kk near me
AP News in Brief at 6:04 p.m. ESTBeneficiaries of the incoming administration’s looser regulation and business-friendly stance put forth strong showings this week. Stocks gained while Bitcoin crushed doubters and the dollar extended gains into an eighth week, the currency’s longest run of the year. Blue chips and small caps led Friday’s equities advance as this year’s big tech winners struggled to gain ground. The S&P 500 rose 0.3% while an equal-weighted version of the gauge — where Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. has the same influence as Nvidia Corp. — climbed 0.8%, on track for an all-time closing high. Listen and follow The Big Take daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1% while an index of bank stocks climbed to the highest in more than two years, the Russell 2000 jumped 1.8%. The small-cap index jumped 4.5% for the week while the biggest technology stocks, like Nvidia, Alphabet Inc. and Facebook-parent company Meta Platforms Inc., lagged. Fundstrat’s Thomas Lee sees room for more gains in small-caps and cyclicals given President-elect’s plans for deregulation and general “animal spirits.” He also sees a “Trump put” keeping the broader market buoyant. That faith that the head of the US government won’t let the economy falter is helping bolster stocks, at least for the moment. “When sentiment reaches a ‘bullish extreme’ is when we see equities priced to ‘perfection,’” according to Lee. “By several measures, we are not there at that point yet.” To Bank of America Corp. strategists the Nasdaq 100, which has rallied more than 4% this month, is approaching a level versus the S&P 500 that could trigger the unwinding of the trade favoring US equities. The tech-heavy gauge ended Friday up 0.2% with a 1.9% weekly gain. Meanwhile, data on Friday showed S&P Global flash November composite output index for service providers and manufacturers advanced to 55.3 — the highest level since April 2022. The yield on the 10-year Treasury dropped around one basis point to 4.42%. “The US flash PMIs for November were bullish in aggregate thanks to strength in services,” according to Vital Knowledge’s Adam Crisafulli, who said the details suggested a goldilocks scenario, “with favorable growth developments and cooling price pressures.” The dollar registered its longest streak of weekly wins since September 2023. A Bloomberg gauge of the currency’s strength has risen around 2.6% so far this month, adding to October’s gains of nearly 3%. “The US dollar’s run can continue,” said Peter McLean, head of multi-asset portfolio solutions at Stonehage Fleming. “We also have those geopolitical tensions, which are escalating at the moment. It’s natural for investors to seek refuge in the dollar.” Bouts of volatility, driven by escalations in the war in Ukraine earlier in the week, eased Friday. The ongoing conflict helped to push WTI crude above $71 a barrel while gold traded at over $2,700 an ounce, and had its best week since March 2023. The rally in Bitcoin set a fresh high Friday as the world’s biggest cryptocurrency races toward $100,000. The latest developments included Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler’s decision to step down in January. His tenure was marked by a flurry of crypto enforcement actions, which the industry expects will peter out under Trump. In Europe, S&P Global’s composite Purchasing Managers’ Index for the euro area dipped back beneath a level that indicates contraction in November. The region’s sovereign bonds rallied while the euro dropped to a two-year low. Asian equities are on pace for their first back-to-back monthly losses this year amid dollar strength and lingering concerns over the Chinese economy. Still, the region’s more favorable valuations versus the US market are aiding recovery in some assets. Elsewhere in Asia, Adani Group companies advanced after a $27 billion rout on Thursday following a US indictment against Gautam Adani over allegations of bribery. The company denied the allegations. Corporate Highlights: Some of the main moves in markets: Stocks Currencies Cryptocurrencies Bonds Commodities This story was produced with the assistance of Bloomberg Automation. With assistance from Margaryta Kirakosian, Andre Janse van Vuuren and Sujata Rao. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin wasn't in the mood to get into a semantic argument. Yes, the Kansas City Chiefs have played a ton of close games this season. Yet the idea that two-time defending Super Bowl champions are somehow more gettable than they've been? That's a nonstarter for the longtime Pittsburgh Steelers coach. "I guess I don't know how dominant they need to be," Tomlin said. "I mean, they're 14-1." Even during a season in which the Chiefs often have looked ordinary as much as they've looked extraordinary, a victory in either of their final two games would assure them of home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs in their bid to become the first team in the Super Bowl era to win three straight titles. They'll get their first crack on Christmas Day in Pittsburgh. Playing on a holiday is hardly new for Kansas City. Doing it in the middle of the week though? "It was definitely exciting until I realized it was on Wednesday," Mahomes said with a laugh. Oh, and on a streaming platform, too. The meeting marks the end of a brutal stretch for both teams that required them to play three times in 11 days. The good news? After being on Netflix, they'll get to relax. How restful each team's break will be, however, likely depends on the outcome. With a Chiefs victory, Mahomes and his creaky ankle and most of their other regulars might get two-plus weeks off ahead of the divisional round. The Steelers (10-5) don't have that luxury, not after consecutive lopsided losses to Philadelphia and Baltimore dropped them into a tie with the Ravens atop the AFC North. Still, beating Mahomes for the first time in four tries would go a long way toward restoring some of the swagger that's seeped out while getting bullied by two of the league's elite. "I think that opportunity to play on Christmas Day, play the defending world champs and who they are and what they've done, it's a great opportunity for us," Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson said. "And really is a testament to who we can be." Best supporting actor Marquise "Hollywood" Brown gave what had been a middling Kansas City offense a jolt last week in his regular-season debut, catching five passes for 45 yards. He had missed the entire season after hurting his shoulder during the first game of the preseason. Brown's presence also took some of the attention away from first-round pick Xavier Worthy, a fellow speedster, who had seven catches for 65 yards and a touchdown in the best game of his career. "We'll get (Brown) involved more and more as the season goes on," Mahomes said. Hi, George? The Steelers are hoping wide receiver George Pickens will be available after he missed the past three games with a balky hamstring. Pittsburgh's offense has struggled to generate much downfield without its leading receiver. Wilson is averaging 167.7 yards passing without Pickens, compared with 271 yards when the 6-foot-3 Pickens is in the lineup. "He's one of the best receivers in the National Football League, without a doubt," Wilson said of his 23-year-old teammate. "The things that he can do with the football, his catching radius is remarkable. So I think the best thing that he brings is he strikes fear in that defense." A fear that's been lacking without him. Catching Kelce Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has just two touchdown receptions this season, his most recent coming Nov. 10 against Denver. That means the four-time All-Pro has failed in six consecutive games to get the one TD catch he needs to break a tie with Tony Gonzalez (76) for the franchise record. Kelce has 89 catches for 739 yards this season. Offensive line moves The Chiefs started All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney at tackle for the second straight week against Houston, and the result was the best protection Mahomes has had all season. But then right tackle Jawaan Taylor hurt his knee, and that forced the Chiefs to put Wanya Morris — who had lost the left tackle job — into the lineup. Meanwhile, the Chiefs are still hoping that former Pro Bowl left tackle D.J. Humphries will recover from his hamstring injury in time for the playoffs. "It's important that these guys — as they go through the ebb and flows of the season and game by game — is they stay locked in, they stay focused," Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said. "We always are supporting them." Communication breakdown Pittsburgh's defense has been battered physically and mistake-prone mentally of late. The Steelers have given up more than 400 yards in consecutive games for the first time since 2019, and now they have to find a way to shore everything up on short rest against a quarterback who has thrown for 14 touchdowns in three games against Pittsburgh. Tomlin expressed disgust about giving up a pair of touchdown passes to tight ends against the Ravens, with a lack of communication being at the center of the problem on both plays. Tomlin said it's simply too late in the season for that to be happening and challenged his veteran-laden group to tighten up. "It is frustrating but, at the same time, we're human," linebacker Patrick Queen said. "This is when you're supposed to taking off as a defense, not falling back."
The Australian tail wagged on Sunday as number 10 and 11, Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland, respectively, shared an unbeaten 55-run-stand for the tenth wicket while surviving a Jasprit Bumrah (4 for 56) onslaught. That left the hosts 333 runs ahead after Day 4 of the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). ET Year-end Special Reads What kept India's stock market investors on toes in 2024? India's car race: How far EVs went in 2024 Investing in 2025: Six wealth management trends to watch out for Going into Day 5, all three results are possible, but Australia are favourites. The prospects of an Indian win remain but they were bright when Australia, after taking a 105-run first innings lead, were at a precarious 91 for 6 with Bumrah taking four wickets, Marnus Labuchagne batting on 43 and captain Pat Cummins joining join him. A 57-run partnership between the two resurrected the hosts’ innings. From a situation where Australia had scored 474 and India were struggling at 221-7, this is a dramatic turnaround. If it was a Nitish Reddy-Washington Sundar show on Day 3, it was a Bumrah masterclass on Day 4, ably assisted by a fired-up Mohammed Siraj (3 for 66). At the start of the Aussie innings, the local broadcasters were talking up 19-year-old opener Sam Konstas. Some said he had managed to get under Bumrah’s skin. If it was a test, the pacer won hands down. In fact, Konstas was given a real examination and could have been out ten times in the 18 balls he faced. Time and again Bumrah squared him up and beat the outside edge before getting one to come in sharply and disturbing the top of his middle stump. On the other end, Siraj had done his bit by picking up Steven Smith. It was excellent captaincy from Rohit Sharma in giving Bumrah the ball the moment Travis Head walked in at 80 for 3. Australia’s lefthanded talisman versus Bumrah has been the story of the series. and in the first innings, Head had been cleaned up for a duck. He wanted to make amends and bat India out of the game. Artificial Intelligence(AI) Java Programming with ChatGPT: Learn using Generative AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrows Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Bumrah, however, had other ideas. A very interesting field was set up and Bumrah bowled the very first ball into Head’s body cramping him up. It was enough to induce the mistake and get caught by Reddy at square leg. Game on! Mitch Marsh was next to go—caught behind by Rishabh Pant as Bumrah toyed with the middle order, making them reel at 91 for 6 with the scalp of Alex Carey, bowled. After that, Siraj picked up Labuschagne (70) with Aussie score reading 148 for 7. The last three wickets since added 80. Going into the final day, India may have to bat out a maximum of 85 overs (no way can Australia bowl 95 overs with three pacers) and the changing room should be confident on a good batting wicket. There is low bounce but nothing alarming, Lyon-Boland partnership proved it. The game could be decided in the first 20 overs of the Indian innings. If the visitors are able to survive the new ball and get through the first 20 with just a wicket down, there is no reason why this match can’t be saved, or perhaps even won. A Test expected to be decided in the very last session is the best advertisement for the five-day game. Already 300,000 fans have watched the MCG Test and more are expected on Day 5, setting a new record for a Boxing Day Test. Indian fans among them would hope for a miracle but a 1-1 result before Sydney will be no less than a victory. BRIEF SCORES: Australia 474 & 228/9 in 82 overs (Labuschagne 70, Cummins 41, Lyon 41 batting; Bumrah 4 for 56, Mohammed Siraj 3 for 66) lead India by 333 runs. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
'Sonic 3' and 'Mufasa' battle for No. 1 at the holiday box office Two family films are dominating the holiday box office, with “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” winning the three-day weekend over “Mufasa” by a blue hair. According to studio estimates Sunday, the Sonic movie earned $38 million, while “Mufasa” brought in $37.1 million from theaters in the U.S. and Canada. The R-rated horror “Nosferatu” placed third with an unexpectedly strong $21.2 million. Thanksgiving release holdovers “Wicked” and “Moana 2” rounded out the top five. Christmas Day had several big film openings, including the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” the Nicole Kidman erotic drama “Babygirl” and the boxing drama “The Fire Inside.” Big Lots reaches deal to keep hundreds of US stores open The discount chain Big Lots has reached a deal that will keep hundreds of its stores open. Big Lots said it will be sold to Gordon Brothers Retail Partners, which specializes in distressed companies. Gordon Brothers will then transfer Big Lots’ stores to other retailers. Variety Wholesalers, which owns more than 400 U.S. discount stores, plans to acquire between 200 and 400 Big Lots stores and operate them under the Big Lots brand. Big Lots filed for bankruptcy protection in September, saying inflation and high interest rates had cut back on consumer demand for its furniture and other products. Charles Dolan, HBO and Cablevision founder, dies at 98 Charles F. Dolan, who founded some of the most prominent U.S. media companies including Home Box Office Inc. and Cablevision Systems Corp., has died at age 98. Newsday reports that a statement issued Saturday by his family says Dolan died of natural causes. Dolan’s legacy in cable broadcasting includes founding HBO in 1972, Cablevision in 1973 and the American Movie Classics television station in 1984. He also launched News 12 in New York City, the first U.S. 24-hour cable channel for local news. Dolan also held controlling stakes in companies that owned Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers. Trump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban so he can weigh in after he takes office President-elect Donald Trump has asked the Supreme Court to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. Trump's request Friday came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court. Oral arguments are scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. The brief said Trump opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.” Stock market today: Wall Street slips as the 'Magnificent 7' weighs down the market NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are closing lower as Wall Street ends a holiday-shortened week on a down note. The S&P 500 fell 1.1% Friday and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 333 points, or 0.8%. The Nasdaq composite dropped 1.5%. The “Magnificent 7” stocks weighed on the market, led by declines in Nvidia, Tesla and Microsoft. Even with the loss, the S&P 500 had a modest gain for the week and is still headed for its second consecutive annual gain of more than 20%, the first time that has happened since 1997-1998. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.62%. 10 tips from experts to help you change your relationship with money in 2025 NEW YORK (AP) — As the calendar changes to 2025, you might be thinking about how to approach your relationship with money in the new year. Whether you’re saving to move out of your parents’ house or pay off student loan debt, financial resolutions can help you stay motivated. If you’re planning to make financial resolutions for the new year, experts recommend that you start by evaluating the state of your finances in 2024. Then, set specific goals and make sure they’re attainable for your lifestyle. Janet Yellen tells Congress US could hit debt limit in mid-January WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says 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 14th, in a letter sent to congressional leaders Friday afternoon. The department has taken such action in the past. But 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. An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalition WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump’s supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in the president-elect’s political movement into public display. The argument previews fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare tensions between the newest flank of Trump’s movement — that is, wealthy members of the tech world who want more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump’s Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. A 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House says WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official says a ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies, as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, a deputy national security adviser, said Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks. Canadian Cabinet ministers meet with Trump's nominee for commerce secretary in bid to avoid tariffs TORONTO (AP) — Two top Canadian Cabinet ministers have met with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary at Mar-a-Lago as Canada tries to avoid sweeping tariffs when Trump takes office. New Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly met with Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, as well as North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick to lead the Interior Department. The meeting was a follow up to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago last month. Trump has threatened to impose sweeping tariffs if Canada does not stem what he calls a flow of migrants and fentanyl into the United States.
GENEVA (AP) — Soccer’s biggest ever global club tournament is coming to the United States next year and the 32-team group stage will be drawn Thursday. European powers Real Madrid and Manchester City, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, recently crowned South American champion Botafogo and top clubs from Asia, Africa and Oceania are among the teams who are in the draw for FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a weekCouncil approves pay bonuses for two-thirds of Boyce's employees
PTC Therapeutics director Jerome Zeldis sells $1.24m in stockLiz Kendall vows to cut the number of Brits on benefits as she warns the welfare epidemic is “terrible” for the country
Peter Navarro served prison time related to Jan. 6. Now Trump is bringing him back as an adviser1 2 3 Aizawl: Council of ministers have not taken a final decision on granting other backward classes (OBC) status to the Gorkhas living in Mizoram. However, the state govt favours granting OBC status under the central govt's reservation. Minutes of the council of ministers' meeting held on Dec 20 were released to the public on Monday, delayed due to chief minister Lalduhoma's attendance at the 72nd plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in Agartala before giving approval, an official statement said. The council of ministers said Gorkhas living in Mizoram cannot be granted OBC status based on the Mandal Commission's recommendations, as the Gorkha community is not more backward than other communities in social, educational, and economic fields. "However, the Mizoram govt favours granting OBC status to the Gorkhas living in the state under the central govt's reservation. OBC status may be granted if an in-depth study finds that the reservation will not affect state govt job reservations in the future," the decision stated. Mizoram govt's constituted permanent body has long recommended granting OBC status to the Gorkhas who have been living in the state since 1950 and their descendants. However, state govt failed to implement the recommendations of the permanent body apparently due to opposition by the central committee of the young Mizo association (YMA), the most powerful civil society in the state. According to the 2021 census conducted by the Mizoram govt, there are 7,686 Gorkhas who have been residing in Mizoram prior to Jan 26, 1950, along with their direct descendants. Despite their longstanding presence in the state, the Gorkha community does not enjoy the same rights and benefits as other state residents, especially in job reservations under the central govt. The last council of ministers' meeting deferred the decision on the issue despite the Gauhati high court's order in Feb last year requiring the Mizoram govt to disclose its reasons if it does not agree with the recommendation to grant OBC status. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword . Spread love this holiday season with these Christmas wishes , messages , and quotes .WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed a bill into law Saturday that averts a government shutdown, bringing a final close to days of upheaval after Congress approved a temporary funding plan just past the deadline and refused President-elect Donald Trump’s core debt demands in the package. The deal funds the government at current levels through March 14 and provides $100 billion in disaster aid and $10 billion in agricultural assistance to farmers. “This agreement represents a compromise, which means neither side got everything it wanted,” Biden said in a statement, adding that “it ensures the government can continue to operate at full capacity. That’s good news for the American people.” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., had insisted lawmakers would “meet our obligations” and not allow federal operations to close. But the outcome at the end of a tumultuous week was uncertain after Trump had insisted the deal include an increase in the government's borrowing limit. If not, he had said, then let the closures “start now.” Johnson's revised plan was approved 366-34, and it was passed by the Senate by a 85-11 vote after midnight. By then, the White House said it had ceased shutdown preparations. “There will be no government shutdown,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Johnson, who had spoken to Trump after the House vote, said the compromise was "a good outcome for the country” and that the president-elect “was certainly happy about this outcome, as well.” The final product was the third attempt from Johnson, the beleaguered speaker, to achieve one of the basic requirements of the federal government — keeping it open. The difficulties raised questions about whether Johnson will be able to keep his job, in the face of angry Republican colleagues, and work alongside Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk , who was calling the legislative plays from afar. The House is scheduled to elect the next speaker on Jan. 3, 2025, when the new Congress convenes. Republicans will have an exceedingly narrow majority, 220-215, leaving Johnson little margin for error as he tries to win the speaker's gavel. One House Republican, Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, criticized Republicans for the deficit spending in the bill and said he was now “undecided” about the GOP leadership. Others are signaling unhappiness with Johnson as well. Yet Trump's last-minute debt limit demand was almost an impossible ask, and Johnson had almost no choice but to work around that pressure. The speaker knew there wouldn’t be enough support within the slim Republican majority alone to pass any funding package because many Republican deficit hawks prefer to cut the federal government and would not allow more debt. Instead, the Republicans, who will have full control of the White House, House and Senate in the new year, with big plans for tax cuts and other priorities, are showing they must routinely rely on Democrats for the votes needed to keep up with the routine operations of governing. The federal debt stands at roughly $36 trillion, and the spike in inflation after the coronavirus pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will exceed spending on national security. The last time lawmakers raised the debt limit was June 2023. Rather than raise the limit by a dollar amount, lawmakers suspended the debt limit through Jan. 1, 2025. There is no need to raise that limit right now because the Treasury Department can begin using what it calls “extraordinary measures” to ensure that America does not default on its debts. Some estimate these accounting maneuvers could push the default deadline to the summer of 2025. But that’s what Trump wanted to avoid because an increase would be needed while he was president. GOP leaders said the debt ceiling would be debated as part of tax and border packages in the new year. Republicans made a so-called handshake agreement to raise the debt limit at that time while also cutting $2.5 trillion in spending over 10 years. It was essentially the same deal that flopped Thursday night — minus Trump’s debt demand. But it's far smaller than the original deal Johnson struck with Democratic and Republican leaders — a 1,500-page bill that Trump and Musk rejected, forcing him to start over. It was stuffed with a long list of other bills — including much-derided pay raises for lawmakers — but also other measures with broad bipartisan support that now have a tougher path to becoming law. Trump, who has not yet been sworn into office, is showing the power but also the limits of his sway with Congress, as he intervenes and orchestrates affairs from Mar-a-Lago alongside Musk , who is heading up the new Department of Government Efficiency. Associated Press writers Kevin Freking, Stephen Groves, Mary Clare Jalonick, Darlene Superville and Bill Barrow contributed to this report.
A judge has once again rejected Musk's multi-billion-dollar Tesla pay package. Now what?
The View host's embarrassing attempt to defend Biden pardoning HunterNEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the U.S. but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. Then Wednesday's targeted fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk thrust the executive and his business into the national spotlight. Thompson, who was 50, had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group Inc for 20 years and run the insurance arm since 2021 after running its Medicare and retirement business. As CEO, Thompson led a firm that provides health coverage to more than 49 million Americans — more than the population of Spain. United is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, the privately run versions of the U.S. government’s Medicare program for people age 65 and older. The company also sells individual insurance and administers health-insurance coverage for thousands of employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. The business run by Thompson brought in $281 billion in revenue last year, making it the largest subsidiary of the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group. His $10.2 million annual pay package, including salary, bonus and stock options awards, made him one of the company's highest-paid executives. The University of Iowa graduate began his career as a certified public accountant at PwC and had little name recognition beyond the health care industry. Even to investors who own its stock, the parent company's face belonged to CEO Andrew Witty, a knighted British triathlete who has testified before Congress. When Thompson did occasionally draw attention, it was because of his role in shaping the way Americans get health care. At an investor meeting last year, he outlined his company's shift to “value-based care,” paying doctors and other caregivers to keep patients healthy rather than focusing on treating them once sick. “Health care should be easier for people,” Thompson said at the time. “We are cognizant of the challenges. But navigating a future through value-based care unlocks a situation where the ... family doesn’t have to make the decisions on their own.” Thompson also drew attention in 2021 when the insurer, like its competitors, was widely criticized for a plan to start denying payment for what it deemed non-critical visits to hospital emergency rooms. “Patients are not medical experts and should not be expected to self-diagnose during what they believe is a medical emergency,” the chief executive of the American Hospital Association wrote in an open letter addressed to Thompson. “Threatening patients with a financial penalty for making the wrong decision could have a chilling effect on seeking emergency care.” United Healthcare responded by delaying rollout of the change. Thompson, who lived in a Minneapolis suburb and was the married father of two sons in high school, was set to speak at an investor meeting in a midtown New York hotel. He was on his own and about to enter the building when he was shot in the back by a masked assailant who fled on foot before pedaling an e-bike into Central Park a few blocks away, the New York Police Department said. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said investigators were looking at Thompson's social media accounts and interviewing employees and family members. “Didn’t seem like he had any issues at all,” Kenny said. "He did not have a security detail.” AP reporters Michael R. Sisak and Steve Karnowski contributed to this report. Murphy reported from Indianapolis. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Maharashtra Cabinet: Fadnavis keeps Home, Shinde gets Urban Development, Ajit Pawar gets FinanceJohnson scores 33 as Tennessee Tech knocks off NAIA-member Milligan 95-75Bugti committed to consensus-driven solutionsAP News in Brief at 6:04 p.m. EST