For all of you who continue to moan and object to the casualties in Gaza, here is some historical perspective as well as some common-sense perspective. All wars produce civilian casualties, some inadvertent and some intentional. In World War II just prior to D-Day, the allies bombed numerous French cities in the area hoping to get at the German army. Many towns were destroyed, and thousands of Frenchmen were killed and wounded. Germany was repeatedly carpet-bombed, destroying cities and thousands of civilians. And then we have Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a deliberate attack on civilians in an attempt to convince the Empire of Japan that continuing the war was futile. These were not acts of genocide, but the gas chambers and ovens were. Hamas attacked Israel and Israel went to war with Hamas, the political terrorist government of Gaza whose people overwhelmingly support Hamas. It is Hamas who advocates genocide with their stated intention to wipe Israel from the face of the earth. Wake up! Dennis Abrams Northwest side Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star. Follow these steps to easily submit a letter to the editor or guest opinion to the Arizona Daily Star. Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!MADRID (AP) — Spanish King Felipe VI used his traditional Christmas Eve speech to remember the victims of the catastrophic Valencia flash floods , and urged the country to remain calm despite public debates around hot-button issues such as immigration and housing affordability. In a pre-recorded speech that usually reviews the year's most relevant issues, Felipe said Spain “must never forget the pain and sadness" the flood have caused. The Oct. 29 floods killed more than 225 people in eastern Spain, damaging countless homes and leaving graveyards of cars piled on top of each other. In some towns, the heavy downpours that caused the floods dropped as much as a year's worth of rain in just eight hours. In early November, as Spaniards' shock at the wreckage turned into frustration, a political blame game began, directed especially at regional authorities who failed to send timely emergency alerts to cell phones on the day of the floods. The frustration of residents in hard-hit Paiporta near Valencia was on display when people tossed mud and shouted insults at the king and government officials in early November when they made their first visit to the town. “We have seen — and understood — the frustration, the pain, the impatience, the demands for greater and more effective coordination," Felipe said about how the disaster was managed, adding that he had asked that aid be sent to everyone who needed it. He also addressed the country's housing crunch and high rents, which have become a leading concern in this European Union country that is the eurozone's fourth-largest economy. Fast-rising rents are especially acute in cities like Barcelona and Madrid, where incomes have failed to keep up, especially for younger people in a country with chronically high unemployment. Felipe urged that “all the actors involved reflect” and "listen to each other” so that they facilitate bringing access to housing under “affordable conditions.” Spain's immigration debate should keep in mind the country's European partners and immigrants' countries of origin, Felipe said, warning that “the way in which we are able to address immigration ... will say a lot in the future about our principles and the quality of our democracy.” Felipe said Spain need to remain calm in the public sphere, even in the face of a “sometimes thunderous” contest in its politics.
The Washington Commanders released 2023 first-rounder Emmanuel Forbes on Saturday, cutting ties with another high draft pick from the previous regime. All of previous coach Ron Rivera's first-rounders — including edge rusher Chase Young in 2020, linebacker Jamin Davis in ‘21 and wide receiver Jahan Dotson in '22 — are now gone. Forbes never showed progress to the new staff led by coach Dan Quinn and was a healthy scratch twice this season and did not play in two other games during which the 23-year-old was in uniform. It's unclear if Forbes' release means anything about the status of cornerback Marshon Lattimore , the Commanders' trade deadline pickup in early November who still has not played for them because of a hamstring injury. Lattimore was listed as doubtful for Washington's home game Sunday against Tennessee. The Commanders (7-5) also put running back Austin Ekeler on injured reserve because of a concussion . They elevated kicker Zane Gonzalez and defensive tackle Carl Davis from the practice squad in preparation for facing the Titans (3-8). Washington has lost three in a row to fall from first place in the NFC East to the conference’s final wild-card spot. The most recent loss, last weekend against division rival Dallas, came when Austin Seibert missed his second extra point of the game, which would have tied it with 21 seconds left. Seibert went on IR earlier in the week with a groin injury that Quinn said the kicker reported Monday. While injuries have piled up as the Commanders await their late bye week, the choice of Forbes has been second-guessed since the moment Rivera's front office chose the 166-pound Mississippi State defensive back with the 16th pick over Christian Gonzalez and others. Gonzalez was selected next, by New England, and has started 16 games for the Patriots. Forbes was benched last season by Rivera, who was in charge when Washington selected Davis ahead of offensive lineman Christian Darrisaw in '21 and traded down to take Dotson the following year instead of safety Kyle Hamilton or receiver Chris Olave. Forbes has two interceptions and 12 passes defensed in 20 games. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Intech Investment Management LLC Makes New $688,000 Investment in Clear Secure, Inc. (NYSE:YOU)Horror as amusement park ride collapses at Christmas fair By ADRY TORRES FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 20:46, 24 December 2024 | Updated: 21:17, 24 December 2024 e-mail 33 shares View comments An amusement park ride collapsed at a bustling Christmas fair in Mexico , injuring two as terrified witnesses tried to flee the wreckage. Video of the collapse at the Acapulco Golf Club Monday night showed the Eiffel Tower cable car ride tilting and ultimately crashing to the ground. One of the cable cars can be see snapping off the line as the structure fell. Aldo Maldonado, a 35-year-old who was in town visiting from Mexico City, and Iván Gómez, also 35 and a resident of Acapulco, were treated on the scene by paramedics and rushed to Acqua Acapulco Hospital, the Mexican news outlet Milenio reported. Maldonado's and Gómez's were said to have suffered non life-threatening injuries and were in stable condition. The Guerrero state Integral Risk Management Department and Civil Protection dispatched investigators to the fair moments after the accident. They discovered that the tower was not anchored properly to the ground and that it was set up without a support mechanism. They also found that tower and other machine rides were not operating in accordance with guidelines. Authorities cordoned off the accident site as part of the investigations. Video of the collapse at the Acapulco Golf Club Monday night showed the Eiffel Tower cable car ride tilting and ultimately crashing to the ground Investigators found that the ride's towers were not properly anchored to the ground Mexico's National Guard provide assistance to one of the two men who was injured Despite the lax safety measures, agents allowed the rest of the rides to operate as normal. Some social media users were not surprised that the fairground was allowed to remain open. 'Strange? No. They never inspect those games and even less give them permission after a bribe,' one person commented. 'Stop using mechanical rides,' another mentioned. 'I think that governments and municipalities should certify (just as they close down a business) and put a seal on each ride (name and signature). There is no seal. It is not safe. And if it fails, we know who to complain to!' Share or comment on this article: Horror as amusement park ride collapses at Christmas fair e-mail 33 shares Add comment
Portfolio manager says a ‘healthy' correction could come if earnings and growth stall
Ascom Holding AG (OTCMKTS:ACMLF) Short Interest Down 58.1% in NovemberFAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas tied its school record for largest halftime lead in a 109-35 win over Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday night. John Calipari's Razorbacks (5-1) led 60-15 at the break, tying Arkansas' 45-point advantage at halftime in a 2009 win over Alcorn State. Arkansas raced to a 12-point lead before the first media timeout and went on a 30-1 run midway through the first half. Razorbacks guard Johnell Davis had scored 10 points by the 7:36 mark of the opening half, which was more than Maryland Eastern Shore (2-7) scored as a team at that point. Freshman Karter Knox scored a game-high 21 points to lead seven Arkansas players in double figures. Davis and Boogie Fland each added 16, Billy Richmond and Zvonimir Ivisic had 14 apiece, D.J. Wagner scored 13 points and Adou Thiero chipped in 11. Arkansas’ 74-point win tied for the third largest margin of victory in school history. Takeaways Maryland Eastern Shore: The Hawks don't have much to look back on as they shot 23% from the field and 15.4% from 3. Arkansas: The Razorbacks have beaten the teams they are supposed to so far in coach Calipari’s first year, but little can be gleaned in a win over Maryland Eastern Shore. Maryland Eastern Shore guard Ralph Martino, Jr. (1) shoots over Arkansas guard Johnell Davis (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. Credit: AP/Michael Woods Key moment Arkansas had no trouble from the opening tip, jumping out to a 15-3 lead. Ivisic hit back-to-back 3-pointers to provide the Razorbacks with a double-digit lead before first media timeout. Key stat The Razorbacks made more 3-pointers (15) than Maryland Eastern Shore made field goals (14). Arkansas also scored 31 points off 19 Hawks turnovers, while the visitors didn’t register a single point of Arkansas’ four giveaways. Up next The Hawks play at Little Rock on Wednesday, and Arkansas plays Illinois in Kansas City on Thanksgiving.
Special Counsel Jack Smith on Monday moved to dismiss the federal cases against US President-elect Donald Trump -- including one for election subversion -- citing an official policy of not prosecuting a sitting president. Trump, 78, was accused of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election he lost to Joe Biden and mishandling classified documents after leaving the White House, but neither case ever came to trial. Smith, in a filing with the district judge in Washington presiding over the election case, said it should be dropped in light of the long-standing Justice Department policy of not indicting or prosecuting a sitting president. He cited the same reasoning in withdrawing his appeal of a ruling by a district judge, a Trump appointee, who dismissed the classified documents case earlier this year. Smith asked District Judge Tanya Chutkan to dismiss the election interference case "without prejudice" -- leaving open the possibility it could be revived after Trump leaves office four years from now. The special counsel paused the election interference case this month after Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 presidential election. "The Government's position on the merits of the defendant's prosecution has not changed," Smith said in the filing with Chutkan. "But the circumstances have." "It has long been the position of the Department of Justice that the United States Constitution forbids the federal indictment and subsequent criminal prosecution of a sitting President," Smith said. "As a result this prosecution must be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated." In a separate filing, Smith said he was withdrawing his appeal of the dismissal of the classified documents case against Trump but pursuing the case against his two co-defendants, Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said the cases were "empty and lawless, and should never have been brought." "Over $100 Million Dollars of Taxpayer Dollars has been wasted in the Democrat Party's fight against their Political Opponent, ME," he said. "Nothing like this has ever happened in our Country before." Trump is accused of conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding -- the session of Congress called to certify Biden's win, which was violently attacked on January 6, 2021 by a mob of the then-president's supporters. Trump is also accused of seeking to disenfranchise US voters with his false claims that he won the 2020 election. The former and incoming president also faces two state cases -- in New York and Georgia. He was convicted in New York in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels on the eve of the 2016 election to stop her from revealing an alleged 2006 sexual encounter. Judge Juan Merchan has postponed sentencing while he considers a request from Trump's lawyers that the conviction be thrown out in light of the Supreme Court ruling in July that an ex-president has broad immunity from prosecution. In Georgia, Trump faces racketeering charges over his efforts to subvert the 2020 election results in the southern state, but that case will likely be frozen while he is in office. cl/bgsJayden Daniels and the offense stalling have the Commanders on a three-game losing streakMiddle East latest: Israeli raid and airstrikes in West Bank kill at least 8 PalestiniansSenators visit the Kings following Gaudette's 2-goal performance
Hayleys Electronics Ltd. (HEL), a trailblazer in sustainable energy solutions, hosted an impactful Partner Forum in Kandy, uniting over 40 local businesses and key representatives from Huawei Technologies. This initiative is part of HEL’s strategic vision to drive Sri Lanka’s transition towards smarter, more efficient energy solutions. The event spotlighted cutting-edge technologies, including Huawei’s FusionSolar Smart PV and Energy Storage System (ESS) products, which are revolutionising the energy landscape with unparalleled efficiency and reliability. Attendees also delved into the advanced capabilities of Solax inverters, featuring intuitive mobile app integration for seamless energy management, and the sleek, high-performing JA Solar panels, which combine efficiency with aesthetic appeal. The forum served as a platform to foster collaboration and dialogue, empowering HEL’s partners to leverage advanced energy solutions tailored to meet Sri Lanka’s growing renewable energy demands. Backed by a legacy of trading excellence, HEL is renowned for its unwavering commitment to quality, reliability, and customer support. The company ensures that all solar system components adhere to the highest global standards, reinforcing its position as a trusted partner in renewable energy solutions.
NoneNEW YORK, Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of iLearningEngines, Inc. AILE between April 22, 2024 and August 28, 2024, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important December 6, 2024 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased iLearningEngines securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the iLearningEngines class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=28305 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than December 6, 2024 . A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: 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, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. 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 achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. 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. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, during the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) iLearningEngines' "Technology Partner" was an undisclosed related party; (2) iLearningEngines used its undisclosed related party Technology Partner to report "largely fake" revenue and expenses; (3) as a result of the foregoing, iLearningEngines significantly overstated its revenue; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about iLearningEngines' business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the iLearningEngines class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=28305 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. 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.com © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Kaylene Smikle's 16 points and Shyanne Sellers' 15 points helped No. 10 Maryland defeat George Mason 66-56 on Saturday in a tight game in the Navy Classic at Annapolis, Md. Saylor Poffenbarger added 10 points off the bench for Maryland (7-0). George Mason (6-1), on the strength of an 18-7 scoring edge in the third quarter, pulled ahead 45-44 going to the fourth. Sellers scored with five minutes left to break a 51-51 tie and the Terrapins led the rest of the way. Kennedy Harris led the Patriots, who shot 31.5 percent from the field and had 25 offensive rebounds, with 26 points. Louis Volker had 14 points off the bench. No. 4 South Carolina 99, Purdue 51 MiLaysia Fulwiley's 14 points led five Gamecocks reserves in double figures in an easy win over the Boilermakers at the Fort Myers Tip-Off in Fort Myers, Fla. Ashlyn Watkins and Tessa Johnson each had 13 points off the bench for South Carolina, while starters Chloe Kitts and Bree Hall both posted 12 points. Joyce Edwards (11) and Maddy McDaniel (10) also reached double figures. South Carolina (7-1), which led 53-18 at halftime, had a 56-26 rebounding advantage. Destini Lombard racked up 24 points, aided by four 3-pointers, for Purdue (4-3), which shot 39.6 percent from the field. No. 15 Iowa State 75, Middle Tennessee 59 Audi Crooks posted 21 points on 9-for-14 shooting as the Cyclones routed the Blue Raiders and left the Fort Myers Tip-Off in Fort Myers, Fla., on a high. Addy Brown had 12 points for Iowa State (6-2), which shot 54.7 percent from the floor following a 40-point loss to No. 4 South Carolina. The Cyclones held a fifth opponent under the 60-point mark. Ta'Mia Scott scored 24 points, including 8-for-8 on free throws, for Middle Tennessee (6-2). Anastasiia Boldyreva and Jalynn Gregory each added 14 points for the Blue Raiders, who were 19-of-20 at the foul line. No. 18 Mississippi 89, Alabama State 24 Reserve Sira Thienou's 16 points contributed to the romp for the host Rebels over the Lady Hornets at Oxford, Miss. Christeen Iwuala and Starr Jacobs each had 12 points and Kennedy Todd-Williams had 11 points for Ole Miss, which benefited from 33 turnovers by Alabama State. The Rebels (5-2) led 57-10 at halftime. Kaitlyn Bryant's seven points off the bench were tops for Alabama State (2-5), which shot 19 percent from the field. No. 24 Louisville 79, Colorado 71 Tajianna Roberts' go-ahead 3-point basket with less than 7 1/2 minutes remaining ignited a 16-0 run as the Cardinals picked up a road victory over the Buffaloes at Boulder, Colo. Jayda Curry and Nyla Harris each tallied 14 points, Roberts finished with 13 and Izela Arenas had 11 for Louisville (5-2). Frida Formann led Colorado (6-2) with 25 points. Jade Masogayo had 12 points and Nyamer Diew added 10 points. Kindyll Wetta had 10 assists. --Field Level Media REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel nowChakwera condemns vandalism of ESCOM resources
Intech Investment Management LLC decreased its stake in shares of AutoNation, Inc. ( NYSE:AN – Free Report ) by 56.0% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 4,349 shares of the company’s stock after selling 5,531 shares during the quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC’s holdings in AutoNation were worth $778,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in AN. WINTON GROUP Ltd bought a new position in shares of AutoNation in the second quarter worth approximately $15,832,000. Lodge Hill Capital LLC bought a new position in AutoNation in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $15,141,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new position in AutoNation in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $131,250,000. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC boosted its stake in AutoNation by 4,275.6% during the 2nd quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 50,107 shares of the company’s stock valued at $7,986,000 after purchasing an additional 51,307 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in shares of AutoNation by 2.7% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,605,708 shares of the company’s stock worth $255,910,000 after purchasing an additional 41,712 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.62% of the company’s stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades AN has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on AutoNation from $190.00 to $180.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Morgan Stanley raised shares of AutoNation from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and raised their price target for the company from $145.00 to $200.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 25th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of AutoNation from $187.00 to $181.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 15th. Bank of America lowered their price objective on shares of AutoNation from $220.00 to $215.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 14th. Finally, Guggenheim cut their target price on shares of AutoNation from $190.00 to $189.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $199.29. AutoNation Stock Performance Shares of NYSE AN opened at $178.89 on Friday. AutoNation, Inc. has a 12-month low of $133.01 and a 12-month high of $197.18. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.76 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $168.02 and a 200 day moving average of $168.80. About AutoNation ( Free Report ) AutoNation, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates as an automotive retailer in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Domestic, Import, and Premium Luxury. It offers a range of automotive products and services, including new and used vehicles; and parts and services, such as automotive repair and maintenance, and wholesale parts and collision services. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AutoNation, Inc. ( NYSE:AN – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for AutoNation Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AutoNation and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Pakistan won’t accept Trump admin pressure to release Imran: Sana Rana Sana says that negotiations should be held bilaterally between treasury and opposition parties ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said on Tuesday the government “would not accept any pressure” from the new US administration led by President-elect Donald Trump to negotiate with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) or release its party founder Imran Khan. When questioned about potential pressure from the Trump administration in view of its loyalist Richard Grenell’s tweet demanding Imran’s release, Sanaullah replied: “We would not work under pressure of Donald Trump [...] if any intervention is made then we would consider it as interference in our sovereignty.” The premier’s aide, who is also one of the members of the government’s negotiation committee, further said that they did not commence dialogue with the major opposition party due to Trump. He stressed that negotiations should be held bilaterally between the treasury and the opposition. He also said that Pakistan had witnessed ups and downs in its bilateral ties with the US, however, Islamabad would not accept anything against its national interests. To another question, the ruling PMLN leader replied that the federal government would not create obstacles if the Imran Khan-founded party seeks “conclusive and time-bound” talks. He, however, said that it won’t be possible if both sides agreed on all demands during the talks, adding that the government was not in haste to summon meetings immediately. He was pointing towards the recent statement of the embattled PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan in which he sought government’s “timeframe” in connection with progress on their demands after the latter met Imran at Adiala Jail today.Renerve joins ASX today9 No-Equipment Arm Workouts Anyone Can Do
NoneMyth of meritocracy, caste-based disparities in IT sectorCanada's premiers say they want to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "as soon as possible" to discuss the Canada-U.S. relationship. In a letter to Trudeau, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he and his fellow premiers want to meet to discuss how Ottawa plans to approach its relationship with Washington now that Donald Trump is returning to the White House. "As we look to welcome the incoming U.S. administration, it is important that we act now to work together and seize this opportunity to grow and strengthen our historic partnership with the U.S.," the letter reads. Ontario Premier Doug Ford wants separate U.S., Mexico trade deals 'now,' not in 2026 Ford says all premiers aligned on push for Canada to have bilateral trade deal with U.S. Alberta premier agrees with Doug Ford's pitch to explore kicking Mexico out of trade agreement The premiers also say they want to know Ottawa's plan for the upcoming review of the trilateral continental trade pact known as Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). "We require clarity from you about how you propose to include and engage with premiers as we enter the review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, including who among your cabinet ministers will serve as lead for your government," the letter reads. Ford has been particularly outspoken about trade with the U.S. and Mexico in recent weeks. The Ontario premier has accused Mexico of serving as "a back door for Chinese cars, auto parts and other products" entering the North American market. WATCH | Premier Ford comments on push for Canada to have bilateral trade deal with U.S.: Premier Ford comments on push for Canada to have bilateral trade deal with U.S. 4 days ago Duration 1:44 Ontario Premier Doug Ford is pushing for a new bilateral trade deal solely with the United States — and he says all 13 premiers are on board. Speaking exclusively to CBC News on Thursday, Ford says he wants to push the new agreement through immediately. Ford has said he would like Canada to move forward on bilateral trade deals with the U.S. and Mexico before the CUSMA review in 2026. "They've had an opportunity to fix these concerns for years and they just don't want to," Ford said of Mexico during a press conference on Thursday. "So they've shown their cards and we'll do a bilateral trade deal with them, and a separate one with the U.S." Following a meeting of the provincial and territorial premiers last week, Ford said that all premiers are aligned on his push for the federal government to negotiate a bilateral trade deal with the United States. But Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey told reporters in Ottawa that what was agreed upon was a contingency plan. "The concept was that should the old agreement fail, we would be interested in supporting two separate bilateral agreements," he said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum talk during the G20 Summit leaders meeting in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (Eraldo Peres/AP) During a press conference on Thursday, Trudeau said the current trilateral pact "has been incredibly successful" for all three countries. While Trudeau said his "first choice" is to continue the trilateral pact, he added that "there have been real and genuine concerns raised about Chinese investment into Mexico that I brought up directly with the Mexican president." Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledged Thursday that Canada is concerned about reports that a Chinese company is planning to build an auto plant in Mexico. She said that plant does not currently exist. Why politicians and industry groups are calling Mexico a 'back door' for Chinese EV automakers Analysis Canada is already preparing for Trump's potential tariff threats Trump nominates former Michigan congressman Pete Hoekstra to be ambassador to Canada Sheinbaum said Trudeau assured her he did not support excluding Mexico from the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade agreement. "The prime minister does not agree with taking Mexico out of the treaty. He told me so clearly," she said after meeting with Trudeau during last week's G20 summit in Brazil. Sheinbaum attributed Ford's call with the other premiers to domestic political jockeying in Canada. "They use these issues as part of an electoral campaign," she said.
Prosecutor moves to drop federal cases against TrumpRia Cheruvu has been ahead of the curve for most of her life. After graduating from her Arizona high school at just 11, the student deemed prodigy became one of the youngest people to ever graduate from Harvard. Her collegiate record is a marvel to many. Following a period studying neurobiology and during the completion of her first computer science degree, Cheruvu was hired for Intel's ethics team — preceding the AI boom that would soon hit mass markets, and years before the phrase became a household utterance. At the time of her hiring, Cheruvu was just 14 years old. In the years since joining the tech giant and graduating from the Ivy League, she's become a go-to voice on responsible AI development, bolstering her resume with multiple AI patents, a Master's Degree in data science from her alma mater after a neuroscience internship at Yale, and multiple teaching credits for digital courses on AI ethics. She's working on a PhD, as well, because... why not? Today, as one of Intel's AI architects and "evangelists" — yes, that's the real word — the 20-year-old is on the forefront of one of the world's hottest topics: How do we move forward with this technology, and how can it be done in a way that ensures real people remain at its core? Her presence is a rare thing in an industry now steamrolled by capital investors, commercial interests, and self-proclaimed tech "disruptors." But her age is more of a benefit than a hindrance, as the future of AI will soon be placed in the hands of the next generation of technologists and users — her peers — and many of them are already embracing the complex integration of generative AI in their daily lives. Cheruvu spoke to Mashable about her now-established career in the realm of "AI for Good," one of the few young voices with a seat at the table as the world reckons with accelerating change. Cheruvu : After I graduated with my Bachelor's in computer science, I was looking for the next step. It was a turning point: Do I go into neuroscience, or do I get into something that's pure computer and data science related? I had a brief interest in AI. Both of my parents are software engineers by training and have their Masters in computer applications and technology. At the time, my dad was working at Intel Corporation. I had actually been on a number of field trips in high school to our local campus. I applied, and I interviewed with three different teams in different areas. One was pure math and AI, the other was a little bit on the neuroscience side, and then the last was deep learning and hardware. Eventually, I picked that third team and got accepted. It evolved from there into a six year journey of different roles at Intel. I've been in so many different roles in different areas. Some of them have been pure business or the technology side, others on the pure research side, and then some bridging the two. I was a team lead, and now I am an evangelist and public speaker and architect. I'm gearing back more to technical architect roles. So lots of jumping around the map. But my network and the community has stayed true, which is what encourages me to continue to work at Intel, and continue to work in the AI industry, too. I've been looking at ethical AI for about two to three years now, professionally and personally. From the technical angle, there's a lot of things to be done: technical tooling, analysis, metrics, quality assurance, all of that fun stuff. On a societal aspect, an incredible amount of work needs to be done toward privacy, consent, bias, and algorithmic discrimination. It's been a whirlwind, learning about all of these topics and then trying to understand which are practical versus which just seem to be talked about a lot, and doing honest reevaluations. There is an increasing need for younger voices and opportunities for younger generations to be able to step up and to start contributing to these technologies. My mom did her PhD in metaphysics and philosophy, so we have very deep conversations around AI and humanity. What exactly is our idea of consciousness? How far can AI go in terms of being able to mimic humans? What is our framework for helping each other? Folks who are exposed to technology and digital technology are getting exposed to AI at a faster and faster rate. The reason why I gravitate toward "human centered" frameworks is to focus on the fact that the infrastructure, the technology, should be able to empower users. According to regulations, and the communities that we're building around them, you should have the right to control the data that you generate. On the technical side, we should be empowering developers and creators to be able to test for bias, and to remove data from models. We're not training data models with data that we don't have consent for. When you're a person in AI, it's assumed you're advocating for AI development. But there's a lot of areas, personally, where I feel that more AI development doesn't make sense. Maybe it's something that needs to be more streamlined or in the hands of creators and artists. When we see a lot of these technologies, like robots and self-driving vehicles, starting to pop up, how are they empowering user experiences? How are we building trust into these relationships? There's a couple leading researchers who are the subject matter experts in this field. I'm thinking of Fei Fei Li and Yejin Choi . It's been really interesting to see how their research and the research coming out of their labs and teams has been connected to bigger advancements or leaps in AI. I have been using that research as a marker to demystify what's coming up next in [the AI industry]. There's a lot of pressure, there's a lot of hype, placed on certain topics. It takes a pretty strong will and determination to push through that and say what is important for me, for my community, for the industry, right now. To focus on what is really driving the practical impact I want to communicate and share with folks, things I can inspire them to be optimistic about. I want to be honest about risks and challenges, too. Instead of buttering up the truth, be straightforward about it. As an evangelist, someone who's passionate about public speaking just as much as coding, what does that balance look like? There has been an emergence, or a boom, of AI experts and evangelists in this space. Not to say anything direct about credentials or anything, but everybody has an opinion about AI. I personally have been listening to perspectives that have been in the industry for longer. That wisdom that's getting passed down is something that I like to tap into, as opposed to, maybe, some of the newer folks who are forming some quick assumptions. I think that there is an increasing need for younger voices and opportunities for younger generations to be able to step up and to start contributing to these technologies. Through their usage of it, [the technologies are] getting mastered pretty quickly. And it's important to bring a fresh perspective to [AI design]. Not only consuming the technology, but contributing to its development, being able to shape it in ways that are different. Rather than seeing it as a kind of "disruptor" or a "bubble" that needs to be explored and pushed to the limit, we can bring it back to the applications where it can be most useful. There's a lot of opportunities to contribute. Not a lot of them are as recognized as other applications, in terms of priority, coverage in the media, or public interest, but they definitely lead to a much more meaningful impact. There's always bigger projects, and bigger themes — like large language models — but the smaller applications really make a difference, too. I was reading that quote recently about being able to leave the world behind a little bit better than how you found it initially. In a generational context, we need to continue to have conversations about this, especially with the AI algorithms that are close to us, whether it's social media or apps that are writing content for you. You're getting exposed to them on a day to day basis. I feel like folks who are working on AI and machine learning know that very well, but, for some reason, it doesn't proliferate outside of that bubble. Folks who are working in AI know to be very, very cautious when they see a tool. Cautious in the sense of, "I'm not going to adopt it, or I'm not going to use it, unless I think it's useful." But when it comes to [AI stakeholders] externally, I think it's just a kind of hype. Ironically, that's not what you see in the inner circle. It just gets pushed on us. Human labor disruption is a really big topic, and I'm thinking about talent and folks who want to enter into the AI space. When we talk about AI and these technologies, it's always: fast, rapid innovation, moving forward. These kinds of words and other terminology keep getting added to a pile that makes it even more intimidating for folks to be able to understand and truly grasp [AI]. "AI" itself is one of those words. The field started off with "deep learning" and "machine learning," and it's been a gradual transition. I've seen my job title change from deep learning engineer to AI architect. I'm part of that, too. I think that there might be an opportunity to take AI as a buzzword and break it down — and we can still keep the word, the general feeling around it. But there's only so much responsibility that a user can take on. Providers and developers and creators of infrastructure also need to be able to shoulder that responsibility. Of course, regulations come in to help protect the rights of the individuals involved to a certain extent. A lot of folks may not have the time to sit down and read through the full compendium of what they need to know. I'm valuing content and people who are taking the time to break it down and say, "You've got this. This is something easy. This is how you contribute." It doesn't need to be a fearful topic. It's something you can voice your concerns on. I've had so many conversations over the past few years with brilliant people on inclusive AI, democratizing AI, AI literacy. There's a lot of different ways to enable that empowerment. For example, there's been a lot of really great efforts on digital readiness programs that I'm honored to have been a part of, going to community colleges or creating AI curriculum for free. Five million or so folks who have been trained as part of Intel's digital readiness programs. We need more accessibility, more tutorials, more content, more one-on-one interaction, saying, "You know, this is easier than you think it is. You can be a professional in this space. It's not hard to get started."
watch now VIDEO 2:41 02:41 Bitcoin hits fresh record high after Nasdaq lists options on BlackRock's spot bitcoin ETF Squawk Box For years, bitcoin won by being boring. Investors weren't able to do all that much with it besides buy and hold it. But that was precisely why the world's largest cryptocurrency was valuable. It was a commodity, like gold — or corn. It didn't get too fancy on its offerings. In fact, bitcoin's core team of developers has intentionally moved as slowly as possible on everything that touches the base blockchain specifically to avoid breaking things. That's why many of crypto's more cavalier coders headed to other blockchains to tinker and do things like build decentralized applications. The approach worked. Traders poured their money into bitcoin not just because it was the OG coin but also because the network was robust and reliable, and they knew what they were getting. As solana reported hack after hack , bitcoin didn't really change. The asset was volatile, but aside from a major system upgrade that took four years to design and green-light, bitcoin kept its status as the world's biggest cryptocurrency by market cap by sticking to the status quo. But times are changing for the original coin. Developers are increasingly building on bitcoin's base blockchain in unexpected ways . Wall Street is also decking the coin out with all its familiar trappings such as exchange-traded fund wrappers and allowing traders to hedge positions and make leveraged bets. In January, spot bitcoin ETFs began trading, which opened the door to more mainstream investors. Last week, options on those spot crypto products finally started to go live on the Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange. CBOE Global Markets is also set to list its first cash-settled bitcoin ETF options Dec. 2. Creating this new margin framework around bitcoin means that both retail traders and institutions alike will be able to get more exposure to the asset class relative to how much cash they're investing. watch now VIDEO 3:44 03:44 How Wall Street is capitalizing on crypto resurgence as market cap hits record $3.2 trillion Halftime Report New ways to bet on bitcoin Collectively, the U.S.-issued spot bitcoin funds hold north of $100 billion in assets under management. Last week, they notched their largest weekly inflows on record, totaling more than $3.1 billion. And according to CoinShares, year-to-date net flows are up to $37 billion versus U.S. Gold ETFs, which drew around $309 million in their first year. Nearly half of those flows into the spot bitcoin products took place after U.S. interest rates were cut for the first time in four years in September. Vetle Lunde, head of research at K33 Research, told CNBC there has been record high open interest for futures on the CME derivatives exchange, the way most U.S. institutions currently buy bitcoin futures contracts. But a lot of traders have been waiting for options on spot bitcoin ETFs on major exchanges such as the NYSE and Nasdaq, since it enhances liquidity and offers hedging tools. Lunde says that demand for leveraged long exposure to bitcoin and ether is climbing, with VolatilityShares' BTC exposure hitting new all-time highs. Galaxy Digital's trading team told CNBC the firm has observed significant volume in BlackRock's IBIT ETF options, the first to launch on the Nasdaq last week. BlackRock is the largest digital asset manager in the world after it eclipsed Grayscale in August. BlackRock's bitcoin trust IBIT holds $48.4 billion in bitcoin compared with the $34 billion in its gold trust. Options on IBIT had a blockbuster debut, with 353,716 contracts traded on its first day, according to Galaxy Digital. The firm noted that the previous most active debut of options trading was when Facebook options went live in 2012 and 360,000 contracts changed hands. Galaxy sees notable trading activity extending out to January 2027, roughly halfway into Donald Trump's administration. On the campaign trail, the president-elect had an about-face on bitcoin and went from criticizing digital assets to making big promises to the crypto industry. Bitcoin is up roughly 40% since Election Day, Nov. 5. "This level of concentrated, long-dated activity reflects investor confidence in the ETF's long-term growth potential, signaling bullish sentiment for the years ahead," Galaxy's trading team told CNBC. Until now, offshore crypto native platforms such as Binance and Deribit have been the main marketplace for bitcoin derivatives trading. Galaxy told CNBC there is a noticeable volatility premium between Deribit, CME and IBIT, which could present arbitrage opportunities among the varying platforms offering derivatives trading. On Friday, more than $9 billion in bitcoin options contracts expire on Deribit, which could lead to greater price volatility as the expiration date approaches. "There's a ton of leverage in the system right now," Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz, a longtime crypto investor, told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Friday. "You look at the funding rates to do crypto in our market, right? The perpetual market, as high as they've been, the basis is high," Novogratz said. "The crypto community is levered to the gills, and so there will be a correction." Bitcoin was within striking distance of $100,000 on Friday but retrenched over the weekend. The cryptocurrency is currently trading at around $95,000. watch now VIDEO 3:58 03:58 Bitcoin tops $82,000 as crypto euphoria over Trump win shows no sign of waning Squawk BoxBy Lindsay Shachnow Twenty-seven years ago, Bill Puder received a phone call from Jill Biden, shortly after he first opened Faregrounds Restaurant and Pudley’s Pub on Nantucket. “I didn’t know who she was,” Puder told Boston.com. “She asked me, can we cook Thanksgiving to-go for their family? I said sure, no problem.” Puder said he did not know of Joe Biden, who was a Delaware senator at the time, either. “He used to come in, pick it up,” he said. “We’d chat, hang out with Beau and Hunter.” Puder said he has made Thanksgiving dinner for the Bidens nearly every year since the first lady’s initial call. “We treat him just like a customer, just like everybody else that comes in here,” he said. However, since Biden took office as president, Puder stopped making dinner for the Biden family, but has still cooked Thanksgiving meals for his secret service members during Biden’s vice presidential and presidential terms. A private chef will make Thanksgiving dinner for the Bidens this year, according to Puder. Although Biden won’t be partaking in the meal at Faregrounds this Thursday, the president will carry on his decades-old tradition of traveling to Nantucket with his family, arriving at Nantucket Memorial Airport on Air Force One on Tuesday at 3:20 p.m., The Boston Globe reported . Ahead of Biden’s visit, Nantucket Police Lieutenant Angus MacVicar said the local police department has been working with the secret service, providing them with a few full-time officers who are more familiar with the area. “We’re expecting things to go as they have in the past and have minimal disruption,” MacVicar told Boston.com. “We hope everything goes well.” This Thursday, Puder will serve Thanksgiving dinner at the Nantucket family restaurant to 150 secret service members and roughly 50 other restaurant goers. They will eat alongside each other. Over three days, four workers prepare the food with the help of Puder’s wife and niece. Although Puder mixes up the menu slightly from year to year, he always includes traditional Thanksgiving dishes. So, what’s on the menu this year? The president’s secret service will eat buffet-style, starting with a butternut squash apple soup, clam chowder, and caesar salad. The main event will be a traditional roast turkey with gravy — Puder’s favorite dish to cook — alongside stuffing, roast prime rib, pan seared halibut, and a ham platter. Eight side dishes, including candied sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, and glazed carrots, will fill out the meal. Puder, who has been cooking for nearly 50 years, bought Faregrounds in 1997, and held a local competition to decide on a name for the establishment. “The Faregrounds” was chosen because of the restaurant’s location on Faregrounds Road, and “Pudley’s Pub” is named after the Puder’s own pot bellied pet pig. Puder said he has “mixed feelings” about Biden leaving the White House in January, but still plans to cook Thanksgiving dinner for him and his family next year. “It’s a tradition for him,” Puder said of Biden, who has come to Nantucket for Thanksgiving almost every year since 1975. “He’s just a nice guy, and it’s such an honor to keep feeding him.” Lindsay Shachnow Lindsay Shachnow covers general assignment news for Boston.com , reporting on breaking news, crime, and politics across New England. Boston.com Today Sign up to receive the latest headlines in your inbox each morning. Be civil. Be kind.