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Crude oil futures finished little changed Friday but Brent crude ended with its largest weekly loss since the COVID-19 pandemic, after heavy losses suffered by Republicans in the U.S. midterm elections raised expectations that the Trump administration will pursue a diplomatic solution

Faculty vote will continue until next Friday and could send message that school’s president has lost their confidence.

Cornell University has begun a no-confidence vote for the school’s leadership after an alleged gang rape prompted public outcry over sexual assault on college campuses and scrutiny over the university’s handling of the case.

Faculty members started the no-confidence vote on Thursday that is expected to continue until November 6. The initiative is non-binding, but could send a message that president Michael Kotlikoff has lost the confidence of the school’s faculty.

“Hundreds of students, staff, faculty and alumni approached the sponsors of this resolution to emphasize to us that the Jane Doe case is but a tip of the iceberg,” said Paul Ortiz, the lead faculty sponsor of the resolution.

A lawsuit filed last month alleges that a female student, identified as Jane Doe, was drugged and gang raped by seven male students at a fraternity house in 2024.

The case has raised questions about whether the university acted with sufficient urgency or downplayed the alleged abuse in order to protect its reputation. The university initially shut down the fraternity and suspended the male students, two of whom were later expelled.

Faculty considered on Wednesday whether to postpone a vote of no confidence, with some urging patience and others arguing that the vote was a necessary response to institutional reluctance to take the issue seriously.

The Associated Press news agency reported that the debate took place after a group of 20 female science and engineering faculty members called on Kotlikoff to resign in a letter to trustees.

“What our community needed was clear leadership; instead, it faced a leadership vacuum,” the letter stated.

Kotlikoff sought to address the fallout in a statement earlier this month in which he listed a number of preliminary responses.

“I am deeply sorry for the harm Jane Doe suffered in 2024, and appalled that this act of sexual violence occurred within our Cornell community,” he said.

Two of the men accused of taking part in the alleged rape of Jane Doe have asked for New York Attorney General Letitia James to be removed from her role overseeing the renewed criminal probe into the case over social media posts from the attorney general expressing support for the accuser prior to her appointment.

A judge on Thursday appeared sceptical of one of the challenges, which James’ office has said are “without merit”.

CYCLISTS have been seen brazenly ignoring Sadiq Khan’s ‘pedestrian-only’ zone on Oxford Street just hours after the ban came into force.

As of today a one-kilometre stretch of the world-famous London street is now free from cars and buses prior to being fully pedestrianised.

The entire section between Selfridges near the Marble Arch end and Great Portland Street (including Oxford Circus) is the first to be impacted – with the festive period just around the corner.

Transport for London (TFL) has confirmed that e-bikes, pedal bikes, and e-scooters will no longer be allowed to go through the area but instead will be funnelled to surrounding routes.

However, cyclists were filmed whizzing through the green bollards installed just last night and designed to stop traffic.

A team of security guards was seen trying to wave down commuters, delivery drivers and e-bike renters and get them to dismount.

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One member of the public said it was “absolutely pandemonium” last night as buses kept coming up to the new obstructive bollards.

The road will be closed to all traffic between 7am and midnight every day of the week.

Exceptions have been made for deliveries, which can be made from midnight to 7am, and for emergency vehicles – which retain access at all times. 

But many Londoners have bemoaned the fact that the surrounding area will be gridlocked due to the changes.

As the busy festive period gets underway, others have voiced their concerns over how shoppers will carry their hauls in the lead up to Christmas.

One local councillor described the plan as a “disaster for local people” – and accused London Mayor Sadiq Khan of pushing it through to meet an “arbitrary deadline”.

Cllr Tim Barnes, Westminster City Council Deputy Leader, said: “We’re extremely disappointed that MHCLG have ignored legitimate concerns about the impact this scheme will have on central London.

“London deserves a world class shopping district but I’m worried we’re heading for an unmanaged mess.”

He added: “It’s going to be very difficult for people with accessibility issues to get to the street. There is no step free access from Oxford Circus Tube.”

It comes after it was revealed that Christmas shoppers heading down Britain’s busiest high street will now be scanned with facial recognition.

The technology is expected to be installed in December, just in time for the busy festive shopping period.

Today’s pedestrianisation of this stretch of road has repeatedly been described as the “first phase” – but it has faced criticism.

Sean Lane, 43, a cabbie for ten years driving down Oxford Street, said he was particularly concerned about disabled passengers and parents with prams.

He told The Times: “It’s gonna create gridlock. I just can’t understand it. You can see how wide the pavements are.

“There’s more than enough room for everybody. Even if you made it one lane, a one-way road, at least we can come along.”

Paul Fisher, a Conservative Westminster councillor, fears for the postcard view of the high street during the Christmas period but also on a year-round basis.

He said: “Why do people go to Oxford Street? They don’t just go to shop, they go for the experience, for the iconic buses and taxis.

“Many tourists shop on Oxford Street because of the iconic view you get … that vision will be lost forever.”

Traffic can still flow north and south along Regent Street at the Oxford Circus junction.

Pedestrians can cross at the junction and the plan is for traffic signals to be re-phased for the changes.

Traffic can also cross the pedestrianised zone on these four other routes: Duke Street (northbound), Davies Street/Stratford Place (both directions for local access), Vere Street/New Bond Street (southbound only) and Holles Street (northbound only).

Private cars have been barred for years but now all motorised traffic, including buses and black cabs, as well as bicycles, will be kept away.

London Mayor Khan has hailed the move as “a truly momentous occasion for the capital“.

The pedestrianisation of Oxford Street has been tried for years but remains controversial.

And although the traffic may have been stopped, the initial works scheme is not expected to be completed until spring next year.

The closure is part of a £150m phased plan to revive the area with “mini parks” and more than 50 trees, benches, lighting and public art.

It is hoped the plans will encourage bars and restaurants to move in alongside the shops to create a feel similar to the Rue de Rivoli in Paris or La Rambla in Barcelona.

Starting over has to start somewhere, and so the Clippers got on with it Wednesday.

While Kawhi Leonard got an NBA Finals hero’s welcome back up north in Toronto, the Clippers did what they could to entice fans back to Intuit Dome.

Not with superstars or championship aspirations. But with the promise of free parking, a jersey trade-in and a basketball team that is, at least, better than the Sacramento Kings, who they beat 121-96 in both teams’ season opener. Coach Tyronn Lue dedicated the win to suspended team owner Steve Ballmer: “Just want to say thank you for everything. We’re still fighting for him.”

Yeah, but the Clippers should focus on fighting for their fans, not the billionaire whose apparent salary cap circumvention has the organization in hot water.

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue directs his players during a win over the Sacramento Kings Wednesday at Intuit Dome.

(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Associated Press)

Wednesday’s fan appreciation stuff was a swell gesture, as a start. But it wasn’t nearly far-reaching enough.

Not for embattled Clippers supporters who have stuck with the team through thick and thin, sickness and health, in spite of Donald Sterling, the former cheap, racist owner and now Ballmer, the wealthy, over-invested one whose salary cap circumvention cost his team its first-round picks in the 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033 NBA drafts.

To fans, that was the most consequential part of the historic punishment dealt by the NBA, which commissioned a year-long investigation that determined the Clippers committed audacious levels of salary cap circumvention.

The league also fined the team $30 million, suspended team owner Ballmer and president of business operations Gillian Zucker for a year and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank for six months.

And Leonard? He got a $700,000 slap on the wrist and got traded back to Toronto, where he signed a two-year, $115 million contract extension and on Wednesday, had Raptors coach Darko Rajaković saying he was “super excited for the chance to bring a Hall of Famer back home.”

“That’s one of the most insulting parts of it all, the way [Leonard] was able to walk away scot-free and the fans are left sort of holding the bag,” said Torrance’s Justin Ratterree, while he tried to dodge raindrops as he waited in line, four hours before tipoff, to trade in his No. 2 Leonard jersey.

Young Clippers fans watch the team play the the Sacramento Kings Wednesday at the Intuit Dome.

(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Associated Press)

“It’s rough right now. Defending the team this past couple months has been really rough … and I’ve kind of just given up defending. How can you defend it?”

Even Ballmer stopped doing that, releasing a statement on Sept. 13 that read, in part: “This has been a very difficult time for everybody associated with the Clippers, and for that, I have sincere regrets.

“I want to apologize to our fans, employees, and my fellow NBA team owners for the distraction and distress this matter has caused, for which I accept responsibility as principal owner.

“We are,” he added, “committing to put this chapter behind us.”

Yes, let them try to scrub the memory of Leonard, the intensely skilled and private player who demanded so much of the Clippers when he signed with them as a free agent in 2019. Who made no efforts to popularize the team, missed almost as much time as he worked, and who failed to lead the Clippers to their first championship or anywhere close to it in his seven seasons.

After his trade to Toronto went through on Sept. 23, the Clippers resisted posting the “Thank You, Kawhi” graphic that pro sports teams do when they part ways with a player.

Let them also forget to play a tribute video when Leonard’s Raptors visit Intuit Dome for the only time this season on Nov. 2.

And let the Clippers expand the jersey swap beyond the first 4,000 paying customers at Game 1; there was no official figure available Wednesday night for exactly how many jerseys were traded and how many of them belonged to he-who-must-not-be-named.

The Clippers should keep it going, offer the option all season. Set it up at the Intuit Dome’s Lost and Found — invite fans to exchange the No. 2 jersey of the player whom they lost all respect for a guy they’ve found themselves newly enamored with, likely rookie Keaton Wagler if Wednesday’s exchange was any indication.

Clippers fans also deserve more than having their parking picked up until an hour before gametime, on one rainy workday, on late notice.

They should have their parking at games covered all season — or at least substantially reduced from the typical $70 price that’s already too steep. (The Dodgers didn’t start charging $65 until the National League Division Series!)

They should do more if they want to continue to draw a crowd to watch a team whose best player is now Darius Garland, whose future is compromised, whose current best-cast scenario — the play-in! — only Clippers fans could love.

Clippers forward Rui Hachimura drives past Kings guard De’andre Hunter and center Domantas Sabonis Wednesday at the Intuit Dome.

(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Associated Press)

Several fans Wednesday also said they would appreciate improved transparency, including in terms of player injury and availability news.

It’s the least the team can do for these patient people, who will have the type of team that they usually fall hard for, actually — a group of gamers, devoid of divas, punching above their weight.

“All this stuff that’s going on,” Lue said, “you can’t take that out on our players … that’s not their fault, you know?”

It’s not fans’ fault, either. Let’s see the Clippers go above and beyond for them.