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WASHINGTON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. Postal Service said on Monday it delivered at least 99.2 million ballots to and from voters in the November presidential election. USPS said at least 99.88% of ballots were delivered to election officials within a week. In September, a group of about three dozen election officials had raised serious concerns about USPS's ability to deliver millions of ballots for the 2024 presidential election . The officials had cited questions "about processing facility operations, lost or delayed election mail, and front-line training deficiencies impacting USPS’s ability to deliver election mail in a timely and accurate manner." The performance is similar to 2020, when USPS said it delivered 99.89% of ballots from voters to election officials within seven days. "In 2024, the Postal Service once again admirably performed our role of efficiently and effectively delivering the nation’s ballots,” said Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. The inspector general's office said 46% of votes were cast by mail in the November 2020 presidential election, compared with 21% in the 2016 election. In total, USPS delivered 3.37 billion pieces of political and election mail in 2024. USPS said some states let voters request mail ballots too close to Election Day on Nov. 5 to guarantee adequate time to return votes and added "consistent policies are needed nationwide to ensure that operations run smoothly." USPS said 150,630 outbound ballots from election offices entered the mail between Oct. 31 and Election Day -- too late to ensure timely deliveries. Starting Oct. 1, USPS deployed ballot monitors and others in processing, retail and delivery units "to reinforce and amplify our policies and procedures on the ground" Last month, USPS warned it must continue to cut costs and boost revenue or risks requiring a government bailout to help the organization avoid financial collapse. It reported a net loss of $9.5 billion for its fiscal year ending Sept. 30, a $3 billion bigger loss than last year. Sign up here. Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie Adler and Jonathan Oatis Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab
After reports Dragonfly delivery drivers reportedly walked off the job this week, the company is assuring customers there will not be any service disruptions as a result of the situation. On Tuesday, drivers gathered outside the Dragonfly depot on Beaver Lake Road in Kelowna, to protest work conditions, claiming long hours sometimes in unsafe conditions, social media posts showed. Dragonfly is a delivery service that states it, “optimizes 3,000 routes daily across Canada for more than 25 independent delivery partners," including Amazon. The workers are not unionized. Many on social media were in support of the drivers, saying they often had packages delivered late at night and in rural areas with no lights. “I don’t want them late at night either!! I always thought it was odd why they started delivering so late! I don’t blame the drivers,” wrote Tammy W. Jones. While others who lived in smaller communities like Princeton complained that they waited too long for delivery or that packages were damaged after arrival. What’s happening with my packages is the drivers are marking the packages as attempted delivery when they haven’t actually tried to deliver,” said Anthony ter Keurs in Princeton. On Thursday (Nov. 21), Intelcom Media Team with Dragonfly told Black Press that it recognizes and values the essential role drivers and delivery personnel play in the company’s collective success. “We took notice of the dissatisfaction of some of our independent delivery contractors’ drivers in Kelowna, and we take their concerns seriously,” stated Dragonfly in an email. The company claims it has been in discussions with the independent delivery contractors who employ the drivers to better understand their needs and expectations, since Tuesday. However, Dragonfly did not specifically clarify that the drivers had actually walked off the job. “We are committed to identifying a satisfactory and sustainable solution that reconciles the operational imperatives of our industry with the well-being of the drivers employed by our delivery partners while continuing to meet our commitment to customer expectations,” said Dragonfly. Capital News attended the Dragonfly depot on Thursday and Friday but did not see anyone on site including workers protesting, and was unable to connect with any drivers before publication. Dragonfly is based in Montreal, Que. and has operations both in Australia and the U.S.Woke management decisions similar to what kicked off a downturn in Big W Owner Woolworths, fortunes after they gave Australia Day a two finger salute, seem not to have been heeded by executives at Melbourne based Australian Venue Co, with management appearing to duck for cover after it was exposed that the Company initially planned to implement a policy that would ban Australia Day festivities for patrons at more than 200 of their venues around the country. Blind Freddy would have known, that any such decision was set to enrage Australians, with 97% of the Daily Telegraphs readers believing that retailers and hospitality venues Should not get political about Australia Day? Clearly visible is any comment by individuals from the Company behind the pub group, with most management appearing to not want to be associated with the decision including CEO Paul Watterson. Now with their brand reputation in tatters with tens of thousands set to boycott their hospitality establishments we went searching for answers as to how the business came to the conclusion that it was okay to give Australia Day a two-finger salute. The business that appears to be heavy in female decision makers in key consumer engagement roles have not responded to our request for comments. Some of the people we contacted were: Marianne Mewett (Seen below) Chief Experience Officer at Australian Venue Co, she previously worked at Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne. Recently Australian Venue Co. launched a new retail media network, AVC Experience+, aimed at enhancing customer experiences and promoting products through its venues and digital assets. They claimed that the network was designed to drive consumer action at the point of purchase by delivering tailored brand experiences, now brands are looking to drop their association with the venues. AVC Experience+ was designed to allow suppliers to connect with hard-to-reach audiences by leveraging a mix of digital and in-venue channels. The network’s portfolio includes over 219 venues, potentially reaching up to 15 million consumers annually. Partners can also tap into AVC’s annual digital customer interactions, which include 30 million+ website views, 365 million+ organic social impressions, 2.29 million+ eDM recipients, and 102 million+ impressions via The Pass loyalty app and digital ordering platform. The network is led by an in-house team, under the oversight of AVC Chief Experience Officer, Marianne Mewett. Mewett claimed at the launch “AVC Experience+ offers something unique: front-row access to an attentive and receptive audience when they are in their cultural and social comfort zone: eager to engage, hyped to explore, and poised to embrace new brand experiences.” Genevieve Hassall is Senior Brand & Communications Manager; after moving to New York in 2019, she rejoined the Company recently in a key Optimization role. Other decision makers at the Australian Venue Co include Jodie Ingham a Board Member at Australian Venue Co she took up the role in March 2024. Michelle Jones (Below) is Marketing Manager Australian Venue Co. Zoe Sepesiova Executive Operations Leader. Paul Watterson CEO Australian Venue Co. All of these senior executives seem to have not reviewed the backlash that came out of the Woolworth debacle. One of the questions we wanted answers to was ‘Are you able to give an explanation as to how you reached the conclusion that a ban would add value to your revenues and above all the brand perception for your venues”. As the fall out unfolded a statement was released on Monday, where the Company finally admitted the decision had caused “concern and confusion.” “We sincerely regret that – our purpose is to reinforce community in our venues, not divide it. It is not for us to tell anyone whether or how to celebrate Australia Day.” When asked if they had backflipped on the ban, Australian Venue Co simply responded by directing The Daily Telegraph to the their recently released statement. The decision to ban Australia Day celebrations sparked widespread criticism. What’s not known is whether CEO Paul Watterson knew of the decision and actually supported it. . “Let’s spread the news of these Australia Day bans far a wide and boycott these hotels, not just on that day, but every day,” one person wrote. “I’ll make sure I never set foot into any of your pubs ever again,” another man posted. “Pretty simple really — just boycott the establishments, there are plenty of other alternatives out there,” wrote another. In 2017, KKR purchased an 80% stake in the Dixon Hospitality Group which was owned by the former CEO of Qantas Geoff Dixon. The company’s portfolio initially consisted of five venues in Melbourne but has been expanded to over 200 venues across Australia and New Zealand. In March 2019, Coles Group and Australian Venue Co. established a joint venture (Queensland Venue Co) where AVC would take over operations of the Coles’ Spirit Hotels and receive its profits while Coles would run the group’s liquor stores and receive its profits. Coles received $200 million from AVC as part of the deal. In August 2023, PAG agreed terms to purchase KKR’s controlling shareholding for $1.4 billion.
Nicole Kidman commands the erotic office drama 'Babygirl'
Subsidies for the renovation of real estate: A guide from Schwarzat Capital GmbHWinning approach: With just one defeat in 19 Old Firm derbies, Celtic boss Rodgers will stick with his tried and trusted method in bid for first silverware of the season By JOHN MCGARRY Published: 22:03, 13 December 2024 | Updated: 22:04, 13 December 2024 e-mail 57 shares View comments Since he first took charge of a Celtic team against Rangers back in 2016, Brendan Rodgers has viewed the days immediately preceding such clashes as a delicate balancing act. Acutely aware of the heightened tension within Glasgow, the Northern Irishman has never wasted his breath by claiming the derbies are just another game. To do so, he contends, would do his players no favours. He also sees a danger in over-egging the pudding. Individuals can easily become too tense about the consequences of what they do or do not do across 90 minutes. An anxious mind is rarely conducive to them performing at their optimal level. After suffering just one defeat in 19 derbies, by some distance the best managerial record in the history of the fixture, it would be a brave man to take issue with his tried and trusted approach. ‘That’s what I’ve always done and it’s worked out okay for us,’ he said with some understatement. ‘I would say it’s not any other game. It’s an iconic game. It’s an amazing game for everyone to be involved in. But then there comes a point when you have to really focus in on the process because that’s ultimately what allows you to win such a great game. Rodgers is used to winning silverware at Celtic having tasted victory in all six of his finals The Celtic manager isn't a fan of trying to play down the magnitude of an Old Firm encounter Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates after making it 2-0 to Celtic in September's Old Firm victory ‘So, that’s more what the slant is on. The game’s special. The game’s an incredible game to be involved in. The atmosphere, the tension. People want tickets from everywhere to go to the game, so that’s not lost on me. ‘But, from a coaching and managerial perspective, what allows you to perform and what allows us to perform is to stay calm, to look at our tactical idea within the game and how we then pitch that to the players so they can go and play. And, in the main, I feel we’ve done that pretty well.’ The 15 victories Rodgers has presided over across two spells has made a mockery of the old cliché about the form book going out of the window on such occasions. The dominant side in Scotland this century, Celtic’s results over Rangers in one-off matches have largely been reflective of the times. Which is not to say that the Ibrox club aren’t capable of striking a blow for the underdog at Hampden. Philippe Clement’s side ran Celtic close in last season’s Scottish Cup final and have played their way back into form. Rodgers is wary of the outcome being decided by small margins. ‘There’s always something that can go against you,’ he warned. ‘So, it’s preparing and expecting that. ‘But, going into these games, it’s never so much about who we play, it’s about how we play and that’s always been a real focus. So, going in and playing how we want to, that’s always put us in a really good place.’ Rodgers was able to watch Rangers empty the tank in their draw with Tottenham from the comfort of his sofa having returned from Zagreb in the early hours of Wednesday. Hamza Igamane celebrates his goal against Spurs for Philippe Clement's side With two days fewer to recover from Europe, the preparation of Clement’s team isn’t ideal, but Rodgers won’t let his players fall into the trap of believing they’ll be weary. ‘We’ve done it before ourselves,’ he said. ‘We played with very limited time to recover and played very good games. So, it doesn’t really come into it. ‘It’s one where we, of course, have had an extra couple of days. But it’s the final. Every team that arrives in the final will give everything to pick up the trophy.’ If anything, Rodgers feels the fact Rangers were annoyed at not having taken the scalp of Spurs should act as a warning. As maddeningly inconsistent as Clement’s players have been, they unquestionably have big performances in them. There was certainly no gulf in class when the sides last met at Hampden, in the Scottish Cup final in May. Celtic’s late winner that day came through fresh legs coming off the bench — Paulo Bernardo’s run and shot leading to Adam Idah scoring. Having taken their eye off the ball in the last 16 of this competition at Kilmarnock last season, Celtic could only watch on from afar as Clement’s side beat Aberdeen to take the cup out of their hands. Celtic skipper Callum McGregor goes through his paces in training If any added motivation is needed, it’s provided by the empty space in the trophy cabinet. ‘Well, we don’t have it,’ said Rodgers. ‘It is something that we didn’t take last season, and clearly, it’s the first trophy of the season. ‘We’ve had a brilliant season up until now, and this would be a great way to have something tangible to show for that. But you have to earn it and that’s what we’re ready for.’ Rodgers’ sides saw off Aberdeen and Motherwell in League Cup finals in his first spell in charge. Should he come out on top again, a win over Rangers would be his tenth trophy as Celtic manager. ‘I’ll look back on that once I’m finished and once I’m done,’ he stressed. ‘Going into these games, the wins at Hampden and everything else, it doesn’t really count for much, really. Just because you’ve won before doesn’t mean you can’t turn up and not prepare. ‘I know what it means to people, this game. You never get tired of them or bored of them. They’re incredible games to be involved in. It’s such an iconic fixture throughout the world. ‘So, to have the possibility to have maybe four, five, six of them in the season is absolutely amazing. Like I said, they’re all challenges, but I think this is what we’re built for. The tougher the challenge, then that is what we relish.’ Glasgow Brendan Rodgers Rangers Celtic Share or comment on this article: Winning approach: With just one defeat in 19 Old Firm derbies, Celtic boss Rodgers will stick with his tried and trusted method in bid for first silverware of the season e-mail 57 shares Add comment
Eagles WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring) ruled out vs. RamsNone
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Seattle (7-5) at Arizona (6-6) Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EST, CBS BetMGM NFL Odds: Cardinals by 2 1/2. Series record: Seahawks lead 28-22-1. Against the spread: Seahawks 5-6-1, Cardinals 8-4. Last meeting: Seahawks beat Cardinals 16-6 on Nov. 24, 2024, in Seattle. Last week: Seahawks beat Chargers, 26-21; Cardinals lost to Vikings, 23-22. Seahawks offense: overall (16), rush (28), pass (2), scoring (15). Seahawks defense: overall (18), rush (21), pass (12), scoring (12). Cardinals offense: overall (11), rush (6), pass (22), scoring (17). Cardinals defense: overall (17), rush (13), pass (18), scoring (11). Turnover differential: Seahawks minus-6, Cardinals minus-1. DT Leonard Williams has been one of the most dominant players in the league over the past two weeks. Williams had 2 1/2 sacks, four tackles for loss and three quarterback hits two weeks ago against the Cardinals. Williams sacked Aaron Rodgers twice and scored his first career touchdown on a 92-yard pick-6. QB Kyler Murray has had some good moments over the past two games and completed 31 of 45 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown against the Vikings. But he also threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter which proved costly. QB Geno Smith vs. Arizona's defense. Smith has had another solid season and now he'll face an Arizona defense that's been vastly improved over the past 1 1/2 months. The Cardinals have been much more productive in the pass rush with 23 sacks over the past six games. That ranks third in the NFL over that span. Coach Mike Macdonald said he is optimistic that P Michael Dickson (back spasms) will be able to play this weekend, but bringing in another punter this week is “on the table.”.. LB Uchenna Nwosu has a chance to play this week. Nwosu missed the first four games of the season with a knee injury, then injured his thigh in his first game back in Week 5, and has been on injured reserve since. ... The Cardinals are relatively healthy. DLs Darius Robinson (calf) and Dante Stills (back) have been limited in practice this week. The Seahawks have won six straight games in the series going back to 2022. The Cardinals last won 23-13 on Nov. 21, 2021. The Cardinals haven't won at home against the Seahawks since 2020. The Seahawks' next win will be the 400th in franchise history. ... Since Week 9, Seattle’s defense ranks fifth in the NFL with 17.5 points allowed per game, 299 yards allowed per game, and 84.3 rushing yards allowed per game, while ranking sixth in the league with 18.8 first downs allowed. ... The Seahawks have two pick-6s in the past two games, the first time the team has done so since 2012. ... The Seahawks have held three straight opponents to under 300 yards, and fewer than 100 rushing yards. ... Seattle has outscored its opponents by 37 points in the final two minutes of halves this season, the best in the NFL. .. WR DK Metcalf needs one receiving TD to pass Steve Largent for the most in a player’s first six seasons in franchise history with 47. ... Smith needs one 300-yard game to tie Russell Wilson for the most 300-yard games in a single season in franchise history with five. ... WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba Needs 171 yards for his first 1,000-yard season, and to become the 10th player in franchise history to reach that mark. ... Arizona has won three straight games at home. The Cardinals outscored those opponents 77-30 while scoring nine touchdowns and allowing none. ... TE Trey McBride has caught 12 passes in two straight games, which is the first time a tight end has had at least 12 receptions in two straight games in NFL history. ... Arizona's six losses have come to teams with a combined 55-18 record this season entering Week 14. ... S Budda Baker has 114 tackles this season, which ranks sixth in the league. ... McBride's caught 73 passes this season. He needs just nine more catches over the next five games to break his franchise record for a tight end. ... WR Marvin Harrison Jr. has caught seven TD passes this season, which leads all NFL rookies. ... The Cardinals have been flagged for 61 penalties this season, which is the fewest in the NFL. But the team was flagged 10 times in last week's loss to the Vikings. Arizona's defense is a strong play at home. The Cardinals are giving up just 17 points per game at State Farm Stadium, which is second in the league behind Pittsburgh. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflArticle content Greyhounds towering d-man Chase Reid was in wait and see mode on Wednesday afternoon. Originally, the Chesterfield, Mich., resident was listed as a scratch against the Sudbury Wolves, mid-week at the downtown rink. “I had to get a release from USA Hockey, and we didn’t know how long it was going to take,” Reid said. “(Coach John) Dean told me to prepare like I was playing, thinking there was a slim chance. He then came in and told me it probably wasn’t going to work and 45 minutes before the start of the game he told me I was in.” The Hounds beat Sudbury for the first time this season, a 7-4 win in the books. The Soo is 1-2-0-0 against the Sudbury canines. Many coaches and management types have waitedfor USA Hockey and Hockey Canada to get paperwork done in a timely fashion, those same coaches or GMs frustrated and befuddled by the lack of alacrity, at times. Dean gave GM Kyle Raftis a verbal fist bump for finessing Reid’s paperwork between the two governing bodies. Besides liking the GM’s handiwork, Dean also liked the teen’s poise and fearlessness. “I liked that he made some mistakes, and he continued to go back out on the ice and demand the puck while trying to make plays,” Dean said. “I think he is going to be a very good player in this league.” Now that there is a new relationship forged between the CHL and NCAA, players on both sides of the 49th parallel are making deals with either OHL teams or U.S. college programs. Jackson Parsons of the Kitchener Rangers was the first OHL player to take advantage of the new rules when he signed with the Clarkson University Golden Knights back in early November. Reid is the first Greyhounds draftee to take advantage of the new NAFTA rules, hockey style. The Hounds drafted Reid in the 7th round of the 2023 draft. Prior to his draft year, Reid toiled with the U16 Victory Honda AAA program, based in Plymouth, Mich. I guess Dean thought Reid was worth the wait. “I was impressed. He is a big boy who can skate,” Dean said, saying Reid showed poise in his first game. “He is in the offensive zone, he takes the net in the offensive zone, which is Hounds hockey, and I don’t even know if he knows that is Hounds hockey.” The Hounds signed Reid to a standard players contract on Wednesday. Reid flew in from Bismarck, N.D. prior to his signing. The ex-Victory rearguard was suiting up for the Bismarck Bobcats of the North American Hockey League prior to the cross-border exchange. “It was awesome to play in my first OHL game, and I couldn’t be around a better group of guys who welcomed me in like a brother and it was super easy to jump in,” Reid said. Reid was paired up with Caeden Carlisle at even-strength. The 16-year-old managed to earn limited powerplay minutes in the first period. Reid will turn 17 on Dec. 30. “Carlisle was great,” Reid said. “He brought me in, greeted me right away and told me some things to watch out for and told me to play my game when I was out there. I just took his word for it.” Carlisle was asked his opinion of the Michigan State commit. “He showed some poise and confidence with the puck,” Carlisle said. “He is a great skater. I thought he showed very well in his first OHL game.” Pairing the 16-year-old with Carlisle was by design, wanting to ease the rookie into his first game. “That is the captain’s job, to calm things down and take the young guys out for a spin,” Dean said. “It was nice he was doing that.” The Hounds host the Niagara IceDogs on Friday night. Puck drop is 7:07. In the first meeting between the dueling dogs, Niagara earned a 7-2 victory over on Nov. 21. “We thought we played a good game against them, but they might be one of the best transition teams in the league and the way we play, with our defence jumping up in the rush, we were aggressive in the offensive zone and that really cost us,” Dean said. Andrei Loshko and Mike Levin scored hattricks for Niagara that night. “It was unacceptable what happened (in that loss) and we need to learn from it,” Dean said. “After that tough week, I don’t care if it is Niagara or London or Saginaw, we need to keep producing good quality hockey. And the win over Sudbury was a small step in the right direction.” Share this Story : Down to the wire: Soo d-man Chase Reid made his OHL debut on Wednesday night against the Sudbury Wolves Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr
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Media Roundup: Neighbours star cancer diagnosis, another ABC radio host leaves, Meta tightens ad rules to fight scamsNEW YORK, Dec. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a lawsuit has been filed against Marqeta, Inc. (NASDAQ: MQ) and certain of the Company’s senior executives for potential violations of the federal securities laws. If you invested in Marqeta, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/marqeta-inc . Investors have until February 7, 2025, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in Marqeta securities. The first-filed case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and is captioned Wai v. Marqeta, Inc., et al. , No. 24-cv-8874. Why was Marqeta Sued for Securities Fraud? Marqeta is a financial technology company that provides a card issuing platform, enabling businesses to create and manage customized payment cards. During the relevant period, Marqeta discussed its ability to attract and retain customers while continuing to achieve operational efficiencies given the purported investments it already made into its compliance infrastructure. In truth, it is alleged that at the time the statements were made, Marqeta experienced longer customer onboarding timelines caused by heightened regulatory scrutiny and insufficient investments into the Company’s compliance apparatus. The Stock Declines as the Truth is Revealed On November 4, 2024, the Company reported its third quarter 2024 financial results and cut its full year 2025 growth outlook, due to “heightened scrutiny of the banking environment and specific customer program changes.” On the earnings call the same day, the Company revealed that “the regulatory scrutiny” had “clearly ratcheted up” in the “first few months of 2024.” Marqeta also admitted that the impact the increased scrutiny had on the Company’s business “became apparent over the last few months.” This news caused the price of the Company’s stock to fall over 42%, from a closing price of $5.95 per share on November 4, 2024, to $3.42 per share on November 5, 2024. Click here if you suffered losses: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/marqeta-inc . What Can You Do? If you invested in Marqeta you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm. All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses. Submit your information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/marqeta-inc Or contact: Ross Shikowitz ross@bfalaw.com 212-789-3619 Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP? Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It was named among the Top 5 plaintiff law firms by ISS SCAS in 2023 and its attorneys have been named Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thompson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.’s Board of Directors (pending court approval), as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd. For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com . https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/marqeta-inc Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
By MICHAEL R. SISAK and JENNIFER PELTZ NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urged a judge again Friday to throw out his hush money conviction, balking at the prosecution’s suggestion of preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies. They called the idea “absurd.” Related Articles National Politics | Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time National Politics | Ruling by a conservative Supreme Court could help blue states resist Trump policies National Politics | A nonprofit leader, a social worker: Here are the stories of the people on Biden’s clemency list National Politics | Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she ‘sustained an injury’ on official trip to Luxembourg National Politics | Veteran Daniel Penny, acquitted in NYC subway chokehold, will join Trump’s suite at football game The Manhattan district attorney’s office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. They include freezing the case until Trump leaves office in 2029, agreeing that any future sentence won’t include jail time, or closing the case by noting he was convicted but that he wasn’t sentenced and his appeal wasn’t resolved because of presidential immunity. Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove reiterated Friday their position that the only acceptable option is overturning his conviction and dismissing his indictment, writing that anything less will interfere with the transition process and his ability to lead the country. The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined comment. It’s unclear how soon Merchan will decide. He could grant Trump’s request for dismissal, go with one of the prosecution’s suggestions, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court, or choose some other option. In their response Friday, Blanche and Bove ripped each of the prosecution’s suggestions. Halting the case until Trump leaves office would force the incoming president to govern while facing the “ongoing threat” that he’ll be sentenced to imprisonment, fines or other punishment as soon as his term ends, Blanche and Bove wrote. Trump, a Republican, takes office Jan. 20. “To be clear, President Trump will never deviate from the public interest in response to these thuggish tactics,” the defense lawyers wrote. “However, the threat itself is unconstitutional.” The prosecution’s suggestion that Merchan could mitigate those concerns by promising not to sentence Trump to jail time on presidential immunity grounds is also a non-starter, Blanche and Bove wrote. The immunity statute requires dropping the case, not merely limiting sentencing options, they argued. Blanche and Bove, both of whom Trump has tabbed for high-ranking Justice Department positions, expressed outrage at the prosecution’s novel suggestion that Merchan borrow from Alabama and other states and treat the case as if Trump had died. Blanche and Bove accused prosecutors of ignoring New York precedent and attempting to “fabricate” a solution “based on an extremely troubling and irresponsible analogy between President Trump” who survived assassination attempts in Pennsylvania in July and Florida in September “and a hypothetical dead defendant.” Such an option normally comes into play when a defendant dies after being convicted but before appeals are exhausted. It is unclear whether it is viable under New York law, but prosecutors suggested that Merchan could innovate in what’s already a unique case. “This remedy would prevent defendant from being burdened during his presidency by an ongoing criminal proceeding,” prosecutors wrote in their filing this week. But at the same time, it wouldn’t “precipitously discard” the “meaningful fact that defendant was indicted and found guilty by a jury of his peers.” Prosecutors acknowledged that “presidential immunity requires accommodation” during Trump’s impending return to the White House but argued that his election to a second term should not upend the jury’s verdict, which came when he was out of office. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution . Other world leaders don’t enjoy the same protection. For example, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges even as he leads that nation’s wars in Lebanon and Gaza . Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his May 30 conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records . Prosecutors said he fudged the documents to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier, which Trump denies. In their filing Friday, Trump’s lawyers citing a social media post in which Sen. John Fetterman used profane language to criticize Trump’s hush money prosecution. The Pennsylvania Democrat suggested that Trump deserved a pardon, comparing his case to that of President Joe Biden’s pardoned son Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division,” Fetterman wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. Trump’s hush money conviction was in state court, meaning a presidential pardon — issued by Biden or himself when he takes office — would not apply to the case. Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes. Since the election, special counsel Jack Smith has ended his two federal cases , which pertained to Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and allegations that he hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate state election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia, is largely on hold. Trump denies wrongdoing in all. Trump had been scheduled for sentencing in the hush money case in late November. But following Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed the former and future president’s sentencing so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case. Merchan also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. A dismissal would erase Trump’s conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office.
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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.Ukraine must be placed in the “strongest possible position for negotiations” to end the war with Russia, Sir Keir Starmer has said. The Prime Minister insisted the UK will back Ukraine “for as long as it takes” as he made a speech at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet in London, but for the first time acknowledged the conflict could move towards a negotiated end. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has in recent weeks suggested he is open to a possible ceasefire with Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Kyiv and its European allies meanwhile fear the advent of Donald Trump’s return to the White House could result in American aid being halted. President-elect Trump has said he would prefer to move towards a peace deal, and has claimed he could end the conflict on “day one” of his time in power. As he attempts to strike up a good relationship with the incoming president, Sir Keir revealed he had told Mr Trump the UK “will invest more deeply than ever in this transatlantic bond with our American friends in the years to come”. In his speech at London’s Guildhall, the Prime Minister said there is “no question it is right we support Ukraine”, as the UK’s aid to Kyiv is “deeply in our self-interest”. Allowing Russia to win the war would mean “other autocrats would believe they can follow Putin’s example,” he warned. Sir Keir added: “So we must continue to back Ukraine and do what it takes to support their self-defence for as long as it takes. “To put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for negotiations so they can secure a just and lasting peace on their terms that guarantees their security, independence, and right to choose their own future.” Mr Zelensky told Sky News over the weekend he would be open to speaking with Mr Putin, but branded the Russian president a “terrorist”. He also suggested Ukrainian territory under his control should be taken under the “Nato umbrella” to try to stop the “hot stage” of the war with Russia. In a banquet speech focused on foreign affairs, the Prime Minister said it was “plain wrong” to suggest the UK must choose between its allies, adding: “I reject it utterly. “(Clement) Attlee did not choose between allies. (Winston) Churchill did not choose. “The national interest demands that we work with both.” Sir Keir said the UK and the US were “intertwined” when it came to commerce, technology and security. The Prime Minister added: “That’s why, when President Trump graciously hosted me for dinner in Trump Tower, I told him that we will invest more deeply than ever in this transatlantic bond with our American friends in the years to come.” He also repeated his commitment to “rebuild our ties with Europe” and insisted he was right to try to build closer links with China. “It is remarkable that until I met President Xi last month there had been no face-to-face meeting between British and Chinese leaders for six years,” the Prime Minister said. “We can’t simply look the other way. We need to engage. To co-operate, to compete and to challenge on growth, on security concerns, on climate as well as addressing our differences in a full and frank way on issues like Hong Kong, human rights, and sanctions on our parliamentarians,” he added. The Prime Minister said he wants Britain’s role in the world to be that of “a constant and responsible actor in turbulent times”. He added: “To be the soundest ally and to be determined, always, in everything we do. “Every exchange we have with other nations, every agreement we enter into to deliver for the British people and show, beyond doubt, that Britain is back.” Ahead of Sir Keir’s speech, Lord Mayor Alastair King urged the Prime Minister and his Government to loosen regulations on the City of London to help it maintain its competitive edge. In an echo of Sir Keir’s commitment to drive the UK’s economic growth, the Lord Mayor said: “The idealist will dream of growth, but the pragmatist understands that our most effective machinery to drive growth is here in the City, in the hands of some of the brightest and most committed people that you will find anywhere in the world.”
We only have four light-volume trading days left in 2024, so last week’s downdraft postponed the Santa Claus rally, but the second half of December is historically the year’s best two-week span, so we still might see some powerful up-moves before the year ends. The S&P 500 fell 2% last week, while the 10-year Treasury bond yield rose 42 basis points (from 4.15% to 4.57%) over the last two weeks, on fears of higher inflation and the debt ceiling battle. Part of last week’s market malaise also came from Fed Chair Powell’s waffling remarks in the FOMC statement and following press conference. In addition, President-elect Trump and Elon Musk caused the House of Representatives to scramble to throw out some of the “pork” that was added to their spending bill. Clearly, Trump prefers that any major shutdown occur while Biden is still in office, so Trump can seem to rescue the nation. Trump has said he would like to eliminate the debt ceiling, so perhaps a government shutdown would have helped deliver that wish. Here are the most important market news items and what this news means: - Qatar is threatening to cut off LNG shipments to the eurozone over legislation that will penalize companies that fail to meet set criteria on carbon emissions and human and labor rights. Frankly, this is a great opportunity for the U.S. to step in and fill this LNG void if Qatar cuts off LNG shipments. Russia has been exporting more LNG to the eurozone than the U.S. since May because the Biden Administration was striving to restrict LNG expansion due to environmental concerns. Frankly, the U.S. is going to score a lot higher than either Qatar or Russia on carbon emissions and human and labor rights, so hopefully, under Trump 2.0, LNG exports will boom. - Nissan and Honda have announced that they have commenced merger talks to create the third-largest automotive manufacturer. What is hindering the entire automotive industry is all the electronics that many governments are now requiring, such as lane assist and collision avoidance systems. The problem with all these requirements is that each car has to have its own “firewall” to avoid computer hacking. All these new electronics cost money and raise the cost of new vehicles. Nissan has a lead over Honda in EVs and trucks. Honda has a great engineering and quality reputation, with lots of loyal customers. Overall, this potential merger will be interesting and merge entirely different cultures. - President-elect Donald Trump is throwing out a lot of interesting ideas that most folks have not thought of. First, he wants to buy Greenland from Demark as an “absolute necessity” for national security reasons. Second, President-elect Trump is demanding that Panama reduce its transit tolls, especially on U.S. Navy ships. Panama has rejected Trump’s demands and refuses to lower its transit toll for U.S. vessels. China’s growing influence in Panama may be one reason that President-elect Trump would like the Panama Canal back, so this will be an interesting confrontation. - As a result of the chaos in Brazil, Britain, Canada, France, and Germany, plus economic growth sputtering in China as its population continues to shrink by over 2 million people per year, the U.S. remains the growth engine of the world. Falling interest rates around the world will cause an international flight to U.S. Treasuries to persist and naturally drive yields lower. As an example. China’s 10-year government bond yields fell below 1.7% this week, which is the lowest level in two decades. These low global yields will naturally cause capital flight to the U.S. and since the Fed never fights market rates, I am confident that the Fed will cut its key interest rates four times in 2025. - A strong U.S. dollar will help to reduce the prices of imported goods. The Fed’s favorite inflation indicator, the Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) index, only rose 0.1% in November and 2.4% in the past 12 months. This was the smallest monthly increase in the PCE since May. When shelter costs (owner’s equivalent rent) are stripped out of the PCE, inflation is essentially running at the Fed’s 2% target rate. However, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell’s comment that the Fed’s year-end inflation forecast has “kind of fallen apart” did not inspire confidence. In my opinion, the stock and bond market reactions to the FOMC Statement, dot plot, and Fed Chairman Powell’s press conference were grossly overdone and eviscerated all the stock market gains since the Presidential election. Fortunately, a Santa Claus rally was subsequently sparked by the November PCE report, so the stock market is rallying into Christmas and should also rally into the New Year.HONEYWELL AND BOMBARDIER SIGN LANDMARK AGREEMENT TO DELIVER THE NEXT GENERATION OF AVIATION TECHNOLOGY; HONEYWELL UPDATES 2024 OUTLOOK