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MADRID (AP) — Real Valladolid beat Valencia 1-0 and rose off the bottom of La Liga on Friday. Moroccan forward Anuar scored with a solo effort after 19 minutes. “It's a sense of relief because we needed the three points,” Anuar said on broadcaster DAZN. “It was like a final, and fortunately, we managed to come out on top.” Valladolid's Juanmi Latasa was sent off 12 minutes from time after a video review showed he used an elbow, but the home side managed to hold on for the win against a toothless rival. It was a welcome three points for caretaker coach Álvaro Rubio and his first since replacing Paulo Pezzolano, who was fired at the start of December. Valencia replaced Valladolid on the bottom of the table. Valencia has only two wins in 15 league games, but two games in hand. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerDOHA, Qatar , Dec. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On December 25, 2024 , the First JETOUR Fan's Festival and the Launch of T2 i-DM was held in Qatar , themed "Think Future". During the event, JETOUR launched its user brand "Traveler" in the Middle East and its first hybrid model, JETOUR T2 i-DM. The launch event highlights JETOUR's commitment to exploring sustainable travel modes and ambition to become the "The World's Leading Brand in Hybrid Off-road Vehicles" under the "Travel+" strategy. JETOUR T2 i-DM not only inherits the strengths of T2 series, but also achieves high energy efficiency, high performance, high safety, and high intelligence with its advanced hybrid technology, i-DM. With a maximum combined power of 280kW and torque of 610N•m, T2 i-DM boasts a NEDC pure electric range of 139km and an overall range exceeding 1,000km at just 0.8L/100km, addressing range anxiety and promoting green travel. Mr. Dai Lihong, executive vice president of JETOUR Auto, emphasized technology's role in producing world-class products. The launch also introduced "Traveler", enriching user experience through diverse products and superior performance. This year, JETOUR has ranked third in sales across the Qatari auto market. The Fan's Festival invited user representatives from across the Middle East to witness the unveiling of "Traveler", experiencing "Travel+" culture through city tours and co-creation workshops. JETOUR prioritizes users, listening to their needs and co-creating products, brand, and lifestyle. Through "Traveler," JETOUR aims to provide richer travel experiences and benefits globally, leveraging the platform to spread the "Travel+" culture worldwide. Mr. Alex Tan , Vice President of JETOUR International, said, "Serving 'JETOUR users' and being 'a user-oriented JETOUR' are JETOUR's development philosophy. JETOUR will continue to build a travel community centered around users, cars, and lifestyles, sharing the joy of traveling together with users." JETOUR also partnered with Diamond League to promote athletics in Qatar and the Middle East , embodying JETOUR Speed and the brand's image of breakthroughs and innovations. With T2 selling over 150,000 units globally, T2 i-DM will continue its success to meet customers' needs and reshape the hybrid SUV market. The launch of T2 i-DM marks JETOUR's new journey towards "the World's Leading Brand in Hybrid Off-road Vehicles." JETOUR plans to introduce more hybrid and off-road models, providing customers with eco-friendly and diversified travel choices. With its innovative spirit and user-oriented philosophy, JETOUR will lead the global automotive industry towards a more sustainable and smarter future. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-launch-of-jetour-t2-i-dm-reshaping-the-hybrid-suv-market-302339886.html SOURCE JETOUR AUTO
Cooper Rush passed for two touchdowns, Dallas returned two kicks for scores and the visiting Cowboys held off the Washington Commanders in a wild fourth quarter for a 34-26 win. Dallas led 10-9 after three quarters. With Washington trailing 27-26, Jayden Daniels hit Terry McLaurin for an 86-yard touchdown pass with 21 seconds left, but Austin Seibert missed his second extra point of the game. Juanyeh Thomas of the Cowboys then returned the onside kick 43 yards for a touchdown. Rush completed 24 of 32 passes for 247 yards for Dallas (4-7), which snapped a five-game losing streak. Rico Dowdle ran 19 times for 86 yards and CeeDee Lamb had 10 catches for 67 yards. Jayden Daniels was 25-of-38 passing for 274 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for reeling Washington (7-5), which has lost three straight. He ran for 74 yards and one score. McLaurin had five catches for 102 yards. Trailing 20-9 late in the fourth quarter, Daniels drove Washington 69 yards in nine plays and hit Zach Ertz for a 4-yard touchdown. Daniels ran for two points and Washington trailed 20-17 with 3:02 remaining. KaVontae Turpin muffed the ensuing kickoff, picked it up at the one, and raced 99 yards for a touchdown to make it 27-17. Austin Seibert's 51-yard field goal pulled the Commanders within 27-20 with 1:40 left, With the score tied 3-3, Washington took the second half kick and went 60 yards in 10 plays. On third-and-three from the Dallas 17, Daniels faked a handoff, ran left and scored his first rushing touchdown since Week 4. Seibert missed the point after and Washington led 9-3. Dallas answered with an 80-yard drive. A 23-yard pass interference penalty gave the Cowboys a first-and-goal at the 4. Two plays later Rush found Jalen Tolbert in the end zone and the extra point made it 10-9. Brandon Aubrey's 48-yard field goal made it 13-9 with 8:11 remaining in the game. On the next play, Daniels hit John Bates for 14 yards, but Donovan Wilson forced a fumble and Dallas recovered at the Washington 44. Five plays later, Rush found Luke Schoonmaker down the middle for a 22-yard touchdown and Dallas led 20-9 with 5:16 left. The first quarter was all about field goals. Aubrey's field goal attempt was blocked on the opening drive and Michael Davis returned it to the Dallas 40. Washington later settled for Seibert's 41-yard field goal. On the next Dallas drive, Aubrey hit the right upright from 42 yards out, and then Seibert missed from 51 yards. With 14 seconds left in the half, Rush found Jalen Brooks for a 41-yard gain to the Washington 28. On the next play Aubrey connected from 46 yards to tie it. --Field Level Media
By Ross Cristantiello Earlier this month, the state Civil Service Commission vacated the termination of a Boston police officer who was fired for posting tweets in support of Donald Trump while in Washington, D.C. for the Jan. 6, 2021 “Stop the Steal” rally. The commission concluded that officer Joseph Abasciano did not engage in misconduct on Jan. 6, and that there was no just cause for his termination. Two internal BPD investigations in 2021 determined that Abasciano did not violate the department’s rules. But in 2022, new BPD leadership reopened Abasciano’s file and came to a drastically different conclusion: that he should be fired for “conduct unbecoming.” In its recent decision , the commission favored the two earlier investigations. The third review is “far less thorough, more subjective, exudes a tinge of being result-driven and fails to sufficiently explain how the two starkly different conclusions can be reconciled,” Commissioner Paul Stein wrote. The commission, therefore, allowed Abasciano to appeal his termination. The specifics of what this means for him will be determined at a later date. “The scope of the relief, if any, financial or otherwise” must be adjudicated “in another forum with authority to interpret and enforce the applicable provisions” of the laws involved, Stein wrote. Abasciano, an Iraq War veteran who joined the BPD in 2007, was spoken of highly by colleagues and had no prior disciplinary issues. He accumulated several notable injuries during his time as a Boston police officer, and in July 2020 he began using his sick leave. He was approved of continuous leave through Jan. 23, 2021, according to the report. He attended the Jan. 6 rally while on leave, with another off-duty officer. They attended Trump’s speech, but did not participate in the riot at the Capitol. In writing the decision, Stein specifically stated that it does not “overlook the fact that most citizens, including members of this Commission, rightly reject the Appellant’s misinformed opinions contained in his tweets about the 2020 election and its aftermath.” “This decision should not be construed to condone or turn a blind eye to the unconscionable criminal acts committed by those who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021,” Stein wrote later in the report. In one tweet, Abasciano replied to a post from Georgia Secretary of State Chief Operating Officer Gabriel Sterling , writing “I can’t wait to see you dragged away in handcuffs.” In another tweet from Jan. 6, Abasciano wrote “today there will be only two parties in America. Traitors and Patriots!” per the report. The tweets were posted from an account Absciano kept anonymous. He later told investigators that he had been targeted by harassment and vandalism at his home in the past due to his support for Trump during the 2020 election. Abasciano had shut down his Facebook account, but kept using his Twitter account because he believed its anonymity was secure, according to the report. After Trump finished speaking that day, Abasciano and the other officer slowly began walking to the Capitol. It reportedly took more than an hour to reach a grassy area near the Capitol, and by that time a mob had already broken into the building. They observed the attack on the Capitol from afar, and never crossed any barricades or lines, the reported noted. After seeing some of the violence, they drove back to Boston. Abasciano’s link to the anonymous twitter account was revealed by another BPD officer who was not on good terms with Abasciano, he told investigators. The two 2021 investigations were then initiated, one from the BPD’s Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) and another from the department’s Internal Affairs Division (IAD). The former determined Abasciano did not personally participate in the Capitol attack or commit any criminal acts, while the latter concluded that Abasciano’s tweets were not intended to incite or condone violence and that they did not impact his ability to do his job. Mayor Michelle Wu appointed Police Commissioner Michael Cox in the summer of 2022. About a month after being sworn in, Cox assigned a new head of IAD and directed them to review several files that needed a decision by Cox. Abasciano’s file was the largest, according to the report. By December, Cox received a “non-concurrance” letter from the IAD that accused Abasciano of misconduct. BPD officials determined that Abasciano’s tweets negatively impacted the department and actually did warrant disciplinary action. So Cox sent a letter to Abasciano in March 2023 informing him that his termination was effective immediately. At a commission hearing after Abasciano’s firing, Boston police Captain Sean Martin answered questions about Abasciano, who he had supervised for about five years. Martin said he knew Abasciano to hold “very conservative” political views, but that this never led to bias in his policing. “Basically, these tweets . . . are extremely, extremely passionate about politics. He is very emotional, but looking at these, I don’t see how, given my history, my experience, and the time I supervised and worked with Joe, I don’t see how this – I have never seen this impact his ability to do his job or how he treated anybody,” Martin said when asked about Abasciano’s Jan. 6 tweets, per the report. Ultimately, the commission concluded that Abasciano’s tweets were constitutionally-protected instances of private free speech and that they could not be sanctioned as “conduct unbecoming.” The commission found multiple issues with the 2022 findings, and said that the preponderance of evidence supports the 2021 findings. “In sum, the decision in this appeal comes down to choosing between conflicting reports, with starkly different conclusions, completed by the same Department at different times,” Stein wrote. “Ultimately, the BPD’s 2021 ACD and IAD reports were more thorough, more objective and more reflective of the actual facts associated with the Appellant’s actions on January 6, 2021.” Ross Cristantiello Ross Cristantiello, a general assignment news reporter for Boston.com since 2022, covers local politics, crime, the environment, and more. Boston.com Today Sign up to receive the latest headlines in your inbox each morning. Be civil. Be kind.NoneOur clan has been described as far back as the late 1800s to be ‘as loud as an orchestra,’ especially on occasions like Noche Buena and Media Noche Now put a bunch of Romualdezes together with differing opinions and you get a full-on philharmonic! We all have our fair share of family dramas and this becomes more evident come Christmas time when we are all forced by holiday circumstances to gather in one place. The Romualdezes have been described as far back as the late 1800s to be “as loud as an orchestra.” To this day, when together, we are not only loud but strong and independent in mind and soul. We are as my great uncle, the first native Filipino Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, writer, composer, musicologist, politician, and statesman Norberto L. Romualdez, described as “people who are brought up to be the captain of one’s soul.” Looking for the meaning of this, I read that, “captain of my soul” suggests you're in charge of your deepest feelings, desires, and beliefs. In a world full of distractions and expectations, staying true to yourself can be challenging but essential. This is so true and runs strong in some more than others belonging to our clan. Now put a bunch of “Rs” together with differing opinions and you get a full-on philharmonic! You know the saying, be careful what you wish for. Well, I curiously wanted to know what it must have been like at family gatherings during major political events in our country’s history, such as during the turning point from Spanish to American colonial rule and from being an American colony to a republic. I have public documents and correspondence detailing the thoughts and opinions of a number of family members with opposing views and I wondered how they dealt with one another during those times. Were they successful in curbing their emotions when faced with family members with opposing sentiments at a family gathering? From my experience and, as a witness, yes there would be some “dead-mahan (not minding each other)” or avoidance or a cold shoulder here and there, but at least they would show up. After all, isn’t that what the spirit of Christmas is all about? Still, some family members do opt to skip the Christmas events, including the Noche Buena. Do I regret making that wish to know how it feels? To know what it’s like? No, I was there to bear witness to how this family overcomes inter-familial adversity. I am not the first to do this in my family. This “burden” was bestowed upon me by previous family historians and “geneologists. My late cousin Nonoy Abella was filled with utmost relief when he turned over all the family documents to me, “Now I can die,” he says. I thought he was overly dramatic but realizing the responsibility of finding someone in the family who would be up to the task of recording our family history, I know now how he felt. Nonoy was designated by our Auntie Loring Romualdez-Ramos, who, in turn, was tasked to be the family historian by Nonoy’s father, Dr. Domingo Abella (1906-1976), a scholar, historian, and later director of the Bureau of Records, which was known from 1967 up until the early ’70s as the National Archives. Before him, it was his mother, Dona Trinidad Talintin Lopez, who played the role. My family story is no different from that of other families with the usual family dynamics at play. Maybe, most other family stories do not play so publicly but the template is the same. After Noche Buena, we have Christmas Day and the many days that follow, on which we think up occasions to eat the leftovers, leading up to New Year’s Eve. The Christian tradition of celebrating New Year’s Eve can be traced back to the implementation of the Gregorian calendar, which was established by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. It officially declared Jan. 1 as the first day of the New Year, whereas Old Year’s Day, which is now called New Year’s Eve, was declared as the last day of the year (Dec. 31). Filipinos have established their own way of celebrating the coming of the New Year. This includes, among Christian Filipinos, attending mass before partaking of a midnight meal called Media Noche, during which 12 round fruits are served to represent the 12 months of the year. It is believed that fruits circular in shape, resembling coins and money, will bring good fortune. This is a derivative of the Spanish New Year’s Eve tradition of eating 12 grapes or las doce uvas (the twelve grapes of luck) at midnight to ensure fortune and prosperity for the coming year. The wearing of polka dots is also quite a tradition, as is placing coins on windowsills to invite good fortune, opening doors and windows (despite the smoke from the firecrackers) for good luck to enter the home, jumping at midnight (for children), which is believed to make children grow tall. To be completely honest, I have my doubts with this one. Other traditions include making a lot of noise at midnight to drive away negative energy and bad spirits and starting fresh. What you do at the start of the New Year will follow you in the rest of the year, so make friends, avoid debt, and keep on loving. Happy New Year everyone! Here is to peace, prosperity, and “love among all creatures on this earth.” May God bless us and keep us safe in the palm of His hand.Fianna Fail and Fine Gael eye independent TDs as option to secure Dail majority
NoneYankees get closer Devin Williams from Brewers for Nestor Cortes, Caleb Durbin
The rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs and the suspected health care CEO assassin Luigi Mangione have decided on a similar defense strategy: Hire an Agnifilo. Or two. Marc Agnifilo is heading Combs' defense against racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges , while Karen Friedman Agnifilo is leading Mangione's murder defense , with Marc in a support role. For much of the past few decades, the legal power couple often found themselves on opposite sides of such complex cases – she for the prosecution, and he for the defense. Now, they find themselves representing two of the most high-profile cases in the country today. From 2014 to 2021, Karen was the second-in-command in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, which brought notable cases against defendants including Harvey Weinstein and Allen Weisselberg, the chief financial officer of the Trump Organization. She left the department in 2021 and has since moved into media, with a stint as a CNN legal analyst and contributor. Marc, meanwhile, has represented many of the targets of those DA investigations, including "pharma bro" Martin Shkreli, Nxivm founder Keith Raniere and former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng. He worked for the law firm Brafman & Associates from 2006 until earlier this year, when he split off to co-found the firm Agnifilo Intrater . Parents to three adult children, the law is what brought them together. The two met at the Manhattan DA's office in 1992 while working on a case in which two bagel store deliverymen got into an argument, and one cut off the other's arm with a machete, according to The New York Times . Their intersecting careers have at times led to legal conflicts of interest. In 2011, Karen had to recuse herself from the Manhattan DA's case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn when the former head of the International Monetary Fund hired the law firm where Marc worked. "It's never been awkward," Marc told The New York Times in 2011. "We're pretty regimented about it. If she's recused from a case, we really don't talk about it." The Agnifilos declined a CNN request for an interview. But that was then, and now, the Agnifilos have joined forces. Monday, when Mangione appeared in a New York courthouse for his arraignment, Karen was positioned to his left, and Marc sat on his right. Karen spoke to the court and criticized what she called the NYPD's over-the-top "perp walk" of her client, drawing on her years of service for perspective. "He was on display for everyone to see in the biggest staged perp walk I've ever seen in my career," she said. From public service to defense Karen Friedman Agnifilo has decades of experience in the legal field, primarily in the Manhattan DA's Office. She most recently served as the chief assistant district attorney under then-District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. until 2021. Her professional bio notes her "critical leadership role in prosecuting high-profile violent crime cases, including complex cases involving a mental health component." She managed a team of 1,500 people with a $120 million budget and "was also integral to creating the office's Human Trafficking Unit, Hate Crimes Unit, Antiquities Trafficking Unit, Terrorism Unit, its Cybercrimes and Identity Theft Bureau, as well as working on the creation of Manhattan's first Mental Health Court," according to her bio. She left public service in 2021 – complete with a bagpipe sendoff from the NYPD and DA's office – and moved to private practice. In an interview with the " Shut Up Mommy's Talking " podcast in 2022, Karen said moving into defense work was an adjustment. She cited her husband's experience in deciding whom to take on as a client. "My husband's also a criminal defense attorney and he's had some clients who just aren't nice to him. And I don't mean, like just not a little bit nice, I mean like abusive," she said. "And I don't want that at this stage in my life." "There's no crime necessarily that I wouldn't take or even set of factors that I wouldn't take," she added. "I do believe that everyone's entitled to a defense and to good representation, and I've always believed that." Karen said she has also been influenced by her children. Her twin daughters took an interest in politics and the Black Lives Matter movement during the COVID-19 pandemic, changing her thinking on the topic. "I have to credit them with opening my eyes to these issues," she said. Her third child has autism, she told the podcast, and she had frustrating experiences trying to get them help. She then used her experiences as a "special needs mom" to implement systems in the DA's office to help those with less money or opportunity, she said. "That became sort of my mission at the DA's office. It was very much into alternatives to incarceration, I pushed that very hard," she said. In recent years, Karen has moved into the media. She has served as the legal adviser to the long-running show "Law & Order," worked as a CNN legal analyst and opines on legal issues as the podcast host of "Legal AF" and "MissTrial" on the MeidasTouch Network. Her vocal media presence may offer a preview of her defense strategy. Earlier this month on CNN, before taking on Mangione as a client, she offered her thoughts on how the case could proceed. "It looks to me like there might be a not guilty by reason of insanity defense that they're going to be thinking about because the evidence is going to be so overwhelming that he did what he did," she said on December 10 . "As a former prosecutor in that office, I would be concerned that you have someone who is a valedictorian of his class, he was brilliant his whole life, he comes from this great family. I mean, something changed, significantly, something changed. And they're going to potentially have a not guilty by reason of insanity potential defense, so the prosecutors are going to try to shore that up as well in their investigation." Marc has repped Shkreli, Diddy Marc Agnifilo similarly began his career in prosecutors' offices and has since made a mark defending high-profile defendants in complex cases on the state, federal and international levels. A graduate of Connecticut College and Brooklyn Law School, he worked at the US Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey and as a Manhattan assistant district attorney before turning to criminal defense, his website states . He has defended some of the most publicly reviled defendants of the past decade in Shkreli and Raniere, both of whom were convicted at trial. "You may find him repulsive, disgusting and offensive. We don't convict people in this country for being repulsive or offensive," he argued in Raniere's trial on charges of racketeering and sex trafficking. "Unpopular ideas aren't criminal. Disgusting ideas aren't criminal." In recent months, Marc took on Combs' case and has repeatedly asked the court to release the rapper on bond before trial. Other cases, many of which are listed on his website, have been resolved without charges or with short sentences. He told Law.com earlier this year his new law firm will focus on complex criminal litigation with an eye toward trying cases. "I have found that people come to me when they have something to say against the government's allegations," Marc said. "Very often that means they want to go to trial. So we all plan to do what we've always done: to try a bunch of cases. That's our supreme value."The Myanmar women’s national football team started training camp in mid-December to prepare for international tournaments scheduled for 2025. The team consists of 32 preliminary selected players under the leadership of Japanese coach Yukitaka Tetsuro. While there are no immediate international matches lined up, the training camp ensures that the players maintain consistent performance levels. The team is expected to participate in international friendlies in February, pending coordination between football federations. The Myanmar squad will compete in major events next year, including the ASEAN Women’s Championship, the Thailand SEA Games and other international tournaments. Coach Yukitaka leads a balanced squad that includes experienced players like Khin Mar Lar Tun alongside rising stars such as Myat Noe Khin, ensuring a mix of skill and fresh talent. — Ko Nyi Lay/KZLTennessee 32, Houston 27
There was a lower turnout than expected, with 142 million voters compared to 158 million in 2020. This approximate 10 percent drop signified that neither candidate—former President Republican Donald Trump nor Vice President Democrat Kamala Harris—was appealing to a significant portion of the electorate. The election for the United States president, some Senate seats, and the House of Representatives took place on 5 November 2024. Turn-out There was a lower turnout than expected, with 142 million voters compared to 158 million in 2020. This approximate 10 percent drop signified that neither candidate—former President Republican Donald Trump nor Vice President Democrat Kamala Harris—was appealing to a significant portion of the electorate. The sentiment that politicians did not care about the concerns of working-class people was also a factor. This adversely affected Harris, who was hoping for a strong turnout, especially from minorities and women, but that did not materialise. President Joe Biden’s approval rating was in the low 40s going into the election, and Harris found herself tethered to him. Republican dissidents, even if opposed to Trump on issues like the peaceful transfer of power and the attack on Congress on 6 January 2021, were not going to vote for Harris. On the other hand, Harris’ supporters were more anti-Trump than enthusiastic about her. She clearly defined her position on abortion but failed to define herself on most other issues. There were also indications that many voters switched sides from known loyalties, with at least 50 percent of defections going to Trump, mainly from the same demographics as in 2016. The mainstream media, which was heavily inclined to liberalism, misjudged the situation, while platforms like X and podcasts provided more accurate insights. Economy The key issues for voters were the economy, immigration, democracy, the rejection of elites, and the unpopularity of outgoing President Biden. These were identifiable concerns, along with a desire for change. Lower middle-class and working-class families, especially those with children, felt threatened by rising household costs. This led to major political realignments, resulting in the biggest Republican sweep since the 1980s and 1990s. The Republican Party was seen as the party of progress, working-class interests, strong borders, and technical innovation. Incumbency, therefore, proved to be a negative factor for Harris. The widely held belief was that the GDP growth over the last two quarters before the election would be a decisive factor, but this proved to be wrong. The anxiety felt by the middle and lower classes was not assuaged by the GDP index. Democracy Harris stressed the threat to democracy posed by Trump, a message that resonated with some voters. However, Trump also engaged with the issue. The problem lay in the different ways both sides defined democracy. For Democrats, the threat was Trump’s attack on civil liberties and electoral fraud. For Republicans, it was related to crime on the streets, with democracy seen as an abstract concept primarily for the wealthy. The disconnect between democracy and daily life made the theoretical questions about democracy irrelevant for much of the public. Democracy and equality for all people were seen as a threat by many white voters who were concerned about immigration and demographic changes. They were willing to sacrifice democracy in favour of self-interest, which allowed Trump to neutralise his weaknesses on the question of democracy. Harris compounded the problem by ill-advisedly labelling Trump as a “fascist,” a term that alienated voters. She should have instead explained what Trump had done in 2020 and 2021 in refusing to accept the election result. The prosecution of Trump supporters after the Capitol invasion and the cases brought against Trump himself were seen as politicising the courts and persecuting political opponents. This allowed Trump to deflect the intensity of the arguments against him. Demographics There appears to be a larger race gap than a gender gap in US politics. It seems unlikely that women were necessarily inclined to Harris and the Democrats. White women, in particular, voted for Trump in similar numbers to 2016. Female education also played a role, with white women holding college degrees tending to vote for Trump, even though their share in the overall electorate has declined. Trump also appealed to young voters aged 18-25, a group that voted in large numbers, surprising many analysts. Latinos and African Americans swung towards Trump, though not as markedly as during Barack Obama’s campaigns. In fact, Trump gained across all demographics, which made the outcome clear by midnight on election day, despite the US’s three-time zones. The new trans-racial working-class coalition is likely to influence Republican policy moving forward. Culling the Bureaucracy Both parties have long wished to scale down the civil service and install their own loyalists in key government positions. However, this issue has been complex and has defied a clear solution. The current system is seen as untenable, with too many civil servants being non-experts and many working from home, leaving office buildings in Washington DC virtually empty yet still funded by the federal government. Trump, like his predecessors, wants to reduce the size and cost of the bureaucracy. He proposes to trim the career government service, though many bureaucrats are legally protected from dismissal. Polarization The United States remains a deeply polarized country, in desperate need of healing leadership to achieve its goal of providing unified global leadership. This has been made more difficult by Biden, who failed to unify the country, and by the emergence of a new, different multi-racial working-class coalition. Trump, as a disruptor, is unlikely to offer the compassion and compromise needed. His abrasive rhetoric, which has made him well-known, is far from the tone required to mollify the public and drive any major issues. Bi-partisan coalitions are unlikely, and working amicably with state governors is not a hallmark of Trump’s leadership style. Policies With control of the White House, Senate, the House of Representatives (though barely), and the Supreme Court, the Republicans now have a mandate to implement policies related to the economy, immigration, and focus on programmes for the working class, which could lead to realignments within the Republican Party. Trump is expected to govern with a strong hand, emphasising his presidential prerogatives. However, it remains to be seen how the party will address issues like tariffs and the national debt, which currently stands at $35 trillion. Divisions may also emerge on matters like Social Security and Medicare, though tax cuts and deficits are unlikely to be problematic, as they were during Trump’s first term. Deporting undocumented immigrants, which could number around 13 million, is expected to be an expensive, divisive, and inhumane initiative, but it remains a major Trump objective. Foreign Affairs Foreign policy is expected to take a more introspective turn under Trump. While Biden had pushed financial, military, and other resources towards Ukraine, this will likely be severely restrained under the new administration. A free hand will be given to Israel, but a drawn-out campaign against Palestinians and Lebanon is not expected. Regarding US participation in international organisations like the Paris Climate Change Accord, NATO, and the G-7, some Republicans are internationalists at heart, and there may be resistance to any US withdrawal. Trump’s Team Trump’s early choices for his administration appear to prioritise loyalty over expertise. With a majority in the Senate, the confirmation process will be smoother, but, as with Trump’s first term, many of these appointments may be dropped or resigned within the first year. Click for more latest World news . Also get top headlines and latest news from India and around the world at News9. The author is a former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh and has served as a foreign secretary in the Government of India.Zymeworks Inc. (NYSE:ZYME) Director Ecor1 Capital, Llc Buys 11,958 SharesMarc Andreessen: 'Every Signal Is Being Sent' Trump DOJ Official Harmeet Dhillon Will Drop Hammer On Woke Corporations
STAAR Surgical ( NASDAQ:STAA – Get Free Report ) shares were down 3% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $24.22 and last traded at $24.23. Approximately 34,277 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 95% from the average daily volume of 699,621 shares. The stock had previously closed at $24.97. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts recently weighed in on STAA shares. Stephens upgraded shares of STAAR Surgical to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, December 2nd. Canaccord Genuity Group dropped their target price on STAAR Surgical from $31.00 to $28.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, December 9th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of STAAR Surgical in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $42.83. View Our Latest Stock Report on STAA STAAR Surgical Price Performance Insider Transactions at STAAR Surgical In other news, major shareholder Broadwood Partners, L.P. bought 23,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 18th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $24.33 per share, for a total transaction of $559,590.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider now owns 10,848,631 shares in the company, valued at approximately $263,947,192.23. This trade represents a 0.21 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink . Corporate insiders own 1.00% of the company’s stock. Institutional Trading of STAAR Surgical A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Granite Investment Partners LLC acquired a new position in STAAR Surgical in the second quarter valued at about $17,237,000. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of STAAR Surgical by 50.1% during the 2nd quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC now owns 592,621 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $28,215,000 after purchasing an additional 197,717 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its position in shares of STAAR Surgical by 411.7% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 214,750 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $7,978,000 after purchasing an additional 172,779 shares during the period. American Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in STAAR Surgical by 42.9% during the 3rd quarter. American Capital Management Inc. now owns 512,813 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $19,051,000 after purchasing an additional 154,037 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in STAAR Surgical by 25.9% during the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 459,655 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $21,884,000 after purchasing an additional 94,422 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 96.70% of the company’s stock. STAAR Surgical Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) STAAR Surgical Company, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells implantable lenses for the eye, and companion delivery systems to deliver the lenses into the eye. The company provides implantable Collamer lens product family (ICLs) to treat visual disorders, such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia. See Also Receive News & Ratings for STAAR Surgical Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for STAAR Surgical and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Brighton draws 0-0 with Brentford in lackluster Premier League encounter
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