Altice USA director Patrick Drahi sells $19.7 million in stock
Ethereum developers are increasingly turning their attention to Lightchain AI, an altcoin making waves with its groundbreaking integration of blockchain. Lightchain AI’s unique Proof of Intelligence (PoI) consensus mechanism sets it apart from traditional altcoins, offering a more sustainable and scalable solution. By enabling AI-focused tasks to run seamlessly on the blockchain, Lightchain AI expands what’s possible in decentralized applications. Investors and developers alike have taken notice, especially given the token’s presale price of just $0.003—an attractive entry point for those seeking both innovation and growth in the crypto market. Ethereum (ETH) Challenges Ethereum, the second biggest digital coin, deals with many problems that could a͏ffect its rise and rule in the block chain area. Growth remains a big problem; as even with updates like Ethereum 2.0 the network's deal speed is still small leading to crowding and high costs when usage is at its peak. Layer 2 solutions like Arbitrum and Optimism offer faster and cheaper transactions, which could challenge Ethereum’s dominance in decentralized apps and finance. The growing regulatory uncertainty, especially in the U.S., adds further pressure, creating risks for its development and use. Market volatility adds another layer of complexity, as Ethereum’s price has lagged behind Bitcoin, shaking investor confidence and affecting market stability. With Ethereum’s ecosystem expanding, new security vulnerabilities also emerge, making it crucial to keep improving to maintain user trust. Overcoming these challenges is key to Ethereum’s continued growth and long-term success. Why Ethereum Developers Are Turning to Lightchain AI Here are some key reasons why Ethereum developers are taking notice of Lightchain AI and integrating it into their projects Ethereum developers are seeking more scalable solutions to handle the growing demand for decentralized applications (dApps). Lightchain AI's innovative technologies, such as Proof of Intelligence (PoI), provide an efficient consensus mechanism that significantly reduces scalability bottlenecks. Lightchain AI features a decentralized governance model, allowing Ethereum developers to participate in key decision-making processes. This empowers developers to shape the platform's future and ensures that the community's interests are represented in its growth and development. With growing concerns over energy consumption and network efficiency, Ethereum developers are drawn to Lightchain AI's Proof of Intelligence (PoI) mechanism, which reduces the environmental impact associated with traditional consensus mechanisms like Proof of Work (PoW) while maintaining robust security. Lightchain AI provides Ethereum developers with powerful tools and resources, including technical documentation, APIs, and developer portals, enabling them to quickly integrate and deploy AI-powered blockchain applications with ease. Breakthroughs in Blockchain and AI Integration Lightchain AI is setting a new standard by smoothly integrating artificial intelligence directly into the blockchain, opening up many new possibilities that were once thought impossible. Its PoI consensus mechanism makes sure that every transaction helps in developing AI models, creating an ecosystem where blockchain operations actively contribute to AI progress. Additionally, Lightchain AI’s AIVM enables the execution of AI-specific tasks on the blockchain, giving developers the tools to create smarter decentralized applications. This combination of AI and blockchain technology makes Lightchain AI a versatile and future-ready platform for building decentralized apps. Opportunities for Ethereum Developers in Lightchain AI's Ecosystem As Ethereum developers continue to explore more advanced technological solutions, Lightchain AI presents an exciting opportunity to get involved with a growing ecosystem. Lightchain AI offers a decentralized governance model that allows developers to directly participate in decision-making processes, shaping the platform’s evolution. This community-driven approach makes sure that developers' needs and ideas are listened to, while also rewarding contributions with token rewards. By joining the Lightchain AI ecosystem, Ethereum developers can use advanced tools like PoI and AIVM to build smarter, more scalable dApps, ensuring their projects are ready for the future of blockchain technology. Get Involved with Lightchain AI's Presale Opportunity The Lightchain AI presale is a great opportunity for both developers and investors to get in early. With tokens priced at just $0.003 each, this presale gives exclusive access to Lightchain AI’s expanding ecosystem. By securing tokens now, developers can stay ahead and be part of an exciting platform that’s set to transform the blockchain landscape. Lightchain AI is more than just a token—it’s an opportunity to be a part of the next generation of blockchain and AI integration. Visit lightchain.ai today to secure your tokens and join this groundbreaking ecosystem. https://lightchain.ai https://lightchain.ai/lightchain-whitepaper.pdf https://x.com/LightchainAI https://t.me/LightchainProtocol Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown’s troubles connecting on the field have yet to blow into a family feud inside the locker room — honest, both Philadelphia Eagles stars said. Between Hurts and Brown, it’s all good in Philly. “Me and Jalen are good,” Brown said. Added Hurts, “We’re good, we’re good.” So there will be no sit-ups in the driveway, no apologies on the front lawn, and certainly, it seems, no rift between Hurts and his No. 1 receiver. Hurts and Brown each downplayed any hint of a fissure Wednesday between the two after defensive end Brandon Graham appeared this week on a Philadelphia sports radio station and suggested there was friction between the Pro Bowl duo. The two were close friends long before they became teammates and Hurts is the godfather for Brown’s daughter. Graham's comments — in which he noted “ things have changed ,” between the two, without offering specifics — exploded into tabloid and fan fodder this week in Philadelphia. His insinuations that the duo were not on the same page came on the heels of Brown's quote after a sluggish win over Carolina that the “ offense ” wasn’t playing up to standard, even with the Eagles at 11-2. “BG knows he spoke out of place,” Hurts said. Graham, who is sidelined with a triceps injury, clarified his comments later to an ESPN reporter, saying he made the wrong assumption about the relationship between Hurts and Brown and planned to apologize to both players. Brown, with 109 yards receiving combined the last two games, said his beef with the offense wasn't directed at Hurts. It was everything from offensive coordinator Kellen Moore's play calling to execution to all the ingredients in a successful offense that make a team a Super Bowl contender. The usually pass-happy Eagles have leaned more on running back Saquon Barkley, who set the franchise season rushing record of 1,623 yards against the Panthers and is chasing Eric Dickerson for the NFL mark. “Obviously, it's not about running the ball,” Brown told reporters. “He's about to win MVP. Clearly. What other things can we do on offense? We have to pass the ball. That can go into protection, that can go into picking up the block, that goes to us getting open quicker. Getting on the same page.” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said he never witnessed any issues between Hurts and Brown and only saw two players who worked hard together, even working on routes after practice and seemed to have a deep personal connection on and off the field. “You guys get to see three hours every Sunday where emotions can play as high as they’re going to play,” Sirianni said. “I get to see these guys every single day, how they go about their business and interact with each other.” Brown, who was coming off consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons, wasn't necessarily wrong in his frustration with the recent stagnation of the passing game. Hurts, who signed a contract extension ahead of the 2023 season that was worth $179.3 million guaranteed , has thrown for fewer than 200 yards in three straight games. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith — who also complained Sunday about the offense — was also coming off consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons but has yet to break 100 yards in a game this season. Brown has four 100-yard games, well off last season’s run when he topped 100 yards in six straight games and seven times overall. Hurts has been more efficient than explosive this season but has still thrown 12 touchdown passes to just one interception — and rushed for 11 more scores — during the Eagles' nine-game winning streak that has them on the brink of clinching the NFC East. Maybe playing the Steelers on Sunday at home can snap the Eagles out of their offensive malaise. Hurts threw three TD passes to Brown in a 35-13 win in 2022. “Do we all have things to get better at in the passing game? Yeah, I think that’s obvious,” Sirianni said. “I think that’s what we’ve been talking about. We all have things that we’ve got to get better at, coaches, players. But this is why this is the greatest team sport there is. It takes everybody. It takes every single person being together, every single person for the success to happen. It’s just not a one-person thing.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Thomas takes 1-shot lead over Scheffler in the BahamasPurple Hybrid Mattress Review: A Supportive Bed for Everyone
M3 Group Joins MEDIROM Mother Labs’ Series A Financing Round at JPY9 Billion (as of December ...
A RISE in shareholder activism in Japan is poised to fuel a new wave of management buyouts by founding families, after the battle for 7-Eleven’s parent company prompted a US$58 billion takeover offer from the Ito dynasty that built the retail giant. Seven & i Holdings vice-president Junro Ito swooped in last month with an offer to take private the company founded by his late father in what would be the largest ever management buyout (MBO). Ito’s “white knight” bid appears designed to keep Seven & i away from Canada’s Alimentation Couche-Tard, which announced a takeover proposal in August. The Circle K owner raised its bid for Seven & i by about 22 per cent to US$47 billion in October after its initial offer was rejected. The scramble for Seven & i gives a taste of how deals are likely to develop in the years to come, industry experts say, as changes in Japan Inc’s corporate governance standards make delisting an increasingly compelling option. A few years ago, companies could ignore unsolicited offers because they were protected by cross shareholdings - the practice of holding stakes in business partners to cement relationships. But those holdings are now being sold off under a government push for better governance. Companies have also been told they should give serious consideration to credible buyout offers. “Managers can no longer ignore shareholders as they could in the past. Cross shareholdings are being unwound all the time,” said Travis Lundy of Quiddity Advisors who publishes on the Smartkarma platform. “MBOs are going to be more common,” Lundy said, adding the government’s guidelines on giving consideration to buyout offers were “a game changer”. All in the family Last year, Japanese deals where management took stakes, including MBOs, totalled US$7.1 billion, the most in at least 36 years, LSEG data showed. The value has fallen from that peak this year, but remains at US$1.7 billion. Among recent deals, educational publisher and nursing home operator Benesse Holdings was taken private in an MBO by the founding Fukutake family and Swedish private equity firm EQT. Drugmaker Taisho Pharmaceutical was bought out by a member of its founding Uehara family. MBOs are becoming an attractive option because the governance overhaul has created bigger burdens for listed firms, while being a public company no longer confers the status it once did, said Ulrike Schaede, a professor of Japanese business at the University of California San Diego. Schaede gives the example of Germany, where MBOs have become a “new defence” against shareholder activism, adding that Japan could start to see a similar trend, especially given private equity’s appetite for deals in the country. Japan is hardly the only place where founding families hold stakes and sway after the founder dies - and Seven & i not the only global retailer in that position. The family of Walmart founder Sam Walton holds 45.5 per cent of the US retailer, while the largest shareholders of Sweden’s H&M are Stefan Persson, son of the founder, and his family. Small stakes But Japan stands out because families are able to wield considerable power despite holding small stakes. Ito-Kogyo, the company tied to Junro Ito that is bidding for Seven & i, holds only about 8.2 per cent of the retailer. Historically, family control of businesses in Japan has been “more persistent than the very low equity ownership by founding families would indicate”, researchers from the University of Copenhagen, the University of Alberta School of Business and elsewhere wrote in a 2021 Journal of Financial Economics paper. Some 10 per cent to 30 per cent of listed Japanese companies from the 1960s to 2010 were managed by founding family heirs with “little ownership to report”, Morten Bennedsen, Vikas Mehrotra and their co-authors found. They pointed to examples such as the Toyoda family at Toyota Motor, the Suzukis of Suzuki Motor and the Kashios at Casio Computer. Such families were able to retain control via what the researchers called “soft family assets”, including their name and reputation. “We certainly expect that the trend is continuing, there is no sign it is changing,” Bennedsen told Reuters. One Seven & i investor recalled attending a meeting with company executives including Junro Ito, who sat silent throughout. The extent to which the Ito family wielded influence and power within the company was “something of a mystery”, said the investor, who asked not to be named due to company policy. A Seven & i spokesperson declined to comment. At many companies, the founder’s legacy still looms large. In recent years Seven & i resisted calls from foreign investors to hive off its Ito-Yokado supermarkets’ business out of respect for founder Masatoshi Ito’s vision, according to veteran Japan retail analyst Michael Causton. “The Ito legacy, as in many Japanese companies with a charismatic founder, is an unwritten red line in the company known to all executives,” Causton said, adding that amounted to preserving Seven & i as a conglomerate spanning supermarkets, general merchandise and convenience stores. It remains to be seen whether the Ito family will manage to raise the funds needed for the deal - although it appears that domestic banks are lining up with them. What is clear is that more such deals are likely to happen, something investors welcome. “If the founding families in Japan really want to control and influence their companies, then they shouldn’t be listed and instead taken private,” the Seven & i investor said. REUTERSKathmandu, Dec. 8: “Due to an overwhelming number of attendees, we regret to inform you that entry to stadium for the match between Biratnagar Kings and Janakpur Bolts is no longer possible,” a notice from the Nepal Premier League on November 30 read. However, the notice was not for fans seeking tickets for the opening match of the inaugural edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), it was to inform of the steps for a refund for the tickets as hundreds of fans were denied entry despite having tickets. Even those with seasonal tickets were denied entry. While the game between Biratnagar and Janakpur was underway, police officers and hired security guards were busy engaging with the angry cricket fans who were not allowed entry from five different gates of TU International Cricket Ground, home of Nepali cricket, when there was no space to accommodate them. When a crowd tried to enter the ground forcefully, around half a dozen fans were seriously injured in a stampede-like situation. Even policemen were injured and they had to be rushed to hospital “Around 15-20 people were muscled by the gate, fighting for their lives. Some were pulled out, but others were critically injured. Blood was flowing from their mouths, and a few were unconscious,” a fan who was present at the scene shared via Nepal’s Rhino Army, a fan group of Nepali cricket supporters. As per police officers deployed at TU Ground on that day, the sad incident occurred as fans, with tickets in their hand, were demanding entry and it would never have happened had tickets not been sold excessively. Three days before the opening match, Khalti, the ticketing partner for NPL, on November 27, posted a photo on its social media stating that ‘all tickets’ for Biratnagar Kings vs Janakpur Bolts were ‘sold out’. But, as per the enraged fans of November 30, tickets were being sold physically also on the game day. It was not the first time the TU Ground was packed to the fullest, and disputes arose between fans and security officials on its outer premises, but it was the first time in the NPL. The scenario has not been limited to Kirtipur, Tripureshwor’s Dasharath Rangasala, home of Nepali football, had also faced consequences of poor security management with the worst incident occurring in March 1988, when 70 football fans were killed in a stampede. Dasharath’s struggle continues Dasharath Rangasala, Nepal’s biggest stadium with a capacity to hold 15,000 fans, gets packed whenever a good football match, be it national team’s or club-level, is underway. Constructed in the 1950s, Dasharath Rangasala could accommodate as many as 27,000 spectators in the past. As per the records, Dasharath Rangasala, then 27,000-capacity, was packed with fans on March 12, 1988, for the finals of the Tribhuvan Challenge Shield between Nepal’s Janakpur Cigarette Factory and Bangladesh’s Mukti Joddha. However, the joyous environment turned into pandemonium after a powerful storm caused panic in the stadium. At the time, concrete structures worked as parapets that lacked roofs, proper pathways, and emergency corridors and exits. It was reported that winds began blowing at up to 80 km/hr coupled with hails. When the panicked crowd started fleeing, a stampede occurred at the southern gate where 70 fans lost their lives marking it as the ‘Black Day’ of Nepali sports. While an incident like in 1988 has not been repeated in Dasharath Rangasala, there have been a worrying number of close encounters. For instance, fans squeezed and forced through the northern gate of Dasharath Rangasala during the final of the 2nd Nepal Super League on December 30 last year in an unsafe fashion after a dispute broke between fans and security officials. The fans forced their way as many had tickets, but were denied entrance citing ‘Housefull’. Crowd can be managed An overly-packed TU Ground has had two matches every day except on December 1 due to local-level by-elections. And every match day, thousands of spectators arrive to watch the first game that begins at 9 am and the second at 1 pm. Thus, learning from the problems faced on Saturday, November 30, and how fans turned out even on office days, the NPL officials and stakeholders seemed well prepared for next weekend, i.e. December 6 to witness two major encounters: Sudurpaschim Royals vs Lumbini Lions and Karnali Yaks vs Biratnagar Kings. Led by the world’s No. 2 T20I all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee, Sudurpashchim, with two in two wins, was facing Nepal’s skipper Rohit Kumar Paudel-led Lumbini Lions, which had two consecutive losses. Moreover, the second match between Karnali and Biratnagar was the chance for Nepal to witness a faceoff between two legends of the game: Shikhar Dhawan and Martin Guptill. Posting a photo suggesting tickets for December 6 were sold out, Paras Khadka, Nepal’s legend of the game, in the night of December 5 requested the fans to catch the thrilling action from the comfort of their homes or any convenient location. Khadka, secretary of CAN and coordinator for NPL, requested so as he was with the enraged fans last weekend and listened to their grievances. His post mostly suggested that fans without tickets should not flock to the stadium and create unnecessary hassle for those with tickets. For good, the scene at TU Ground was not like before on the second Saturday. Authorities had added more barriers to ensure a regulated flow of fans into designated zones for the past couple of days which came in handy on December 6. Social media was not buzzing with complaints against the NPL and its ticketing partner Khalti on December 6, it suggested that the management was far better than before. There were a whopping 14,000 spectators for the two games at TU Ground on Saturday. “Great improvement in management while entering ground this time than the opening game. More security personnel and better crowd management,” Bijay Uprety (@BijayOCT25), a regular follower of Nepali and international cricket, posted on X at 9:37 am on December 6. Not enough though The international governing body of football, FIFA, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) strictly monitor the condition of stadiums before being allowed to host international matches. As a result, in February this year, a team from the AFC deemed Dasharath Rangasala unsafe and unfit for international matches; it led the Nepal men’s team to play their home matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers second round on foreign soil. However, the AFC reversed its decision and permitted the venue to host the AFC Challenge League playoff between Nepal's league champion Church Boys United and Bhutan's league champion Paro FC on August 13. Nevertheless, the suspension was not completely lifted. Suresh Shah, spokesperson for the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), said, "Different tournaments have different stadium standards. Dasharath Rangasala was approved for the AFC Challenge League match after inspection by League officials. However, future tournaments will require separate inspections." The reasons for Dasharath Rangasala’s suspension include safety concerns of fans, inadequate emergency evacuation procedures and the floodlights’ condition among others. It shows that despite renovating the stadium multiple times, the results have not met the regularly updated standards of the AFC and FIFA. “Safety and security are the most important considerations for the operation of a stadium. Warranting the safety and well-being of all spectators, players, officials and staff should always have overriding priority,” FIFA states under its stadium guidelines. The Nepal Premier League is not even at the halfway stage until December 6 but the physical crowd engagement has been nothing like before in Nepal’s domestic tournament. Therefore, the excitement will build up by the time the playoffs begin on December 18 and the current preparation will not be enough then. Modern infrastructure required Cricket and football are not the only sports that suffer the issues of crowd management. Volleyball, Nepal’s national sport since May 2017, is also facing similar problems. There are several domestic volleyball tournaments organised throughout the country annually. They all attract a huge crowd and most of them are organised in open spaces. Only the major tournaments get the chance to play at the Covered Hall on Dasharath Rangasala premises. In 2024 alone, the Covered Hall, which is also used for basketball, wrestling and other sports events, has struggled with overcrowding during the weekend and final games of PM Cup, EWVL and CAVA events among others. The National Table Tennis Training Centre in Lainchaur was also struggling when the centre for training hosted the South Asian qualifiers for Paris Olympics in May. “We struggle during major games because Nepalis have unparalleled passion towards sports but the country lacks sufficient stadiums to accommodate a good number of fans,” Tanka Lal Ghising, member-secretary of the National Sports Council (NSC), told The Rising Nepal. “There has been management of live telecasts for tournaments within Nepal so that fans who did not get a spot in the venue can still see the games from a convenient place. We request fans to stay calm until Nepal thrives with sports infrastructure,” added Ghising.President Biden commutes sentences of nearly 1,500 people
Takeda Spotlights High-Value, Late-Stage Pipeline Accelerating the Development of Potential Transformative Treatments for Patients in Multiple Therapeutic AreasBill Belichick spent 48 years coaching in the NFL, nearly half of which was spent turning the New England Patriots into one of the greatest dynasties the sport has ever seen. Now, the NFL's second-winningest coach (including playoffs) is reportedly taking on a new challenge: college football . Belichick has agreed to become the new head coach at North Carolina , according to multiple reports. The agreement will land the 72-year-old his first college head coaching job on what The Athletic reports will be a three-year, $30 million contract. Belichick will need to quickly acclimate to working with younger players and get used to the massive yearly roster turnover that has come with the transfer portal. Those will be just two of the factors that will make Belichick's transition to college coaching fascinating to watch. But the main one? No NFL coach with Belichick's level of success has ever dropped from the professional to the college ranks. It will be on him to prove that his unparalleled NFL achievements can also be had at the NCAA level. NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more. Here's more on just how unprecedented Belichick's transition to college football will be. The latest: Bill Belichick finalizing deal to become North Carolina football coach, per reports College coaches with the most NFL wins Belichick will be the winningest NFL coach to coach at the college level. He has racked up a whopping 302 regular-season wins during his NFL coaching career (333 wins if you count the playoffs); no other coach to go from the NFL to college has ever had more than 95 (Lou Saban). Below is a look at the coaches who had 40-plus NFL regular-season wins when they took on college coaching jobs, according to data from Pro Football Reference : Some of the coaches listed above ended up jumping back from the college ranks to the NFL, which might be what Belichick is hoping to accomplish. As such, some ended up with higher win totals than those listed above, but only after their college coaching careers were complete. That's why Pete Carroll didn't make it onto the list above. He had 33 NFL wins before he began coaching at USC in 2001. Upon his split with the Seattle Seahawks following the 2023 NFL season, he had 170 NFL wins to his name. BILL BELICHICK TO UNC: Coach makes pitch to recruits for job on 'Pat McAfee Show' Most wins in college football history Below is a look at the winningest coaches in college football history, headlined by Penn State's Joe Paterno. NFL ON CHRISTMAS: Netflix announces star-studded broadcaster lineup for holiday games Most wins in NFL history Belichick ranks third all-time in NFL regular-season wins. Below are the 10 winningest coaches from the league's history. All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter .
Print, is it the end of the fairy tale?
Even the most firmly established constitutional rights often seem to be hanging on by a thread. That may be the lesson of the case of William Maisano of Guilford, a retired police officer and former school board candidate who, according to Connecticut’s Hearst newspapers and the Yankee Institute’s journalism project, Connecticut Inside Investigator, could be imprisoned for as much as five years for his conviction on a felony charge of threatening and a misdemeanor charge of breach of peace. Maisano’s “crime” seems to have been only his sending an e-mail to the principal of Guilford High School asserting that there would be “hell to pay” if she allowed a teacher to dye her hair in rainbow colors to show support for sexual minorities during the school’s graduation ceremony last June. Maisano saw the rainbow hair plan as more of the political propagandizing in school that he had complained about at Board of Education meetings – propagandizing that indeed is common now in schools throughout the country. The principal told the local police she was concerned about Maisano’s e-mail. So an officer interviewed Maisano by telephone, and he said he never intended to hurt anyone. He sent another e-mail to school officials explaining that by “hell to pay” he had meant generating unfavorable publicity. Whereupon the officer closed the case. But then the teacher with the rainbow hair complained to the police that she felt dreadfully threatened by Maisano’s e-mail. So this time they arrested Maisano for breach of peace, and when the case got to Superior Court in New Haven, a prosecutor added a charge of felony threatening, perhaps because Maisano insisted on his First Amendment rights and would not plea-bargain. A trial was held and on Oct. 11 a jury convicted Maisano on both counts. Sentencing is scheduled next week. Connecticut Inside Investigator notes that court precedents hold that to be a criminal matter threatening must be more specific and constitute more than political hyperbole. So if Maisano has the sense to find a civil-liberties lawyer – someone who does what the Connecticut chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union used to do before succumbing to political correctness – his conviction may be overturned by the first appeals court to hear it. But a reversal of Maisano’s conviction won’t mean that the danger to freedom of speech in Connecticut has passed. For the case has demonstrated several related dangers. First is that the case has not been widely publicized by news organizations, though it puts everyone’s rights at risk, including the rights of news organizations themselves, which routinely engage in political controversies. Second is that the political left has discovered that the quickest way of silencing contrary views is to assert that one feels threatened by them. This is supposed to nullify free speech. Hence the increasing demands, especially in what calls itself higher education, to establish “safe spaces” where no contrary thoughts are allowed. And third, in convicting Maisano for his disagreeable politics rather than any real danger he posed, the six members of his jury demonstrated a willingness to sign their own rights away. Lacking much appreciation for civil liberties, most people might agree with the jury. With elegant understatement many years ago Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter noted that “the safeguards of liberty have frequently been forged in controversies involving not-very-nice people.” For many years the political left understood this and was the courageous defender of freedom of speech and press. Not anymore. Having tasted power, the left is now more oppressive than the right used to be and enthusiastically advocates censorship by the government, while the right, finding itself on the oppressed side now, has become the defender of free speech. If political disagreement and hurt feelings become cause for criminal prosecution, as they seem to have become in Connecticut, before long there really may be “hell to pay.” Maybe the new administration of “fascist” Donald Trump will give the left a reason to reconsider its own fascism. Chris Powell (cpowell @ cox.net) has written about Connecticut government and politics for many years.
Hegseth meets with moderate Sen. Collins as he lobbies for key votes in the SenateHow Kawhi Leonard can impact LA Clippers season as NBA champion moves step closer to return
Green Courte Partners Acquires Active-Adult Community Located in Atlanta, Georgia, MSA
American and European stock markets mostly rose on Wednesday after inflation data cemented expectations that the US Federal Reserve will trim interest rates next month. While the Dow fell slightly, the other two major US indices advanced, led by the tech-rich Nasdaq, which piled on almost two percent to close above 20,000 points for the first time. The consumer price index (CPI) rose to 2.7 percent last month from a year ago, up slightly from 2.6 percent in October. "With the CPI numbers broadly in line, it is likely that the Fed will not be derailed and will cut rates again next week," Jochen Stanzl, chief market analyst at CMC Markets. "The data is not a showstopper for the current bull run on Wall Street," he added. Ahead of the data, investors priced in an 86 percent chance the Fed will cut interest rates next week by a quarter percentage point. That rose to more than 98 percent after the CPI data was published. Stocks in Paris and Frankfurt rose ahead of the European Central Bank's own interest rate announcement on Thursday, with analysts expecting another cut as it seeks to boost eurozone growth. Investors are also eyeing political developments in France, where officials said President Emmanuel Macron aims to name a new prime minister "within 48 hours" as he seeks to end political deadlock following the ouster of Michel Barnier. In company news, shares in German retail giant Zalando shed more than four percent on Frankfurt's DAX index, after it acquired domestic rival About You in a deal worth around 1.1 billion euros ($1.2 billion). Shares in Zara owner Inditex slid more than six percent after a record quarterly profit for the group fell short of market estimates. Among US companies, Google parent Alphabet earned 5.5 percent as it announced the launch of Gemini 2.0, its most advanced artificial intelligence model to date. That added to gains after Google also announced Tuesday details of a breakthrough quantum chip. Shares in Shanghai rose but Hong Kong gave up an early rally to end in the red. Traders were keeping tabs on China to see if it will announce further measures to support its struggling economy as leaders were to gather Wednesday for a conference to hammer out next year's agenda. President Xi Jinping and other top leaders on Monday announced their first major shift in policy for more than a decade, saying they would "implement a more active fiscal policy and an appropriately relaxed" strategy. Those remarks sparked hopes for more interest rate cuts and the freeing up of more cash for lending. New York - Dow: DOWN 0.2 percent at 44,148.56 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.8 percent at 6,084.19 (close) New York - Nasdaq Composite: UP 1.8 percent at 20,034.89 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.3 percent at 8,301.62 (close) Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.4 percent at 7,423.40 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.3 percent at 20,399.16 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: FLAT at 39,372.23 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.8 percent at 20,155.05 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.3 percent at 3,432.49 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0498 from $1.0527 on Tuesday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2752 from $1.2771 Dollar/yen: UP at 152.40 yen from 151.95 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 82.31 from 82.42 pence Brent North Sea Crude: UP 1.8 percent at $73.52 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: UP 2.4 percent at $70.29 per barrel burs-jmb/mlm