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top646 com login ATLANTA (AP) — Republicans plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nation’s voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress to push through long-sought changes that include voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. They say the measures are needed to restore public confidence in elections, an erosion of trust that Democrats note has been fueled by false claims from President-elect Donald Trump and his allies of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. In the new year, Republicans will be under pressure to address Trump’s desires to change how elections are run in the U.S., something he continues to promote despite his win in November. The main legislation that Republicans expect to push will be versions of the American Confidence in Elections Act and the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, said GOP Rep. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin, chair of the Committee on House Administration, which handles election-related legislation. The proposals are known as the ACE and SAVE acts, respectively. “As we look to the new year with unified Republican government, we have a real opportunity to move these pieces of legislation not only out of committee, but across the House floor and into law,” Steil said in an interview. “We need to improve Americans’ confidence in elections.” Republicans are likely to face opposition from Democrats and have little wiggle room with their narrow majorities in both the House and Senate. Steil said he expects there will be “some reforms and tweaks” to the original proposals and hopes Democrats will work with Republicans to refine and ultimately support them. New York Rep. Joe Morelle, the ranking Democrat on the committee, said there was an opportunity for bipartisan agreement on some issues but said the two previous GOP bills go too far. “Our view and the Republicans’ view is very different on this point,” Morelle said. “They have spent most of the time in the last two years and beyond really restricting the rights of people to get to ballots – and that’s at the state level and the federal level. And the SAVE Act and the ACE Act both do that – make it harder for people to vote.” Morelle said he wants to see both parties support dedicated federal funding for election offices. He sees other bipartisan opportunities around limiting foreign money in U.S. elections and possibly imposing a voter ID requirement if certain safeguards are in place to protect voters. Democrats say some state laws are too restrictive in limiting the types of IDs that are acceptable for voting, making it harder for college students or those who lack a permanent address. Morelle said he was disappointed by the GOP’s claims in this year’s campaigns about widespread voting by noncitizens , which is extremely rare, and noted how those claims all but evaporated once Trump won. Voting by noncitizens is already illegal and and can result in felony charges and deportation. “You haven’t heard a word about this since Election Day,” Morelle said. “It’s an Election Day miracle that suddenly the thing that they had spent an inordinate amount of time describing as a rampant problem, epidemic problem, didn’t exist at all.” Before the November election, House Republicans pushed the SAVE Act, which passed the House in July but stalled in the Democrat-controlled Senate. It requires proof of citizenship when registering to vote and includes potential penalties for election officials who fail to confirm eligibility. Republicans say the current process relies on an what they call an honor system with loopholes that have allowed noncitizens to register and vote in past elections. While voting by noncitizens has occurred, research and reviews of state cases have shown it to be rare and typically a mistake rather than an intentional effort to sway an election. Under the current system, those seeking to register are asked to provide either a state driver’s license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number. A few states require a full Social Security number. Republicans say the voter registration process is not tight enough because in many states people can be added to voter rolls even if they do not provide this information and that some noncitizens can receive Social Security numbers and driver’s licenses. They believe the current requirement that anyone completing a voter registration form sign under oath that they are a U.S. citizen is not enough. They want to force states to reject any voter registration application for which proof of citizenship is not provided. Republicans say that could include a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, a passport or a birth certificate. In Georgia, a perennial presidential battleground state, election officials said they have not encountered any hiccups verifying the citizenship status of its nearly 7.3 million registered voters. They conducted an audit in 2022 that identified 1,634 people who had attempted to register but were not able to be verified as U.S. citizens by a federal database. A second audit this year used local court records to identify people who said they could not serve as a juror because they were not a U.S. citizen. Of the 20 people identified, six were investigated for illegal voting, though one of those cases was closed because the person had since died. “What we’ve done by doing those audits is give voters confidence that we do not have noncitizens voting here in Georgia,” said Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s secretary of state. “And when society is highly polarized, you have to look at building trust. Trust is the gold standard.” Raffensperger, a Republican who supports both voter ID and proof of citizenship requirements, credits the state’s early adoption of REAL ID and use of automatic voter registration for ensuring voter lists are accurate. The latter is something he hopes more Republicans will consider, as he argued it has allowed Georgia election officials to use the motor vehicle agency’s process to verify citizenship and track people moving in and around the state. “You have to get it right because you’re talking about people’s priceless franchise to vote,” Raffensperger said. If Congress does pass any changes, it would fall to election officials across the country to implement them. Raffensperger and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, said it would be a mistake to move the country to a single day of voting, something Trump has said he would like to see happen, because it would eliminate early voting and limit access to mail ballots. Both methods are extremely popular among voters. In Georgia, 71% of voters in November cast their ballots in person before Election Day. Both said they hoped lawmakers would look to what is working in their states and build off those successes. “We’ve proven time and time again in our states that our elections are secure and are accurate,” Benson said.JSW MG's Windsor SUV pips Tata, Mahindra EVs

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Article content Call it the age of Twitter diplomacy. After U.S. president-elect Donald Trump spent part of Christmas Day trolling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the rest of Canada on X, Trudeau responded the next day on the same platform. It’s a strange situation watching two world leaders talk past each other on social media regarding issues such as sovereignty, trade and our shared history. Trump continues to talk about the U.S. taking over Canada, while Trudeau is responding with a reminder of the close ties between our two countries. I just left Wayne Gretzky, “The Great One” as he is known in Ice Hockey circles. I said, “Wayne, why don’t you run for Prime Minister of Canada, soon to be known as the Governor of Canada - You would win easily, you wouldn’t even have to campaign.” He had no interest, but I think... “I just left Wayne Gretzky, ‘The Great One’ as he is known in Ice Hockey circles,” Trump posted on Christmas Day . “I said, ‘Wayne, why don’t you run for Prime Minister of Canada, soon to be known as the Governor of Canada – You would win easily, you wouldn’t even have to campaign.’” Trump went on to say that Gretzky wasn’t interested, but suggested Canadians join a “draft Gretzky” movement. Look, Gretzky and his family have long been associated with conservative politics in Canada. This goes back to at least the Brian Mulroney era; Gretzky even spoke at Mulroney’s funeral and held events over the years with Stephen Harper. There is no doubt that Gretzky would be supporting Pierre Poilievre come the next election. Invoking the Great One wasn’t Trump’s only mention of Canada on Christmas Day. He also made another pitch for Canada to join the U.S., while also referring to Trudeau as governor, as if Canada was a state. Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal (where we lost 38,000 people in its building 110 years ago), always making certain that the United States puts in Billions of Dollars in “repair”... “Also, to Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada, whose Citizens’ Taxes are far too high, but if Canada was to become our 51st State, their Taxes would be cut by more than 60%, their businesses would immediately double in size, and they would be militarily protected like no other Country anywhere in the World,” Trump posted. Mark Carney, the former central banker-turned-perpetual Liberal insider/Trudeau replacement slammed Trump’s message as taking the joke too far. He also criticized the message from Trump, “the casual disrespect, the poor tax math, and ignoring that workers on both sides of our border will be better off if we work together.” This is carrying the ‘joke’ too far: the casual disrespect, the poor tax math, and ignoring that workers on both sides of our border will be better off if we work together. Time to call it out, stand up for Canada, and build a true North American partnership 🇨🇦 🇺🇸 🇲🇽 https://t.co/BO4zEMrk0B Trump’s math on taxes is off, at least for the average Canadian. An individual earning $75,000 per year in Canada would take home between the low of $56,138 in Nova Scotia and the high of $61,181 in British Columbia . That compares to a take-home income of $62,920 in California , which has one of the highest income tax rates among American states. Of course, those tax calculations don’t take the exchange rate into account. While Carney pointed to errors in Trump’s math, Trudeau took a different approach. Before jetting off on his British Columbia ski holiday, Trudeau posted a 14-year-old video produced by NBC for the Olympic coverage in 2010. Some information about Canada for Americans: https://t.co/EnI8CrF4cB The video, narrated by Tom Brokaw, details the strong ties between Canada and the United States over the last two centuries. This has been the approach of far too many Canadian politicians since Trump began his threats and online trolling of Canada about a month ago. Our leaders either appeal to our friendship or try to remind Americans of our close trading ties and how tariffs will hurt workers and consumers in both countries. Neither of these approaches will work. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Trump doesn’t care about the close ties between our two countries. He says he likes Canada, but he clearly wants a response on border issues with his tariff threat. As for claiming that tariffs will hurt American workers or consumers, that is not something that Trump or his economic advisers believe. In fact, Trump outright rejects the prevailing thought that tariffs are harmful. This is why we need a different approach to dealing with the incoming Trump administration. They either don’t care about our message or in the case of tariffs, outright reject the premise of our claim. As for the trolling Trump is doing of Trudeau by calling him governor, put it down to payback. Trudeau has spent the last few years using Trump and MAGA interchangeably as terms of insult against conservatives in Canada.Stock market today: Wall Street drifts to a mixed close in thin trading following a holiday pause

AP Trending SummaryBrief at 5:24 p.m. ESTA 7-year-old boy underwent open heart surgery after a malfunctioning drone struck him in the chest Saturday night in Orlando, Florida. Adriana Edgerton was at Lake Eola watching a drone show with her children when the incident occurred, according to in Florida. “Everyone’s natural instinct was to duck and scatter, and before we realized it, my daughter found my son on the floor unconscious. He had blood coming out of his face,” Edgerton said. “This should not have happened, and no family should be going through this. We were trying to watch a show and have a good time.” Harrowing footage shows the moment numerous went haywire before smashing into the bewildered crowd below. So apparently they had to cancel the 2nd drone show at tonight and I wonder if the drones that got knocked out during the 1st show was the cause 😬 — MosquitoCoFL Podcast (@MosquitoCoFL) The drone struck the boy in the chest so forcibly that it crushed one of his heart valves, Edgerton said. “The blade cut his mouth, but there’s an actual imprint of the drone on his chest,” she said. The drone malfunction, which occurred during the first of two planned shows that night, prompted the city to cancel the second, according to . Due to technical difficulties the 8 p.m. Holiday Drone Show at Lake Eola has been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience. — City of Orlando (@citybeautiful) is investigating the incident, but so far it is unclear what caused the drones to malfunction. “Drone arrays and light shows are subject to FAA regulation,” the FAA said, according to WESH. “Typically, these events require a waiver to the regulation that prohibits operating more than one drone at a time. We thoroughly review each application to make sure the flying public and people on the ground will be safe.” 🚨!!️ Holiday Drone Show Turns Tragic in Orlando A 7-year-old boy watching a holiday drone show with his family in Orlando was seriously injured Saturday night when one of the drones malfunctioned and struck him in the chest, his mother reported. ⚠️ The Federal Aviation... — Kristy Tallman (@KristyTallman) A distressed Edgerton later shared a social media update as she waited in the emergency room. 🚨 : Here’s a video of the mother of the 7-year-old boy, in tears in a hospital room , as she shares on social media what happened the night her son, now fighting for his life, was injured during the Christmas holiday drone show. — R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) On a page, Edgerton said her son would be spending in the intensive care unit. Sky Elements Drones, the Texas-based company responsible for the nationwide aerial shows, issued a statement on the incident. “Sky Elements Drones wants to extend our sincere hope for a full and speedy recovery to those impacted at our Lake Eola show in Orlando on Saturday, Dec. 21,” the statement read, per Click Orlando. “The well-being of our audience is our utmost priority, and we regret any distress or inconvenience caused. “We are diligently working with the FAA and City of Orlando officials to determine the cause and are committed to establishing a clear picture of what transpired. Millions of people see our shows annually, and we are committed to maintaining the highest safety regulations set forth by the FAA.” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. . For more A.F. Branco cartoons, go to WesternJournal.com/cartoons.By Zarni Bwar At 10 am on 28 November 1885. After General Prendergast, the British military commander issued orders for the troops to march, British warships arrived at the Gawain Port in Mandalay. At that time, the entire royal city was silent and quiet. Since no one inside the palace had made contact, the British troops, led by Colonel Sir Edward Bosc Sladen, marched toward the southern gate of the city walls and arrived there by 3 pm. Without encountering any resistance at the gate, they entered freely and continued toward the new royal palace’s eastern gate. After taking a break for a few minutes at the eastern gate of the new royal palace, they waited for Minister Kinwun. While waiting like this, they saw Minister Kinwun riding an elephant and approaching quickly from a distance. Then, Minister Kinwun told Colonel Sladen that he wished to enter the palace alone with him and that the British troops accompanying them would not be allowed to enter the royal palace for any reason. So, Colonel Sladen initially arrived at the parliamentary office together with Minister Kinwun. Later, Colonel Sladen, together with the Minister and the counsellors, entered the Golden Palace where King Thibaw was residing, met with him, and reported that they had to carefully take the His Majesty King and the Queen as ordered by the Governor General of India. King Thibaw said that instead of suddenly calling him away from here to a distant place, he preferred to remain in the palace for one or two days. During that time, he desired to leave the palace and move to the summer palace in the southern garden. He made this statement to Colonel Sladen. Colonel Sladen said he would inform General Prendergast about this matter. However, tomorrow morning, the His Majesty King must hand himself over to the Supreme Commander for his surrender, and after leaving the palace, he reported the news to Prendergast. Meanwhile, King Thibaw was closely guarded by soldiers from the Hampshire Brigade, stationed at the summer royal residence in the southern part of the palace. On the morning of 29 November, British troops began their marching from the Gawwain Port, and by the afternoon, they had reached the palace. General Prendergast, after summoning four important ministers, went to meet King Thibaw and the Queen. The General informed them that they would be taken aboard a ship. Although the king and the queen requested a delay, asking for more time if possible, Prendergast insisted it was not possible and instructed that preparations be made for an immediate departure. Troops were then organized to begin their departure from the palace. At around 3:30 pm, the British troops led the king and the queen away from the Summer Palace. Along the main road of the city and at the intersections, the people of the city wept, crying out as they watched the king and the queen pass by, bidding them a final farewell with tears. At 6:15 pm, they arrived at Gawwain Port, where the king and the queen, along with their entourage, were escorted aboard the ship “Suriya”. This day, the 8th waning of Tazaungmone 1247 of the Myanmar Era, is a day that Myanmar will never forget. On 1 January 1886, India’s Governor General Lord Dufferin, issued a declaration that the territories previously governed by King Thibaw, along with Upper Myanmar, were annexed as part of the British Empire. In this way, the Myanmar people, who had stood firmly and proudly for many years with their own throne, their own kingdom, and their own sovereignty, began to fall under British rule starting from the 8th waning day of Tazaungmone, when King Thibaw was captured.” Historians remarked that the reasons for the defeat of Myanmar in war are numerous, including a lack of political unity, differences in weaponry, and disparities in training. Historians have noted that the courage and strength of the Myanmar soldiers, who fought in all three wars with the British, were not lacking. During the First Anglo-Myanmar War (1824-1826), General Maha Bandoola, who led the Myanmar forces, and General Maha Nay Myo, who nearly wiped out the British troops in the Battle of Wethtigan, demonstrated great military skill and bravery. The British acknowledged and praised their heroic qualities. In the Second Anglo-Myanmar War (1852-1854), major commanders such as the governor of Yangon, Maha Min Hla Min Khaung, who led the troops defending Shwedagon fortress, Taungdwingyi’s governor Min Ye Min Khaung Kyaw, and the chief of the Pyay military area, General and Minister Thadoe Thudamma Maha Min Khaung, led their forces with great strength and courage in the battles. During the Third Anglo-Myanmar War (1885-1886), General Maha Thamain Bayan and the commanders, who fought fiercely from the Minhla fortress, were also esteemed and praised by the enemies for their patriotism and courage. “Regarding the Battle of Minhla Fortress, British journalist and historian Grafton wrote, ‘Regardless of the circumstances, the Myanmar forces from Minhla Fortress from the western bank of the river attacked their enemies with great strength. To speak honestly, without bias, Myanmar should not be described as cravens, for they fought bravely and with tremendous strength.’” Another historian also wrote, “Myanmar soldiers accepted that it is better to die in battle with national pride than to suffer defeat and disgrace.” Similarly, when the British colonists expanded their control into Myanmar, the saying of the revered monk Seebanni, ‘Through the cycle of suffering and worldly strife, where the land is scorched by fire, even the great kingdoms will fall. In the face of loss, all will be restored. Those who die for their nation, for their people, and for their religion, are truly noble,’ resonated with those who could not bear the destruction of Myanmar’s sovereignty. These patriotic individuals, in their fight for freedom and religion, chose to resist rather than remain under British rule, believing that it was better to die in battle than to live under foreign domination. British troops took about eight years to oppress ethnic patriotic troops led by Prince Myin Saing, Prince Lin Pin, Prince Shwegyobyu, Wuntho Saopha U Aung Myat, U Min Yaung with the title of Minister Shwe La Yaung, Bo Cho, Bo Yar Nyunt, Bo Ywe and so on in various areas of the nation. The Buddhism of Myanmar people was dimming in the colonial era when Myanmar’s last King Thibaw was taken away in 1247 ME. As even members of the Sangha experienced a scarcity of offertories in urban areas, other members of the Sangha residing on Sagaing hills faced a worsening of offerings. In consideration of the welfare of the nationality and Buddhism, the residents of Mandalay, including the city’s elders and people, ensured that the religion would not face ruin due to the absence of a king. To sustain and propagate the Buddha’s teachings, they established the Malun Rice Donation Association in 1258 ME, 11 years after the king’s reign ended. Similarly, 13 years after the end of the king’s reign, in 1260 ME, they also established the Pariyatti Sasanahita Association. The Malun Rice Donation Association with the emblem illustrating a rabbit at the centre of the moon continued to offer alms and rice donations to the monks, nuns, and laypersons who were practising meditation on the Sagaing Hills, following the tradition of successive Myanmar Buddhist kings who supported the Four Requisites (food, robes, shelter, and medicine) for the monastic community. Additionally, the Pariyatti Sasanahita Association, after the fall of King Thibaw and the subsequent decline of cities and monastic communities, took steps to address the diminishing state of the Sasana (Buddhist teachings). With fewer monks and the Sasana falling further into decline, the association sought out the remaining senior monks who had preserved the scriptures in monasteries. They provided monthly offerings, including rice, oil, salt, chilli, and onions, alongside alms food. Furthermore, although there had been no religious examinations for about 18 years, the association re-organized the first such examinations in 1265 ME. These were held in the Nine-Chambered Brick Pavilion within the Sakkasiha Pagoda precinct, under the guidance of U Tha Hnyin. From then on, the Pariyatti exams became known in the monastic community as the “Sakkasiha Exams”. The Malun Rice Donation Association and the Pariyatti Sasanahita Association have collaboratively contributed by people of the city and Buddhists from all over Myanmar. As a result, these associations have served effectively for over 100 years, making significant contributions to the preservation and advancement of Buddhism. The Tipitakadhara Mingun Sayadaw also recognized the Malun Rice Donation Association as the “Mother Association of the Sasana” and the Pariyatti Sasanahita Association as the “Father Association of the Sasana”. Similarly, the Myanmar people established the YMBA (Young Men’s Buddhist Association) on 10 May 1906, for the sake of their nationality and Buddhism. At a time when organizations like the YMBA had not yet emerged, the local populace lived under the administration of the British colonialists. With the formation of the YMBA, discussions and consultations on national matters were conducted under the theme “Nationality, Religion, and Knowledge,” and these matters were presented to the British government. When issues emerged for foreigners wearing shoes on religious grounds and pagoda platforms, the YMCA itself represented the country and lodged a formal appeal to the British government. When the British government planned to elevate the administrative status of India, the YMBA (Young Men’s Buddhist Association) sent four representatives—U Su, U Pe, U Ba Pe, and U May Aung —to India to petition for a similar elevation of Myanmar’s status. However, the British government excluded Myanmar from the administrative upgrade. Consequently, in 1919, the YMBA sent three prominent representatives — U Ba Pe, U Pu, and U Tun Shein, collectively known as the “Pe-Pu-Shein” delegation—to England to make further appeals. In 1920, the YMCA was expanded and restructured into the GCBA, advocating for Home Rule or self-governance. From that point onward, the Myanmar people actively participated in matters of national causes. As a result, the YMCA was recognized as “the beginning of Myanmar politics,” “the foundation of independence,” and “the cornerstone of Myanmar’s nationalistic spirit,” among other notable designations. The YMBA and GCBA gave rise to the Doh Bamar Asiayone in 1930. The Myanmar people, having stood for generations as a nation of free and independent individuals, not as slaves, took pride in the title “Thakin” (master) with the rallying cry: “Thakin Myo Hey! Doh Bamar” (“Masters, we are Myanmar”). Along with this slogan, they passionately chanted: Myanmar is our land, Myanmar is our language, Myanmar is our speech. Our country – Love it Our literature – Praise it Our language – Respect it,” This was the rallying cry. The Doh Bamar Asiayone (We Myanmar Association) was founded by Thakin Ba Thaung. Subsequently, the Myanmar meeting organized by General Aung San, along with thirty comrades, led to the formation of the Burma Independence Army (BIA) and the Burma Defence Army (BDA). They continued to engage in territorial expansion and anti-fascist uprisings. During the wartime era, under the leadership of the great national leader General Aung San, the Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League led by him was established, and on 4 January 1948, Myanmar regained its independence from British colonial rule, which had controlled Upper Myanmar for over 60 years and Lower Myanmar for over 100 years, finally becoming the sovereign Union of Myanmar. The upcoming 4 January 2025, marks the 77th anniversary of Independence Day. On this 77th Independence Day, in the spirit of dedication to Myanmar’s independence, just as the previous generations who sacrificed their lives, we, as the new generation, must each take responsibility in the same way and contribute towards the future. Currently, neo-colonialists, through behind-the-scenes manipulation, exert their influence over small nations, causing conflicts among them, leading to division and inciting rivalry, as they push them into competition like chickens fighting over a pot. Thus, learning from the historical lessons of the past, when unity was lost and King Thibaw’s reign led to the loss of sovereignty and independence, the present and future generations have a responsibility to preserve and protect the independence for the continued stability and strength of the Union of Myanmar, as it has existed throughout history. Ref: Anglo-Myanmar War history written by Natmauk Phone Kyaw Translated by TTAHow Christmas gifts could make Aussies $1 billion

A timeline of the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the search for his killer NEW YORK (AP) — The search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer has stretched into a fifth day — and beyond New York City. Police say it appears the man left the city on a bus soon after Wednesday's shooting outside the New York Hilton Midtown. The suspect is seen on video at an uptown bus station about 45 minutes later. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Police believe that words found written on ammunition at the shooting scene, including “deny," “defend” and "depose,” suggest a motive driven by anger toward the healthcare company. The words mimic a phrase used by insurance industry critics. Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise US prices and won't rule out revenge prosecutions WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump says he can’t guarantee his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won’t raise prices for American consumers. And he's suggesting once more that some political rivals and federal officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned. The president-elect made the comments in a wide-ranging interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday. He also touched on monetary policy, immigration, abortion and health care, and U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Israel and elsewhere. Trump often mixed declarative statements with caveats, at one point cautioning “things do change.” Europe's economy needs help. Political chaos in France and Germany means it may be slower in coming BRUSSELS (AP) — Europe's economy has enough difficulties, from tepid growth to trade tensions with the U.S. Dealing with those woes is only getting harder due to the political chaos in the two biggest European countries, France and Germany. Neither has a government backed by a functioning majority, and France could take a while yet to sort things out. But some problems aren't going to wait, such as what to do about U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's America First stance on trade and how to fund stronger defense against Putin's Russia. ‘Moana 2’ cruises to another record weekend and $600 million globally “Moana 2” remains at the top of the box office in its second weekend in theaters as it pulled in another record haul. According to studio estimates Sunday, the animated Disney film added $52 million, bringing its domestic total to $300 million. That surpasses the take for the original “Moana” and brings the sequel's global tally to a staggering $600 million. It also puts the film in this year's top five at the box office. “Wicked” came in second place for the weekend with $34.9 million and “Gladiator II” was third with $12.5 million. The 10th anniversary re-release of Christopher Nolan's “Interstellar” also earned an impressive $4.4 million even though it played in only 165 theaters. Federal appeals court upholds law requiring sale or ban of TikTok in the US A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok as soon as next month, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the law - which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — is constitutional, rebuffing TikTok’s challenge that the statute ran afoul of the First Amendment and unfairly targeted the platform. TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. Executive of Tyler Perry Studios dies when plane he was piloting crashes in Florida ATLANTA (AP) — The president of Atlanta-based Tyler Perry Studios has died when the small plane he was piloting crashed on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The studio confirmed on Saturday that Steve Mensch, its 62-year-old president and general manager, had died Friday. The crash happened in Homosassa, about 60 miles north of Tampa. Photos from the scene show the plane having come to rest upside down on a road. Mensch helped advocate for Georgia’s film tax credit of more than $1 billion a year. Perry hired Mensch to run his namesake studio in 2016. Mensch died as Perry released his war drama, “The Six Triple Eight." The film was shot at the Atlanta studio. US added a strong 227,000 jobs in November in bounce-back from October slowdown WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s job market rebounded in November, adding 227,000 workers in a solid recovery from the previous month, when the effects of strikes and hurricanes had sharply diminished employers’ payrolls. Last month’s hiring growth was up considerably from a meager gain of 36,000 jobs in October. The government also revised up its estimate of job growth in September and October by a combined 56,000. Friday’s report also showed that the unemployment rate ticked up from 4.1% in October to a still-low 4.2%. The November data provided the latest evidence that the U.S. job market remains durable even though it has lost significant momentum from the 2021-2023 hiring boom, when the economy was rebounding from the pandemic recession. Stock market today: Wall Street hits more records following a just-right jobs report NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to records after data suggested the job market remains solid enough to keep the economy going, but not so strong that it raises immediate worries about inflation. The S&P 500 climbed 0.2%, just enough top the all-time high set on Wednesday, as it closed a third straight winning week in what looks to be one of its best years since the 2000 dot-com bust. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.8% to set its own record. Treasury yields eased after the jobs report showed stronger hiring than expected but also an uptick in the unemployment rate. Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO spotlights complex challenge companies face in protecting top brass NEW YORK (AP) — In an era when online anger and social tensions are increasingly directed at the businesses consumers count on, Meta last year spent $24.4 million to surround CEO Mark Zuckerberg with security. But the fatal shooting this week of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson while walking alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take to protect their leaders against threats. And experts say the task of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them is getting more difficult. One of the primary worries are loners whose rantings online are fed by others who are like-minded. It’s up to corporate security analysts to decide what represents a real threat. Days after gunman killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO, police push to ID him and FBI offers reward NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly four days after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, police still do not know the gunman’s name or whereabouts or have a motive for the killing. But they have made some progress in their investigation into Wednesday's killing of the leader of the largest U.S. health insurer, including that the gunman likely left New York City on a bus soon after fleeing the scene. The also found that the gunman left something behind: a backpack that was discovered in Central Park. Police are working with the FBI, which on Friday night announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment on Thursday took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military later said it wasn’t aware that the WHO chief was at the location in Yemen. An uneasy calm settles over Syrian city of Homs after outbreak of sectarian violence HOMS, Syria (AP) — Syria’s new security forces checked IDs and searched cars in the central city of Homs a day after protests by members of the Alawite minority erupted in gunfire and stirred fears that the country’s fragile peace could break down. A tense calm prevailed Thursday after checkpoints were set up throughout the country’s third-largest city, which has a mixed population of Sunni and Shia Muslims, Alawites and Christians. The security forces are controlled by the former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which led the charge that unseated former President Bashar Assad. The US says it pushed retraction of a famine warning for north Gaza. Aid groups express concern. WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say they asked for — and got — the retraction of an independent monitor's warning of imminent famine in north Gaza. The internationally Famine Early Warning System Network issued the warning this week. The new report had warned that starvation deaths in north Gaza could reach famine levels as soon as next month. It cited what it called Israel's “near-total blockade” of food and water. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, criticized the finding as inaccurate and irresponsible. The U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the famine-monitoring group, told the AP it had asked for and gotten the report's retraction. USAID officials tell The Associated Press that it had asked the group for greater review of discrepancies in some of the data. Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen ATLANTA (AP) — Republicans in Congress plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nation’s voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. They want to push through long-sought changes such as voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. They say the measures are needed to restore public confidence in elections. That's after an erosion of trust that Democrats note has been fueled by false claims from Donald Trump and his allies of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Democrats say they are willing to work with the GOP but want any changes to make it easier, not harder, to vote. Americans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they're tuning out NEW YORK (AP) — A lot of Americans, after an intense presidential election campaign, are looking for a break in political news. That's evident in cable television news ratings and a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll found nearly two-thirds of Americans saying they've found the need recently to cut down on their consumption of political and government news. That's particularly true among Democrats following President-elect Donald Trump's victory, although a significant number of Republicans and independents feel the same way. Cable networks MSNBC and CNN are really seeing a slump. That's also happened in years past for networks that particularly appeal to supporters of one candidate. New York to charge fossil fuel companies for damage from climate change ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Large fossil fuel companies would have to pay fees to help New York fight the effects of climate change under a bill signed by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. The governor signed the new law Thursday. It requires companies responsible for substantial greenhouse gas emissions to pay into a state infrastructure fund for repairs or projects that help avoid future damage from climate change. Lawmakers approved the bill earlier this year. It's meant to make big oil and gas companies contribute to the cost of repairs after extreme weather events or for resiliency projects. Such projects may include restoring coastal wetlands or upgrading roads, bridges and water drainage systems. Legal challenges to the new law are expected. Aviation experts say Russia's air defense fire likely caused Azerbaijan plane crash as nation mourns Aviation experts say that Russian air defense fire was likely responsible for the Azerbaijani plane crash the day before that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured. Azerbaijan is observing a nationwide day of mourning on Thursday for the victims of the crash. Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 was en route from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus on Wednesday when it was diverted for reasons yet unclear and crashed while making an attempt to land in Aktau in Kazakhstan. Cellphone footage circulating online appeared to show the aircraft making a steep descent before smashing into the ground in a fireball. Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy battlefield losses KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy losses in Russia's Kursk region and face logistical difficulties as a result of Ukrainian attacks. The intelligence agency said Thursday that Ukrainian strikes near Novoivanovka inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean units. Ukraine's president said earlier this week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in the Kursk region. It marked the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties several weeks after Kyiv announced that North Korea had sent 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia to help it in the almost 3-year war. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze. Why this Mexican American woman played a vital role in the US sacramental peyote trade MIRANDO CITY, Texas (AP) — Amada Cardenas, a Mexican American woman who lived in the tiny border town of Mirando City in South Texas, played an important role in the history of the peyote trade. She and her husband were the first federally licensed peyote dealers who harvested and sold the sacramental plant to followers of the Native American Church in the 1930s. After her husband's death in 1967, Cardenas continued to welcome generations of Native American Church members to her home until her death in 2005, just before her 101st birthday.WASHINGTON — Space technology startup True Anomaly announced a key milestone after successfully deploying and establishing communication with its Jackal satellite on its second mission. True Anomaly is seeking to carve out a niche in the defense and national security market with spacecraft designed for military orbital operations and space domain awareness. The Jackal satellite launched Dec. 21 on SpaceX’s Bandwagon-2 rideshare mission was the company’s third spacecraft sent to orbit. The first two launched in March 2024 to low Earth orbit to demonstrate rendezvous and proximity operations, but communication was lost with the satellites shortly after launch. True Anomaly’s co-founder and CEO Even Rogers said in a statement Dec. 23 that Jackal’s second mission was successful. “We have now successfully contacted, downlinked data, and commanded Jackal, our Autonomous Orbital Vehicle, via Mosaic, our software platform, as it makes laps around the Earth,” he said. In the company’s second mission , the Jackal is serving as a testbed for upgraded hardware and software. “The team incorporated many of the learnings and product improvements from its first launch,” said Rogers. This mission gives the company momentum as it prepares to execute a more complex one under contract with the U.S. Space Force. True Anomaly is slated to participate in the Victus Haze mission in 2025 , part of the military’s Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) program. The program aims to demonstrate advanced in-orbit rendezvous and proximity operations, with True Anomaly’s Jackal working alongside a Rocket Lab spacecraft. Over the next year, True Anomaly plans to continue refining Jackal’s capabilities, said Chief Strategy Officer Frank DiPentino. The company manufactures its satellites in Centennial, Colorado.The first day of the fourth Test at the MCG was attended by 87,242 people — the highest ever in the history of India-Australia Tests in Australia. The only other instance that comes close is the famous 2001 Test at the Eden Gardens, although there are no official figures available for that game. In that sense, it was a historic moment in the India-Australia Test rivalry and the crowd certainly wasn’t disappointed. ET Year-end Special Reads Corporate Kalesh: Top family disputes of India Inc in 2024 The world of business lost these eminent people in 2024 Fast, faster, fastest: How 2024 put more speed into your shopping Jasprit Bumrah opened the match with a spectacular first. He made the 19-year-old Australian debutant, Sam Konstas, look like a walking wicket in his first three overs. However, the teenager changed his approach and started playing unconventional shots. Three ramp shots, resulting in two fours and a six, turned the tide and injected the match with much-needed energy. Konstas took the attack to the Indians by taking on the hitherto unplayable Bumrah. Konstas kept attacking for as long as he batted and the scoring rate at one point was over five an over. “You think of the modern day and a more adventurous incarnation of Virender Sehwag. That’s what Sam Konstas is. There will be days when it’ll not come off and he’ll not look nice. But on other days he will set the tone,” said Justin Langer, former Australia opener and coach. Konstas liveed and died by the sword. His confrontation with Virat Kohli further added to the drama. By the time Konstas (60 off 65 balls, 6x4, 2x6) was finally out to Ravindra Jadeja, he had provided Australia a strong platform. Konstas’ dismissal was followed by two-and-a-half hours of attritional cricket. Australia focussed on consolidation, while India adopted a patient, waiting strategy. Bumrah picked up Usman Khwaja to a loose shot to bring Steve Smith to the crease. What followed was a quintessential Test partnership be tween Marnus Labuschagne and Smith — 83 off 127 balls. Though they were beaten many times, their resilience never wavered. That’s what Test cricket is all about, batting through adversity. It was the partnership that gave Australia control. However, just as it seemed India were running out of ideas, Labuschagne made a costly mistake. A smart catch from Kohli, almost against the run of play, gave India a much-needed breakthrough. Interestingly, a section of the Australian fans weren’t unhappy with Labuschagne’s dismissal, knowing that Travis Head was the next batter. Head’s been in sublime form in this series. With back-to-back hundreds, he’s been a constant thorn in India’s side. With the second new ball still some time away, the stage was set for Head to take charge. An hour of aggressive play could take the game away from India. 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Bumrah bowled the delivery of the day, which pitched on off and deviated just enough to clip the top of off stump. Head, playing inside the line, couldn’t anticipate the movement. That moment of brilliance brought India back into the game. Bumrah followed it up with the wicket of Mitch Marsh and then Akash Deep used the second new ball to remove Alex Carey to make sure India did not end the day too behind.In all, it was a fascinating day of cricket that lived up to the billing. It showcased the impulsive brilliance of Konstas, the dogged determination of Labuschagne and Smith, and the genius of Bumrah. While Australia might feel marginally ahead, India knows that with the second new ball just a few overs old, a good first hour will square things up. On a good batting deck, it will be India’s batting that will need to stand up. With Shubman Gill dropped for lack of overseas runs, the all-rounders will need to step up and make it count. 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NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Nov. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII's (NYSE: HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division was recently recognized with the 2024 Governor's Volunteerism & Community Service Award by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin. HII is the largest industrial employer in the commonwealth. NNS received the corporation award in the annual program coordinated by Serve Virginia and the Virginia Service Foundation, acknowledging Virginians who volunteer to make a difference in their communities. "We are honored to be recognized by Governor Youngkin for the work our shipbuilders do to make our community stronger,” said Xavier Beale, NNS vice president of human resources and trades administration. "Shipbuilding is a noble calling, and we're proud that their commitment to building the world's best ships carries over into their efforts to give selflessly of their time and talents.” Photos accompanying this release are available at: https://hii.com/news/hiis-newport-news-shipbuilding-division-recognized-with-2024-virginia-governors-volunteerism-and-community-service-award/ . NNS shipbuilders contribute thousands of hours of service annually to their local communities through volunteer activities, both those coordinated by the shipyard and independently. Examples of such efforts include hosting American Red Cross blood drives, collecting food and volunteering at the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank, and supporting Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg. Since 2002, NNS volunteers have helped build 21 homes for Habitat for Humanity, with work on a 22 nd well underway . NNS also plays a vital role in preparing underserved students for college and the workforce by offering a range of programs designed to enhance academic and career readiness. Through STEM mentoring programs like Girls with Engineering Minds in Shipbuilding (GEMS) and Young Men Engineers (YEM), NNS shipbuilders volunteer to engage with students, providing guidance and inspiration in science, technology, engineering and math fields at the middle school level. On-site job experiences and career awareness programs further expose students, especially high school students, to real-world maritime careers, offering invaluable insights into roles in ship design, engineering, and manufacturing. Programs such as Scouts, which embed NNS employees in local career and technical education (CTE) programs throughout the school year, help connect what students are learning in the classroom to industry. About HII HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HII's mission is to deliver the world's most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to protect peace and freedom around the world. As the nation's largest military shipbuilder, and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII's workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit: Todd Corillo [email protected] (757) 688-3220 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/232896ec-4f21-41da-8538-d8d74babd37dHow it happened: Two seismic weeks that toppled Syria's government

Stock market today: Wall Street drifts to a mixed close in thin trading following a holiday pause

AAU Ekpoma: Look Beyond Politics -Stakeholders – Seek Governor’s UnderstandingATLANTA (AP) — Republicans plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nation’s voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress to push through long-sought changes that include voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. They say the measures are needed to restore public confidence in elections, an erosion of trust that Democrats note has been fueled by false claims from President-elect Donald Trump and his allies of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. In the new year, Republicans will be under pressure to address Trump’s desires to change how elections are run in the U.S., something he continues to promote despite his win in November. The main legislation that Republicans expect to push will be versions of the American Confidence in Elections Act and the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, said GOP Rep. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin, chair of the Committee on House Administration, which handles election-related legislation. The proposals are known as the ACE and SAVE acts, respectively. “As we look to the new year with unified Republican government, we have a real opportunity to move these pieces of legislation not only out of committee, but across the House floor and into law,” Steil said in an interview. “We need to improve Americans’ confidence in elections.” Republicans are likely to face opposition from Democrats and have little wiggle room with their narrow majorities in both the House and Senate. Steil said he expects there will be “some reforms and tweaks” to the original proposals and hopes Democrats will work with Republicans to refine and ultimately support them. New York Rep. Joe Morelle, the ranking Democrat on the committee, said there was an opportunity for bipartisan agreement on some issues but said the two previous GOP bills go too far. “Our view and the Republicans’ view is very different on this point,” Morelle said. “They have spent most of the time in the last two years and beyond really restricting the rights of people to get to ballots – and that’s at the state level and the federal level. And the SAVE Act and the ACE Act both do that – make it harder for people to vote.” Morelle said he wants to see both parties support dedicated federal funding for election offices. He sees other bipartisan opportunities around limiting foreign money in U.S. elections and possibly imposing a voter ID requirement if certain safeguards are in place to protect voters. Democrats say some state laws are too restrictive in limiting the types of IDs that are acceptable for voting, making it harder for college students or those who lack a permanent address. Morelle said he was disappointed by the GOP’s claims in this year’s campaigns about widespread voting by noncitizens , which is extremely rare, and noted how those claims all but evaporated once Trump won. Voting by noncitizens is already illegal and and can result in felony charges and deportation. “You haven’t heard a word about this since Election Day,” Morelle said. “It’s an Election Day miracle that suddenly the thing that they had spent an inordinate amount of time describing as a rampant problem, epidemic problem, didn’t exist at all.” Before the November election, House Republicans pushed the SAVE Act, which passed the House in July but stalled in the Democrat-controlled Senate. It requires proof of citizenship when registering to vote and includes potential penalties for election officials who fail to confirm eligibility. Republicans say the current process relies on an what they call an honor system with loopholes that have allowed noncitizens to register and vote in past elections. While voting by noncitizens has occurred, research and reviews of state cases have shown it to be rare and typically a mistake rather than an intentional effort to sway an election. Under the current system, those seeking to register are asked to provide either a state driver’s license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number. A few states require a full Social Security number. Republicans say the voter registration process is not tight enough because in many states people can be added to voter rolls even if they do not provide this information and that some noncitizens can receive Social Security numbers and driver’s licenses. They believe the current requirement that anyone completing a voter registration form sign under oath that they are a U.S. citizen is not enough. They want to force states to reject any voter registration application for which proof of citizenship is not provided. Republicans say that could include a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, a passport or a birth certificate. In Georgia, a perennial presidential battleground state, election officials said they have not encountered any hiccups verifying the citizenship status of its nearly 7.3 million registered voters. They conducted an audit in 2022 that identified 1,634 people who had attempted to register but were not able to be verified as U.S. citizens by a federal database. A second audit this year used local court records to identify people who said they could not serve as a juror because they were not a U.S. citizen. Of the 20 people identified, six were investigated for illegal voting, though one of those cases was closed because the person had since died. “What we’ve done by doing those audits is give voters confidence that we do not have noncitizens voting here in Georgia,” said Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s secretary of state. “And when society is highly polarized, you have to look at building trust. Trust is the gold standard.” Raffensperger, a Republican who supports both voter ID and proof of citizenship requirements, credits the state’s early adoption of REAL ID and use of automatic voter registration for ensuring voter lists are accurate. The latter is something he hopes more Republicans will consider, as he argued it has allowed Georgia election officials to use the motor vehicle agency’s process to verify citizenship and track people moving in and around the state. “You have to get it right because you’re talking about people’s priceless franchise to vote,” Raffensperger said. If Congress does pass any changes, it would fall to election officials across the country to implement them. Raffensperger and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, said it would be a mistake to move the country to a single day of voting, something Trump has said he would like to see happen, because it would eliminate early voting and limit access to mail ballots. Both methods are extremely popular among voters. In Georgia, 71% of voters in November cast their ballots in person before Election Day. Both said they hoped lawmakers would look to what is working in their states and build off those successes. “We’ve proven time and time again in our states that our elections are secure and are accurate,” Benson said.The Atlanta Falcons re-signed linebacker Rashaan Evans to the practice squad on Tuesday. Evans played in two games for the Falcons earlier this season and received one defensive snap and five on special teams. He was on the roster Weeks 9-15 before being released Dec. 21. Evans, 29, was a first-round pick (22nd overall) in 2018 by the Tennessee Titans. He spent four seasons with the Titans before signing with the Falcons prior to the 2022 season. Evans stood out for Atlanta in 2022 with a career-high 159 tackles and two sacks. He played in nine games for the Dallas Cowboys in 2023. Overall, Evans has 485 tackles and five sacks in 87 career games (68 starts) over seven NFL seasons. Atlanta also signed defensive lineman Kyler Baugh to the practice squad. He was on the practice squads of the New Orleans Saints and New York Giants earlier this season. Baugh, 23, has not played in an NFL game. He originally was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New Orleans Saints following the 2024 NFL Draft. --Field Level Media

IAEA Board passes Iran resolution as West pushes Tehran towards talksdeepblue4you When producers extract natural gas from the earth's crust, it is highly combustible. The volatile gas trades ( NG1:COM ) on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange's NYMEX division alongside crude oil and oil products. Natural gas futures and futures options began trading The Hecht Commodity Report is one of the most comprehensive commodities reports available today from a top-ranked author in commodities, forex, and precious metals. My weekly report covers the market movements of over 29 different commodities and provides bullish, bearish, and neutral calls, directional trading recommendations, and actionable ideas for traders and investors. I am offering a free trial and discount to new subscribers for a limited time. Andrew Hecht is a 35-year Wall Street veteran covering commodities and precious metals. The Hecht Commodity Report Learn more Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. The author always has positions in commodities markets in futures, options, ETF/ETN products, and commodity equities. These long and short positions tend to change on an intraday basis. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

ISLAMABAD: A District and Sessions Court granted interim bail to former first lady Bushra Bibi until January 13, in four cases related to the November 26th protests. District and Sessions Judge Shabbir Bhatti heard the interim bail applications filed by Bushra Bibi in the Nov 26 protest cases. The court granted her interim bail till January 13 against bonds of Rs50,000. The PTI founder’s wife, Bushra Bibi appeared before court along with her lawyers for interim bail in four cases registered against her at Tarnol police station, and three at Ramana police station. On December 21, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi approved interim bail of Bushra Bibi in 32 cases till January 13, her counsel said. According to details, PTI founder’s wife appeared before the ATC along with her counsel and sought bail in total of 32 cases, including 23 pertaining to May 9 violence. The former first lady has been grated interim bail in 32 cases registered in Rawalpindi, Attock and Chakwal. She appeared in court at the hearing and provided the necessary surety bonds to obtain interim bail. Former first lady Bushra Bibi left the court premises after the bail was granted, and her next court appearance is set for mid-January. Her counsel, Faisal Malik argued that the cases registered against Bushra Bibi are ‘politically motivated and aimed at vengeance’. On Nov 13, Imran issued a “final call” for nationwide protests on Nov 24, demanding the restoration of the PTI’s electoral mandate, the release of detained party members, and the reversal of the 26th Amendment which he said had strengthened a “dictatorial regime”. At least six lives were lost in the three days of protests, which included a policeman and three Rangers officials who were knocked down by a speeding vehicle, officials and hospital sources said. Claims and counter-claims over deaths purportedly caused by law-enforcement action against the PTI marchers remain a major bone of contention between the government and the opposition party. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );Montreal Victoire sign D Catherine Daoust

Failed presidential hopeful Marianne Williamson announced Thursday that she plans to run for chair of the Democratic National Committee . Williamson, 72, is best known for her unconventional, long-shot presidential campaigns in 2020 and 2024 , both of which ended with her dropping out early. Prior to that, she penned a series of self-help books and ran as an independent for a congressional seat in California. “I feel that I can help transform the party, reinvent the party, because the politics of the past will not be enough to take on the politics of the present and the future,” Williamson said in a YouTube video posted Thursday. The race for DNC chair was already crowded before Williamson threw her hat in the ring to potentially replace outgoing leader Jaime Harrison . Other candidates include ex-Maryland governor and presidential candidate Martin O’Malley, New York state senator James Skoufis , Minnesota Democratic Party Chair Ken Martin and Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler. Williamson claimed that her history of talking to Democratic voters across the country would help her lead the party through another Donald Trump presidency. “I’ve seen how much pain there is out there,” she said in the video. “I’ve been up close and personal with people who didn’t have health care, who couldn’t survive on just one job, who were so depressed about so many of the conditions in their lives.” During her presidential campaigns, Williamson was best known for odd statements. In 2019, she said “a creative use of the mind” led to a hurricane turning away from land . At a 2020 debate, she said Trump’s hate would be defeated because “only love can cast that out.” Shortly after she announced a second candidacy in 2023, several staffers spoke about her tyrannical behavior and “dehumanizing” abuse during the prior campaign. Stories included her throwing a phone at a staffer and pounding so heavily on a car door that she had to visit the hospital . Williamson denied many of the stories.