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646-ph NEW YORK, Dec. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a lawsuit has been filed against Applied Therapeutics, Inc. APLT and certain of the Company's senior executives for potential violations of the federal securities laws. If you invested in Applied Therapeutics, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/applied-therapeutics-inc . Investors have until February 18, 2025, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in Applied Therapeutics securities. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and is captioned Alexandru v. Applied Therapeutics, Inc. , et al. , No. 24-cv-09715. What is the Lawsuit About? Applied Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of novel drug candidates against validated molecular targets in rare diseases. The Company's lead drug candidate, govorestat, is a central nervous system penetrant Aldose Reductase Inhibitor for the treatment of CNS rare metabolic diseases, including Galactosemia. During the relevant period, the Company stated that its New Drug Applications submitted to regulators for govorestat were "supported by rapid and sustained reduction in galactitol, which resulted in a meaningful benefit on clinical outcomes across pediatric patients, alongside a favorable safety profile." Applied Therapeutics also assured investors that its tests were "performed properly" and that the Company "felt good about the quality of the data," stating that it "took really extensive steps" and "actually videotaped" and had "master trainers" review all of the performances of the 10-meter walk-run test—the primary endpoint of the Company's Phase III INSPIRE study for govorestat. The Stock Declines as the Truth is Revealed On November 27, 2024, Applied Therapeutics issued a press release stating that the FDA issued a Complete Response Letter for the NDA for govorestat. The Complete Response Letter stated that the FDA completed its review of the application and determined that it was unable to approve the NDA due to "deficiencies in the clinical application." This news caused the price of Applied Therapeutics stock to fall more than 80% over the course of multiple trading days, from a closing price of $10.21 per share on November 26, 2024 to a closing price of $1.75 per share on December 2, 2024. Then, on December 2, 2024, Applied Therapeutics revealed that it received a warning letter from the FDA relating to its govorestat study discussing "issues related to electronic data capture" and "a dosing error in the dose-escalation phase of the study resulting in slightly lower levels than targeted in a limited number of patients[.]" This news caused the price of Applied Therapeutics stock to fall more than 26% over the course of multiple trading days, from a closing price of $1.75 per share on December 2, 2024 to a closing price of $1.29 per share on December 5, 2024. Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/applied-therapeutics-inc . What Can You Do? If you invested in Applied Therapeutics you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm. All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses. Submit your information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/applied-therapeutics-inc Or contact: Ross Shikowitz ross@bfalaw.com 212-789-3619 Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP? Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It was named among the Top 5 plaintiff law firms by ISS SCAS in 2023 and its attorneys have been named Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thompson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors (pending court approval), as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd. For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com . https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/applied-therapeutics-inc Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Fans Divided Over Toni Breidinger's Full-Time 2025 NASCAR SeatThe United States stated on Monday, 2 December, that it would provide Ukraine with another US$725 million in help. Source: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement, as reported by European Pravda Details: According to Blinken, new military support is supplied within the context of the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) programme, which has already been used by President Biden to use the reserves of the US Defense Department. The package includes Stinger missiles, anti-drone weapons, HIMARS ammunition, 155-mm and 105-mm artillery ammunition, drones, anti-personnel mines, Javelin and AT-4 anti-tank systems, TOW anti-tank missiles, small arms and ammunition, demolition equipment and ammunition, and equipment to protect critical national infrastructure. "The United States and more than 50 nations stand united to ensure Ukraine has the capabilities it needs to defend itself against Russian aggression," Blinken stated. The package represents a significant increase in the number of weapons provided through Biden's use of the PDA programme. Previous PDA packages typically ranged from US$125 million to US$250 million. Background: Support UP or become our patron !

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he wants real estate developer Charles Kushner , father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France. Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post, calling Charles Kushner “a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker." Kushner is the founder of Kushner Companies, a real estate firm. Jared Kushner is a former White House senior adviser to Trump who is married to Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka. The elder Kushner was pardoned by Trump in December 2020 after pleading guilty years earlier to tax evasion and making illegal campaign donations. Prosecutors alleged that after Charles Kushner discovered his brother-in-law was cooperating with federal authorities in an investigation, he hatched a scheme for revenge and intimidation. Kushner hired a prostitute to lure his brother-in-law, then arranged to have the encounter in a New Jersey motel room recorded with a hidden camera and the recording sent to Kushner's own sister, the man’s wife, prosecutors said. Kushner eventually pleaded guilty to 18 counts including tax evasion and witness tampering. He was sentenced in 2005 to two years in prison — the most he could receive under a plea deal, but less than what Chris Christie, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey at the time and later governor and Republican presidential candidate, sought. Christie blamed Jared Kushner for his firing from Trump’s transition team in 2016, and called Charles Kushner’s offenses “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes that I prosecuted when I was U.S. attorney.” Trump and the elder Kushner knew each other from real estate circles and their children were married in 2009. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. William McGinley, White House counsel McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

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A telephone town hall Monday provided Idahoans the opportunity to get the governor's perspective on key issues facing the state. With just a few weeks passed since the general election and the state's legislative session fast approaching, Gov. Brad Little sat down with Lupe Wissel, state director of AARP Idaho, in a look ahead to the upcoming political landscape for the state and the nation. While the focus was largely on state-specific issues, many callers raised questions regarding how potential national changes implemented by the incoming Trump administration could impact the state. IMMIGRATION CONCERNS The issue most consistently raised during the call-in session was related to the realm of immigration. President-elect Donald Trump has claimed he will launch the “largest deportation program in U.S. history,” as reported by the Associated Press . One caller asked what Idaho’s plan would be to offset the potential deportation of 35,000 people — the estimated number of undocumented immigrants in the state — and potential dairy staffing shortages that could follow an exodus of workers. “Their initial intent is known criminals, where they know they’re a danger to society,” Little said. “That’s the No. 1 priority, and I believe that's going to be the case.” Little noted that the dairy industry is also putting together a proposal that would put its workers in the same category as other agricultural entities, that are able to have workers come on a permitted basis year-round. According to the International Dairy Foods Association , the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which failed to pass in Congress, sought to eliminate the seasonality requirement in the H-2A program — which allows foreign workers to enter a contract for up to 10 months of agricultural work — to expand its application into the diary sector. “There’s a lot of H-2A workers that come to Idaho, but it’s only seasonal — well, you have to milk cows all year round,” Little said. SOCIAL SECURITY TAX CUTS One caller pointed to Trump’s proposed exemption on Social Security income taxes and the popularity this proposal has among seniors in Idaho. Little said that if this were ultimately passed by Congress, he would ensure Idaho is conforming to federal tax standards. “My position (is) always that taxes should be fair, simple, predictable and competitive, and one of the ways to make them simple is ... how you calculate your federal liability is the same way you should calculate your state liability,” Little said. Under the current standards of the Social Security Administration , a federal tax return filed by an individual with an income between $25,000 and $34,000 could pay an income tax on up to 50% of benefits. In the case of those filing jointly, the threshold shifts to between $32,000 and $44,000. These taxes currently pay into the Social Security system to maintain the program for future withdrawals and retirees. WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS One caller expressed concerns about women’s reproductive rights and how uncertainty regarding the implications of state law has led to doctors leaving the state. “There’s litigation taking place in Idaho right now to kind of clarify the issue for doctors,” Little said. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is currently scheduled to hear oral arguments on Dec. 10 regarding whether emergency abortions can be prosecuted under Idaho law. The case concerns the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), a federal law requiring medical providers that receive Medicare funds to treat and stabilize anyone in an emergency. A decision in the case will determine the validity of the state of Idaho’s argument that this federal law doesn’t supersede state law and that EMTALA does not require abortions to be conducted in emergencies, as reported by the Idaho Press . The incoming Trump administration’s position on bans similar to what is in place in Idaho is less than clear. In the past year, he has characterized an abortion ban after six weeks of pregnancy as "too severe," while also saying he would vote against Florida’s ballot measure that sought to repeal the state’s six-week abortion ban, as reported by the Associated Press .

James Gunn has wrapped filming for Peacemaker Season 2. The DC Studios co-head shared on social media that the filming for the second season of the superhero series starring John Cena has been completed. “And that is a WRAP on #Peacemaker season 2, including our last remaining actors Steve Agee, Tim Meadows, Sol Rodriguez & Brandon Stanley (& our DP Sam McCurdy pictured here moments after the last shot.),” Gunn posted on X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, formerly known as Twitter. Gunn continued, “Thanks to our entire cast & crew who made this a wonderful experience. My relief to have a break from shooting after ten months straight is countered by how much I’ll miss all of you!” Gunn had previously shared photos of Cena and Jennifer Holland wrapping up their time on the show’s set. “And that’s a Peacemaker Season Two wrap on @johncena & @jenniferlholland, who both turned in wonderful performances this season as Christopher Smith and Emilia Harcourt,” he posted on X . “To top it off, shooting yesterday was one of the most fun days of shooting I have EVER had! Thanks to the incredible people of Savannah, Georgia for making the Peacemaker crew’s stay here so special. ONE DAY LEFT!” Season 2 of the HBO series will welcome Frank Grillo to the cast. Grillo will play Rick Flag Sr. in live-action form. Grillo first voiced the animated version of his character in the Max animated series Creature Commandos . “This isn’t just a good guy, not at all,” Gunn told EW recently. “We see all different sides of his character. He is morally a complex human being. Grillo is somebody who I’ve known for a little while, and I’ve wanted to work with him for a long time. He was one of the first people that I talked to when I took over the studio, like ‘we’re going to find something cool for you,’ and now he is everywhere.” Gunn had also teased a new character joining the series in its sophomore season. “Who might this be?” Gunn captioned the photo he posted on X. The photo shows the back of a person sitting in front of a campfire. Fans of DC Comics took their guesses as to who the mystery character might be, with some speculating it’s the Apache Chief, while others guessed it could be Long Shadow, a character inspired by the former.Politics / The Left Didn't Sink Kamala Harris. Here's What Did. Kamala Harris pauses while speaking on stage as she concedes the election, at Howard University on November 6, 2024, in Washington, DC. (Andrew Harnik / Getty Images) In the aftermath of Kamala Harris's loss, many pundits and politicians are turning to a familiar scapegoat. Critics like Adam Jentleson, a former aide to senators Harry Reid and John Fetterman, claim that "woke" advocacy groups made Democrats adopt extreme policies and drove voters away from the Democratic Party, sealing Donald Trump's victory. But the truth is simpler—and more uncomfortable for the Democratic establishment. Despite the noise, voters didn't reject Harris because of leftist rhetoric or activist slogans. They rejected her because she and her party failed to address the economic pain of working-class voters, who chose change over more of the same. There's a generation of Black and brown organizers, often the first in their families to step into positions of power, navigating institutions historically dominated by others. Alongside them are downwardly mobile white millennials, raised with expectations of stability but battered by an economy that delivers none. These activists, working within nonprofits and campaigns, fighting for causes once central to Democratic values, have somehow become scapegoats for the party's electoral woes. Why, after every electoral loss, is the left always the scapegoat? It's easier to blame activists for pushing a progressive agenda than confront the real issue: the Democratic Party has long been shaped by far more powerful forces—corporate interests, lobbyists, and consultants—whose influence has neglected the real crises facing everyday Americans. We see this cycle again and again. Contrary to establishment narratives, the Democratic leadership has often resisted advocacy organizations pushing for bold reforms on immigration, Big Tech, climate, debt, healthcare, rent, mass incarceration,... https://www.thenation.com/authors

Tharman Shanmugaratnam We can only address these long challenges by stretching our economic and political horizons, says President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. Our largest governance challenges, internationally, are now the long ones: where decisions today will determine if we secure people’s well-being not only today but also for our children’s generation and those that come after. Climate change is foremost. Ways must be found to win popular support to accelerate the shift to a low-carbon future. It requires a fair transition, one that overcomes the anxieties over costs that have led to pushback within many populations. But it also means overcoming the short-sightedness that is now the norm in most societies, so as to ensure fairness not only today but also for future generations. Likewise, the challenge of meeting the needs of steadily ageing societies, without sending the invoice to the next generation. And so too, dealing with AI (artificial intelligence) – the most profound technological change of our times, with benefits as well as risks that are likely to grow exponentially in the coming decade and beyond. We can address these long challenges only by stretching our economic and political horizons. And by finding ways to rebuild optimism and solidarity within our societies, so that people can imagine how the future can be better for all. The collective belief in the future has to be both the means and the end. Building a realistic optimism We are starting from a difficult place. Confidence in the future has been on the decline in most societies. They are also more divided. A survey of 19 high- and middle-income societies by Pew Research in 2022 found the majority feeling more divided than they did before the Covid-19 pandemic. Only three countries avoided this, including Singapore, where 75 per cent of people felt more united than before the pandemic. On top of all this, confidence in the multilateral order is at its lowest point. Yet, to tackle problems like climate change, we must first recognise the scale and seriousness of the challenge – not so we add to the mood of despondency, but so we build realistic optimism. The world is far behind the actions it needs to stay within 1.5 deg C of global warming, and to prevent accelerated warming after we hit 1.5 deg C. The best scientific estimates tell us that the remaining carbon budget, or the maximum amount of emissions the world can make so that global warming remains below 1.5 deg C, is likely to be used up in about five years’ time. Even more worrying: there is radical uncertainty as to what comes next. The planet is losing its critical buffers against warming – the natural ecosystems on land and in the oceans, that have been soaking up more than 50 per cent of carbon dioxide that the world emits, are losing that ability. It is also beginning to cross tipping points – such as the melting of the Greenland ice sheet, and the shift in the Amazon from being a huge carbon sink to being a net emitter – which can lead to runaway global warming. The implications are clear. First, tackling climate change will be much more costly, and vastly more complex and difficult, if we defer action. We must act early, especially to develop scale in clean energy and green technologies, so that they become as affordable and as reliable as what we do with fossil fuels. Second, clear and credible public policies are key to achieving the scale and speed that is required. Carbon pricing has to be the centrepiece. It will help catalyse the needed shift in private investments towards green opportunities in every sector, and also provide the revenues needed to support the transition and ensure poorer segments of the population are not disadvantaged. But it is generally understood that carbon pricing, within socially realistic limits, will not on its own be adequate. Targeted regulations in specific sectors, which in many cases such as in aviation and maritime transport will have to be internationally managed, are needed to provide certainty for businesses and spur innovation. We also need public investment in R&D and to build out new grids and other public infrastructure for a clean energy future. But higher spending will be a problem in many countries – given already large public debts, and interest rates which are no longer low. They have to find a pragmatic path, to protect future generations from exploding debt burdens, but also protect them from the huge costs that climate change will cause. Europe epitomises this challenge. Eminent former leaders like Italy’s Mario Draghi and Germany’s Angela Merkel – who had herself pushed for Germany’s conservative “debt brake” laws when she was the country’s chancellor – have now proposed that the public sector be allowed to borrow for a transitional period for investments in the green transition and other critical needs. Third, and the most challenging governance task: we need international coordination to solve the climate crisis. Otherwise, we risk carbon leakage – where higher-emitting companies and activities shift to countries with more accommodating policies. But besides their differing levels of political will, the complexity comes from the fact that countries have been using different sets of measures to encourage decarbonisation. Europe has been relying on the full mix of carbon pricing, regulation and subsidies, whereas China has introduced only limited pricing and the US has eschewed it altogether. Finding some equivalence between the measures taken by these major emitters so as to determine their “effective” carbon pricing rates will be a difficult matter. But it cannot be avoided. Reframing the debate We need a new understanding in trade, investments and technology transfers, to enable the world to benefit from China’s low-cost clean energy technologies, such as its solar panels, wind turbines and batteries. And likewise, to take advantage of innovations in the United States, such as in hydrogen power, carbon capture and other next-generation clean technologies. The key goal must be to maximise scale, affordability and the speed of the global transition, recognising that the world is far behind in the race against climate change. It will be aided by not limiting market access to products and technologies based on where they come from, but instead pursuing the solutions that still exist for win-win economic outcomes. We must also overcome the perennial tensions over climate financing for the developing world, which are not getting us anywhere. The debate has to be reframed; from viewing it not as a matter of how much aid should be given from rich nations to poor, but as investment in the global commons that all nations will benefit from. Dollar for dollar, investments in climate transition in the developing world in fact have a more significant impact on global emissions than in the advanced economies. Blended finance, where we bring together monies from the public sector, the multilateral development banks and the private sector, and where possible philanthropies, is an important way to scale up these investments. That’s why Singapore launched the Fast-P (Financing Asia’s Transition Partnership) programme this year, to help spur the transition to low carbon in Asia. The good news recently has been in carbon markets. Consensus on how to operationalise Article 6 of the Paris Agreement – governing how countries can trade carbon credits – was finally achieved at COP29 in Baku, with Singapore playing the role of co-facilitator. It will also add impetus to efforts to develop a voluntary carbon market with credible standards and verification mechanisms. The challenge is in the doing. An example is the Transition Credits Coalition that MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore) is working on, to make possible an early phase-out of coal-fired power plants in Asia. Finally, we need a new narrative on climate change that has appeal to populations. Pushback has come from those who feel they have to bear the costs of decarbonisation today, in exchange for benefits to society in the distant future. Part of the solution must be to ensure that adjustments are fair to ordinary households. But decarbonising the economy can itself be a growth opportunity in the coming decade itself – with heightened investments creating many jobs and new businesses. It is an opportunity for clean air today – remember that millions of people each year die from air pollution caused by fossil fuel-based energy, with many more suffering from ill health. And nature-based solutions will help give populations clean water supply, and provide a buffer against flood and other weather extremities. So while the largest benefits come decades later, the dividends for populations from climate action begin flowing early. AI: focus on early wins, and avoiding the worst possible harms The second looming issue is AI. It presents massive opportunities for improved well-being – from better healthcare to productivity in every sector. But there are also major risks. There are bleak scenarios of how AI will remove a large segment of jobs, including those of the middle class. No one can say for sure that it won’t happen. There is also the prospect of AI systems moving beyond our control, as most AI programs get to be written by AI itself. And as Dr Henry Kissinger warned in his final book, AI poses a global security dilemma of an existential nature. More immediately, there’s the risk that AI poses for democracy itself, by accentuating misinformation and social polarisation. We already see this today, but it will only grow in the next decade and beyond. Yet, we must have a sense of realism when we think of how we should regulate AI. There will remain a fundamental mismatch between the pace at which AI is developing and regulators’ ability to set rules around it. We cannot delay AI until we are perfectly sure it is safe; in fact, we should assume that there will be some bad. Our approach should be to maximise the benefits of AI and minimise the risk of the worst possible harms to safety and society, and not think we can regulate AI comprehensively to avoid all that could be bad. Look for early wins. In healthcare, for instance, through much earlier and better diagnosis and treatment. In learning, with the potential that AI offers for personalised tutoring, through life. In improving farming yields. And in virtually every sector, to improve the productivity of those in the workforce by having an AI tool to augment your own capabilities. Further, not every problem created by AI will be best solved by trying to regulate AI. The real solutions to avoid job and income losses, which could come in both advanced and developing countries, lie in other economic and social strategies. We’ve got to double down on preparing young people and the workforce of today for an AI era. Countries may have to introduce new wage subsidies, or use progressive tax and transfer systems to mitigate inequalities. Every society has to be ready with these strategies, to ensure we can benefit from AI whilst buffering its downsides. Critically, too, we will need international cooperation to govern AI. It must involve the US and China talking directly with each other. But we must carry on with the important work of building a broad coalition of interests that can make the most of expertise from every source. Don’t send the invoice to the next generation The third long challenge: preserving optimism as societies age. Almost every higher-income country is ageing, and a few emerging countries too. We will see this go further in the next 30 years, changing the nature of society. However, many systems of financing healthcare and pensions are unsustainable, and are now likely to pose a major burden on the next generation. Unfortunately, most are also dealing with this challenge late in the day, when a large segment of the population is already retired or close to doing so. Reforms are still possible, but now come at greater political cost, which many democracies are finding insurmountable. Healthcare spending will have to go up, if we are to provide quality and affordable care for growing older populations. The costs have to be paid for fairly, across a population. We should start by recognising that there is no such thing as free healthcare for people anywhere – even in the systems like the UK’s where you pay little or nothing when you turn up in hospital, people pay for it through taxes or mandatory national insurance contributions. But a key lesson from most countries is that to keep the system fair, and keep healthcare costs from going up excessively, we have to avoid a heavy reliance on just one source of payments. We need a balance between government subsidies, co-payments by individuals when they are treated, and insurance policies – as we have in Singapore, for example. It is also how we ensure that those who can afford it get less subsidies and pay their fair share. More importantly, staying healthy and keeping healthcare costs down doesn’t just depend on healthcare systems. In fact, much of it depends on our habits and the social environment around us as we age. Are we staying active? Do we have regular friends? Do we have hobbies? Are we still learning something and staying curious? Are we countering the ageing brain? That’s all critical in staying healthy, and to living long and satisfying lives. And in Singapore, we are very serious about making this possible. Rebuilding solidarity Finally, as I mentioned at the start, we have to rebuild the collective belief that the future can be better for all. We have to find ways to get beyond the zero-sum thinking that is now prevalent within many societies – where each group feels that its future is pitched against another. Find ways to address the concerns of segments in each population who feel that the elite do not understand their day-to-day problems. And find ways to rebuild a sense of common humanity, by sustaining the international rule of law and norms of conduct, and by pitching in to strengthen the global commons. Yet, solidarity, a sense that our lives are connected and indeed enriched by what we do for each other, is a neglected dimension of democracy. We understand very well the importance of justice, and the freedoms that different democracies are organised around, but it requires something more for democracies to work well in today’s world. Where we’re not just individuals wanting to be equal and free, but we have bonds of reciprocity with one another, and we know it’s those bonds that will help us tackle the challenges we now face and take us forward. Solidarity has to be rebuilt into how we practise democracy, how societies are governed, and how we respect one another in our lives. Find out more about climate change and how it could affect you on the ST microsite here. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now

The Gunners delivered the statement Champions League victory their manager had demanded to bounce back from a narrow defeat at Inter Milan last time out. Goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhaes, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard got their continental campaign back on track, lifting them to seventh place with 10 points in the new-look 36-team table. It was Arsenal’s biggest away win in the Champions League since beating Inter by the same scoreline in 2003. “For sure, especially against opposition we played at their home who have not lost a game in 18 months – they have been in top form here – so to play with the level, the determination, the purpose and the fluidity we showed today, I am very pleased,” said Arteta. “The team played with so much courage, because they are so good. When I’m watching them live they are so good! They were all exceptional today. It was a big performance, a big win and we are really happy. “The performance was there a few times when we have played big teams. That’s the level that we have to be able to cope and you have to make it happen, and that creates belief.” A memorable victory also ended Sporting’s unbeaten start to the season, a streak of 17 wins and one draw, the vast majority of which prompted Manchester United to prise away head coach Ruben Amorim. The Gunners took the lead after only seven minutes when Martinelli tucked in Jurrien Timber’s cross, and Saka teed up Havertz for a tap-in to double the advantage. Arsenal added a third on the stroke of half-time, Gabriel charging in to head Declan Rice’s corner into the back of the net. To rub salt in the wound, the Brazilian defender mimicked Viktor Gyokeres’ hands-over-his-face goal celebration. That may have wound Sporting up as they came out after the interval meaning business, and they pulled one back after David Raya tipped Hidemasa Morita’s shot behind, with Goncalo Inacio netting at the near post from the corner. But when Martin Odegaard’s darting run into the area was halted by Ousmane Diomande’s foul, Saka tucked away the penalty. Substitute Trossard added the fifth with eight minutes remaining, heading in the rebound after Mikel Merino’s shot was saved. A miserable night for prolific Sporting striker Gyokeres was summed up when his late shot crashed back off the post.

Kamala Harris doesn’t rule out California governor’s raceJeanette Strong: Democracy, law and equal justiceCanadian savers are using their self-directed Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) to build portfolios that can complement the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, and company pensions in retirement. One popular investing strategy involves buying top dividend stocks and using the distributions to acquire new shares. This harnesses a compounding process that can turn modest initial investments into meaningful savings over the long run. Canadian National Railway ( ) went public in the mid-1990s. Since then, the stock has been one of the best dividend-growth names on the TSX. The railway giant operates nearly 20,000 route miles of tracks that cross Canada from the Pacific to the Atlantic and run through the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. CN generates a good chunk of its revenue in the U.S., so it is a good way for investors to get exposure to the American economy through a Canadian stock. CN moves raw materials and finished goods, which are key to the smooth operation of the economy in Canada and the United States. Railways tend to have wide competitive moats. The odds of new competing tracks being built along the same routes are pretty much nil. CN’s share price is down about 6.5% in 2024 compared to a gain of more than 20% for the TSX. Labour issues at both the railway and Canadian ports have combined with disruptions by wildfires to make the past 12 months challenging for the rail operator. Potential new tariffs on goods entering the U.S. from Canada next year have also made investors cautious in recent weeks. These are likely short-term problems, however, and investors should consider taking advantage of the pullback in the stock. Buying CN on meaningful dips has historically proven to be a savvy move for patient investors. Fortis ( ) is another dividend-growth superstar on the TSX. The board has increased the dividend in each of the past 51 years. Looking ahead, Fortis intends to raise the distribution by 4-6% per year over through 2029. That’s good guidance in an uncertain economic outlook heading into 2025. Fortis operates roughly $69 billion in utility assets that include natural gas distribution, power generation, and electricity transmission businesses. Nearly all the revenue comes from rate-regulated assets, so cash flow tends to be predictable and reliable. Fortis grows through a combination of strategic acquisitions and development projects. The company hasn’t made a large purchase for several years, but that could change as interest rates decline in Canada and the United States. In the meantime, Fortis is working on a $26 billion capital program. As the new assets are completed and go into service, the boost to revenue and cash flow should support the planned dividend increases. Fortis gives investors a 2% discount on new stock purchased through the dividend-reinvestment plan. The bottom line on top TSX dividend stocks CN and Fortis are good examples of dividend-growth stocks that have generated attractive total returns for long-term investors. If you have some cash to put to work in a self-directed RRSP, these stocks deserve to be on your radar.