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2025-01-10
WASHINGTON – Former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s withdrawal as Donald Trump’s choice for attorney general has created an opening for one of the criminal defense lawyers he designated for top posts at the Justice Department – or to other firebrands the president-elect was previously considering. Trump could potentially elevate defense lawyer Todd Blanche , who he had already named as deputy attorney general, the department's #2 job. Other candidates included Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, former intelligence official Kash Patel and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton . “It basically comes down to whoever can demonstrate the most fealty to Trump, and be a Matt Gaetz without the baggage,” said Jeff Breinholt, a former senior lawyer and counterterrorism official at the Justice Department. Gaetz withdrew from consideration on Thursday amid continuing disclosures of damaging testimony from federal and House Ethics Committee probes into allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use . Gaetz denied the allegations. Here is what we know about potential candidates for attorney general: Sign-up for Your Vote: Text with the USA TODAY elections team. Todd Blanche Blanche and Emil Bove, who was named principal associate deputy attorney general, defended Trump in his New York hush money trial and federal investigations over his alleged election interference and mishandling classified documents . Their delaying strategy held off action in both federal cases until after the election. After Trump’s victory, Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith is winding down both cases under department policy barring prosecution of a sitting president. Despite Trump's conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records, Blanche represented him aggressively, calling his former lawyer Michael Cohen a liar. Sentencing in the Manhattan conviction has been postponed while District Attorney Alvin Bragg urged a postponement until after Trump leaves office , while Trump’s lawyers contend the charges should dropped entirely. Blanche had previously been a federal prosecutor in New York and clerked for two federal judges. "Todd is an excellent attorney who will be a crucial leader in the Justice Department, fixing what has been a broken System of Justice for far too long," Trump said in announcing his choice for deputy attorney general. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah Lee, who has served 14 years in the Senate and sits on the Judiciary Committee, was considered a top candidate for attorney general before Gaetz was chosen and could potentially face an easier path to confirmation from his fellow senators. Lee was a vocal advocate for Trump during his first term and exchanged emails with Trump’s White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, conferring over how to challenge the 2020 election results. In texts obtained by CNN , Lee voiced “unequivocal support for you to exhaust every legal and constitutional remedy at your disposal,” although the senator ultimately voted to certify Joe Biden's election victory. "He is clearly one of these guys that has great respect in the United States Senate,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D. Kash Patel, former defense and intelligence official Patel served as a National Security Council official, a senior adviser to the Director of National Intelligence and as chief of staff to the Defense secretary during Trump’s first term. He is also under consideration as FBI director. Patel has frequently posted on social media and made public appearances to support Trump and his agenda since leaving office in 2021, especially in opposing and destroying what both have called the “deep state" of the national security bureaucracy. “We’ve got to put in all American patriots top to bottom,” Patel told another Trump surrogate, Steve Bannon in one recent post-election interview. Patel said he and Trump administration leaders “will go out and find the conspirators not just in government but in the media” deemed disloyal to Trump. Patel has shown a willingness to do whatever Trump wants of him, but he rubbed a lot of people at the department the wrong way, along with judges in counterterrorism cases, Breinholt said. “Kash was very unpopular with the Judiciary during his time at Justice, so we sent him up to the Hill,” where Patel worked for Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., on the House Intelligence Committee, Breinholt said. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Paxton has been a vocal supporter of Trump who spoke at the former president’s rally near the White House on Jan. 6, 2021, and attended his election night party at Mar-a-Lago. Paxton, who was previously a state lawmaker, has served as Texas attorney general since 2015. He filed 27 lawsuits against the Obama administration during a two-year period, with six cases heard at the Supreme Court. Like Trump, Paxton has been the subject of criminal investigations and an impeachment. He settled a longstanding indictment on charges of securities fraud in March without entering a plea but agreeing to pay $271,000 and performing community service. More: Ken Paxton stretching boundaries of consumer protection laws to pursue political targets Paxton was earlier impeached on 20 misconduct charges but the state Senate acquitted him in September 2023 . “Ken was made to suffer for a long period of time but it worked out very well,” Trump said after the acquittal.jiliko
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Bethlehem marks a 2nd subdued Christmas Eve during the war in Gaza
SoundHound AI Shares Are On The Rise Today: What's Going On? - Benzinga
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.
PARIS: Gautam and Sagar Adani knew their renewable energy company was under U.S. investigation for suspected bribery when they sold part of India's largest solar park to France's TotalEnergies , prosecutors allege in legal documents reviewed by Reuters. TotalEnergies did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday on whether it knew the Adanis were being probed by US authorities over an alleged bribery and fraud scheme when it bought the Khavda solar stake. US prosecutors on Thursday charged eight people - including Indian tycoon Gautam Adani , his nephew Sagar Adani and the former CEO of Adani Green Energy Limited - with promising and then making improper payments to Indian officials between July 2021 and 2024 to ensure the solar project's success. In September 2024, TotalEneriges paid $444 million into a joint venture with Adani Green Energy for a 50% stake in 1.15 gigawatts of solar installations at the Khavda solar park - the project at the heart of the bribery charges. The French oil and gas company is not named in the criminal case. The Adani Group has called the allegations baseless. It did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment about this story. According to the US. indictment, FBI special agents served Adani Green Energy Executive Director Sagar Adani with a search warrant and grand jury subpoena in March 2023 - more than a year before the sale to TotalEnergies. These documents identified Adani Green Energy, its former CEO Vneet Jaain, and chairman Gautam Adani as under investigation for alleged bribery to obtain business advantages for the firm. TotalEnergies bought a 20% stake in Adani Green Energy in January 2021 - after the Indian company won what was then the world's largest solar order, and just months before the alleged payments to officials began. Sangkaran Ratnam, TotalEnergies' country chair for India and the French firm's nominee to the board of directors of Adani Green Energy, did not respond to a request for comment on whether he had been aware of the investigation at the time TotalEnergies bought the stake in the Khavda assets. Ready to Master Stock Valuation? ET's Workshop is just around the corner!
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Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreams
WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers, meet your latest lobbyists: online influencers from TikTok. The platform is once again bringing influencers to Washington, this time to lobby members of Congress to reject a fast-moving bill that would force TikTok's Beijing-based parent company to sell or be banned in the United States. On Tuesday, some influencers began a two-day advocacy event in support of TikTok, which arranged their trip ahead of a House floor vote on the legislation on Wednesday. But unlike a similar lobbying event the company put together last March when talks of a TikTok ban reached a fever pitch, this year’s effort appeared more rushed as the company scrambles to counter the legislation, which advanced rapidly on Capitol Hill. Summer Lucille, a TikTok content creator with 1.4 million followers who is visiting Washington this week, said if TikTok is banned, she “don’t know what it will do” to her business, a plus-sized boutique in Charlotte, North Carolina. “It will be devastating,” Lucille said in an interview arranged by the platform. In an unusual showing of bipartisanship, a House panel unanimously approved the measure last week. President Joe Biden has said he will sign the legislation if lawmakers pass it. But it’s unclear what will happen in the Senate, where several bills aimed at banning TikTok have stalled. The legislation faces other roadblocks. Former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump, who holds sway over both House and Senate Republicans, has voiced opposition to the bill, saying it would empower Meta-owned Facebook, which he continues to lambast over his 2020 election loss. The bill also faces pushback from some progressive lawmakers in the House as well as civil liberties groups who argue it infringes on the First Amendment. TikTok could be banned if ByteDance, the parent company, doesn’t sell its stakes in the platform and other applications it owns within six months of the bill’s enactment. The fight over the platform takes place as U.S.-China relations have shifted to that of strategic rivalry, especially in areas such as advanced technologies and data security, seen as essential to each country’s economic prowess and national security. The shift, which started during the Trump years and has continued under Biden, has placed restrictions on export of advanced technologies and outflow of U.S. monies to China, as well as access to the U.S. market by certain Chinese businesses. The Biden administration also has cited human rights concerns in blacklisting a number of Chinese companies accused of assisting the state surveillance campaign against ethnic minorities. TikTok isn’t short on lobbyists. Its Beijing-based parent company ByteDance has a strong lobbying apparatus in Washington that includes dozens of lobbyists from well-known consulting and legal firms as well as influential insiders, such as former members of Congress and ex-aides to powerful lawmakers, according to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will also be in Washington this week and plans to meet with lawmakers, according to a company spokesperson who said Chew’s visit was previously scheduled. But influencers, who have big followings on social media and can share personal stories of how the platform boosted their businesses — or simply gave them a voice — are still perhaps one of the most powerful tools the company has in its arsenal. A TikTok spokesperson said dozens of influencers will attend the two-day event, including some who came last year. The spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions about how many new people would be attending this year’s lobbying blitz. The company is briefing them ahead of meetings with their representatives and media interviews. Lucille, who runs the boutique in North Carolina, says has seen a substantial surge in revenue because of her TikTok page. The 34-year-old began making TikTok content focusing on plus-sized fashion in March 2022, more than a decade after she started her business. She quickly amassed thousands of followers after posting a nine-second video about her boutique. Because of her popularity on the platform, her business has more online exposure and customers, some of whom have visited from as far as Europe. She says she also routinely hears from followers who are finding support through her content about fashion and confidence. JT Laybourne, an influencer who also came to Washington, said he joined TikTok in early 2019 after getting some negative comments on videos he posted on Instagram while singing in the car with his children. Laybourne, who lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, said he was attracted to the short-form video platform because it was easy to create videos that contained music. Like Lucille, he quickly gained traction on the app. He says he also received more support from TikTok users, who reacted positively to content he produced on love and positivity. Laybourne says the community he built on the platform rallied around his family when he had to undergo heart surgery in 2020. Following the surgery, he said he used the platform to help raise $1 million for the American Heart Association in less than two years. His family now run an apparel company that gets most of its traffic from TikTok. “I will fight tooth-and-nail for this app,” he said. But whether the opposition the company is mounting through lobbyists or influencers will be enough to derail the bill is yet to be seen. On Tuesday, House lawmakers received a briefing on national security concerns regarding TikTok from the FBI, Justice Department and intelligence officials. AP Journalist Didi Tang contributed to this report. This story was originally published on March 12, 2024. It was updated on December 23, 2024 to clarify a quote by TikTok content creator Summer Lucille.GOJO Shines at ISSA Trade Show, Celebrating Success with Multiple Industry AwardsCity are now six games without a victory but appeared to be cruising towards three points before being stunned by the Eredivisie side, who hit them with goals from Anis Hadj Moussa, Santiago Gimenez and David Hancko to fight back from 3-0 down. Two goals from Erling Haaland, one of them a penalty, and one from Ilkay Gundogan had the 2023 European champions three up after 53 minutes as they sought the win that would help to get their ailing season back on track. FULL-TIME | A point apiece. 🩵 3-3 ⚫️ #ManCity | #UCL pic.twitter.com/6oj1nEOIwm — Manchester City (@ManCity) November 26, 2024 After the team collapsed in the closing stages, Ake called on his team-mates to show their mettle if their campaign is not to wither away. Speaking to Amazon Prime, he was asked whether he believed the the team’s problem is a mental one. “Maybe it is,” he said. “It is difficult to say. Obviously we have not been in this situation many times but this is where we have to show our character. “When everything seems to go against us and everyone is writing us off, we have to stay strong mentally, believe in ourselves and stick together. 🔢 pic.twitter.com/diyhxQXsdF — Feyenoord Rotterdam (@Feyenoord) November 26, 2024 “Every season there is a period when they write us off. We have to make sure we stay strong as a team and staff and make sure we get out of it.” The draw leaves City with work to do if they are to secure one of the eight automatic spots in the last 16 of this season’s Champions League. They are currently 15th in the table, two points outside of the top eight, and will need positive results in their next two games against Juventus and Paris St Germain to keep their hopes alive. They then face Club Brugge in their final league match on January 29. The result at least ended a run of five straight defeats in all competitions ahead of Sunday’s Premier League showdown with leaders Liverpool at Anfield. “When you are three goals up it feels like a defeat when you give up three goals at home,” said Ake. “It is tough now, a tough night, but the only thing we can do is look forward to the next one. Liverpool is a big game and it is another challenge to overcome. “(We were) 3-0 up and we played quite well and were under control, but then it all changed. “You just have to stay strong mentally. At 3-1 they then push on but I think we need to go for it a bit earlier so we could keep the pressure on them, but we stayed playing at the back and maybe invited more pressure on us. “Then when you concede the second one there is even more pressure and then we have to stay stronger mentally.”
Stock market today: Wall Street hits records despite tariff talkIt was the fourth time this season they had conceded four or more and the performance showed why they have the Premier League’s worst defence. When O’Neil and the players went over to acknowledge the visiting supporters there were boos for a run of two wins in 14 league matches. “Whatever the fans think of me, there is definitely no-none working harder than me and I will continue to do so until someone tells me not to,” said O’Neil, who is under increasing pressure with his side second bottom of the table. “I go over there to see them because I appreciate every one of the Wolves fans. They have given me unbelievable support since I arrived at the football club,” he said. “We managed to produce some unbelievable stuff last season with a team that was heavily tipped by most of the nation for relegation. We managed to enjoy it together. “Now it is tough. I was happy to go over there and look them right in the face and take any criticism they want to throw at me. “I accept responsibility for my part in that. Whatever criticism they want to throw at me will not change how I feel about them. “Everyone at this football club needs to do more. We will get back to be ready to fight again on Monday (another crucial game against West Ham, whose manager Julen Lopetegui’s tenure is hanging by a thread). “I will work with everything I have. I will back myself to get the most out of the group. I understand the drive for change (but) you never know how much of a percentage of supporters it is.” Veteran Ashley Young ended Everton’s 370-minute wait for a goal with a 10th-minute free-kick, his first league goal for more than two years, and on-loan Lyon midfielder Orel Mangala blasted home his first for the club to establish a 2-0 half-time lead. Two Craig Dawson own goals secured Everton’s biggest home league win since April 2019, but manager Sean Dyche insisted their issues up front were far from sorted. He said: “It’s our fifth clean sheet in the last eight so the consistency has been there in one degree, we just haven’t been scoring goals. That’s been the hardest thing to find consistently and we haven’t solved it yet. “Goals change everything, they change opinions. That’s what football is like.” The victory was hugely important in a month in which, having been hammered 4-0 at Manchester United, they face top-six sides Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest and undoubtedly eased some of the pressure on Dyche and his players. “I’ve told them how proud I am of them,” he added. “The challenges come thick and fast on and off the pitch and they just keep going. “It’s only a step and there are many more to go but it’s a good step and a positive step. “It’s a temporary moment in time because the next one is a big one (Saturday’s Merseyside derby).”
The Attorney General informed the Court of Appeal yesterday that the National Procurement Commission had submitted its inquiry report regarding the Cabinet’s decision to approve the purchase of 750,000 N-Series passports from two companies. Senior Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawardena, appearing on behalf of the Attorney General, made these remarks when the writ petition filed by Epic Lanka (Pvt) Ltd and its Executive Chairman was taken up before the Court of Appeal. He further stated that the Cabinet of Ministers had decided to review the observations made by the National Procurement Commission following its inquiry. Meanwhile, Court of Appeal Justice P. Kumararatnam announced that the court would not further extend its interim order suspending the implementation of the former government’s Cabinet decision, which had approved the purchase of 750,000 N-Series passports. The Court of Appeal fixed the petition for hearing on January 23. This writ petition had been filed by Epic Lanka (Pvt) Ltd and its Executive Chairman alleging that it is a corrupt deal that violates the tender procedure. In its application, Epic Lanka alleged that the Cabinet of Ministers of the former regime had, on September 2, 2024, granted approval to procure 750,000 Nos. of Machine Readable Passports from Thales DIS Finland OY and Just In Time Technologies (Pvt) Ltd, outside of the proper procurement procedure, circumventing the National Procurement Guidelines. The petitioners further alleged that the National Procurement Commission has also acknowledged in writing that the procurement had irregularities. The petitioners have cited Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, former Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles, Controller General of Immigration and Emigration, the Cabinet of Ministers and several others as respondents. Viran Corea PC with Pramod Perera, Hiruni De Almeida and Shamina Bangsajayah instructed by Neelakandan & Neelakandan appeared for Epic Lanka. Senior Counsel Buddhike Illangatileke appeared for JIT. Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawardhana appeared for the Attorney General. Counsel Nisala S. Fernando appeared for Metropolitan Technologies Pvt Ltd and Eraj De Silva PC appeared for former president Ranil Wickremesinghe.No. 1 Vols shake off rough half, dump Middle Tennessee
S&P/TSX composite up almost 150 at closing, U.S. markets also higher
S&P/TSX composite up almost 150 at closing, U.S. markets also higherGary O’Neil accepts criticism from Wolves fans after heavy defeat at Everton
Referee David Coote will not appeal against termination of contractTORONTO , Nov. 26, 2024 /CNW/ - Franklin Templeton Canada today announced estimated cash distributions for Franklin International Multifactor Index ETF (FLDM), Franklin Global Dividend Quality Index ETF (FLGD) and Franklin Western Asset Core Plus Bond Fund - ETF series (FWCP). FLDM, FLGD and FWCP will be voluntarily delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) at market close on or around November 29, 2024 , and will be terminated at the close of business on or around December 4 , 2024. The ETF terminations were previously announced on September 25, 2024 . As detailed in the table below, unitholders of record at the close of business on December 3, 2024 , will receive a per-unit cash distribution payable on December 5, 2024 . These distributions are estimates only as of November 21, 2024 . If there are any changes to these distribution amounts, the final amounts will be announced on December 5, 2024 . Fund Name Ticker Type Estimated Cash Distribution Per Unit ($) Franklin International Multifactor Index ETF FLDM Smart Beta 0.551748 Franklin Global Dividend Quality Index ETF FLGD Smart Beta - Franklin Western Asset Core Plus Bond Fund - ETF series FWCP Active - About Franklin Templeton Franklin Resources, Inc. BEN is a global investment management organization with subsidiaries operating as Franklin Templeton and serving clients in over 150 countries. In Canada, the company's subsidiary is Franklin Templeton Investments Corp., which operates as Franklin Templeton Canada . Franklin Templeton's mission is to help clients achieve better outcomes through investment management expertise, wealth management and technology solutions. Through its specialist investment managers, the company offers specialization on a global scale, bringing extensive capabilities in fixed income, equity, alternatives and multi-asset solutions. With more than 1,500 investment professionals, and offices in major financial markets around the world, the California -based company has over 75 years of investment experience and over US$1.6 trillion (over CAN$2.2 trillion) in assets under management as of October 31, 2024. For more information, please visit franklintempleton.ca and connect with Franklin Templeton on LinkedIn , X and Facebook . Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investments in mutual funds and ETFs. Investors should carefully consider a mutual fund and ETF's investment objectives and strategies, risks, fees and expenses before investing. The prospectus and fund/ETF facts contain this and other information. Please read the prospectus and fund/ETF facts carefully before investing. ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below the ETF's net asset value. Brokerage commissions and mutual fund and ETF expenses will reduce returns. Mutual funds and ETFs are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Copyright © 2024. Franklin Templeton. All rights reserved. SOURCE Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2024/26/c7315.html © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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