Category Archives: politics

family, health, healthcare, law, politics

US abortions dropped in the first half of 2025: Report

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**US Abortions Declined in the First Half of 2025, Report Finds**

By Snehil Singh | September 30, 2025 | 4:24 PM

The number of abortions performed by clinicians in the United States has declined during the first half of 2025, according to a recent report by the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights. The report highlights a 5% decrease compared to the same period last year, equating to an average of approximately 4,700 fewer abortions each month.

### Pronounced Decline in Restrictive States

The decline is most notable in states enforcing six-week gestation bans, as well as in states bordering those with total abortion bans. These restrictions appear to have had a significant impact on abortion rates in these regions.

### Trends in Out-of-State Travel for Abortions

Despite the overall decrease, traveling across state lines for abortion services remains more common than before the 2022 Dobbs decision, when the US Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution does not guarantee the right to abortion. In early 2025, about one in seven people seeking abortions traveled out of state, marking an 8% decrease from the same period last year.

Florida, a key access point for abortion care, experienced a substantial 27% drop in clinician-provided abortions during this timeframe.

### Legal Protections and Medication Access

In response to tightening restrictions, eight states have enacted shield laws that protect abortion providers operating in jurisdictions where abortion remains legal. The Society of Family Planning reported nearly 14,000 abortions facilitated under these laws in December 2024 alone.

Federal agencies are currently reviewing the safety and efficacy of mifepristone, a medication used for medication abortions. This review has raised concerns about potential access limitations, amid ongoing debates over regulatory oversight.

### Advocacy and the Need for Support

Kelly Baden, vice president of public policy at the Guttmacher Institute, emphasized the critical need for shield laws and financial assistance to support individuals seeking abortion care in restrictive states. Major medical organizations have also called for wider accessibility of mifepristone, underscoring its importance in abortion care.

While the US Supreme Court did not block access to mifepristone in June 2024, it left open the possibility for future regulatory changes. This decision continues to place pressure on federal agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), regarding the drug’s availability.

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As abortion access remains heavily impacted by state-level policies and ongoing federal reviews, support systems and protective legislation play an essential role in ensuring individuals can obtain the care they need.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/world/us-abortions-provided-by-clinicians-dropped-in-2025-first-half/story

entertainment, politics, regional

Pawan Singh to contest Bihar election? Bhojpuri actor meets Shah

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**Pawan Singh to Contest Bihar Election? Bhojpuri Actor Meets Shah**

*By Snehil Singh | Sep 30, 2025, 05:15 PM*

Bhojpuri actor and singer Pawan Singh is reportedly gearing up to make his entry into Bihar politics ahead of the upcoming elections.

On Tuesday, Pawan Singh met with leaders of the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party, signaling a possible foray into the political arena.

This development has sparked speculation about his candidature and the potential impact of his popularity in the Bihar polls. Further updates are awaited as the election season approaches.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/politics/bhojpuri-actor-pawan-singh-may-enter-bihar-poll-fray/story

celebrity, crime, entertainment, law, politics

Urvashi Rautela appears before ED in illegal betting app case

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**Urvashi Rautela Appears Before ED in Illegal Betting App Case**

*By Isha Sharma | Sep 30, 2025 | 12:01 pm*

Bollywood actor Urvashi Rautela appeared at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office on Tuesday after being summoned as part of an ongoing investigation into the illegal betting app, 1xBet. The probe centers around a money laundering case linked to the betting platform.

Earlier, TMC MP Mimi Chakraborty was also summoned by the ED, which believes both actresses have connections to 1xBet through brand endorsements.

### Investigation into Illegal Betting Platforms and Celebrity Promoters

The ED’s inquiry into 1xBet is part of a broader crackdown on illegal betting platforms and their celebrity promoters. Several high-profile individuals, including cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina, have already been summoned in relation to the investigation.

Urvashi Rautela’s statements will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), according to reports from PTI.

### Proceedings Against Actors Involved in Betting Promotions

In May, Telangana Police booked 25 actors, including Rana Daggubati and Prakash Raj, for allegedly promoting betting platforms. Both actors have denied any wrongdoing, stating they only endorsed platforms legal in regions permitting online skill-based games.

Other celebrities named in the case include Manchu Lakshmi, Nidhi Agarwal, Ananya Nagalla, and TV anchor Srimukhi.

Earlier this year, actress Kangana Ranaut publicly criticized celebrities for endorsing betting apps, revealing that she had turned down several lucrative offers to promote such platforms.

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The investigation continues as authorities aim to crack down on illegal betting and money laundering activities involving prominent figures from the entertainment and sports industries.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/actor-urvashi-rautela-appears-before-ed-in-betting-app-case/story

america, business, politics

Episode 2: Inside the Fight Against Mamdani

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**WalkAway Campaign YouTube Channel**
*September 29, 2025*

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Brand stated, “My button says ‘End the smear and do the shmear’ for Mamdani with a bagel and cream cheese.” This was a strategic response to Erin Burnett’s question: *“How can Jewish voters vote for you given the past accusations of your being anti-Semitic and pro-Palestinian?”*

His answer continued: *“Voters know I stand for all the policies overall that mean lower food prices and better lives for them.”* However, many felt this was not a sufficient answer.

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**A Jewish Voter’s Concern**

“But, but why do I get pushed into this van with the others? I’m a Jewish voter who voted for Mamdani,” expressed one concerned individual.

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**Comment by frank ballenger**
*“There’s a battle outside and it’s raging. It’ll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls.”*

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**Response to frank ballenger**

“Hes such a phony. He fabricated an entire load of BS as a response to constant messages telling him ‘the only good Muslim is a dead Muslim.’ Fighting back tears, he says:

*‘My focus has always been on making this a city that’s affordable, on making the city that every New Yorker sees themselves in. And it pains me to be painted as if I am somehow in opposition to the very Jewish New Yorkers that I know and love and are such a key part of this city.’*

What a fraud. What a liar.

He supports the killers of Jews in Israel. He is in a religion that, as claimed by the poster, requires endless jihad, commands followers to kill Jews, condemns non-believers to slave status, and allows followers to lie, cheat, kill, and steal to achieve world domination. They label him a communist, “which is just as deadly and sinister as his Muslim cult.”

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**Comment by Organic Panic**
*”‘Was I molested? I think so,’ Ashley Biden responded, referring to her father joining her in the shower.”*

**Response to Organic Panic**

“Has he lived in NYC a long time?”

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*Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright.*
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/4343414/posts

government, law, politics, society, transportation

X: CDLs Being Given in Blue States to “NO NAME GIVEN”

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**The Number of Trucking Companies and CDLs Issued Without a Full Legal Name Is Truly Absurd**
*Posted by TigerClaws (MaybeDanielleLeee)*

I’ve been talking about this issue for months. The number of trucking companies and commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) issued without a full legal name is truly absurd.

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**Comments:**

**TigerClaws:**
For my job, I sometimes pull a trailer that has to follow all the Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations. I’m paranoid about weigh stations and logging. I’m sure I’m doing some things wrong because, as an occasional driver, it’s very complex. Yet these people get away with bogus licenses, illegal status, and can’t even speak the language. I’d love it if DOT officers announced that they were concentrating only on clearing the roads of these individuals.

**cyclotic:**
This has been going on forever. Who do you think is hauling out of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach?

**Yogafist:**
I went to trucking school for three months and then had my skills tested thoroughly for four months by a trainer before the company let me drive on my own. I can’t imagine anyone doing any less.

—

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*Disclaimer:* Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by applicable laws.
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/4343386/posts

business, government, politics, technology

EU Competitiveness Fund will not finance research activities

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The European Commission has confirmed that all research and innovation funding will be channelled through Horizon Europe. This comes under its proposal for the post-2027 EU budget instruments.

The planned European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) will focus exclusively on deployment, separating its role from research and innovation funding.

According to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, all research and innovation activities must be funded through a Framework Programme. Massimiliano Esposito, head of the strategic planning unit in the Commission’s research directorate general, emphasized this point on September 23.
https://sciencebusiness.net/news/r-d-funding/planning-fp10/eu-competitiveness-fund-will-not-finance-research-activities

bureaucracy, government, politics

MP News: Another List Of Transfers To Be Released Before Meet Of Commissioners, Collectors

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**Possible Transfer of Collectors Before Upcoming Conference in Madhya Pradesh**

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The transfer list of collectors, which was put on hold due to Dussehra festivities, may be released before the upcoming conference of commissioners and collectors. Officials believe that if the list is not announced prior to the conference, the meeting will lose its significance for those officers who are likely to be shifted.

The government is currently considering changes in the postings of collectors across various districts, as well as other key officers. Recently, the collectors of Indore, Barwani, and a few other districts have already been replaced. Now, more changes could be made affecting officers posted in several additional districts.

There is ongoing deliberation within the government on whether these transfers should take effect before or after the conference. Notable administrative changes are expected in important districts such as Bhopal, Dhar, and Chhindwara.

From the officers’ perspective, it is preferable that the proposed transfer list be issued before the conference. This would enable them to immediately start focusing on the government’s priority areas once they assume charge in their new districts. Since a discussion on priority areas is planned during the conference, officers feel that completing administrative changes beforehand would be more productive.

Many officers already have a clear idea about who may be transferred, which has reportedly affected their interest in their current postings. They are eager to take charge in their new locations. Meanwhile, officers from departments where changes are anticipated are actively preparing for the conference. If transfers are delayed until after the conference, the incoming officers may face difficulties in managing their duties effectively.

**Officers with Additional Charges Managing Multiple Departments**

Several officers are currently handling additional charges and overseeing critical departments across the state. These include the Home, Environment, Sports, MSME, and Animal Husbandry departments. The government is expected to make decisions shortly regarding these administrative arrangements.

The forthcoming decisions on transfers and departmental charges are likely to impact the administrative efficiency and implementation of government priorities throughout Madhya Pradesh.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/mp-news-another-list-of-transfers-to-be-released-before-meet-of-commissioners-collectors

conflict, international relations, Middle East, politics

Trump and Netanyahu meet at White House as pressure mounts to end war in Gaza

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US President Donald Trump is hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for critical talks aimed at ending the war in Gaza and developing a U.S. plan for post-war governance in the Palestinian territory.

The White House talks come at a tenuous moment. Israel is increasingly isolated, losing support from many countries that were long its steadfast allies. At home, Mr. Netanyahu’s governing coalition appears more fragile than ever. Meanwhile, the White House is showing signs of impatience.

The question now is whether Mr. Trump, who has offered steadfast backing to Mr. Netanyahu throughout the war, will change his tone and turn up the pressure on Israel to wind down the conflict. As he welcomed Mr. Netanyahu to the White House, Mr. Trump responded affirmatively when asked by reporters whether he was confident a deal would soon be reached to end the fighting between Israel and Hamas.

“I am. I’m very confident,” Mr. Trump said.

Earlier, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt urged both sides to finalize an agreement to bring an end to the nearly two-year-old war in Gaza.

“Ultimately the president knows when you get to a good deal, both sides are going to leave a little bit unhappy,” Ms. Leavitt told reporters. “But we need this conflict to end.”

Mr. Trump and Mr. Netanyahu first held talks with aides in the Oval Office, with a joint press conference expected later.

The uncertainty surrounding the meeting casts it as one of the most critical in the years-long relationship between the two leaders, said Professor Eytan Gilboa, an expert on US-Israeli relations at Bar-Ilan and Reichman universities.

“Netanyahu might have to choose between Trump and his coalition members, a number of whom want the war to continue,” Mr. Gilboa said. A move by Mr. Netanyahu to end the war would leave him on shaky political ground at home, just a year before elections.

Mr. Trump joined forces with Mr. Netanyahu during Israel’s brief war with Iran in June, ordering US stealth bombers to strike three nuclear sites. He has supported the Israeli leader during his corruption trial, describing the case as a witch hunt. But the relationship has become more tense lately.

Mr. Trump was frustrated by Israel’s failed strike this month on Hamas officials in Qatar—a US ally in the region that had been hosting negotiations to end the war in Gaza. Recent comments have hinted at growing impatience from Washington.

Last week, Mr. Trump vowed to prevent Israel from annexing the West Bank, an idea promoted by some of Mr. Netanyahu’s hard-line governing partners. The international community opposes annexation, saying it would destroy hopes for a two-state solution.

On Friday, Mr. Trump raised expectations for the meeting with Mr. Netanyahu, telling reporters the US was very close to a deal on Gaza.

Mr. Trump made finding quick ends to the Gaza war, as well as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a central plank of his successful 2024 presidential campaign. He has struggled on both fronts.

Mr. Trump’s proposal to stop the war in Gaza calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages within 48 hours, and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian enclave, according to three Arab officials briefed on the plan. Hamas is believed to be holding 48 hostages, 20 of whom are believed by Israel to be alive. The militant group has demanded Israel agree to end the war and withdraw from all of Gaza as part of any permanent ceasefire.

Mr. Trump discussed the plan with Arab and Islamic leaders in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. It does not include the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, which Mr. Trump appeared to endorse earlier this year.

The 21-point proposal also calls for an end to Hamas’ rule of Gaza and the disarmament of the militant group, said the officials briefed on the plan.

Hundreds of Palestinians, including many serving life sentences, will be released by Israel, according to the proposal. The plan also includes the establishment of an international security force to take over law enforcement in postwar Gaza.

A Palestinian committee of technocrats would oversee the civilian affairs of the strip, with power handed over later to a reformed Palestinian Authority, they said. Mr. Netanyahu has rejected any role for the Authority, the internationally recognized representative of the Palestinians, in post-war Gaza.

A Hamas official said the group was briefed on the plan but has yet to receive an official offer from Egyptian and Qatari mediators. The group has repeatedly rejected laying down arms and has linked its weapons to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Mr. Netanyahu acknowledged the U.S. plan, saying, “… and I hope we can make it a go.”
https://www.breakingnews.ie/world/trump-and-netanyahu-meet-at-white-house-as-pressure-mounts-to-end-war-in-gaza-1812667.html

antisemitism, education, international relations, politics

‘Today, we burn the Jews’: Scandal after Argentinian high schoolers shout antisemitic slogan

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**“Today, we burn the Jews”: Scandal after Argentinian High Schoolers Shout Antisemitic Slogan**

A disturbing incident unfolded in Argentina when a group of high school students were heard shouting the antisemitic slogan, “Today, we burn the Jews.” The scandal has sparked widespread outrage across the country.

Argentinian President Javier Milei strongly condemned the incident, describing it as reprehensible and unacceptable in any context. Speaking out against hate speech, Milei emphasized the importance of combating antisemitism and promoting respect and tolerance in Argentine society.

President Milei recently addressed the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the U.N. headquarters in New York on September 24, 2025, underscoring Argentina’s commitment to human rights and peaceful coexistence.

*Photo Credit: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters*
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-869006

government, human rights, politics, protests, security

Ousted Nepalese PM KP Sharma Oli says he won`t flee amid political turmoil

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Former Prime Minister of Nepal and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has dismissed rumours that he plans to flee the country, accusing the current government of attempting to strip him of his security and official privileges, according to a report by Dhaka Tribune.

Speaking at a gathering of the party’s youth wing, Yuwa Sangh Nepal, in Gundu, Bhaktapur, Oli made it clear that he intends to stay and continue the political struggle. “Do you think we will flee by handing over the nation to this groundless government?” he asked his supporters. Oli emphasized his determination to “restore peace, good governance, and constitutional order.”

Oli recently vacated the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar on September 9, following weeks of Gen Z-led protests that culminated in the fall of his government. Since then, he has relocated to a rented home in Gundu after his personal residence in Balkot was set on fire by demonstrators, Dhaka Tribune reported.

He accused the Sushila Karki-led administration of lacking legitimacy, claiming it rose to power not through the will of the people but through “vandalism and arson.” Oli also challenged the government to release any communications he had with state officials during the protests. “Publish them with courage. Make public the instructions I gave,” he said, suggesting he has nothing to hide.

Expressing concern over threats of fresh attacks, Oli criticized the government for failing to ensure his security. “On social media, there are open calls to attack my residence. What is the government doing? Just watching?” he questioned.

Oli also objected to reports that the government has decided to withhold passports of several leaders, including himself, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Arzu Rana Deuba, Ramesh Lekhak, and Deepak Khadka. The former prime minister accused the Karki government of “throwing the country into insecurity” by targeting political opponents, as reported by Dhaka Tribune.

Oli’s government was toppled on the second day of the Gen Z protests. Rights groups have held him and then-Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak responsible for the excessive use of force that resulted in dozens of deaths during the unrest.

A monitoring report by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) released on Friday stated that the government’s failure to anticipate the intensity of the protests and the declining morale of security forces contributed to heavy casualties and damage. The report noted that while the first day of protests on September 8 remained peaceful, police shootings triggered widespread violence the following day.

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*This story has been sourced from a third-party syndicated feed. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for the dependability, trustworthiness, or reliability of the content. Mid-day management reserves the sole right to alter, delete, or remove (without notice) content at its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.*
https://www.mid-day.com/news/world-news/article/ousted-nepalese-pm-kp-sharma-oli-says-he-wont-flee-amid-political-turmoil-23596281