SNP 'blessed' with weak opposition as polls record drop in support for independence
The SNP’s achievements in government have "limped lamely behind their soaring rhetoric", a leading expert on the party has said, as the latest opinion poll registered a dip in support for Scottish independence. James Mitchell, professor of public policy at Edinburgh University who is widely considered a leading authority on the SNP, said that the nationalists "would be struggling" in the current campaign were it not for the pandemic and the constitution. However, he said the party had managed to present itself as being "in government and opposition at the same time" and had been "blessed" with weak opposition parties and the fact that independence was a dominant campaign issue. A poll for Survation recorded a slight dip in SNP support in constituencies ahead of Thursday’s vote - with the party down three points to 47 per cent. However, the party's predicted share of the vote on the regional lists was up by two, to 37. The poll found that support for Scottish independence had fallen two points to 47 per cent, with 53 per cent now in favour of the union. However, the figures show the SNP will easily win Thursday’s election and a majority is within reach. Prof Mitchell said that a revival for Labour would "create problems for the SNP" and said Nicola Sturgeon would far rather the Tories remained as Holyrood’s second-largest party.
news.yahoo.comHokies tight end James Mitchell returning for senior season
ROANOKE, Va. – In a Twitter video released on Monday evening, Virginia Tech tight end James Mitchell revealed that he will be returning to Blacksburg for his senior season. The Junior from Big Stone Gap was the third leading receiver for the Hokies in 2020, with 435 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns in 10 games. Mitchell also served as a punt returner a few times during the season. This will certainly bring depth and experience to the Hokies receiving core, one that will feature a solid tight end room with the likes of Drake Deiuliis and Nick Gallo.
’We will always be ready to play Virginia’ Hokies prepare for rivalry game against Cavaliers on Saturday
BLACKSBURG, Va. – What was once a game that was supposed to open the season, Hokies defensive tackle Jarrod Hewitt is ready to close the season on a high note against the University of Virginia. “I think how things shaped up , yeah definitely, it’s good to play them last now,” he said. “I mean, if it was before, we would have loved to play them at the beginning of the year too. Saturday may be the most important game for the Hokies this season. When you have a good game plan, a good week of preparation, the simple fact of we have to go, we have to play.
Barbir's FG gives No. 25 Liberty 38-35 win over Hokies
25 Liberty to a 38-35 victory over Virginia Tech. But officials ruled that Virginia Tech had called a timeout before the kick. “I’ve always done this,” Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente said. Hendon Hooker paced Virginia Tech, throwing for 217 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for 156 yards and a touchdown. Virginia Tech: The Hokies play Miami at home on Saturday.
Hokies lose to Demon Deacons 23-16
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Virginia Tech Hokies lost to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons by a score of 23-16. The Deacons quarterback Sam Hartman completed a 9-yard rushing touchdown, while kicker Nick Sciba completed a 41-yard field goal. The Hokies answered back with a field goal in the second quarter as kicker Brian Johnson successfully made a 28-yard field goal to cut the deficit. Late in the second quarter, Wake Forest ended the tie by scoring a 6-yard rushing touchdown by running back Kenneth Walker III. In the third quarter, the Deacs kept themselves in the lead as kicker Nick Sciba completed a 46-yard field goal.
Hokies lose to Tar Heels 56-45
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Virginia Tech Hokies lost to the North Carolina Tar Heels by a score of 56-45. The Tar Heels rushed for 399 total yards today. The Hokies showed their moves on the ground as well, as the team rushed for 264 total yards. Tar Heels Quarterback Sam Howell completed 18 of 23 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns. The second of Hooker’s touchdowns took place late in the fourth quarter with a 26-yard completion to Wide Receiver James Mitchell.
Combative and defiant, CIA psychologist reignites torture debate at 9/11 hearings
James Mitchell, the psychologist who devised the CIAs post-Sept. 11 interrogation program, is a complicated figure. Mitchell has become the face of the interrogation program that critics have deemed torture in large part because of a combative personality. He acted, he said, out of a deep sense of loss and for those whose relatives were killed on Sept. 11. After Sept. 11, the entirety of the American national security apparatus was reoriented to a single task: stopping the next attack. He said the CIA threw him and Jessen under the bus, basically blaming them for the torture program.
latimes.comCIA psychologist says he threatened to kill 9/11 plotters son
A CIA psychologist testified here Monday that he told self-proclaimed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed that if there was another attack on America, he would kill Mohammeds son. Mitchell said he was trying to ensure that Mohammed continued to cooperate after the harshest interrogation methods had been discontinued. I later told interrogators that their methods were stupid and counterproductive.The lies, no matter how wild they seemed, had to be investigated. AdvertisementThe Senate investigation found the interrogation program was brutal and ineffective. The CIA report described the program as well-intentioned, but amateurish and inconsistent.
latimes.comWaterboarding of detainees was so gruesome that even CIA officials wept
The first person to be subjected to the method was Abu Zubaydah, an Al Qaeda functionary and the first so-called high-value detainee captured after 9/11. He testified that waterboarding was a step in a process; he urged the end of it for Abu Zubaydah because it had served its purpose. For example, he says that the interrogation of Abu Zubaydah helped the CIA locate Ramzi Binalshibh, one of Mohammeds fellow defendants. Joseph Margulies, a law professor at Cornell University who once represented Abu Zubaydah, said the brutal methods helped numb America to wrongdoing. In at least one of the instances, the information thought to be classified a CIA officers name can be discovered in a simple Google search.
latimes.comPsychologist who waterboarded self-proclaimed 9/11 plotter says, I would do it again
Let me tell you just so you know, said James Mitchell, who personally waterboarded Mohammed at a black site, or secret prison, in Poland. The bipartisan report found that the CIA had actively avoided congressional oversight and that the interrogation program had made the nation less secure, not more. They later formed a company that was paid about $81 million to help operate the interrogation program over several years. Mitchell said the torture techniques the CIA calls enhanced interrogation were applied much less extensively than normally understood. Human rights organizations around the world have condemned the interrogation program.
latimes.comIn 9/11 proceedings, once-forbidden topic is front and center: Torture
Defense lawyers are seeking to bar confessions that all five defendants gave to FBI interviewers, called clean teams, in 2007. The prosecution has said those confessions are untainted by the prior torture and key elements in their case. In addition to Mohammed, the defendants are his nephew Ammar Baluchi, Ramzi bin Shibh, Mustafa Hawsawi and Walid bin Attash. The hearings have gone on so long several military lawyers have retired. Defense lawyers are unable to talk with their clients about anything the government decides is classified.
latimes.comMONDAY HUDDLE: Did 'prevent' defense cost Virginia Tech win at Notre Dame?
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah #6 of Notre Dame Fighting and James Mitchell #82 of Virginia Tech fight for the ball during Notre Dame's 21-20 win. The old saying that the only thing a 'prevent' defense does is prevent you from winning might have rung true for Virginia Tech on Saturday at Notre Dame. Leading Notre Dame 20-14, Virginia Tech punter John Parker Romo hit a beautiful punt that went out of bounds at the Notre Dame 13-yard line, forcing the Fighting Irish to go 87 yards in 3:22 with only one timeout. Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book had plenty of time on each play, and the eight defenders Virginia Tech dropped into coverage still couldn't prevent Notre Dame wideout Chase Claypool from being wide open for a 26-yard completion on 4th-and-10 that moved the ball to the Virginia Tech 7-yard line. Virginia also doesn't have a road game the rest of the year and will see last-place Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech come to Charlottesville to finish out the league portion of the schedule.
Virginia Tech offense makes strides, but defense needs to execute after Furman
BLACKSBURG, Va. - The bye week for Virginia Tech couldn't have come at a better time after its narrow win over Furman on Saturday, 24-17. One positive takeaway from the game was on offense, and the versatility the team has in using wide receivers like Tre Turner to run the ball. It was clear Saturday that the Hokie offense had made strides, but it was the defensive side of the ball that raised questions. "It just comes down to execution, especially for this defense," defensive lineman Eli Adams said. "As a team, we improved, we made plays, we didn't really miss as [many] sacks in the backfield as we did against ODU (Old Dominion)," defensive lineman Emmanuel Belmar said.
$11.7 billion wiped off Tencent's market value as the Chinese giant strikes a cautious note
Tencent shares slumped as much as 3.88% on Thursday after the Chinese technology giant reported a mixed bag of second-quarter results. Revenue rose 21% year-on-year to 88.82 billion yuan ($12.92 billion, according to the exchange rate published in the earnings statement). However, profit attributable to shareholders beat analyst forecasts, rising 35% year-on-year to 24.14 billion yuan. The company's gaming division returned to growth, posting revenue of 27.3 billion yuan, up 8% year-on-year. That was welcomed given that the Chinese government froze video game approvals last year, hurting Tencent's business badly and wiping billions off the company's market capitalization.
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