobbying firm where she has worked after leaving office. While serving as attorney general, Bondi was drawn into a controversy involving Trump when she declined in 2013 to join a multi-state prosecution accusing Trump University of fraud. It emerged later that Bondi's reelection committee had received a $25,000 donation from the charitable Trump Foundation. Both Trump and Bondi denied any wrongdoing. Bondi joined Trump's legal team during his first impeachment trial, in which he was alleged to have pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to find political dirt on his 2020 election opponent, Democrat Joe Biden. Trump was impeached by the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives but acquitted by the Republican-majority Senate. After the 2020 election, Bondi made television appearances on behalf of Trump and pushed to de-legitimize vote counting in battleground states as part of the push by the former president to overturn the results of the vote. Bondi has also criticized the criminal cases brought against Trump, appearing in solidarity at his New York trial, where he was convicted of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to a porn star. At Ballard Partners, Bondi has done work for Amazon, General Motors and Uber and as a registered lobbyist for the oil-rich Gulf nation of Qatar, according to press reports. She is also a member of the America First Policy Institute, a Trump-aligned right-wing think tank. cl/dw

Article content Scottie Barnes is back. Recommended Videos The top Toronto Raptors player was back in the lineup for Thursday’s home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Barnes had missed 11 games with a fractured right orbital bone suffered during a scramble for a rebound with Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic but looked “really good” after his first full contact practice since the injury on Wednesday, according to Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic. Rajakovic started his pre-game media availability Thursday with a smile and a prediction: “I know the first question.” Rajakovic then simply said “yes,” but everyone knew he was referring to whether or not Barnes would play. Barnes, an all-star for the first time last season, before being shut down in March due to a hand injury, has averaged 19.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists in his four appearances, including a win over Philadelphia. Toronto went 2-9 without Barnes. With the Wolves game, four of his five appearances so far this season have come at home. “My eye is pretty good. It’s a little red, but that don’t mean nothing. It feels good,” Barnes had said at practice. The Raptors also planned to welcome back rookie wing Ja’Kobe Walter, who had missed the previous six games after re-aggravating the shoulder injury that cost him training camp and the first five games of the year. The team continues to be without starting point guard Immanuel Quickley and veterans Bruce Brown and Kelly Olynyk, amongst others.Number of women who are state lawmakers inches up to a record high

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