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WEC Energy director Gale Klappa sells $4.4m in stock
Gun found on suspect in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO matches shell casings at scene, police say ALTOONA, Pa. (AP) — New York City’s police commissioner says the gun found on the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO matches shell casings found at the crime scene. Commissioner Jessica Tisch also said Wednesday that lab results matched suspect Luigi Mangione’s prints to a water bottle and a snack bar wrapper found near the scene of the killing. Police had said earlier that they believed the gunman bought the items at a nearby coffee shop while awaiting his target. Mangione is jailed in Pennsylvania on weapon and forgery charges, but he also has been charged in New York with murder in Brian Thompson's death. His lawyer has noted that Mangione is presumed innocent. Arguments over whether Luigi Mangione is a 'hero' offer a glimpse into an unusual American moment Memes and online posts in support of 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, who's charged with killing UnitedHealthcare's CEO, have mushroomed online. Some cast Mangione as a hero. That's too far, says Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a rising Democrat who was almost the Democratic vice presidential nominee this year. CEO Brian Thompson's death touched off off these ripples. They offer a glimpse into how so many different aspects of 21st-century life can be surreally connected, from public violence to politics, from health care to humor, or attempts at it. The Trump and Biden teams insist they're working hand in glove on foreign crises WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump doesn’t think much of Joe Biden’s foreign policy record. He frequently casts the outgoing Democratic president as a feckless leader who shredded American credibility around the world during his four-year term. But the Trump and Biden national security teams have come to an understanding that they have no choice but to work together as conflicts in Gaza, Syria and Ukraine have left a significant swath of the world on a knife’s edge. It’s fuzzy how much common ground Biden and Trump’s teams have found as they navigate crises that threaten to cause more global upheaval as Trump prepares to settle back into the White House. FBI Director Wray says he intends to resign at the end of Biden's term in January WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Christopher Wray says he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January. The announcement Wednesday comes a week and a half after President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate loyalist Kash Patel for the position. At a town hall meeting with bureau workers, Wray said he would be stepping down “after weeks of careful thought.” Wray had previously been named by Trump and began the 10-year term. a length meant to insulate the agency from the political influence of changing administrations — in 2017, after Trump fired then-FBI Director, James Comey. Syrians flock to morgues looking for loved ones who perished in Assad's prisons DAMASCUS (AP) — Many bodies have been found in Syrian detention centers and prisons since President Bashar al-Assad's government fell. Now Syrians around the world are circulating images of the corpses in hopes that they will see slain loved ones whose fate had been a mystery. At the morgue visited by The Associated Press on Wednesday in Damascus, families flocked to a wall where some of the pictures were pinned in a haunting gallery of the dead. Relatives desperately scanned the images for a recognizable face. Some of the prisoners died just weeks ago. Others perished months earlier. US warns Russia may be ready to use new lethal missile against Ukraine again in 'coming days' WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon says Russia could launch its lethal new intermediate-range ballistic missile against Ukraine again soon. Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh cited a U.S. intelligence assessment in telling reporters on Wednesday that an attack could come “in the coming days.” She says the U.S. does not consider the Oreshnik missile a game changer on the battlefield. But that Russia is using the weapon to intimidate Ukraine as both sides wrestle for an advantage that will give them leverage in any negotiations to end the war. The Russian Defense Ministry also is warning it may retaliate against Kyiv for an attack on a military base in the Rostov region in southern Russia on Wednesday. Israeli strikes on Gaza kill at least 33 including children, Palestinian medics say DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian medical officials say Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 33 people. One of the strikes hit a home where displaced people were sheltering in the isolated north, killing 19. A separate strike outside nearby Kamal Adwan Hospital killed a woman and her two children, and another strike in central Gaza killed at least seven people. Israel's military says it tries to avoid harming civilians and accuses militants of hiding among them, putting their lives in danger. Local health officials say Israel’s retaliatory offensive after the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023 has killed over 44,000 Palestinians in Gaza. Hannah Kobayashi, missing Hawaii woman whose disappearance prompted a massive search, is found safe LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hannah Kobayashi has been found safe. That’s according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Kobayashi vanished last month in Los Angeles. The missing Hawaii woman's disappearance prompted a massive search and a missing persons investigation. It was not immediately clear where she was found, but police previously said she had voluntarily crossed the border into Mexico. The LAPD said Wednesday the department will wrap up its investigation. Kobayashi's family reported her missing to law enforcement on Nov. 11 after relatives received “strange and cryptic, just alarming” text messages. Kobayashi’s mother and sister said they are “grateful” she has been found safe. Only about 2 in 10 Americans approve of Biden's pardon of his son Hunter, an AP-NORC poll finds WASHINGTON (AP) — Only about 2 in 10 Americans approve of President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter after earlier promising he'd do no such thing. That's according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The survey found that only a small share of Americans “strongly” or “somewhat” approve of the president's decision. About half “strongly” or “somewhat” disapprove of it, and about one-quarter said they neither approve nor disapprove. Nevertheless, about 4 in 10 Americans said they approve of the way Biden is handling his job as president. That's roughly where his approval rating has stood in AP-NORC polling since 2022. Malibu wildfire grows, thousands remain evacuated but firefighters get break from improving weather MALIBU, Calif. (AP) — Weather conditions are forecast to improve this week in Southern California and aid firefighters in their battle against a wildfire that’s forced up to 20,000 people from their homes. The blaze grew to more than 6 square miles by Wednesday morning. It was not immediately known how the fire started. It tore through part of Malibu, a community of about 10,000 people on the western edge of Los Angeles renowned for its stunning scenery of seaside bluffs and Zuma Beach featured in Hollywood films. Celebrities, including performers Cher and Dick Van Dyke, were among the evacuees.
Pamela Anderson gets praised by Gia Coppola for commitment to ‘The Last Showgirl’ Pamela Anderson collaborated with film director, screenwriter Gia Coppola for latest movie Pamela Anderson’s latest movie, The Last Showgirl director Gia Coppola gushed about the actress’ commitment to the project. The Hollywood star and director were jointly honored with the Pioneer Award at the Sun Valley Film Festival on December 6, as part of the festival’s 2024 Winter Screening Series. In a conversation with Variety , Coppola praised Anderson’s dedication to their project, highlighting her as a guiding force throughout the production. “[Pamela] was really setting the bar for all of us to just be honest and real and raw and vulnerable, and coming together and really creating a family bond, which was so much of what needed to transcend in the movie,” Coppola shared. Anderson, for her part, described her motivation with humility. “I would tell the girls, ‘Look, you’re going to go on to do another hundred movies. You’ve been in the film industry a long time. This might be my only chance,’” she said. The film tells the story of Shelly, a seasoned showgirl played by Anderson, who grapples with her future when the revue she performs in announces its closure. The production, which featured a tight 18-day shooting schedule, required Anderson to bring her A-game from day one. “I knew that I had to prepare for this film like I would a play,” Anderson explained. The Pioneer Award celebrates innovators who have made significant contributions to the art of filmmaking, and Anderson and Coppola’s collaboration on the heartfelt project earned them this well-deserved recognition. Katie Holmes maintains defense for daughter Suri Cruise against rust fund reports Pamela Anderson debuts new ‘bangs’ hairdo at ‘Last Showgirl’ screening Miley Cyrus buys her historic Grammys dress: 'Pivotal moment in my life' Chris Rock angrily walks out during comedy show at billionaire’s partyArizona sues to stop Saudi company's pumping under 'nuisance' laws
Intel now has two CEOs: Will it soon be two companies?Donald Trump will ring the New York Stock Exchange bell as he's named Time's Person of the YearStrike action by Woolworths warehouse workers that has left shelves across Victoria bare has so far cost the grocery giant $50 million, with no end in sight to the stand-off over a new pay deal. More than 1500 United Workers Union members at three distribution centres in Victoria and one in NSW walked off the job indefinitely on November 21 after protracted negotiation for an new enterprise bargaining agreement ended in a stalemate. Union members argued that while the grocer’s profits continued to increase, wages had stagnated, contributing to the “growing wealth inequality” across the country. They are demanding annual pay increases of between 10 and 12.5 per cent. The 12-day action has left shelves in some stores empty in the all-important lead-up to Christmas. In an update on Tuesday, Woolworths said it has been engaging in “good faith” with the union for more than four months but said the pay demand was “materially above inflation, at a time when Woolworths is actively working to keep food and groceries affordable for customers facing ongoing cost-of-living pressures”. “The UWU is also demanding there be ‘no enforceable performance standard or rate’ which would preclude Woolworths’ ability to manage productivity,” it said. “The use of labour standards to manage productivity is common practice in supply chains globally and in Australia. “While each site is negotiating its own separate enterprise agreement, Woolworths has put forward several offers with competitive pay that is above local market rates, and well above the Storage Services Award. “The latest offers would take hourly rates at these sites to approximately 40 per cent above the award.” Woolworths said it had also been locked in pay talks with workers at the Melbourne South Regional site represented by the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association, which had recently endorsed an offer. But it said a plan to re-open the centre and for the workers’ to return to work on Monday was blocked by picketing from the UWU, which was “refusing to give any assurance of safe passage for those team members who wish to work”. Woolworths said the disruption to restocking stores had already cost it about $50m in lost sales food sales up until Monday. Given the time needed to resupply if and when a deal is done, it warned investors the full financial impact could not yet be known. The bare shelves are reminiscent of the early day of the COVID-19 pandemic when shoppers stripped them of everyday essentials. The industrial action is limiting the availability of items such as nappies, toilet paper and drinks. No product limits are in place apart from eggs, which have been rationed for months following bird flu outbreaks in NSW and Victoria. Woolworths said it had built inventory at stores, leveraged the wider distribution network and some suppliers had delivered direct to stores. “However, due to the extended disruption, some Woolworths supermarkets in Victoria, ACT and NSW are experiencing stock flow limitations on some lines, impacting product availability of ambient, chilled and freezer lines for customers,” it said. Picketers have said they will continue their around-the-clock presence at Woolworths warehouses and will be there until a pay agreement is reached. Talks with the UWU resumed on Monday National secretary Tim Kennedy said despite “aggressive US-style industrial relations tactics” it seemed that after 12 days of negotiations Woolworths was showing signs of understanding their workers’ claims. “Today’s negotiations show Woolworths the way they should be resolving this issue, by talking with and listening to their workers,” Mr Kennedy said. “There’s no doubt we’ve made some progress today ... we think there is an agreement to be made if Woolworths steps forward to fix it.”
NoneKey details to know about the arrest of a suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO
Delaware judge reaffirms ruling that invalidated massive Tesla pay package for Elon Musk
Watchers expect Singapore’s ‘election Budget’ to tackle cost of living with generous handoutsMan says his GF’s sister sister has been constantly borrowing money from him, and when he put his foot down, his GF got upsetIn athletics, this is the shot heard around the world. Schoolboy sensation Gout Gout’s feat in breaking the 56-year-old Australian 200m record , and running faster at the same age than the greatest sprinter in history, Usain Bolt, has created shockwaves across the sporting globe in the last 48 hours. Gout’s astonishing 20.04sec run at the Australian All Schools Championships was reported as far afield as CNN, the BBC and French sports newspaper L’Equipe . The news even made it to Bolt himself , who remarked on social media: “He looks like young me.’’ Watch every ball of Australia v India LIVE & ad-break free during play in 4K on Kayo | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1 . Limited time offer. This is heady stuff for a 16-year-old from Ipswich Queensland who is just finishing Year 11, but those around Gout are doing their utmost to make sure his flying feet stay on the ground despite the whirlwind that has engulfed him in the last three days. His manager James Templeton, an experienced agent who guided the career of Kenyan 800m legend David Rudisha, is adamant that nothing will change in the teenager’s daily life in the short term. Everything in his diary for the next few months will remain the same. He will do a long-planned meet and greet with his sponsor adidas in Melbourne this week, and he will travel to Florida in January with his coach Di Sheppard and Templeton for a two-week training camp alongside Olympic and world 100m champion Noah Lyles and his coach Lance Brauman, arranged through adidas. By February, Gout will be back at school at Ipswich Grammar to complete Year 12, with a strategic selection of competition outings built into his schedule, including the Queensland Championships and the Maurie Plant meet in March and the Australian Championships in Adelaide in April. The only new addition is the World Athletics Championships next September, as he has now qualified to take on the world’s best sprinters in Tokyo. “Di and I are pretty good at saying no to the distractions and we will continue to do that,’’ Templeton said. “I don’t mind saying no because we are already on the best path. Why would we want him to be over-exposed? It’s not going to be to his advantage. We are just protecting him and we will continue to protect him and allow him to develop at his own pace.’’ That’s music to the ears of Australia’s athletics fraternity, who can’t hide their excitement at his talent but want him to avoid the pitfalls that can come with sudden fame. Australia’s most recent Olympic track champion Sally Pearson has already reached out to Gout to offer him support, advising him: “Just stay focussed on performing and you will be alright – and enjoy the ride.’’ “The thing he has going for him on the athletics side is that he has the personality to embrace the spotlight,’’ Pearson told foxsports.com.au . “When you are going to be a male sprinter you need that and he seems to have it.’’ “He’s got a support network that is embracing his talent but not overdoing it. I think he’s doing all the right things, so it’s just a matter of keeping doing what you are doing. It’s a hard one, because he’s so young that you don’t want to push him, but you do want him to enjoy the moment. “If you like the big stage, and the crowd and people talking about you, and I think he does, that makes it easier. When he gets to the age when he can really shine, it’s going to be incredible. I hope he just goes and flies, because we haven’t had someone like this in Australia before.’’ Not in athletics, but Gout is also drawing comparison with a young Ian Thorpe preparing to become the hero of a home Olympic Games. In Thorpe’s case it was Sydney in 2000. In Gout’s, it is Brisbane in 2032. Thorpe’s long-time manager David Flaskas can see the similarities and has been watching Gout’s emergence with interest. “He seems to be surrounded by good people,’’ Flaskas said. “The main thing is his welfare. If they continue to focus on his wellbeing and his athletic performance, then the commercial stuff will follow. The things being said about him are flattering, but they are also scary, and all of that needs to be managed because there are a lot of opportunists out there.’’ “The public does get fascinated by young athletes. The country needs to get behind him but not have too many expectations of him. As Thorpey says, public support is when you feel everyone behind you. Pressure is when you feel everyone in front of you.” Athletics Australia president Jane Flemming said her organisation would also be on hand to provide support to Gout and Sheppard as needed. “I believe in slow and steady on this,’’ Flemming said. “I hope he’s going to hang out at the beach with his mates now - the people who knew him before he became famous. “Teenaged stars can miss a lot of rites of passage but those things help them to stay balanced. I hope everyone around him will take a long-term view.’’
“We’re aware of the civil allegations and Jay-Z’s really strong response to that,” NFL (National Football League) commissioner Roger Goodell said on Wednesday after the conclusion of the league’s winter meetings. “We know the litigation is happening now. From our standpoint, our relationship is not changing with them, including our preparations for the next Super Bowl.” A woman who previously sued musician Sean “Diddy” Combs, alleging she was raped at an awards show after-party in 2000 when she was 13 years old, amended the lawsuit on Sunday to include a new allegation that Jay-Z was also at the party and participated in the sexual assault. Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, said the rape allegation made against him is part of an extortion attempt. The 24-time Grammy Award winner called the allegations “idiotic” and “heinous in nature” in a statement released by Roc Nation. The NFL teamed up with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in 2019 for events and social activism. The league and the entertainment company extended their partnership a few months ago. Kendrick Lamar will perform the Super Bowl halftime show at The Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9. Roc Nation and Emmy-winning producer Jesse Collins will serve as co-executive producers of the halftime show. Beyonce, who is married to Jay-Z, will perform at halftime of the Baltimore Ravens-Houston Texans game at Christmas. “I think they’re getting incredibly comfortable not just with the Super Bowl but other events they’ve advised us on and helped us with,” Mr Goodell said. “They’ve been a big help in the social justice area to us on many occasions. They’ve been great partners.”From Burkina Faso to Silver Creek wrestling, Ibrahim Kaboré is following a path less traveled
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — John Elway says any remorse over bypassing Josh Allen in the 2018 NFL draft is quickly dissipating with rookie Bo Nix's rapid rise, suggesting the Denver Broncos have finally found their next franchise quarterback. Elway said Nix, the sixth passer selected in April's draft, is an ideal fit in Denver with coach Sean Payton navigating his transition to the pros and Vance Joseph's defense serving as a pressure release valve for the former Oregon QB. "We've seen the progression of Bo in continuing to get better and better each week and Sean giving him more each week and trusting him more and more to where last week we saw his best game of the year," Elway said in a nod to Nix's first game with 300 yards and four touchdown throws in a rout of Atlanta. For that performance, Nix earned his second straight NFL Rookie of the Week honor along with the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award. "I think the sky's the limit," Elway said, "and that's just going to continue to get better and better." In a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press, Elway also touted former coach Mike Shanahan's Hall of Fame credentials, spoke about the future of University of Colorado star and Heisman favorite Travis Hunter and discussed his ongoing bout with a chronic hand condition. Elway spent the last half of his decade as the Broncos' GM in a futile search for a worthy successor to Peyton Manning, a pursuit that continued as he transitioned into a two-year consultant role that ended after the 2022 season. "You have all these young quarterbacks and you look at the ones that make it and the ones that don't and it's so important to have the right system and a coach that really knows how to tutelage quarterbacks, and Sean's really good at that," Elway said. "I think the combination of Bo's maturity, having started 61 games in college, his athletic ability and his knowledge of the game has been such a tremendous help for him,'" Elway added. "But also Vance Joseph's done a heck of a job on the defensive side to where all that pressure's not being put on Bo and the offense to score all the time." Payton and his staff have methodically expanded Nix's repertoire and incorporated his speed into their blueprints. Elway lauded them for "what they're doing offensively and how they're breaking Bo into the NFL because it's a huge jump and I think patience is something that goes a long way in the NFL when it comes down to quarterbacks." Elway said he hopes to sit down with Nix at some point when things slow down for the rookie. Nix, whose six wins are one more than Elway had as a rookie, said he looks forward to meeting the man who won two Super Bowls during his Hall of Fame playing career and another from the front office. "He's a legend not only here for this organization, but for the entire NFL," Nix said, adding, "most guys, they would love to have a chat with John Elway, just pick his brain. It's just awesome that I'm even in that situation." Orange Crush linebacker Randy Gradishar joined Elway in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year, something Elway called "way, way overdue." Elway suggested it's also long past time for the Hall to honor Shanahan, who won back-to-back Super Bowls in Denver with Elway at QB and whose footprint you see every weekend in the NFL because of his expansive coaching tree. Elway called University of Colorado stars Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders "both great athletes." He said he really hopes Sanders gets drafted by a team that will bring him along like the Broncos have done with Nix, and he sees Hunter being able to play both ways in the pros — but not full time. Elway said he thinks Hunter will be primarily a corner in the NFL but with significant contributions on offense: "He's great at both. He's got great instincts, and that's what you need at corner." It's been five years since Elway announced he was dealing with Dupuytren's contracture, a chronic condition that typically appears after age 40 and causes one or more fingers to permanently bend toward the palm. Elway's ring fingers on both hands were originally affected and he said now the middle finger on his right hand is starting to pull forward. So, he'll get another injection of a drug called Xiaflex, which is the only FDA-approved non-surgical treatment, one that he's endorsing in an awareness campaign for the chronic condition that affects 17 million Americans. The condition can make it difficult to do everyday tasks such as shaking hands or picking up a coffee mug. Elway said what bothered him most was "I couldn't pick up a football and I could not imagine not being able to put my hand around a football." Get local news delivered to your inbox!
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump used his image as a successful New York businessman to become a celebrity, a reality television star and eventually the president. Now he will get to revel in one of the most visible symbols of success in the city when he rings the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday as he's also named Time Magazine's Person of the Year. Trump is expected to be on Wall Street to mark the ceremonial start of the day's trading, according to four people with knowledge of his plans. He will also be announced Thursday as Time's 2024 Person of the Year , according to a person familiar with the selection. The people who confirmed the stock exchange appearance and Time award were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. It will be a notable moment of twin recognitions for Trump, a born-and-bred New Yorker who at times has treated the stock market as a measure of public approval and has long-prized signifiers of his success in New York's business world and his appearances on the covers of magazines — especially Time. Trump was named the magazine's Person of the Year in 2016, when he was first elected to the White House. He had already been listed as a finalist for this year's award alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, X owner Elon Musk, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Kate, the Princess of Wales. Time declined to confirm the selection ahead of Thursday morning's announcement. “Time does not comment on its annual choice for Person of the Year prior to publication,” a spokesperson for the magazine said Wednesday. The ringing of the bell is a powerful symbol of U.S. capitalism — and a good New York photo opportunity at that. Despite his decades as a New York businessman, Trump has never done it before. It was unclear whether Trump, a Republican, would meet with New York's embattled mayor, Democrat Eric Adams , who has warmed to Trump and has not ruled out changing his political party. Adams has been charged with federal corruption crimes and accused of selling influence to foreign nationals; he has denied wrongdoing. Trump himself was once a symbol of New York, but he gave up living full-time in his namesake Trump Tower in Manhattan and moved to Florida after leaving the White House. CNN first reported Wednesday Trump’s visit to the stock exchange and Politico reported that Trump was expected to be unveiled as Time's Person of the Year. The stock exchange regularly invites celebrities and business leaders to participate in the ceremonial opening and closing of trading. During Trump’s first term, his wife, Melania Trump, rang the bell to promote her “Be Best” initiative on children’s well-being. Last year, Time CEO Jessica Sibley rang the opening bell to unveil the magazine's 2023 Person of the Year: Taylor Swift . After the Nov. 5 election, the S&P 500 rallied 2.5% for its best day in nearly two years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 1,508 points, or 3.6%, while the Nasdaq composite jumped 3%. All three indexes topped records they had set in recent weeks. The U.S. stock market has historically tended to rise regardless of which party wins the White House, with Democrats scoring bigger average gains since 1945. But Republican control could mean big shifts in the winning and losing industries underneath the surface, and investors are adding to bets built earlier on what the higher tariffs, lower tax rates and lighter regulation that Trump favors will mean. Trump has long courted the business community based on his own status as a wealthy real estate developer who gained additional fame as the star of the TV show “The Apprentice” in which competitors tried to impress him with their business skills. He won the election in part by tapping into Americans' deep anxieties about an economy that seemed unable to meet the needs of the middle class. The larger business community has applauded his promises to reduce corporate taxes and cut regulations. But there are also concerns about his stated plans to impose broad tariffs and possibly target companies that he sees as not aligning with his own political interests. Trump spends the bulk of his time at his Florida home but was in New York for weeks this spring during his hush money trial there. He was convicted, but his lawyers are pushing for the case to be thrown out in light of his election. While he spent hours in a Manhattan courthouse every day during his criminal trial, Trump took his presidential campaign to the streets of the heavily Democratic city, holding a rally in the Bronx and popping up at settings for working-class New Yorkers: a bodega, a construction site and a firehouse. Trump returned to the city in September to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Manhattan tower and again in the final stretch of the presidential campaign when he held a rally at Madison Square Garden that drew immediate blowback as speakers made rude and racist insults and incendiary remarks . At the stock exchange, the ringing of the bell has been a tradition since the 1800s. The first guest to do it was a 10-year-old boy named Leonard Ross, in 1956, who won a quiz show answering questions about the stock market. Many times, companies listing on the exchange would ring the bell at 9:30 a.m. to commemorate their initial offerings as trading began. But the appearances have become an important marker of culture and politics -- something that Trump hopes to seize as he’s promised historic levels of economic growth. The anti-apartheid advocate and South African President Nelson Mandela rang the bell, as has Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone with his castmates from the film “The Expendables.” So, too, have the actors Robert Downey Jr. and Jeremy Renner for an “Avengers” movie and the Olympians Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin. In 1985, Ronald Reagan became the first sitting U.S. president to ring the bell. “With tax reform and budget control, our economy will be free to expand to its full potential, driving the bears back into permanent hibernation,” Reagan said at the time. “We’re going to turn the bull loose.” The crowd of traders on the floor chanted, “Ronnie! Ronnie! Ronnie!” The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed in 1985 and 1986, but it suffered a decline in October 1987 in an event known as “Black Monday.” Long reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report.Indian space agency ISRO is set to launch its next SpaDeX mission on a PSLV-C60 vehicle on December 30, 2024 (tomorrow) at 9:58 PM IST. SpaDeX will be one of the most critical missions for the Indian Space Research Organisation because upcoming major launches like Chandrayaan-4, Bharatiya Antariksh Station and others depend on the docking technology. The mission will deploy twin SpaDeX satellites in their determined orbit. The PSLV 4th will act as a POEM (PSLV Orbital Experiment Module), lowering itself into orbit and supporting the ISRO's science experiments. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Completes 132nd and 133rd Launches, Delivers 22 Starlink Satellites and Astranis From One to Many Mission. ISRO is set to launch their SpaDeX mission on PSLV-C60 tomorrow at 9️⃣:5️⃣8️⃣ pm IST!! 🚀 This is going to be one of the most important missions for ISRO, as several of their future endeavors (such as Chandrayaan-4, Bharatiya Antariksh Station, etc) will be dependent on docking... pic.twitter.com/VwJXupx2FR — ISRO Spaceflight (@ISROSpaceflight) December 29, 2024 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter (X), Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)Sir Keir Starmer has been warned by a trade union not to impose “blunt headcount targets” for the size of the Civil Service but Government sources insisted there would be no set limit, although the number “cannot keep growing”. Departments have been ordered to find 5% “efficiency savings” as part of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ spending review, potentially putting jobs at risk. The size of the Civil Service has increased from a low of around 384,000 in mid-2016, and the Tories went into the general election promising to reduce numbers by 70,000 to fund extra defence spending. Any reduction under Labour would be more modest, with the Guardian reporting more than 10,000 jobs could be lost. A Government spokesman said: “Under our plan for change, we are making sure every part of government is delivering on working people’s priorities — delivering growth, putting more money in people’s pockets, getting the NHS back on its feet, rebuilding Britain and securing our borders in a decade of national renewal. “We are committed to making the Civil Service more efficient and effective, with bold measures to improve skills and harness new technologies.” Mike Clancy, general secretary of the Prospect trade union said: “We need a clear plan for the future of the civil service that goes beyond the blunt headcount targets that have failed in the past. “This plan needs to be developed in partnership with civil servants and their unions, and we look forward to deeper engagement with the government in the coming months.” A Government source said: “The number of civil servants cannot keep growing. “But we will not set an arbitrary cap. “The last government tried that and ended up spending loads on more expensive consultants.” The Government is already risking a confrontation with unions over proposals to limit pay rises for more than a million public servants to 2.8%, a figure only just over the projected 2.6% rate of inflation next year. Unions representing teachers, doctors and nurses have condemned the proposals. In the face of the union backlash, Downing Street said the public sector must improve productivity to justify real-terms pay increases. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “It’s vital that pay awards are fair for both taxpayers and workers.” Asked whether higher pay settlements to staff would mean departmental cuts elsewhere, the spokesman said: “Real-terms pay increases must be matched by productivity gains and departments will only be able to fund pay awards above inflation over the medium-term if they become more productive and workforces become more productive.” TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “It’s hard to see how you address the crisis in our services without meaningful pay rises. “And it’s hard to see how services cut to the bone by 14 years of Tory government will find significant cash savings. “The Government must now engage unions and the millions of public sector workers we represent in a serious conversation about public service reform and delivery.”
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — In a season that began with many questions and lowered expectations , it was apt watching Bills quarterback Josh Allen join coach Sean McDermott lay on the cold, wet sideline to make snow angels in celebrating Buffalo’s earliest clinching of a division title in team history. That Allen took part was no surprise. The newly engaged 28-year-old has maintained the happy-go-lucky approach he brought with him to Buffalo as a raw-talented athlete in 2018, while gradually blossoming into one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks. For McDermott, it was a pleasant surprise to see the usually reserved eight-year coach finally let his hair down — figuratively, because the few jokes he does make are usually about being bald. With his latest do-it-all three-TD outing — one rushing, one receiving and, the coup de grace, being credited with receiving his own pass for a score off a lateral from Amari Cooper — in a 35-10 win over San Francisco on Sunday night , Allen continued making his strongest NFL MVP case. What’s also becoming apparent is how much McDermott deserves consideration for coach of the year honors. Without the two, the Bills (10-2) wouldn’t be in this position in becoming just the eighth NFL team — and first since Indianapolis in 2009 — to clinch a division title with at least five games remaining in their schedule. It’s reflective of how the two have grown together in what, on the outside, could be perceived as an odd couple relationship between an offensive-minded, swashbuckling quarterback and a defensive-minded coach, too often knocked for being too conservative. Perhaps, it’s Allen’s boyish nature that has brought out the risk-taker in McDermott, who has carried over the aggressive approach he takes to defense by placing trust in his quarterback. It’s become apparent in everything the Bills have accomplished so far in having at least 10 wins through 12 games for just the fifth time in team history, and first since 1991, when Buffalo was led by eventual Hall of Famers in coach Marv Levy and quarterback Jim Kelly. Buffalo has won seven straight since consecutive losses to Baltimore and Houston. And the Bills have scored 30 or more points in six straight outings, matching the team record set in 2004. Allen is doing more with less on an offense that was supposed to be hampered following the offseason departures of receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis and center Mitch Morse. The Bills are more balanced in leaning on their running attack, while Allen has also curtailed his turnover-prone ways. He's lost two fumbles and thrown just five interceptions after being picked off a career-worst 18 times last season. Meantime, McDermott has taken a different approach to fourth down situations. The Bills have converted 13 of 15 fourth down attempts after going 9 of 16 last season and 7 of 13 in 2022. The most fourth down attempts during McDermott’s tenure came in 2021, when Buffalo converted just 11 of 22. This is but an example of the bond the quarterback and coach have built in a shared objective of overcoming past playoff failures. Clinching a division title is but one step, with the Bills now focused on catching the Kansas City Chiefs (11-1), whom they’ve beaten already , for the AFC’s top seed. In calling it the team’s next goal, McDermott went off script from his usual game-at-a-time message by noting the importance of celebrating a division-clinching win, if only for one day. “Being 50 years old and 20-plus years in this league, I’ve learned to try and enjoy the moments,” McDermott said. “And this is a moment, right?” It certainly was. Turnover differential. Buffalo’s defense forced three fumbles, including one at its goal line, while the offense didn’t commit a giveaway. The Bills upped their league-leading turnover differential entering Monday to plus-17. Run defense. Though the conditions were snowy and slick, the Bills allowed 119 yards rushing in the first half before the 49ers were forced to start passing the ball once the score became lopsided. Buffalo particularly struggled in stopping Christian McCaffrey, who had 53 yards on seven carries before leaving the game with a potential season-ending knee injury . LB Matt Milano was in on five tackles while playing 37 of 48 defensive snaps in his first outing in nearly 14 months after being sidelined by a broken right leg and torn left biceps. CB Kaiir Elam, the 2022 first-round pick was a healthy inactive for a second straight outing, and still having difficulty finding a regular role. None reported. 9-0 — The Bills' home record going back to last season, marking their second-longest run in team history. Hit the road for two outings, starting with a trip to face the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
PUNE: Passengers travelling from Pune railway station are facing a hard time getting auto-rickshaws due to the constant fighting between local auto drivers and auto drivers at the prepaid auto booth. While clashes over passengers occur routinely at Pune railway station, things came to a head Friday afternoon after an argument between two auto drivers turned into a full-blown fight, a video of which is currently going viral on social media. So much so that an FIR was lodged with the Pune police about the incident. There are separate queues for prepaid and metered auto-rickshaws outside Pune railway station. While the fare for prepaid rickshaws is fixed in advance, passengers traveling by metered rickshaws have to pay according to the meter. For the past few months however, there has been an ongoing dispute between prepaid auto drivers and local auto drivers who operate by the meter at Pune railway station with passengers at the receiving end of this clash. Smita Jadhav, a regular passenger, said, “We just want safe and affordable auto services to reach our destination and if we get the same from the prepaid auto booth, we will prefer them. There is always a rush of auto drivers outside the station fighting to get passengers. The traffic police or railway authorities should take action against it.” Another passenger Neel Sharma said, “Last month when I came to Pune railway station and went to the prepaid auto booth to book an auto, some other auto drivers approached me telling me not to book from the prepaid booth. They insisted that I take a metered auto instead...”
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