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Is Enron back? If it’s a joke, some former employees aren’t laughingAP News Summary at 6:10 p.m. EST
President Joe Biden gave son Hunter an early Christmas present Dec. 1. He pardoned his boy for the two felonies he was convicted of earlier in the year. There was outrage among Republicans and some Democratic dissent as well. A somewhat hilarious denunciation came from Dinesh D’Souza, a conservative writer and filmmaker who has spread Trump conspiracy theories in his movies and elsewhere. When the pardon was announced, D’Souza mocked the President on X: “No one is above the law – except my son Hunter!” As Travis McGee once explained, the problem with liars and living with lies is that it requires a solid memory. D’Souza himself was pardoned by Trump in 2018 for campaign finance law violations that he pled guilty to in 2014. “Oops! Pardon me.” Normally, I would oppose the Biden pardon. But, considering that a vengeance-obsessed Donald Trump promises to use the Justice Department to punish enemies, I think the President wise to remove his son from federal jurisdiction. In fact, NBC reported Dec. 2 that, “President Biden is being encouraged to consider pardoning the likely targets of Trump’s wrath to disrupt corrupt prosecutions in advance.” Trump, too, pardoned those close to him before leaving office, including Paul Manafort (bank and tax fraud, etc.), his former campaign manager, and Trump’s friend and political adviser Roger Stone (lying to Congress about Russian interference in the 2016 campaign). Still, President Biden might not be alone in sharing a holiday table with a pardoned felon since another December, 2020, beneficiary of a Trump pardon was Charles Kushner, whom Trump has nominated to serve as French ambassador. He is father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner – he of the $2 billion “loan” from the Saudis. The elder Kushner had pled guilty to tax evasion, illegal campaign contribution and witness tampering along will 15 other charges. Those felonies represent high qualifications for a Trump appointee. According to CBS News, when “Charles Kushner discovered his brother-in-law was cooperating with federal authorities in an investigation, he hatched a scheme for revenge and intimidation. “Kushner hired a prostitute to lure his brother-in-law, then arranged to have the encounter in a New Jersey motel room recorded with a hidden camera and the recording sent to his own sister, the man’s wife, prosecutors said.” That sounds about as sleazy as stalking teen beauty contestants’ dressing rooms. Next stop Paris. During the past campaign, Trump promised blanket pardons for the hooligan army he sicced on the Capitol Jan. 6, 2021, in his failed coup attempt. His transition team has said the pardons will be on a “case by case,” basis – which in Trump-speak might depend upon the size of a “contribution” an insurrectionist can provide. Such pay-for-pardon allegations arose in 2021. And, is their the possibility that Trump might pardon the woman who introduced him to his wife? That woman is Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence after being found guilty of sex trafficking minors for her part in Jeffery Epstein’s sex ring. At the turn of the century, Epstein – who “committed suicide” in jail in 2019 – and Trump were seen often in each other’s company. In fact, the relationship was more than casual. In November of 1997, Britain’s Sunday Mirror reported: “Just weeks after ditching his second wife, America’s best-known billionaire Donald Trump has fallen under the spell of a 20-year-old English girl.” The girl the 50-year-old Trump met was London model Anouska De Georgious. The newspaper’s gee-whiz account of their romance continues: “After their meeting, Trump flew Madam (apt word choice?) Maxwell and the model south to the sunshine state, where all three enjoyed a happy weekend together. When they returned to New York, Anouska was installed in one of Donald’s many apartments there.” De Georgious has been one of the most outspoken victims of the Epstein/Maxwell procurement ring, telling a court in 2019: “Jeffrey Epstein manipulated me, coerced me and abused me. He cannot begin to fathom what he did to us.” In 2002, Trump told New York Magazine: “I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.” Well, some might say a 50-year-old romancing a 20-year-old might indicate a preference for younger women, too. Trump is 24 years older than Melania, who was introduced to him by Maxwell at a party he was attending with another Maxwell-arranged date. So, is their matchmaker on Trump’s future pardon list? Gary Edmondson is chair of the Stephens County Democratic Party and former Managing Editor of The Item.FBI investigating ‘numerous bomb threats’ against Trump administration nominees
HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company’s collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered $60 billion in Enron stock worthless. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four , including , were eventually convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Ken Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release that it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video that was full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” Enron’s new website features a company store, where various items featuring the brand’s tilted “E” logo are for sale, including a $118 hoodie. In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but that “We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company’s website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory that claims all birds are actually surveillance drones for the government. Peters said that since learning about the “relaunch” of Enron, she has spoken with several other former employees and they are also upset by it. She said the apparent stunt was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, who is 74 years old, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said.TNT Sports, in Collaboration with NBA 2K and Genius Sports, to Present NBA 2K25 DataCast Alternative Telecast on truTV & Max for 2024 Emirates NBA Cup Knockout Round CoverageAn elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron.
Expedia Group Inc. stock underperforms Wednesday when compared to competitors despite daily gainsHOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company’s collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered $60 billion in Enron stock worthless. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four , including , were eventually convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Ken Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release that it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video that was full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” Enron’s new website features a company store, where various items featuring the brand’s tilted “E” logo are for sale, including a $118 hoodie. In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but that “We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company’s website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory that claims all birds are actually surveillance drones for the government. Peters said that since learning about the “relaunch” of Enron, she has spoken with several other former employees and they are also upset by it. She said the apparent stunt was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, who is 74 years old, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said.Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) began his reelection campaign this week, expressing confidence he'll return for a third term in the Senate in the purple state. The North Carolina lawmaker planned a campaign launch reception and fundraiser Wednesday evening in Washington, D.C., where at least 20 Republican senators will join him as he seeks to defend one of the most competitive seats of the 2026 election cycle. However, Tillis's past votes on key cultural matters, such as enshrining protections for gay marriage and immigration, led the North Carolina GOP to censure him, and he is likely to face a primary challenge. Tillis, though, has backed his record and remains confident that he will convince North Carolinians to stand by him. MEET THE NEW CONGRESS: THE HOUSE AND SENATE FRESHMEN ELECTED TO SERVE NEXT YEAR "I think we've got a good story to tell and results that I'm proud of," Tillis told the Washington Examiner. Political experts, though, warned that grassroots Republicans aren't going to easily roll over after spending years viewing Tillis with suspicion. "It's gonna be complicated even before we get (to a general election) because he's got to get through a primary first, and the so-called grassroots of the Republican Party has made it very clear that they plan to have a significant primary challenger to him, who that is we don't know," said Western Carolina professor Chris Cooper. Controversial Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R-NC) cast doubt on Tillis's reelection bid in multiple social media posts. "Thom is toast," Robinson wrote on X after asking his followers if Tillis should be the nominee. Robinson lost last month's gubernatorial election in the Tarheel State to Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein after media reports of his past comments on pornographic websites. "Mark Robinson is damaged goods, to say the least," said J. Miles Coleman, associate editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics. "But as far as primary challenges, I wouldn't rule anything out, per se." Lara Trump, President-elect Donald Trump's daughter-in-law, is among one of the contenders who could challenge Tillis in the primary. However, she has also been seen as a leading contender for Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) to tap to replace Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), who will likely get confirmed as the president-elect's secretary of state. "If she were to get Rubio's seat, I think Tom Tillis is going to breathe a little bit of a sigh of relief because that would have been a primary challenge that would have been extraordinarily difficult to go against," said Cooper. A poll from Victory Insights showed Lara Trump beating Tillis in a GOP primary 65% to 11%, with 25% undecided. Tillis's first two Senate campaigns saw him win by less than two points. He won by just 1.8 points in 2020 and 1.7 points in 2014. His third campaign is expected to be just as close. Should he survive a primary challenge, he could still face an even tougher battle if popular Gov. Roy Cooper (D-NC) decided to run for the Senate. Cooper has not announced a Senate run, but he told a local reporter last week, "I love public service. I want to keep helping North Carolina and our country. I haven't made that decision yet, but it's on the table." The Victory Insights poll also showed in a head-to-head matchup between the two men, Cooper narrowly leads 45.1% to Tillis's 44.1%, and 11% are undecided. WHAT MAGA AND THE GOP WILL LOOK LIKE IN A POST-TRUMP ERA Coleman said Donald Trump's endorsement of Tillis would essentially end a primary challenge. "I think that would basically make him hard to beat," he said. "Sen. Tillis can just about guarantee his primary victory by once again earning Trump's endorsement, as he did early in the 2020 primary," added David Capen, president of Capen Consulting. However, "securing that endorsement may hinge on his votes for Trump’s Cabinet nominations." The North Carolina senior senator appeared confident that Donald Trump would eventually back him. "President Trump endorsed me in ‘20 I would expect he'll endorse me again. I hope that he does," Tillis said. The Trump team did not respond to a request for comment on whether the president-elect backs the senator. With certain Republicans itching to remove Tillis, much attention will be focused on whether he votes to confirm Donald Trump's Senate nominees, including the embattled Pete Hegseth, who is up for defense secretary. "I voted for every single Trump nominee in the prior administration," Tillis said in reference to past support for Donald Trump. "I've got a great relationship with the transition team, and President Trump knows where I want things that matter most to him, and so I feel like I'll continue to enjoy a great relationship." Tillis quipped that the only thing that keeps him up at night is "caffeine" rather than worry about a primary challenge or pressure to vote to confirm the president-elect's nominees. After losing key Senate races in Pennsylvania, Montana, and West Virginia, a Democratic path to flipping control of the Senate includes winning North Carolina, one of the top battleground states of the presidential election. The math favors the GOP even though the party is defending 22 seats. Out of those 22 seats, only one seat, currently held by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), is in a state that Donald Trump didn't win in 2024. Democrats would need to win Tillis's seat, along with Collins's and other races in Ohio, Texas, Iowa, Florida, and Alaska, in order to flip the Senate. The state and national Democratic Party will likely invest millions of dollars in the Senate race, given North Carolina's status as a consistent purple state. Other vulnerable senators up for reelection include Sens. Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Collins, and Bill Cassidy (R-LA). DEMOCRATS WEIGH CHANGE IN STRATEGY TO AVOID MIDTERM AND 2028 DEFEATS Cooper, the North Carolina professor, warned, "If Tillis [is] too far right and too far pro-Trump, that might help him in the primary, but it might hurt him in the general." "He's really in a tough spot, and that every Pete Hegseth-like vote can cut both ways," he added. However, Coleman suggested that after a spring primary, "he does have some time there to sort of work on maybe appealing to voters in the middle" before the November election. Marisa Schultz contributed to this report.
Liverpool’s win over Real Madrid proves Arne Slot is now just showing offStock market today: Wall Street hits more records following a just-right jobs report
News junkies will find much to love in “September 5,” a fictionalized account of ABC’s live coverage of the hostage crisis during the 1972 Munich Olympics. There are spirited debates about reporting with only one source, use of words like “terrorism” and what to do if violence breaks out during a live shot. There are negotiations with rival networks over satellite usage, disguises and fake badges made to get reels of 16mm film in and out of the locked down Olympic village and plenty of confused men (and a few women) trying to keep up with an ever-escalating situation. The film is a moment by moment retelling of how a group of sports broadcasters brought this story to the world in real time, despite the technical limitations and their own inexperience across a confusing 22 hours. Everyone came to the studio that night ready for breaking sports news, scores and pre-packaged interviews. Even that was going to be a test for the man running the control room for the first time. Geoffrey Mason, portrayed by , was a 28-year-old coordinating producer. Someone wonders about his experience and is assured that he’s covered minor league baseball games. But in the early hours of , eight members of a Palestinian group called Black September broke into the Olympic village and attacked the Israeli delegation killing wrestling coach Moshe Weinberg and weightlifter Yossi Romano. Some escaped, but nine others were taken hostage. While the tragedy of the Munich Olympics has certainly been told many times, writer and director Tim Fehlbaum saw an opportunity in the team behind the live broadcast. And he commits fully to staying in the newsroom, with all of its glorious old technologies, from the walkie-talkies they used to stay in touch and to taking time to show how they had to manually add text to the screens. He and his screenwriter were able to reconstruct the events almost minute-by-minute, which helped shape the screenplay. The players are many in this large ensemble. , who’s looked right in a newsroom since “Shattered Glass,” gives gravitas to Roone Arledge, then-president of ABC Sports, and Ben Chaplin is operations engineer Marvin Bader. Leonie Benesch is Marianne Gebhardt, a German-speaking interpreter who is the only person there able to understand the language of the country. She might be a bit of a composite who checks off a lot of boxes as both an entrepreneurial woman and a younger German offering perspective and insight into what this moment might mean for the country trying to put on a good front in the aftermath of World War II. An actor (Benjamin Walker) plays broadcaster Peter Jennings, and real archival footage of anchor Jim McKay from that day is used in the film. And while they all rise to the occasion, mistakes are made – including a rather big one at the end, following imperfect secondhand information from the Fuerstenfeldbruck airfield. They don’t call it the first draft of history for nothing, after all, and it may be illuminating for audiences to see how it’s handled. The film looks of its time, but it also feels fairly modern in its sensibilities which makes it always seem more like a re-telling than an in-the-moment experience. This may be to its detriment, yet it’s still an undeniably riveting and compelling watch. The word thrilling doesn’t seem appropriate, however. This is not “Apollo 13” after all. The end is not a happy one. But at time when trust in the media is in crisis, this film is a great humanizer, reminding audiences that the media is far from a monolith, but a group of individuals under immense pressure to get the story right, get the story out and go back and do it again the next day. “September 5,” a Paramount Pictures release in theaters Friday, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for language. Running time: 94. Three stars out of four.CHANCELLOR Rachel Reeves has admitted her £25billion Budget tax raid will not be easy for businesses to absorb. She also said charities and local councils will suffer under her National Insurance Contributions increase. It came as she refused to repeat in the Commons yesterday a promise she made at a CBI speech not to raise taxes again in this Parliament. She told the Yorkshire Post: “I’m not going to pretend that it’s going to be easy for businesses , or indeed for charities or local authorities, to absorb, especially, the national insurance increase. “But we made a commitment during the general election, for a reason, that we wouldn’t increase taxes on working people, because over the last few years it has been working people that have had to bear the brunt of tax increases. “And so we said income tax , VAT and national insurance on employees would not go up, and we have managed to stick to that manifesto commitment, as well as freezing the fuel duty for another year. READ MORE ON RACHEL REEVES “That has meant we have had to increase taxes , particularly national insurance, but also some of the taxes on the wealthiest in society.” Shadow Treasury Minister Richard Fuller last night said: “ Rachel Reeves is again undermining business confidence. “She told the CBI last week ‘there would be no more borrowing, and no more taxes’. “Days later the Business Secretary and then the Prime Minister refused to stand by what she said. Now even she cannot repeat her own words. Most read in The Sun “How can businesses be expected to create jobs, growth and wealth in the economy when the government offers neither stability or credibility?”
Pure Storage Stock Soars 25% After Data Player Beats On Earnings, Touts Hyperscaler Cloud WinGumla: Claiming that the JSSC’s combined graduate level examinations were not conducted in a transparent manner, hundreds of aspirants hit the streets of Gumla in protests against the state govt on Wednesday. Female aspirants said they would rather prefer govt jobs than the state govt’s monthly stipend under the Maiya Samman Yojana. The students are now criticising the govt for failing to address their concerns, pointing at JSSC's inability to conduct competitive examinations with transparency and fairness, unlike other states. Their protests, initially directed at the JSSC, have now openly shifted towards the state's leadership. Candidates Shikha Priya and Sonu Kumar said, “The govt is playing with the future of students. There has been scam in JSSC-CGL examination.” The protestors have issued warnings about surrounding the Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha if their demands to nullify the JSSC-CGL examination were not fulfilled. We also published the following articles recently JSSC-CGL aspirants protest against state govt in Gumla Hundreds of aspirants protested in Gumla against the Jharkhand government, alleging a lack of transparency in the JSSC's combined graduate level exams. Female protestors prioritized government jobs over the Maiya Samman Yojana stipend. Initially targeting the JSSC, the protests now directly criticize Chief Minister Hemant Soren, with protestors threatening to surround the Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha if the exam isn't nullified. Ex-min denies sons selection in JSSC CGL examination Former Jharkhand minister Satyanand Bhokta has denied social media allegations that his sons were unfairly given government jobs through the JSSC CGL exam. Bhokta clarified that one son didn't take the exam, while the other sat for it but wasn't selected. He threatened legal action against those spreading the rumors, which surfaced after his daughter-in-law's electoral defeat. JSSC CGL result 2023 released at jssc.nic.in: Steps to download PDF and other details here The Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) has declared the results for the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) exam 2023. 2,231 candidates are shortlisted for document verification, scheduled from December 16-20, 2024, for 2,025 available positions. A second verification window is open December 26-27 for those with valid reasons for missing the initial dates. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .
WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Christopher Wray told bureau workers Wednesday that he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January, an announcement that came a week and a half after President-elect Donald Trump said he would nominate loyalist Kash Patel for the job. Wray said at a town hall meeting that he would be stepping down “after weeks of careful thought,” roughly three years short of the completion of a 10-year term during which he tried to keep the FBI out of politics even as the bureau found itself entangled in a string of explosive investigations, including two that led to separate indictments of Trump last year as well as inquiries into Biden and his son. “My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day,” Wray told agency employees. “In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.” The intended resignation was not unexpected considering that Trump had settled on Patel to be director and had repeatedly aired his ire at Wray, whom he appointed during his first term. But his departure is nonetheless a reflection of how Trump’s norm-breaking style has reshaped Washington, with the president-elect yet again flouting tradition by moving to replace an FBI director well before his term was up. “It should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway — this is not easy for me,” Wray said. “I love this place, I love our mission, and I love our people — but my focus is, and always has been, on us and doing what’s right for the FBI.” Wray received a standing ovation following his remarks before a standing-room-only crowd at FBI headquarters and some in the audience cried, according to an FBI official who was not authorized to discuss the private gathering by name and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press. Trump applauded the news on social media, calling it “a great day for America as it will end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice” and saying that Patel’s confirmation will begin “the process of Making the FBI Great Again.” If confirmed by the Senate, Patel would herald a radical leadership transformation at the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency. He has advocated shutting down the FBI’s Washington headquarters and called for ridding the federal government of “conspirators,” raising alarms that he might seek to wield the FBI’s significant investigative powers as an instrument of retribution against Trump’s perceived enemies. Patel said in a statement Wednesday that he was looking forward to “a smooth transition. I will be ready to serve the American people on day one.” It’s extremely rare for FBI directors to be ousted from their jobs before the completion of their 10-year terms, a length meant to insulate the agency from the political influence of changing administrations. But Trump has done it twice, placing Wray in the job in 2017 after firing Director James Comey amid an investigation into ties between Russia and the Republican president’s campaign. Despite having appointed Wray, Trump had telegraphed his anger with the FBI director on multiple occasions throughout the years, including as recently as the past week. In an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday, Trump said, “I can’t say I’m thrilled with him. He invaded my home,” a reference to the FBI search of his Florida property , Mar-a-Lago, two years ago for classified documents from Trump’s first term as president. That search, and the recovery of boxes of sensitive government records, paved the way for one of two federal indictments against Trump. The case, and another one charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 election, have both been dismissed by the Justice Department special counsel that brought them in light of Trump’s November victory. Attorney General Merrick Garland praised Wray for having “served our country honorably and with integrity for decades.” He said: “Under Director Wray’s principled leadership, the FBI has worked to fulfill the Justice Department’s mission to keep our country safe, protect civil rights, and uphold the rule of law.” Natalie Bara, the president of the FBI Agents Association, said in a statement that Wray had led the FBI “through challenging times with a steady focus on doing the work that keeps our country safe. ” Throughout his seven years on the job, the self-professed “low-key, understated” Wray brought a workmanlike approach to the job, repeatedly preaching a “keep calm and tackle hard” mantra to bureau personnel despite a steady drumbeat of attacks from Trump and his supporters. He also sought to avoid public conflict when possible with the Trump White House, distancing himself and his leadership team from the FBI’s Russia investigation over errors that took place before he took office and announcing dozens of corrective actions meant to prevent the recurrence of the surveillance abuses that plagued the inquiry. But there were other instances when he memorably broke from Trump — he did not agree, for instance, with Trump’s characterization of the Russia investigation as a “witch hunt.” He made known his displeasure when the White House blessed the declassification of materials related to the surveillance of a former Trump campaign aide and contradicted a Trump talking point by stating that Ukraine had not interfered in the 2016 election. He repeatedly sought to keep the focus on the FBI’s day-to-day work, using the bulk of his resignation announcement to praise the bureau’s efforts in countering everything from violent crime and cyberattacks to Chinese espionage and terrorism. Yet as he leaves office at a time of heightened threats , much of the public focus has been on the politically sensitive investigations of his tenure. Besides the inquiries into Trump, the FBI in recent years also investigated Biden’s handling of classified information as well as Biden’s son Hunter for tax and gun violations. Hunter Biden was pardoned by his father last week. A particular flashpoint came in August 2022, when FBI agents searched Mar-a-Lago — an action officials defended as necessary given the boxes of documents that were being concealed at the Palm Beach property and the evidence of obstruction that the Justice Department said had been gathered. Trump railed against the FBI over that search and has kept up his criticism ever since. Trump was angered by Wray’s comment at a congressional hearing that there was “some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel” that struck Trump’s ear during an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in July. The FBI later stated unequivocally that it was indeed a bullet. Before being named FBI director, Wray worked at a prestigious law firm, King & Spalding, where he represented former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie during the “Bridgegate” scandal. He also led the Justice Department’s criminal division for a period during President George W. Bush’s administration.
Mbappe misses penalty as Liverpool exact revenge on Real MadridTrump isn't back in office but he's already pushing his agenda and negotiating with world leadersSKorea arrests ex-defence minister over martial law
Staying Young at Heart, Striving for Excellence:An Interview with Professor Zhang Wujun at Kinghelm 12-11-2024 11:34 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: ABNewswire Image: https://www.kinghelm.net/Data/bds666/upload/image/20241211/6386952767221199568561579.png Professor Zhang Wujiun "Maintain a youthful, learning mindset, and continue contributing to society with joy," says Dr. Zhang Wujun, an expert in "Telecommunications Electronics and Informatization" in Shenzhen and an electronic technology advisor for Kinghelm [ http://www.kinghelm.net ]. This principle has been his constant source of energy and brilliance. Dr. Zhang believes that the attitude of lifelong learning is crucial-one should learn as long as they live. In the fast-evolving electronics and information industry, Kinghelm is committed to building a learning organization to enhance its core competitiveness. This includes weekly targeted internal training, external learning opportunities, and a wealth of information integrated on the websites of Kinghelm ( www.kinghelm.n [ http://www.kinghelm.net/]et ) and Slkor Micro ( www.slkoric.com [ http://www.slkoric.com/ ]). The goal is to transform these websites into a platform for cross-cultural communication and collaboration, facilitating academic exchanges and the sharing of ideas, while connecting global customers and fostering diverse perspectives. Image: https://www.kinghelm.net/Data/bds666/upload/image/20241211/6386952767837554594880226.png Professor Zhang Wujiun at the headquarters of Kinghelm and SLKOR Dr. Zhang, a graduate of the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, is part of an elite advisory team that includes experts such as Dr. Li Jianxiong from Tsinghua University and Dr. Ni, a former Huawei prodigy. Together, they work closely with Kinghelm's R&D team to support the company's rapid development. Image: https://www.kinghelm.net/Data/bds666/upload/image/20241211/6386952768661489403328065.png "Knowledge changes destiny, expands the depth and breadth of life, and can even delay aging. It's like the saying 'The hinge never rusts,'" says Dr. Zhang. He holds degrees from the University of Electronic Science and Technology and Northwestern Polytechnical University and has worked with notable institutions such as the 20th Research Institute of the Ministry of Electronics, Shenzhen Zhonghang, Seg, and Huawei Group. He later founded Koyutai Technology Co., Ltd., and has served as an advisor to both the Shenzhen Chip Industry Association and Kinghelm. His publications, including forward-looking articles like Electronic Charts: Current Status and Future and Performance Analysis of Leaky Cables , have been featured in national journals and won awards. Image: https://www.kinghelm.net/Data/bds666/upload/image/20241211/6386952769399983245820419.png Professor Chen Xingen, who is Professor Zhang Wujiun's supervisor Dr. Zhang believes there are three core functions of a business: providing products or services to society, creating jobs, and being a school that nurtures talent. He praises Kinghelm and Slkor Micro for their contributions to the nation's employment efforts, helping many young individuals transition from school to professional roles. "Corporate competition is a competition for talent," he says. "The culture of a company reflects the culture of its managers." Image: https://www.kinghelm.net/Data/bds666/upload/image/20241211/6386952770070987247468489.png Professor Pu Xianjun presents textbooks to Professor Zhang Wujun in gratitude. Mr. Song Shiqiang, General Manager of Kinghelm, highlights the powerful technical advisory team behind the company, which includes Dr.s and experts from Tsinghua University, Peking University, the University of Electronic Science and Technology, and Northwestern Polytechnical University. Their deep theoretical knowledge and rich practical experience, combined with Kinghelm's robust knowledge engineering system, have enabled the company to continue thriving. Image: https://www.kinghelm.net/Data/bds666/upload/image/20241211/6386952770382602762256528.png Professor Zhang Wujiun's photography At Kinghelm, knowledge is seen as the primary driver of productivity, and this focus has contributed to a revenue growth of over 100% for two consecutive years. The company's internal culture emphasizes respect for knowledge, talent, and creativity. Mr. Song is deeply grateful for Dr. Zhang's dedication, which has contributed significantly to the company's R&D of new materials, technologies, and products. Image: https://www.kinghelm.net/Data/bds666/upload/image/20241211/6386952771258706819263036.png Professor Zhang Wujun showcases the Kinghelm brand on TikTok. Dr. Zhang is not only knowledgeable and rigorous in his work but also humble and socially aware. Despite his busy professional life, he enjoys gardening, hiking, and advocating for a sustainable, minimalist lifestyle. He also devotes time to public welfare, offering support to those in need, providing work transition assistance, and resolving technical challenges for other companies. Image: https://www.kinghelm.net/Data/bds666/upload/image/20241211/6386952771672237755994001.png Professor Zhang Wujiun with the Kinghelm's sales team He also instills strong values in his family, teaching his children to love their country, party, and family. Though he never studied abroad, he mastered English and now regularly uses it to communicate with global audiences, recommending Kinghelm products and contributing to the national effort to strengthen the domestic technology sector. Image: https://www.kinghelm.net/Data/bds666/upload/image/20241211/6386952772180162377112292.png Professor Zhang Wujun mentoring the next generation of sales at Kinghelm. Dr. Zhang has high expectations for the younger generation and often provides training for Kinghelm's team, covering topics such as component knowledge, RF and microwave technologies, and 5G communication applications. He offers invaluable advice to the youth, such as: 1. Long-term Commitment and Resilience: Try different roles to gain experience and find your main career path, then commit to it for the long term. 2. Contribute to Society, Business, and Family: It's important to focus on the bigger picture, contribute to society, and develop soft skills like integrity and reputation. 3. Continuous Learning and Growth: Take on challenges, seek opportunities to lead, and build the skills necessary to become a pillar of support in your field. 4. Push Yourself: Don't expect miracles in comfort-hardship brings out the best in you. 5. Be Kind: Good things will come when you focus on helping others and giving without expecting anything in return. Image: https://www.kinghelm.net/Data/bds666/upload/image/20241211/6386952772611879035128871.png Professor Zhang Wujun providing guidance to the new generation at Kinghelm. Dr. Zhang's journey has been marked by smooth success, driven by a selfless spirit of helping others and accumulating positive energy along the way. His unwavering belief in the importance of intention has been key to his success. Image: https://www.kinghelm.net/Data/bds666/upload/image/20241211/6386952772986810784274517.png Kinghelm's alternative solutions [ https://www.kinghelm.net/products.html ] Media Contact Company Name: Shenzhen Kinghelm Electronics Co., Ltd. Contact Person: Support Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=staying-young-at-heart-striving-for-excellencean-interview-with-professor-zhang-wujun-at-kinghelm ] Phone: +86 0755-83975897 Address:2010, Block A, Bairuida Building Vanke City Community Bantian Avenue, Longgang District City: Shenzhen Country: China Website: http://www.kinghelm.net This release was published on openPR.BETHESDA, Md. , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT ) today announced its board of directors has elected Admiral John C. Aquilino , former commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, to the board, effective today. "Admiral Aquilino's service to the nation and extensive experience in complex, global operations, including in the Indo-Pacific, will bring valuable insight to the board," said Lockheed Martin Chairman, President and CEO Jim Taiclet. "His perspective as a leader and warfighter will enhance board oversight. We look forward to working with him as we continue to advance our 21st Century Security ® strategy to strengthen deterrence and create a more advanced, resilient and collaborative defense industrial base." Aquilino served as the 26th commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, responsible for all U.S. military activities in the Indo-Pacific, from 2021 until his retirement as a four-star admiral in July 2024 . His previous assignments include serving as the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, the Commander of the U.S. Fifth Fleet and Naval Forces Central Command, and the Commander of Carrier Strike Group 2. Commissioned in 1984 following graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy , Aquilino has served as a fighter pilot in every geographic combatant command and participated in nearly every major military operation after his commissioning, including Operations Deliberate Force, Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and Inherent Resolve. He is also a graduate of the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), Joint Forces Staff College and Harvard Kennedy School's executive education program in national and international security. Aquilino is considered an independent director under applicable rules and regulations and will serve on the Classified Business and Security Committee. About Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security ® vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at LockheedMartin.com . SOURCE Lockheed Martin
Dodgers shortstop Jose Hernandez suspended for 2025 ACL season under minor league drug program
NEW YORK, Dec. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Winnebago Industries, Inc. (NYSE: WGO) resulting from allegations that Winnebago may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. If you invested in Winnebago securities, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting https://rosenlegal.com/case/winnebago-industries-inc/ . Why Did Winnebago Industries’ Stock Drop? On September 23, 2024, during market hours, Hunterbrook Media published an article called “‘Grand Deception’- Winnebago Muzzles Outcry Over Major Problem That Owners Say Makes RVs Dangerous, Untowable, Worthless.” In this article, Hunterbrook said Winnebago’s “best-selling Grand Design RVs” appear to be “experiencing frame failure, potentially affecting thousands of units sold for more than a billion dollars. This defect has led to costly damage and potential safety hazards, and rendered some RVs unroadworthy.” Further, the article stated “Winnebago has used NDAs, buybacks, and online censorship to silence complaints about frame failure[.]” On this news, Winnebago’s stock fell $1.35 per share, or 2.28%, to close at $57.76 per share on September 23, 2024. Click here for more information: https://rosenlegal.com/case/winnebago-industries-inc/ . What Can You Do? If you invested in Winnebago Industries, 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://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=29071 . Why Rosen Law Firm? We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. For more information about Rosen Law and its attorneys, please visit https://rosenlegal.com/ . Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. ------------------------------- Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.comWell, things were bound to get increasingly messy on the way to resolution, weren’t they? After regrouping at Williams’s flat in the previous episode, everyone now has to flee from a massive gunfight with the Clarks, who are still after Kai-Ming and that ever-elusive pinhole camera. At the end of episode four , Sam and Helen realized that they were not delivering Cole to an anonymous life of fabulous wealth but to an uncertain fate at the hands of the Chinese government — which also wants answers about Ambassador Chen’s death, as well as that camera and footage — and have to make a literal run for it after they get stuck in horrible traffic. Even Dani has a crummy night-to-day at the office, spectacularly misjudging the mark in her attempt to seduce Wallace and ultimately getting her ass kicked by Helen. Whew! In the middle of it all is poor, reasonable civilian Michael, trying to process Sam showing up at his door with half of London’s most wanted and would just like everyone to keep their voices down so as not to wake 4-year-old Ruby in the wee hours. Michael is easily the MVP of this episode. He shouldn’t have to be, and it’s monstrous that the reason he’s involved at all is that Sam made a hash of his assignment back in 2017. Still, without Michael and his willingness to hear Sam out, everyone else would be dead. The Clarks’ attack on Williams’s flat is about what Cole led us to expect; they rely on overwhelming firepower and ruthlessness, even when they’re just planning a run-of-the-mill home invasion, double homicide, and kidnapping. I salute Williams and Eleanor for managing as well as they do on their own until Sam shows up and manages to extract Williams. At least they had Eleanor’s mini rocket launcher to supplement their arsenal, and Kai-Ming’s sense of self-preservation got her to lie down in the bathtub. Sam is leaning into some heroics and acts of loyalty in this episode by racing upstairs to Williams’s flat, which is in flames when they arrive, and whisking an injured Williams out and into the taxi he commandeered earlier. This is a very ultimatum-intensive episode. The new Chinese ambassador insists on restitution for Chen’s death in the form of military contracts or blood. CIA station chief Porter demands the return of Cole Atwood, incorrectly assuming that he was removed from the Embassy by Chinese agents. The prime minister calls ... an as-yet unidentified someone, demanding the recording device. The Clarks demand the recording device from Helen and Sam, lest they kill Eleanor and Kai-Ming “in ways so absurdly cruel that the manner of their passing will haunt you ’til your own dying day.” This guy really loves a florid turn of phrase. Reed instructs Sam to kill Alex Clark (and to deliver Cole to her). I just want to point out here that the governments of three major world powers with very sophisticated and well-funded intelligence apparatus at their command have thrown up their hands in the quest for this bit of technology and are relying on the unpaid services of a handful of exhausted solo practitioners, most of whom aren’t even spies. Seems like a managerial skill issue to me! Fortunately for Helen, Sam, and Cole, they’re able to cobble together something resembling a plan. Cole gets to work trying to inform Trent that they know where Kai-Ming is. Once Trent shows up, they can draw his mother out into the open, too. Helen and Sam work on retracing Maggie and Phillip’s steps since they actually saw the footage and will have hidden it and/or the device somewhere safe. Or, they would work on that, but Helen has been summoned home by her nanny, Marie. In all the excitement, she lost track of time, Wallace is still at No. 10, and Marie has stayed well past the end of her usual hours. Work-life balance is a real bear in Helen’s line of work, and she and Wallace aren’t exactly crushing it on the work-emergencies front. What comes next is one of my favorite beats in the story, mostly because it’s a little ambiguous. Wallace turned Dani down quite firmly, but she’s gotten in his head a bit, too. He half-quotes her to Helen, musing out loud that he must disappoint her and that nobody ever knows 100 percent of another person’s inner feelings. Something shifts in his perception of her again when Agent Perryman drops by for a quick confirmation of Helen’s presence at the U.S. Embassy that evening. Perryman doesn’t seem to entertain even a whisper of the notion that she was there for any reason other than to have coffee with Vanessa, but a blend of confusion, suspicion, and maybe a teeny bit of admiration for Helen sweeps across his face. It’s the look of a man who has a big important job, whose wife takes care of all of the details that make their lives run smoothly, so he hasn’t had occasion to pay attention to them ’til just now, and now he realizes just how much he hasn’t seen because he hasn’t been looking for it. Rather than address the specifics of what’s making him wonder about Helen and all she gets up to, he goes for a more oblique angle, with an unexpectedly affecting declaration of love. He’s loved her since the day they met; he’s desperately grateful that she wants anything to do with him, particularly as he’s just a pretty uncomplicated guy who loves her and the life they’ve built together. His top priority is protecting that, fighting for them and her, because, as previously noted, he loves her. I don’t think Helen quite understood how profound Wallace’s love is ’til just now — he sees her . Whoever Helen is, the person she’s created out of this and that over the years, she’s who he loves. We know that’s a bit tenuous given how betrayed Wallace would likely feel if he knew she was a spy causing the leaks that the CIA station chief mentioned in their meeting with the prime minister. On a purely personal level, Wallace’s sense of betrayal would probably bear a close resemblance to Michael’s response to Sam showing up out of the blue in the previous episode. Maybe, like Michael, he’ll be able to excavate happy, untainted-by-treason-and-murder memories that keep alive the notion that a renewal of their former relationship is possible. Maybe, also like Michael, he’ll find himself more afraid of his partner than of the people who’ve come to kill him. Helen tells Sam that it didn’t faze Jason, so maybe the revelation that Helen steals state secrets and commits the occasional murder won’t be as troubling to Wallace as Helen imagines. Jason, who Reed has the gall to say might not be worth avenging, does Helen one more good turn from beyond the grave. The bracelet he gave her? It’s from the shop where Maggie Jones worked, and it’s where the recording device has been quietly waiting in the office safe. If Dani hadn’t shown up looking dreadfully smug, Helen could have gotten on with her morning and done her bit to prevent a war. Instead, we first get a knife-fight scene that’s got a whiff of Kill Bill about it and concludes with Helen finding she’d rather be magnanimous. Rather than garroting Dani with a double strand of pearls or cutting her to ribbons, she tells her vanquished rival, “I’m not going to kill you because I’m still Helen Webb, and Helen Webb doesn’t stab girls to death in jewelry stores on Christmas Eve.” A brave stance, which I hope will pay off in both the short and long terms! Helen’s review of the long-sought footage reveals quite a twist. After all the shootings and explosions we’ve seen, it turns out that Ambassador Chen’s death was just an accident and that the perpetrator isn’t a professional assassin or a covert operative, but “trust-fund-baby moron” Trent Clark. Panicked, Trent calls his mother for help, police commissioner Yarrick shows up, and that’s it. Everyone’s been assuming this weeklong bloodbath was being masterminded by one of those sophisticated intelligence apparatuses we were talking about earlier, but it’s all been the ripple effect of a failson doing what he does best (or worst, depending on your interpretation of events). • Williams gets two runners-up to the best line of the episode. She’s being weirdly lighthearted about having a gunshot wound, on the grounds that “I don’t like to make a fuss!” Her encouragement to pray to the nonreligious Kai-Ming, “maybe now’s a good time to have a chat with your man upstairs,” also had me in stitches. • Of course Reed turns out to be a Christmas girly; I should’ve known she’d have a fondness for studding oranges with cloves to make a pomander ball! • Officer Perryman is played by Adam Best, who graced screens recently as Joe Lynskey in a few episodes of Say Nothing . By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us.FBI Director Wray says he intends to resign before Trump takes office in January
Alabama A&M Football Player Medrick Burnett Dies After Head-On Collision During GameSafety Micah Hyde rejoins the Buffalo Bills after being signed to practice squad
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