Gravity Agrees to Sell Water Midstream Business to Delek LogisticsThe First Baptist Church of Bellows Falls at 9 Church Street offers worship service at 10 a.m. every Sunday. This week members will light the Advent Candle of Joy. The angels proclaim to the shepherds in Luke 2:10-11: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy to all the people.” The message of joy is at the very heart of Advent, inviting parishioners to join in the celebration of the birth of Jesus. The angel’s proclamation reminds everyone that the coming of the Christ is not simply a historical event, but rather a message of hope and joy not just for a few, but for all people. The good news of Christ’s birth offers love, peace, hope, and joy to the entire world. Members are invited to receive and share in the blessed joy of God’s presence. The joy of the season is not dependent on our circumstances, whether good or bad, but rather on the incredible gift of Jesus who came to offer redemption. Let us fill our hearts with lasting joy, and may it encourage us to spread love and hope to everyone we encounter. Coffee time follows the service. For more information, call 802-463-3220. Offerings and donations can be mailed to 9 Church Street, Bellows Falls. Services at Immanuel Episcopal Church are offered at 20 Church St. and via Zoom at 10 a.m. on Sundays. To attend via Zoom, email immanuelepiscopal@gmail.com . Telephone: 802-463-3178. The 4th Season of "The Chosen" is being shown on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. The Mass schedule at St. Charles Catholic Church, 31 Cherry Hill St., is as follows: Wednesday through Friday at 9 a.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m., and Sundays at 9 a.m. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered every Saturday from 3 to 3:30 p.m. For more information, contact the church or Father Agnel Samy at 802-463-3128 or stcharlesrectory@comcast.com , or visit the website at stcharles.vermontcatholic.org . The United Church (UCC) of Bellows Falls, 8 School St., will hold worship service at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Refreshments and fellowship after the service. For more information, call 802-463-4323 or find the church on Facebook. A tag, food sale, and raffle will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 16 at the church. This Sunday's 10 a.m. service at All Souls Church will focus on the theme, "holiday voices," led by Rev. Telos Whitfield. Members share some of the traditions around the holidays that emphasize gratitude and generosity. To suggest a story, poem, or song contact the service leader, Christina Gibbons. All services are offered in person and via zoom. The church offer Religious Exploration for kids at 9 a.m. prior to the service. Child care is available every Sunday. The service will be in person at 29 South St., and via Zoom at www.ascvt.org . The Brattleboro Area Jewish Community, Congregation Shir Heharim is a reform congregation with a commitment to practice and celebrate Judaism with creativity. Located at 151 Greenleaf St., BAJC welcomes young families and empty nesters, toddlers and elders, doubters and the devout. BAJC will celebrate the festival of Chanukah. The celebration will feature Klezmer music & dancing with Klezamir, menorah lighting, latke contest, crafts, traditional treats & refreshments, and even a juggling workshop with Kinetic Theory Theatre. All are welcome. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. Klezamir, based in Western Massachusetts, is New England's dynamic roots rockin' Klezmer band extraordinaire. Klezamir plays traditional Jewish favorites as well as pop, rock, classical, and jazz. The event will be held Saturday, Dec. 28, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Vermont Jazz Center, 72 Cotton Mill Hill. BAJC is located at 151 Greenleaf St. For more information, visit https://bajcvermont.org/ or call 802-257-1959. The third Sunday of Advent will be celebrated this Sunday at 10 a.m. at Centre Congregational Church, 193 Main St. The service will also be streamed on the Friends of Centre Congregational Church Facebook Group and Zoom. The Candle of Peace will be lit on the Advent wreath. Following the children’s message, the children will be led to Sunday School (Faith in Action). The scripture sourced from the lectionary will be Philippians 4:4-7. The Rev. Dr. Scott Couper will deliver a message entitled "The Peace of God” wherein Paul’s letter to the Philippians is explore in the context of peace experienced existentially amidst the world’s conflict. The following music on the piano and organ will be enjoyed: Prelude: "Comfort Ye, My People" by J. Pasquet and "Come Savior of the Gentiles" by J.S. Bach; Anthem: "Waiting for a King" by J. Martin; Offertory: "Will There Be Room?" by M. Patterson; and Postlude: Gigue on “In Dulci Jubilo” by J. Young. Join in after the service for Hospitality Time with light food and drinks. During Hospitality Time, a highly competitive “Ugly Christmas Sweater” fashion show and contest complete with trophy will be held. On Saturday, Dec. 21, Centre will host a Blue Christmas union service at 7 p.m. Centre Church hosts a weekly Sunday Spirit Book Discussion at the church; a United Church of Christ devotional every Monday at 10 a.m. on Zoom; a bi-weekly Christian Theology class every other Monday at 7 p.m. on Zoom; the Zen Buddhist community (dharma) gathers each Tuesday at 7 p.m. (half-day sitting on Saturday, Dec. 21, from 9 a.m. to noon); a Justice and Peace Film Screening at 167 Main Street on the first Thursday of each month; a weekly Thursday Women's Spirit book club in person at 92 Brets Road at 4 p.m.; Brattleboro Community Mantra Meditation (Kirtan) on the first and third Thursdays of each month, 6 to 7 p.m.; and prayer of the Muslim community (Jum'a) each Friday at 1 p.m. For more information, call the church office at 802-254-4730 on any weekday, or e-mail Centrechurchvt@gmail.com , visit the church website at centrechurchvt.org . Join in each Sunday at First Baptist/United Methodist churches, 18 Town Crier Drive. Service begins at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. Suzanne Andrews and the Rev. Ralph Howe preside. Holy Communion is offered each Sunday. First United Methodist and First Baptist have formed the Beloved Community of Brattleboro, a Center for Story, Spirit & Justice. Visit the website at belovedcommunityvt.org . For more information about events or for a ride to the services, call the church at 1-802-254-1234. First Church of Christ, Scientist, at 57 Putney Road, offers worship services in person every Sunday at 10:30 a.m., and Sunday School for children and teenagers up to the age of 20 is held at the same hour. A Wednesday testimony meeting is held each week at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome. For more information, visit csbrattleboro.org . Worship will be held Sunday at 10 a.m. at First Congregational Church, 880 Western Avenue, to celebrate the third week of Advent. The service will center on Luke 1:39-55 and explore how to get ready for Christmas through just and liberating actions in our community. Music under the leadership of Steve Rice and Lisa Provatas will "People Look East" by the choir. All singers are invited to choir rehearsal at 9 a.m. The Annual Tuba Christmas concert is this Sunday at 3 p.m. Steve Rice directs this free event including performances and sing-along Christmas favorites to elevate your seasonal cheer. Come a bit early to guarantee a seat. The Rev. Jeremy Kirk's office hours are Friday from 10 a.m. to noon and by chance or appointment other days of the week. The church office is open Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Contact us at fccwb1770@gmail.com or 802-254-9767. The Vermont Insight Meditation Center offers meditations on Zoom and on the second floor of The Riverton Building, 28 Vernon St. To ensure access to the building, arrive at least 5 minutes early for in-person practice. Join in for a Sunday Sitting and Dharma Talk on Dec. 15, from 10 a.m. to noon. Vermont Insight's weekly schedule includes meditations at 7 a.m. every weekday, Tuesday and Friday evening practices, and meditations every Sunday. For more information about weekly events, plus course and retreat offerings, see vermontinsight.org/calendar or contact Drew Kovach at 802-257-1213. The West Brattleboro Quaker Worship Group meets for unprogrammed worship, both in person and on Zoom, Sundays at 10 a.m. In-person worship is indoors at the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community, 151 Greenleaf St. To join via Zoom, email WestBrattQuakers@gmail.com for more information. Each Sunday St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 16 Bradley Ave., offers an 8 a.m. service with Eucharist and a 10:15 a.m. service with Eucharist and music and nursery care for children 0-3. The 10:15 service is also available on livestream. Links to the bulletin for the 10:15 service and to the livestream for Vimeo are on the website, www.stmichaels-vt.org , under “Sunday Morning” and the “eNews.” All 10:15 a.m. services and many of the special services are available later on the website under “Livestream Archive.” All are welcome at the Advent and Christmas services: Christmas Eve Pageant and Holy Communion, Tuesday, Dec. 24, at 4 p.m.; Festival Candlelight Christmas Eve Service with Holy Communion, Tuesday, Dec. 24, at 8 p.m.; Christmas Day Morning Prayer, Wednesday, Dec. 25, at 8 a.m.; and Christmas Lessons & Carols, Sunday, Dec. 29, at 10:15 a.m. Morning Prayer is offered each weekday at 8 a.m. on Zoom and in person in the Chapel on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. “Breakfast with the Psalms” is each Wednesday from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at The Works on Main Street. Centering Prayer is in the Chapel from 11:30 to 11:55 a.m. each Wednesday and at 8 a.m. each Saturday. Eucharist with the Saints is each Wednesday from noon to 12:30 p.m. in the Chapel. Contemplative Worship is in the Chapel and on Zoom each Thursday from 5:30 to 6 p.m. The Church office hours are from 8 a.m. to noon, Tuesday through Friday. Contact the Church office by emailing jeanie@stmichaelsvermont.org or by calling 802-254-6048, ext. 104. Saint Michael Roman Catholic Church, 47 Walnut St., offers weekend Mass on Saturdays at 4 p.m. (also livestreamed, ch. 1078) and Sundays at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. There is a coffee social after the 10:30 Mass. Father Henry Furman is the Priest. If you are 1) An unbaptized person who wishes to learn about the Catholic Faith, 2) A baptized Christian from another faith denomination who would like to learn more about the Catholic Church with the possibility of joining, 3) A baptized Catholic who has not yet received the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation, or 4) A baptized and confirmed Catholic who would like to learn more about the Catholic Faith, come to meet with Father Henry Furman. Registration forms are available online or in the back of the church. For more information, call 802-257-5101 or email stmichael@vermontcatholic.org . Trinity Lutheran Church (ELCA), 161 Western Ave., will hold a worship service on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. also livestreamed on the church's Facebook page. Bring food for the food collection. Calendar: Wednesday, 11 a.m. council meeting, 7 p.m. A.A. (women); Thursday, 9 a.m. Tai Chi, 10:15 a.m. Choir; Saturday 9 a.m. discussion and meditation. East Dover Baptist Church, 34 Dover Hill Road, welcomes everyone to worship service this Sunday, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The church also offers a simulcast of the service. For more information, visit eastdoverbaptistchurch.org or call 802-348-6366. All are welcome to Sunday Services at 10 a.m. at West Dover Congregational Church, 104 Route 100, or join livestream at www.facebook.com/westdoverchurch . After the service there is a coffee hour and bible study. For more information, visit the website at https://Westdoverchurch.org or call 802-464-1195. Dummerston Congregational Church, UCC will worship this Sunday at 10 a.m. in the church sanctuary at 1535 Middle Road. Members will celebrate the third Sunday in Advent. Rev. Shawn Bracebridge and Mary Westbrook-Geha will lead worship based on Malachi 3 1-4. Sunday school children will gather in worship with families, then head downstairs with director of Christian education Billie Slade after a special message. Grafton Community Church, 55 Main St., offers virtual worship services via Zoom. Visit graftoncommunitychurch.org or on Facebook (The Grafton Church). Join in this Sunday at 10 a.m. for worship at Guilford Community Church. Sunday services are also streamed live, and a link is available on the church website, www.guilfordchurch.org . This Sunday’s service is led by Allyson Platt and is the third Sunday of Advent. Children are invited to begin in worship with their families. After the Children’s Message they are dismissed to the Sunday Morning program. The children will begin rehearsing for the Pageant this Sunday. Peter Amidon directs the Choir. Becky Graber is the accompanist this Sunday. The Guilford Community Choir welcomes all singers. Arrive at 8:40 a.m. to rehearse The Annual All Ages Chrismas Pageant will be held at 10 a.m. on Dec. 22. There will be angels dancing, shepherds leaping, instrumental music performed by young and old and of course, traditional carols will be sung by all. This service will also be streamed live, and a link is available on the church website, www.guilfordchurch.org . This service is led by Pastor Allyson Platt. Andy Davis directs the Choir, and Rachel Johnson is the accompanist. On Tuesday, Dec. 24, at 7 p.m. the Church will hold a service of Lessons and Carols at-Guilford Community Church. The Christmas Eve service will also be streamed live. This service is led by Pastor Allyson Platt. Andy Davis directs the Choir, and Rachel Johnson is the accompanist. Jamaica Community Church, located in the “Heart of the Village,” welcomes all on Sunday at 11 a.m. To meet with Pastor Pete, call the church (802-874-7109) or his house (802-874-4181) or email him at carlsonpw56@gmail.com to schedule an appointment. His office hours are Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon and Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m. Donations to the Wardsboro/Jamaica Food Pantry may be left inside the front door in the large basket during these hours. For complete listings, visit reformer.com . All are welcome to join in for worship service this Sunday at 10 a.m. at First Congregational Church of Newfane. This is the second Sunday of Advent, on which the congregation celebrates the joy of the season. The Rev. Matthew Deen will lead a discussion of Luke 3:1-6, John the Baptist’s proclamation of the coming of Jesus, and offer his reflection on the passage. Music this week will include Music Director Jennifer Yocom leading the choir in “How Will We Know Messiah?” by Nylea L. Butler-Moore. Hymns sung by the congregation will include “O Come, O Come Emanuel” and “Lift Up Your Heads, O Mighty Gates.” This week’s calendar includes the annual Ladies Aid Holiday Cookie Sale on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to noon; Senior Lunch on Thursday at noon; and Bible Study on Thursday at 5 p.m. The Church office is open Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contact admin@newfane.church or 802-365-4079. Pastor Matthew Deen has office hours Tuesday and Thursday, noon to 4 p.m. He can be contacted at the same phone number or at matt@newfane.church . Join in for worship and gathering at Putney Friends Meeting, 17 Bellows Falls Road, every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. (hybrid). Thursday 6 p.m. online. Childcare provided for Sunday 10:30 a.m. worship. Meeting for Worship for Business monthly every third Sunday at noon. Contact clerk@putneyfriendsmeeting.org for online links. Handicapped accessible. For more information, visit putneyfriendsmeeting.org . Forest Flower Zen Sangha meets on Wednesday evenings (weather permitting) in Saxtons River at the 24 Main Street Community Building. Zen meditation and practice in the Diamond Sangha Zen tradition. 6:30 Newcomers welcome and orientation. 7 p.m. Meditation; 7:30 p.m. Dharma talk and discussion which ends at 8:15 p.m. Donations are accepted but not required. Beginners welcome. Visit www.forestflowerzen.org . Townshend Community Church meets every Sunday at 10 a.m. Pastor Don Hashem leads the service and his wife Carmen leads the music. The church in the country where the difference is worth the distance. Join in for Sunday services at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 26 Elm St., or via Zoom at 10 a.m. The Rev. Fred Chisolm has joined the congregation as priest-in-charge. Morning prayer will be offered on Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. with Contemplative Prayer from 10:30 to 11 a.m. and quiet library (reading) time from 11 a.m. to noon most Thursdays. For more information and Zoom link visit the website: www.stjohnswalpole.org or call 603-756-4533. Walpole Unitarian Church offers Sunday services at 10 a.m., led by the Rev. Elaine Bomford, the church’s affiliate minister, and other clergy and lay leaders. The church is located at the corner of Main and Union streets. The congregation embraces spiritual exploration, social justice and care for each other and the planet. The church plans to continue a modified Zoom element to the service as technology permits. Visit walpoleunitarianchurch.org . St. Mary’s in the Mountains Episcopal Church, 13 East Main St., holds services at 10 a.m. every Sunday in person and on Zoom. There will be coffee and refreshments after the service. For a Zoom link, visit smmvt.org .As the health of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal who is on a hunger strike at Khanauri deteriorates, deputy commissioners of Jind and Ambala have written to their Sangrur counterpart, asking to provide immediate medical assistance to the veteran leader amid apprehension that any untoward incident may escalate protests. In their separate but similar communication, the officials cited that as the protests by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Majdoor Morcha is underway at the Khanauri Border, Jind and Shambhu Border, Ambala, a related matter is also under consideration before the Supreme Court that has also constituted a committee for the same. “Dallewal has been on an indefinite hunger strike at the Khanauri Border since November 26 and during a recent press conference organised by farmer leaders, it was disclosed that his weight has significantly reduced, and his health has deteriorated. In the same context, farmer leaders have made an appeal for people to gather in large numbers for the Delhi march and to pray for the well-being of Dallewal,” the letter read. It further read, “Considering the potential deterioration of his health or the possibility of any untoward incident, there is a chance that the protest/demonstration could escalate. In this view, you are requested to provide him with appropriate medical facilities immediately and take all necessary measures to ensure that the ongoing farmers movement at the borders is not adversely affected and that law and order is maintained.” A copy of the letters was also sent to the chief secretaries and director generals of police of Punjab and Haryana, as well as other concerned officials of both the states. Ahead of the farmer group’s another attempt to march towards the national capital on Saturday, Ambala SP Surender Singh Bhoria asked the unions to take permission from concerned administration in Delhi to protest and there will be no issue with the local authorities. DC Parth Gupta appealed to the farmer’s union to maintain peace at the protest site.
President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money convictionNEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets wanted Juan Soto to know his future with them could be set in stone. When the free agent outfielder traveled to owner Steve Cohen's house in Beverly Hills, California, for a presentation last month, the team unveiled a video that included an image of a future Soto statue outside Citi Field, next to the one erected of franchise great Tom Seaver . “Everything that they showed me, what they have, what they want to do, it was incredible,” Soto said. “But my favorite part was the video.” Soto was introduced at Citi Field on Thursday, a day after his record $765 million, 15-year contract was finalized. Speaking in the Piazza 31 Club, he was flanked by Mets owner Steve Cohen, president of baseball operations David Stearns and agent Scott Boras. Security men in gray suits wearing earpieces were off to the side. The slugger walked in led by Boras, wearing a dark suit, black turtle neck shirt and gold chain with his No. 22. Soto picked the Mets over the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. His deal includes a luxury suite and four premium tickets for home games , all for free, and personal team security for the four-time All-Star and his family at the team’s expense for all spring training and regular-season home and road games. “My family is really important for me. Without them, I probably wouldn't have been here,” Soto said. “It's one of the biggest things.” Boras had asked for those sweeteners. “We included it at the beginning," Cohen said. “He made a request and we were happy to provide.” The crosstown Yankees, who reached the World Series for the first time since 2009 in part because of Soto, refused to consider the concept. “Some high-end players that make a lot of money for us, if they want suites, they buy them,” general manager Brian Cashman said. Cohen purchased the Mets ahead of the 2021 season and has boosted them to baseball's highest payroll in search of the team's first title since 1986 — when the World Series MVP, like Soto, wore No. 22 — Ray Knight. The owner thanked his son, Josh, for helping create the video and commended his 93-year-old father-in-law Ralph for attending the first get-together with Soto. While other teams met Soto at the Pendry Newport Beach, a hotel just a five-minute drive from Boras Corp.'s office, Cohen asked to host the session at one of his homes. “If we’re going to some restaurant, I didn’t know what the atmosphere would be,” Cohen said. “Food's better at my house.” Cohen and Soto met again Friday at another of the owner's homes in Boca Raton, Florida. Soto wanted to know how many championships Cohen expects over the next decade? “I said I’d like to win two to four,” the owner recalled. The value of Soto's contract eclipsed Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million, 10-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. Its length topped Fernando Tatis Jr.’s $340 million, 14-year agreement with San Diego that runs through 2034. The 26-year-old Soto batted .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks this year and has a .285 career average with 201 homers, 592 RBIs and 769 walks over seven seasons with Washington, San Diego and the Yankees. Boras wouldn't discuss who finished second in the bidding in Soto's mind. “When you’re at a wedding, you don’t talk about the bridesmaids," he said. Soto made the decision Sunday while at home with his family. Boras referred to the group as the “Soto Supreme Court" defined as “mother, sister, father — he’s got a wide group. I think he may have eight or nine uncles.” “My information requests and such were rather unique,” Boras said, detailing that his team asked for OPS by ballpark. Soto's 1.175 at Citi Field is his highest at any stadium where he's played 15 or more games. Soto cited Cohen's relationship with Mets stars Francisco Lindor and Edwin Díaz as a factor in his mind. “They are kind of like (a tight) family, a family that wants to win but they definitely want to take care of their players and their families,” Soto said. Cohen had his wife Alex and father-in-law attend the initial meeting to emphasize kinship. “My father-in-law is at every game, every home game,” Cohen said. “I wanted him to see how important baseball is to this family. And Alex grew up with one TV in an apartment and that Met game was on every night.” Cohen relishes owning the Mets. He spoke earlier in the day to a town hall at his hedge fund. “Whenever you meet somebody, they want to talk about the Mets before they talk about financial markets,” he said. Soto's success will be determined by World Series titles. The Yankees have 27, the Mets two. “It's such a big city, right? There's plenty of room for both of us,” Cohen said. Soto had a more direct definition. "Championships is going to tell you if it's a Yankees or Mets town at the end of the day," he said. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
Musk says US is demanding he pay penalty over disclosures of his Twitter stock purchases DETROIT (AP) — Elon Musk says the Securities and Exchange Commission wants him to pay a penalty or face charges involving what he disclosed — or failed to disclose — about his purchases of Twitter stock before he bought the social media platform in 2022. In a letter, Musk’s lawyer Alex Spiro tells the outgoing SEC chairman, Gary Gensler, that the commission’s demand for a monetary payment is a “misguided scheme” that won’t intimidate Musk. The letter also alleges that the commission reopened an investigation this week into Neuralink, Musk’s computer-to-human brain interface company. The SEC has not released the letter. Nor would it comment on it or confirm whether it has issued such a demand to Musk. Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is pushing toward a vote on legislation that would provide full Social Security benefits to millions of people. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer began the process on Thursday for a final vote on the bill, known as the Social Security Fairness Act. It would eliminate policies that currently limit Social Security payouts for roughly 2.8 million people. The legislation has passed the House. The bill would add more strain on the Social Security Trust funds, which are already estimated to be unable to pay out full benefits beginning in 2035. The measure would add an estimated $195 billion to federal deficits over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn't install more automated systems WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is offering his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports. He posted on social media Thursday that he met with union leaders and that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. He wrote that the “amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. The Maritime Alliance says the technology will improve worker safety and strengthen our supply chains, among other things. IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power WASHINGTON (AP) — IRS leadership on Thursday announced that the agency has recovered $4.7 billion in back taxes and proceeds from a variety of crimes. The announcement comes under the backdrop of a promised reckoning from Republicans who will hold a majority over both chambers of the next Congress and have long called for rescinding the tens of billions of dollars in funding provided to the agency by Democrats. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said improvements made to the agency will help the incoming administration and new Republican majority congress achieve its goals of administering an extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. OpenAI's Altman will donate $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund LOS ANGELES (AP) — OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is planning to make a $1 million personal donation to President-Elect Donald Trump’s inauguration fund, joining a number of tech companies and executives who are working to improve their relationships the incoming administration. A spokesperson for OpenAI confirmed the move on Friday. The announcement comes one day after Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, said it donated $1 million to the same fund. Amazon also said it plans to donate $1 million. China signals it's prepared to double down on support for the economy as Trump tariffs loom BANGKOK (AP) — Chinese leaders met this week to plot economic policy for the coming year and sketched out plans to raise government spending and relax Beijing's monetary policy. Analysts said the broad-brush plans from the annual Central Economic Work Conference were more of a recap of current policy than ambitious new initiatives at a time when the outlook is clouded by the President-elect Donald Trump's threats to sharply raise tariffs once he takes office. The ruling Communist Party did commit to raising China's deficit and to doing more to encourage consumer spending by bringing wage increases in line with the pace of economic growth. Here's a look at China's main priorities and their potential implications. Stock market today: Wall Street slips at the end of a bumpy week Stocks slipped as Wall Street closes out a rare bumpy week. The S&P 500 was down less than 0.1% in afternoon trading Friday and headed for a weekly loss. The benchmark index hit its latest in a string of records a week ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 25 points. The Nasdaq composite was down less than 0.1%. Broadcom surged after the semiconductor company beat Wall Street’s profit targets and gave a glowing forecast, highlighting its artificial intelligence products. Treasury yields edged higher in the bond market. European markets were mostly lower and Asian markets mostly fell. Next Week: Retail sales, Fed policy update, existing home sales The Commerce Department releases its monthly snapshot of U.S. retail sales Tuesday. Federal Reserve officials wrap up a two-day meeting and issue an interest rate policy update Wednesday. The National Association of Realtors issues its latest update on U.S. home sales Thursday. African Union chairperson candidates advocate for permanent UN Security Council seats NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Three African leaders seeking to head the African Union have detailed their plans for regional security amid conflicts and political coups while strongly advocating for inter-Africa trade. The race for chairperson debate was held Friday in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. Kenya’s Raila Odinga, Djibouti’s Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato are seeking to be elected as chairperson for the 55-member state African Union. They had a two-hour debate Friday in which they all advocated for two permanent seats for African countries at the U.N. Security Council to effectively represent the continent with the youngest population. The three are seeking to convince most African countries before the February election to succeed the African Union Chairperson Moussa Faki. From a 10-year-old to a Muppet to a president-elect, NYSE bell-ringers range from famous to obscure The first guest invited to ring the bell at the New York Stock Exchange in 1956 wasn’t a company executive, a politician or a celebrity. It was a 10-year-old boy, Leonard Ross, who received the honor by winning a television quiz show. Since then, business titans, political giants and global film stars have all been among those ringing the opening bell at the NYSE. Ronald Reagan rang the bell as president in 1985. Billionaire businessman and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr. have also rung the bell. The even list includes famous Muppets: Miss Piggy was once a bell ringer.In Sweden, companies are cleaning up steel production – one of the world’s biggest carbon problemsAs it turns out, August 5 was a great day to buy bitcoin when it briefly fell below US$50,000. If you did, and held on for what turned out to be a relatively short white knuckle ride lasting exactly four months, you would have succeeded in doubling your money after bitcoin traded above US$100,000 last week to reach a new all-time high. That seems like an extraordinary outcome – and it is! Never before has the election of a US President delivered such a significant windfall to a group of investors who right now must feel like they have just experienced the trade of their lives. Since Donald Trump’s victory was confirmed one month ago, bitcoin has increased in value by an astonishing 40 percent. And bitcoin is not alone in feeling the love. Excluding stablecoins, which are designed to avoid price swings, the top 20 crypto coins have appreciated even faster, on average, than bitcoin. Dogecoin, a meme coin often promoted by Elon Musk, an ardent Trump fan-turned-adviser, has more than tripled in value since election day. It marks a stunning comeback from 2022-23, when a perfect storm sent cryptocurrencies tumbling from the peaks they had reached during the mania of 2021. Back then the US Federal Reserve was briskly raising interest rates, and in doing so cooling the speculative fever that had gripped markets in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Mismanagement and fraud caused several crypto firms once deemed above board – not least FTX, one of the largest crypto exchanges – to collapse, tainting the entire industry. Financial watchdogs were preparing to pounce and potentially regulate the sector almost out of existence. But then crypto found the perfect champion in Donald Trump, a convert who would not only preach the crypto gospel to his devoted flock in the runup to his eventual re-election but proclaim the word of crypto with messianic zeal few believers could have ever imagined. On any level none of it makes any sense. Why is something whose value can’t be measured worth 40 percent more than it was a month ago? But trying to explain the rise of bitcoin is a bit like trying to explain the existence of God to an atheist. You’re either a believer in cryptocurrencies or you’re not. And right now there will be many investors wishing they could believe, but just can’t bring themselves to convert, although judging by the numbers quite a few already have. Equally, there will be plenty of others, particularly techno loving trend loving Gen Zers, who in recent weeks just couldn’t resist joining the herd. After all, they’re the generation who love nothing more than jumping on board whenever something shiny catches their attention. And for those who did, they have been handsomely rewarded for their risk-taking. It all seems such an easy way to make money, particularly as the meme coin craze once again ignites in the same way NFTs (remember those) did in 2021. But search “is bitcoin in a bubble?” and you’ll find plenty of thought provoking commentary suggesting bitcoin is no different from many other bubbles that have formed previously in financial markets; though what makes this one different is the amount of serious money now backing bitcoin as a result of the emergence of crypto-focused exchange traded funds or ETFs. Recent studies on the determinants of speculative bubbles in the cryptocurrency market have produced varied results. Some researchers have pointed to herd behaviour as the key driver, while others have emphasized the influence of tweets from the likes of Elon Musk, or more recently those of President-elect Donald Trump. Other authors have put forth the argument of volume shocks. The debate surrounding the concept of a speculative bubble often centres on whether bubbles result from rational or irrational behaviour. According to the rationalist perspective, a speculative bubble is defined as an abnormal rise in asset prices not justified by intrinsic factors. This means that asset prices increase beyond their fundamental value due to speculative activity, while continuing to attract new investors until they reach the maximum rational anticipation level before abruptly falling to their fundamental value as a result of a bubble having formed. According to the irrationalist perspective, a speculative bubble occurs when security prices, particularly stocks, rise well above their actual value. This trend continues until there are no more potential buyers. Supply then becomes significantly greater than demand, leading to panic and causing prices to rapidly go into reverse. Investors are frequently driven by herd behaviour, where one buys because they see others buying, assuming the others possess the correct information. Given the significant amount of promotion of cryptocurrencies on social media channels by a range of high profile opinion leaders and so called ‘influencers’, it’s not hard to see why bitcoin has quickly gained the momentum it has, just as we saw a few years ago with the emergence of the GameStop phenomenon. More people jumping on board in turn attracts more people until some begin to start cashing in and so the pendulum eventually tips the other way. But while it is relatively straightforward to be able to value a share, or most other financial investments, valuing bitcoin requires the investor to buy into a belief system for an asset that itself has no underlying value at all. It simply relies on the buyer being willing to pay a higher price than the seller paid it for. That old trading adage “markets can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent” comes to mind. So could bitcoin double in value again in a years’ time? Who knows? It is just as likely to double in value as it is to halve in value. We have no idea, which indeed is the essence of its appeal to investors who love the thrill of the chase. It’s the ultimate investment for those who revel in the ‘risk-on-steroids’ aspect of bitcoin, and crypto currencies more generally. But as the value of those cryptocurrencies closes in on US$4 trillion globally, a significant correction in the price has much greater implications for global financial stability than was the case just a few years ago. It’s worth considering the global crypto market now equates to one third of the size of the entire US mortgage market and in 2008/09 we saw what happened when less than 10 percent of it went bad. Right now, it’s the believers who are calling the tune, but it may well be the non-believers who also end up paying the price for the current speculative fervour. The NZ sharemarket recorded its second biggest weekly fall for the year with the slipping almost 2 percent, following Auckland Council’s surprise decision to sell off its remaining 9.7 percent shareholding in had investors cashing up to take advantage of the unexpected buying opportunity. As the country’s only major ‘gateway’ airport, the block sale offered investors a rare chance to buy into a high quality infrastructure, with a unique monopoly, that is particularly attractive for long term fund managers. The lightening quick sale, which seemingly attracted little debate amongst Auckland’s cash-strapped councillors compared to the decision to sell the first tranche of its shareholding last year, will return at least $1.31 billion dollars for Auckland Councils Future Fund. Auckland Airport (AIA) shares ended the week up 4.6 percent at $8.12 following the completion of the sale process. Just three weeks ago AIA shares traded as low as $7.21. With its increased liquidity, AIA will now move to the number two spot on the NZX50 index from today with a weighting of 10.1 percent, while market leader , will see its weighting slightly reduced from its current 16.8 percent and will be relegated to the number 3 position with a weighting of around 9.5%. Aside from the Auckland Airport share sale, there was a noticeable weariness amongst investors at the prospect of NZ’s economic rebound potentially taking longer than had previously been expected, according to recent data. ANZ Research said the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update, which will be released on December 17, is expected to show a potential delay to achieving a surplus until 2029 at the earliest, following a more pessimistic tone from the Treasury on the economic outlook along with an expected upgrade to bond issuance guidance. Across the Tasman, Australia’s annual GDP increased 0.8 percent, below the estimate of 1.1 percent and behind the 1 percent rise in the 12 months through June. The slowing economy raised hopes that its Reserve Bank might reduce its official cash rate when it meets this week having been at a 13-year high of 4.35 percent since late last year. (THL) shares ended the week down almost 7 percent at $1.91 after announcing part of its business would be restructured. The company said it had combined the roles of chief financial and chief people officer as well as announcing the closure of its Melbourne subassembly plant with the loss of 100 jobs. THL said support office roles in the United States had also been reduced, resulting in savings of more than $500,000 a year, as part of its program of targeting $12m in cost reductions by 2027. THL continues to face difficult trading conditions in the face of a slump in recreational vehicle rentals and sales. In the US, the benchmark index closed at 6,090, yet another record high, after gaining 1 percent for the week following better than expected jobs data on Friday which showed a total of 227,000 new roles were created in November, a sharp rebound from the 12,000 positions reported in October (subsequently revised up to 36,000 in the latest release). The unemployment rate in the US rose 0.1 percent to 4.2 percent. A US appeals court on Friday upheld a law requiring TikTok’s owner ByteDance to sell the platform or face a likely ban next year in the US, dealing a major blow to the Chinese company behind the video app. The law, signed by outgoing President Joe Biden this year, orders TikTok to be banned in the country if the app does not divest from its parent by January 19 2025 — the day before Donald Trump is inaugurated as president. The unanimous ruling from the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said the law — which centres on a controversial national security issue involving China and received strong bipartisan support in Congress — was constitutional and did not violate First Amendment protections for free speech, as TikTok had claimed. The “government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary’s ability to gather data on people in the United States,” the panel wrote in its decision. TikTok in now left in a precarious position in one of its biggest markets, although the law’s political future is uncertain. On the campaign trail before his re-election, Trump said he opposed the platform’s ban and promised to “save” the app. In an email to staff, TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew wrote that the next step would be to “seek an injunction of the ban, pending a review by the US Supreme Court.” The law requires Apple and Google to remove the social media app, which is wildly popular among younger Generation Z users, from their app stores if a divestiture does not take place before the January deadline. It also bans the app from web-hosting services. The reported the Chinese embassy in Washington said the law would have “a serious impact on the online social platform used by half of Americans” and was a “blatant act of commercial robbery”. Before his re-election, Trump said he would not ban TikTok upon his return to the White House, in an attempt to preserve “competition” in a market dominated by Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, which the president-elect has described as an “enemy of the people”. International Migration & Travel (Oct) – Stats NZ
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks rose in afternoon trading on Wall Street Friday, keeping the market on track for its fifth gain in a row. The S&P 500 was up 0.4% and is solidly on track for a weekly gain that will erase most of last week's loss. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 351 points, or 0.8%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.2% as of 1:03 p.m. Eastern. Markets have been volatile over the last few weeks, losing ground in the runup to elections in November, then surging following Donald Trump's victory, before falling again. The S&P 500 has been steadily rising throughout this week to within close range of its record. “Overall, market behavior has normalized following an intense few weeks,” said Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide, in a statement. Several retailers jumped after giving Wall Street encouraging financial updates. Gap soared 10.6% after handily beating analysts' third-quarter earnings and revenue expectations, while raising its own revenue forecast for the year. Discount retailer Ross Stores rose 3.1% after raising its earnings forecast for the year. EchoStar fell 3.4% after DirecTV called off its purchase of that company's Dish Network unit. Smaller company stocks had some of the biggest gains. The Russell 2000 index rose 1.7%. A majority of stocks in the S&P 500 were gaining ground, but those gains were kept in check by slumps for several big technology companies. Nvidia fell 3.2%. Its pricey valuation makes it among the heaviest influences on whether the broader market gains or loses ground. The company has grown into a nearly $3.6 trillion behemoth because of demand for its chips used in artificial-intelligence technology. Intuit, which makes TurboTax and other accounting software, fell 4.1%. It gave investors a quarterly earnings forecast that fell short of analysts’ expectations. Facebook owner Meta Platforms fell 0.4% following a decision by the Supreme Court to allow a multibillion-dollar class action investors’ lawsuit to proceed against the company. It stems from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm. European markets were mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. Crude oil prices rose. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.41% from 4.42% late Thursday. In the crypto market, Bitcoin hovered around $99,000, according to CoinDesk. It has more than doubled this year and first surpassed the $99,000 level on Thursday. Retailers remained a big focus for investors this week amid close scrutiny on consumer spending habits headed into the holiday shopping season. Walmart, the nation's largest retailer, reported a quarter of strong sales and gave investors an encouraging financial forecast. Target, though, reported weaker earnings than analysts' expected and its forecast disappointed Wall Street. Consumer spending has fueled economic growth, despite a persistent squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. Inflation has been easing and the Federal Reserve has started trimming its benchmark interest rates. That is likely to help relieve pressure on consumers, but any major shift in spending could prompt the Fed to reassess its path ahead on interest rates. Also, any big reversals on the rate of inflation could curtail spending. Consumer sentiment remains strong, according to the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index. It revised its latest figure for November to 71.8 from an initial reading of 73 earlier this month, though economists expected a slight increase. It's still up from 70.5 in October. The survey also showed that consumers' inflation expectations for the year ahead fell slightly to 2.6%, which is the lowest reading since December of 2020. Wall Street will get another update on how consumers feel when the business group The Conference Board releases its monthly consumer confidence survey on Tuesday. A key inflation update will come on Wednesday when the U.S. releases its October personal consumption expenditures index. The PCE is the Fed's preferred measure of inflation and this will be the last PCE reading prior to the central bank's meeting in December.
Wellington bakery Myrtle announces closure a week after winning top awardOne of the biggest pieces of professional wrestling news has been Penta El Zero Miedo being removed from All Elite Wrestling's (AEW) roster, seemingly confirming that his contract is up and his time with the company has come to an end. However, there are still questions regarding whether his brother and tag team partner Rey Fénix will be joining, especially since he is still on the roster. More Professional Wrestling: WWE Legend Shawn Michaels Weighs In on Iconic Tucker Kraft Kip-Up Rumors suggest that Fénix wants to join his brother but AEW added time to his contract due to periods of injury. Now, it seems that Fénix has only added fuel to the fire. Fénix has recently taken to social media and dropped a vague accusation of "inhumane treatment." "No one stays in a place where they received inhumane treatment," Fénix said on X . No one stays in a place where they received inhumane treatment. This comes about a week after Fénix went on Instagram Live and dropped a quote about dissatisfaction and professionalism. "There are many things that are not known, but that also should not be talked about," Fénix said, per Jeremy Lambert and Luis Pulido of Fightful . "We must wait. Professionalism first and foremost, folks." More Professional Wrestling: Multi-Time WWE Champion Makes Surprising Return to AEW Fénix then proceeded to take a shot at professional wrestling podcasts that take shots at the people in the ring. "We must not be the same as all those podcasts that go around spitting out what should not be spit out. Never diminish our work. There are things that should always be respected, and many are forgetting everything that wrestling has given them." 👀 Rey Fénix, en un live de Instagram: "Hay muchas cosas que no se saben, pero que también no se deben de hablar. Hay que esperar. Profesionalismo ante todo, señores. No hay que ser los mismos de todos esos podcasts que andan escupiendo lo que no se debe de escupir. Nunca... pic.twitter.com/Qparw5ZaeF These comments came after Fightful Select reported that Fenix's contract had been extended into 2025 due to time off from injury. This is likely because Penta and Fénix, known as the Lucha Brothers, are planning to head to WWE. "When speaking to those with knowledge of the situation, it was claimed to Fightful that Rey Fénix's AEW contract extends well into next year due to the injury time that will be added to it," Fightful Select reported . More Professional Wrestling: Fan-Favorite WWE Superstar to Undergo Surgery After In-Ring Injury: Report "Fénix and Penta were expected to wrap up with AEW in the fall and head to WWE, but when AEW caught wind of it, added injury time to their deals." Fénix has had an impressive tenure in AEW, winning the AEW World Tag Team Championship, the AEW World Trios Championship, and the AEW International Championship. For more AEW and professional wrestling news, head on over to Newsweek Sports .
Ajay Sura is Senior Assistant Editor with The Times of India Chandigarh. He covers news concerning the State of Haryana, Punjab & Haryana High Court and Defence & Military Affairs. He likes to analyse political developments and decoding judicial pronouncements. His hobbies include travelling, mountaineering and trekking. Read More How to make healthy Oats Palak Chilla for a kid's tiffin 10 best Fried Chicken dishes from around the world 10 ways to use turmeric in winters 10 animals not allowed as pets in India 10 types of Dosa and how they are made Animals and their favourite foods 9 nuts to eat daily for hair growth in winters How to make South Indian Podi Dosa at home From tigers to cheetahs: India’s big cats and where to find them Weekend Special: How to make Multigrain ThaalipeethTokyo, Dec 8 (IANS): US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Japan late Sunday in his last trip to the Indo-Pacific as the Pentagon chief, as he seeks to cement the Biden administration's policy legacy of deepening regional alliances and partnerships. Austin arrived at Yokota Air Base near Tokyo, kicking off the Asia swing that has excluded an anticipated stop in South Korea, another key US ally, in the aftermath of President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law attempt last week. During the trip through Wednesday, the Secretary is scheduled to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Defence Minister Gen Nakatani, visit a US aircraft carrier and meet with American troops, and observe a military exercise involving Australian forces, according to a senior US defence official, reported Yonhap news agency. "The Secretary's trip is going to be highlighting how much the Department (of Defence) has achieved with Japan, a key treaty ally, over the last four years to advance peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific," the official told reporters. "We are continuing to build on these accomplishments, and the next three days will give us a chance to see some of them in person and in implementation." Austin plans to meet Ishiba and Nakatani separately on Tuesday to take stock of progress that the two countries have made in recent years and underscore the importance of the alliance, the official said. Other events include his visit to the USS George Washington nuclear-powered aircraft carrier at the Yokosuka Naval Base and his observation of a US-Japan military exercise where Australian forces are participating for the first time. The Secretary's trip to Japan comes as Washington sees Tokyo as vital to its "new convergence" efforts to bring together US allies and partners in fit-for-purpose groupings to promote a shared vision for a "free and open" Indo-Pacific. "New convergence of allies and partners, who share a vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, and (of) the stronger and more resilient and more capable, networked partnerships is strengthening deterrence in the region, and Japan is emerging as a common denominator of that network," the official said. The cancellation of Austin's visit to Seoul has added to concerns that the aftermath of the short-lived martial law imposition could affect security coordination between Seoul and Washington on North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats. After the martial law episode, Seoul and Washington also postponed a session of the Nuclear Consultative Group, the allies' key nuclear deterrence platform, and a related exercise originally slated to take place in Washington last week. US officials have expressed "grave concern" over the martial law declaration though they reiterated that America's commitment to the alliance with South Korea remains "ironclad."Illegal marijuana dispensary in Kingston, Ont. busted for 2nd time in a week