(Bloomberg) -- Texas Governor Greg Abbott is taking an increasingly antagonistic view towards China. The Republican ally of President-elect Donald Trump issued a series of warnings and directives this week against China, including telling the Texas state government to ditch investments in the country. The financial risk of holdings in China is increasing because of the nation’s “belligerent actions” in the Pacific region and around the world, Abbott said in a letter to the heads of Texas state agencies. He told them to halt new investments in China and divest existing holdings. Echoing Trump’s tough talk against the country, the governor also issued an order Nov. 19 to “harden state systems” against hostile foreign nations, citing “the Chinese Communist Party’s malicious espionage operations.” A day later, the governor told the state “to prepare for potential threats against Texas’ critical infrastructure from a hostile foreign government or their proxies,” citing dangers posed by China. While Texas holdings in China are limited, the governor’s statement fanned concerns that some of the largest US funds may avoid investing in the country out of political considerations. That hit market sentiment on Friday as disappointing tech earnings and concerns over Trump’s imminent return spurred a selloff in Chinese stocks. Winning Strategy “Governor Abbot’s recent actions demonstrate the extent to which politicians, even at the state level, view anti-China posturing as a winning political strategy,” said Gabriel Wildau, managing director at Teneo Holdings LLC, a New York-based advisory firm. “I doubt that discrete actions like this at the state level will have a significant market impact, but Abbott’s action signals the direction of travel,” Wildau said by email. The Chinese embassy in Washington didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Abbott said he instructed Utimco, the $78 billion endowment of the University of Texas and Texas A&M University, to divest from China earlier this year. Other state funds include the $210.5 billion Teacher Retirement System of Texas and the Employees Retirement System of Texas, which manages more than $40 billion. Abbott’s investment directive drew praise from one of the state’s most outspoken China hawks. Investor Kyle Bass, a longtime bear on Chinese markets, called the move “a thoughtful and strategic approach to safeguarding Texas’ economic interests, national security, and long-term prosperity.” Bass called on the US government to follow the state’s lead. --With assistance from Jacob Gu. (Updates with analyst comment in sixth paragraph.) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com ©2024 Bloomberg L.P.CMBT stock touches 52-week low at $11.73 amid market shiftsSANTA CLARA, Calif. -- After getting outgained by 315 yards and shutout in the first half, the Chicago Bears showed life on the opening drive of the third quarter. The Bears crossed the 50-yard line for the first time all afternoon on their longest drive (16 plays) of the game. Quarterback Caleb Williams found DJ Moore for a 10-yard reception, which was also the longest play generated the Bears offense, which is averaging 2.2 yards per play. Eleven plays later, Williams found fellow rookie Rome Odunze in the right corner of the end zone for a touchdown. Elite concentration to get the feet down 💯 @RomeOdunze pic.twitter.com/ictHsM5ZdD Odunze, the No. 9 pick in the 2024 draft, leapt into the air and came down with two feet in bounds for Chicago's lone points of the day. The Bears went for two, but Williams' pass over the middle was caught and then dropped by Cole Kmet .
Predators play the Devils following Josi's 2-goal gameNone
CMBT stock touches 52-week low at $11.73 amid market shifts
What is the 'Chill Guy' meme? What to know about origin, copyright feud and crypto salesPhoto: Contributed Mission Hill Winery's Festival of Tree. With so many events to explore over the coming weeks, in a year that is decidedly more difficult for organizations fundraising so they can support the individuals and families they serve, combining an experience with a charitable element is ideal. Throw in a holiday shopping list that needs to be checked off, and it’s a win-win. Or win-win-win. Mission Hill Family Estate Winery in West Kelowna recently welcomed hundreds of guests to the opening celebration for its Festival of Trees , on display until Jan. 5, supporting the B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation. Book a winery experience and visit the exquisite wine shop for gifts, then vote for your favourite tree or simply donate online . Make an afternoon of exploring the Westside Wine Trail by stopping by Grizzli Winery this Saturday. Nov. 30, for a Festive Christmas Market and Charity Fundraiser for Paws It Forward . This is an indoor family and pet-friendly afternoon that will include local artisan vendors market, and Paws It Forward will be on site with puppies from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The market continues on select days in December, supporting several causes: • Dec. 1, 8 and 15: In exchange for Santa photos, donate non-perishable food items to the Central Okanagan Food Bank onsite or bring new, unwrapped toys or gift cards for teens to support the Salvation Army. • Dec. 7: Mamas for Mamas will be on site from noon to 3 p.m. and will gladly accept donated items of gently used toys, new kids' clothing /seasonal wear and cash donations. • Dec. 14: BGC Okanagan Recreation will be on site to help support its Youth Homelessness Campaign. Donations of hygiene products, socks, underwear, toques, mitts, and hats are requested. Speaking of Santa, Penticton’s Cannery Brewing hosts him and Mrs. Claus from noon to 2 p.m. on Dec. 7 and 8 for photos. Bring your own camera or smartphone, along with a donation for the South Okanagan Children's Charity . Get some shopping in this weekend, as the Peachland Wellness Centre has its annual Christmas Craft Fair on Saturday, Nov. 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.. Seventy vendors will be at the Peachland Community Centre, and admission is by donation. The Peachland Wellness Centre provides programs and services that connect people through support, education, information, referral and outreach. Finally, a personal favourite. London Drugs, once again has Stocking Stuffers for Seniors at locations across Western Canada. Visit your local store, find the Christmas Tree adorned Stocking Stuffers for Seniors gift tags, and grab a tag. Tags contain a wish list from a local senior, and all you need to do is purchase or bring new, non-gift-wrapped items, along with the gift tag, back to the store’s Customer Service counter by Dec. 8 to brighten a senior citizen’s season. This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
No. 9 Kentucky, focused on getting better, welcomes Jackson St.
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No. 1 South Carolina women stunned by fifth-ranked UCLA 77-62, ending Gamecocks' 43-game win streakFinding the perfect gift can be daunting. The only way to truly ensure you get it right would be to ask the recipient what they want, but that wouldn’t be much fun for either of you. Luckily, there’s another tactic to help you earn a “gift whisperer” reputation: seeking out unique, practical, game-changing gifts that will truly surprise and delight. But that’s about as easy as it sounds, which is to say it’s not easy at all. So, we’ve done the legwork for you. Start making your list with this compilation of some of the most innovative, functional and fun gifts of 2024. There’s something for every budget. A pepper grinder, really? Bear with me: The new FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder set elevates the pedestrian pepper and spice mill in both function and style. Available in three colors (Sangria Red, Midnight Black and Soft Cream), the rechargeable-battery unit grinds with a light touch rather than hand-tiring twists. That’s easier for everyone and especially helpful for those experiencing hand or wrist issues such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinitis. And it’s fun to use. The set includes a stackable storage tray and four pods that can be easily swapped as needed: The GT microplane grater for hard spices, nuts and chocolate; the MAX for large spices and dried herbs; the ProPlus for smaller and oily spices; and the Pepper Pod for, well, pepper. $110. To build a fire Campers and backyard firepit lovers who have experienced the heartbreak of wet wood will appreciate having a three-pack of Pull Start Fire on hand. Made of 89% recycled materials, including sanding dust, wax and flint, the food-safe, eco-friendly, 3-by-2-by-1-inch fire starters will light a fire quickly without matches, lighters or kindling. Just loop the attached green string around a log, incorporate it into a wood stack, and pull the attached red string to ignite. Each windproof, rainproof block burns for 30 minutes. $29.99. The place for a ladle is on the pot The No Mess Utensil Set from Souper Cubes , a company known for its portioned, silicone freezer trays, lives up to its name. The utensils — a serving spoon and a ladle — have innovative, S-shaped handles designed to rest on the edge of a pot, keeping them upright so they won’t slip in. The design also eliminates the need for a spoon rest or, worse, placing dirty utensils on the kitchen counter or stovetop between stirs. A silicone coating in a choice of Aqua, Charcoal, Cranberry or Blueberry keeps handles cool to the touch. $24.99. Up your birdwatching with this feeder The FeatherSnap Wi-Fi smart bird feeder could turn anyone into an avid birdwatcher. Equipped with an HD camera, the dual-chamber feeder enables up-close livestreaming of avian visitors, as well as species-logging via the free mobile app. An optional premium subscription ($59.99 annually or $6.99 monthly) includes unlimited photo and video storage, AI identification with species-specific details, and the opportunity to earn badges for logging new visitors. Turn on notifications to get alerts sent to your phone whenever there’s activity at the feeder. $179.99. Printing old-fashioned photos via Bluetooth Fujifilm's Instax Mini Link 3 smartphone printer offers a touch of nostalgia without sacrificing technology. Just load the 4.9-by-3.5-by-1.3-inch printer with Instax Mini instant film and connect it to your Android or iOS device via Bluetooth to print wallet-size photos. If you want to get fancy, you can adjust brightness, contrast and saturation, or apply filters, including 3D augmented-reality effects, via the free Instax Mini Link app. It can also make collages of up to six images, or animate photos to share on social media. Available in Rose Pink, Clay White and Sage Green. $99.95. Houseplants don't get much easier than this The appropriately named easyplant is one of the best gifts you can give your houseplant-loving friends, regardless of their experience level. Select a pot color, size and plant (or get recommendations based on sunlight requirements, pet friendliness and other attributes) and fill the self-watering container’s built-in reservoir roughly once a month. Moisture will permeate the soil from the bottom as needed, eliminating the often-fatal consequences of over- or under-watering. It’s also a literal lifesaver come vacation time. $49-$259. Making your own (plant-based) milk If you’ve got a no-dairy friend on your list, a plant-based milk maker could save them money while allowing them to avoid sugar, stabilizers, thickeners and preservatives. The Nama M1 appliance both blends and strains ingredients, converting nuts, seeds, grains or oats into velvety-smooth milk in just one minute, with zero grit. And for zero waste, the pasty leftover pulp can be used in other recipes for added nutrients. The device also makes infused oils, flavored waters and soups. And, importantly, cleanup is easy. Available in white and black. $400. The perfect temperature for 350,000-plus wines For friends who prefer stronger beverages, the QelviQ personal sommelier uses “smart” technology to ensure wine is served at its ideal temperature. Unlike traditional wine refrigerators, this device doesn’t take up any floor space. It also doesn’t chill wine to just one or two temperatures based on its color. Instead — paired with the free QelviQ app — the tabletop chiller relies on a database of more than 350,000 wines to bring a bottle to its specific recommended serving temperature in as little as 20 minutes. It also suggests food-wine and wine-food pairings. Plus, the appliance serves as a great icebreaker to inspire dinnertime conversation. Available in Exciting Red, Dashing Black and Dreamy White. $495. Casting light on the grill after dark Grilling food after dark — and ascertaining its doneness — can prove challenging without outdoor lighting, and it’s nearly impossible to cook while holding a flashlight. But as is often the case, the simplest of solutions can make the biggest of impacts: Uncommon Good’s 2-piece LED Grilling Tool Set puts illumination into the handles of its stainless-steel spatula and tongs. After use, the lights can be removed and the utensils run through the dishwasher. $40.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — In an era of rising authoritarianism, at the heels of a six-hour martial law decree that unfolded while many South Koreans slept, something noteworthy happened: Democracy held. The past week in Seoul, officials and academics warn, is what a threat to democracy looks like in 2024. It's a democratically-elected president declaring martial law over the nation he leads, asserting sweeping powers to prevent opposition demonstrations, ban political parties and control the media. It's members of the military attempting to block lawmakers from exercising their power to vote on cancelling the power grab. And here's what it took to defeat President Yoon Suk Yeol 's lurch toward government by force: Unified popular support for democracy. Legislators storming the National Assembly past midnight, live-streaming themselves climbing over fences. A politician grabbing at a soldier's rifle and yelling “Aren't you ashamed?” until he retreated. And finally, decisively, Parliament assembling a quorum and voting unanimously to cancel martial law. It was a victory for a hard-won democracy — and for the idea that checks and balances among branches of government must work to counteract each other's ambitions, as the American founders wrote in the Federalist Papers in 1788. But as the drama played out in Seoul, the scaffolding of democracy rattled around the world. In other countries, the grab for power might have worked. Other would-be authoritarians might have been better prepared than Yoon. In deeply polarized societies — the United States, for example, where Republicans are staunchly loyal to president-elect Donald Trump — there might not have been decisive support from the public or the opposition. The military might have used force. And the members of the legislature might not have voted as one to snuff out the attempted takeover. “President Yoon's attempt to declare martial law reveals the fragility of the rule of law in divided societies, especially those with governments in which the chief executive cannot be easily dismissed by the legislature," said Tom Pepinsky, a government professor at Cornell University who studies backsliding among democracies in Southeast Asia. Notably, he said in an email, “No members of President Yoon’s own party were willing to defend his actions in public." Nevertheless, Yoon’s surprise attempt to impose martial law revealed both the fragility and resilience of the country’s democratic system. Within three hours of his stunning announcement to impose military rule — claiming the opposition was “paralyzing” state affairs — 190 lawmakers voted to cancel his actions. In so doing, they demonstrated the strength of the country’s democratic checks and balances. Yoon’s authoritarian push, carried out by hundreds of heavily armed troops with Blackhawk helicopters and armored vehicles sent to the National Assembly, harked back to an era of dictatorial presidents. The country’s democratic transition in the late 1980s came after years of massive protests by millions that eventually overcame violent suppressions by military rulers. Civilian presence was again crucial in shaping the events following Yoon’s late night television announcement on Tuesday. Thousands of people flocked to the National Assembly, shouting slogans for martial law to be lifted and Yoon to step down from power. There were no reports of violent clashes as troops and police officers. “We restored democracy without having a single casualty this time,” said Seol Dong-hoon, a sociology professor at South Korea’s Jeonbuk National University. It’s virtually impossible for any leader of a democracy to pull off a transition toward martial law without a public willing to support it, or at least tolerate it. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, attracted millions of views as he began live-streaming his journey to the National Assembly, pleading for people to converge to the parliament to help lawmakers get inside. The shaky footage later shows him exiting his car climbing over a fence to get onto the grounds. The vote at the National Assembly was also broadcast live on the YouTube channel of Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik, who also had to scale a fence to get in. Yoon’s sense of crisis clearly wasn’t shared by the public, whose opinions, Seol said, were shaped predominantly by the shocking videos broadcast to their devices. “Ultimately, democracy is all about moving public opinion,” he said. “What was most crucial in this case was that everything was broadcast live on smartphones, YouTube and countless other media.” Opposition lawmakers are now pushing to remove Yoon from office, saying he failed to meet the constitutional requirement that martial law should only be considered in wartime or a comparable severe crisis — and that he unlawfully deployed troops to the National Assembly. On Saturday, an opposition-led impeachment motion failed after most lawmakers from Yoon’s party boycotted the vote. Yet the president’s troubles persist: The vote’s defeat is expected to intensify nationwide protests and deepen South Korea’s political turmoil, with opposition parties preparing to introduce another impeachment motion when parliament reconvenes next Wednesday. Han Sang-hie, a law professor at Seoul’s Konkuk University, said the martial law debacle highlights what he sees as the most crucial flaw of South Korea’s democracy: that it places too much power in the hands of the president, which is easily abused and often goes unchecked. Political scientists call what happened in South Korea an “autogolpe” — a “self-coup” — defined as one led by incumbent leaders themselves, in which an executive takes or sponsors illegal actions against others in the government. Yoon qualifies because he used troops to try to shut down South Korea's legislature. Self-coups are increasing, with a third of the 46 since 1945 occurring in the past decade, according to a study by researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Penn State University. About 80% of self-coups succeed, they reported. In 2021, a power grab by Tunisian President Kais Saied raised similar concerns around the world after the country designed a democracy from scratch and won a Nobel Peace Prize after a largely bloodless revolution. In the United States, some have expresed worry about similar situations arising during the second administration of Donald Trump. He has vowed, after all, to shake some of democracy's pillars . He's mused that he would be justified if he decided to pursue “the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution.” That’s in contrast to the oath of office he took in 2017, and will again next year, to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution” as best he can. Nearly half of voters in the Nov. 5 election, which Trump won, said they were “very concerned” that another Trump presidency would bring the U.S. closer to authoritarianism, according to AP Votecast survey data. Asked before a live audience on Fox News Channel in 2023 to assure Americans that he would not abuse power or use the presidency to seek retribution against anyone, Trump replied, “except for day one," when he'll close the border and “drill, drill, drill.” After that, Trump said, "I'm not a dictator.” Kellman reported from London.Federal Government on Tuesday unveiled plans to boost the country’s economy by N33 trillion through the unbundling of the livestock sector. The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha disclosed this in Abuja during a hearing held at the instance of House Committee on Livestock, chaired by Hon Wale Raji. Maiha said that once unbundled the sector has the potential to attract a lot of foreign and local capital investment into the country, adding that several Nigerian businessmen have already indicated interest to go into ranching farming and dairy production. He, therefore, urged all 36 State Governments to create dedicated Ministries of Livestock for a more seamless relationship with the Federal Government. “At the moment we are taking stock of those State Governments that have external Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries. For State Governments that have not created, they should give it effect and have a standing Ministry for Livestock so there would be a seamless relationship between the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the State Ministries of Livestock as the case may be. “This sector is worth about N33 trillion once unbundled. Once unbundled we have a huge opportunity to attract capital into the country as well as have a lot of ranchers. “At the moment we have a lot of requests from Nigerian businessmen who want to go into ranching and dairy activities. “So it is a question of settling down and unbundling this Ministry, giving it to into the formal sector so that it can be derisked and people will know that beyond what everybody has been saying before the creation of this Ministry, today there is a strong political support from the office of the President and then this Committee,” he said. The Minister who noted that the Ministry is still awaiting the White Paper on the report of the Presidential Committee which proposed the establishment of the Ministry, noted that the report contains what government’s set objectives. While noting that there’s no budgetary allocation for the newly established Ministry of Livestock, he disclosed that frantic efforts have been made to prepare the budget for the 2025 fiscal year. He specifically expressed excitement that the Ministry signed a $2.5 million Memorandum of Understanding with Brazilian firms during the G20 Summit held recently in Sao Paulo, Brazil. While noting that out of over 400 grading routes in the country, less than 150 have been captured by the Ministry of Agriculture, he unveiled the Ministry of Livestock’s plans to establish more cattle routes in addition to the existing ones, as well as s ensure the provision of adequate infrastructure within the facility. Speaking earlier, Chairman, House Committee on Livestock, Hon. Wale Raji, said the transformation of the livestock sector of the country holds a lot of opportunities for job creation and contributing to the economic growth and development of the country. He said the Committee understood the urgency the sector needs and promised to partner with the Ministry to ensure speedy implementation of the sector. He expressed confidence in the capacity of the Minister to deliver on his mandate. “The only regret is that the creation of the Ministry is coming this late. But our consolation is that it is better late than never. And with your wealth of experience as a technocrat and also a practising farmer, we do not doubt that we have a round peg in a round hole. “The whole essence would be towards the development and progress of the country,” he said. He, however, warned that the Committee will not compromise on its oversight function. ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE Get real-time news updates from Tribune Online! Follow us on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive stories and interviews, and much more. Join our WhatsApp Channel now
Calgary Flames (12-6-3, in the Pacific Division) vs. Ottawa Senators (8-11-1, in the Atlantic Division) Ottawa, Ontario; Monday, 7:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The Ottawa Senators host the Calgary Flames after the Flames defeated the Minnesota Wild 4-3 in a shootout. Ottawa has an 8-11-1 record overall and a 5-5-1 record in home games. The Senators are 3-4-1 in one-goal games. Calgary is 3-3-3 on the road and 12-6-3 overall. The Flames have gone 7-0-2 in games they have fewer penalties than their opponent. Monday's game is the first time these teams square off this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Tim Stutzle has nine goals and 15 assists for the Senators. Tyler Kleven has scored goals over the last 10 games. Rasmus Andersson has scored five goals with eight assists for the Flames. Matthew Coronato has over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Senators: 3-6-1, averaging 2.3 goals, 4.1 assists, five penalties and 11.7 penalty minutes while giving up three goals per game. Flames: 6-2-2, averaging 2.3 goals, 3.5 assists, 3.2 penalties and seven penalty minutes while giving up 2.1 goals per game. INJURIES: Senators: None listed. Flames: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar . The Associated Press
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Sharad Pawar BJP 's Maharashtra chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule took to social media on Sunday to hit back at Sharad Pawar . He alleged that Pawar was unable to digest the fact that it was Mahayuti 's ' Ladki Bahin ' scheme, not EVMs, that led to the defeat of his party in the assembly election. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .City's second-largest share sale rakes in $5.8bSouth Korea's democracy held after a 6-hour power play. What does it say for democracies elsewhere?
‘Wicked’ Stars Ariana Grande And Cynthia Erivo Are Both Plant-Based