Category: News
Imran Khan & Wife Sentenced To 17 Years In Latest ‘Sham, Secretive’ Trial
Imran Khan & Wife Sentenced To 17 Years In Latest ‘Sham, Secretive’ Trial
The Khan family is alleging a politically motivated set-up by longtime enemies of Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan.
This after he and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were sentenced to 17 years in prison on Saturday after a court convicted them of unlawfully keeping and selling high-value state gifts, which caps the lengthy court case centered on several corruption allegations. He’s at the center of a series of cases, which have already resulted in past convictions.
The couple was in this instance charged with selling official gifts, including jewelry received from the Saudi government, at prices far below their market value.
Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, has blasted the trial as a “sham” on social media, and Khan’s supporters say the current government has tried to throw anything at him to see what sticks. It also said that a closed door trial is not a fair trial, and that essentially this was a secret court.
And Aleema Khanum, Khan’s sister, has released a statement saying the charges have been fabricated and are ridiculous. “Do you really believe Imran would spend 10 years in prison over an underpriced necklace?” she said. “Seventeen years for this conviction? This is clearly a setup. It shows a judicial system that has collapsed.”
Prosecutors argued that the couple greatly profited from dealing in official state gifts. According to more details:
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman presented a jewelry set made by the Italian luxury brand Bulgari to Khan and his wife in May 2021.
Prosecutors said Khan and his wife had said the value of the gifts was just over $10,000, well short of their real market value of $285,521 (€243,780).
According to Pakistani law, government officials and politicians are allowed to keep gifts received from foreign dignitaries if they are under a certain value. To keep the gifts, they must purchase them at market value and declare the proceeds from any sale. Khan and Bibi were sentenced to 10 years for criminal breach of trust and seven years for corruption.
Khan has in the last year gotten some international support and backing amid the saga, with a United Nations panel of exports having announced last year that his detention “had no legal basis and appears to have been intended to disqualify him from running for political office“.
Current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who emerged victorious in the last elections while Khan had languished in jail, was seen more as the “military’s man” in Islamabad, while Khan’s legacy has sought to be erased by those same elite powers.
🇵🇰 NO COURTROOM, NO DEFENSE, NO JUSTICE: IMRAN KHAN AND HIS WIFE SENTENCED TO 17 YEARS IN JAIL
In yet another blow from the Pakistani establishment, Imran and his wife Bushra Bibi have been sentenced to a further 17 years in prison each over gifts they legally received while in… pic.twitter.com/y0kgXGCOXT
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) December 20, 2025
DW notes that “Saturday’s sentencing is separate from an earlier case against the couple. In that case, Khan and his wife were sentenced to 14 and seven years, respectively.” He’s already in jail for that prior conviction, and has been incarcerated since 2023.
Tyler Durden
Sat, 12/20/2025 – 21:35
Apagón en San Francisco deja a 130.000 clientes sin electricidad
Por JAIMIE DING
Un apagón masivo dejó el sábado sin electricidad a 130.000 hogares y negocios en San Francisco, informó Pacific Gas and Electric Co.
La falla eléctrica dejó a una gran parte del norte de la ciudad a oscuras, comenzando con los vecindarios de Richmond y Presidio y las áreas alrededor del Parque Golden Gate a primeras horas de la tarde.
PG&E no respondió de momento a solicitudes de comentarios sobre la causa de los apagones, los cuales afectaron aproximadamente a un tercio de los clientes de la compañía en la ciudad.
Publicaciones en redes sociales y medios locales informaban sobre cierres de restaurantes y tiendas, así como luces del alumbrado público y de decoraciones navideñas apagadas.
El Departamento de Gestión de Emergencias de San Francisco dijo en X que había “afectaciones significativas en el tránsito” en toda la ciudad, e instó a la población a evitar viajes no esenciales.
Las agencias de transporte de la ciudad dijeron que estaban omitiendo algunas paradas de autobuses Muni y de trenes BART debido a los cortes de energía.
Al menos algunos de los apagones fueron causados por un incendio que se desató dentro de una subestación de PG&E en las calles 8th y Mission, informaron funcionarios de bomberos en X alrededor de las 3:15 de la tarde
Hacia las 4 de la tarde, PG&E publicó en X que había estabilizado la red eléctrica y no esperaba más interrupciones para los clientes. La compañía dijo que no podía confirmar si la electricidad se restablecería el sábado.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Target Harasser Issues Forced Apology Amid Job Threat And Police Probe
Target Harasser Issues Forced Apology Amid Job Threat And Police Probe
Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news,
Michelea Ponce, the leftist caught on video unleashing a tirade against an elderly Target employee for daring to wear a “Freedom” shirt featuring Charlie Kirk, has issued a public apology. But with her job on the line and police involved, many see it as a desperate bid to salvage her reputation rather than genuine remorse.
This comes after the video exploded online, exposing the kind of unhinged intolerance conservatives face daily from those who preach “kindness” but deliver harassment.
The incident unfolded in a Chico, California Target store, where Ponce confronted 72-year-old employee Jeanie Beeman over her shirt. As we previously reported in our coverage of the meltdown and the subsequent police investigation, Ponce labeled Beeman as “racist” and “ignorant,” escalating into a public spectacle that left the senior worker shaken.
Ponce, an employee at Enloe Health, filmed the encounter herself, apparently seeking viral clout. Instead, it backfired spectacularly, drawing widespread condemnation for bullying an innocent woman simply expressing her support for conservative values.
The Chico Police Department also investigated the incident after it went viral but determined Ponce’s actions did not constitute criminal conduct.
In their official statement, they noted: “While the interaction was tense and inappropriate, it did not rise to the level of criminal conduct. The customer’s actions, though discourteous, were protected under the First Amendment as freedom of speech. As a result, there are no criminal charges appropriate to file in this case.” You can read the full statement here.
While no charges were filed, the probe underscored the fine line between free speech and outright harassment, a reminder that conservatives often endure such attacks without legal recourse.
In her ‘apology’ statement, Ponce wrote: “I want to take full responsibility for my actions and say clearly and sincerely that I was wrong. I behaved badly, and I regret it deeply.
“I want to directly apologize to Jeannie. I am truly sorry for approaching you at your workplace and putting you in an uncomfortable and unfair position. You did not deserve that, and my behavior was wrong,” the statement continues.
Ponce adds, “I also apologize to Jeannie’s family for the stress and attention my actions caused. I apologize to Target as her employer, I apologize to Enloe, and I apologize to the Chico community. I understand that what I did reflected poorly on myself and disrupted a sense of safety and respect that should exist in a workplace and in our community.”
“I did not handle the situation the way I should have. I allowed my emotions to take over instead of choosing restraint and empathy. That was my failure, and I own it,” She further claims.
The statement concludes, “I regret my actions, and I am genuinely sorry for the harm they caused. I wish I can go back and undo what happened, but I can acknowledge it honestly, learn from it, and commit to doing better moving forward.”
The apology surfaced via a post on X, sparking immediate skepticism. Critics pointed out its polished, almost scripted tone, with one user calling it “fake as F” and another dismissing it as insincere, saying Ponce is only “regretting the consequences of her actions.” Many echoed that she’s not sorry for the act but for getting caught, especially with her employment in jeopardy.
?BREAKING: Michelea Ponce, who harassed an elderly Target employee, Jeanie Beeman, over her wearing a Charlie Kirk “Freedom” t-shirt. Issues an apology.
“I behaved badly, and I regret it deeply.” pic.twitter.com/0reb89Bzln
— The Patriot Oasis™ (@ThePatriotOasis) December 18, 2025
Enloe Health, Ponce’s employer, faced massive backlash, including over 6,000 calls demanding action. CEO Mike Wiltermood addressed the controversy in a video statement, condemning the behavior but refusing to disclose if Ponce had been terminated, citing privacy concerns.
Enloe Health’s CEO, Mike Wiltermood, just spoke out following a video that went viral yesterday of their employee, a vile, hateful and toxic liberal woman named Michelea Ponce, who verbally accosted and harassed an elderly Target employee, Jeanie Beeman, over her wearing a… pic.twitter.com/SYI43nluWj
— Based Bandita (@BasedBandita) December 17, 2025
A follow-up statement from Enloe reiterated their disapproval but again stopped short of confirming her status. Rumors swirled on social media that she may have been fired, but as of now, it’s unconfirmed. This opacity has fueled calls for transparency, with users insisting that someone with such evident bias shouldn’t be in healthcare, where vulnerable patients—including conservatives—deserve unbiased care.
Approximately 2 hours ago, rumors on social media began to spur that Michelea Ponce lost her job at Enloe Health. While it’s unclear if it’s true, Enloe coincidentally issued another statement online condemning Ponce 2 hours ago and saying they couldn’t say anything else. pic.twitter.com/OWyylG9JfW
— Greg Hoyt (@GregHoytLET) December 18, 2025
In a heartening update, Jeanie Beeman spoke out, showing remarkable forgiveness. “Two wrongs don’t make a right. She wronged me, but I don’t want to wrong her. I really wouldn’t want to see her lose her job over it,” she said in a video interview.
NEW: Ms. Jeanie Beeman speaks out after being harassed over her Charlie Kirk shirt at Target and says she does not want her attacker fired.
“Two wrongs don’t make a right. She wronged me, but I don’t want to wrong her. I really wouldn’t want to see her lose her job over it.”… pic.twitter.com/FZumZoSjd9
— David J Harris Jr (@DavidJHarrisJr) December 18, 2025
This honorable stance highlights the difference between conservatives, who often extend grace even to their tormentors, and the intolerant left, quick to attack but slow to reflect. Beeman’s response embodies the spirit of resilience and dignity.
The online community rallied around Beeman, launching a GiveSendGo fundraiser to give her a well-deserved vacation. At time of writing, it has raised over $230,000, far surpassing initial expectations.
This outpouring stands in sharp contrast to the hate Ponce unleashed, proving that freedom-loving Americans stick together against bullies.
Incidents like this expose the deep-seated bias against conservatives in everyday life. Ponce’s apology, whether sincere or not, won’t erase the damage, but it does spotlight the need to protect free expression from those who weaponize “tolerance” as a tool of control.
Your support is crucial in helping us defeat mass censorship. Please consider donating via Locals or check out our unique merch. Follow us on X @ModernityNews.
Tyler Durden
Sat, 12/20/2025 – 21:00
Avión que conducia a Vikings a Neva York regresa tras problemas mecánicos
Por The Associated Press
Los Vikings de Minnesota tuvieron algunos problemas el sábado para llegar al estado de Nueva Jersey, donde disputarán su partido del domingo contra los Giants de Nueva York.
Su avión experimentó problemas mecánicos que requirieron su regreso al punto de origen poco después de partir del Aeropuerto Internacional de Minneapolis-St. Paul, según un portavoz del equipo.
Se esperaba que los Vikings llegaran a Newark el sábado por la noche después de abordar un segundo avión, añadió el vocero.
Minnesota tiene un récord de 6-8 y, al igual que los Giants (2-12), ha sido eliminado de la contienda por los playoffs.
Los Vikings vienen de vencer a Dallas y se concentran más en que el joven mariscal de campo J.J. McCarthy adquiera experiencia adicional en la NFL.
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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Hurts y Eagles ganan segundo título consecutivo de la NFC Este al vencer 29-18 a Commanders
Por HOWARD FENDRICH
LANDOVER, Maryland, EE.UU. (AP) — No fue una actuación sobresaliente por parte de los los Eagles de Filadelfia, campeones del Super Bowl.
Desde un balón suelto en el saque inicial hasta un par de penalizaciones en el tush push, tres intentos de gol de campo desviados a la izquierda y un déficit al medio tiempo.
Aun así, Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley y compañía finalmente se encaminaron en la dirección correcta y aseguraron un segundo título consecutivo de la NFC Este al vencer el sábado por la noche 29-18 a los Commanders de Washington.
Hurts completó 22 de 30 lanzamientos —con 15 de ellos atrapados por A.J. Brown o DeVonta Smith— para 185 yardas, dos touchdowns y sin pérdidas de balón.
Hurts también hizo mucho daño por tierra, ganando 40 yardas en siete acarreos para los Eagles (10-5), quienes han seguido una racha de tres derrotas consecutivas con dos victorias seguidas. Son el primer equipo en liderar la NFC Este en temporadas consecutivas desde que Filadelfia lo hizo cada año de 2001 a 2004; la brecha desde entonces fue la sequía más larga sin un campeón repetido para cualquier división en la historia de la NFL.
Barkley añadió una carrera de TD de 12 yardas para los Eagles, parte de su actuación de 21 acarreos y 132 yardas.
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Deportes en español AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Substation Fire Knocks Out Power Across Parts Of San Francisco
Substation Fire Knocks Out Power Across Parts Of San Francisco
A fire at a Pacific Gas & Electric substation in San Francisco sparked widespread power outages across areas of the northern half of the city, from the Richmond and Sunset districts through Haight-Ashbury and into the downtown area.
SFFD is on scene of a 1 alarm fire at a PG&E substation located at 8th St. and Mission St. we are working collaboratively to shut shut down power and extinguish the fire with carbon dioxide. Please avoid the area , Heavy traffic. #sffd pic.twitter.com/1CmcK0CTIW
— SAN FRANCISCO FIRE DEPARTMENT MEDIA (@SFFDPIO) December 20, 2025
It’s the 8th and Mission Street @PGE4Me Substation. pic.twitter.com/heNFDLyMPB
— Matt Dorsey (@mattdorsey) December 21, 2025
Anyone wondering about the S.F. wide power outage I am watching where it happened from my window pic.twitter.com/2LHZnEFxtH
— snwy (@snwy_me) December 20, 2025
Firefighters responded to a blaze at a PG&E substation on 8th and Mission Street on Saturday evening. The latest data from Poweroutage.US says about 125,000 customers are without power.
Not the first time.
Historical fun fact: today is not the first time @PGE4Me plunged large swaths of San Francisco into darkness on the Saturday before Christmas — among the busiest shopping days of the year — and today’s outage would appear to involve the same substation to blame 22 years ago. pic.twitter.com/XHT4WfJSZ1
— Matt Dorsey (@mattdorsey) December 21, 2025
Officials have yet to say what sparked the substation fire.
*Developing…
Tyler Durden
Sat, 12/20/2025 – 20:41
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/substation-fire-knocks-out-power-across-parts-san-francisco
CFP: No. 6 Mississippi aces first test without Lane Kiffin, cruising to a 41-10 win over No. 17 Tulane
OXFORD, Miss. — Trinidad Chambliss ran for two touchdowns and passed for another, and No. 6 Mississippi looked unfazed by the defection of coach Lane Kiffin, beating No. 11 Tulane 41-10 on Saturday in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
Scoring runs of 20 yards by Kewan Lacy and 4 yards by Chambliss gave Ole Miss (12-1) a 14-0 lead before eight minutes had elapsed in the coaching debut of Pete Golding, who was promoted from defensive coordinator after Kiffin left for LSU on Nov. 30.
Next up for Golding and Ole Miss: a CFP quarterfinal against No. 2 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1
Tulane (11-3) and quarterback Jake Retzlaff moved the ball effectively at times, but the Rebels — who beat the Green Wave 45-10 on Sept. 20 — remained comfortably ahead throughout. Cornerback Jaylon Braxton had an early interception, and the Rebels’ defense had multiple fumble recoveries and fourth-down stops.
While Kiffin had asked to keep coaching Ole Miss through the playoff even while working for its SEC rival, athletic director Keith Carter would not allow it. So the Rebels entered arguably the most significant game ever played at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium with a new coach — not to mention an unprecedented level of looming staff and roster uncertainty for a team contending for a national title.
In Mississippi’s famed Grove, artwork around tailgate tents depicted Kiffin in a negative light, including one showing him on a Christmas “naughty” list, with Golding in the “nice” column.
When Golding walked onto the field during warmups, the crowd roared. Fans continued cheering as Eli Manning, a former Ole Miss QB and two-time Super Bowl winner with the New York Giants, greeted the new Rebels coach on the sideline.
On the opposite sideline was Tulane coach Jon Sumrall, who was permitted to keep coaching the Green Wave after being hired by Florida. His hopes of returning to Tulane’s home city of New Orleans to prepare for the Sugar Bowl were dashed, and he’ll be packing up for Gainesville, Fla., to join the Gators.
Chambliss, who briefly left the game late in the first half after a big hit during an 11-yard scramble, finished with 282 yards passing. Lacy rushed for 87 yards before heading to the locker room in the fourth quarter with an apparent left shoulder injury. De’Zhaun Stribling caught five passes for 79 yards, including a 13-yard TD.
LSU transfer Logan Diggs added a 3-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Retzlaff finished with 306 passing yards and a TD for Tulane, whose loss dropped non-power conference teams to 0-3 in CFP games (with James Madison playing at Oregon later Saturday). Jamauri McClure gained 84 yards on 15 carries.
The takeaway
Tulane: The Green Wave could not afford a poor start on defense and got exactly that as the Rebels scored two TDs on their first seven offensive plays. As in the teams’ first meeting, Tulane moved the ball in spurts, finishing with 421 yards, but could sustain drives long enough to score.
Ole Miss: Kiffin’s absence didn’t inhibit the Rebels’ explosiveness on offense — at least not against a team from a non-power conference. The Rebels finished with 497 yards of offense, including four plays that went for 25 yards or more.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/20/college-football-playoff-mississippi-tulane/
Fotos de funeral simbólico para la moneda de un centavo de dólar en el Monumento a Lincoln
Por JULIA DEMAREE NIKHINSON
WASHINGTON (AP) — Un funeral simbólico para la moneda de un centavo de dólar, que fue descontinuada este año, se llevó a cabo el sábado frente al Monumento a Lincoln en Washington.
Esta es una galería de fotos seleccionada por los editores de fotos de AP.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
WWII Navy veteran Ira ‘Ike’ Schab, one of last remaining Pearl Harbor survivors, dies at 105
World War II Navy veteran Ira “Ike” Schab, one of the dwindling number of survivors of the 1941 Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, has died. He was 105.
Daughter Kimberlee Heinrichs told The Associated Press that Schab died at home early Saturday in the presence of her and her husband.
With his passing, there remain only about a dozen survivors of the surprise attack, which killed just over 2,400 troops and propelled the United States into the war.
Schab was a sailor of just 21 at the time of the attack, and for decades he rarely spoke about the experience.
But in recent years, aware that the corps of survivors was dwindling, the centenarian made a point of traveling from his home in Beaverton, Oregon, to the annual observance at the Hawaii military base.
“To pay honor to the guys that didn’t make it,” he said in 2023.
For last year’s commemoration, Schab spent weeks building up the strength to be able to stand and salute.
But this year he did not feel well enough to attend, and less than three weeks later, he passed away.
Born on Independence Day in 1920 in Chicago, Schab was the eldest of three brothers.
He joined the Navy at 18, following in the footsteps of his father, he said in a February interview for Pacific Historic Parks.
On what began as a peaceful Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, Schab, who played the tuba in the USS Dobbin’s band, was expecting a visit from his brother, a fellow service member assigned to a nearby naval radio station. Schab had just showered and donned a clean uniform when he heard a call for fire rescue.
He went topside and saw another ship, the USS Utah, capsizing. Japanese planes roared through the air.
“We were pretty startled. Startled and scared to death,” Schab recalled in 2023. “We didn’t know what to expect, and we knew that if anything happened to us, that would be it.”
He scurried back below deck to grab boxes of ammunition and joined a daisy chain of sailors feeding shells to an anti-aircraft gun above.
His ship lost three sailors, according to Navy records. One was killed in action, and two died later of fragment wounds from a bomb that struck the stern. All had been manning an anti-aircraft gun.
Schab spent most of the war with the Navy in the Pacific, going to the New Hebrides, now known as Vanuatu, and then the Mariana Islands and Okinawa, Japan.
After the war he studied aerospace engineering and worked on the Apollo spaceflight program as an electrical engineer for General Dynamics, helping send astronauts to the moon.
Schab’s son also joined the Navy and is a retired commander.
Speaking at a 2022 ceremony, Schab asked people to honor those who served at Pearl Harbor.
“Remember what they’re here for. Remember and honor those that are left. They did a hell of a job,” he said. “Those who are still here, dead or alive.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/20/pearl-harbor-survivor-dies/
Marcus Smart de Lakers multado con 35.000 dólares por gesto obsceno hacia un árbitro
NUEVA YORK (AP) — El base de los Lakers de Los Ángeles, Marcus Smart, ha sido multado con 35.000 dólares por hacer un gesto obsceno hacia un árbitro en un partido, anunció la NBA el sábado.
El incidente ocurrió el jueves, durante el medio tiempo de la victoria de los Lakers por 143-135 en casa del Jazz de Utah.
Smart, de 31 años, está promediando 10,6 puntos esta temporada.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
