Category: Top News

Washington, DC – In one of his first moves since becoming speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy is leading an effort to block Congresswoman Ilhan Omar from serving on the chamber’s Foreign Affairs Committee over her past criticism of Israel.

On Wednesday, the Republican majority in the House advanced a resolution to remove Omar from the panel. Democrats opposed the move, accusing McCarthy of bigotry for targeting the politician – a former refugee of Somali descent who is one of only two Muslim women serving in the US Congress.

A few Republicans initially opposed McCarthy’s effort, casting doubt over his ability to pass the resolution against Omar, given the GOP’s narrow majority.

But on Wednesday, all 218 House Republicans present voted to move forward with the measure, as Democrats remained united in support of Omar with 209 votes. A final vote is expected on Thursday as progressives rally around Omar.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) defended Omar, calling her an “esteemed and invaluable” legislator.

“You cannot remove a Member of Congress from a committee simply because you do not agree with their views. This is both ludicrous and dangerous,” CPC Chair Pramila Jayapal said in a statement on Monday.

.@IlhanMN is the first African-born congressmember and the only House Foreign Affairs Committee member who’s lived in a refugee camp. It’s shameful that Republicans are trying to remove her after smearing her for years. We need her voice, values, and expertise on the Committee. https://t.co/e1M5ajM0T4

— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) January 30, 2023

The resolution

The resolution aimed at Omar, introduced by Ohio Republican Max Miller on Tuesday, cites numerous controversies involving the congresswoman’s criticism of Israel and US foreign policy.

“Congresswoman Omar clearly cannot be an objective decision-maker on the Foreign Affairs Committee given her biases against Israel and against the Jewish people,” Miller said in a statement.

Omar retorted by saying there was nothing “objectively true” about the resolution, adding that “if not being objective is a reason to not serve on committees, no one would be on committees”.

While the Republican resolution accuses Omar of anti-Semitism, it only invokes remarks relating to Israel, not the Jewish people.

For example, the measure calls out the congresswoman for describing Israel as an “apartheid state”, although leading human rights groups – including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch – have also accused Israel of imposing a system of apartheid on Palestinians.

Early in her congressional career in 2019, Omar faced a firestorm of criticism when she suggested that political donations from pro-Israel lobby groups – including the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) – drive support for Israel in Washington.

Omar later apologised for that remark but Palestinian rights advocates say accusations of anti-Semitism against Israel’s critics aim to stifle the debate around Israeli government policies.

In the past two years, AIPAC and other pro-Israel organisations spent millions of dollars in congressional elections to defeat progressives who support Palestinian human rights, including Michigan’s Andy Levin, a left-leaning, Jewish former House member.

‘Different standards’

Although the Democratic Party is standing behind Omar now, the Republican resolution prominently features previous criticism against the congresswoman by top Democrats.

Lara Friedman, president of the Foundation for Middle East Peace, an advocacy and research group, said Republicans are trying to validate their talking points against Omar by using the statements and actions of Democrats.

“They own this,” she said of Democrats who previously attacked Omar. “They made a decision in the last few years to jump on board and score political points at Ilhan’s expense … And that decision is now the basis for the resolution that is being used to throw her off the committee.”

Friedman added that Omar and her fellow Muslim-American Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib are held to “different standards” when it comes to addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Both legislators were the subject of racist attacks by former President Donald Trump who in 2019 tweeted that they, along with other progressive congresswomen of colour, “should go back to the broken and crime-infested places from which they came”.

Omar in particular became a frequent target of Trump’s anti-refugee rhetoric in the lead-up to the 2020 elections. At one rally in 2019, Trump failed to intervene as his supporters chanted “send her back” in reference to Omar.

Friedman said attacks on Omar appeal to the Republican base and play well for the party politically.

“It’s a really handy way to embarrass and corner Democrats because when Democrats vote against this tomorrow, the Republican argument is going to be: ‘I don’t get it. You said all these things [against Omar]. Why are you not holding her accountable?’ Politically, this is just fantastic for them.”

For her part, Omar has remained defiant, calling McCarthy’s effort to remove her from the committee, against initial opposition from his own caucus, “pathetic”.

Rep. @Ilhan is a dedicated member of Congress, a refugee, a fierce fighter for human rights, and she has earned her spot on the Foreign Affairs Committee. Stop the bigotry and seat Rep. Omar.

— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) January 31, 2023

Yasmine Taeb, legislative and political director at MPower Change Action Fund, a Muslim-American advocacy group, praised Omar’s commitment to a “human rights-centered foreign policy”.

“Rep. Omar speaks truth to power – a rarity in Congress. And House Republican leadership would rather waste time by attacking a progressive Black Muslim woman and pushing a far-right agenda than working on addressing the needs of the American people,” Taeb told Al Jazeera in an email.

Omar has been a vocal proponent of human rights and diplomacy in Congress. While her comments about Israel often make headlines, she criticises other countries too – including those in the Middle East – for human rights violations.

Still, critics accuse her of perpetuating anti-Semitic tropes in her criticism of Israel and even allies have described some of her comments as “sloppy”, if not malicious.

On Thursday, Win Without War, a group that promotes diplomacy in US foreign policy, decried the Republican push against Omar as an attempt to strip the House Foreign Affairs Committee of a “progressive champion and skilled legislator who challenges the political status quo”.

“Rep. Omar has helped raise the bar for progressive foreign policy in Congress. She has steadfastly advocated for cuts to the Pentagon budget, held US allies accountable for human rights abuses, and confronted the racism and Islamophobia present in US foreign policy,” Win Without War executive director Sara Haghdoosti said in a statement.

Committee wars

Congressional committees serve as specialised microcosms of Congress. The panels advance legislation, conduct oversight and hold immense power over the legislative process.

Usually, the party in power appoints the chairs and majority members of committees, while the opposition party names its own legislators to the panels.

But back in 2021, Democrats voted to remove Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene from her assigned committees for past conspiratorial, anti-Semitic and Islamophobic comments.

That same year, the Democratic House majority also formally rebuked Paul Gosar, another far-right Republican, for sharing an animated video that depicted him killing Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Now, Greene is an outspoken proponent of removing Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee.

“No one should be on that committee with that stance towards Israel,” Greene said earlier this week. “In my opinion, I think it’s the wrong stance for any member of Congress of the United States – having that type of attitude towards our great ally, Israel.”

After Greene was stripped of her committee assignments, McCarthy had openly promised payback against the Democrats if they became the minority in the House, an event that came to pass in the 2022 midterm elections.

“You’ll regret this. And you may regret this a lot sooner than you think,” McCarthy said at that time.

The newly elected speaker has also blocked Democrats Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell from joining the intelligence committee. Schiff was the former chair of the panel.

Meanwhile, Republican Congressman George Santos, who is facing calls to step down for lying about his heritage and professional and personal history, “temporarily recused” himself from committee assignments as he is being investigated over his campaign conduct.

Saudi Arabia has been named as host of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, and incredibly, will hold the continent’s biggest international for the first time.

Less than a month after Cristiano Ronaldo arrived to play for Al-Nassr, and two since the Saudi national team’s fine performances at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the news cements the country’s status as a major hub of the world’s most popular game on the largest continent.

It was always likely that Saudi would get the official nod as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) conducted its congress in Bahrain’s capital of Manama.

Five countries initially threw hats into the ring. Iran and Uzbekistan withdrew and then, after China — still in lockdown and pursuing a zero-COVID-19 policy — relinquished hosting rights from the 2023 tournament, Qatar stepped in as a substitute.

That meant India was the only remaining rival and when New Delhi bowed out in December, it cleared the way for Saudi Arabia to host the tournament for the first time in its history.

It is an idea whose time has finally come.

The pandemic played a wider part, too. With the disruption caused to competitions, both of the club and country variety, during the outbreak, Saudi Arabia proved to be a competent, flexible and reliable host whether the games were World Cup qualifiers or AFC Champions Leagues matches.

The work done, often at short notice, was appreciated by the AFC. After the confederation got its fingers burnt by the situation in China, it is not a surprise that cities such as Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam are seen as safe choices as well as places that deserved a first chance to host Asia’s biggest sporting event.

There is more to it than that, however. The reputation of Saudi Arabian football is higher now than it has maybe ever been. The national team is still basking in the warmth of the global sensation produced with November’s World Cup win over eventual champions Argentina. It was a stunning victory. With a little more luck then Herve Renard’s men could easily have found themselves in the last 16 especially if Salem Al-Dawsari’s penalty had been converted against Poland.

The performances showed that there is talent in the country with the likes of Saud Abdulhamid linked to big moves in Italy and elsewhere.

The Saudi Professional League has long been one of the strongest in Asia but in recent years has grown in strength, depth and stature. There is regularly more than one representative in the latter stages of the Asian Champions League. Al-Hilal are the defending champions — and have won two of the last three — and now have a record number of four continental titles as well as international stars such as Odion Ighalo and Moussa Marega. On Saturday, the Blues kick off a third FIFA Club World Cup campaign in the space of three years.

While there is a growing core of talent in the country, as the World Cup exploits and last June’s U23 Asian Championships triumph have shown, the league is home to some of the best foreign players and coaches in Asian football.

Al-Ittihad have former Tottenham Hotspur boss Nuno Santo in charge and a whole host of talented foreign players including Moroccan marksman Abderrazzak Hamdallah, Egyptian rock Ahmed Hegazi and talented Brazilians such as Igor Coronado and Romarinho.

Al-Shabab tore up the group stage of the Champions League and even second tier Al-Ahli have Pitso Mosimane in charge, the man who has won three African Champions League crowns with Mamelodi Sundowns in his native South Africa and twice with Egyptian giants Al-Ahly. At the moment, the SPL is the most exciting and high-profile domestic competition on the continent.

And that was the case before Ronaldo signed with Al-Nassr. The Portuguese star is one of the best players in the history of the game with five Ballon d’Or awards and the same number of UEFA Champions League titles. It is not just about the talent of the former Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus legend, but the fact that he among the most recognizable people on the planet. His presence has just increased the spotlight shining on Saudi Arabian football.

It all means that the Asian Cup announcement is not only a natural decision, as Saudi Arabian football is in a great place at the moment on the pitch, but also confirms what is happening off the field. The tournament will be the biggest football event ever to take place in the country but there is a sense that there is more to come. The waiting is over and now, preparations can begin.

Before a scorching end to January, it has been a cooler-than-average summer across South-East Queensland, and it appears humans are not the only ones who have been enjoying the drop in temperature.

On the banks of the Mary River at Tiaro, three hours north of Brisbane, endangered Mary River turtles are laying their nests later than usual this season, and their eggs are incubating longer than ever before.

Tiaro Landcare team leader Marilyn Connell suspects the cool weather could be responsible for the change in birthing behaviour for the elusive turtle, best known for breathing from its bum.

After more than 20 years of working with the turtles, Ms Connell said they never failed to surprise her.

“We’d only had 19 [nests for the season] over October, November and December, then in one day, ‘bang!’ we’ve doubled our numbers,” Ms Connell said.

“Normally they finish laying at the end of December. We might get one or two in early January, but this year, on January 6, we found all these turtle tracks.

Typically, after 55 days of incubating, the hatchlings would emerge from their eggs and scurry towards the Mary River.

But Ms Connell said once again, the turtles this season surprised her.

“This year, we had a number of clutches [laid in October and November] that were in late 70s [days of incubation] and one was even up to 85 days.

Cooler conditions

The Bureau of Meteorology said that across the Wide Bay region temperatures were below-average throughout December and the beginning of January.

“It was due to a combination of a ridge along the east coast, and just persistent south-easterly winds coming onshore. So, it was giving the temps a fresher feel as well,” meteorologist Felim Hanniffy said.

“Maximum temperatures, if you take the average of them, were generally on the cooler side.

Research funded by Tiaro Landcare and carried out by the University of Queensland School of Biology and Sciences found that Mary River hatchlings thrived under cooler incubation temperatures.

“The embryos that were incubated at a much higher temperature were smaller,” Ms Connell said.

“When they were released into the water, they didn’t dive as deeply as others and they came to the surface a lot more frequently.

“Of course, if you’re not diving down to the bottom and hiding there’s more chance that somebody who wants to eat you is going to find you.”

Investigations to continue

Ms Connell said the team would continue to investigate the influence of temperature on the nesting and hatching of Mary River turtles.

“For another species of turtles that’s found in Australia, once the temperatures are below 22C, the embryos really slow down their development,” she said.

“So, we’re suspicious that that’s probably what’s happened this year. We don’t know for sure.

Local conservation volunteer Wayne Kassulke, who has spent the past 12 years visiting the Mary River said he enjoyed learning new things about the bum-breathing species that defined the small town of Tiaro.

“We come across different things all the time and we’re always learning from the different things we pick up,” he said.

“It’s always an adventure, and I don’t mind running around the countryside for them.”

Let’s talk about clay bead bracelets—sometimes called flat beads, too. If you are looking to get into jewelry making, this is probably one of the easiest and most inexpensive DIY jewelry you can start with.

Plus, there are SO many different ideas for clay bead bracelets! I’m going to share lots in this post, but you can dream up so many more.

Clay beads are usually made of polymer clay and come in any and every color you can think of. Clay bead bracelets are fun to make for many ages, including older kids.

I actually bought my 13-year-old niece the same clay bead kit I bought myself and we both love making jewelry from it. Also, keep in mind any of these clay bead bracelet ideas could be repeated or made larger into a necklace if you wanted.

Related: Check out more DIY accessories in our jewelry archive.

Clay Bead Bracelet Supplies:

• Clay beads
• Elastic cord/Crystal string – I like to use colors but clear works well, too.
• Acrylic letter beads and other accent beads or charms (some kits come with these)
• Crimping beads – for closures
• Connectors – I use these on bracelets with an elastic cord so you can pull it over your hand, so you don’t need to fasten a clasp, which can be difficult one-handed.
• Scissors – the smaller, the better (some jewelry pliers would work for this too)
• Jewelry pliers – for crimping beads and other jewelry making tasks
• Bead board – or a felt to cover your work surface

There are many different ways you can design your clay bead bracelet with different accessories or clasp and closures. But these are the basic supplies that I used to make the bracelets you see pictured.

How to Make Bead Bracelets:

• Design your bracelet. I like to lay out the beads on my bead board to make sure I am happy with my design before I start stringing the beads together. This way, I can make sure I like the colors or I can change out the charms or other accent beads I’m using in my design.
• Cut a piece of elastic cord twice as big as the widest part of your hand so you have plenty to work with.
• Loop the bottom of the cord through a crimping bead, then one side of the connector, then back through the same crimping bead again.
• Use your pliers to crimp (smash down) the crimping bead, fastening the cord in place.
• String your design onto the cord.
• Check that the bracelet is the length you design (if not, add or take off beads).
• Add another crimping bead to the end, loop the cord through the other side of the connector, and then through the same crimping bead and pull tight.
• Use your pliers again to crimp down on the bead, fastening the cord in place.
• If you have extra cord on either side, you can snip it off and/or tuck it into the beads beside it.

Clay Bead Bracelet Ideas:

Here are some ideas for different kinds of designs and color combinations you can try!

• Multicolored! You can repeat the colors or just add them at random.
• Use all primary colors (red, blue, yellow)
• Use all secondary colors (orange, green, purple)
• Monochromatic – use all one tone or only one color bead for a solid look.
• All white or black
• Break up clusters with charms or a glass bead.
• Add your name or a friend’s name for gifting.
• Add a charm or multiple charms for a charm bracelet look.
• Fill most of the bracelet with small gold beads and use the colored clay beads as an accent.

Where to Buy Beads?

Below, I will link many of the specific beads and charms I’ve bought online. But also keep in mind that you can buy beads and jewelry making supplies from many different places like thrift stores, estate sales, Etsy and eBay.

Also, if you have old jewelry that you no longer wear, you might take it apart and repurpose it in your designs.

1. My favorite basic clay bead bracelet kit (includes cord and tools)
2. Metal letters
3. Fruit charms
4. Mushroom beads
5. Freshwater pearl beads

DIY clay bead bracelets are such a fun project anyone can do. I also love that it’s something you can work on while watching a movie. 🙂

Related: 15 Crafts You Can Do While Watching TV

Vice President Kamala Harris will attend the funeral of Tyre Nichols in Memphis on Wednesday, according to a White House official, joining four other senior level Biden administration officials.

Harris spoke over the phone on Tuesday morning with Tyre Nichols’ mother and step farther, RowVaughn Wells and Rodney Wells, the official said.

“The vice president expressed her deep condolences and offered the family support as they continue to navigate this challenging time,” the official added. Harris is attending at the invitation of the Wells family. President Joe Biden spoke with Nichols’ mother and stepfather on Friday, the White House said.

Family members of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd are also expected to be at the funeral, according to a news release from attorney Ben Crump. Tamika Palmer, the mother of Breonna Taylor, and Philonise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, are among the guests, Crump said.

Rev. Al Sharpton will deliver the eulogy for Nichols at the funeral at the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis, according to a statement.

Some background: In March 2020, Breonna Taylor was killed in a botched police raid at her apartment. Police announced themselves and battered down the front door while Taylor and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, were in bed.

George Floyd died at the hands of police two weeks after Taylor’s death gained national attention. Video camera footage showed one officer — in an effort to restrain Floyd — knelt on his neck for over nine minutes.

Both Floyd and Taylor’s deaths prompted calls for police reform and sparked protests. The video of Floyd’s arrest and death lead to a week of demonstrations across the country, with other occasionally violent protests popping up throughout the summer of 2020 in response to new incidents of questionable use of force by police officers.

CNN’s Peter Nickeas contributed reporting to this post.

Samsung’s February Unpacked event is now underway. The event started at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET) Wednesday at the Masonic Auditorium in San Francisco, and is expected to usher in the company’s latest flagship smartphone series — the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra.

If you want to tune in to Samsung Unpacked, here’s what you need to know.

Now playing:
Watch this:

What We Expect From Samsung Unpacked 2023

3:36

What time is Samsung Unpacked 2023?

Samsung Unpacked 2023 is set to start on Feb. 1 at 10 a.m. PT. Below you’ll find the start times for various regions across the globe:

• Honolulu: 8 a.m. HST
• Los Angeles: 10 a.m. PT
• Mexico City: 12 p.m. CST
• New York: 1 p.m. ET
• Sao Paulo: 3 p.m. BRT
• London: 6 p.m. GMT
• Cairo: 8 p.m. EET
• Mumbai: 11:30 p.m. IST
• Shanghai: 2 a.m. CST (Feb. 2)
• Tokyo: 3 a.m. JST (Feb. 2)
• Melbourne: 5 a.m. AEDT (Feb. 2)

Where can I watch Samsung Unpacked 2023?

You can watch the Samsung Unpacked 2023 livestream on Samsung.com or on Samsung’s YouTube channel. Samsung’s YouTube stream is embedded at the top of this post. CNET will be reporting live from the event, with updates leading up to and during the livestream hitting our Samsung Unpacked live blog.

CNET will also be having a watch party, which you can join over at our official YouTube channel.

What will be launched at Samsung Unpacked 2023?

We’re expecting Samsung to announce the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra, but there are usually a few surprises. Check out Lisa Eadicicco’s commentary on what Samsung needs to do to improve its next flagship phone.

Read more: Seriously, Hold Off on Buying a Samsung Galaxy S22