Manhattan police have obtained a warrant for the arrest of 26-year-old Luigi Nicholas Mangione , suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson . Mangione was arrested at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, while carrying a gun, mask and writings linking him to the ambush. Mangione is being held without bail in Pennsylvania on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Late Monday, Manhattan prosecutors charged him with five counts, including murder, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument. Here's the latest: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says “violence to combat any sort of corporate greed is unacceptable” and the White House will “continue to condemn any form of violence.” She declined to comment on the investigation into the Dec. 4 shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson or reports that writings belonging to the suspect, Luigi Mangione, said insurance companies care more about profits than their customers. “This is horrific,” Jean-Pierre said of the fatal shooting of Thompson as he walked in Manhattan. He didn’t appear to say anything as deputies led him to a waiting car outside. “I’m deeply grateful to the men and women of law enforcement whose efforts to solve the horrific murder of Brian Thompson led to the arrest of a suspect in Pennsylvania,” Gov. Hochul said in the statement. “I am coordinating with the District Attorney’s Office and will sign a request for a governor’s warrant to ensure this individual is tried and held accountable. Public safety is my top priority and I’ll do everything in my power to keep the streets of New York safe.” That’s according to a spokesperson for the governor who said Gov. Hochul will do it as soon as possible. Luigi Nicholas Mangione, the suspect in the fatal shooting of a healthcare executive in New York City, apparently was living a charmed life: the grandson of a wealthy real estate developer, valedictorian of his elite Baltimore prep school and with degrees from one of the nation’s top private universities. Friends at an exclusive co-living space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Hawaii where the 26-year-old Mangione once lived widely considered him a “great guy,” and pictures on his social media accounts show a fit, smiling, handsome young man on beaches and at parties. Now, investigators in New York and Pennsylvania are working to piece together why Mangione may have diverged from this path to make the violent and radical decision to gun down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a brazen attack on a Manhattan street. The killing sparked widespread discussions about corporate greed, unfairness in the medical insurance industry and even inspired folk-hero sentiment toward his killer. ▶ Read more about Luigi Mangione Peter Weeks, the Blair County district attorney, says he’ll work with New York officials to try to return suspect Luigi Mangione there to face charges. Weeks said the New York charges are “more serious” than in Blair County. “We believe their charges take precedent,” Weeks said, promising to do what’s needed to accommodate New York’s prosecution first. Weeks spoke to reporters after a brief hearing at which a defense lawyer said Mangione will fight extradition. The defense asked for a hearing on the issue. In the meantime, Mangione will be detained at a state prison in western Pennsylvania. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office said Tuesday it will seek a Governor’s warrant to secure Mangione’s extradition to Manhattan. Under state law, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul can issue a warrant of arrest demanding Mangione’s return to the state. Such a warrant must recite the facts necessary to the validity of its issuance and be sealed with the state seal. It would then be presented to law enforcement in Pennsylvania to expedite Mangione’s return to New York. But Blair County District Attorney Peter Weeks says it won’t be a substantial barrier to returning Mangione to New York. He noted that defendants contest extradition “all the time,” including in simple retail theft cases. Dickey, his defense lawyer, questioned whether the second-degree murder charge filed in New York might be eligible for bail under Pennsylvania law, but prosecutors raised concerns about both public safety and Mangione being a potential flight risk, and the judge denied it. Mangione will continue to be housed at a state prison in Huntingdon. He has 14 days to challenge the detention. Prosecutors, meanwhile, have a month to seek a governor’s warrant out of New York. Mangione, wearing an orange jumpsuit, mostly stared straight ahead at the hearing, occasionally consulting papers, rocking in his chair, or looking back at the gallery. At one point, he began to speak to respond to the court discussion, but was quieted by his lawyer. Luigi Mangione, 26, has also been denied bail at a brief court hearing in western Pennsylvania. He has 14 days to challenge the bail decision. That’s with some intervention from owner Elon Musk. The account, which hasn’t posted since June, was briefly suspended by X. But after a user inquired about it in a post Monday, Musk responded “This happened without my knowledge. Looking into it.” The account was later reinstated. Other social media companies such as Meta have removed his accounts. According to X rules, the platform removes “any accounts maintained by individual perpetrators of terrorist, violent extremist, or mass violent attacks, as well as any accounts glorifying the perpetrator(s), or dedicated to sharing manifestos and/or third party links where related content is hosted.” Mangione is not accused of perpetrating a terrorist or mass attack — he has been charged with murder — and his account doesn’t appear to share any writings about the case. He shouted something that was partly unintelligible, but referred to an “insult to the intelligence of the American people.” He’s there for an arraignment on local charges stemming from his arrest Monday. He was dressed in an orange jumpsuit as officers led him from a vehicle into the courthouse. Local defense lawyer Thomas Dickey is expected to represent the 26-year-old at a Tuesday afternoon hearing at the Blair County Courthouse. Dickey declined comment before the hearing. Mangione could have the Pennsylvania charges read aloud to him and may be asked to enter a plea. They include possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. In New York, he was charged late Monday with murder in the death of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione likely was motivated by his anger with what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain with corporate greed, said a a law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, based on a review of the suspect’s hand-written notes and social media postings. He appeared to view the targeted killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO as a symbolic takedown, asserting in his note that he is the “first to face it with such brutal honesty,” the bulletin said. Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski a “political revolutionary” and may have found inspiration from the man who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology, the document said. A felony warrant filed in New York cites Altoona Officer Christy Wasser as saying she found the writings along with a semi-automatic pistol and an apparent silencer. The filing echoes earlier statements from NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny who said Mangione had a three-page, handwritten document that shows “some ill will toward corporate America.” Mangione is now charged in Pennsylvania with being a fugitive of justice. A customer at the McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where Mangione was arrested said one of his friends had commented beforehand that the man looked like the suspect wanted for the shooting in New York City. “It started out almost a little bit like a joke, my one friend thought he looked like the shooter,” said the customer, who declined to give his full name, on Tuesday. “It wasn’t really a joke, but we laughed about it,” he added. The warrant on murder and other charges is a step that could help expedite his extradition from Pennsylvania. In court papers made public Tuesday, a New York City police detective reiterated key findings in the investigation he said tied Mangione to the killing, including surveillance footage and a fake ID he used to check into a Manhattan hostel on Nov. 24. Police officers in Altoona, Pennsylvania, found that ID when they arrested Mangione on Monday. Mangione is being held without bail in Pennsylvania on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Late Monday, Manhattan prosecutors charged him with five counts, including murder, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument. Mangione doesn’t yet have a lawyer who can speak on his behalf, court officials said. Images of Mangione released Tuesday by Pennsylvania State Police showed him pulling down his mask in the corner of the McDonald’s while holding what appeared to be hash browns and wearing a winter jacket and ski cap. In another photo from a holding cell, he stood unsmiling with rumpled hair. Mangione’s cousin, Maryland lawmaker Nino Mangione, announced Tuesday morning that he’s postponing a fundraiser planned later this week at the Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore, which was purchased by the Mangione family in 1986. “Because of the nature of this terrible situation involving my Cousin I do not believe it is appropriate to hold my fundraising event scheduled for this Thursday at Hayfields,” Nino Mangione said in a social media post. “I want to thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and support. My family and I are heartbroken and ask that you remember the family of Mr. Thompson in your prayers. Thank you.” Officers used New York City’s muscular surveillance system . Investigators analyzed DNA samples, fingerprints and internet addresses. Police went door to door looking for witnesses. When an arrest came five days later , those sprawling investigative efforts shared credit with an alert civilian’s instincts. A customer at a McDonald’s restaurant in Pennsylvania noticed another patron who resembled the man in the oblique security-camera photos New York police had publicized. He remains jailed in Pennsylvania, where he was initially charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. By late Monday evening, prosecutors in Manhattan had added a charge of murder, according to an online court docket. It’s unclear whether Luigi Nicholas Mangione has an attorney who can comment on the allegations. Asked at Monday’s arraignment whether he needed a public defender, Mangione asked whether he could “answer that at a future date.”Arab, Astana Process States Call For Political Solution In Syria
Why Are Walgreens (WBA) Shares Soaring TodayArab, Astana Process States Call For Political Solution In SyriaTULSA, Okla. (AP) — Tulsa fired football coach Kevin Wilson on Sunday and will elevate wide receivers coach Ryan Switzer on an interim basis for the remainder of the season. The Golden Hurricane lost to South Florida 63-30 on Saturday, dropping their record to 3-8. The school's decision concludes Wilson's two-year tenure with a 7-16 record, including 3-12 in American Athletic Conference play. “With the rapidly evolving landscape of college athletics, we know the importance of positioning our football program and athletic department to thrive and excel in the upcoming years,” athletic director Justin Moore said in a statement. “Our standard will be to play in bowl games every season, compete for conference titles, and build a program that everyone connected to the Golden Hurricane will be proud of." Wilson spent six years as Indiana’s head coach, going 26-47 from 2011 to 2016. He then joined Urban Meyer’s staff at Ohio State and stayed on under Meyer’s successor, Ryan Day, before taking over at Tulsa. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
The Fabric and Apparel Accessory Manufacturer’s Association (FAAMA), a subsidiary association of the Joint Apparel Association Forum of Sri Lanka (JAAF), hosted its 17th Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2024, at Jetwing Colombo Seven on 29 October 2024. The event was attended by Chief Guest, US Embassy in Sri Lanka Deputy Chief of Mission Doug Sonnek, and Guest of Honour JAAF Sri Lanka Chairman Saif Jafferjee. The AGM also was attended by representatives of JAAF member associations including JAAF SL Secretary General Yohan Lawrence, and other distinguished guests such as Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka Director General Renuka M. Weerakoon and Central Environmental Authority (CEA) Director General P.B. Hemantha Jayasinghe. FAAMA outgoing Chairman Pubudu De Silva addressed the attendees, highlighting the association’s progress over the past financial year ending 31 March 2024. He highlighted several challenges faced by the textile and apparel industry due to uncertain global demand, brought about by geopolitical tensions and economic fluctuation. He explained that these challenges greatly impacted supply chains and costs of raw material. He went on to highlight that despite these challenges, Sri Lanka’s apparel sector was able to remain the largest contributor of the local economy. De Silva also addressed FAAMA’s pivotal role in the apparel industry, emphasising the fact that the association is working closely with stakeholders and Government to implement favourable policies for the apparel industry. He further highlighted that the association would continue its focus on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives such as beach clean ups and ocean strainers. He mentioned that FAAMA hopes to strengthen its partnership with JAAF and further expand global demand for Sri Lankan apparel. Thereafter, Guest of Honour JAAF Sri Lanka Chairman Saif Jafferjee addressed the attendees. During his address, Jafferjee stated that the JAAF, in spite of the challenges, will continue to collaborate with FAAMA to strengthen the apparel industry. He said the intention is to turn Sri Lanka’s apparel industry into an $ 8 billion industry over the next two years. Following this address, Chief Guest, US Embassy in Sri Lanka Deputy Chief of Mission Doug Sonnek addressed the gathering, “The United States is proud to be Sri Lanka’s top export market, with $ 2.8 billion in goods exported to the US in 2023. Organisations like FAAMA play a critical role in strengthening our bilateral economic relationship. By promoting good governance, supporting workers’ rights, and advancing environmental sustainability, FAAMA is not only driving the apparel industry forward but also contributing to Sri Lanka’s long-term economic resilience and growth. The United States looks forward to continuing our partnership to create opportunities and prosperity for both our nations.” Samal Dissanaike was appointed as the new Chairman of FAAMA for 2024/2025. The new Board of Directors was also announced that evening. The following members were appointed to the Executive Committee. FAAMA’s 17th Annual General Meeting came to a successful conclusion with the associations newly appointed FAAMA Chairman Samal Dissanayake delivering the vote of thanks to all attendees, the new Board of Directors, and Executive Committee. This was followed by an evening of cocktails and fellowship.
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Can Mubadala make money on U.S. wealth advisory after paying a premium price for CI Financial?NEW DELHI: A fresh plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a probe into the indictment of billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani who has been charged in the US for alleged bribery and fraud, saying the move "unveiled malpractices carried out by the conglomerate". The plea has been filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari as an interlocutory application in the batch of pleas in the Adani-Hindenburg row over allegations of stock price manipulation by the Indian corporate giant. The US Department of Justice has accused Adani of being part of an elaborate scheme to pay USD 265 million (about Rs 2,200 crore) bribe to Indian officials in exchange for favourable terms for solar power contracts in four Indian states. The Adani Group has denied the charge, saying the allegations levelled by the US prosecutors are baseless and that the conglomerate is compliant with all laws. It also vowed to pursue all possible legal recourse. In his plea before the apex court, Tiwari contended that the allegations against Adani are of "serious nature" and should be investigated by the Indian authorities. "The SEBI has to inspire confidence by concluding the investigations and placing on record the report and conclusion of the probes. As there were allegations of short selling in the SEBI investigation and the present allegations levelled by the foreign authorities might have connection or may not have, but SEBI's investigation report should clear this so that the investors may not loose confidence," the plea said.None
Impact on U.S. domestic natural gas prices—among the lowest in the world—would remain negligible WASHINGTON , Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On their current trajectory, growing exports of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) would support nearly half a million domestic jobs annually and contribute $1.3 trillion to U.S. gross domestic product through 2040 while having a negligible impact on domestic gas prices, according to a new comprehensive study by S&P Global. The study projects U.S. LNG export capacity to double over the next five years under a Base Case that takes into account current conditions, including impacts from the 2024 pause of pending decisions on exports of LNG to non-free trade agreement countries. In addition to the projected sizeable jobs and GDP gains, future export activity is anticipated to generate more than $2.5 trillion in total revenues for U.S. businesses, $166 billion in federal and state tax revenues and more than $500 billion in labor income. "The emergence of the U.S. LNG industry has placed the United States in the pole position with global demand for gas expected to grow through 2040 alongside the rapid growth of renewables," said Daniel Yergin , Vice Chairman, S&P Global. "Continued growth in U.S. LNG capacity would have outsized impact in terms of jobs, GDP and labor income. In addition to domestic economic benefits, being the world's leading LNG supplier adds a new dimension to U.S. influence abroad. It was U.S. LNG that replaced nearly half of Russia gas supply to Europe after the outbreak of war in Ukraine ." The study, Major New U.S. Industry at a Crossroads: A U.S. LNG Impact Study leverages the combined expertise of the S&P Global Commodity Insights and S&P Global Market Intelligence divisions to provide a comprehensive and forward-looking assessment of the projected impacts of LNG exports on the U.S. economy. It compares Base Case findings—utilizing S&P Global's proprietary "Inflections" scenario—to those under an Extended Halt Scenario where no new or currently paused U.S. LNG capacity comes online. The study is the first in a two-part series. A future companion study will conduct a global greenhouse gas emissions impact analysis (including methane) to quantify expected emissions under the two study scenarios and will expand the economic analysis to include regional and supply chain impacts. LNG has emerged as a major U.S. industry in less than a decade and made the United States the world's leading supplier. Exports of LNG already support more than 270,000 U.S. jobs annually and have generated more than $400 Billion in GDP and more than $800 billion in total revenues for domestic businesses since exports began in 2016. Export revenues from U.S. LNG already exceed those of U.S. soybeans, are twice that of the nation's movie and television exports and half those of U.S semiconductors. At the same time, most of the U.S. gas supply—nearly 90%—remains available for domestic consumption and natural gas prices for U.S. households continue to be among the lowest in the world. "U.S. gas production has more than tripled compared to the amount of LNG that the country exports," said Eric Eyberg , Vice President, Gas and Power Consulting, S&P Global Commodity Insights. "That abundant supply has allowed LNG exports to support more than 270,000 jobs annually and contribute more than $400 Billion to GDP to date with no major impact to domestic prices." However, if new or currently halted LNG capacity does not come online, the repercussions would be substantial, the study finds. Under the study's Extended Halt Scenario: An annual average of 100,000+ jobs would be at risk $250+ billion contributions to GDP would go unrealized $491 billion in lost revenues for U.S. businesses $110 billion in lost labor income $34 billion forgone federal and state tax revenues Restricting future LNG capacity would have little to no benefit in terms of U.S. natural gas prices either, the study finds. The difference between the two study scenarios in terms of average annual gas costs for U.S. households (2025-2040) would be less than 1%. If future U.S. capacity were not to materialize, other countries would seek to fill the gap, the study says. Qatar , Canada and Mozambique would be expected to accelerate their own projects to claim market share. Other countries, including Russia , would likely add capacity as well. In total, the study estimates that 85% of the supply deficit under the Extended Halt Scenario would be made up by fossil fuels from non-U.S. sources. "The economic consequences to ceding the U.S. position in LNG would be stark, but it goes far beyond that," said Carlos Pascual , Senior Vice President for Global Energy and International Affairs, S&P Global Commodity Insights. "Such a move would diminish U.S. geopolitical influence as a reliable and affordable energy supplier to allies and trading partners, as a key source for expanding energy access in developing countries and—by providing a replacement for coal in baseload power generation—an important catalyst to global decarbonization efforts." About the Study: Major New U.S. Industry at a Crossroads: A U.S. LNG Impact Study is available at: https://www.spglobal.com/en/research-insights/special-reports/major-new-us-industry-at-a-crossroads-us-lng-impact-study-phase-1 This study offers an independent and objective assessment of the economic, market and global impact of the U.S. LNG Industry built from a detailed bottom-up approach, at the asset and market level, technology by technology. It represents the collaboration of S&P Global Commodity Insights and the Global Intelligence and Analytics unit within S&P Global Market Intelligence supported by the world's largest expert team of more than 1,400 energy research analysts and consultants continuously monitoring, modelling and evaluating markets and assets. The analysis and metrics developed during the course of this research represent the independent analysis and views of S&P Global. The study makes no policy recommendations. This research was supported by the US Chamber of Commerce. S&P Global is exclusively responsible for all of the analysis, content and conclusions of the study. Media Contacts: Jeff Marn +1-202-463-8213, [email protected] About S&P Global S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI ) provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses and individuals with the right data, expertise and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through ESG and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges and accelerate progress for the world. We are widely sought after by many of the world's leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the world's leading organizations plan for tomorrow, today. SOURCE S&P Global
Agartala: Tripura Police on Saturday detained 10 Bangladeshi nationals, belonging to the Hindu community, after they illegally entered India by fleeing their village due to unrest and tensions in the neighbouring country, an official said. A police officer said that the 10 Bangladeshi nationals including two women, three teenagers and an elderly person were detained from the Ambassa railway station in Tripura before boarding a Silchar (Assam)-bound train. “We would initiate legal proceedings against the Bangladeshi nationals as per law,” the official said. Sankar Chandra Sarkar, who led the intruders, said that after facing continuous threats and intimidation, they fled from their Dhanpur village in Kishoreganj district. “After trekking the forested hills of an arduous route overnight, we entered India on Saturday through Kamalpur (in Tripura’s Dhalai district). We were trying to go to Silchar in Assam to stay in a rented house. “We would never return to Bangladesh under any circumstances. The situation in Bangladesh is very grim. Attacks on the lives and properties of Hindus have become an everyday affair,” Sarkar, who worked as a driver to run the house, said. Talking to the media, he said that they sold some of their properties before fleeing into India, but they had to abandon many of their properties and household goods and assets. Sarkar claimed that thousands of Hindu families wanted to come to India, but they were unable to do so for various reasons. “During the Awami League government headed by then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, we were happy and there was no enmity between the Hindus and Muslims in our areas. But after the caretaker government headed by Muhammad Yunus assumed office, they were continuously harassed and threatened,” the visibly panicky middle-aged man said. Over the last four months, over 550 Bangladeshi nationals and over 63 Rohingyas were arrested by the Government Railway Police, Border Security Force (BSF), and Tripura Police from the Agartala railway station and various other places in Tripura after they illegally entered India. After the Bangladesh unrest began in June-July, BSF enhanced surveillance along the 4,096-km India-Bangladesh border with the neighbouring country to prevent transborder crime and infiltration, BSF officials said. Five Indian states – West Bengal (2216 km), Tripura (856 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Mizoram (318 km) and Assam ( 263 km) share a border with Bangladesh. The BSF on a number of occasions foiled several infiltration attempts by hundreds of Bangladeshi nationals comprising Hindus and Muslims.NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s recent dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his visit to Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral were not just exercises in policy and diplomacy. They were also prime trolling opportunities for Trump. Throughout his first term in the White House and during his campaign to return, Trump has spun out countless provocative, antagonizing and mocking statements. There were his belittling nicknames for political opponents, his impressions of other political figures and the plentiful memes he shared on social media. Now that's he's preparing to return to the Oval Office, Trump is back at it, and his trolling is attracting more attention — and eyerolls. On Sunday, Trump turned a photo of himself seated near a smiling first lady Jill Biden at the Notre Dame ceremony into a social media promo for his new perfume and cologne line, with the tag line, “A fragrance your enemies can’t resist!” The first lady’s office declined to comment. When Trudeau hastily flew to Florida to meet with Trump last month over the president-elect's threat to impose a 25% tax on all Canadian products entering the U.S., the Republican tossed out the idea that Canada become the 51st U.S. state. The Canadians passed off the comment as a joke, but Trump has continued to play up the dig, including in a post Tuesday morning on his social media network referring to the prime minister as “Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.” After decades as an entertainer and tabloid fixture, Trump has a flair for the provocative that is aimed at attracting attention and, in his most recent incarnation as a politician, mobilizing fans. He has long relished poking at his opponents, both to demean and minimize them and to delight supporters who share his irreverent comments and posts widely online and cheer for them in person. Trump, to the joy of his fans, first publicly needled Canada on his social media network a week ago when he posted an AI-generated image that showed him standing on a mountain with a Canadian flag next to him and the caption “Oh Canada!” After his latest post, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Tuesday: “It sounds like we’re living in a episode of South Park." Trudeau said earlier this week that when it comes to Trump, “his approach will often be to challenge people, to destabilize a negotiating partner, to offer uncertainty and even sometimes a bit of chaos into the well established hallways of democracies and institutions and one of the most important things for us to do is not to freak out, not to panic.” Even Thanksgiving dinner isn't a trolling-free zone for Trump's adversaries. On Thanksgiving Day, Trump posted a movie clip from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” with President Joe Biden and other Democrats’ faces superimposed on the characters in a spoof of the turkey-carving scene. The video shows Trump appearing to explode out of the turkey in a swirl of purple sparks, with the former president stiffly dancing to one of his favorite songs, Village People’s “Y.M.C.A." In his most recent presidential campaign, Trump mocked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, refusing to call his GOP primary opponent by his real name and instead dubbing him “Ron DeSanctimonious.” He added, for good measure, in a post on his Truth Social network: “I will never call Ron DeSanctimonious ‘Meatball’ Ron, as the Fake News is insisting I will.” As he campaigned against Biden, Trump taunted him in online posts and with comments and impressions at his rallies, deriding the president over his intellect, his walk, his golf game and even his beach body. After Vice President Kamala Harris took over Biden's spot as the Democratic nominee, Trump repeatedly suggested she never worked at McDonalds while in college. Trump, true to form, turned his mocking into a spectacle by appearing at a Pennsylvania McDonalds in October, when he manned the fries station and held an impromptu news conference from the restaurant drive-thru. Trump’s team thinks people should get a sense of humor. “President Trump is a master at messaging and he’s always relatable to the average person, whereas many media members take themselves too seriously and have no concept of anything else other than suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome,” said Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director. “President Trump will Make America Great Again and we are getting back to a sense of optimism after a tumultuous four years.” Though both the Biden and Harris campaigns created and shared memes and launched other stunts to respond to Trump's taunts, so far America’s neighbors to the north are not taking the bait. “I don’t think we should necessarily look on Truth Social for public policy,” Miller said. Gerald Butts, a former top adviser to Trudeau and a close friend, said Trump brought up the 51st state line to Trudeau repeatedly during Trump’s first term in office. “Oh God,” Butts said Tuesday, “At least a half dozen times.” “This is who he is and what he does. He’s trying to destabilize everybody and make people anxious,” Butts said. “He’s trying to get people on the defensive and anxious and therefore willing to do things they wouldn’t otherwise entertain if they had their wits about them. I don’t know why anybody is surprised by it.” Gillies reported from Toronto. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.Ann Arbor, MI, Dec. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) has released a white paper on NCMS initiatives that successfully utilize AI to improve supply chain resilience. Presenting two case studies of straightforward, inexpensive, high-value solutions that can be adapted by small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs), the white paper aims to assist SMMs in harnessing the power of AI to improve their operations by preventing supply chain disruptions. "Resilient supply chains are necessary for a strong American manufacturing sector and many other sectors that are essential to our prosperity and national security," said NCMS President and CEO Lisa Strama. "NCMS is strongly committed to advancing AI in manufacturing." Featuring the most up-to-date research on the secure and effective implementation of AI throughout the manufacturing sector, the white paper focuses on recent federal AI initiatives, including advancements in the Department of Commerce's Supply Chain Center, as well as AI standards from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Specifically, the white paper details how two NCMS initiatives have contributed to solutions for three issues impeding more widespread adoption of AI in the manufacturing sector: (1) preserving data privacy, (2) creating a standard and secure way to selectively share data in useful forms to different organizations, and (3) helping SMMs see the benefits of using their manufacturing operational and product data to fuel AI models, and sharing this data with public-private partnerships that can contribute demonstrations of scalable AI solutions for a wide range of manufacturing problems. "Currently, multiple federal organizations are emphasizing the need to expand public-private partnerships to accelerate AI for supply chain resilience," said Strama. "NCMS strongly supports public-private partnerships that promote the secure use of AI across the manufacturing sector." To read and download the white paper, visit: https://ncms.org/news/ai-white-paper . About NCMS NCMS is a cross-industry technology development consortium dedicated to improving the competitiveness and strength of the US industrial base. NCMS leverages a network of industry, government, and university partners to develop, demonstrate, and transition innovative technologies efficiently, with less risk and lower cost. NCMS enables world-class companies to work effectively with other members on new opportunities—matching highly capable companies with the providers and end users who need their innovations and technology solutions. The NCMS network benefits from an accelerated progression of idea creation through execution. Learn more at www.ncms.org , at NCMS's LinkedIn , and at @ ncmsmfg . Attachment Latest White Paper from NCMS © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The right frame can freeze a moment in time, creating meaning for the masses from a fist pump over a bloodied ear , a bridge crumbled by a ship , towns shredded by nature , and a victory sealed with an on-field kiss . In 2024, photographers across the U.S. captured glimpses of humanity, ranging from a deeply divisive presidential election , to hurricanes and fires that ravaged communities, to campus protests over the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The gallery from The Associated Press illustrates a new chapter of political history — the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump , the moment President Joe Biden announced he would no longer run again , the campaign sprint by Vice President Kamala Harris in Biden’s place, and the raw emotion from voters during a grueling contest ultimately won by Trump . Related Articles Hurricanes whipped through the country with devastating imagery, leaving a path of wreckage and death from Florida to Appalachia . After Hurricane Helene , Lake Lure in North Carolina was shown in a jarring photo covered in shards of debris thick enough to hide the surface of the water. Hurricane Milton ripped apart the roof of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, home to Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays. The scale of destruction experienced in some corners of the country in 2024 was hard to capture and might have been harder to fathom. That was the case when a container ship slammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing it to collapse and crumple around the vessel, killing construction workers on the bridge. As flames torched the landscape in California , another image captured firefighters and sheriff’s deputies pushing a vintage car away from a burning home. Elsewhere in California , one photo is aglow with bright orange flames, broken up only by the subtle features of an animal running through them. But hope also persevered in the face of devastation. In Helene’s aftermath , an image from Crystal River, Florida, shows Dustin Holmes holding hands with his girlfriend, Hailey Morgan, as they sloshed through floodwaters with her 4- and 7-year-old children to return to their flooded home. And in Manasota Key, Florida, a family was lit up by the glow of flashlights as they walked to check on their home damaged by Milton. Other photos from 2024 also grabbed the darkness and shadows to emphasize light: among them, a rocket liftoff and a total solar eclipse . And, yes, eclipse glasses were back in style for a shared moment of skygazing. But many other photos delivered a blast of color, from the spectrum of the northern lights across a Maine sky to a crew of workers wading into the deep-red of a Massachusetts cranberry bog . And, once again, Taylor Swift captured the country’s attention, even as a part of the crowd. She rushed down from the stands to kiss her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, after the Chiefs won the AFC Championship , en route to another Super Bowl win.Johannesburg, Dec 11 (PTI) South Africa will use the G20 Presidency that it assumed at the beginning of this month to further push the shared goals of member countries, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola has said. Lamola delivered the opening remarks at the first G20 Sherpas meeting on Monday where he said that South Africa's presidency will be held under the theme Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability, which seeks to harness global will and capabilities to confront the enormous challenges the world is facing. "South Africa will use its G20 Presidency to secure urgent progress on shared goals through several priority actions. These include strengthening disaster resilience and response; ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries; mobilising finance for a just energy transition; and harnessing critical minerals for inclusive growth and development," Lamola said. "In the spirit of Ubuntu, our shared humanity, we will address these challenges through our high-level deliverables and priorities, which lie at the core of the original G20 mandate of promoting strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth and by building partnerships across all sectors of society to find collective solutions," he added. The minister said three temporary task forces, an initiative and a commission will be established during South Africa's G20 Presidency. These would include the priorities of inclusive economic growth, industrialisation, employment and reduced inequality; food security; and artificial intelligence, data governance and innovation for sustainable development. "A review of the work of the G20, 'The G20 at 20 years: A Reflection on Key Achievements and the Way Forward', will also feature as one of South Africa's deliverables through a Sherpa Track Initiative. South Africa also proposes the establishment of a Cost of Capital Commission during its G20 Presidency," Lamola said. The minister said that the South African government would continue the significant strides made by the Brazilian G20 Presidency in enhancing the G20 as a site of democratic global engagement through a comprehensive dialogue with civil society and other state and non-state institutions. He said that in the same way that Brazil had done, a G20 Social Forum will be convened ahead of the Leaders’ Summit in November 2025, to bring together representatives of the existing engagement groups and other segments of civil society that may offer meaningful contributions to the G20. "As we build on the past and set the tone for the future, we must accentuate the need to adhere to universal values, shared norms, and strong multilateral institutions. Now more than ever, multilateral institutions must be strengthened and reformed to deliver broad global consensus and serve as platforms to resolve disputes. "The multilateral institutions with economic and developmental mandates must be strengthened, as the need for their intervention is even much bigger now," Lamola said as he reaffirmed that the UN has to remain at the core of this multilateral approach. "We must remain committed to multilateralism and upholding international law and ensure that the UN remains the centrepiece of this multilateralism," he said. "While international cooperation and multilateralism are currently confronted with divisive geopolitics, unprecedented challenges such as climate change, slow economic growth, and deepening poverty, the G20 must make strides in forging practical, mutually beneficial cooperation that champions an international order that is fairer, just, inclusive, and representative," Lamola said as he called for the G20 to use its platform to shine the spotlight on agenda 2063 of the African Union. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
South Korea's president avoids an impeachment attempt over martial law
NoneAI agents are the new apps: Salesforce leads the way with Agentforce 2.0A fugitive gains fame in New Orleans eluding dart guns and nets NEW ORLEANS (AP) — For months, a fugitive dog known as Scrim has transfixed the city of New Orleans. The 17-pound mutt has gained fame eluding a tenacious band of citizens wielding a tranquilizer dart gun and night vision binoculars. He's already escaped two homes. Now his sightings are plotted on a crowd-sourced Google map. Animal rescuers hope to capture the renegade pooch and put him in a place that's safe and secure. But there's a backlash, fueled by the now-viral video of Scrim leaping out a two-story window, under the hashtag #FreeScrim, as some think the dog should be able to roam free. McConnell falls and sprains wrist after GOP luncheon, colleague says he is 'fine' WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell fell and sprained his wrist while walking out of a GOP luncheon on Tuesday, the latest in a series of medical incidents for him in recent years. That's according to a senator who was with him when it happened. Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, the No. 3 Senate Republican and a doctor, said McConnell walked back to his office after the fall with no assistance and had “a small scratch.” Medical staff were seen taking a wheelchair into McConnell’s office just before a scheduled weekly news conference. McConnell, who is stepping down from his leadership post at the end of the year, did not attend the news conference. Who is Tony Buzbee, the lawyer suing Jay-Z as part of civil cases against Sean 'Diddy' Combs? HOUSTON (AP) — High-profile legal battles are nothing new for Texas attorney Tony Buzbee. His latest is a lawsuit he’s filed against rapper Jay-Z. Buzbee is accusing the iconic rapper as well as Sean “Diddy” Combs of sexually assaulting a minor at an awards show after-party in 2000. The lawsuit against Jay-Z is part of multiple civil cases Buzbee has filed on behalf of more than 150 people who allege sexual abuse and exploitation at the hands of Combs, who denies the claims. In his legal career, Buzbee has represented a variety of clients, including victims of sexual assault and well-known politicians. His critics say he’s full of bluster and bombast. Buzbee's firm says he's worked to “pursue justice against powerful figures.” OpenAI releases AI video generator Sora but limits how it depicts people SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — OpenAI has publicly released its new artificial intelligence video generator Sora but won’t let most users depict people as it monitors for patterns of misuse. Users of a premium version of OpenAI’s flagship product ChatGPT can now use Sora to instantly create AI-generated videos based on written commands. Among the highlighted examples are high-quality video clips of sumo-wrestling bears and a cat sipping coffee. But only a small set of invited testers can use Sora to make videos of humans as OpenAI works to “address concerns around misappropriation of likeness and deepfakes,” the company said in a blog post. Soto's record $765 million, 15-year contract with Mets reverberates through Major League Baseball DALLAS (AP) — Juan Soto’s record $765 million, 15-year contract with the New York Mets, the largest and longest deal in baseball history, has reverberated across the winter meetings. It stung the Yankees, who offered $760 million over 16 years to the All-Star outfielder. Soto’s deal sparked even greater expectations in a free agent market that includes pitchers Corbin Burnes and Max Fried, first basemen Pete Alonso and Christian Walker, third baseman Alex Bregman and outfielder Anthony Santander. Many small-market teams have long sought a salary cap but the consensus since the 1994-95 strike has been not to propose a hard limit. Rupert Murdoch’s attempt to change his family’s trust over Fox News media empire control rejected RENO, Nev. (AP) — A sealed document obtained by The New York Times says a Nevada commissioner has ruled against Rupert Murdoch’s effort to change his family’s trust to give his son Lachlan Murdoch control of his media empire and ensure Fox News maintains its conservative editorial slant. The commissioner concluded in a decision filed on Saturday that the two men had acted in “bad faith” in their bid to amend the irrevocable trust. Lachlan Murdoch is the head of Fox News and News Corp. The trust divides control of the company equally among Murdoch’s four oldest children after his death. A lawyer for Rupert Murdoch says he and his son intend to appeal the ruling. Greyhound racing is increasingly rare worldwide. New Zealand now plans to outlaw the practice WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand's racing minister says the country will outlaw greyhound racing, citing the injury rates for racing dogs. He says it will be shut down over the next 20 months, allowing time for those it employs to find other work and homes to be found for the 2,900 racing dogs. New Zealand is one of only a handful of countries where commercial greyhound racing is held. The industry body says the government has not recognized the progress it has made in animal welfare. The government passed an urgent law Tuesday barring greyhound owners from killing dogs as the industry winds down. Trustee over Infowars auction asks court to approve The Onion's winning bid A trustee who oversaw the bankruptcy auction of Alex Jones’ Infowars is asking a judge to approve The Onion’s winning bid for the conspiracy-filled platform. Trustee Christopher Murray took the stand Tuesday in the second day of testimony at a hearing where a judge is scrutinizing the satirical news outlet’s winning offer. He told U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston that he was there asking a court to approve the sale of Infowars’ parent company to The Onion’s parent company. It is not clear how quickly Lopez will rule. The Onion wants to turn Infowars’ website and social media accounts into parodies. Still rockin': As a singer turns 80, the Christmas song she sang as a teen is a holiday staple NEW YORK (AP) — Brenda Lee's memories of recording “Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree” are a little hazy now. But that's to be expected, since she was 13-years-old when it was made in 1958 and this month is celebrating her 80th birthday. The song has lived a remarkable life, and even unseated Mariah Carey's “All I Want for Christmas is You” at the top of the Billboard charts last year. Experts say the way it evokes a simpler time at the “Christmas party hop” is a key to its success. The song achieves the neat trick of sounding retro without being dated. Mass evacuation of Philippine villages underway after a brief but major volcanic eruption MANILA, Philippines (AP) — About 87,000 people are being evacuated in a central Philippine region after a volcano erupted with a huge plume of ash and superhot streams of gas and debris hurtling down its slopes. The eruption Monday of Mount Kanlaon on central Negros island did not cause any immediate casualties, but the alert level was raised one level, indicating further and more explosive eruptions may occur. Volcanic ash fell over a wide area, nine flights were canceled or diverted, schools were closed and a nighttime curfew was imposed in the most vulnerable areas. Mass evacuations were being carried out urgently in towns and villages nearest the volcano's western and southern slopes.
Indices continue climb on ballot of sentimentWhich stocks are taking off PSX to new heights?NASSAU, Bahamas — Shay Ciezki scored a season-high 34 points and Indiana knocked off No. 18 Baylor 73-65 in a semifinal at the Women's Battle 4 Atlantis on Sunday. The Hoosiers (4-2) will play the winner of Sunday's second semifinal between No. 16 North Carolina and Villanova for the championship on Monday. The Bears (4-2) will play the loser for third place on Monday. Ciezki made 9 of 16 shots from the floor for the Hoosiers (4-2). She hit 4 of 5 from 3-point range and 12 of 13 at the free-throw line. The junior finished six points shy of her career high — set last season in a 101-73 victory over Central Connecticut. Chloe Moore-McNeil had 10 rebounds to go with seven points for Indiana. Karoline Striplin added eight points off the bench. Yaya Felder came off the bench to hit five 3-pointers and score a season-high 20 to lead Baylor. Jada Walker scored 15 but missed 13 of 16 shots and all three of her shots from distance. She was 9 for 11 at the foul line. Aaronette Vonleh totaled 11 points and eight rebounds but had six of the Bears' 18 turnovers. Ciezki had nine points and Moore-McNeil scored five to lead the Hoosiers to a 27-18 advantage after one quarter. Felder scored eight points in the second quarter, two less than Indiana as a team, and Baylor closed within 37-33 at halftime. Ciezki made all nine of her second-half free throws and scored 20 to help Indiana outscore the Bears 18-16 in each quarter. Indiana shot just 37.5% from the floor and missed 12 of 17 tries from distance, but the Hoosiers went 26 for 30 at the foul line. Baylor shot 33.3% overall, made 7 of 23 from beyond the arc and 16 of 26 free throws. INDIANA (4-2) — Meister 3-5 1-2 7, Ciezki 9-16 12-13 34, Garzon 2-11 3-3 7, Moore-McNeil 2-8 2-2 7, Parrish 1-2 3-4 5, Striplin 3-8 2-2 8, Bargesser 1-5 3-4 5, LaMendola 0-1 0-0 0, Totals: 21-56 26-30 73 BAYLOR (4-2) — Fontleroy 3-7 0-2 7, Littlepage-Buggs 2-7 1-1 5, Vonleh 4-9 3-6 11, Andrews 1-9 0-0 3, Walker 3-16 9-11 15, Abraham 1-1 0-2 2, Bartley 0-0 0-0 0, Felder 6-12 3-4 20, Jennings 1-2 0-0 2, Totals: 21-63 16-26 65 Indiana 27 10 18 18 — 73 Baylor 18 15 16 16 — 65 3-Point Goals— Indiana 5-17 (Ciezki 4-5, Garzon 0-6, Moore-McNeil 1-4, Parrish 0-1, Striplin 0-1), Baylor 7-23 (Fontleroy 1-4, Andrews 1-7, Walker 0-3, Felder 5-8, Jennings 0-1). Assists_Indiana 11 (Bargesser 3, Garzon 3, Moore-McNeil 3), Baylor 13 (Andrews 5). Fouled Out— Indiana LaMendola, Baylor Andrews, Littlepage-Buggs. Rebounds— Indiana 42 (Moore-McNeil 10), Baylor 41 (Littlepage-Buggs 8, Vonleh 8). Total Fouls— Indiana 25, Baylor 27. Technical Fouls— None. A— 179.
