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Trump's tariff threat a grim reminder of turbulent trade in first administrationNone
This week, Meta announced that it had donated $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural fund. The fund is used to finance the festivities that accompany the president-elect’s inauguration day celebrations. It would seem to be yet another sign that the tech giant is doing its best to get on the good side of a man that once threatened to send its CEO to prison for the rest of his life. Meta’s generous financial gift—which is pretty big as far as inaugural contributions go—follows on the heels of other conciliatory moves made by Zuck. In November, the tech mogul dined with the President-elect at Mar-a-Lago, after which Meta said its CEO was “grateful for the invitation to join President Trump for dinner and the opportunity to meet with members of his team about the incoming administration.” Prior to the election, Zuckerberg also spoke with Trump and complimented him, saying that he thought it was “badass” how he handled the assassination attempt against him. The Meta founder also presented Trump with a significantly cheaper gift in the form of his company’s Ray-Ban smart glasses. It makes sense that Zuck is turning on the charm since Trump has repeatedly threatened to throw him in prison. Indeed, an ongoing theme with Trump has been that Zuckerberg somehow helped undermine his electoral chances during the 2020 presidential election. This year, Trump actually co-authored a coffee table book in which he alleged that Zuck and his wife, Priscilla Chan, had conspired against him. While the book is vague on the details of what this so-called conspiracy entailed, it is thought to be a reference to a series of large election infrastructure donations that Zuckerberg and Chan made to election offices in 2020. For whatever reason, Trump seems to presume that these donations undermined his electoral chances that year. The book states that, should the tech CEO ever “do anything illegal” again, he will “spend the rest of his life in prison.” Trump has also threatened Zuckerberg with prison and prosecution at other points, typically via posts on his social media platform , Truth Social. Meta’s inauguration gift is yet another effort by the tech platform to stay in the good graces of the new president, which is not a particularly unique thing for a company to do when there’s a new administration. Indeed, while the actual presidential inauguration—the part where the President is sworn in—is publicly funded, many of the celebrations after the initial ceremony, technically known as “inauguration events,” are fueled by private donations. Indeed, a broad variety of people and organizations can give to the president’s inaugural committee but, more often than not, the biggest donations come from corporations, lobbyists, and political action committees. These donations are broadly viewed as an attempt to curry favor with the incoming administration. The rules of inaugural donations can be changed from presidency to presidency. For instance, in 2009, in a show of populist solidarity, Obama banned corporate contributions to his inaugural celebrations. However, he subsequently lifted that cap in 2012. A study showed that 40 percent of Obama’s 2013 inaugural funds came from special interest groups, with telecom AT&T being the single largest donor (it gave $4.1 million). During his first rodeo, Trump’s 2016 inaugural committee raised a whopping $107 million , which was the biggest inaugural haul for a president in U.S. history. For comparison, Obama’s 2013 inauguration raised about $43 million, while his 2009 inauguration raised $55 million. In 2016, Trump’s only cap was on contributions from lobbyists. The companies that were the biggest spenders for Trump’s inauguration included military-industrial-complex notables Lockheed Martin and Boeing, as well as Wall Street mainstays Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase. Other notable contributors included Dow Chemical, Pfizer, Microsoft, Google, and a number of private prison companies , like CoreCivic, Geo Group, and Union Supply Group. Again, the single biggest contributor was AT&T, with a donation of some $2 million. Notably, Trump’s first inauguration was not without controversy. In 2022, the Trump Organization and Trump’s inauguration committee paid $750,000 to the District of Columbia to resolve allegations, lobbed by D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine, that they had misused funds. Trump said at the time that the payment was not an admission of guilt or culpability.The lowest turnover of the last 11 weeks did not stop the benchmark of the Greek stock market from recording another day of growth, albeit small, on Tuesday, making it five in a row. It has now put clear blue water between itself and the 1,400-point psychological milestone. Corporate results for the third quarter continued to flow in, with one the companies benefiting from such news being Hellenic Exchanges, which runs the stock market. The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 1,408.05 points, adding 0.13% to Monday’s 1,406.20 points. The large-cap FTSE-25 index expanded 0.15%, ending at 3,409.42 points, though mid-caps contracted 0.05%. The banks index advanced 0.40%, as National grew 1.57% and Eurobank earned 0.64%, while Alpha declined 0.49% and Piraeus gave up 0.44%. Ellaktor grabbed 3.21%, while Cenergy Holdings parted with 1.86%. In total 49 stocks reported gains, 41 recorded losses and 28 remained unchanged. Turnover amounted to 63.8 million euros, down from Monday’s €206.6 million. In Nicosia, the general index of the Cyprus Stock Exchange increased 2.08% to close at 210.49 points.Heat pumps have gained a taste of celebrity status as the most energy-efficient way to heat and cool a home. Heat pumps are so efficient that experts argue swapping out your heating and cooling systems is one of the best ways homeowners can reduce their household carbon emissions. Amy Boyd, director of policy for the Acadia Center, a regional research and advocacy organization focusing on clean-energy policy in the Northeast, said, “A heat pump is probably the biggest thing consumers can do to help fight the climate crisis.” The publicity surrounding heat pumps comes from their win-win status as a climate solution . During warmer months, heat pumps function like a traditional air conditioning unit, adding cool air to the room. During colder months they pull heat from the air outside and pump it into the home. This process is highly energy-efficient. According to the Department of Energy, using a heat pump can lower electricity usage for heating by about 65% when compared to electric resistance heating, such as baseboard heaters. This means that by switching to a heat pump, you could save roughly two-thirds of your heating energy consumption. By using electricity to move heat instead of burning fossil fuels to create it, the carbon emissions from operating heat pumps will continue to decrease as the electric grid is decarbonized over time. Locally, it is already less carbon-intensive to operate a heat pump than to burn gas thanks to Holy Cross Energy’s move towards a 100% carbon-free electricity supply. The heating process of heat pumps, along with their traditional popularity in the southern United States, has led many consumers in the northern United States to question their effectiveness for heating. Since heat pumps operate by transferring heat rather than generating it, they have historically encountered challenges in colder climates. This issue has been remedied with the availability of cold climate heat pumps, and improved technology for heating in cold climates like ours. A study from 2017 conducted by a nonprofit focused on clean energy in Minnesota found that newer models operate effectively down to negative 13 degrees Fahrenheit. In colder climates, heat pumps that are not designed for cold weather have a harder time finding heat and therefore struggle. With newer technology, cold climate heat pumps provide sufficient heat down into negative outdoor temperatures. If one lives in an extreme climate and already has a fossil fuel heating system in their home, they may consider a hybrid or dual fuel heat pump system. Hybrid systems use both conventional fossil fuel-burning heaters (typically a boiler or a furnace) in conjunction with heat pumps. The combustion heater is used only when the temperature drops low enough to decrease the heat pump’s efficiency. The fossil fuel-based heating system is used to supplement heat in the room to where the heat pump performs best. Heat pumps can run at higher than 100% efficiency because they are not creating heat, they are just moving it from one place to another. For each unit of energy input, you can get 2-3 units of heat output. Properly installed heat pumps can reach over 300% efficiency in some cases. A high-efficiency gas furnace can only be 98% efficient at the most. It’s estimated that in climate zones 6 and 7, supplemental fossil fuel heat is needed less than 20% of the time in dual-fuel systems. By using a dual fuel system, you maximize your heat pump’s efficiency while maintaining comfortable temperatures, and keeping utility bills and carbon emissions to a minimum. There are several local and federal programs to aid in upgrading one’s home to a heat pump. Federal incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act include tax credits and rebates for high-efficiency heat pumps. Through local nonprofits you may be able to get a rebate for a heat pump install, for example in the Eagle River Valley, through Walking Mountains, homeowners can get up to $1,000 from Eagle County’s Energy Smart Colorado program. Those rebates can be stacked on top of utility rebates, which vary based on location and utility company. On top of these incentives, the State of Colorado provides tax credits to qualifying heat pump projects. With all these rebates, credits, and incentives, upgrading to a heat pump is starting to feel less like an expense and more like a group project where everyone else is chipping in! Heat pumps offer a powerful and efficient solution for reducing household carbon emissions while maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures year-round. With advancements in technology and a growing array of financial incentives at federal, state, and local levels, transitioning to a heat pump is more accessible than ever. By making the switch, homeowners can contribute to a cleaner energy future, and potentially save on utility bills. The Energy team at Walking Mountains can help get you started, email energy@walkingmountains.org or visit WalkingMountains.org/energy .India Kuwait poised to transform relationship into strategic partnership PM Modi
Luke Littler turned his holiday camp fortress into a tungsten torture chamber as his barnstorming Ladbrokes Players Championship campaign ran out of stardust. After a rampant run to the final at Butlins in Minehead, The Nuke went down 11-7 against Luke Humphries in the last TV major final of 2024. For Cool Hand Luke, who banked the £120,000 top prize, it was a sixth major title and the first one he has defended successfully. And world champion Humphries ends the calendar year as he began it - getting the better of Warrington’s boy wonder. On the evidence of the last 72 hours in north Devon, the Lukes of hazard will be the men to beat when the circus pitches its big top at Alexandra Palace for the PDC World Championship next month. The draw is made in London on Monday and Humphries said: “I’m really proud of that one - I didn’t feel myself earlier this week, but Luke seems to bring the best out of me. I rode my luck getting to the final because I was in my comfort zone, but I travel the world for these moments. “If you go by stats, he is easily the best player in the world right now so it’s satisfying to win this one when I haven’t been at my best.” It was a step too far for 17-year-old Littler, who was strangely out of sorts in the opening five-leg segment. He averaged a lowly 80 and missed 11 of his 12 darts at a double, allowing Humphries to surge into a 4-1 lead. He closed the gap with a ‘big fish’ 170 finish and, by the time he followed it up with 164 and 136 checkouts, both players were really motoring. But Littler admitted he had left himself too much to do, saying: “It was tough and if you don’t take your chances early on, it’s tough to come back. “It’s been a good past two weeks after winning the Grand Slam and reaching another major final. "Now I can’t wait to get home, chill out and then move on to the big one.”Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title when he hit a major league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85. Major League Baseball , the players’ association and the Braves paid tribute to Carty on social media on Sunday. A family friend told Listín Diario — a newspaper in Carty’s native Dominican Republic — that he died Saturday night in an Atlanta hospital. “Carty was one of the first groundbreaking Latino stars in the major leagues, and he established himself as a hero to millions in his native Dominican Republic, his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, and the city of Atlanta, where he was a beloved fan favorite,” the players' association said in its statement . The Braves said Carty left an indelible mark on the organization. “While his on-field accomplishments will never be forgotten, his unforgettable smile and generous nature will be sorely missed,” the team said in its statement. Carty made his big league debut with the Braves in September 1963. He batted .330 with 22 homers and 88 RBIs in his first full season in 1964, finishing second to Dick Allen in voting for NL Rookie of the Year. The Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta after the 1965 season, and Carty got the franchise's first hit in its new home on April 12, 1966, against Pittsburgh. Carty had his best year in 1970, batting .366 with 25 homers and a career-best 101 RBIs. He started the All-Star Game after he was elected as a write-in candidate, joining Willie Mays and Hank Aaron in the NL outfield. Carty batted .299 with 204 homers and 890 RBIs over 15 years in the majors, also playing for Cleveland, Toronto, Oakland, Texas and the Chicago Cubs. He retired after the 1979 season. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
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DIDWW brings advanced voice and SMS solutions to ITW Asia 2024 11-26-2024 09:04 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: The Branded Word Image: https://www.getnews.info/uploads/c38f455b2f2a5a2930c089a2bd86bbcc.jpg DIDWW, a global provider of premium quality VoIP communications and SIP trunking services, will participate as an exhibitor at ITW Asia 2024 [ https://internationaltelecomsweekasia.com/ ]. This prominent connectivity and digital infrastructure event will feature DIDWW's latest advancements in its innovative voice and SMS solutions for business communications. The ITW Asia 2024 expo is scheduled for the 4-5 December and will take place at the Shangri-La Singapore Hotel, Singapore. This show will gather over 1,200 industry professionals from across the Asia-Pacific region, providing a unique opportunity for networking and collaboration. Attendees can look forward to insightful keynote sessions, informative panel discussions, and exploring the latest innovations in telecommunications and digital infrastructure. Visitors to ITW Asia 2024 are invited to connect with the DIDWW team at booth No. 600, located at the Shangri-La Singapore Hotel. Please join us to discuss the latest advancements in voice and SMS technology, and discover how DIDWW's innovative solutions can transform business communication infrastructures of any size. Attendees can delve into the features of DIDWW's robust two-way SIP trunking, [ https://www.didww.com/services/two-way-sip-trunking ] A2P and P2P SMS services [ https://www.didww.com/services/two-way-sms ], and other VoIP offerings. To arrange a dedicated session in advance, participants may schedule a meeting via email at sales@didww.com or contact their personal account manager. Karolis Jurys, Commercial Director at DIDWW, said, "We are eager to present our newest voice and messaging solutions at ITW Asia 2024. This event is an excellent platform for attendees to discover how our reliable and cost-effective alternatives to traditional telephone networks can significantly improve their business communications, driving growth and success." About DIDWW DIDWW is a platform for telecommunications and business professionals with full self-service access and real-time provisioning, APIs and all the necessary building blocks for achieving the ultimate control over Voice and SMS services. The company offers the largest fully compliant international coverage of local, national, mobile, toll-free voice and SMS-enabled virtual phone numbers [ https://www.didww.com/phone-numbers/all-phone-numbers ], two-way local and global SIP trunks, access to local emergency services, flexible capacity options, free global number portability, a highly scalable business phone system, and more. DIDWW delivers premium quality services to thousands of operators and enterprises worldwide through a private and fully geo-redundant network with mission-critical reliability and guaranteed SLAs. Their customers enjoy advanced solutions coupled with a unique service experience and superior value, all driven by a highly motivated team of professionals. To learn more about DIDWW, please visit https://www.didww.com/ . Media Contact Company Name: DIDWW Contact Person: Vilija Simkiene Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=didww-brings-advanced-voice-and-sms-solutions-to-itw-asia-2024 ] Phone: +1 (212) 461 1854 City: Dublin State: Ireland Country: United States Website: http://www.didww.com This release was published on openPR.None
NoneFederal prosecutors seek records from company that deployed AI weapons scanner on NYC subway
Edison International Raises Common Stock Dividend 6.1%; 21st Consecutive Annual Increase