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News from November 9, 2025

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Zgjedhjet në 5 bashki/ Zbulohet pjesëmarrja deri në orën 12.00
Technology

Zgjedhjet në 5 bashki/ Zbulohet pjesëmarrja deri në orën 12.00

Komisioni Qendror i Zgjedhjeve, (KQZ) ka publikuar të dhënat e fundit sa i përket pjesëmarrjes në zgjedhjet për 5 kryebashkiakët e Matit, Tepelenës, Vlorës, Beratit dhe Cërrikut. Pjesëmarrja e përgjithshme deri në orën 12:00 ishte 10.82%. Pjesëmarrja më e lartë duket në Mat me 24.21% i ndjekur nga Tepelena me 21.27% ndërsa pjesëmarrja më e ulët është në Vlorë me 6.94%. Në tre bashki Berat, Mat dhe Tepelenë, kryetarët dhanë dorëheqjen për tu bërë deputetë. Në Cërrik, kryetari i bashkisë Andis Hasalla u emërua në kabinetin qeveritar si Ministër i Bujqësisë. Në Vlorë kryetari i bashkisë Ermal Dredha dha dorëheqjen pas sulmeve të Ramës.

Radio Nacional
CM KP pays tribute on Iqbal Day, vows to fulfill poet’s vision
Politics

CM KP pays tribute on Iqbal Day, vows to fulfill poet’s vision

Advertisement - PESHAWAR, Nov 09 (APP): Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi stated that the message of Allama Muhammad Iqbal remains a vital source of national guidance today. In his message released on Iqbal Day on Sunday, the Chief Minister paid tribute to the national poet for delivering enduring message of self-reliance, faith, and action. CM Afridi emphasized that Iqbal’s philosophy was a call to renew national resolve to become a dignified, faithful, and independent nation that determines its own destiny and upholds justice and fairness. He affirmed that current government’s vision—a Pakistan built on the foundations of justice, merit, and self-restraint is the realization of Iqbal’s dream. He concluded by reiterating the commitment to creating a transparent, empowered, and awakened society in line with Iqbal’s thoughts, ensuring Pakistan fulfills the dreams of both Iqbal and the Quaid-e-Azam.

Asif Jalal
Shaheed Benazirarbad police accelerates crackdown against criminals
Technology

Shaheed Benazirarbad police accelerates crackdown against criminals

Advertisement - NAWABSHAH, Nov 09 (APP): District police has mounted a series of operations against criminal elements across the district. The initiative was taken on the directives of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shaheed Benazirabad, Shabir Ahmed Sethar. According to police spokesperson, Police from various stations, during successful raids and patrols, arrested several suspects and recovered narcotics, weapons and a stolen motorcycle. The Airport Police Station arrested an active criminal, Muhammad Owais Khokhar, and recovered two packets of gutka from his possession. Bandhii Police arrested a suspect, Muhammad Brohi and recovered 1,950 grams of charas from his possession. A case has been filed against him. Similarly, Daur Police, during patrolling, arrested drug peddler Wazir, son of Haji Zameer Hussain Dahri, for possession of marijuana. Dauratpur Police arrested two active criminals, Sawan Unar and Aamir Unar, under FIR No. 123/2025, Sections 324 and 353 of the Pakistan Penal Code. A 30-bore pistol along with three bullets was recovered from their possession, and a separate case was registered under Section 24 of the Sindh Arms Act. In another operation, Dauratpur Police arrested suspect Ikhtiar Halio and recovered charas from him. A case was registered under FIR No. 125/2025, Section 9(1)(3)(b) of the CNSA. Meanwhile, P.P. Nawab Wali Muhammad Police recovered a motorcycle that had been stolen three months earlier and returned it to the rightful owner, Manzoor Brohi. The owner expressed gratitude to the police for their efficient work and appreciated the efforts of the SSP and the police team. SSP Shabir Ahmed Sethar reiterated that operations against criminal elements will continue without discrimination and that ensuring the safety and security of citizens remains top priority of police.

Asif Jalal
International Culture Day brings together students, parents from over 50 countries: Ambassador Hashmi
World

International Culture Day brings together students, parents from over 50 countries: Ambassador Hashmi

Advertisement - BEIJING, Nov 9 (APP): Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi has said that the International Culture Day organized by the Pakistan Embassy College Beijing (PECB) is a significant annual event that brings together students and parents from over 50 countries. He noted that the celebration offers participants an opportunity to explore diverse cuisines, music, customs, and handicrafts elements that showcase cultural diversity while fostering unity and mutual understanding. “This is an event we organize every year, and students from Pakistan Embassy College always deliver outstanding performances,” he told APP. Praising the school’s contributions, he highlighted that PECB is truly an international institution, representing more than 50 nationalities and standing as the oldest international school in Beijing. “By bringing together parents, friends, and children from so many countries, including our Chinese friends, we strengthen bonds of friendship and mutual respect,” he said. Ambassador Hashmi said that the event attracted nearly a thousand participants, with social media amplifying the college’s efforts to promote Pakistan’s soft image and international solidarity. A variety of cultural stalls, art and history exhibitions, and children’s activities were organized at PECB, drawing enthusiastic interest from the international community. Pakistani food, handicrafts, and traditional attire were among the main highlights, attracting much attention from visitors. The stalls allowed participants to experience the flavors, fashion, and folk traditions of different nations. A vibrant mix of performances, including Pakistani, Chinese, Bangladeshi, and African songs and dances received warm applause from the audience. Students and families from China, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and several African nations, showcased their national cultures through stalls featuring traditional dress, crafts, and cuisine. Visitors also enjoyed history, geography, and science exhibitions, as well as fun activities for children, including a haunted house. To mark the occasion, Ambassador Hashmi and his wife were joined by the principal, teachers, and students in cutting a celebratory cake. The festivities concluded with a lucky draw, where participants received gifts.

Asif Jalal
Wiltshire in Pictures: Light shows and firework fun
Technology

Wiltshire in Pictures: Light shows and firework fun

Wiltshire in Pictures: Light shows and firework fun It's been a busy week across the county, with celebrations aplenty and the return of Salisbury Cathedral's Sarum Lights. Bonfire Night has also made for some spectacular sights, with firework celebrations lighting up the evenings. Nature has also created some eye-catching scenes in the form of glorious autumn leaves. All this and more is included in our weekly pictures round-up. Cathedral colours: Sarum Lights returned to Salisbury Cathedral this week, with mythical worlds and prowling dinosaurs appearing in this year's immersive event. Setting sun: Some trees are hanging onto their leaves as winter approaches. Weather Watcher Barnaby Bear caught this stunning photo on a walk through Cherhill. Lest we forget: A Remembrance Sunday service and military parade is being held in Tidworth to honour those who have served and sacrificed. The event is being attended by veterans, military groups and community organisations. Volunteer milestone: Wiltshire Council marked the 100th pairing as part of its Independent Visitor scheme. Councillor Jon Hubbard, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, called the scheme a "remarkable achievement", where volunteers meet with a young person in care every month. Remember remember: Crowds have been looking to the sky across Wiltshire this week, including at Dauntsey's School where Bonfire Night was marked with a special fireworks display at the school's Manor building. Pudsey power: BBC Wiltshire staff were involved in the BBC Children in Need Thousand Mile challenge this week. Pudsey boosted morale for participants and made time for some sight-seeing across the county, such as Longleat, where he met Morph. Two-wheel teacher: A group of 20 Brownies visited The Salvation Army's Swindon Booth House Recycles workshop to gain tips on bike maintenance. The two-hour session was led by Simon Styles, with the new found knowledge being put towards earning the Brownies' new mechanics badge. Friends Forever: The Friendship Cafe in Pewsey is celebrating having surpassed 8,000 total attendees since it opened. The Cafe aims to foster social connection in the Kennet Valley and is run entirely by volunteers. Autumn ambles: Some more beautiful pictures showing the seasonal colours in the county from our Weather Watchers Rachel in Donhead St Andrew and Amanda in Wilton. Van man: Mike Land has raised £16,000 for Wiltshire Air Ambulance in a unique fundraising challenge. He pulled a van for 24 hours, supported by friends, family and volunteers at an industrial unit near Chippenham. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.

Ben Marvell
Abandoned Takoradi Market Circle project to be continued in 2026
Business

Abandoned Takoradi Market Circle project to be continued in 2026

Ahead of the 2026 Budget presentation, the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has given assurances that work is set to resume on the stalled Takoradi Market Circle redevelopment site, in 2026. In a post on his X handle on November 8, the minister, who had paid a visit to the site, reiterated the government’s commitment to revitalise the space for thousands of traders and families. He noted that the contractor will return “early next year” as the government concludes its ongoing debt-restructuring exercise. “I journeyed to Takoradi yesterday to inspect the abandoned Market Circle project. Standing at the heart of this vibrant city, the site reminded me of the immense promise it holds for thousands of traders and families. “I’m pleased to assure our compatriots there that the contractor will return to the site early next year as we conclude the ongoing debt restructuring,” he said. President Mahama pledges to complete stalled Takoradi Market Circle project The Takoradi Market Circle redevelopment, initiated to transform the commercial hub in the twin-city of Sekondi‑Takoradi in the Western Region, has faced repeated delays. The project, which was launched in 2022, was touted as a major commercial infrastructure investment in the region. The project was suspended in March 2023 as part of a government decision to meet the conditionalities set by the International Monetary Fund for a bailout. In September 2025, the contractor claimed that the suspension of works had cost up to €30 million. With the visit coinciding with the upcoming budget, Minister Forson’s pledge signals that the project will be among the government’s infrastructure priorities. However, this promise hinges on the conclusion of Ghana’s debt-restructuring process. See the post below: Ahead of the 2026 Budget Presentation on Thursday, November 13, 2025, I journeyed to Takoradi yesterday to inspect the abandoned Market Circle project. Standing at the heart of this vibrant city, the site reminded me of the immense promise it holds for thousands of traders and… pic.twitter.com/8IeQ6eSKFl — Cassiel Ato Forson (PhD) (@Cassielforson) November 9, 2025 Watch the promo to GhanaWeb’s latest documentary, which uncovers the evolution of ‘kayamata,’ an exploitative practice fueled by love charms and manipulation, titled, “The Dark Side of Kayamata,’ below

Ghana News
Brewers could poach 2025 Cubs trade addition in free agency
Business

Brewers could poach 2025 Cubs trade addition in free agency

At 28 years old, Castro is entering free agency for the first time in his career, bringing with him a résumé built on versatility. While he’s not elite defensively, second base appears to be his most natural position. Still, he’s logged significant time at shortstop, third base, and all three outfield spots over the past few seasons with the Cubs and Twins. At the plate, Castro owns a career slash line of .244/.313/.366. He’s shown a mix of speed and pop, reaching double-digit home runs in each of the past two seasons and posting a 30-stolen-base campaign earlier in his career. While not a star-level hitter, his ability to contribute in multiple ways makes him a valuable depth piece for any lineup. At last year’s trade deadline, Castro was one of 10 Twins traded in a fire sale by the team. Chicago gave up two prospects in order to acquire him. Castro now comes in as MLB Trade Rumors 50th best free agent this winter, with the Brewers pegged as one potential fit. As the Brewers look to round out their roster this offseason, Castro represents a versatile and affordable option to consider. His ability to move around the diamond and provide quality at-bats would give manager Pat Murphy valuable flexibility, especially with several young infielders still developing. While he’s not the flashiest name on the market, Castro’s consistency, experience, and versatility make him an ideal complementary piece for a team built on depth and adaptability. If the Brewers can land him on a short-term deal, it could prove to be a sneaky good addition.

Tyler Koerth,WI Sports Heroics
Opinion: Nifty In Technical Charts: The Dip Just Happened
Business

Opinion: Nifty In Technical Charts: The Dip Just Happened

We have been suggesting that this is a buy-the-dip kind of market and over the last week and more, we have got the dip. Did people buy? I don’t know if they did. It is always easy to say, during uptrends (which you have missed) that you will buy the next dip.Then when the dip does come, you end up thinking there is going to be more declines. Bearish patterns appear magically and suggest much lower levels. Or you meet some doomsdayers (such people are always around, unfortunately) and the declining market makes them sound believable. And then the market bottoms and rallies. And you miss the rally, again!Sounds familiar? Story of our lives.Instead, if you mark out the extend of the possible decline (something that all technical analysts can do for you), throw in some additional signals that need to occur when the levels are seen (something that good TAs can do for you) and perhaps some Time counts (a few TAs can do this) and then you put your own brain to use to study the conditions under which all these signals are happening to decide a buy on the dip. That is the way not to miss a dip-buy.Will it work every time? Of course not. But you will know quickly enough if it doesn’t. The key point is that you need to take a stance when the situation comes to hand. Here is the tweet I had sent on Friday. Made that post at 10.41am when NF was at 25439. It went on to record a high at 25551 within the next couple of hours..This was using some esoteric Gann stuff. But there were more obvious signals as well. Sixth successive declines into 50% retracement of the last advance. Formation of a green candle there. Nov. 7 was the first of the turn dates for the November series. Intraday charts show formations of Range shifts and bulls seizing and establishing control. All these can be seen in chart 2..The trade comes to the prepared. You don’t have to chase after them. Provided, you prepare the grounds for them. It is like laying the foundations of a building before you actually build one. People see the end product but seldom the preparation that went into the final product.Analysis is done at the higher time frame. The buy the dip decision was from there. The set up is identified using a lower time frame. The retracements and green candles are checked in one time frame lower. The execution is done on the lowest time frame. That is where the price and momentum signal came from. This is a process that I follow. It needs some patience, to allow the whole thing to develop. Can't jump the gun any time. But when the set up appears you cant hesitate either. It may work out or it may not. But we cannot second guess.So, we bought the dip. Now what? We wait. I have been rewarded with a 100-point run after my buy but I haven’t taken trade off. Why? Because I don’t have a sell signal. I have to now set it up. There are multiple ways to do so. Let's check a few.First and easiest is target based. For that, those 100 points are good for a start. Provided I have bought some 500-1,000 shares of NF. Then I bank a decent amount for my six-day wait for a trade to arrive. You see, every target-based exit should have a meaning. If I did this kind of trades, then even a couple of trades in a month is enough to make a decent living.Note that when I took this trade, my stop was about 120 points away (below the day’s low). So there was little point in taking money off in a small advance. At least now it is a 1:1 type trade. Furthermore, it now allows me to move my stop to just below my cost, thereby derisking the trade completely. I can, therefore, now shoot for higher targets. If you time it right with the correct analysis, such situations will present themselves more often than not.Now I have to get back into analysis to see further prospects. The first of the analysis (using daily and other time frames has got me my entry). Now, I shall check prospects on the 60-min chart, which shall tell me whether or how the trade can progress from Monday. Chart 3 is Nifty 60m..IPO Rush: PhysicsWallah, Three Other Mainboard Issues To Open This Week; Groww Listing In Focus.I have essentially used tools that most readers should by now be familiar. The moves allow me to draw a pitchfork and I find prices have crossed the median line. I can also draw a resistance trendline using recent price pivots. Continuation higher from Monday will put these signals in good shape. So that is something I want to see. If it doesn’t happen, well, too bad. But if it does, then I may consider adding to my long positions as the Rsi is also shaping for a range shift.So, now I know what the market needs to do on Monday and beyond and I don’t need to guess. I know. That should always be the point of analysis. When you know, you can also check for whether the market does what you need it to or not. So, you are ready for anything that the market may do and are seldom caught by surprise. If things work out as expected, then I can look for the top of the pitchfork channel that lies near the 25,700 area.That’s the chart area. Derivative indicators show that 26,000 Ce is the call concentration zone. It has been added to earlier and not on Friday, where we saw more Put additions. So, even though the PCR is near 1, I feel there is a bullish bias to the data. So, look for PCR to increase as a signal that the bulls are flexing their muscles further.The FII got back to their activity of shorting index futures once again. Down to 1.52 lakh contracts once again, after having reached about 94,000 contracts short..FPIs Resume Selling After A Brief Pause In Oct; Withdraw Rs 12,569 Crore In Nov.Can’t understand what their beef is. Since local results and events have been largely positive, these may well be some hedge shorts and not directional. I would leave it at that. Pro traders have gone long as of Friday and I would rather tend to follow them. They were net short from Oct. 24 till Friday. They seem more clued on to the shorter-term trends.So, we shall leave it there. The new range, as had been described in the last letter, is still on. Within that, we may experience a rally. If we get more, we shall remain happy. Q2 results flow in the first round were better than the second round. Still, not bad and certainly somewhat the lowered expectations hither it its commencement. The big news shall of course be the trade deal with the US. That is something that we need to respond to once it happens. Difficult to anticipate it. Till then, we shall play a bit of index and a lot of stocks. The only sector that shone last week was PSU Bank and the Metals (briefly). Will they continue? No idea. But if they do, we should continue to patronise them. If they don’t, the market will signal us the new area of interest. We shall have to move there. .CK Narayan is an expert in technical analysis, the founder of Growth Avenues, Chartadvise, and NeoTrader, and the chief investment officer of Plus Delta Portfolios.Disclaimer: The above sponsored content is non-editorial and has been sourced from a third party. NDTV does not guarantee, vouch for or necessarily endorse any of the above content, nor is responsible for it in any manner whatsoever. .Corporate Actions This Week: Infosys Buyback; Power Grid, ONGC, And More To Trade Ex-Dividend—Full List

Ck Narayan
Antidote to Ghana’s Dysfunctional System Not More Laws & Speeches, But a Quiet Personal Evolution – Prof. Azar
Politics

Antidote to Ghana’s Dysfunctional System Not More Laws & Speeches, But a Quiet Personal Evolution – Prof. Azar

Amid the menace of a highly dysfunctional Ghanaian society where systems do not work and everyone is in pursuit of his or her personal parochial interests, a Ghanaian Professor is calling for a moral awakening to save the Nation from itself. The US-based Ghanaian professor of accounting and legal practitioner, Prof. Stephen Kwaku Asare, widely known as Prof Kwaku Azar, has observed that Ghana is currently a nation sinking under its own choices. He has therefore issued a piercing reflection on Ghana’s struggle with illegal mining and corruption, arguing that the country’s problem is not a lack of laws, policies, or speeches, but a lack of conscience. In an emotional social media post sighted by The High Street Journal, Prof. Azar said Ghana’s predicament is the “arithmetic of selfishness,” warning that until citizens undergo a quiet personal evolution, which is a change of heart and mindset, the nation will continue to suffer the disorder and dysfunction it has created for itself. “The antidote is not grand speeches, new slogans, or more laws that will go unenforced. It is a quiet personal revolution, choosing the common good even when no one is watching,” he noted. Galamsey: Trading Tomorrow’s Water for Today’s Cash Taking a cursory look at the menace of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, he noted that it is a reflection of the country’s moral crisis. Prof. Azar lamented how Ghanaians knowingly destroy their own future for short-term gain. He stressed that everyone knows galamsey poisons our rivers and destroys our farmlands, yet too many close their eyes because a cousin, a brother, or a financier benefits. “We trade tomorrow’s water for today’s cash and act surprised when the taps run dry,” he lamented. He argued that the fight against galamsey cannot be won merely through enforcement or new regulations when the public mindset still tolerates and even protects wrongdoers. “If enough people think, ‘I must get mine,’ then no one ends up with anything worth having,” he warned. The Root of the Problem: Selfish Ambition Prof. Azar traced Ghana’s corruption and dysfunction to what he called the eclipse of “we” by “me”. He explained that this is a culture where personal gain trumps collective good. He said when the pursuit of me eclipses the concern for we, the results are predictable, which are the erosion of trust, the decay of institutions, and the normalization of dysfunction. He explained that the country’s biggest tragedy is not only in the acts of corruption or environmental destruction, but in the “quiet consent of citizens who see wrongdoing and shrug.” Quoting the Bible, he cited James 3:16: “For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” He noted that selfish ambition has become Ghana’s “national creed,” turning disorder into a way of life. Public Office and Everyday Hypocrisy The professor also took aim at Ghana’s political culture, where public office is often seen as a personal inheritance rather than a public trust. “We cheer those who loot smartly, justify those who share the loot, and vilify those who expose it,” he lamented. He extended this hypocrisy to daily life, from bribing police officers to breaking traffic rules, saying that the nation’s moral decay is visible everywhere. “The road is a daily referendum on our respect for rules. We speed, overlap, ignore red lights, and curse the police, all in the name of urgency. Each of us is in a hurry; collectively, we go nowhere. The chaos on our roads mirrors the chaos in our politics: everyone competing to get ahead, few caring about direction,” he continued to vent. According to him, grand anti-corruption campaigns and “stop galamsey” slogans are meaningless if citizens themselves keep bending the rules for personal gain. A Call for Personal Accountability Prof. Azar believes Ghana’s transformation will not come from government pronouncements but from personal responsibility, from ordinary citizens deciding to do what’s right even when no one is watching. For him, a nation changes not when leaders preach virtue, but when citizens practice it. He stressed that until we see that our good is bound up in the common good, our misery will continue to exceed our means. “And as long as selfish ambition remains the engine of our choices, James’s warning will echo in every sector of our national life, disorder, and every evil practice,” he emphasized. The Takeaway Prof. Azar’s reflections are about the soul of a nation. He is emphatic that this is not the time for more laws, slogans, and campaigns will keep failing. He believes that unless citizens confront the mindset that excuses selfishness as survival. He stresses that Ghana’s healing will begin not in Parliament or at a rally, but in the quiet decisions made by individuals to do right, even when it costs them.

Ghana News
Why I Am Resigning
Politics

Why I Am Resigning

In 1985, President Ronald Reagan appointed me as a federal judge. I was 38 years old. At the time, I looked forward to serving for the rest of my life. However, I resigned Friday, relinquishing that lifetime appointment and giving up the opportunity for public service that I have loved. My reason is simple: I no longer can bear to be restrained by what judges can say publicly or do outside the courtroom. President Donald Trump is using the law for partisan purposes, targeting his adversaries while sparing his friends and donors from investigation, prosecution, and possible punishment. This is contrary to everything that I have stood for in my more than 50 years in the Department of Justice and on the bench. The White House’s assault on the rule of law is so deeply disturbing to me that I feel compelled to speak out. Silence, for me, is now intolerable. When I accepted the nomination to serve on the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, I took pride in becoming part of a federal judiciary that works to make our country’s ideal of equal justice under law a reality. A judiciary that helps protect our democracy. That has the authority and responsibility to hold elected officials to the limits of the power delegated to them by the people. That strives to ensure that the rights of minority groups, no matter how they are viewed by others, are not violated. That can serve as a check on corruption to prevent public officials from unlawfully enriching themselves. Becoming a federal judge was an ideal opportunity to extend a noble tradition that I had been educated by experience to treasure. My public service began in 1974, near the end of Richard Nixon’s presidency, at a time of dishonor for the Department of Justice. Nixon’s first attorney general, John Mitchell, who had also been the president’s campaign manager, later went to prison for his role in the break-in at the Democratic headquarters at the Watergate complex and for perjury in attempting to cover up that crime. His successor, Richard Kleindienst, was convicted of contempt of Congress for lying about the fact that, as instructed by the president, he’d ended an antitrust investigation of a major company after it pledged to make a $400,000 contribution to the Republican National Convention. The Justice Department was also discredited by revelations that FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover had obtained and disseminated derogatory information about political adversaries, including Martin Luther King Jr. I joined the Department of Justice as a special assistant to the honest and able Deputy Attorney General Laurence Silberman. Soon after, in 1975, President Gerald Ford named Edward Levi as attorney general to restore confidence in the integrity of the department. Levi, then the president of the University of Chicago, had a well-deserved reputation for brilliance, honesty, and nonpartisanship. Ford told Levi that he wanted the attorney general to “protect the rights of American citizens, not the President who appointed him.” I organized Levi’s induction ceremony and was there when he declared that “nothing can more weaken the quality of life or more imperil the realization of the goals we all hold dear than our failure to make clear by word and deed that our law is not an instrument of partisan purpose.” For the next two years I served as one of Levi’s special assistants, working closely with a man who was always faithful to this principle. With Levi as my model, in 1981 I became the deputy United States attorney and chief federal prosecutor of public corruption in Massachusetts. In about four years, my assistants and I won more than 40 consecutive corruption cases. Many convictions were of defendants close to the powerful mayor of Boston at the time. As a result, I received the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award and was appointed a federal judge. Some of the cases over which I presided as judge involved corruption and were highly publicized. Most notable was the prosecution of the notorious Boston mobsters James “Whitey” Bulger and Stephen “the Rifleman” Flemmi. Both, it turned out, were also FBI informants. Agents in the bureau, I discovered, were involved in crimes and egregious misconduct, including murders committed by Bulger and Flemmi. I wrote a 661-page decision detailing my findings. This led to orders that the government pay more than $100 million to the families of people murdered by informants whom the FBI had improperly protected. Their FBI handler was convicted twice and sentenced to serve a total of 50 years in prison. I also presided over a six-week trial of a former speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. After he was convicted of demanding and accepting bribes, I sentenced him to serve eight years in prison. I decided all of my cases based on the facts and the law, without regard to politics, popularity, or my personal preferences. That is how justice is supposed to be administered—equally for everyone, without fear or favor. This is the opposite of what is happening now. As I watched in dismay and disgust from my position on the bench, I came to feel deeply uncomfortable operating under the necessary ethical rules that muzzle judges’ public statements and restrict their activities. Day after day, I observed in silence as President Trump, his aides, and his allies dismantled so much of what I dedicated my life to. When I became a senior judge in 2013, my successor was appointed, so my resignation will not create a vacancy to be filled by the president. My colleagues on the United States District Court in Massachusetts and judges on the lower federal courts throughout the country are admirably deciding a variety of cases generated by Trump’s many executive orders and other unprecedented actions. However, the Supreme Court has repeatedly removed the temporary restraints imposed on those actions by lower courts in deciding emergency motions on its “shadow docket” with little, if any, explanation. I doubt that if I remained a judge I would fare any better than my colleagues. Others who have held positions of authority, including former federal judges and ambassadors, have been opposing this government’s efforts to undermine the principled, impartial administration of justice and distort the free and fair functioning of American democracy. They have urged me to work with them. As much as I have treasured being a judge, I can now think of nothing more important than joining them, and doing everything in my power to combat today’s existential threat to democracy and the rule of law. What Nixon did episodically and covertly, knowing it was illegal or improper, Trump now does routinely and overtly. Prosecutorial decisions during this administration are a prime example. Because even a prosecution that ends in an acquittal can have devastating consequences for the defendant, as a matter of fairness Justice Department guidelines instruct prosecutors not to seek an indictment unless they believe there is sufficient admissible evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Trump has utterly ignored this principle. In a social-media post, he instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek indictments against three political adversaries even though the officials in charge of the investigations at the time saw no proper basis for doing so. It has been reported that New York Attorney General Letitia James was prosecuted for mortgage fraud after Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, one of Donald Trump’s former criminal-defense lawyers, questioned the legal viability of bringing charges against James. Former FBI Director James Comey was charged after the interim U.S. attorney who had been appointed by Trump refused to seek an indictment and was forced to resign. Senator Adam Schiff, the third target of Trump’s social-media post, has yet to be charged. Trump is also dismantling the offices that could and should investigate possible corruption by him and those in his orbit. Soon after he was inaugurated, Trump fired, possibly unlawfully, 18 inspectors general who were responsible for detecting and deterring fraud and misconduct in major federal agencies. The FBI’s public-corruption squad also has been eliminated. The Department of Justice’s public-integrity section has been eviscerated, reduced from 30 lawyers to only five, and its authority to investigate election fraud has been revoked. The Department of Justice has evidently chosen to ignore matters it would in the past have likely investigated. Some directly involve the president. It has been reported that at a lavish April 2024 dinner at Mar-a-Lago, after executives from major oil companies complained about how the Biden administration’s environmental regulations were hurting their businesses, Trump said that if they raised $1 billion for his campaign he would promptly reverse those rules and policies. The executives raised the money, and Trump delivered on his promise. The law may be unclear concerning whether Trump himself could have been charged with conspiracy to bribe a public official or honest-services fraud. In addition, Trump himself may have immunity from prosecution if similar payments for his benefit continued after he became president. However, the companies that made the payments, and the individuals acting for them, could possibly be prosecuted. There is no public indication that this matter has been investigated by Trump’s Department of Justice. As a prosecutor and judge I dealt seriously with the unlawful influence of money on official decisions. However, Trump and his administration evidently do not share this approach. After Trump launched his own cryptocurrency, $TRUMP, his Department of Justice disbanded its cryptocurrency-enforcement unit. The top 220 buyers of Trump’s cryptocurrency were invited to a dinner with Trump. Sixty-seven of them had invested more than $1 million. The top spender, Justin Sun, who was born in China and is a foreign national, reportedly spent more than $10 million. Sun also reportedly spent $75 million on investments issued by a crypto company controlled by Trump’s family. It is illegal for people who are not U.S. citizens to donate to American political candidates, and the most that anyone can donate directly to one candidate is $3,500. Ordinarily, the Department of Justice would investigate this sort of situation. There is, however, no indication that any investigation has occurred. Rather, a few months after Sun started purchasing tokens from the Trump-family cryptocurrency company, the Securities and Exchange Commission paused its fraud suit against Sun and his companies pending the outcome of settlement negotiations. (Sun and his companies have denied any wrongdoing.) Trump is not the only member of his administration whose conduct is apparently shielded from investigation. In September of last year, Tom Homan, who became Trump’s “border czar,” reportedly was recorded accepting $50,000 in cash in return for a promise to use his potential future public position to benefit a company seeking government contracts. The FBI had created the fictitious company as part of an undercover investigation. Typically, an investigation of that sort would have continued after Homan became a Department of Homeland Security official, with the FBI seeking any additional evidence of bribery. However, after Trump took office, the investigation was shut down, with the White House claiming there was no “credible evidence” of criminal wrongdoing. Weeks after the FBI investigation was reported, Homan denied taking $50,000 “from anybody” and has said he did “nothing criminal.” An honest investigation could reveal who is telling the truth. There is also the matter of Trump’s executive orders. A good number are, in my opinion, unconstitutional or otherwise illegal. For example, contrary to the express language of the Fourteenth Amendment, one order declares that not everyone born in this country is a U.S. citizen. Trump’s administration also has deported undocumented immigrants without due process, in many cases to countries where they have no connections and will be in great danger. Although many federal judges have issued orders restraining the government’s effort to implement those executive orders, some appear to have been disobeyed by members of the Trump administration. Trump has responded by calling for federal judges to be impeached, even though the Constitution permits impeachment only for “high crimes and misdemeanors,” such as treason and bribery. Trump’s angry attacks on the courts have coincided with an unprecedented number of serious threats against judges. There were nearly 200 from March to late May 2025 alone. These included credible death threats, hundreds of vitriolic phone calls, and anonymous, unsolicited pizza deliveries falsely made in the name of the son of a federal judge, who was murdered in the judge’s home in 2020 by a disgruntled lawyer. Over the past 35 years I have spoken in many countries about the role of American judges in safeguarding democracy, protecting human rights, and combatting corruption. Many of these countries—including Russia, China, and Turkey—are ruled by corrupt leaders who rank among the worst abusers of human rights. These kleptocrats jail their political opponents, suppress independent media that could expose their wrongdoing, forbid free speech, punish peaceful protests, and frustrate every effort to establish an independent, impartial judiciary that could constrain these abuses. These kleptocrats have impunity in their countries because they control the police, prosecutors, and courts. In my work around the world, I have made many friends, young and old, who have been inspired by the example of American judges, lawyers, and citizens. They have suffered greatly for trying to make their countries more like ours. Among them are impartial judges who have been imprisoned in Turkey, a brilliant young Russian lawyer who was alleged to be a spy and forced into exile, and a Venezuelan law student who almost lost sight in one eye while protesting his country’s oppressive government. They courageously share what have historically been our nation’s convictions. These brave people inspire me. I resigned in order to speak out, support litigation, and work with other individuals and organizations dedicated to protecting the rule of law and American democracy. I also intend to advocate for the judges who cannot speak publicly for themselves. I cannot be confident that I will make a difference. I am reminded, however, of what Senator Robert F. Kennedy said in 1966 about ending apartheid in South Africa: “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.” Enough of these ripples can become a tidal wave. And as Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney wrote, sometimes the “longed-for tidal wave of justice can rise up, and hope and history rhyme.” I want to do all that I can to make this such a time.

Mark L. Wolf
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