Chinese film about Covid-19 wins Taiwan's top Golden Horse prizesThe White House said on Monday that President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter in part because of concern his political opponents would continue to persecute the younger Biden in the future, as a growing chorus of Democrats and Republicans criticized his decision, Reuters reported. Biden, a Democrat whose term ends on Jan. 20 when Republican President-elect Donald Trump takes office, signed an unconditional pardon for Hunter Biden on Sunday and said he believed his son had been selectively prosecuted and targeted unfairly by the president's political opponents. Biden said in the past that he would not pardon his son, including to ABC News in June when he was asked if he would rule out a pardon, and replied "yes." His surprise move was panned by his Republican political opposition, but also by Democrats who say it threatens to undermine public trust in the rule of law, a concept Biden and his party had used to criticize Trump. Hunter was prosecuted for tax offences and gun charges, after being targeted for years by Republicans in Congress who accused him of making business deals using his father's name but failed to establish any clear connections. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre on Monday defended the president's action and said Biden believed Hunter faced further grief from his adversaries without naming them, and suggested it could continue even after the president left office. Jean-Pierre was among the White House officials who had repeatedly said in the past Biden would not pardon his son. "One of the reasons the president did the pardon is because they didn't seem like his political opponents would let go of it. It didn't seem like they would move on," she told reporters on Air Force One during a trip to Angola. "They would continue to go after his son. That's what he believed." Jean-Pierre stressed this was not the first time a president had pardoned a family member. Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother Roger before he left office, and Trump his daughter's father-in-law, Charles Kushner. She said Biden believed in the Department of Justice despite his statement that his son's process in the judicial system was "infected with politics." "Two things could be true: the president does believe in the justice ... system and ... Department of Justice, and he also believes that his son was singled out politically," she said. She declined to give further details on why or how Biden had changed his mind, or whether the recent election that put Republicans in charge of the White House and both branches of Congress played a role. Republicans have accused Biden of corruption, while Democratic lawmakers have been split, with some suggesting he put family over country, and others pointing to Trump's nominees for judiciary positions as a rationale. Hunter Biden pleaded guilty in September to federal tax charges in federal court in Los Angeles and was due to be sentenced on December 16 under Mark C Scarsi, a judge nominated by Republican President-elect Donald Trump. A jury found him guilty in June of making false statements on a gun background check; he was due to be sentenced for those charges this month as well. Biden said on Sunday that his son had been selectively prosecuted and treated differently than others in similar situations. "No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son – and that is wrong," he said. Late on Sunday, Hunter Biden's attorney filed to dismiss the indictments against him.Christmas fans stunned after discovering clever hack to make tree look fuller, and it won’t cost you a penny
EAGLE PASS, Texas — Border Patrol agents interdicted a large group of migrants shortly after they waded across the shallow Rio Grande 12 miles north of Eagle Pass on Friday. The large group of 260 migrants crossed into the United States just before daybreak. Among the large migrant group were Iranian, Egyptian, Angolan, and Bolivian citizens. A source within Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says that multi-national groups of migrants are becoming the norm in the small Texas border city. According to the source, not authorized to speak to the media, many within the group, including four Egyptian and two Iranian nationals, will ultimately be released into the United States to pursue asylum claims due to difficulties returning them to their home countries. Although a significant surge in border crossings anticipated after President-elect Trump’s recent victory has not materialized, the source says there has been an uptick, and migrant group sizes are growing. As reported by Breitbart Texas, the surge is being prevented by law enforcement authorities in Mexico, who are still preventing thousands of migrants from using the country’s freight train system known as “La Bestia” or “The Beast” to reach the United States. The source says if that changes, Americans should expect a return to days when seven to ten thousand migrants or more crossed into the United States daily. The source says Special Interest Alien crossings in the Eagle Pass was once a rarity. Violence in Sinaloa according to the source is one reason migrants from special interest countries may be choosing to enter the United States in Texas. Regardless, the trend is concerning the source told Breitbart Texas. According to a 2019 DHS fact sheet , the term “Special Interest Alien” is defined as follows: Generally, an SIA is a non-U.S. person who, based on an analysis of travel patterns, potentially poses a national security risk to the United States or its interests. Often such individuals or groups are employing travel patterns known or evaluated to possibly have a nexus to terrorism. DHS analysis includes an examination of travel patterns, points of origin, and/or travel segments that are tied to current assessments of national and international threat environments. This does not mean that all SIAs are “terrorists,” but rather that the travel and behavior of such individuals indicates a possible nexus to nefarious activity (including terrorism) and, at a minimum, provides indicators that necessitate heightened screening and further investigation. The term SIA does not indicate any specific derogatory information about the individual – and DHS has never indicated that the SIA designation means more than that. As reported by Breitbart, Texas, authorities have seen an uptick in large migrant group crossings into Eagle Pass after a significant slowdown due to increased election year enforcement efforts in Mexico that significantly slowed the flow of migrants arriving at the United States border. During the first two weeks of November, the Del Rio Sector reported the arrest of nearly 4,000 migrants, most of whom crossed into Eagle Pass. The pace of migrant entries within the sector, according to the source, is significantly lower than that experienced in November 2023, when more than 40,000 migrants were apprehended within the Del Rio Border Patrol Sector. “All we can do is cross our fingers and hope that the slight increases don’t lead to an all-out border rush in the lead-up to the inauguration in January,” the source added. Randy Clark is a 32-year veteran of the United States Border Patrol. Prior to his retirement, he served as the Division Chief for Law Enforcement Operations, directing operations for nine Border Patrol Stations within the Del Rio, Texas, Sector. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @RandyClarkBBTX.
Cyber Monday is almost over, but don't miss out on this deal for one of the year's best horror gamesPep Guardiola: It’s my responsibility to solve Manchester City’s poor runNoneWalmart ( NYSE:WMT – Free Report ) had its target price lifted by Truist Financial from $89.00 to $98.00 in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. Truist Financial currently has a buy rating on the retailer’s stock. WMT has been the subject of several other research reports. Oppenheimer raised their target price on Walmart from $81.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, October 14th. Guggenheim increased their price target on Walmart from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday. UBS Group increased their price target on Walmart from $92.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Redburn Atlantic upgraded Walmart to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, September 23rd. Finally, Piper Sandler increased their price target on Walmart from $83.00 to $93.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, November 18th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Walmart presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $91.88. Get Our Latest Stock Report on WMT Walmart Price Performance Walmart ( NYSE:WMT – Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, November 19th. The retailer reported $0.58 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.53 by $0.05. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.78% and a net margin of 2.92%. The business had revenue of $169.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $167.69 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.51 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Walmart will post 2.47 EPS for the current year. Insider Activity at Walmart In related news, CEO C Douglas Mcmillon sold 29,124 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $80.64, for a total value of $2,348,559.36. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 3,873,053 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $312,322,993.92. This trade represents a 0.75 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link . Also, major shareholder S Robson Walton sold 4,057,369 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.20, for a total value of $313,228,886.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 611,988,318 shares in the company, valued at $47,245,498,149.60. The trade was a 0.66 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 12,337,337 shares of company stock valued at $958,823,647. Corporate insiders own 45.58% of the company’s stock. Institutional Trading of Walmart A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in WMT. WFA Asset Management Corp grew its holdings in Walmart by 201.0% in the 1st quarter. WFA Asset Management Corp now owns 2,092 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $126,000 after buying an additional 1,397 shares during the last quarter. Dupont Capital Management Corp grew its holdings in Walmart by 165.4% in the 1st quarter. Dupont Capital Management Corp now owns 270,147 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $16,255,000 after buying an additional 168,346 shares during the last quarter. Tiemann Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Walmart by 186.8% during the 1st quarter. Tiemann Investment Advisors LLC now owns 12,218 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $735,000 after purchasing an additional 7,958 shares in the last quarter. InterOcean Capital Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Walmart by 211.0% during the 1st quarter. InterOcean Capital Group LLC now owns 1,710,257 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $102,906,000 after purchasing an additional 1,160,354 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Natixis grew its holdings in shares of Walmart by 96.7% during the 1st quarter. Natixis now owns 921,820 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $55,466,000 after purchasing an additional 453,101 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 26.76% of the company’s stock. Walmart Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Walmart Inc engages in the operation of retail, wholesale, other units, and eCommerce worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. It operates supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash and carry stores, and discount stores under Walmart and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands; membership-only warehouse clubs; ecommerce websites, such as walmart.com.mx, walmart.ca, flipkart.com, PhonePe and other sites; and mobile commerce applications. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Walmart Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Walmart and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
QUETTA: A massive rally under the banner of “Duki Bachao Tehreek” was organized in Balochistan’s Duki district on Sunday, drawing significant participation from local residents. The rally, featuring banners, placards, and national flags, echoed with chants of “Pakistan Zindabad” as participants expressed their patriotism and solidarity with national security forces. The gathering demonstrated robust support for the Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps (FC) in their ongoing efforts to combat terrorism. During the event, organizers and speakers highlighted the local community’s unwavering support for the armed forces, police, and Levies. One of the key messages from the speakers was the deep-rooted patriotism of the Duki residents. “The people of Duki are patriotic and cannot be misled against the country,” asserted one of the speakers, underscoring the community’s loyalty and commitment to Pakistan’s stability and security. Meanwhile, in the neighboring Harnai district, the All Parties Harnai (APH) called on authorities to urgently address the deteriorating law and order situation. This appeal came during a meeting held at the district Secretariat of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), chaired by District Ameer Molvi Abdul Hanan. The meeting saw participation from leaders across various political spectrums including the Pushtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Awami National Party, National Democratic Movement, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Balochistan National Party-Mengal, as well as representatives from coal mines unions, Subzi Mandi Union, Trucks Union, tribal elders, and religious figures. The APH meeting discussed several critical issues impacting the district, such as the recent killing of young police officer Khalil Mulazai, the burning of coal-loaded trucks, proposed military operations, extortion, and challenges faced by mine owners and workers. The inefficiencies of government departments in dealing with these issues were also highlighted, with leaders warning of a potential protest movement if immediate action is not taken. Adding to the region’s unrest, a complete ‘wheeljam strike’ is set to be observed across Balochistan on Monday in response to the abduction of ten-year-old Muhammad Musawir Kakar. The school-going child was kidnapped on November 15 by unidentified armed men who intercepted his school van in the Patel Bagh area of Quetta and took him at gunpoint. In reaction to this alarming incident, the boy’s relatives and other concerned citizens have begun a sit-in protest at Serena Chowk in Quetta, demanding his safe release. The participants of the sit-in committee issued a statement confirming the strike on November 25, urging transporters not to operate their vehicles and citizens to avoid traveling as a form of protest against the abduction. The sit-in aims to draw attention to the abduction and pressure authorities to take swift action to ensure the child’s safe return, highlighting the ongoing challenges of security and governance in the region. These events in Balochistan underline the complex security and social issues facing the region, prompting calls for concerted action from both local leaders and national authorities to restore order and protect its citizens. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );
Frederick County, Maryland Sheriff Chuck Jenkins talks to Fox News Digital about a recent announcement from Frederick Mayor Michael O’Connor about the city’s response to Trump’s deportation plans. The mayor of Maryland’s second-largest city caused a firestorm after announcing his plan seeking the establishment of a taxpayer-funded "legal advocacy fund" to defend immigrants "who may be harmed by policies from the new (Trump) administration." Frederick Mayor Michael O’Connor, a Democrat, hearkened back to his ancestors’ arrival from Ireland in saying President-elect Donald Trump’s "first term is prologue" on how he will treat immigrants in announcing an appropriation request to "ensure [immigrants] have the legal support they need to stand strong and remain in this community they have chosen to call home." "In many regards, this election did not go as I had hoped," said O’Connor, whose city of 86,000 sits halfway between Washington, D.C. and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Press Conference: November 21, 2024 "As many residents know, our city council recently made a decision to provide voting rights to any resident that calls Frederick home , regardless of citizenship status. We will continue to make progress on implementation as it's our responsibility and not take any step that would seek to create division, target vulnerable populations or undermine the trust that we have worked hard to build in our community," O’Connor added. MS-13 GANG MEMBER SUSPECTED OF MARYLAND MURDER ALLOWED TO ATTEND HIGH SCHOOL The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee criticized the move, saying O'Connor's "pledge to protect illegal aliens is particularly appalling." He highlighted the case of Walter Javier Martinez, an MS-13 gang member who was sentenced to 70 years for the rape, strangulation and murder of Kayla Hamilton, a young, autistic woman in nearby Harford County. Martinez, who was 17 at the time, had been released to a "sponsor" in Frederick before committing the crime. He pleaded guilty to Hamilton's murder in August. Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., said public officials at all levels of government have a responsibility to protect their citizens: "I am confident the incoming Trump administration will disabuse these state and local leaders of the notion they are above federal immigration law." Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins told Fox News Digital that O’Connor’s plan is "totally inappropriate." "I think he's going to anger the taxpayers. And aside from that, I think it's unfair to the taxpayer," Jenkins said in a Monday interview. He added there are enough private or non-profit advocacy groups that would front legal fees and such for migrants facing federal action. Jenkins, whose department is responsible for enforcing laws outside Frederick city proper, predicts the move will invite increased criminal activity to the area under the "false perception" they’ll be protected. "He’s not going to let the Frederick Police Department cooperate with ICE." Jenkins praised incoming "border czar" Tom Homan, adding the ICE veteran doesn’t need Frederick city’s blessing to conduct federal operations. He noted that local and county agencies don’t have jurisdiction to enforce immigration law, but reiterated he is fully supportive of Trump’s and Homan’s general policy plans. "I am 100% supportive from the standpoint I want to do everything I can to keep my county safe, our citizens safe, reduce crime, remove a criminal element, and let's clean this country up." In his remarks reported last week, O’Connor cited Vice President Kamala Harris’ concession speech, in which she said, "Now is the time we must be organized, energized and engaged." He said Frederick would add focusing on upholding the city's values to her sentiment. MARYLAND GOVERNOR DEFENDS $190K TRUMP-CENTRIC CONSULTANT CONTRACT AS PRESIDENT-ELECT MOVES IN NEXT DOOR Fox News Digital reached out to O’Connor for further comment. Frederick notably hosts both the presidential Camp David retreat in the nearby Catoctin Mountains and the U.S. biological defense headquarters at Fort Detrick. In his public remarks, O’Connor denied he was making a political message, but instead a "patriotic one." "While we cannot predict every policy or action this administration may take. We have seen enough to know our path forward here in Frederick is clear. We will be steadfast in ensuring that our city continues to be a place where everyone feels safe, respected and protected." O’Connor added that the Frederick Police Department — separate from Jenkins’ agency — is "committed to ensuring all residents feel safe in reporting crime and know that they will not be questioned about their immigration status." "We refuse to aid and abet outside agencies attempting to detain, deport or remove any residents from our community," the mayor said. Asked for first-hand comment, the FPD said it is committed to building trust and maintaining open lines of communication with all members of our diverse community." "For years, we have focused solely on enforcing traffic and criminal laws, not immigration laws... Immigration enforcement is the responsibility of federal agencies, not the Frederick Police Department." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In their statement sent to Fox News Digital, the department said it does not inquire about immigration status from residents who need help or are reporting a crime, and it wants everyone in Frederick to feel safe in their interactions with police. In Anne Arundel County, which includes the capital Annapolis, Democratic County Executive Steuart Pittman suggested similar defenses to O'Connor's for immigrants facing deportation. FOXBaltimore reported Pittman said Anne Arundel will provide services to families of a deported breadwinner. In Annapolis itself, Gov. Wes Moore told Fox News Digital the U.S. immigration system is broken and that Congress must fix it. "Federal leaders need to set aside politics and work to ensure that our border is secure and that we have a fair and humane immigration system," he said, adding he comes from a family of immigrants and is "deeply connected to the immigrant story and contributions" of their communities. Moore addressed "speculation" about how Trump will address immigration policy: "As governor, I have an obligation to protect Marylanders, including members of our immigrant communities. I take that obligation seriously and will wait to see what actions the new administration takes." Fox News Digital also reached out to potential Senate Homeland Security Committee chairman Rand Paul, R-Ky., and a listed contact for Democratic Rep.-elect April McClain-Delaney, who will represent Frederick in the new term. Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital. He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant. Charles covers media , politics and culture for Fox News Digital. Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.Italian journalist arrested in Iran, tossed into infamous Tehran prison, Rome officials say
Renaissance: The Beauty and the Bloodshed review — Charles Dance is a bewitching Michelangelo (by way of Catweazle)