Trump calls Florida meeting with Trudeau productive amid stiff tariff threatCowboys Need Just One Thing To Make PlayoffsTHE WAIT IS on in the RDS in Dublin this afternoon as hopeful candidates, supporters, and reporters bide their time ahead of the first official count announcement. It’s a flurry of activity down here where all of the newly elected TDs from five of Dublin’s constituencies will be revealed between today and tomorrow. Count centre staff are busy sorting ballots for the constituencies of Dublin Bay North, Dublin Bay South, Dublin Central, Dublin South Central and Dublin North West. A short while ago Eamon Ryan, the former leader of the Green Party arrived and was quickly surrounded by a swarm of national media. His mood was not as despondent as one might have expected considering the poor showing his party look set to have with “We’ll listen to see what we can do to come back stronger. We’ve done that before and that gives me great confidence that we will come back,” Ryan said. Ryan, who topped the poll in Dublin Bay South in 2020 would have been hoping that his replacement, councillor Hazel Chu, would be able to carry the Green mantle in the constituency. This is looking highly unlikely, based on the final tally. Ryan, who is not running again, acknowledged that the poor performance from the Greens increases the risk that Ireland will swerve to the wrong direction on climate change. “That would not be the correct direction for the country,” he warned. Elsewhere in the RDS, another media huddle was forming. This one was for the arrival of Oscar-nominated director Jim Sheridan. In recent weeks Sheridan has been spotted out and about filming notorious gangland figure and Dublin Central candidate Gerry “the Monk” Hutch for an upcoming project. One of perhaps the most surprising pieces of news to emerge out of the RDS so far today is the success of Hutch’s election bid. The final tally for the constituency, where political heavyweights Mary Lou McDonald and Paschal Donohoe are based, places Hutch in contention for the fourth and final seat. Sinn Féin’s McDonald looks set to top the poll, followed by Fine Gael’s Donohoe and Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. The final tally puts outgoing Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan at 6% of the vote share – below Hutch at 9%, Fianna Fáil senator Mary Fitzpatrick at 7% and Labour Senator Marie Sherlock also at 7%. Stopping to speak to reporters, Sheridan said he initially thought Hutch didn’t have a chance, but now feels that he might. He said if this happens it will have to lead to some society-wide soul searching. “It will have repercussions in lots of ways about the way we think about elections and stuff like that. In the sense of where are the limits? And I don’t know the answer to that,” the director and documentary maker said. Sheridan’s arrival at the RDS set off a chain of rumours that Hutch was also about to arrive, but it is now not expected he’ll appear until later this evening ... if at all. That was quickly followed by word that McDonald was also on her way – and then another update to say she may be slightly delayed... For now, the waiting continues.
U.S. stocks slipped below their records in the runup to a big jobs report due on Friday. The S&P 500 edged down 0.2% Thursday after setting an all-time high for the 56th time this year the day before. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.6%, while the Nasdaq composite fell 0.2%. The crypto market had much more action, and bitcoin briefly burst to a record above $103,000 before falling back toward $99,000. It’s climbed dramatically since Election Day on hopes President-elect Donald Trump will be more friendly to crypto. Airline stocks were strong, while Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. On Thursday: The S&P 500 fell 11.38 points, or 0.2%, to 6,075.11. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 248.33 points, or 0.6%, to 44,765.71. The Nasdaq composite fell 34.86 points, or 0.2%, to 19,700.26. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 30.39 points, or 1.3%, to 2,396.17. For the week: The S&P 500 is up 42.73 points, or 0.7%. The Dow is down 144.94 points, or 0.3%. The Nasdaq is up 482.09 points, or 2.5%. The Russell 2000 is down 38.56 points, or 1.6%. For the year: The S&P 500 is up 1,305.28 points, or 27.4%. The Dow is up 7,076.17 points, or 18.8%. The Nasdaq is up 4,688.91 points, or 31.2%. The Russell 2000 is up 369.10 points, or 18.2%.ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani security forces launched an operation Tuesday night to disperse supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan who had gathered in the capital to demand his release from prison. The latest development came hours after thousands of Khan supporters, defying government warnings, broke through a barrier of shipping containers blocking off Islamabad and entered a high-security zone, where they clashed with security forces, facing tear gas shelling, mass detentions and gunfire. Tension has been high in Islamabad since Sunday when supporters of the former prime minister began a “long march” from the restive northwest to demand his release. Khan has been in a prison for over a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases that his party says are politically motivated. Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, led the protest, but she fled as police pushed back against demonstrators. Hundreds of Khan’s supporters are being arrested in the ongoing nighttime operation, and police are also seeking to arrest Bibi. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters that the Red Zone, which houses government buildings and embassies, and the surrounding areas have been cleared. Leaders from Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, have also fled the protest site. Earlier Tuesday, Pakistan’s army took control of D-Chowk, a large square in the Red Zone, where visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is staying. Since Monday, Naqvi had threatened that security forces would use live fire if protesters fired weapons at them. “We have now authorized the police to respond as necessary,” Naqvi said Tuesday while visiting the square. Before the operation began, protester Shahzor Ali said people had taken to the streets because Khan had called for them. “We will stay here until Khan joins us. He will decide what to do next,” Ali said. “If they fire bullets again, we will respond with bullets,” he said. Protester Fareeda Bibi, who is not related to Khan’s wife, said people have suffered greatly for the last two years. “We have really suffered for the last two years, whether it is economically, politically or socially. We have been ruined. I have not seen such a Pakistan in my life,” she said. Authorities have struggled to contain the protest-related violence. Six people, including four members of the security services, were killed when a vehicle rammed them on a street overnight into Tuesday. A police officer died in a separate incident. Dozens of Khan supporters beat a videographer covering the protest for The Associated Press and took his camera. He sustained head injuries and was treated in a hospital. By Tuesday afternoon, fresh waves of protesters made their way unopposed to their final destination in the Red Zone. Most demonstrators had the flag of Khan’s party around their shoulders or wore its tricolors on accessories. Naqvi said Khan’s party had rejected a government offer to rally on the outskirts of the city. Information Minister Atta Tarar warned there would be a severe government reaction to the violence. He said the government did not want Bushra Bibi to achieve her goal of freeing Khan. “She wants bodies falling to the ground. She wants bloodshed,” he said. The government says only the courts can order Khan’s release. He was ousted in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Parliament. In a bid to foil the unrest, police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters since Friday and suspended mobile and internet services in some parts of the country. Messaging platforms were also experiencing severe disruption in the capital. Khan’s party relies heavily on social media and uses messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. The X platform, which is banned in Pakistan, is no longer accessible, even with a VPN. Last Thursday, a court prohibited rallies in the capital and Naqvi said anyone violating the ban would be arrested. Travel between Islamabad and other cities has become nearly impossible because of shipping containers blocking the roads. All education institutions remain closed. Pakistan's Stock Exchange lost more than $1.7 billion Tuesday due to rising political tensions, according to economist Mohammed Sohail from Topline Securities. Associated Press writers Munir Ahmed in Islamabad and Asim Tanveer in Multan, Pakistan, contributed to this report.Zoomcar director Mark Bailey buys $787,999 in common stock
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Sitting at his desk in an isolated compound north of Bucharest, presidential front-runner and far-right populist Calin Georgescu says Romania’s Western alliances remain secure providing they “serve the sovereignty of the country and nothing else.” Georgescu unexpectedly topped the polls in the first round of the Romanian presidential vote on Nov. 24, despite being a huge outsider, plunging the European Union and NATO country into unprecedented turmoil. On Sunday, he will face reformist Elena Lasconi of the Save Romania Union party in a final vote. “I am interested in us being a sovereign and self-sufficient power,” the 62-year-old independent candidate told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “Freedom and independence come from the ability to finance yourself, not from being financed by others.” His vision for his country’s future lies in a series of Romania-first policies in a push to become self-reliant in areas such as energy, food, and water. Other key issues he wants to address if he wins the presidency, he said, span tackling high poverty rates, organized crime, and drug use in schools. “Our children are dying from drug use,” he said. “It’s unimaginable.” Georgescu is also a self-professed Donald Trump supporter and says the incoming U.S. president “knows what he wants, he loves his people, he put America first, just like I put Romania first ... we have the same ideology.” His success has left Western allies on edge. In the past, Georgescu — who declared zero campaign spending — praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as “a man who loves his country” and called Ukraine “an invented state.” Still, he claims not to be pro-Russian. He has also courted controversy for describing Romanian fascist and nationalist leaders from the 1930s and 1940s as national heroes. He denies having any connection to extremist organizations and says the quotes were miss represented. “I am only for God and my country,” he said. “Period.” Once a member of Romania’s far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, Georgescu left the party in 2022 after being accused by colleagues of being Russia-friendly and critical of NATO. Romania has played a key role in the U.S.-led military alliance since Russia fully invaded neighboring Ukraine nearly three years ago. Observers wonder how a Georgescu presidency could affect NATO unity. “NATO is a defensive organization, but as long as it remains defensive, everything is fine,” the presidential hopeful said. “We will evaluate and see what is to Romania’s advantage ... Everything, no matter what, must benefit the Romanian people," referring to two NATO bases in Romania. On the war in Ukraine, “it’s a very difficult and grave situation," he said. "And my main position is a strategy of peace. Peace with everyone, regardless of who they are.” But Lasconi, his opponent in Sunday’s runoff, has cast Georgescu as a threat to democracy and national security who is not fit for high office. “Let us be very clear, Calin Georgescu is an open admirer of Vladimir Putin. He is openly against NATO and the European Union,” she said a day after the first vote. “He is for Romania’s isolation, which he calls neutrality." She also added that "without NATO we are at the mercy of Russia.” His past controversial remarks are wide-ranging and often veer in conspiracy, like his questioning of vaccine safety or calling climate change a “business scam,” or that “feminism is an absolute mess.” Georgescu holds a doctorate in pedology, a branch of soil science, and held different positions in Romania’s environment ministry in the 1990s. Between 1999 and 2012, he was a representative for Romania on the national committee of the United Nations Environment Program. But he remained a little-known entity until just weeks ago. Many observers attributed his success to his TikTok account, which now has 5.8 million likes and 531,000 followers. But some experts suspect Georgescu’s online following was artificially inflated while Romania’s top security body alleged he was given preferential treatment by TikTok over other candidates. Asked whether he believes the Chinese-owned platform TikTok can pose a threat to democracy, he said: “The most important existing function for promoting free speech and freedom of expression is social media.” In his downtime, he says he enjoys listening to classical composers, such as 19th-century composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and is a big fan of the Irish singer Enya. He holds black belts in judo and karate and said he would make sports investment a top priority “because otherwise, you can’t have a healthy nation.” Romania’s political class, he said, has “constantly shown an inferiority complex” toward the West and vowed to change the dynamic. “Everything I do and will do will be from a negotiation standpoint, in the sense that Romania will stand tall and not on its knees,” he said.
OAKLAND — The first domino fell in the when Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas said Wednesday she would resign early from office to become an Alameda County supervisor next year. Bas will officially announce her resignation Dec. 17, soon enough so that both she and Mayor Sheng Thao — who was last month — can be replaced on the same ballot in a special election likely to take place on April 15. In the meantime, the that takes office in January is expected to appoint someone to replace Bas, who strongly indicated at a news conference Wednesday that she will endorse someone to take her place. Before leaving office, Bas will serve as the city’s interim mayor for about 19 days. After new members are sworn in Jan. 6, the council is expected to appoint one of its own to serve as both council president and interim mayor until the April election. City officials said Wednesday that the temporary appointment to the District 2 council seat most likely will not be a job that members of the public can apply to fill. Instead, council members will track down a prospect for the job behind the scenes before considering the appointment at a public meeting. The candidate Bas endorses may end up being the only person considered. Whoever fills the role will not be able to run in the April election to finish Bas’ four-year term, which will expire at the end of 2026. Bas, a labor-backed politician and former progressive organizer, will end a six-year run as the City Council member in Oakland’s District 2, which covers Chinatown, Jack London Square and areas south of Lake Merritt, including the San Antonio neighborhood. “It’s one of the most diverse districts in the entire city,” Bas said Wednesday in a prepared speech announcing her early resignation, which she noted will help consolidate the two upcoming special elections and “save hundreds of thousands of dollars for the city of Oakland.” A staunch ally of unions and skeptic of hardline policing, Bas emerged victorious in final election results Tuesday against John Bauters, an Emeryville councilmember who had pushed a vision of boosting public transit and making neighborhoods more walkable. Candidates are already lining up to become Bas’ permanent successor next April. One is Charlene Wang, a policy analyst with no previous political experience in the Bay Area who campaigned her way into third place in a crowded race last month for the council’s at-large seat. Kanitha Matoury, a downtown business owner who finished fifth in the same race, will also run for the District 2, and most likely will Harold Lowe, a former challenger to Bas in 2022. But the winner next April may turn right back to campaign mode not too long afterward, with the seat up for re-election in November 2026.McGill runs for 2TDs and North Texas becomes bowl eligible by beating Temple 24-17
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has shared his top songs of 2024, posting his Spotify Wrapped music recap on social media. The yearly feature, which showcases the most popular songs, and artists, revealed Mr Albanese's top track was Australia by Melbourne-based singer-songwriter G Flip. Other tracks included Letting Go by Angie McMahon, Still Have Room by Hockey Dad, Pedestal by Lime Cordiale, and Get Me Out by King Stingray. Notably, all of his top songs were performed by Australian artists. That was not the case in 2023, when the Prime Minister's top artists included Lana Del Rey, Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen. The Prime Minister has made headlines throughout the year for his concert presence, attending performances by Radio Birdman, Nick Cave and Taylor Swift in 2024. His appearances, funded by free tickets, were listed on his Parliamentary Register of Members' Interests. The Prime Minister has been described as "losing touch" in recent months over his ability to address voter issues including inflation and the cost of living. Despite some policy wins on the final parliamentary sitting day of the year, his public image has remained tethered to personal moments. These have included his purchase of a $4.3 million beach house , his use of free Qantas flight upgrades and an offensive disability insult . While the country has grappled with a challenging economic environment, Mr Albanese’s approval rating has plunged to its lowest level since he took office. Prior to his election in 2022, the Member for Grayndler earned significant popularity while moonlighting as a DJ. "It's a good thing to have fun as well as fight Tories. And Greens," he told the audience of a charity event in Melbourne where he performed as a DJ in 2016. "Ten days to go. Ten more sleeps until we get a decent government. A Labor government." Labor went on to lose that election and the next one, before Mr Albanese was elected as Prime Minister in 2022. The Prime Minister will hope his music tastes will earn him some relatability points going into the Christmas break, ahead of the 2025 election to be held by May. Although his top songs were all home-grown, the rest of Australia has been listening primarily to international pop artists and rappers. The most streamed artist in the world in 2024 was Taylor Swift for the second year in a row, followed by The Weeknd, Bad Bunny, Drake and Billie Eilish. The most streamed artists in Australia were Taylor Swift, Drake, Zach Bryan, Billie Eilish and The Weeknd. The top local artists were The Wiggles, The Kid Laroi, AC/DC, Vance Joy and Rufus Du Sol.Scripps taps Matthew Hijuelos to lead distribution strategy