MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Uruguayans on Sunday voted in the second round of the country's presidential election , with the conservative governing party and the left-leaning coalition locked in a close runoff after failing to win an outright majority in last month’s vote . The closing of polls started a countdown to the announcement of official results as independent polling firms were preparing to release so-called quick counts. Depending on how tight the vote turns out to be, electoral officials may not call the race for days — as happened in the contentious 2019 runoff that brought center-right President Luis Lacalle Pou to office and ended 15 years of rule by Uruguay’s left-leaning Broad Front. Uruguay's staid election has turned into a hard-fought race between Álvaro Delgado, the incumbent party’s candidate who won 27% in the first round of voting on Oct. 27, and Yamandú Orsi from the Broad Front, who took 44% of the vote in the first round. But other conservative parties that make up the government coalition — in particular, the Colorado Party — notched 20% of the vote collectively, enough to give Delgado an edge over his challenger. Congress ended up evenly split in the October vote. Most polls have shown a virtual tie between Delgado and Orsi, with nearly 10% of Uruguayan voters undecided even at this late stage. Many said they believed turnout would be low if voting weren't compulsory in the country. “Neither candidate convinced me and I feel that there are many in my same situation," said Vanesa Gelezoglo, 31, in the capital, Montevideo, adding she would make up her mind at “the last minute.” Analysts say the candidates' lackluster campaigns and broad consensus on key issues have generated extraordinary indecision and apathy in an election dominated by discussions about social spending and concerns over income inequality but largely free of the anti-establishment rage that has vaulted populist outsiders to power elsewhere . “The question of whether Frente Amplio (the Broad Front) raises taxes is not an existential question, unlike what we saw in the U.S. with Trump and Kamala framing each other as threats to democracy," said Nicolás Saldías, a Latin America and Caribbean senior analyst for the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit. “That doesn't exist in Uruguay.” Both candidates are also appealing to voter angst over a surge in violent crime that has shaken a nation long regarded as one of the region’s safest, with Delgado promising tough-on-crime policies and Orsi advocating a more community-oriented approach. Delgado, 55, a rural veterinarian with a long career in the National Party, campaigned on a vow to continue the legacy of current President Lacalle Pou — in some ways making the election into a referendum on his leadership. He campaigned under the slogan “re-elect a good government." While a string of corruption scandals rattled Lacalle Pou's government last year, the president — who constitutionally cannot run for a second consecutive term — now enjoys high approval ratings and a strong economy expected to grow 3.2% this year, according to the International Monetary Fund. Inflation has also eased in recent months, boosting his coalition. Delgado served most recently as Secretary of the Presidency for Lacalle Pou and promises to pursue his predecessor's pro-business policies. He would continue pushing for a trade deal with China that has raised hackles in Mercosur, an alliance of South American countries promoting regional commerce. "We have to give the government coalition a chance to consolidate its proposals,” said Ramiro Pérez, a street vendor voting for Delgado on Sunday. Orsi, 57, a former history teacher and two-time mayor from a working-class background, is widely seen as the political heir to iconic former President José “Pepe” Mujica , an ex-Marxist guerilla who raised Uruguay's international profile as one of the region's most socially liberal and environmentally sustainable nations during his 2010-2015 term. His Broad Front coalition oversaw the legalization of abortion, same-sex marriage and the sale of marijuana in the small South American nation of 3.4 million people. “He's my candidate, not only for my sake but also for my children's,” Yeny Varone, a nurse, said of Orsi. “In the future they'll have better working conditions, health and salaries.” Mujica, now 89 and recovering from esophageal cancer , was among the first to cast his ballot after polls opened. “Uruguay is a small country, but it has earned recognition for being stable, for having a citizenry that respects institutional formalities,” he told reporters from his local polling station. “This is no small feat.” While promising to forge a “new left” in Uruguay, Orsi plans no dramatic changes. He proposes tax incentives to lure investment and social security reforms that would lower the retirement age but fall short of a radical overhaul sought by Uruguay's unions. The contentious plebiscite on whether to boost pension payouts failed to pass in October, with Uruguayans rejecting generous pensions in favor of fiscal constraint. Both candidates pledged full cooperation with each other if elected. “I want (Orsi) to know that my idea is to form a government of national unity,” Delgado told reporters after casting his vote in the capital's upscale Pocitos neighborhood. He said that if he won, he and Orsi would chat on Monday over some yerba mate, the traditional herbal drink beloved by Uruguayans. Orsi similarly pledged a smooth and respectful transition of power, describing Sunday's democratic exercise as “an incredible experience" as he voted in Canelones, the sprawling town of beaches and cattle ranches just north of Montevideo where he served as mayor for a decade. “The essence of politics is agreements,” he said. “You never end up completely satisfied.” Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre in Villa Tunari, Bolivia, contributed to this report.
Romania presidential elections 2024: Huge shock in the first round as partial results show nationalist independent candidate Calin Georgescu in frontNone
Zoë Modiga and the politics of love
Israel cracks down on Palestinian citizens who speak out against the war in Gaza UMM AL-FAHM, Israel (AP) — In the year since the war in Gaza broke out, Israel's government has been cracking down on dissent among its Palestinian citizens. Authorities have charged Palestinians with “supporting terrorism” because of posts online or for demonstrating against the war. Activists and rights watchdogs say Palestinians have also lost jobs, been suspended from schools and faced police interrogations. Palestinians make up about 20% of Israel's population. Many feel forced to self-censor out of fear of being jailed and further marginalized in society. Others still find ways to dissent, but carefully. Israel's National Security Ministry counters that, “Freedom of speech is not the freedom to incite.” Israel says rabbi who went missing in the UAE was killed TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel says the body of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who went missing in the United Arab Emirates has been found, citing Emirati authorities. The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Sunday said Zvi Kogan was killed, calling it a “heinous antisemitic terror incident.” It said: “The state of Israel will act with all means to seek justice with the criminals responsible for his death." Kogan went missing on Thursday, and there were suspicions he had been kidnapped. His disappearance comes as Iran has been threatening to retaliate against Israel after the two countries traded fire in October. Israeli strike kills Lebanese soldier and wounds 18 as Hezbollah fires rockets at Israel BEIRUT (AP) — An Israeli strike on a Lebanese army center has killed one soldier and wounded 18 others. The Hezbollah militant group meanwhile fired around 160 rockets and other projectiles into northern and central Israel on Sunday, wounding at least five people. Israeli strikes have killed over 40 Lebanese troops since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah, even as Lebanon's military has largely kept to the sidelines. The Israeli military expressed regret over the strike, saying it occurred in an area of ongoing combat operations against Hezbollah. It said it does not target the Lebanese armed forces and that the strike is under review. The rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump's promises on growth and inflation WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has big plans for the economy. He also has big debt problem that'll be a hurdle to delivering on those plan. Trump has bold ambitions on tax cuts, tariffs and other programs. But high interest rates and the price of repaying the federal government’s existing debt could limit what he’s able to do. The federal debt stands at roughly $36 trillion, and the spike in inflation after the pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will easily exceed spending on national security. After Trump's Project 2025 denials, he is tapping its authors and influencers for key roles WASHINGTON (AP) — During the campaign, President-elect Donald Trump had hailed what would become Project 2025 as a conservative roadmap for “exactly what our movement will do." Trump pulled an about-face when Project 2025 became a political liability. He denied knowing anything about the “ridiculous and abysmal” plans, even though some were written by his former aides and many allies. Now, after winning the 2024 election, Trump is stocking his second administration with key players in the effort he temporarily shunned. Trump has tapped Russell Vought for an encore as director of the Office of Management and Budget; Tom Homan, his former immigration chief, as “border czar;” and immigration hardliner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of policy. Forecasts warn of possible winter storms across US during Thanksgiving week WINDSOR, Calif. (AP) — Forecasters in the U.S. have warned of another round of winter weather that could complicate travel leading up to Thanksgiving. California is bracing for more snow and rain this weekend while still grappling with some flooding and small landslides from a previous storm. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for California's Sierra Nevada through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at high elevations. Thousands remained without power in the Seattle area on Saturday after a “bomb cyclone” storm system hit the West Coast earlier in the week, killing two people. Parts of the Northeast and Appalachia also began the weekend with heavy precipitation. Pakistan partially stops mobile and internet services ahead of pro-Imran Khan protest ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan has suspended mobile and internet services “in areas with security concerns” as supporters of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan gear up for a protest in the capital. The government and Interior Ministry made the announcement on X, which is banned in Pakistan. Sunday's protest is to demand Khan's release. He has been in prison for more than a year but remains popular. His supporters rely heavily on social media and messaging apps to coordinate with each other. Pakistan has already sealed off Islamabad and shut down major roads and highways connecting the city with Khan's power bases. Here's what to know about the new funding deal that countries agreed to at UN climate talks BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — In the wee hours Sunday at the United Nations climate talks, countries from around the world reached an agreement on how rich countries can cough up the funds to support poor countries in the face of climate change. But it’s a far-from-perfect arrangement, with many parties still unsatisfied but hopeful that the deal will be a step in the right direction. Japan holds Sado mines memorial despite South Korean boycott amid lingering historical tensions SADO, Japan (AP) — Japan has held a memorial ceremony near the Sado Island Gold Mines despite a last-minute boycott of the event by South Korea that highlighted tensions between the neighbors over the brutal wartime use of Korean laborers. South Korea’s absence at Sunday’s memorial, to which Seoul government officials and Korean victims’ families were invited, is a major setback in the rapidly improving ties between the countries. The Sado mines were listed in July as a UNESCO World Heritage Site after Japan moved past years of disputes with South Korea and reluctantly acknowledged the mines’ dark history. Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of 'Love Connection' and 'Scrabble,' dies at 83 NEW YORK (AP) — Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19, has died. He was 83. Mark Young, Woolery’s podcast co-host and friend, said in an email early Sunday that Woolery died at his home in Texas with his wife, Kristen, present. Woolery, with his matinee idol looks, coiffed hair and ease with witty banter, was inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in 2007 and earned a daytime Emmy nomination in 1978. He teamed up with Young for the podcast “Blunt Force Truth” and became a full supporter Donald Trump.Assad in Moscow? Russia refuses to confirm reportsDrBalcony App Redefines Balcony Inspections with Unparalleled Efficiency
Greater Manchester Police accused of 'heavy-handed' dispersal response - BBC
Guwahati: Assam celebrated the 402nd birth anniversary of medieval-era Ahom military commander Lachit Barphukan on Sunday and paid tribute to the general who defeated the Mughals in the Battle of Saraighat around 350 years back in 1671. Barphukan’s legacy extends far beyond his military prowess, symbolising Assam’s history of resisting foreign invasions. IPL 2025 mega auction IPL Auction 2025: Who got whom IPL 2025 Auction: Updated Full Team Squads People across the state paid respect to the hero on the occasion of Lachit Diwas . In Guwahati, members of Lachit Sena took a boat ride from Kajali Chowki in Chandrapur, where the commander set up his first military base during the Battle of Saraighat, to Lachit Ghat, where a large statue of Barphukan now stands, to remember his heroic endeavour. “Lachit fought with great valour and demonstrated great maritime warfare skills. While paying tribute to him, we must remember his military strategy and naval tactics that led to Mughal’s defeat. Along with Lachit, the others in his army also deserve remembrance on this day,” a Lachit Sena member said at the ghat. Locals also paid tribute to the general in Jorhat district’s Hollongapar, where his maidam (burial tomb) is situated. In March this year, PM Modi unveiled a 125-foot statue — The Statue of Valour — of the medieval-era Ahom military commander at Hollongapar. In a video message on Facebook, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma urged the people of Assam to keep Lachit Barphukan’s photo as the display pictures on their social media accounts. Sarma, along with his cabinet colleagues, including education minister Ranoj Pegu and housing and urban affairs minister Ashok Singhal on Sunday changed their display pictures as a mark of respect to Barphukan. “On the occasion of the 402nd birth anniversary of the great Ahom general, we will again remember his courage, determination and patriotism. On the 400th birth anniversary of the general, the Assam govt took the initiative to disseminate tales of his bravery from Assam to across the country. Lachit Barphukan exemplified courage, determination and patriotism. His heroic tales of bravery reverberate across every household in Assam and beyond. His acts represent the valour and determination of Assamese people,” CM Sarma said in the post. We also published the following articles recently Assam marks 402nd birth anniv of military commander Lachit Barphukan Assam commemorated the 402nd birth anniversary of Lachit Barphukan, the legendary Ahom general who vanquished the Mughals in the Battle of Saraighat. From boat rallies to tributes at his memorial, the state celebrated his military acumen and unwavering courage. Cachar pays tribute to Ahom legend Borphukan on his birth anniv Silchar paid tribute to the legendary Ahom General Bir Lachit Borphukan on his birth anniversary. District officials and community members gathered to honor Borphukan's valor and leadership in defending Assam from Mughal invasions. The celebration served as a reminder of his enduring legacy of courage, strategic brilliance, and unwavering commitment to protecting Assam's sovereignty. Mimi Chakraborty remembers her dog Chickoo Senior on his birth anniversary Indian actress Mimi Chakraborty paid a moving tribute to her late dog, Chickoo Senior, on his birth anniversary. She visited his gravesite, where a touching inscription expresses her enduring love. Chakraborty shared her grief on social media, posting a video montage of cherished memories and expressing the enduring pain of his loss.None
MARANA, Ariz. (KGUN) — A new air traffic control tower was supposed to be completed at Marana Regional Airport by the end of this year, but delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic extended the project’s deadline to 2029. KGUN 9's Marana reporter Madison Thomas will be LIVE in Marana this evening, bringing you this story and more news from the town in our 5 & 6 p.m. newscasts. Watch as KGUN 9 continues our news from neighborhoods near you. Public Works, Capital Improvement Division Project Manager, Greg Sendlak says with the diversity of air traffic at the airport, the control tower will help increase order and safety. “There’s more activity out here than what meets the eye,” Sendlak said. He says that’s why the control tower has been a priority for the town and council. In December 2019, the airport was accepted into the FAA’s Federal Contract Tower Program . The program allows for up to five years to complete a sighting study, environmental assessment, then design and construct a tower. However, the project was brought to a halt once the pandemic hit. “We were already 18 months behind,” Sendlak said. So now we’re in the middle of our environmental assessment. We still have to complete it, then the design, construct. There’s no way that we’re going to make a deadline of Dec. of this year, of 2024.” So after reapplying to the program, the airport was accepted back in this past March, which opened a new five-year window. “Now we’re ahead of the game, actually,” Sendlack said. “Our sighting study is complete, our environmental assessment will be complete next year and we’ll be able to start design.” Sendlak says the entire cost of the project will be $17-18 million dollars. He says the federal government will cover 91.06% of the cost, the State Transportation Aviation Division will cover 4.47% and the town will cover the rest. —— Madison Thomas joined KGUN 9 in July of 2023 as a multimedia journalist . She graduated from Arizona State University in May of 2023 with a degree in journalism and mass communication. She has lived in Arizona her entire life and grew up in Douglas. Madison is thrilled to share the stories from the community she grew up in. Share your story ideas and important issues with Madison by emailing madison.thomas@kgun9.com or by connecting on Instagram , Twitter or Facebook .
Pendle: Police launch anti-social behaviour crackdown
Enfusion stock hits 52-week high at $10.4 amid growth optimismSAN FRANCISCO — Google on Wednesday unleashed another wave of artificial intelligence designed to tackle more of the work and thinking done by humans as it tries to stay on the technology’s cutting edge while also trying to fend off regulatory threats to its empire. The next generation of Google’s AI is being packaged under the Gemini umbrella, which was unveiled a year ago . Google is framing its release of Gemini 2.0 as a springboard for AI agents built to interpret images shown through a smartphone, perform a variety of tedious chores, remember the conversations consumers have with people, help video game players plot strategy and even tackle the task of doing online searches. In a blog post , Google CEO Sundar Pichai predicted the technology contained in Gemini 2.0 will “understand more about the world around you, think multiple steps ahead and take action on your behalf, with your supervision.” It’s a similar goal being pursued by hard-charging rivals such as OpenAI, with its chatGPT technology, and industry powerhouse such as Microsoft with a variety of similar tools on its Windows software. A lot of Google’s latest AI technology will initially be confined to test groups and subscribers who pay $20 per month for Gemini Advanced, but some features will be made available through its search engine and mobile apps. Google is planning wider releases next year that will include the technology popping up in its smorgasbord of free products, including its Chrome browser, digital maps and YouTube. Besides trying to outshine OpenAI and other ambitious startups, Google is also trying to stay a step ahead of Apple as that trendsetting company begins to blend AI into its latest iPhones and other devices. After releasing a software update enabling the first bundle of the iPhone’s “Apple Intelligence” features that spruced up the device’s Siri assistant, another batch of the AI technology came out with a free software update that was also released Wednesday. Google is pushing forward with its latest AI advances even as the U.S. Justice Department is trying to break up the Mountain View, California, company to prevent further abusive practices by its dominant search engine, which was declared an illegal monopoly by a federal judge earlier this year as part of a landmark antitrust case. Among other things, Gemini 2.0 is supposed to improve the AI overviews that Google began highlighting in its search results over its traditional listing of the most pertinent links to websites earlier this year in response to AI-powered “answer engines” such as Perplexity. After the AI overviews initially produced some goofy suggestions, including putting glue on pizza , Google refined the technology to minimize such missteps. Now, company executives are promising things are going to get even better with Gemini 2.0, which Pichai said will be able to engage in more human-like reasoning while solving more advanced math problems and even churn out some computer code. The improvements to AI Overviews will initially only appear to a test audience before a wider release next year. The technological upgrade is also supposed to infuse a still-experimental universal AI agent dubbed “Project Astra,” with even more smarts and versatility, enabling people to have more meaningful and helpful conversations with the technology. In a show of confidence, Google said it will expand the number of people testing Project Astra without providing any specifics of the group’s size. As part of Gemini 2.0, Google is also going to begin testing an extension to Chrome called “Project Mariner,” which can be turned on to do online searches and sift through the results so people don’t won’t have to bother. If the U.S. Department of Justice gets its way, Google will be forced to sell or spin off Chrome as part of its punishment for deploying its search engine in ways that stifled competition and potential innovation. Google has ridiculed the Justice Department’s proposal as “overly broad” and vowed to resist any attempt to break up the company during federal court hearings scheduled to begin in Washington D.C. next spring. Even if those proceedings culminate in a court order mandating a breakup, Google could still appeal in a process that could take years to resolve while it continues its AI expansion. “I can’t wait to see what this next era brings,” Pichai wrote in his blog post, signaling the company doesn’t believe it will be deterred by regulators.Companies like Amazon ( AMZN ) don’t become companies like Amazon without masterful innovation. Currently the world’s second-largest company by revenues ($575 billion to be exact), Amazon has been particularly adept at getting its customers the products they want faster than anyone else. The sheer breadth and availability of its inventory, along with the ease and speed of its delivery service, has enabled Amazon Prime to transform the way consumers shop. 💰💸 Don’t miss the move: SIGN UP for TheStreet’s FREE Daily newsletter 💰💸 Think about it. Before 2005, when Prime was launched, next-day delivery for e-commerce purchases was an almost unheard-of phenomenon, and even if a company could facilitate it, they would charge an arm and a leg to do it. Today, Amazon Prime counts 200 million subscribers on its “free” next-day delivery platform, so it’s safe to say that consumers are not only used to it — they’re addicted to it. What is the “Amazon Effect?” A term has even been coined to describe the Seattle-based retailer’s impact on modern society: The Amazon Effect. Because Amazon offers such low prices with such wide selection and so much convenience, many customers now do all of their shopping entirely online, choosing Amazon as their main department store, electronics center, grocery store, and even their pharmacy — unfortunately putting many mom-and-pop retailers out of business in the process. Powering Amazon forward are its technological advancements, like robots that lift and carry products to employees in fulfillment centers, thus streamlining the packing process, among other efficiencies. Similarly, Amazon has transformed the global supply network through an innovative infrastructure of warehouses, distribution facilities, and fulfillment centers that can deliver an endless variety of products the very same day that an order is placed. This has allowed Amazon to command nearly 40% of the e-commerce market in the U.S. — and it’s not quite done innovating yet, either. Related: Rivian jobs & what they pay: Compensation rivaling Tesla Through vertical integration, Amazon basically created its own supply chain , which helped to reduce its reliance on UPS and FedEx to deliver its goods. Amazon’s assets now include chartered container ships that move products from Asia to the U.S., for instance, as well as thousands of trucks, trailers, and even electric Rivian vans to transport goods across the country, right to customer’s doorsteps, contributing to its 220% increase in profits during the COVID-19 pandemic. But did you know that Amazon even owns a fleet of aircraft? View the original article to see embedded media. What is Amazon Air? Is Amazon Prime Air still a thing? Founded in 2015, Amazon Air is the company’s cargo airline. It exists solely to transport Amazon packages — about 450,000 per day, according to Amazon . Somewhat confusingly, Amazon Air used to be called Amazon Prime Air. The company changed its name in 2017, although aircraft still bear the Prime logo. Amazon Prime Air is now composed of a fleet of autonomous drones that make one-hour package deliveries within a limited geographic range. Currently, only customers in the College Station, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona metro areas can choose this delivery method, but Amazon plans a wider rollout upon regulatory approval . More on airlines: How many airplanes does Amazon Air have? Amazon Air, on the other hand, is composed of 95 chartered or Amazon-owned jet aircraft: Boeing 737s, Boeing 767s, and Airbus A330s. The company’s first and main “Air Hub” is in Kentucky at The Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), an 800,000 square-foot-facility spread out over 600 acres that came with a $1.5 billion price tag when it was built in 2019. Related: UPS Pilots: What they do & how much they get paid Other hubs soon followed at the Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW) in Texas and the San Bernardino International Airport (SBD) in California. In 2020, its first international hub opened at the Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany (LEJ), followed by the Rajib Gandhi International Airport (HYD) in Hyderabad, India. In all, Amazon Air planes transport packages to more than 50 destinations across North America, Europe, and Asia. What does Amazon Air do? Self-described as an “operational symphony,” the purpose of Amazon’s Air Hub cargo network is to transport Amazon packages from far-off fulfillment centers to the buyer’s region. While the majority (65%) of Amazon’s products can be shipped from an Amazon distribution center directly to a customer in one day or less, aircraft are used to transport niche products like footwear, jewelry, auto parts, and electronics. Here’s an overview of the process : Each Air Hub is equipped with Amazon’s latest technology, and, Amazon boasts, much of its equipment is powered by electricity. MarcelX42, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons What do Amazon Air employees do? Although Amazon does not provide specifics on its current Amazon Air employee headcount, it is estimated that the company will eventually hire more than 15,000 employees for this division in total; currently, at least 4,500 people work in its Kentucky Air Hub alone. Positions include loading and unloading delivery trucks and airplanes, preparing packages for sortation, and loading packages onto containers. Does Amazon Air pay well? Amazon’s compensation varies by location, but according to Glassdoor, which uses machine learning to collect and analyze user and government data to compile its salary estimates, the pay range for an Amazon Air Associate is between $19–$31 per hour, with an average pay of $25 per hour. Amazon Air is actively hiring .
Friendly reminder |
The authenticity of this information has not been verified by this website and is for your reference only. Please do not reprint without permission. If authorized by this website, it should be used within the scope of authorization and marked with "Source: this website". |
Special attention |
Some articles on this website are reprinted from other media. The purpose of reprinting is to convey more industry information, which does not mean that this website agrees with their views and is responsible for their authenticity. Those who make comments on this website forum are responsible for their own content. This website has the right to reprint or quote on the website. The comments on the forum do not represent the views of this website. If you need to use the information provided by this website, please contact the original author. The copyright belongs to the original author. If you need to contact this website regarding copyright, please do so within 15 days. |