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winph99. com A controversial right-wing populist TikTok star is leading in polls to be the next Romanian president, with views that could spell trouble for NATO and support for Ukraine . Romania witnessed the greatest electoral upset since emerging from communist rule in 1989 on Sunday, when Călin Georgescu, 62, running without a party, came in first in the first round of elections with 22.9% of the vote. His rise blindsided the entire Romanian political scene, especially as he hadn't participated in any debates, didn't register significantly in opinion polls, and didn't belong to a party, something almost unheard of in Romanian politics. Georgescu has expressed several controversial views, especially those involving Romania's history. He described as "heroes" Corneliu Zelea Codreanu, founder of the syncretic fascist Iron Guard, and Ion Antonescu, leader of Romania during World War II and ally of Nazi Germany. Particularly notable are his views on NATO, Russia, and Ukraine. In interviews, Georgescu said that Romania wasn't ready to independently handle diplomacy and strategy and should instead rely on "Russian wisdom," the Guardian reported . Local media reported that he has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as “a man who loves his country” and called Ukraine “an invented state,” a line frequently used by Putin and the Russian state. In an interview with a pro-Russian media outlet in April 2021, he said that events in Ukraine were being "manipulated" by the United States military-industrial complex and other Western financial interests. Georgescu has criticized the establishment of a NATO missile defense system at the Deveselu Military Base, one of Putin's main contentions before the invasion of Ukraine. He hinted in a post-election speech that the favorable election results were partly due to his stance on Ukraine aid. “Tonight, the Romanian people cried out for peace. And they shouted very loudly, extremely loudly,” he said on Sunday night. “We are strong and brave, many of us voted, and even more will do so in the second round.” Despite his statements favorable to Russia and negative to Ukraine, Georgescu has denied that he's explicitly pro-Russia or supports it in its war with Ukraine. As no candidate won more than 50% of the vote, a second round of elections will be held on Dec. 8. Former journalist Elena Lasconi, running as part of the liberal Save Romania Union, came in second place with 19.2%. She has stressed more support for NATO if elected and is generally considered a left-wing figure. Georgescu has made a number of other controversial statements, including a podcast in 2024 that denied the COVID-19 virus existed, and “the only real science is Jesus Christ.” He has frequently stressed his Orthodox Christian faith in one of the most religious countries in Europe. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER His campaign was dominated by claims that the U.S. and European Union were exploiting Romania by undercutting its economy, something that could sour relations if he were to be elected. Romania is situated in a strategically vital position in the current Russia-Ukraine War, bordering Ukraine and the Black Sea.WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said her agency will need to start taking “extraordinary measures,” or special accounting maneuvers intended to prevent the nation from hitting the debt ceiling , as early as January 14, in a letter sent to congressional leaders Friday afternoon. "Treasury expects to hit the statutory debt ceiling between January 14 and January 23," she wrote in a letter addressed to House and Senate leadership, at which point extraordinary measures would be used to prevent the government from breaching the nation's debt ceiling — which was suspended until Jan. 1, 2025. The department in the past deployed what are known as “extraordinary measures” or accounting maneuvers to keep the government operating. Once those measures run out, the government risks defaulting on its debt unless lawmakers and the president agree to lift the limit on the U.S. government’s ability to borrow. People are also reading... "I respectfully urge Congress to act to protect the full faith and credit of the United States," Yellen said. FILE - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks during a visit to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) in Vienna, Va., on Jan. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) Susan Walsh Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts The news came after Democratic President Joe Biden signed a bill into law last week that averted a government shutdown but did not include Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s core debt demand to raise or suspend the nation’s debt limit. Congress approved the bill only after a fierce internal debate among Republicans over how to handle Trump's demand. “Anything else is a betrayal of our country,” Trump said in a statement. After a protracted debate in the summer of 2023 over how to fund the government, policymakers crafted the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which included suspending the nation's $31.4 trillion borrowing authority until Jan. 1, 2025. Notably however, Yellen said, on Jan. 2 the debt is projected to temporarily decrease due to a scheduled redemption of nonmarketable securities held by a federal trust fund associated with Medicare payments. As a result, “Treasury does not expect that it will be necessary to start taking extraordinary measures on January 2 to prevent the United States from defaulting on its obligations," she said. The federal debt stands at about $36 trillion — after ballooning across both Republican and Democratic administrations. The spike in inflation after the COVID-19 pandemic pushed up government borrowing costs such that debt service next year will exceed spending on national security. Republicans, who will have full control of the White House, House and Senate in the new year, have big plans to extend Trump's 2017 tax cuts and other priorities but are debating over how to pay for them. How many credit cards do you have? US consumers now carry fewer than 4 credit cards on average Many consumers may remember receiving their first credit card, either years ago in a plain envelope, or months ago from a smartphone app. Still other consumers may remember their newest card, maybe because it's the credit card they're now using exclusively to maximize cash back rewards or airline miles. But for most consumers, there's also a murky in-between where they add, drop and generally accumulate credit cards over time. Over the years, consumers may close some credit card accounts or leave some of their credit cards dormant as a backup form of payment, or perhaps left forgotten in a desk drawer. In the data below, Experian reveals the changes in consumers wallets in recent years. Average Number of Cards Has Declined Since 2017 U.S. consumers, on average, carry fewer cards today than they did in 2017, when the typical wallet held 4.2 active credit cards. As of the third quarter (Q3) of 2023, consumers carried 3.9 cards on average. This average is up slightly since the early days of the pandemic, when consumers reduced their average credit card debt and number of accounts as the economy slowed. Canva Number of Credit Cards Carried Drops Throughout the Years As Experian revealed earlier this year, credit card balances are still climbing, despite (and partially because of) higher interest rates. And while average balances are increasing, they are spread across fewer accounts than in recent years. Alternative financing—including buy now, pay later plans for purchases—may account for at least some of this discrepancy, as consumers gravitate toward these newer financing methods. Residents of More Populous States Have More Credit Cards on Average In general, residents of higher-population states tend to carry more credit cards than those who live in states with fewer and smaller population centers. Nonetheless, the difference between the states is relatively small. Considering that the national average is around four credit cards per consumer, the four states with the fewest cards per consumer (Alaska, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming) aren't appreciably different, with "only" about 3.3 credit cards per consumer. Experian Average Number of Credit Cards Per Consumer is Similar Across the U.S. Similarly, the four states on the higher end of the scale where consumers have 4.2 or more credit cards are Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, New Jersey and Rhode Island. Older Consumers Have More Active Credit Cards on Average The disparity in average credit card counts is more apparent when the population is segmented by age, thanks in part to Generation Z, many of whom have yet to receive their first credit card. The average number of credit cards for these consumers was two, less than half of what older generations keep on hand. Experian Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox!

Labor's HECS reforms have been labelled 'unfair'. Which politicians got a 'free ride'?iA Financial Co. Inc. ( TSE:IAG – Get Free Report ) Senior Officer Alain Bergeron sold 510 shares of iA Financial stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$133.58, for a total value of C$68,125.80. Alain Bergeron also recently made the following trade(s): iA Financial Price Performance Shares of TSE IAG opened at C$133.68 on Friday. The stock’s 50-day moving average is C$128.24 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$108.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 46.39, a current ratio of 2.22 and a quick ratio of 0.17. The company has a market cap of C$12.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 1.13. iA Financial Co. Inc. has a 1-year low of C$80.95 and a 1-year high of C$138.01. iA Financial Increases Dividend Wall Street Analyst Weigh In IAG has been the subject of several research analyst reports. TD Securities increased their target price on shares of iA Financial from C$132.00 to C$135.00 in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. CIBC upped their price target on iA Financial from C$133.00 to C$143.00 in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. Cormark lifted their price objective on iA Financial from C$127.00 to C$130.00 in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Cibc World Mkts raised iA Financial from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, National Bankshares raised their target price on iA Financial from C$118.00 to C$121.00 in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of C$129.75. View Our Latest Analysis on iA Financial iA Financial Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) iA Financial Corporation Inc, provides insurance and wealth management services in Canada and the United States. The company operates through Insurance, Canada; Wealth Management; Investment; and US Operations segments. The company provides health, auto, home, and creditor insurance products; replacement insurance products and warranties; extended warranties and other ancillary products for dealer services; specialized products for special markets; and life insurance products and extended warranties relating to dealer services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for iA Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iA Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

On December 18, 2024, Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCMKTS: ENZN) announced through a Form 8-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that its Board of Directors had approved a 3% cash dividend payout. This dividend is directed towards the holders of the company’s 40,000 outstanding shares of Series C Non-Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock. The total aggregate amount approved for distribution is $1,274,400, equivalent to $31.86 per share of the Series C Preferred Stock. Shareholders entitled to receive these dividends are those recorded as holders of the Series C Preferred Stock as of January 2, 2025. The payment date for these dividends is scheduled for January 9, 2025. As per the regulatory requirement, Richard L. Feinstein, who serves as the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Secretary of Enzon Pharmaceuticals, signed the document on behalf of the registrant on December 27, 2024, indicating the company’s compliance with the disclosure obligations outlined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This article was generated by an automated content engine and was reviewed by a human editor prior to publication. For additional information, read Enzon Pharmaceuticals’s 8K filing here . Enzon Pharmaceuticals Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, does not have significant operations. Previously, the company marketed its patented drug product, PegIntron. It also had a marketing agreement with Micromet AG relating to the Vicineum drug; and a licensing agreement regarding SC Oncaspar and certain other drugs. Recommended Stories

Article content Alberta is at a crossroads. As global priorities shift towards emissions reduction and environmental responsibility, Alberta faces an urgent choice: adapt and lead or risk being sidelined by international markets. With mounting pressure to cut emissions, the Alberta government has a limited-time opportunity to pioneer large-scale carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) infrastructure. This isn’t just a commitment to sustainability — it’s a strategy to secure Alberta’s place as a leader in a carbon-conscious world. Alberta’s economy has long been powered by oil and gas, but many major trading partners now prioritize carbon neutrality. Whether Albertans agree on the human role in climate change or not, global markets demand low-carbon solutions. Countries across Europe and trading partners like the United States are implementing carbon tariffs, which could restrict Alberta’s market access if we don’t act. Investing in CCUS now allows Alberta to meet global demands while protecting and strengthening our economy. Our province’s fortunate geological situation once again gives Alberta a natural advantage, this time in CCUS. Alberta and Saskatchewan could safely store decades’ worth of North America’s carbon emissions, making Alberta ideal for carbon storage. Projects like the Alberta Carbon Trunk Line have demonstrated the technical feasibility of capturing and transporting CO2, but this is only a fraction of Alberta’s potential. By expanding CCUS infrastructure, Alberta could offer carbon storage to industries across the continent, transforming this advantage into a competitive service. But this window won’t stay open forever. Other jurisdictions, such as parts of the U.S. Midwest and Gulf Coast, also have suitable geology and could become major players. Alberta needs to act now to secure a leadership role. Critics argue that CCUS technology is costly, especially in its early stages. But the costs of inaction are higher. If Alberta falls behind in carbon-reduction infrastructure, we risk losing ground to regions already investing in CCUS. This industry has the potential to generate billions in revenue through job creation and international investment. By investing now, Alberta can be first to capture demand as carbon-reduction policies solidify. While market demand may fluctuate with global policies, establishing CCUS infrastructure early would allow Alberta to adapt and remain competitive. Some Albertans may question the value of CCUS spending, especially if they are skeptical of human-driven climate change. Yet the world’s largest economies are moving forward with carbon reduction policies regardless of Alberta’s stance. The European Union, for instance, has introduced a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to tariff imports from countries with weak carbon policies, and the United States is considering similar measures. Establishing CCUS now will help ensure Alberta’s continued market access, protect industries from penalties, and preserve our competitiveness. For those focused on job security and growth, CCUS offers a transformative path forward. Expanding CCUS infrastructure would create thousands of high-quality, stable jobs in engineering, construction, and operations — fields where Alberta already has expertise. Transitioning the workforce will require careful planning, but pairing CCUS with renewable technology offers workforce retraining opportunities, ensuring that Albertans employed in traditional sectors remain essential to our energy future. By diversifying the provincial economy around carbon management, Alberta can position itself for resilience in the global energy transition. While some argue that CCUS could extend Alberta’s reliance on fossil fuels, it’s crucial to see CCUS as one part of a comprehensive energy strategy. By integrating CCUS with renewable investments, Alberta can lead in both low-carbon innovation and traditional energy expertise. Aligning CCUS with projects in wind or solar would balance carbon capture with renewable growth, amplifying Alberta’s strengths in both domains and positioning us to lead in a sustainable, diversified energy market. Another critique of CCUS is its long-term cost, especially for aged infrastructure no longer needed. However, Alberta can add a small fee per ton of stored CO2 over the project’s life span to build a reclamation fund, avoiding the issue of orphan wells. Following models used effectively elsewhere, an independently overseen fee structure could ensure these funds are responsibly managed, reducing future financial risks. This would allow for decommissioning and reclamation without burdening future generations. Supporting CCUS isn’t about conceding to any one view on climate science; it’s about adapting to global market trends while leveraging Alberta’s strengths. CCUS aligns with Alberta’s Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) system and provides an emissions reduction pathway that fits our circumstances. This strategy protects Alberta’s economy while embracing responsible carbon management. CCUS isn’t just an environmental solution — it’s an economic lifeline for Alberta’s future. Policymakers, industry leaders, and Albertans have a rare opportunity to secure our province’s future as forward-thinking energy leaders. The choice is clear: Lead, adapt, and thrive — or risk being left behind in a rapidly changing global economy. Peter Cooper is a geoscientist and business leader in Calgary, currently at the Haskayne School of Business.

S&W Finalizes Voluntary Plan of Administration Process for Australian Subsidiary