Democrat Mary Peltola defeats Sarah Palin in special election for Alaska's House seat

Democrat Mary Peltola is projected to win the Alaska special general election for the state’s sole House seat, ABC News reports.

Peltola defeated two Republicans -- former Republican Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Nick Begich -- and will be the first Democrat to represent the state in the House in nearly half a century, succeeding Rep. Don Young, who died in March.

Peltola will also be the first Alaska Native to represent the state in Congress.

Begich had been knocked out under the ranked-choice rules; Peltola defeated Palin about 51-49%.

“What’s most important is that I’m an Alaskan being sent to represent all Alaskans. Yes, being Alaska Native is part of my ethnicity, but I’m much more than my ethnicity,” Peltola said following the announcement of the results according to the Anchorage Daily News.

Mary Peltola attends the Congressional Candidate Forum in Anchorage, Alaska, May 12, 2022. The Washington Post via Getty Images, FILE

The election, which was called on Wednesday some two weeks after voting ended, was historic for a more technical reason: It was the first Alaska race that used ranked-choice ballots.

The process -- which advocates said would encourage more consensus-building but Palin criticized as "convoluted" -- worked like this: If a candidate in the election had initially won more than 50% of first-choice votes, they would have won the race outright. That didn't happen in the special race on Aug. 17. (Peltola initially ended up with about 40%.)

Then, the candidate with the least amount of first-place votes -- Begich -- was eliminated and that candidate's voters instead had their ballots redistributed to their second choice until one candidate got at least 50%.

U.S. House candidate former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference CPAC held at the Hilton Anatole on August 4, 2022, in Dallas.

Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Peltola is an indigenous Yup-ik Alaskan and former member of the Alaska House of Representatives. As a state lawmaker, she chaired the bipartisan Bush Caucus of rural politicians. In addition, she served in the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission before leaving for her congressional campaign.

On the trail, she prioritized climate change, responsible resource development and infrastructure for airports, ferries, highways and energy grids.

Peltola will only serve the remainder of Young’s term, which ends in January. She is on the ballot again in November -- along with Palin and Begich -- to try and win a full two-year term.

In a statement Wednesday, Palin repeated her criticism of ranked-choice voting, saying it "was sold as the way to make elections better reflect the will of the people" but that it has the "opposite" effect.

She said that "though we’re disappointed in this outcome, Alaskans know I’m the last one who’ll ever retreat. Instead, I’m going to reload. With optimism that Alaskans learn from this voting system mistake and correct it in the next election, let’s work even harder to send an America First conservative to Washington in November."

#Democrat #Mary #Peltola #defeats #Sarah #Palin #special #election #Alaskas #House #seat https://www.globalcourant.com/democrat-mary-peltola-defeats-sarah-palin-in-special-election-for-alaskas-house-seat/?feed_id=18555&_unique_id=6310172a9de37

Justice dept filing on Trump docs suggests special master unnecessary

A judge earlier indicated that she was inclined to grant the Trump legal team’s request for a special master to oversee the review of documents taken by the FBI from Mar-a-Lago to protect documents covered by attorney-client privilege

Former president Donald Trump is also under investigation by the New York attorney general. (Julia Nikhinson / AP)

The Justice Department has completed its review of potentially privileged documents seized from former president Donald Trump's Florida estate this month and has identified “a limited set of materials that potentially contain attorney-client privileged information.” The filing from the department on Monday follows a judge's weekend order indicating that she was inclined to grant the Trump legal team's request for a special master who would oversee the review of documents taken during the August 8 search of the Mar-a-Lago estate and ensure that any that might be protected by claims of legal privilege be set aside. In revealing that the department had completed its review of potentially privileged communications, law enforcement officials appeared to be suggesting that the appointment of a third-party special master might now be moot. The department had been relying on a specialised team to filter out potentially privileged communications and said Monday that it had completed its review of those materials before the judge's order. The Justice Department on Friday disclosed that it was investigating Trump for removing White House records because it believed he illegally held documents including some involving intelligence-gathering and clandestine human sources – among America's most closely held secrets. US District Judge Aileen Cannon said on Saturday that it was her “preliminary intent” to appoint a special master — which would be an early procedural win for the Trump legal team — but gave the department an opportunity to respond and scheduled a Thursday hearing to discuss the matter further. The judge also directed the Justice Department to submit under seal a more detailed description of the materials that were seized from Trump's estate in Palm Beach, something the department on Monday said it would do. READ MORE: FBI affidavit shows recovery of secret info led to raid on Trump home White House supports review of content from Trump home The White House on Monday said it is "appropriate" that the US intelligence community is reviewing potential national security risks if Trump took ultra-sensitive material to his residence after his term ended. The White House is not involved in that probe of materials recovered during a search of Trump's Florida residence, the Biden administration said. National Intelligence Director (DNI) Avril Haines said in a letter to lawmakers on Friday that her office is working with the Justice Department to "facilitate a classification review" of documents including those recovered during the August 8 search. In the letter to lawmakers, Haines said that DNI "will also lead an Intelligence Community (IC) assessment of the potential risk to national security that would result from the disclosure of the relevant documents" including those seized. She said the DNI was aiming not to interfere with the ongoing criminal investigation. The FBI's extraordinary search of Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach ended with the seizure of 11 sets of classified records including some labelled "top secret" as documents that could gravely threaten national security if exposed. The search was part of a federal investigation into whether Trump illegally removed and kept documents when he left office in January 2021 after losing the 2020 election to President Joe Biden and whether Trump tried to obstruct the probe. READ MORE: Explainer: Why is Trump facing a presidential records probe? Source: TRTWorld and agencies

#Justice #dept #filing #Trump #docs #suggests #special #master #unnecessary https://www.globalcourant.com/justice-dept-filing-on-trump-docs-suggests-special-master-unnecessary/?feed_id=17554&_unique_id=630d4383be02f

Judge plans to appoint a 'special master' to review documents in Trump's records case

An aerial view of former U.S. President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home after Trump said that FBI agents raided it, in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. August 15, 2022. Marco Bello | Reuters

A federal judge in Florida told the Justice Department on Saturday to provide her with more specific information about the classified records removed from former President Donald Trump's Florida estate and said it was her "preliminary intent" to appoint a special master in the case. The two-page order from U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon signals that she's inclined to grant a request from Trump's lawyers, who this week asked for the appointment of an independent special master to review the records taken from Mar-a-Lago and identify any that may be protected by executive privilege. The judge scheduled a Thursday hearing to discuss the matter further. A special master is often a former judge. Cannon also directed the Justice Department to file under seal with her more detailed descriptions of the material taken from Trump's property. The former president's lawyers have complained that investigators did not disclose enough information to them about what specific documents were removed when agents executed a search warrant on Aug. 8 to look for classified documents.

The special master appointment, if it happens, is unlikely to significantly affect the direction of the Justice Department investigation, though it's possible an outside review of the documents could slow the probe down.

#Judge #plans #appoint #special #master #review #documents #Trumps #records #case https://www.globalcourant.com/judge-plans-to-appoint-a-special-master-to-review-documents-in-trumps-records-case/?feed_id=16812&_unique_id=630ae06801fa0

Judge says she has 'prelimiinary intent' to appoint special master to oversee

In doing so, the court put the parties on notice that she had a "preliminary intent" to appoint the special master, a third-party attorney who would filter out privileged material seized in the search.

Ahead of the hearing, the government faces a Tuesday deadline to respond to Trump's request in writing, according to the scheduling order from the court. US District Judge Aileen Cannon, who was nominated to the bench by Trump in 2020, is asking the Department of Justice to file a public response, and additionally file under seal records going into greater detail about what was seized from the search as well as a notice laying out the status of the review of the seized materials, including the process of filtering out privileged information. Trump's reply to DOJ's response is due Wednesday.

The hearing will be at 1 p.m. ET Thursday at the courthouse in West Palm Beach. Cannon said at the end of the order that it should not be construed as her final decision on the matter.

On Friday, Trump responded to Cannon's request that he elaborate on his request for the special master by pointing to some additional legal discussion of case law that he said supported his request.

Cannon had identified several shortcomings in his Monday filing requesting more oversight.

Trump's Friday submission came hours after the Justice Department unsealed a redacted version of the affidavit it used to obtain the warrant, which laid out new details about the FBI's investigation and the highly sensitive nature of classified material that had been previously retrieved from the Palm Beach, Florida, resort.

Trump claimed that the newly released redacted affidavit the FBI submitted in court to obtain the warrant for the search raised "more questions than answers."

"The Redacted Affidavit underscores why this Motion should be granted, as it provides almost no information that would allow Movant to understand why the raid took place, or what was taken from his home," Trump's wrote on the filing.

This story has been updated with additional information.

#Judge #prelimiinary #intent #appoint #special #master #oversee https://www.globalcourant.com/judge-says-she-has-prelimiinary-intent-to-appoint-special-master-to-oversee/?feed_id=16728&_unique_id=630a9faa911c4

Exclusive Preview of 'Special' Medal to be Released on I-Day

Last Updated: August 14, 2022, 01:02 IST

The 75th Independence Medal has Ashoka Lion on the front and Ashoka Chakra on the back. (Image: Special arrangement)

There is a tradition of giving out commemorative Independence Day medals to the armed forces and central armed police forces every 25 years

India will be awarding newly minted “special” medals to its bravest citizens on the 75th year of the country’s independence. There is a tradition of giving out such medals to the armed forces and central armed police forces every 25 years. These were last awarded on August 15, 1997, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of freedom from British rule.

According to details of an exclusive preview, the new medal will have the Ashoka Lion on the front and Ashoka Chakra on the back. It will be released on August 15, a perfect finishing touch to celebrations centred around the Centre’s flagship, ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ programme.

The central government had approved the special medal to be awarded to members of the armed forces as well as CAPF days ago, as per reports.

In the past, India has awarded circular medals with a diameter of 35 mm, made of cupro-nickel and attached to a horizontal bar.

Here’s all you need to know about these special medals:

1. The central government, as per tradition, has issued a commemorative Independence Medal on the 75th anniversary of freedom.
2. The medal will be awarded to all the serving personnel of the armed forces — army, air force and navy — and central armed police forces, as well as state police units.
3. The circular medal will have Ashoka Lion on the front, Ashoka Chakra on the back and a blue-coloured ribbon with the colours of the national flag. The medal also has 75th Anniversary of Independence written on it along with 1947-2022.
4. 50th Independence Medal: This medal had an image of Red Fort embossed with ’50th Anniversary of Independence 1947-1997′ written along the rim in English. The Indian Union’s map was featured on the back. The medal was awarded to all serving personnel of army, navy and air force, territorial army, other reserve forces, railway police force, paramilitary forces, including home guards, civil defence organisation and fire services.
5. 25th Independence Medal: The phrase ‘25th Independence Anniversary Medal’ was imprinted beneath the State Emblem on the front. Its back featured the Ashoka Chakra, with the dates 1947 and 1972 embossed around it. It was given to the three services, reserve forces, territorial army, and technical staff of the Intelligence Bureau, Calcutta Special Police Force, home guards, civil defence organisation, fire services, jail staff, and Central Industrial Security Force among others.
6. First Independence Medal in 1947: According to reports, the first medal was distributed to all Indian men and women as well as Nepalese Gurkhas serving in the armed forces. The medal was also awarded to all princes of states in power who had joined the Dominion of India and anybody serving in such state forces. The medal was also given to Britons.

Read the Latest News and Breaking News here

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/exclusive-preview-of-special-medal-to-be-released-on-i-day/?feed_id=10524&_unique_id=62f829f8984b1

More executions will force ASEAN rethink on Myanmar ties: Special envoy

Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, speaking in his capacity as special envoy to Myanmar of the 10-member ASEAN, described the executions of Myanmar dissidents as a “setback” to his mediation.

Prak Sokhonn said the nine ASEAN members aside from Myanmar had “agreed to see how things will evolve in the coming weeks and months.” (Reuters)

Efforts by Myanmar’s neighbours to help restore peace and normalcy to the strife-torn Southeast Asian nation have been hindered by the country’s recent executions of four political activists, Cambodia has said.

Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, speaking in his capacity as special envoy to Myanmar of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, warned on Saturday that further executions would force the regional grouping to reconsider how it engages with fellow member Myanmar.

Cambodia is the current chair of the regional grouping, and Myanmar is not welcome to send members of its ruling military government to ASEAN meetings because of its failure to cooperate with a plan agreed upon last year to work toward restoring peace.

ASEAN meeting’s final communique, issued on Friday, included a section criticising Myanmar for its lack of progress in ending violence there, but with weaker language than several countries had hoped for.

On Saturday, Prak Sokhonn  said the nine ASEAN members aside from Myanmar had “agreed to see how things will evolve in the coming weeks and months.”

He said “if more executions are conducted, then things will have to be reconsidered,” which suggested that ASEAN is prepared to downgrade its engagement with Myanmar’s military government.

Prak Sokhonn said progress has been made on providing humanitarian aid to Myanmar, but not on the other main points in ASEAN’s plan: stopping the violence and opening up a political dialogue among all the country’s contending parties.

“The only will I see now is to continue to fight,” he said. “Why? Because of the lack of trust and the execution of the activists, whether it is legal or illegal.”

“And without this trust, the fight will continue and the political process will never start because no one will come if they fear for their life,” he said.

Prak Sokhonn declined to say whether he had been in contact with the opposition group, but declared that he was free as special envoy to engage with anyone outside Myanmar.

ASEAN has been criticised by some of its own members as well as other countries for doing too little to pressure Myanmar to implement the five-point consensus.

READ MORE: UN Security Council condemns Myanmar executions in rare consensus

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNVVET_e-q8[/embed]

Myanmar hits out at ASEAN

Myanmar’s foreign ministry, meanwhile, issued a statement on Friday, saying it objected to a reference in the ASEAN joint statement to a “lack of progress” in implementing the five-point consensus because “it neglects Myanmar’s efforts on its implementation.”

It also said that the four men recently executed were not punished because they were political activists but because they were “found guilty of masterminding, inciting, supporting, arming and committing terrorist activities which caused tremendous loss of innocent lives.”

The opposition forces in Myanmar operate as an underground alternative administration, the National Unity Government, and its affiliated armed wing, the People’s Defence Force.

Myanmar’s military government has branded the groups as “terrorists” and even declared contact with them to be illegal.

“If ASEAN member states and external partners genuinely wish to help Myanmar in restoring normalcy, they should not encourage engaging with the terrorist groups such as NUG and PDF and should avoid any actions that could encourage terrorism,” said Friday’s statement from Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry.

READ MORE: Who were the four activists put to death by Myanmar’s military rulers?

Source: AP

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/more-executions-will-force-asean-rethink-on-myanmar-ties-special-envoy/?feed_id=7318&_unique_id=62ee2aece7755