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lottery pronunciation WASHINGTON — After days of threats and demands, Donald Trump had little to show for it once lawmakers passed a budget deal in the early hours of Saturday, narrowly averting a pre-Christmas government shutdown. The president-elect successfully pushed House Republicans to jettison some spending, but he failed to achieve his central goal of raising the debt limit. It demonstrated that despite his decisive election victory and frequent promises of retribution, many members of his party are still willing to openly defy him. A glance at Trump’s agenda shows a cascade of opportunities for similar showdowns in the years to come. He wants to extend tax cuts that he signed into law seven years ago, slash the size of government, increase tariffs on imports and crack down on illegal immigrants. Many of those efforts will need congressional buy-in. “Stay tuned. Buckle up. Strap in,” said Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., a senior appropriator. For many of Trump’s supporters, disruption could be its own goal. Thirty-seven percent of those who voted for him this year said they wanted “complete and total upheaval,” according to AP VoteCast, a broad survey of more than 120,000 voters. An additional 56% said they wanted “substantial change.” Trump could face difficulties in quickly fulfilling his goals, especially with Republicans holding only thin majorities in the House and the Senate next year. Some lawmakers already seem weary of the apparent lack of a unified strategy. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said the budget battle was “a valuable lesson in how to get our act together.” The trouble started when top lawmakers released a copy of the bill, known as a continuing resolution, that was required to keep the federal government functioning until March. It wasn’t the president-elect but Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and a Trump confidant, who first began whipping up opposition to the legislation on social media by calling it excessive spending. Trump eventually waded into the fight. He ordered Republicans to cancel the bipartisan deal they made with Democrats. He also demanded they increase the debt limit — the cap on how much the government can borrow — in hopes of preventing that thorny issue from coming up while he is in charge of the government. He ratcheted up the pressure even as his demands shifted. First he wanted to eliminate the debt limit altogether. Then he wanted to suspend it until 2027. Then he floated an extension until 2029. “Without this, we should never make a deal,” he wrote on Truth Social, his social media site. If he didn’t get what he wanted, Trump said, there should be a government shutdown. Democratic President Joe Biden would take the blame, Trump insisted. He also said members of his own party would face primary challenges if they refused to go along, saying “Republican obstructionists have to be done away with.” He singled out Rep. Chip Roy of Texas by name and with insults. “All Republicans, and even the Democrats, should do what is best for our Country, and vote “YES” for this Bill, TONIGHT!” Trump wrote Thursday, before a vote on a version of the bill that included a higher debt limit. Instead, 38 Republicans voted no. In the end, lawmakers left out that debt ceiling increase, and a final deal passed early Saturday. Musk and other Trump allies tried to frame it as a win because the final legislation was significantly slimmed down and omitted unpopular items such as a pay raise for members of Congress. Charlie Kirk, the prominent conservative activist, wrote on X that Trump “is already running Congress before he takes office!” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said he was in “constant contact” with Trump, who he added was “certainly happy about this outcome.” If Trump agreed, he didn’t say so himself. After days of frequent social media messages, Trump again went silent Friday. He did not offer a reaction to the final vote or issue any statements. Instead, he went golfing at his Florida resort. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump, said the president-elect helped prevent an original deal “full of Democrat pork and pay raises for members of Congress.” “In January, President Trump and DOGE will continue this important mission to cut the waste out of Washington, one bill at a time,” she said. DOGE is a reference to the Department of Government Efficiency, an advisory panel that will be led by Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. During Trump’s first term, a budget standoff led to a government shutdown when he demanded money for his U.S.-Mexico border wall. After 35 days — the longest shutdown in U.S. history — he agreed to a deal without the money he wanted. An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll at the time showed 60% of Americans blamed Trump for the shutdown. Trump pressuring reluctant Republican senators to get on board with some of his most controversial Cabinet choices, such as anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary and Fox News host Pete Hegseth as defense secretary. Concerns about deficit spending could intensify if Trump pushes expensive tax cuts that he promised during the campaign, such as eliminating taxes on tips, Social Security and overtime pay. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Bhopal/Indore, Dec 24 (PTI) Congress Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh on Tuesday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding a probe by a sitting High Court judge into the corruption in the Madhya Pradesh Transport Department. The MP Lokayukta's Special Police Establishment earlier this week conducted searches at Bhopal properties of a former constable with the department and seized assets worth around Rs 8 crore besides documents related to real estate investments. Singh shared his letter to the PM with the media in the state capital. The former CM revealed there was pressure on then-Chief Minister Kamal Nath to appoint Govind Rajput as transport minister in the Congress government. Rajput was one of the Congress leaders who, led by Jyotiraditya Scindia, joined the BJP in March 2020 and caused the fall of the Nath-led Congress regime. Rajput was not available immediately for a comment. "I demand investigation of the transport scam under the supervision of the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The benami (proxy) properties found during the investigation should be confiscated and money be deposited with the government treasury," Singh stated in his letter. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), too, should register a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in the matter, the former chief minister demanded. Singh's letter named several persons, and also spoke of corruption at `check barriers' put up by the transport department. On December 19, nearly Rs 3 crore in cash and 200 kg of silver ingots along with documents of benami properties were found at the residence of former constable Saurabh Sharma, as per the Lokayukta police. As much as 52 kg of gold and Rs 11 crore in cash were found in a car owned by an associate of the constable, and the Income Tax Department has seized a diary in which names of officers, political leaders and businessmen are mentioned, the Congress leader claimed. Asked about Singh's allegations, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said, "Our government has continued the policy of fighting corruption. We have closed check barriers from the very first day. We are against corruption at every level." In a related development, the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), alleging large-scale corruption in the department, on Tuesday sent a letter to Yadav, demanding a high-level probe into its activities. The apex body of transporters, in the letter, sought an inquiry into the department's activities over the past two decades by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a retired judge of the Supreme Court or the Madhya Pradesh HC. The AIMTC made the demand citing the recent revelations related to assets owned by former constable Sharma. C L Mukati, chairman of AIMTC's national RTO and transport committee, told PTI in Indore that the organisation's top officials have sent the letter to the Chief Minister. Citing the raids on the premises of Sharma, the letter said departmental employees whose assets disproportionate to their income have been revealed so far are just "small fishes" and it is necessary to identify the "real culprits" and "masterminds" and bring them to justice. The letter said properties owned by officials of Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) should be investigated and strict legal action taken if they are found to be been acquired through ill-gotten wealth. The missive said all processes related to making driving licenses, registration of vehicles and fitness certification should be done online so that human intervention and possibilities for bribery can be reduced. (This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)In pro golf parlance, Saturday is “moving day,” the penultimate day of a tournament when players try to improve their standing to make a run at the title in the final round. For the Steelers, this time of year is similar. Particularly under Mike Tomlin, the stretch between mid-November and mid-December typically has played a major role in defining the vast majority of the past 17 seasons. Since Tomlin was hired in 2007, the Steelers have had a tendency to either salvage a foundering season by triggering a late run or have undergone some degree of a collapse to sully what had the appearance of a successful campaign. On seven occasions under Tomlin, the Steelers have started runs that included a winning streak and/or stretch of at least six wins in eight games at some point between Week 10 and Week 13. But Tomlin also has presided over six seasons that went the other way: Steelers teams with winning records have, between Weeks 10 and 13, started streaks of three straight losses or started skids of 1-3, 1-4 or 1-5. During four of those instances, the Steelers went from playoff position to missing the postseason. This is all relevant to these 2024 Steelers, who, after 11 weeks, sat at 8-2 and held a 1 1/2-game lead in the AFC North. That was until Thursday night’s 24-19 defeat at the Cleveland Browns. A solitary loss, in the big picture, might not define the season, particularly one on a short week to a division rival in a snowstorm. Chalk it up as “stuff happens,” right? Maybe, but the defending Super Bowl champion Steelers of 2009 probably were telling themselves that when, at 6-2, they lost a divisional home game to the Cincinnati Bengals. It was the start of the five-game losing streak, and the Steelers missed the playoffs. Or what about three years later? The Steelers were riding high on a four-game winning streak when, during Week 11, another AFC North foe, the Baltimore Ravens, won at Heinz Field. It was the start of a stretch of five losses in six games, again costing the Steelers a playoff berth. The 2018 Steelers were 7-2-1 and, on Thanksgiving weekend, lost in Denver to begin a three-game slide that kept them home in January. Stumbles late in the 2007, 2019 and 2020 seasons also screeched the brakes on encouraging seasons of varying degrees. Can these Steelers — winners of five straight before Thursday — avoid a similar fate? They insist so. “We have a lot of football left. We have a lot of opportunities to respond in the highest way, highest level,” quarterback Russell Wilson said. “Everything that we want is still in front of us. We have to be able to refresh after this weekend. After these Thursday night games, just played a tough game on Sunday and you come back and have another game Thursday night, it’s a lot of games in a short amount of days. We have to let our bodies recover, reset mentally, and then come back and push for the stretch.” Tomlin gave the Steelers a four-day respite from practice. But he has no way of offering relief from the gauntlet of games that awaits. Three of the remaining six opponents are among the five biggest favorites to win the Super Bowl (per FanDuel betting odds): the Kansas City Chiefs, Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles. Another is against the team that just beat them, the Browns. And the remaining two are against one of the NFL’s best offenses — and best quarterbacks — Joe Burrow and the rival Bengals. When the schedule was released in the spring, it had been anticipated that the Steelers’ late-season run would be a challenge. “That’s the great part of it: We have the guys to do it,” Wilson said. “We have the mentality to do it. We have the edge to do it. We have the response to do it.” These Steelers have proven their worthiness as contenders. They are 5-0 against teams sitting in playoff positions. That means just as much as questionable defeats to the likes of the Indianapolis Colts (5-6), Dallas Cowboys (3-7) or Browns (3-8). Longtime captain Cameron Heyward said Thursday’s loss won’t affect the team’s focus or preparation. “If you’re not learning from your wins and you’re only learning from your losses, shame on you,” Heyward said. “You can be humbled in every game. You try to learn something in every game.” The same can be said for seasons. And as much as the collapses of 2009 or 2018 or, say, 2020 (when the 11-0 Steelers lost five of their final six) can trigger fear among fans that the Browns loss portends another late-season swoon, the Steelers under Tomlin also have more than a half-dozen cases in which they turned things around down the stretch. Then there’s the Steelers of 2011 and 2017, who were cruising by the time they reached Thanksgiving and kept riding that wave through the end of their regular seasons (finishing 12-4 and 13-3, respectively). “Any game, you’ve gotta have short-term memory,” outside linebacker Nick Herbig said. “Regardless of who it is, win or loss.” The Steelers vow that when they return to practice Tuesday that the discomforting loss in Cleveland will be well behind them. “I love this football team,” Wilson said. “(These are) the right guys, the right energy. This is the right response. We are disappointed, but we’re not discouraged. We’re not flinching in the midst of it. We’ll respond the right way.”

Columbia, a perennial football loser, wins Ivy League title for first time since 1961Jayden Daniels has had an impressive year, but one recent compliment puts his year into perspective in an eye-opening fashion. Jayden Daniels wasn’t afforded the same primetime spotlight that Caleb Williams was. However, as analysts and even one former Commanders head coach has lined up to hand out compliments , he isn’t exactly going under the radar. The Washington Commanders quarterback is set to reach the playoffs in his rookie year, not unlike Robert Griffin III did a decade ago. While that is an accomplishment by itself, there is one tier that is above even that. One Chicago Bears quarterback ranked Daniels against another quarterback who had a similar run much more recently than Robert Griffin III, however. Chase Daniel speaks up While his teammates like Joe Mixon among others have been impressed with CJ Stroud, he comes second in one former backup quarterback’s mind. Speaking on a clip of “Scoop City” posted to Twitter/X on December 24, former Bears backup quarterback Chase Daniel claimed that CJ Stroud’s rookie year was worse than what Daniels has put on. “You’re witnessing greatness, honestly, and it’s hard to say, but it’s insane what he’s able to do. He’s completely changed the next ten years for the Commanders. “And honestly, I think he’s had a better rookie year than what C.J. Stroud did last year. And you knew how crazy we were about C.J. Stroud. I think he’s having a better year this year.” The comments are profound, but do they hold weight? What Jayden Daniels is doing needs to be talked about...he’s having one of the better rookie seasons for a QB in a long time. Scoop City: https://t.co/p2jKA54ZN8 pic.twitter.com/EKbBUMLAgQ Comparing CJ Stroud and Jayden Daniels First and foremost, perhaps the biggest nod for Daniels over Stroud is the comparison between the team’s histories. Stroud landed with the Texans just three seasons after the team moved on from Deshaun Watson. In other words, there was winning DNA with the team before he got there, even if it was hibernating. Daniels, meanwhile, arrived during a winning drought dating back to the 2010s. In other words, the Commanders had not posted a double-digit winning season since 2012. Now, they have the chance to 12 games. Statistically, Daniels has the ability to pass Stroud’s rookie numbers in some areas, but some leaps are larger than others. Per Pro Football Reference, Stroud threw for 4108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions in his first NFL season. Daniels, meanwhile, has thrown for 3303 yards, 22 touchdowns, and eight interceptions with two games to play. Put simply, both have had impressive runs in their first year in the NFL. Will Daniels carry the quality performance into his second season like Stroud? This article first appeared on NFL Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

NASHVILLE, Tenn (AP) — Nico Iamaleava threw for 257 yards and four touchdowns rallying No. 7 Tennessee from a 14-point deficit within the first five minutes to rout in-state rival Vanderbilt 36-23 Saturday. “Man, it couldn't have started any worse,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel told his Vols postgame . “And you know what? Competitive composure ... You just kept coming. That's what elite people, champions do. You just keep coming.” The Volunteers (10-2, 6-2 Southeastern Conference; No. 8 CFP) needed a big victory to impress the College Football Playoff committee enough to earn a home playoff game in December. They beat Vanderbilt (6-6, 3-5) for a sixth straight season leaving the Commodores needing to win their bowl game to post their first winning record since 2013. Better yet, the Vols rebounded from a nightmare start giving up the first 14 points by scoring 29 straight points. They led 24-17 at halftime on Iamaleava's first three TD passes. “Once they took the momentum, we kind of allowed them to have it for the rest of the game," Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said. "And you got to credit Tennessee. I mean, obviously, they were playing for the playoffs and credit coach Heupel and his team for their winning performance.” Junior Sherrill returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown for Vanderbilt to stun a mostly orange crowd. Dylan Sampson fumbled on the Vols’ second play from scrimmage, and Sedrick Alexanader's 4-yard TD run on a 26-yard drive put Vandy up 14-0 quickly. Then Iamaleava got Tennessee going with a 28-yard TD pass to Dont’e Thornton Jr. Tennessee got a break when Max Gilbert's 50-yard field goal bounced off the crossbar and over. Iamaleava found Thornton again on an 86-yard catch-and-run TD, then he tossed an 18-yard TD pass to Miles Kitselman just before halftime. Iamaleava capped the opening drive of the third quarter hitting Mike Matthews with a 14-yard TD pass for a 31-17 lead. The Vols added a safety by Tyre West and another Gilbert field goal. Diego Pavia threw a 31-yard TD pass to Richie Hoskins late with Vandy's 2-point conversion failing for the final margin. Tennessee didn't make a good early impression with yet another slow start. The Vols need to hope for some help to have a chance at moving up a spot or two . The big question is whether the Vols get to host a playoff game in December at Neyland Stadium where they went undefeated this season. Tennessee put together TD drives of 91 and 96 yards in the first half alone. The Vols then beat Vandy at its own game of keepaway after not even managing 10 minutes of possession in the first half. They finished with the edge in that stat outgaining Vandy 538-212. Vanderbilt had some of the best offensive success against Tennessee of any opponent this season. The Commodores had 114 yards rushing and 17 points by halftime against a defense that came in ranked sixth nationally allowing just 98.8 yards a game. The Vols had been fourth in the country giving up just 13.1 points a game having held 10 of 11 opponents under 20 points this season. But Lea said the Commodores ran just 11 plays to Tennessee's 44 after halftime. The Tennessee running back, who set the program record with 22 rushing TDs this season, didn't reach the end zone for the first time this season. Sampson finished with 178 yards rushing to reach 1,485 yards for the season, topping the school mark of 1,464 set by Travis Stephens in 2001. Tennessee waits to hear its spot in the CFP field, while Vanderbilt learns its bowl destination Dec. 8. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football.‘Small caps are going to become more in favor in 2025:' VettaFi's research head doubles down on winning groupBarcelona grabs last quarterfinal spot in Women's Champions League with 3-0 win in Stockholm

Though the Town of Essex has been able to improve its energy consumption and reduce its Greenhouse Gas Emissions over the past five-years, Essex Council was urged to look for ways to reduce fossil fuel use from a long-term planning standpoint. Andrea Dwight, President of Blue Sky Energy Engineering and Consulting Inc., presented the most recent Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan to Essex Council at the November 18 meeting. Dwight worked with Town of Essex staff over the past few months to complete the Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan, which sets out a path towards a more energy-efficient future. The scope of work includes all Town-owned facilities requiring heat, corporate facilities, wastewater treatment plants, and street-lighting. This plan is legislatively required under the Provincial Electricity Act and lays out the foundation for energy conservation at the Town of Essex for the next five-years. Dwight noted it is important to celebrate the hard work the Town has done over the past-five years in this work. There is a list of programs she said impacted energy and heat consumption, such as changing and upgrading lighting and HVAC systems. This resulted in a 1.5% improvement in energy compared to 2019, and a 2.5% reduction to Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Since 2011, overall Greenhouse Gas Emissions have dropped, so has electricity consumption. The Town is proud to have achieved a 13% reduction in electricity between 2011 and 2023, excluding street-lighting, the report details. Natural gas consumption, however, has risen by 4.6% over the same period. Combining electricity and natural gas, these changes have resulted in an overall energy reduction of close to 7% and a 44.5% reduction in GHG emissions over the twelve-year period, the report adds. In addition, electricity consumption on street-lighting has dropped 18%, Dwight told Council. The Essex Centre Sports Complex and Harrow Arena, street-lighting, and sewage treatment plant are the largest electricity consumers. In addition, both arenas are the largest natural gas consumers. In 2023, Dwight highlighted that Essex’s natural gas use was 37% and electricity was 63%. Yet, natural gas is responsible for 78% of its Greenhouse Gas Emissions. As the Town of Essex renvisions climate planning, Dwight suggested looking for ways to reduce fossil fuel use from a long-term planning standpoint. Without reducing natural gas usage, the Town will not be able to significantly improve Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Looking ahead, a 3% reduction in overall energy is targeted for 2029 as measured against the 2023 figures. “Although it sounds like a small number, it is actually quite significant,” Dwight told Council, adding a number of great programs have been developed to make sure this goal is achieved. The Town, she added, has a number of strategic planning priorities in which to focus over the next-five years, including the Town leveraging all incentive opportunities from the Federal Government and local utilities to make technological improvements. Another is to look at the asset management and capital planning process and put in guidelines regarding energy efficient purchasing of larger capital projects. Actions set in the Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan include identifying energy-savings opportunities, and putting in place a planning process that reviews facilities and delivering cost-savings through the identification and implementation of programs, processes, and projects on an ongoing basis. Another priority is communication, training, and outreach. The action plan also includes a set of specific projects pulled together over the next five-years to make a significant improvement to energy consumption. That varies from lighting upgrades, to HVAC, to controls. She also spoke of the Town needing to think about what natural gas reduction strategy it would like to have to integrated into the capital project process. “I think you are very well positioned to make a significant improvement in both GHGs and energy consumption over the next five-years,” Dwight said. “I think this shows your corporate responsibility and your focus on helping make sure the environment is at the forefront. I think that this is a very strong plan.” Seeing as the twin pads at the Essex Arena use the most energy, Councillor Katie McGuire-Blais asked what could be further done to reduce that footprint beyond what was suggested in the report. Director of Community Services, Jake Morassut, noted the twin pads have had a significant number of projects on the compressor system over the past five-years. The energy usage for the facility comes from the compressor plants, for which none of its major components should need replacing in the next-five years. So, that will likely be part of the next five-year plan. Through the Plan, the focus was on things that could be controlled over the next-five years, with the funding models and resources in place, he added. That included upgrading to LED lighting, which saves on energy and maintenance cost. In addition, LEDs have a longer lifecycle, Morassut said. “We are looking at projects like that where we are going to see a bigger impact and a quicker payback period,” he added. Though it is great to see what Essex is doing, Mayor Sherry Bondy asked about comparing the local town to others. Dwight noted there are ways to benchmark that information, such as how Essex’s largest facilities are doing compared to similar ones across the province. Council received the Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan.Global stocks mostly pushed higher on Tuesday in thin Christmas Eve trade, as investors waited to see if a so-called Santa Claus rally would sweep the market. "Santa Claus comes tonight, but if stock market participants are lucky he will start sprinkling some gifts today, which marks the official start to the 'Santa Claus rally' period," said Briefing.com analyst Patrick O'Hare. US stock markets have traditionally fared well in the last five trading days of the year and the first two in the new year, with experts advancing a number of possible reasons as to why -- including the festive holiday mood and purchasing ahead of the end of the tax year. Wall Street opened modestly higher on the first day of this seven-day stretch and picked up speed as the session progressed. The S&P 500 finished up 1.1 percent. While gains were broad-based, some of the biggest positive moves came from tech heavyweights like Facebook parent Meta, Netflix and Amazon, all of which won more than one percent. "There's a pretty fair amount of enthusiasm for momentum" stocks, said Jack Ablin, of Cresset Capital, who also noted that low trading volumes amplified the trend. In Europe, Paris's CAC 40 closed higher in a pre-holiday short session while Frankfurt was closed all day. London also closed in the green, despite a week clouded by lackluster economic data that is "stoking concerns about the UK's slowing momentum heading into the new year," said Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. Hong Kong and Shanghai stock markets closed up over one percent, as China announced fresh fiscal measures to boost its ailing economy. On Tuesday, state media reported that China will raise its deficit in order to boost spending next year, as the world's second-largest economy battles sluggish domestic consumption, a property crisis and soaring government debt. Among individual companies, Honda shares closed more than 12 percent higher after the Japanese auto giant announced a buyback of up to 1.1 trillion yen ($7 billion), as it enters merger talks with struggling rival Nissan. The talks between Honda and Nissan could create the world's third-largest automaker, expanding development of EVs and self-driving tech. Honda's CEO insisted it was not a bailout for Nissan, which announced thousands of job cuts last month and reported a 93 percent plunge in first-half net profit. New York - Dow: UP 0.9 percent at 43,297.03 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 1.1 percent at 6,040.04 (close) New York - Nasdaq Composite: UP 1.4 percent at 20,031.13 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.4 percent at 8,136.99 (close) Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.1 percent at 7,282.69 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: Closed Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.3 percent at 39,036.85 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 1.1 percent at 20,098.29 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 1.3 percent at 3,393.53 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0389 from $1.0405 on Monday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2531 from $1.2536 Dollar/yen: UP at 157.31 yen from 157.17 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 82.89 pence from 83.00 pence West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.2 percent at $70.10 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: UP 1.3 percent at $73.58 per barrel burs-jmb/nro

Noodles and wine are the secret ingredients for a strange new twist in China’s doping saga

Lindy Li, a former Democratic fundraiser and strategist, has announced her departure from the Democratic Party, condemning its treatment of her and her contributions. Li, who raised millions for Democratic candidates, labeled the party a "cult" and condemned how her financial donations were used, believing they were squandered on people like Oprah Winfrey and Al Sharpton. Li, an important figure in the fundraising committee of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), was an outspoken advocate for Vice President Kamala Harris. Nonetheless, internal conflicts in the party intensified after Li expressed criticism of Harris and the path of the Democratic Party. Her backing of President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, along with her remarks on the party's loss in November, escalated tensions in her relationship with the Democrats. In a discussion on "Piers Morgan Uncensored," Li stated that she felt "distressed" by the negative response she encountered after criticizing Harris. She labeled the Democratic Party as "tainted by the odor of failure" after its loss in the last election. The repercussions of her remarks led to a decrease of 40,000 followers on social media in only four days. She encountered personal assaults as well, with opponents labeling her with insulting terms and accusing her of being a "communist spy," a statement that greatly upset her because of her family's background. Li voiced dissatisfaction regarding the management of funds collected for the Democratic Party, especially the $2.5 million allocated to Oprah Winfrey’s production firm and the $500,000 reportedly utilized to sway Al Sharpton. She claimed that the funds, which she and others had toiled to gather, were being wasted. "We still haven't received any answers," she remarked, alluding to the absence of accountability regarding these expenses. The previous fundraiser also talked about the wider change in her political perspectives. She condemned the Democratic Party for its isolating culture, stating that her efforts to challenge the party's actions encountered aggression. "They pretend to occupy the moral high ground," she remarked. Li emphasized that the party’s response to her dissent showed a lack of inclusivity and diversity, pointing to the vitriol she faced from those she had once worked to support. Li elaborated on her choice to exit the Democratic Party, stating it seemed like liberating herself from a "cult." She portrayed the atmosphere at the party as suffocating, where asking questions or voicing concerns would lead to significant repercussions. "They're shrinking their tent," she said, noting that this exclusion was pushing her towards aligning with another political team, one that would treat her with more respect and decency. Li's exit comes amid an increasing trend of notable fundraisers leaving the Democratic Party. In September, a different ex-Obama fundraiser revealed her choice to "separate" from the Democrats and back Trump in the forthcoming election. Li, nonetheless, continues to be an important person in fundraising communities. She admitted that individuals from Trump's team had previously contacted her, valuing her capability to generate significant funds. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News, World and around the world.Kingsview Wealth Management LLC Sells 30,865 Shares of Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE:FIS)

Dick Van Dyke Turns 99 as Taylor Swift Turns 35

By Maria Salette Ontiveros, The Dallas Morning News (TNS) DALLAS — Amid the busy holiday shipping season, the U.S. Postal Service is sounding an urgent warning about a scam being sent via text message to unsuspecting users. According to postal officials, the scam consists of cellphone owners receiving a text message that says a USPS package can’t be delivered because of missing information. USPS officials say the message includes a text link that could expose the user’s personal information, including financial details, to unknown scammers when clicked. “The criminals want to receive personally identifiable information such as: account usernames and passwords, Social Security Number, date of birth, credit and debit card numbers, personal identification numbers, or other sensitive information,” the news release says. Authorities are calling this scam “ smishing,” a more sophisticated deceptive practice where users pretend to be from a legitimate company or individual and then provide a link that allows users to provide some type of personal data, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Postal officials say their customers can receive automated updates about the delivery status of mail or packages, but mail customers have to sign up on the official page of USPS. USPS also has a service that is called Informed Delivery, where you can receive emails and updates as the package gets scanned. To sign up for this service, you should visit the official page of USPS. How can I report a scam? To report a scam or possible smishing incident, USPS asks customers to take screenshot of text message, paste it into an email and send it to spam@uspis.gov . The email must include the victim’s name, a screenshot of the fraudulent text message and any other relevant details. More: How to avoid the latest generation of scams this holiday season | The Conversation Pa. man charged in Pittsburgh Steelers parking lot scam Third man indicted in computer scam that cost central Pa. residents at least $316KTom Werner Inspire Medical Systems ( NYSE: INSP ) is a medical device company that focuses on treating obstructive sleep apnea with a neurostimulation technology by continuously monitoring a patient's breathing while they sleep and delivering nerve stimulation as needed in Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

How to keep track of Santa as he travels Canada and the world