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Barbed wire is a commonly used product in agriculture, transportation and other industries.  The unique design and structure make this wire creation sturdy — and sometimes harmful to the touch.  And on this day in history, Nov. 24, 1874, the first commercially successful barbed wire was patented by Joseph Farwell Glidden.  ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, NOVEMBER 23, 1859, WESTERN OUTLAW BILLY THE KID IS BORN IN NEW YORK CITY Glidden was an American farmer originally from Charlestown, New Hampshire.  After growing up in Clarendon, New York, and finishing school, he returned to his father’s farm to work, according to Britannica.  Years later, he landed in De Kalb, Illinois, and obtained a farm of his own.  After seeing a sample of barbed wire at the De Kalb Count Fair in 1873, Glidden decided to make some improvements of his own on the product — and ultimately applied for a U.S. patent.  ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, NOVEMBER 18, 1883, NORTH AMERICAN RAILROADS CREATE TIME ZONES, RESHAPE GLOBAL LIFE But he was not alone. Two other men also applied for a barbed wire patent with changes of their own: lumberman Jacob Haish and merchant Isaac Leonard Ellwood, according to Encyclopedia online. Glidden, however, was the man who was awarded the patent.  The original patent on barbed wire was filed in the United States in 1867, but Glidden obtained the patent on the new and improved form in 1874, according to Britannica. Barbed wire normally consists of two long wires that are twisted together to form a cable.  ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, OCTOBER 24, 1861, TRANSCONTINENTAL TELEGRAPH COMPLETED, CONNECTING COAST FOR THE FIRST TIME The wire comes in many varieties, depending on its uses.  “Barbed wire will discourage unwanted entry and is suited to a variety of containment needs,” according to the Home Depot website about store-bought barbed wire. “It can also be used with chain link or other fencing barriers for an additional layer of security.” Shortly after obtaining the patent, Glidden also developed a machine to help with producing the new and improved barbed wire.  Glidden then asked Isaac L. Ellwood to join him in creating a fencing company: Barb Fence Company of De Kalb. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER The two worked together to create the product, which served as a way to protect livestock on their land.  The option of wood fencing was always there; however, it was expensive for landowners with hundreds of thousands of acres.  Barbed wire, however, was cheaper and easier to install.  Just one year after creating the fencing company, Glidden sold his half of the business to the Washburn and Moen Manufacturing Company of Worcester, Massachusetts, according to Encyclopedia online. Glidden was thought to have received more than $60,000 and royalties for life on the patent.  Just 15 years after the creation of barbed wire, fenced-in land replaced the once-open range in the western United States, according to Britannica. For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.



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Publish date : 2023-11-24 05:02:16

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German authorities searched 15 properties on Thursday in connection with a recent ban on activities of Hamas as well as pro-Palestinian group Samidoun, the German interior ministry said in a statement. KATHY IRELAND AMONG THOSE HONORING HOSTAGES ON THANKSGIVING WITH EMPTY SEATS AT DINNER TABLE The searches in four German states, which started at 6:00 am local time, are intended to enforce the ban as well as clear up illegal structures of Hamas, designated a terrorist organization in the country, and Samidoun, it said. “We continue our consistent action against radical Islamists,” German interior minister Nancy Faeser said in the statement. ISRAELI SPOKESMAN’S SHOCKED FACE GOES VIRAL OVER BIZARRE QUESTION ABOUT HOSTAGE DEAL: ‘LEFT ME SPEECHLESS’ “With the bans on Hamas and Samidoun in Germany, we have sent a clear signal that we will not tolerate any glorification or support of the barbaric terror of Hamas against Israel,” Faeser added. According to the ministry, there are around 450 members of Hamas in Germany, whose activities range from support and propaganda to financing and the collection of donations.



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Publish date : 2023-11-23 23:20:03

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Chinese health officials said Thursday that they have not detected any “unusual or novel diseases” regarding an increase in respiratory illnesses and pneumonia in children, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO requested more information from China on Wednesday as several groups, including the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases, reported clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China. According to the WHO, outside scientists said the situation called for close monitoring, but they were not convinced that the recent spike in respiratory illnesses in China signaled the start of a new global outbreak. WHO noted on November 13 that authorities at China’s National Health Commission (CNHC) reported an increase in respiratory diseases, which they said was due to the lifting of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.  US SCORES D+ FOR PRETERM BIRTH RATES, SAYS NEW REPORT: ‘FALLING FURTHER BEHIND’ Several countries, including the U.S. and the U.K. also experienced large waves of respiratory viral infections, such as respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, in the first winter after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted as scientists said people had lower levels of natural immunity.  Through the International Health Regulations mechanism, China responded to the WHO within 24 hours, as the organization had asked for epidemiologic and clinical information as well as laboratory results. DRINKING RAW MILK CAUSED CAMPYLOBACTER INFECTIOUS OUTBREAK IN UTAH: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE ILLNESS WHO stated that northern China had experienced a jump in influenza-like illnesses since mid-October compared to the previous three years. WHO SEARCHES FOR ORIGIN OF CONTAMINATED COUGH SYRUP LINKED TO 6 CHILDREN’S DEATHS The arrival of new flu strains or other viruses capable of triggering pandemics typically starts with undiagnosed clusters of respiratory illness, according to the WHO. Both SARS and COVID-19 were first reported as unusual types of pneumonia. “No changes in the disease presentation were reported by the Chinese health authorities,” WHO said. The organization also added that Chinese health officials said the spike in patients had not overloaded the country’s hospitals. According to the CNHC, outbreaks have swamped some hospitals in northern China and health authorities have asked the public to take children with less severe symptoms to clinics and other facilities.



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Publish date : 2023-11-24 02:10:07

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For the second straight year, Dallas Cowboys fans had a happy Thanksgiving. The Cowboys defeated the NFC East rival Washington Commanders, 45-10, Thursday. Dallas opened up the scoring with an 11-play, 90-yard drive that ended with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Rico Dowdle. It was the first of three consecutive touchdown drives. Dak Prescott found Brandin Cooks for 31 yards, and Tony Pollard ran for a 7-yard score. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Washington’s Sam Howell rushed for a score, and the Commanders had a field goal in the first half, but Dallas led, 20-10, at the break. The third quarter was scoreless. The Commanders turned the ball over on downs on their first drive of the second half after Brian Robinson was tackled for a loss of two on fourth and 1 from the Dallas 39. Early in the fourth, they went for it again from their own 34, and Sam Howell was sacked. Brandon Aubrey kicked a field goal in the fourth to put Dallas up 23-10. Three plays later, after a second turnover on downs, Prescott hit CeeDee Lamb for a 15-yard touchdown, and they connected on the two-point conversion to go up 31-10 with 10:32 to go. JIM IRSAY THREATENS LAWSUIT AGAINST ESPN’S ‘FIRST TAKE’ AFTER DUI ARREST DISCUSSION The Commanders again turned the ball over on downs, and Prescott answered with his fourth touchdown of the day, this one a 34-yarder to KaVontae Turpin.  After that score, Prescott, Turpin and Jake Ferguson went to the Salvation Army kettle behind the end zone, and the quarterback pulled out something wrapped in tin foil. It was a turkey leg, and he got his Thanksgiving dinner started early. Daron Bland added his fifth pick-six of the year, a new NFL record. Prescott finished with 331 yards on 22-for-32 passing with a QBR of 142.1, and 10 different Cowboys caught at least one pass. Dallas improved to 8-3, and the Commanders fell to 4-8. Dallas is back in action Thursday when it hosts the Seattle Seahawks. Washington hosts the Miami Dolphins Dec. 3. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.



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Publish date : 2023-11-24 01:08:15

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The Biden-Harris reelection campaign shared a “handy guide for responding to crazy MAGA nonsense” for supporters heading into the holidays with Trump supporting family members. The guide shared talking points to respond to conservative rhetoric about subjects from immigration to the economy. One slide included responses to when someone claims “Trump secured our border!” to reply with a “No he didn’t,” followed by claims that “All he did was separate families, put children in cages, and leave behind a broken immigration system for Joe Biden to clean up.” Critics across social media shredded the list of talking points, arguing it takes an especially insufferable kind of person to approach the Thanksgiving table looking forward to an argument rather than eating with family. PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS DISRUPT MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE IN NEW YORK CITY “Democrats literally publishing a script of how to be the worst person at Thanksgiving,” Republican digital strategist Alec Sears wrote. “imagine needing political talking points for a holiday encounter with loved ones,” podcast host Siraj Hashmi wrote. “Reminder to all political persuasions: Preparing political talking points to use against family members on Thanksgiving is a form of mental illness,” author John Durant wrote. “Show some maturity, speak with the right tone, or change the subject.” TURKEY FARMERS EXPLAIN WHY PRICES ARE SO HIGH AS THANKSGIVING FAVORITES’ COSTS SOAR Other commentators accused Biden-Harris campaign of pushing “propaganda.”  “Biden-Harris putting out propaganda scripts to defend their campaign is… gross,” conservative radio host Jason Rantz wrote.  “All this gaslighting would make North Korean state media blush,” Twitchy’s Doug Powers wrote. Congressional Republican candidate Joe Kent described the post as “A thread on how to ignore reality & embrace managed decline.”



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Publish date : 2023-11-24 00:17:22

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The Evanston Health and Human Services Department is investigating a norovirus outbreak linked to a $1-burrito event for Northwestern University students.  The “$1 Burrito event” for Northwestern University students took place last Saturday between 1 and 8 p.m. with Big Wig Tacos.  The city’s health department began receiving complaints on Monday from students who reported experiencing stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea after consuming food from the event.  The department said in a news release that it began “an immediate and thorough inspection of the food establishment.”  Big Wig Tacos said it has cooperated with the Evanston Health Department in its investigation.  “While there have been reported cases, we are not certain the outbreak originated at our restaurant. Prior to the event, the Evanston Health Department completed a routine health inspection and found no issues with our establishment,” the restaurant said in a news release, noting that norovirus outbreaks “are more common in settings like colleges and universities.”  COFFEE AND COVID: COULD DRINKING 1 OR 2 CUPS A DAY REDUCE THE SEVERITY OF THE VIRARL ILLNESS?  “Nevertheless, we are taking immediate and comprehensive measures to address the situation. We are taking extra steps to thoroughly clean and sanitize, with a particular focus on areas that me susceptible for the transmission of the virus.” Fox News Digital has reached out to the city’s health department and Big Wig Tacos for additional comments.  Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the norovirus is a highly contagious virus that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain. The CDC recommends washing your hands and rinsing fruits and vegetables as preventative measures. 



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Publish date : 2023-11-23 23:24:00

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“Fox & Friends” co-host Carley Shimkus is giving viewers a sneak peek at her secret recipes in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday and the recently released “Cooking with Friends: Eat, Drink & Be Merry,” her new cookbook featuring recipes enjoyed by Fox News personalities when they are at home with their families. Shimkus brought her own family (and their favorite holiday recipes) live on air on Thursday morning, Thanksgiving Day, as America celebrates the importance of gratitude. Shimkus shared two easy dishes that she said people can make without much prep – one, an attractive and delicious charcuterie board. CARLEY SHIMKUS TALKS ‘COOKING WITH FRIENDS’ BOOK, REVEALS HER CHOICE OF BEST COOK AT FOX NEWS “It’s easy, it’s fun, it can be very gorgeous and [in] a quick second you can add berries and herbs and cheese … Everybody can dive right in,” said Shimkus, who was holding her young son while surrounded by her husband, her parents and her in-laws. The second dish Shimkus shared was her apple cake recipe that’s featured in the “Cooking with Friends” cookbook.  “It’s my grandma’s recipe. She found it in a newspaper clipping about 50 years ago, but she made it her own,” Shimkus said. ‘COOKING WITH FRIENDS’: AINSLEY EARHARDT SHARES GRILLED FLOUNDER RECIPE AND HER ‘MAMA’S GRITS’ “It’s like Thanksgiving in a pan,” she added. While she didn’t reveal the entire recipe, Shimkus did give a glimpse at how to make the dessert. It starts with mixing sugar and eggs until they’re “stiff,” both Shimkus and her mom said. To get Shimkus’ full apple cake recipe, pick up the “Cooking with Friends” cookbook, which is currently listed for 40% off on Amazon as a Black Friday deal. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Readers also have a chance to win a signed copy of “Cooking with Friends” as Shimkus has announced a “friendsgiving” sweepstakes. Fans can be entered to win by sharing a photo or video from a friendsgiving celebration and tagging with the hashtag #FoxAndFriendsgiving.  Be sure to follow Shimkus (@carleyshimkus) on Instagram as well. For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle.



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Publish date : 2023-11-23 22:35:55

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“Mrs. Doubtfire” director Chris Columbus is reflecting on working with legendary actor Robin Williams. In recognition of the popular movie’s 30th anniversary, Columbus recalled using an extensive amount of film during production to capture all of Williams’ ad-libbed moments. “Early on in the process, he went to me, ‘Hey boss, the way I like to work, if you’re up for it, is I’ll give you three or four scripted takes, and then let’s play,’” Columbus shared with Business Insider. ‘MRS. DOUBTFIRE’ FANS INSIST THERE’S A RUMORED NC-17 CUT IN EXISTENCE AFTER VIRAL TWEET “By saying that, what he meant was he wanted to improvise. And that’s exactly how we shot every scene. We would have exactly what was scripted, and then Robin would go off, and it was something to behold.” Williams’ improvisation amounted to nearly 2 million feet of film being shot for the classic movie. Although Columbus admitted the production was behind schedule, he added that Williams was unstoppable, and the film crew loved every moment of it.  ROBIN WILLIAMS’ WIDOW SAYS HE HAD AN ‘INVISIBLE MONSTER’ CHASING HIM FOR MONTHS BEFORE DEATH “They were loving what they were seeing. Did they watch everything? I don’t think so. We shot almost 2 million feet of film on that picture,” Columbus said. The Hollywood actor starred in the film in 1993. The story follows a divorced actor who disguises himself as a female housekeeper to spend more time with his children, who live primarily with his ex-wife. ROBIN WILLIAMS’ KIDS PAY TRIBUTE TO THE LATE ACTOR ON WHAT WOULD’VE BEEN HIS 72ND BIRTHDAY: ‘LOVE YOU FOREVER’ Since there was an extensive amount of footage filmed of Williams during the production of “Mrs. Doubtfire,” Columbus said a documentary could be in the works for the future. LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS “We are talking about it and trying to get it done. There are roughly 972 boxes of footage from ‘Doubtfire’ — footage we used in the movie, outtakes, behind-the-scenes footage — in a warehouse somewhere, and we would like to hire an editor to go in and look at all of that footage,” Columbus explained. “We want to show Robin’s process. There is something special and magical about how he went about his work, and I think it would be fun to delve into it.” Williams’ 2014 death was ruled suicide. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).



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Publish date : 2023-11-23 21:34:43

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An official with English soccer’s governing body has resigned following an inflammatory social media post about the Israel-Hamas conflict where he wrote that Adolf Hitler would be proud of Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Wasim Haq tendered his resignation from his role as a council member of the Football Association (FA) on Thursday, writing that it was the best course of action for himself and the organization. The FA oversees the Premier League, England’s top soccer division. Haq had already been suspended by the FA for the controversial November 11 post on X which he deleted hours later. ENGLISH WOMEN’S SOCCER LEAGUE EMBROILED IN CONTROVERSY OVER TRANSGENDER PLAYER: REPORT The deleted post read, “Netanyahu has sacrificed his own people to maintain power…whilst #Palestinians are trying to maintain their sanity. Adolf Hitler would be proud of Benjamin Netanyahu.” After he deleted the post, he wrote another denying that he was an anti-Semite. He shared a copy of his resignation Thursday on X. “It is with great sadness that I inform you of my decision to resign as a member of the FA Council with immediate effect,” Haq wrote. “As someone who has worked closely with many Jewish people over the years and created meaningful and valued friendships, the most painful part of this process is knowing that some of those friends and colleagues may not forgive me for the misunderstanding and hurt I have unintentionally caused. I take full responsibility and reiterate my apology to them and all those affected.” He wrote that his now-deleted tweet was a “direct criticism of a politician, not about a race or a religious group.” BRAZIL-ARGENTINA WORLD CUP QUALIFIER DELAYED AFTER FANS BRAWL IN STANDS “In expressing those feelings, I chose the wrong words entirely and that has impacted the leadership position that I hold at the FA,” he wrote. “Following the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas there are heightened emotions all around. I, like millions of others, have been deeply disturbed by the huge loss of life, this war has become a painful slaughter of innocent adults and children – a war that humanity should have avoided.” Haq added that he would be meeting with members of the Jewish community to “share and understand,” although he did not elaborate.  He also offered to help the FA set up a “systematic process in which we can bring communities together in the future”. Haq has also been sacked from his role as an independent councilor at the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), the national governing body of tennis in Great Britain, while he is also being investigated by England Golf, where he holds a role similar to that at the FA. Reuters contributed to this story.



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Publish date : 2023-11-23 20:26:44

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Heather Rae El Moussa admits it has “not been easy” living with an autoimmune disorder. Last month, the HGTV star and wife of Tarek El Moussa discovered that she was suffering from Hashimoto’s disease, a common autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, causing symptoms like exhaustion and weight gain, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. “When I found out that it was an autoimmune disease, I was definitely shocked, because I’ve always been a very healthy person,” El Moussa shared with People. “So, it has not been easy to get my levels right and to feel good again.”  HGTV STAR HEATHER RAE EL MOUSSA DIAGNOSED WITH HASHIMOTO’S DISEASE: ‘I FEEL LIKE I’M DEAD’ “Just doing the blood work, that was the hardest thing for me,” she says. “I don’t like giving blood, and I was having to do blood work every ten days. But I knew I had good people around me to help me get better.” The “Selling Sunset” star previously opened up about her health battle and said she had experienced severe symptoms four months postpartum. She had noticed a dramatic drop in her milk supply and was consistently experiencing intense fatigue. Heather Rae and Tarek El Moussa welcomed their first child together earlier this year, a baby boy named Tristan. “After I had Tristan, I just felt really tired, really run down, barely any energy, just hard to get up in the mornings and just exhausted throughout the day,” she continued. “But I just thought it was being a new mom and being up all the time with a baby and just nonstop with a newborn.” HGTV STAR TAREK EL MOUSSA RECALLS ‘HITTING ROCK BOTTOM’ AND LOSING HIS WAY: ‘I DIDN’T KNOW WHO I WAS ANYMORE’ WATCH: TAREK EL MOUSSA ON HOW LIFE HAS BEEN WITH HIS NEW BABY AND BLENDED FAMILY After discovering her diagnosis, El Moussa made several lifestyle changes and has received treatment for the autoimmune disorder.  TAREK EL MOUSSA AND HEATHER RAE YOUNG WELCOME SON: ‘OUR BABY BOY IS HERE’ “I cut out gluten, and I cut out soy, which is not easy for a vegan,” she confessed. “I go on a lot of walks, I eat very clean, I drink a lot of water, I take electrolytes, so overall my lifestyle is very healthy.” CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Her doctor additionally prescribed her Synthroid, according to the media outlet, and said switching up her diet helped with her health battle. “I’m finally starting to feel better, and I feel like my levels are doing well. I’m about to be getting blood work next week to see where I’m at.” Meanwhile, Tarek additionally shares two children with ex-Christina Hall: Taylor, 13, and Brayden, 8.



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Publish date : 2023-11-23 19:47:40

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Pittsburgh Steelers fans were calling for Matt Canada’s firing for quite some time, but his players were surprised when the move was made on Tuesday by the organization.  In fact, quarterback Kenny Pickett is taking the decision personal.  “It’s a challenge to everybody,” Pickett said, per ESPN. “I feel like you have to take it personal. It’s a guy you’ve worked with since I got drafted here, you want to play great, you don’t want to see anyone get let go like that. So absolutely we have to answer the bell, find out what we need to do to play better and then just go take care of business.” CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Pickett was drafted out of Pitt last year in the first round, when he had pedestrian numbers in his rookie season. He threw for 2,404 yards with seven touchdowns and nine interceptions over 13 games (12 starts).  This year, the Steelers are in the playoff hunt at 6-4. However, the offense has been brutal as it sits 28th in total yards per game (280.1) and 31st in passing yards per game (170.0). In turn, the Steelers are only averaging 16.6 points per game.  FROM OUTKICK: STEELERS FANS CELEBRATE FIRING OF OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR MATT CANADA So, head coach Mike Tomlin made the call to move on from Canada.  “You hate to see it,” Pickett said of the firing, adding he had no idea it was coming. “You don’t want to see one of your coaches lose their job. We all got to be better. Called coach, wished him well. We had a great conversation, but you got to bounce back quick and get ready to go.” The Steelers are winners in four of their past six games and are set to face their AFC North foe Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. It is the Bengals’ first game without Joe Burrow under center, as rookie Jake Browning will take over after he tore a ligament in his wrist.  How Pickett and the offense perform post-Canada will be the main focus for everyone involved, in and outside the Steelers’ building.  However, Pickett pointed out that the same system the Steelers have been running will be used, though quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan and running backs coach Eddie Faulkner will “put their wrinkle in on it” in shared duties running the offense.  “You can’t have wholesale changes at this point in the season,” Pickett said. 



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Publish date : 2023-11-23 18:49:38

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The agreement by the maker of OxyContin to settle thousands of lawsuits over the harm done by opioids could help combat the overdose epidemic that the painkiller triggered. But that does not mean all the victims are satisfied. In exchange for giving up ownership of drug manufacturer Purdue Pharma and for contributing up to $6 billion to fight the crisis, members of the wealthy Sackler family would be exempt from any civil lawsuits. At the same time, they could potentially keep billions of dollars from their profits on OxyContin sales. OXYCONTIN MAKER PURDUE PHARMA LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR OPIOID VICTIMS TO FILE CLAIMS The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments Dec. 4 over whether the agreement, part of the resolution of Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy, violates federal law. The issue for the justices is whether the legal shield that bankruptcy provides can be extended to people such as the Sacklers, who have not declared bankruptcy themselves. The legal question has resulted in conflicting lower court decisions. It also has implications for other major product liability lawsuits settled through the bankruptcy system. But the agreement, even with billions of dollars set aside for opioid abatement and treatment programs, also poses a moral conundrum that has divided people who lost loved ones or lost years of their own lives to opioids. Ellen Isaacs’ 33-year-old son, Ryan Wroblewski, died in Florida in 2018, about 17 years after he was first prescribed OxyContin for a back injury. When she first heard about a potential settlement that would include some money for people like her, she signed up. But she has changed her mind. Money might not bring closure, she said. And by allowing the deal, it could lead to more problems. “Anybody in the future would be able to do the exact same thing that the Sacklers are now able to do,” she said in an interview. Her lawyer, Mike Quinn, put it this way in a court filing: “The Sackler releases are special protection for billionaires.” Lynn Wencus, of Wrentham, Massachusetts, also lost a 33-year-old son, Jeff, to overdose in 2017. She initially opposed the deal with Purdue Pharma but has come around. Even though she does not expect a payout, she wants the settlement to be finalized in hopes it would help her stop thinking about Purdue Pharma and Sackler family members, whom she blames for the opioid crisis. “I feel like I can’t really move on while this is all hanging out in the court,” Wencus said. Purdue Pharma’s aggressive marketing of OxyContin, a powerful prescription painkiller that hit the market in 1996, is often cited as a catalyst of a nationwide opioid epidemic, persuading doctors to prescribe painkillers with less regard for addiction dangers. The company pleaded guilty to misbranding the drug in 2007 and paid more than $600 million in fines and penalties. The drug and the Stamford, Connecticut-based company became synonymous with the crisis, even though the majority of pills being prescribed and used were generic drugs. Opioid-related overdose deaths have continued to climb, hitting 80,000 in recent years. That’s partly because people with substance abuse disorder found pills harder to get and turned to heroin and, more recently, fentanyl, an even more potent synthetic opioid. Drug companies, wholesalers and pharmacies have agreed to pay a total of more than $50 billion to settle lawsuits filed by state, local and Native American tribal governments and others that claimed the companies’ marketing, sales and monitoring practices spurred the epidemic. The Purdue Pharma settlement would be among the largest. It’s also one of only two so far with provisions for victims of the crisis to be compensated directly, with payouts from a $750 million pool expected to range from about $3,500 to $48,000. Lawyers for more than 60,000 victims who support the settlement called it “a watershed moment in the opioid crisis,” while recognizing that “no amount of money could fully compensate” victims for the damage caused by the misleading marketing of OxyContin. In the fallout, parts of the Sackler family story has been told in multiple books and documentaries and in fictionalized versions in the streaming series “Dopesick” and “Painkiller.” Museums and universities around the world have removed the family’s name from galleries and buildings. Family members have remained mostly out of the public eye, and they have stepped off the board of their company and have not received payouts from it since before the company entered bankruptcy. But in the decade before that, they were paid more than $10 billion, about half of which family members said went to pay taxes. Some testified in a 2021 bankruptcy hearing, telling a judge that the family would not contribute to the proposed legal settlement without being shielded from lawsuits. Two family members appeared by video and one listened by audio to a 2022 court hearing in which more than two dozen people impacted by opioids told their stories publicly. One told them: “You poisoned our lives and had the audacity to blame us for dying.” Purdue Pharma reached the deal with the governments suing it — including with some states that initially rejected the plan. But the U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee, an arm of the Justice Department responsible for promoting the integrity of the bankruptcy system, has objected to the legal protections for Sackler family members. Attorney General Merrick Garland also has criticized the plan. The opposition marked an about-face for the Justice Department, which supported the settlement during the presidency of Donald Trump, a Republican. The department and Purdue Pharma forged a plea bargain in a criminal and civil case. The deal included $8.3 billion in penalties and forfeitures, but the company would pay the federal government only $225 million so long as it executed the settlement plan. A federal trial court judge in 2021 ruled the settlement should not be allowed. This year, a federal appeals panel ruled the other way in a unanimous decision in which one judge still expressed major concerns about the deal. The Supreme Court quickly agreed to take the case, at the urging of the administration of President Joe Biden, a Democrat. Purdue Pharma’s is not the first bankruptcy to include this sort of third-party release, even when not everyone in the case agrees to it. It was specifically allowed by Congress in 1994 for asbestos cases. They have been used elsewhere, too, including in settlements of sexual abuse claims against the Boy Scouts of America, where groups like regional Boy Scout councils and churches that sponsor troops helped pay, and against Catholic dioceses, where parishes and schools contributed cash. Proponents of Purdue Pharma’s settlement plan often assert that federal law does not prohibit third-party releases and that they can be necessary to create a settlement that parties will agree to. “Third-party releases are a recurring feature of bankruptcy practice,” lawyers for one branch of the Sackler family said in a court filing, “and not because anyone is trying to do the released third parties a favor.”



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Publish date : 2023-11-23 17:52:37

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The Slovak government signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday with Chinese electric vehicle battery maker Gotion High-Tech and its local partner, InoBat, to build a car battery plant in Slovakia. SLOVAK PM LOOKS TO CURB MIGRATION BY DEPLOYING FORCES TO HUNGARIAN BORDER The two companies formed Gotion InoBat Batteries, a Chinese-Slovak venture to build the plant in the town of Surany, about 60 miles east of Bratislava. It should create about 1,500 jobs and become operational in 2026 with an initial production of 20GWh. Financial details about the investment were not given. German car giant Volkswagen is the largest shareholder in Gotion High-Tech with a 24.77% stake. Volkswagen has a car plant in Slovakia. Gotion High-Tech began production in its first European plant in Göttingen, Germany, in September.



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Publish date : 2023-11-23 16:55:40

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An Israeli government spokesman is going viral for his gobsmacked reaction to a media question about the value of Palestinian versus Israeli lives based on the Israelis receiving back fewer hostages in a potential swap with Hamas. Eylon Levy was astonished as Sky News interviewer Kay Burley suggested that because Israel would get back 50 hostages taken by Hamas last month in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners in the agreed-upon temporary cease-fire deal, it placed less value on Palestinian lives.  “I was speaking to a hostage negotiator this morning. He made the comparison between the 50 hostages that Hamas promised to release, as opposed to the 150 prisoners that are Palestinians that Israel has said that it will release,” Burley said. “And he made the comparison between the numbers and the fact that does Israel not think Palestinian lives are valued as highly as Israeli lives?” Levy’s eyes popped open before he responded, saying, “That is an astonishing accusation.” ZELENSKYY TALKS ISRAEL, US ELECTIONS WITH FOX’S BENJAMIN HALL, AND UKRAINE’S PLACE AMONG ‘GLOBAL RISKS’ “If we could release one prisoner for every one hostage, we would obviously do that. We are operating in horrific circumstances,” he said. Levy said the Palestinian prisoners who could be released included those who have been convicted of violent attacks, as opposed to the hostages held by Hamas, who comprise innocent civilians. “Notice the question of proportionality doesn’t interest Palestinian supporters when they are able to get more of their prisoners out,” he said. “It is outrageous to suggest that the fact that we are willing to release prisoners who are convicted of terrorism offenses, more of them than we are getting our own innocent children back, somehow suggests that we don’t care about Palestinian lives? Really, that’s a disgusting accusation.” Burley appeared unfazed by his response and immediately pivoted to a question about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and whether his career would survive the war. Netanyahu has come under domestic criticism for the security failures around the Oct. 7 terror attack by Hamas, which killed more than 1,200 people and was the single worst slaughter of Jewish people since the Holocaust. YOUNG PEOPLE TURN ON ‘GENOCIDE JOE’ OVER HIS CEASE-FIRE STANCE: ‘BIDEN ABSOLUTELY SUCKS’ Levy posted the exchange on X, saying it left him “speechless” for a moment. The clip has already received over 2 million impressions on the platform. Another user said that it was life imitating satire, as he had previously quipped that foes of Israel would criticize the cease-fire deal despite Palestinians getting back more people. He predicted they would claim that three Palestinians per Israeli hostage suggested their lives meant less. At one point during the interview, Levy held up the photo of an orphaned 3-year-old girl who is being held hostage in Gaza, calling the crisis “intensely personal” for the entire State of Israel. “We are committed to the pledge that we will bring all of them back and there will be nobody left behind,” he said. Qatar, which is acting as a mediator in the war, said the first group of hostages would be turned back over to Israel on Friday, after the cease-fire begins at midnight tonight, ET. The first group to be freed will include 13 women and children. Levy said it was a product of the successful Israeli military operation to squeeze Hamas into submission. Sky News did not immediately respond to a request for comment.



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Publish date : 2023-11-23 15:37:53

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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea has concluded that Russian support likely enabled North Korea to put a spy satellite into orbit for the first time this week, and it should be clear in several days whether it is functioning properly, officials said Thursday. The launch has deepened regional animosities, with both Koreas threatening to breach a past reconciliation deal and take hostile actions along their heavily armed border. NORTH KOREA SPY SATELLITE IS LATEST SURVEILLANCE THREAT TO US, ALLIES – WITH KIM THREATENING MORE LAUNCHES After two launch failures earlier this year, North Korea said it successfully placed its “Malligyong-1” satellite into orbit on Tuesday night. South Korea’s military has confirmed that the satellite entered orbit, but said it needs several more days to verify whether it is working properly. In a closed-door briefing, South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers on Thursday that Russian assistance was likely the main reason the launch was successful, according to lawmakers who attended the meeting. The National Intelligence Service cited Russian President Vladimir Putin’s earlier mention of a promise to support North Korea’s satellite program. It said it also obtained intelligence that North Korea had sent Russia the design and other data for its new “Chollima-1” rocket used in the two previous failed launches. The intelligence showed that Russia returned its analysis of the North Korean data, according to lawmaker Yoo Sang-bum, who attended the NIS briefing. South Korean Defense Minister Shin Wonsik told a separate parliamentary committee meeting Thursday that Russia appears to have been providing technological assistance for North Korea’s satellite program. The same satellite and rocket were used in all three launches. The two earlier attempts in May and August failed due to technical problems with the rocket. There has been speculation that Russia is providing technological support for North Korea’s satellite and other programs since leader Kim Jong Un traveled to Russia to meet Putin and visit key technology and military sites in September. The Kim-Putin summit was held at Russia’s main space launch center. Asked whether Russia would help North Korea build and launch satellites, Putin told Russian state media at the time that “that’s why we have come here.” “The (North Korean) leader shows keen interest in rocket technology. They’re trying to develop space, too,” Putin said. The U.S., South Korea and Japan accuse North Korea of seeking to obtain high-tech Russian military technologies in return for supplying conventional arms for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Both Russia and North Korea have denied the alleged deal. North Korea said its Malligyong-1 satellite will begin its official mission on Dec. 1. But it said the satellite has already transmitted images of military facilities in the U.S. territory of Guam and that Kim saw them. North Korea hasn’t released the images. Many foreign experts are skeptical about the satellite’s ability to take high-resolution images and whether it is militarily meaningful. After recovering debris from the first failed launch attempt, South Korea’s military said the satellite wasn’t sophisticated enough to perform military reconnaissance. Defense Minister Shin said he worries that Russia could help North Korea produce higher-resolution satellite photos. Shin said South Korean, U.S. and Japanese authorities will be able to determine whether the satellite is functioning normally as early as this weekend or early next week. South Korea, the U.S. and Japan strongly condemned the satellite launch, saying North Korea is using it to improve its missile technology as well as acquire a space-based surveillance system. U.N. Security Council resolutions ban any satellite launches by North Korea, viewing them as disguised tests of long-range missile technology. North Korea says it has a sovereign right to launch spy satellites to cope with what it calls U.S.-led military threats. It says spy satellites would allow it to better monitor its rivals’ moves and enhance the precision-strike capability of its nuclear-capable missiles. In response to the satellite launch, South Korea said it has partially suspended a 2018 agreement to reduce tensions with North Korea and will resume flying surveillance aircraft and drones along their border. North Korea’s Defense Ministry slammed the South Korean decision on Thursday, saying it will deploy more powerful weapons at the border in a tit-for-tat measure. It said it won’t be bound by the 2018 deal any longer and will reverse all the steps it has taken to ease front-line military tensions under it. South Korea’s military replied that it would “strongly punish” North Korea if it acts provocatively. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the sea on Wednesday, but the launch likely failed. It was North Korea’s first known weapons launch in more than two months. Kim has publicly vowed to acquire spy satellites and other high-tech weapons systems. Since last year, North Korea has test-fired about 100 ballistic missiles in an effort to expand its nuclear arsenal. Experts say Kim ultimately wants to use his enlarged arsenal to wrest greater concessions from the United States if they resume diplomacy.



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Publish date : 2023-11-23 14:39:07

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