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Owen McCown named MVP of Myrtle Beach BowlOn December 9, 2024, a heartbreaking incident unfolded in Bengaluru, as Atul Subhash , a 34-year-old tech professional, tragically took his own life. Subhash, who had been facing ongoing marital troubles, uploaded a chilling post on X (formerly known as Twitter) before ending his life, claiming that he was a victim of “harassment, extortion, and corruption.” His post, which also tagged prominent figures like U.S. President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, conveyed his deep disillusionment with India’s judiciary. He alleged that he was driven to suicide due to the actions of his wife and her family. This event has sparked widespread outrage and raised important questions regarding the treatment of men in the Indian legal system, with the hashtag #JusticeForAtulSubhash trending on social media. Atul Subhash’s final message Before taking this tragic step, Atul Subhash uploaded an 84-minute video and a 24-page suicide note, naming five individuals he held responsible for his distress, including his wife, in-laws, and a judge. The video, which has been widely shared on social media, saw Subhash speaking calmly and directly, explaining his decision. In the video, he stated, "With my taxes, this court, this police system, will harass me and my family and other good people as well." He mentioned the emotional and financial toll that the legal system had taken on him and expressed that he felt his only option was to end his life. He also left behind a placard in his house that read, “Justice is due.” The video shocked viewers not only for its content but also for Subhash’s calm demeanor, which many perceived as a sign of a man resigned to his fate rather than someone overwhelmed by mental illness. His words highlighted the alleged injustice he faced, and the clear documentation of his experiences raised significant concerns about the treatment of men in the legal system. Legal and personal struggles leading to Atul Subhash’s death Atul Subhash’s death appears to be the culmination of years of legal and marital struggles. According to preliminary investigations, Subhash had been facing significant tension in his marriage, with his wife reportedly filing legal cases against him. These cases allegedly involved fabricated accusations and demands for a substantial settlement, reportedly around 3 crore rupees. These legal challenges, combined with harassment from his wife and in-laws, drove Subhash to a point of desperation. His complaints centered on what he saw as a biased judicial system that he felt had failed to offer him a fair chance in his personal and legal matters. #JusticeForAtulSubhash and the #MenToo Movement take over social media As Subhash’s video and suicide note circulated on social media, a wave of support and outrage emerged. The hashtag #JusticeForAtulSubhash quickly gained traction, with many expressing their sympathy and anger over the circumstances that led to his tragic death. Social media users, including noted author Shefali Vaidya, voiced their shock at the video’s content, calling for a reevaluation of the legal system and its treatment of men in similar situations. Vaidya’s comments highlighted the disturbing nature of the video, emphasizing that Subhash seemed to be a rational individual, not suffering from depression, but instead making a calculated decision after enduring prolonged injustice. What is the #MenToo movement? #MenToo is a social movement that emerged in India to raise awareness about the issue of false sexual harassment allegations against men. The movement gained widespread attention after Bollywood actress Pooja Bedi and Barkha Trehan, the founder of Purush Aayog, called for the introduction of gender-neutral laws and fair investigations following the arrest of actor Karan Oberoi. Oberoi had been accused of sexual harassment by his ex-girlfriend, which led to public outcry and debates surrounding the fairness of such legal proceedings. This case reignited discussions about the #MenToo movement, which advocates for men’s rights, especially in cases involving false accusations and biased legal systems. The movement gained significant traction after the 2019 arrest of Karan Oberoi. His supporters, including Pooja Bedi, emphasized the need for balanced, unbiased laws that ensure fairness for both genders. Since then, #MenToo has continued to gain momentum, with many advocating for reforms to address the challenges men face, particularly in areas such as divorce, domestic abuse, and harassment cases. The broader issue of gender bias and legal inequality The outpouring of support for Atul Subhash has shone a spotlight on broader issues within India’s legal and social systems. Many commentators on social media have pointed to the bias against men in family law, alleging that false accusations, dowry demands, and the manipulation of legal processes are common issues men face. One user wrote, “Atul Subhash’s case is just one of many in India. Countless similar stories remain unheard. Honestly, our justice system is so broken.” This sentiment reflects a growing concern about the need for gender-neutral laws that treat both men and women equally, particularly in matters of domestic disputes and harassment allegations. The #MenToo movement and Subhash’s tragic death have sparked calls for legal reforms and a more balanced approach to dealing with cases of harassment, divorce, and dowry. Critics argue that men often suffer in silence, unable to speak out due to social stigma and a lack of legal recourse. Many users expressed frustration over the way media outlets cover such cases, often downplaying the suffering of men and failing to report on the accused individuals, particularly when women are involved. Also read | Elon Musk becomes first person with $400 billion net worth | Apple iPhone 16 Pro is available for Rs 71,050 on Flipkart
Former New York Governor George Pataki is blasting the Empire’s State’s “ignorant” clean energy plans as “pie-in-the-sky” nonsense that will never happen. New York has passed unsustainable laws that would require “net-zero carbon emissions by 2040,” and “70 percent renewable electricity sources by 2030.” But Pataki is calling out these mandates as nonsense and says the state will never reach the mandated goals, the New York Post reported. “We have an enormous, looming gap between energy use and energy generation in New York State.” That gap stands at about 50 percent already, he said during an appearance Sunday on 770 WABC’s The Cats Roundtable show. Pointing out the obvious — that the renewable energy plans are absurd because the sun doesn’t always shine for solar, nor does the wind always blow to turn wind turbines — the Republican, who was New York’s governor from 1995 to 2006, excoriated the Democrat establishment’s “ignorant” long-term energy plans. The law, signed by former Democrat Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2019, requires the state to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030, and 85 percent by 2050. These plans, Pataki said, are “incredibly short-sighted and ignorant.” “That’s just not going to happen. We need to continue to have fossil fuel generation whether we like it or not,” he scoffed. And with the energy gap already as big as it is, the mandates will make matters worse. “We’re going to see the need for energy in New York State probably double between now and 2040. But we don’t have the ability right now, or the planning, to fill that gap in any way that is actually going to work,” he explained. “We have to start now planning to put new [energy] sources [into effect]. The most logical ones are small nuclear reactors that can generate power locally and fuel an entire community with zero emissions,” Pataki said, suggesting the nuclear energy is one solution. “I hope the state gets its act together and starts looking at that in an aggressive way very soon,” Pataki concluded. Sitting state Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, has mentioned nuclear power as a solution to the state’s growing needs. But aside from releasing a “draft blueprint” for energy solutions, no actual move toward nuclear has come from Albany. But there are already warnings that the big switch away from oil and natural gas will cause New York homeowners to suffer under skyrocketing costs for heating and powering their homes, not to mention the strain on the power grid as more and more homes end up being forced to ditch gas and oil and rely completely on electricity. Follow Warner Todd Huston on Facebook at: facebook.com/Warner.Todd.Huston , or Truth Social @WarnerToddHuston
Is Dua Lipa Engaged to Callum Turner? A New Pics Are Making Her Fans Think SoAP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:09 p.m. ESTBipartisan group of governors join together for national education initiative
Syrian government services come to ‘complete halt’ as workers stay at homeThe standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s "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?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.
European stocks bounced around Monday while US equities shook off early weakness to push higher as investors waited to see if a so-called Santa Claus rally sweeps over the market. Global stock markets had a tumultuous time last week, spiraling lower after the US Federal Reserve signaled fewer interest rate cuts than had been expected for 2025. But it ended on a positive note as traders welcomed below-forecast US inflation data that raised hopes about the health of the world's biggest economy. That helped Asian markets move higher on Monday, but the positive trend faltered in Europe and stumbled initially in the United States. "Another up leg in US yields not only put pressure on stock indices but also drove the greenback higher," said IG analyst Axel Rudolph. But after a sluggish start, US stocks rose progressively in a quiet session with analysts pointing to low pre-holiday trading volumes. "Stocks didn't really have any direction in the morning, then we got this tech rally that just sort of drifted higher all day," said Steve Sosnick of Interactive Brokers. Analysts view elevated Treasury bond yields as a threat to year-end gains in an historically strong period of the calendar. Known as a Santa Claus rally, there are various explanations for the phenomenon including seasonal optimism and end-of-year tax considerations. But there remains some trepidation among investors as Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, pledging to cut taxes, slash regulations and impose tariffs on imports, which some economists warn could reignite inflation. "The initial response to the US election was positive as investors focused on the obvious tailwinds to profitability: lower corporate tax rates and less regulation," said Ronald Temple, chief market strategist at Lazard. "However, I expect much more dispersion within the equity market when the reality of a much-less-friendly trade environment sets in." In Europe, the FTSE 100 moved higher as the pound slid following data that showed that the UK economy stagnated in the third quarter, revised down from initial estimates of 0.1 percent growth. Official data out of Spain on Monday showed that the Spanish economy grew 0.8 percent in the third quarter as domestic consumption and exports increased, comfortably outstripping the European Union average. In company news, shares in crisis-hit German auto giant Volkswagen lost more than three percent on the back of news Friday that it plans to axe 35,000 jobs by 2030 in a drastic cost-cutting plan. Shares in Japanese auto giant Honda rose over three percent after it announced Monday an agreement to launch merger talks with struggling compatriot Nissan that could create the world's third largest automaker. New York - Dow: UP 0.2 percent at 42,906.95 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.7 percent at 5,974.89 (close) New York - Nasdaq Composite: UP 1.0 percent at 19,764.89 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.2 percent at 8,102.72 (close) Paris - CAC 40: FLAT at 7,272.32 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.2 percent at 19,848.77 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.2 percent at 39,161.34 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.8 percent at 19,883.13 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.5 percent at 3,351.26 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0408 from $1.0430 on Friday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2531 from $1.2570 Dollar/yen: UP at 157.14 yen from 156.31 yen Euro/pound: UP at 83.03 pence from 82.97 pence West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.3 percent at $69.24 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.4 percent at $72.63 per barrel burs-jmb/jgcApple's latest iPhones get the gift of more AI as holiday shopping season heats upOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Jamiya Neal's 19 points helped Creighton defeat UNLV 83-65 on Saturday night. Neal had nine rebounds, nine assists, and four blocks for the Bluejays (7-3). Steven Ashworth added 17 points plus seven assists. Isaac Traudt had 15 points and shot 5 for 8, including 5 for 7 from beyond the arc. The Rebels (4-4) were led in scoring by Jailen Bedford, who finished with 20 points and three steals. Dedan Thomas Jr. added 18 points for UNLV. Julian Rishwain finished with 10 points and two steals. Creighton took the lead with 18:48 left in the first half and did not give it up. The score was 39-27 at halftime, with Neal racking up 10 points. Creighton extended its lead to 49-27 during the second half, fueled by a 10-0 scoring run. Ashworth scored a team-high 10 points in the second half as his team closed out the win. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Retired DOJ prosecutor Steve Mellin shares his thoughts on President Biden’s commutations of federal death sentences on ‘America Reports.’ Following President Biden's move to commute the sentences of 37 prisoners on federal death row, Sen. Joe Manchin , I-W.Va., called the clemency granted to two of the individuals "horribly misguided and insulting." In the 37 cases, Biden commuted the sentences to life sentences without the potential for parole. Manchin — a Democrat-turned-independent senator who will soon leave office — said he felt a responsibility to speak out on behalf of the parents of Samantha Burns, who was slain in 2002 at the age of 19, according to reports. TRUMP PLEDGES TO BRING BACK FEDERAL EXECUTIONS AFTER BIDEN COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCES FOR 37 INMATES Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., speaks during the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the Special Diabetes Program on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on July 11, 2023. (Jemal Countess/Getty Images for JDRF) "After speaking to Samantha Burns’ parents, I believe it is my duty to speak on their behalf and say President Biden’s decision to commute the death sentences for the two men convicted in her brutal murder is horribly misguided and insulting," the lawmaker declared in a statement posted on X. "Particularly since Samantha’s family wrote letters to President Biden & the Department of Justice, pleading for them not to do this, but their concerns were unheard. I can’t imagine the grief that Kandi and John Burns are reliving and dealing with during the holiday season," Manchin continued. "As their U.S. Senator and a father, I want to express my deepest sympathy for their continued suffering. Please know that Samantha will forever be in our prayers." Brandon Basham is pictured after escaping from the Hopkins County Jail in Madisonville, Kentucky, on Nov. 4, 2002. He went on an interstate crime spree with fellow escapee Chadrick Fulks that included the murders of two women. (Ashland Police Department/Getty Images) The two men connected with the young woman's death escaped lockup and went on a crime spree in 2002, according to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit . "On November 4, 2002, cellmates Chadrick Fulks and Brandon Basham escaped from a county detention facility in Kentucky" and "unleashed a criminal rampage that lasted seventeen days and zigzagged across several states," according to the court, which noted that the men "admitted to killing Burns and pleaded guilty to carjacking resulting in death in the Southern District of West Virginia." TRUMP HAS CHRISTMAS MESSAGE TO ‘RADICAL LEFT LUNATICS,’ TELLS INMATES BIDEN GRANTED CLEMENCY TO ‘GO TO HELL!’ Chadrick Fulks is escorted by U.S. Marshals out of the federal courthouse in Huntington, West Virginia, on April 12, 2005, following an arraignment on charges of carjacking resulting in the death of Marshall University student Samantha Burns, use of a firearm to commit a crime and interstate transportation of a stolen motor vehicle. (AP Photo/The Herald-Dispatch, Randy Snyder) In a fiery Christmas Day post on Truth Social, President-elect Trump told the 37 individuals who escaped capital punishment to "GO TO HELL!" In a statement about the commutations, President Biden said, "I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss." OUTGOING SEN. JOE MANCHIN PUSHES CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FOR SUPREME COURT TERM LIMITS President Biden speaks at the Department of Labor in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 16. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP But he also said that he was "more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level." "These commutations are consistent with the moratorium my Administration has imposed on federal executions, in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder," Biden said. Alex Nitzberg is a writer for Fox News Digital.OTTAWA — Alberta’s Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis said Friday that political paralysis in Ottawa is fuelling growing violence in communities in his province and beyond. “There’s a leadership gap in the federal government we’re watching play out in real time,” said Ellis, also Alberta’s deputy premier, in a year-end interview with the National Post. Ellis took aim at the Liberal minority government’s criminal justice policies , such as a 2019 law that made it easier for some suspects to be released from custody on bail. (Parts of the law were reversed in a late-2023 update .) All hopes for the passage of tougher federal criminal laws were dashed in September, when an impasse over documents related to a failed green technology fund effectively derailed the fall sitting of the House of Commons, which ended last week. Ellis said that the federal filibustering has real-world consequences. “What we have now is violent repeat offenders (who) are going into the streets and wreaking havoc within our communities,” said Ellis, an ex-police officer. Ellis said the cold-blooded shooting death of 20-year-old Edmonton security guard Harshandeep Singh earlier this month, allegedly at the hands of a repeat violent offender granted a conditional release just last year, was a tragic reminder of the lawlessness created by federal inaction. “This has been consistent with stories I often hear throughout Alberta and, quite frankly, throughout Canada,” said Ellis. “We have violent repeat offenders that are being released onto the streets and these are the sort of things they do when you have these sorts of soft on crime policies in place. They just don’t work.” Ellis said that he hasn’t met with Singh’s family yet but would “welcome and look forward to the opportunity” to do so. Ellis also said that he’s keeping an eye out to 2032, when the RCMP’s community policing contract with Alberta and 11 other provincial and territorial jurisdictions is set to expire. “They’ve been doing signal check after signal check that they’re looking at stepping away from contract policing,” said Ellis, pointing to multiple statements that RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme has made about beefing up the agency’s national security-related powers. Liberal MP David McGuinty, named federal public safety minister in Friday’s cabinet shakeup , has previously stated that the RCMP should consider ending contract policing so it can direct more resources to issues of national importance. Prior to his cabinet appointment, McGuinty led a parliamentary study of the RCMP’s federal policing mandate, which issued a report on the matter in late 2023. In the meantime, Ellis says he is pursuing a two-track strategy of shoring up the province-led Alberta sheriffs and giving local communities the power to choose if the RCMP is right for their needs. “I’m trying to make sure that all options are on the table,” said Ellis. “I have some communities that have indicated to me that they want to continue contracting with the RCMP (and) others indicate that they do not wish to continue... that’s a decision we need to respect either way.” Ellis said that the question of a transition from the RCMP to a provincial police service was unlikely to be put to a province-wide referendum, which his government has promised for a changeover to a provincial pension plan . Looking ahead to 2025, Ellis said that he was excited to continue building out self-administered policing services in Alberta’s First Nations communities . “Time and time again, I keep hearing complaints about how unsafe people feel in our First Nations communities with the lack of police presence there,” said Ellis. “This is why I’m doing what I can to help create self-administered policing services.” Ellis was on hand for an April 2023 signing ceremony that made southern Alberta’s Siksika Nation Canada’s first Indigenous community in more than a decade to transition to self-administered policing. He said that the Enoch Cree Nation, near Edmonton, has since expressed interest in following suit. Ellis said that self-administered policing has vast potential to create leadership opportunities for young people who live in Indigenous communities. “Not everybody can be a chief or councillor,” said Ellis. “But as we continue to roll out self-administered policing, young people who want to give back can be constables, or serve their communities in any number of capacities.” “That’s something that’s part of the paradigm shift that we’re doing here in Alberta.” National Post rmohamed@postmedia.com Get more deep-dive National Post political coverage and analysis in your inbox with the Political Hack newsletter, where Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson and political analyst Tasha Kheiriddin get at what’s really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill every Wednesday and Friday, exclusively for subscribers. Sign up here . Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Revolutionize Your Data Analysis Interactive charts are becoming a game-changer in data visualization, allowing users to tailor the information they see to better suit their needs. By changing the Market flag, users can access tailored data from their country of choice, personalizing their experience and gaining insights that are more relevant and actionable. Unleash the Power of Customization For those seeking more control over their data representation, right-clicking on a chart provides access to an extensive Interactive Chart menu. This menu is packed with various options that enable users to manipulate and interact with their data in real-time, thereby enhancing their analytical capabilities and decision-making processes. Navigate with Ease Another useful feature that interactive charts offer is the ability to seamlessly explore data. By using the up and down arrows, users can easily scroll through different symbols, ensuring a smooth and efficient navigation experience. This functionality makes it easier than ever to interpret large datasets without feeling overwhelmed. Conclusion: Interactive charts are equipping users with powerful tools to delve deeper into their data. With options to customize country-specific data, access a robust interactive menu, and navigate effortlessly through symbols, users can maximize their data analysis potential and gain insights that drive smarter decisions. Unlock the Future of Data Analysis with Innovative Features and Trends In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, interactive charts are no longer just a novelty; they have become essential tools for data professionals. These advancements in data visualization are not only about making charts that look good—they’re about functionality, customization, and accessibility that empower users to make informed decisions quickly and efficiently. Interactive charts have advanced remarkably, offering an impressive array of features designed to enhance the data analysis experience: Real-Time Data Manipulation: Modern interactive charts provide users with the capability to manipulate data in real-time. This enables analysts to test various scenarios and visualize outcomes instantaneously, offering a significant edge in dynamic decision-making environments. Intelligent Data Filtering: By leveraging advanced filtering options, users can narrow down data sets to focus on the most relevant information, improving both speed and accuracy in data interpretation. Cross-Platform Compatibility: Many interactive chart tools are built to work seamlessly across different devices and operating systems, ensuring access from anywhere and providing flexibility for remote teams. Pros and Cons of Interactive Chart Utilization Understanding the advantages and potential drawbacks of interactive charts can help businesses maximize their utility: Pros: – Enhanced User Engagement: Interactive features keep users engaged, improving the likelihood of uncovering critical insights. – Customization Flexibility: Tailored views mean that each user can interact with data in a manner that best suits their needs. – Efficient Data Processing: Advanced analytics capabilities facilitate faster decision-making. Cons: – Learning Curve: While powerful, some interactive tools may require a learning period to use them effectively. – Resource Intensive: Complex visualizations can demand significant computational power, potentially affecting performance on less powerful devices. Pricing Structures and Market Trends The interactive chart market is witnessing a trend toward subscription-based models, allowing organizations to access cutting-edge features at a lower upfront cost. This pricing strategy makes it easier for companies of all sizes to implement sophisticated data visualization tools without incurring prohibitive expenses. In terms of market trends, there is a noticeable shift towards integrations with artificial intelligence and machine learning. This evolution is predicted to advance the capabilities of interactive charts even further, making them smarter and more intuitive by delivering predictions and generating insights autonomously. Security and Sustainability in Data Visualization Recent innovations in data visualization tools have placed a strong emphasis on security and sustainability. Security: With data breaches being a constant threat, interactive chart platforms are focusing on robust security measures, including encryption and secure user authentication, to protect sensitive information. Sustainability: Many companies are now emphasizing eco-friendly practices by designing their digital tools to minimize energy consumption, thereby contributing to sustainability goals. Interactive charts are at the forefront of transforming how data is analyzed and interpreted. With burgeoning advancements in features, pricing models, AI integration, and sustainability initiatives, these tools are poised to redefine the future of data analysis. For further insights on interactive charting solutions, visit Tableau and Microsoft Power BI .New Jersey fines sports betting firms for taking bets after games had already ended
Trump has promised again to release the last JFK files. But experts say don't expect big revelationsMarpai director Eitan Yaron invests $124,999 in company stock
Sending Money Abroad Is No Longer An Arduous Or Expensive Task
WASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working mostly behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role: Helping Donald Trump try to get his most contentious Cabinet picks to confirmation in the Senate, where Vance has served for the last two years. Vance arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday with former Rep. Matt Gaetz and spent the morning sitting in on meetings between Trump’s choice for attorney general and key Republicans, including members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The effort was for naught: Gaetz announced a day later that he was withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations and the reality that he was unlikely to be confirmed. Thursday morning Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth, the “Fox & Friends Weekend” host whom Trump has tapped to be the next secretary of defense. Hegseth also has faced allegations of sexual assault that he denies. Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings in coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump's picks. Vance is taking on an atypical role as Senate guide for Trump nominees The role of introducing nominees around Capitol Hill is an unusual one for a vice president-elect. Usually the job goes to a former senator who has close relationships on the Hill, or a more junior aide. But this time the role fits Vance, said Marc Short, who served as Trump’s first director of legislative affairs as well as chief of staff to Trump’s first vice president, Mike Pence, who spent more than a decade in Congress and led the former president’s transition ahead of his first term. ”JD probably has a lot of current allies in the Senate and so it makes sense to have him utilized in that capacity,” Short said. Unlike the first Trump transition, which played out before cameras at Trump Tower in New York and at the president-elect's golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, this one has largely happened behind closed doors in Palm Beach, Florida. There, a small group of officials and aides meet daily at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort to run through possible contenders and interview job candidates. The group includes Elon Musk, the billionaire who has spent so much time at the club that Trump has joked he can’t get rid of him. Vance has been a constant presence, even as he’s kept a lower profile. The Ohio senator has spent much of the last two weeks in Palm Beach, according to people familiar with his plans, playing an active role in the transition, on which he serves as honorary chair. Mar-a-Lago scene is a far cry from Vance's hardscrabble upbringing Vance has been staying at a cottage on the property of the gilded club, where rooms are adorned with cherubs, oriental rugs and intricate golden inlays. It's a world away from the famously hardscrabble upbringing that Vance documented in the memoir that made him famous, “Hillbilly Elegy.” His young children have also joined him at Mar-a-Lago, at times. Vance was photographed in shorts and a polo shirt playing with his kids on the seawall of the property with a large palm frond, a U.S. Secret Service robotic security dog in the distance. On the rare days when he is not in Palm Beach, Vance has been joining the sessions remotely via Zoom. Though he has taken a break from TV interviews after months of constant appearances, Vance has been active in the meetings, which began immediately after the election and include interviews and as well as presentations on candidates’ pluses and minuses. Among those interviewed: Contenders to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray , as Vance wrote in a since-deleted social media post. Defending himself from criticism that he’d missed a Senate vote in which one of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees was confirmed, Vance wrote that he was meeting at the time "with President Trump to interview multiple positions for our government, including for FBI Director.” “I tend to think it’s more important to get an FBI director who will dismantle the deep state than it is for Republicans to lose a vote 49-46 rather than 49-45,” Vance added on X. “But that’s just me.” Vance is making his voice heard as Trump stocks his Cabinet While Vance did not come in to the transition with a list of people he wanted to see in specific roles, he and his friend, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who is also a member of the transition team, were eager to see former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. find roles in the administration. Trump ended up selecting Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence , a powerful position that sits atop the nation’s spy agencies and acts as the president’s top intelligence adviser. And he chose Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services , a massive agency that oversees everything from drug and food safety to Medicare and Medicaid. Vance was also a big booster of Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who will serve as Trump's “border czar.” In another sign of Vance's influence, James Braid, a top aide to the senator, is expected to serve as Trump’s legislative affairs director. Allies say it’s too early to discuss what portfolio Vance might take on in the White House. While he gravitates to issues like trade, immigration and tech policy, Vance sees his role as doing whatever Trump needs. Vance was spotted days after the election giving his son’s Boy Scout troop a tour of the Capitol and was there the day of leadership elections. He returned in earnest this week, first with Gaetz — arguably Trump’s most divisive pick — and then Hegseth, who has was been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017, according to an investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing. Vance hosted Hegseth in his Senate office as GOP senators, including those who sit on the Senate Armed Services Committee, filtered in to meet with the nominee for defense secretary. While a president’s nominees usually visit individual senators’ offices, meeting them on their own turf, the freshman senator — who is accompanied everywhere by a large Secret Service detail that makes moving around more unwieldy — instead brought Gaetz to a room in the Capitol on Wednesday and Hegseth to his office on Thursday. Senators came to them. Vance made it to votes Wednesday and Thursday, but missed others on Thursday afternoon. Vance will draw on his Senate background going forward Vance is expected to continue to leverage his relationships in the Senate after Trump takes office. But many Republicans there have longer relationships with Trump himself. Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, said that Trump was often the first person to call him back when he was trying to reach high-level White House officials during Trump's first term. “He has the most active Rolodex of just about anybody I’ve ever known,” Cramer said, adding that Vance would make a good addition. “They’ll divide names up by who has the most persuasion here,” Cramer said, but added, “Whoever his liaison is will not work as hard at it as he will.” Cramer was complimentary of the Ohio senator, saying he was “pleasant” and ” interesting” to be around. ′′He doesn’t have the long relationships," he said. "But we all like people that have done what we’ve done. I mean, that’s sort of a natural kinship, just probably not as personally tied.” Under the Constitution, Vance will also have a role presiding over the Senate and breaking tie votes. But he's not likely to be needed for that as often as was Kamala Harris, who broke a record number of ties for Democrats as vice president, since Republicans will have a bigger cushion in the chamber next year. Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.
It's that time again! "Mad Money" host Jim Cramer rings the lightning round bell, which means he's giving his answers to callers' stock questions at rapid speed. BHP Group : "It is a very well-run company. I am blessing it with a buy." Diamondback Energy : "[buy, buy, buy!]" AMC Entertainment : "If it gets to six, I want you to sell it. Period. End of story." Copart : "It is a remarkable company...I need to see a pullback in Copart." Sign up now for the CNBC Investing Club to follow Jim Cramer's every move in the market. Disclaimer Questions for Cramer? Call Cramer: 1-800-743-CNBC Want to take a deep dive into Cramer's world? Hit him up! Mad Money Twitter - Jim Cramer Twitter - Facebook - Instagram Questions, comments, suggestions for the "Mad Money" website? madcap@cnbc.comBEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the gates of the capital and that government forces had abandoned the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The capture of Homs is a major victory for insurgents, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said Homs falling into rebel hands would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. For the first time in the country’s long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The rapid rebel gains, coupled with the lack of support from Assad's erstwhile allies, posed the most serious threat to his rule since the start of the war. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Assad's status Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. In a statement issued late Saturday, the participants affirmed their support for a political solution to the Syrian crisis “that would lead to the end of military activity and protect civilians.” They also agreed on the importance of strengthening international efforts to increase aid to the Syrian people. The insurgents' march Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. Diplomacy in Doha The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. ____ Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria; Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad; and Josef Federman and Victoria Eastwood in Doha, Qatar, contributed to this report. Bassem Mroue And Zeina Karam, The Associated Press
President Javier Milei’s government is evaluating the future of an iconic building in the centre of Buenos Aires that formerly housed government ministries and has a 31-metre-high artwork featuring Peronist icon Eva ‘Evita’ Perón. In a recent interview, Cabinet Chief Guillermo Francos said that the so-called ‘Edificio MOP,’ or Public Works Ministry building – an enormous tower in the middle of the 9 de Julio Avenue – could be demolished entirely, removing one of Buenos Aires’ most iconic images from the City skyline. He put its potential destruction down to the building’s elevated "costs of functioning ... since it is not in good condition." Francos said the decision would be taken by Human Capital Sandra Pettovello, who he said is “analysing all her Ministry’s infrastructure” and whether “the building is needed or not.” "It’s a building which is not only in bad condition but which also hampers traffic in a central thoroughfare of the City," pointed out the official. Pettovello’s portfolio was founded by President Javier Milei last December upon taking office. Nicknamed a ‘super-ministry’ due to the amount of other departments it assumed control of, the building falls under the Human Capital Ministry’s remit. The MOP building most recently housed the former Social Development Ministry, which Pettovello absorbed into her portfolio. The building has already been subjected to an identical debate – during the 1989-1999 Carlos Menem presidency – but has remained functioning. In 2011 Kirchnerism added enormous iron portraits of Eva Perón to its northern and southern facades, with one extending more than 30 metres. For now, the decision technically depends on Pettovello, but government sources expect an issue of this magnitude will be decided by President Javier Milei and his sister, Presidential Chief-of-Staff Karina Milei. Francos himself observed that the idea "is not new" since that idea has been around for "decades," through successive administrations. "The demolition of the building, which is in the middle of [Avenida] 9 de Julio, is nothing new. We’ve heard talk about it for decades. I remember when I was a City councillor in the 1990s, it was an issue always under discussion," recalled Francos. The well-known MOP building, designed in rationalist style, was inaugurated in 1936 as the headquarters of the then-Public Works Ministry. At the time, it was the first and only skyscraper to be constructed on Avenida 9 de Julio, the capital’s main throughfare. Its style and privileged view converted the sport into an iconic part of the City landscape, although its location in the Monserrat neighbourhood interrupts the traffic flow. An antenna was installed which permitted the country’s first television transmission in 1951. On August 22 of the same year, on a platform raised next to this building, Eva Perón confirmed her vice-presidential candidacy to a crowd, though she would renounce it just a week after for different motives, among them illness. She would die on July 26 the following year Four years later the Public Works Ministry was the victim of bombing at the same time as the Plaza de Mayo. In 1991 the building was transferred to the Health Ministry. Four years later, then-President Menem proposed the demolition of the building, considering it a hindrance for traffic. But in 2002 it was declared a National Historic Monument. Eight years later, its façade and terraces were restored, maintaining its style, similar to that of the Kavanagh building and the Gran Rex cinema. The potential demolition of the building is part of a cultural battle being undertaken by the Milei administration, which is seeking to strip out tributes and references to Peronist leaders at government buildings. The Human Capital Ministry is advancing in a "process of reordering its public spaces," said Pettovello recently, referring to the removal of posters, photos and images of Eva Perón at state offices. "Public buildings belong to all Argentines," affirmed the minister, who last Saturday shared a video on social media showing her removing such items. The portfolio issued a communiqué detailing that "the Human Capital Ministry has initiated a process of reordering its public spaces with the objective of guaranteeing partisan neutrality and avoiding political propaganda out of respect for the diversity of thinking." Milei’s government recently renamed the Centro Cultural Kirchner, rebranding it as the Palacio de Libertad – using one of the three words that make up the President’s party, La Libertad Avanza. – TIMES/PERFIL Ads Space Ads SpaceASP Isotopes Inc. Shareholder Notice: Robbins LLP Reminds Investors of the ASPI Securities Class Action
WASHINGTON (AP) — A ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans, a top White House official said Friday. Biden administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies , as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, told reporters Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks. The update from Neuberger is the latest development in a massive hacking operation that has alarmed national security officials, exposed cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the private sector and laid bare China's hacking sophistication. The hackers compromised the networks of telecommunications companies to obtain customer call records and gain access to the private communications of “a limited number of individuals." Though the FBI has not publicly identified any of the victims, officials believe senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures are among those whose whose communications were accessed. Neuberger said officials did not yet have a precise sense how many Americans overall were affected by Salt Typhoon, in part because the Chinese were careful about their techniques, but a “large number" were in the Washington-Virginia area. Officials believe the goal of the hackers was to identify who owned the phones and, if they were “government targets of interest,” spy on their texts and phone calls, she said. The FBI said most of the people targeted by the hackers are "primarily involved in government or political activity.” Neuberger said the episode highlighted the need for required cybersecurity practices in the telecommunications industry, something the Federal Communications Commission is to take up at a meeting next month. “We know that voluntary cyber security practices are inadequate to protect against China, Russia and Iran hacking of our critical infrastructure,” she said. The Chinese government has denied responsibility for the hacking.Local organizations receive state arts grants
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) — Victims' families and others affected by crimes that resulted in federal death row convictions shared a range of emotions on Monday, from relief to anger, after President Joe Biden commuted dozens of the sentences . Biden converted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The inmates include people who were convicted in the slayings of police, military officers and federal prisoners and guards. Others were involved in deadly robberies and drug deals. Three inmates will remain on federal death row: Dylann Roof , convicted of the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; the 2013 Boston Marathon Bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev , and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. Opponents of the death penalty lauded Biden for a decision they'd long sought. Supporters of Donald Trump , a vocal advocate of expanding capital punishment, criticized the move as an assault to common decency just weeks before the president-elect takes office. Donnie Oliverio, a retired Ohio police officer whose partner was killed by an inmate whose death sentence was commuted, said the execution of “the person who killed my police partner and best friend would have brought me no peace.” “The president has done what is right here,” Oliverio said in a statement also issued by the White House, “and what is consistent with the faith he and I share.” Heather Turner, whose mother, Donna Major, was killed in a bank robbery in South Carolina in 2017, called Biden's commutation of the killer's sentence a “clear gross abuse of power” in a Facebook post, adding that the weeks she spent in court with the hope of justice were now “just a waste of time.” “At no point did the president consider the victims,” Turner wrote. “He, and his supporters, have blood on their hands.” There has always been a broad range of opinions on what punishment Roof should face from the families of the nine people killed and the survivors of the massacre at the Mother Emanuel AME Church. Many forgave him, but some say they can’t forget and their forgiveness doesn’t mean they don’t want to see him put to death for what he did. Felicia Sanders survived the shooting shielding her granddaughter while watching Roof kill her son, Tywanza, and her aunt, Susie Jackson. Sanders brought her bullet-torn bloodstained Bible to his sentencing and said then she can’t even close her eyes to pray because Roof started firing during the closing prayer of Bible study that night. In a text message to her lawyer, Andy Savage, Sanders called Biden’s decision to not spare Roof’s life a wonderful Christmas gift. Michael Graham, whose sister, Cynthia Hurd, was killed, told The Associated Press that Roof’s lack of remorse and simmering white nationalism in the country means he is the kind of dangerous and evil person the death penalty is intended for. “This was a crime against a race of people," Graham said. “It didn’t matter who was there, only that they were Black.” But the Rev. Sharon Richer, who was Tywanza Sanders’ cousin and whose mother, Ethel Lance, was killed, criticized Biden for not sparing Roof and clearing out all of death row. She said every time Roof’s case comes up through numerous appeals it is like reliving the massacre all over again. “I need the President to understand that when you put a killer on death row, you also put their victims' families in limbo with the false promise that we must wait until there is an execution before we can begin to heal,” Richer said in a statement. Richer, a board member of Death Penalty Action, which seeks to abolish capital punishment, was driven to tears by conflicting emotions during a Zoom news conference Monday. “The families are left to be hostages for the years and years of appeals that are to come,” Richer said. “I’ve got to stay away from the news today. I’ve got to turn the TV off — because whose face am I going to see?” Biden is giving more attention to the three inmates he chose not to spare, something they all wanted as a part of what drove them to kill, said Abraham Bonowitz, Death Penalty Action’s executive director. “These three racists and terrorists who have been left on death row came to their crimes from political motivations. When Donald Trump gets to execute them what will really be happening is they will be given a global platform for their agenda of hatred,” Bonowitz said. Biden had faced pressure from advocacy organizations to commute federal death sentences, and several praised him for taking action in his final month in office. Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the ACLU, said in a statement that Biden “has shown our country — and the rest of the world — that the brutal and inhumane policies of our past do not belong in our future.” Republicans, including Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, on the other hand, criticized the move — and argued its moral ground was shaky given the three exceptions. “Once again, Democrats side with depraved criminals over their victims, public order, and common decency,” Cotton wrote on X. “Democrats can’t even defend Biden’s outrageous decision as some kind of principled, across-the-board opposition to the death penalty since he didn’t commute the three most politically toxic cases.” Liz Murrill, Louisiana's Republican attorney general, criticized the commuted sentence of Len Davis, a former New Orleans policeman convicted of orchestrating the killing of a woman who had filed a complaint against him. “We can’t trust the Feds to get justice for victims of heinous crimes, so it’s long past time for the state to get it done,” the tough-on-crime Republican said in a written statement to the AP. Two men whose sentences were commuted were Norris Holder and Billie Jerome Allen, on death row for opening fire with assault rifles during a 1997 bank robbery in St. Louis, killing a guard, 46-year-old Richard Heflin. Holder’s attorney, Madeline Cohen, said in an email that Holder, who is Black, was sentenced to death by an all-white jury. She said his case “reflects many of the system’s flaws,” and thanked Biden for commuting his sentence. “Norris’ case exemplifies the racial bias and arbitrariness that led the President to commute federal death sentences,” Cohen said. “Norris has always been deeply remorseful for the pain his actions caused, and we hope this decision brings some measure of closure to Richard Heflin’s family.” Swenson reported from Seattle. Associated Press writers Jim Salter in O'Fallon, Missouri, and Sara Cline in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, contributed to this report.
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The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on the founder of Georgia’s ruling political party, which has steered the country away from a pro-Western stance and towards Russia, US officials said. The US State and Treasury departments said they hit Georgian Dream party founder and honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili with penalties “for undermining the democratic and Euro-Atlantic future of Georgia for the benefit of the Russian Federation”, according to a statement. The designation of Mr Ivanishvili is the latest in a series of sanctions the US has placed on Georgian politicians and others this year. Those sanctions include freezes on assets and properties those targeted may have in US jurisdictions or that might enter US jurisdictions as well as travel bans on the targets and members of their families. “We strongly condemn Georgian Dream’s actions under Ivanishvili’s leadership, including its ongoing and violent repression of Georgian citizens, protesters, members of the media, human rights activists, and opposition figures,” the State Department said in a statement. “The United States is committed to promoting accountability for those undermining democracy and human rights in Georgia.” Mr Ivanishvili is a billionaire who made his fortune in Russia and served briefly as Georgia’s prime minister. In 2012, he founded Georgian Dream, Georgia’s longtime ruling party. Critics have accused Georgian Dream of becoming increasingly authoritarian and tilted towards Moscow. The party recently pushed through laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to crack down on freedom of speech and LGBT+ rights, prompting the European Union to suspend Georgia’s membership application process indefinitely. In October, Georgian Dream won another term in a divisive parliamentary election that has led to more mass protests. Last month, the country’s prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, announced a four-year suspension of talks on Georgia’s bid to join the European Union, fuelling further public outrage.Total Knee Replacement Market Size: Strong Growth Ahead (2024-2032)The US State and Treasury departments said they hit Georgian Dream party founder and honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili with penalties “for undermining the democratic and Euro-Atlantic future of Georgia for the benefit of the Russian Federation”, according to a statement. The designation of Mr Ivanishvili is the latest in a series of sanctions the US has placed on Georgian politicians and others this year. Those sanctions include freezes on assets and properties those targeted may have in US jurisdictions or that might enter US jurisdictions as well as travel bans on the targets and members of their families. “We strongly condemn Georgian Dream’s actions under Ivanishvili’s leadership, including its ongoing and violent repression of Georgian citizens, protesters, members of the media, human rights activists, and opposition figures,” the State Department said in a statement. “The United States is committed to promoting accountability for those undermining democracy and human rights in Georgia.” Mr Ivanishvili is a billionaire who made his fortune in Russia and served briefly as Georgia’s prime minister. In 2012, he founded Georgian Dream, Georgia’s longtime ruling party. Critics have accused Georgian Dream of becoming increasingly authoritarian and tilted towards Moscow. The party recently pushed through laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to crack down on freedom of speech and LGBT+ rights, prompting the European Union to suspend Georgia’s membership application process indefinitely. In October, Georgian Dream won another term in a divisive parliamentary election that has led to more mass protests. Last month, the country’s prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, announced a four-year suspension of talks on Georgia’s bid to join the European Union, fuelling further public outrage.