US stocks rose Monday, with the Dow finishing at a fresh record as markets greeted Donald Trump's pick for treasury secretary, while oil prices retreated on hopes for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The Dow climbed one percent to a second straight all-time closing high on news of the selection of hedge fund manager Scott Bessent to lead the critical economic policy position. A widely respected figure on Wall Street, Bessent is seen as being in favor of growth and deficit reduction policies and not known overly fond of trade tariffs. The market "breathed a sigh of relief" at Bessent's selection, said Art Hogan from B. Riley Wealth Management. But after an initial surge Monday, the gains in US equities moderated somewhat. While investors are enthusiastic about the possibility of tax cuts and regulatory relief under Trump, "we do have to face the potential for tariffs being a negative as well as a very tight market around immigration, which is not positive for the economy," Hogan said. Earlier, equity gains were limited in Europe as growth concerns returned to the fore with Germany's Thyssenkrupp announcing plans to cut or outsource 11,000 jobs in its languishing steel division. Currently around 27,000 people are employed in the steel division, which has been battered by high production costs and fierce competition from Asian rivals. Elsewhere, crude oil prices fell decisively as Israel's security cabinet prepared to decide whether to accept a ceasefire in its war with Hezbollah, an official said Monday. The United States, the European Union and the United Nations have all pushed in recent days for a truce in the long-running hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which flared into all-out war in late September. Speaking on condition of anonymity, an Israeli official told AFP the security cabinet "will decide on Tuesday evening on the ceasefire deal." And bitcoin's push toward $100,000 ran out of steam after coming within a whisker of the mark last week, on hopes that Trump would enact policies to bring the cryptocurrency more into the mainstream. Bitcoin was recently trading under $96,000, having set a record high of $99,728.34 Friday -- the digital currency has soared about 50 percent in value since Trump's election. This week's data includes a reading of consumer confidence and an update of personal consumption prices, a key inflation indicator. Those reporting earnings include Best Buy, Dell and Dick's Sporting Goods. New York - Dow: UP 1.0 percent at 44,736.57 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.3 percent at 5,987.37 (close) New York - Nasdaq: UP 0.3 percent at 19,054.84 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.4 percent at 8,291.68 (close) Paris - CAC 40: FLAT at 7,257.47 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.4 percent at 19,405.20 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.3 percent at 38,780.14 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.4 percent at 19,150.99 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.1 percent at 3,263.76 (close) Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0495 from $1.0418 on Friday Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2564 from $1.2530 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 154.23 yen from 154.78 yen Euro/pound: UP at 83.51 pence from 83.14 pence West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 3.2 percent at $68.94 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 2.9 percent at $73.01 per barrel bur-jmb/dw
US added a strong 227,000 jobs in November in bounce-back from October slowdown WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s job market rebounded in November, adding 227,000 workers in a solid recovery from the previous month, when the effects of strikes and hurricanes had sharply diminished employers’ payrolls. Last month’s hiring growth was up considerably from a meager gain of 36,000 jobs in October. The government also revised up its estimate of job growth in September and October by a combined 56,000. Friday’s report also showed that the unemployment rate ticked up from 4.1% in October to a still-low 4.2%. The November data provided the latest evidence that the U.S. job market remains durable even though it has lost significant momentum from the 2021-2023 hiring boom, when the economy was rebounding from the pandemic recession. Federal appeals court upholds law requiring sale or ban of TikTok in the US A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok in a few short months, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the law - which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — is constitutional, rebuffing TikTok’s challenge that the statute ran afoul of the First Amendment and unfairly targeted the platform. TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. Stock market today: Wall Street hits more records following a just-right jobs report NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to records after data suggested the job market remains solid enough to keep the economy going, but not so strong that it raises immediate worries about inflation. The S&P 500 climbed 0.2%, just enough top the all-time high set on Wednesday, as it closed a third straight winning week in what looks to be one of its best years since the 2000 dot-com bust. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.8% to set its own record. Treasury yields eased after the jobs report showed stronger hiring than expected but also an uptick in the unemployment rate. Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO spotlights complex challenge companies face in protecting top brass NEW YORK (AP) — In an era when online anger and social tensions are increasingly directed at the businesses consumers count on, Meta last year spent $24.4 million to surround CEO Mark Zuckerberg with security. But the fatal shooting this week of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson while walking alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take to protect their leaders against threats. And experts say the task of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them is getting more difficult. One of the primary worries are loners whose rantings online are fed by others who are like-minded. It’s up to corporate security analysts to decide what represents a real threat. Police believe the gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO quickly left NYC on a bus after shooting NEW YORK (AP) — Police officials say the gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer likely left New York City on a bus soon after fleeing the scene on a bicycle and hopping in a cab. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny says video of the gunman fleeing Wednesday’s shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson showed him riding through Central Park and later taking a taxi to a bus terminal, directly across from New Jersey. Police have video of the man entering the bus station but no video of him exiting. Investigators on Friday found a backpack in Central Park that was carried by the shooter, police said. USDA orders nationwide testing of milk for bird flu to halt the virus The U.S. government has ordered testing of the nation’s milk supply for bird flu to better monitor the spread of the virus in dairy cows. The Agriculture Department on Friday said raw or unpasteurized milk from dairy farms and processors nationwide must be tested on request starting Dec. 16. Testing will begin in six states — California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon and Pennsylvania. The move is aimed at eliminating the virus, which has infected more than 700 dairy herds in 15 states. Words on ammo in CEO shooting echo common phrase on insurer tactics: Delay, deny, defend A message left at the scene of an insurance executive’s fatal shooting echoes a phrase commonly used to describe insurer tactics to avoid paying claims. The words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” were written on the ammunition used to kill UnitedHealthcare's CEO. That's according to two officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday. The words are similar to the phrase “delay, deny, defend.” That's how attorneys describe insurers denying services and payment, and the title of a 2010 book critical of the industry. Police haven’t officially commented on the words. But Thompson’s shooting and the messages on the ammunition have sparked outrage on social media and elsewhere, reflecting frustration Americans have over the cost and complexity of getting care. Michigan Democrats move to protect reproductive health data before GOP takes control of House LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Democrats in Michigan are pressing to pass reproductive health care legislation before the party loses its majority with the new legislative session next year. A bill to protect digital reproductive health data including data logged on menstrual cycle tracking apps is a Democratic priority as lawmakers meet this month. Democratic women and supporters of the legislation say they are acting with new urgency before President-elect Donald Trump takes office because they don't believe his campaign promise to leave abortion to the states. The rush is also a reaction to Republicans taking control of the state House in January. Democrats kept control of the state Senate in the November election. Japan's Nippon Steel sets sights on a growing overseas market in its bid to acquire US Steel KASHIMA, Japan (AP) — The signs at Nippon Steel read: “The world through steel,” underlining why Japan’s top steelmaker is pursuing its $15 billion bid to acquire U.S. Steel. Japan's domestic market isn't growing, so Nippon Steel has its eyes on India, Southeast Asia and the United States, where populations are still growing. Nippon Steel gave reporters a tour of one of its plants in Japan on Friday. The bid for U.S. Steet is opposed by President-elect Donald Trump, President Joe Biden and American steelworkers. If the deal goes through, U.S. Steel will keep its name and its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but become subsidiary of Nippon Steel. China's ban on key high-tech materials could have broad impact on industries, economy BANGKOK (AP) — China has banned exports of key materials used for a wide range of products, including smartphones, electric vehicles, radar systems and CT scanners, swiping back at Washington after it expanded export controls to include dozens of Chinese companies that make equipment used to produce computer chips. Both sides say the controls are justified by national security concerns. Analysts say they could have a much wider impact on manufacturing in many industries and supply chains, depending on the ability of each side to compensate for loss of access to strategically important materials, equipment and components. Here's why this could be a tipping point in trade conflict between the two biggest economies.
GMM stock plunges to 52-week low of $0.22 amid market challenges
The secret's out: Christopher Nolan's new Tom Holland-led movie is an Odyssey adaptation and a "mythic action epic shot across the world"( MENAFN - ABN Newswire) Cobalt Blue Holdings Limited (ASX:COB) (FRA:COH) (OTCMKTS:CBBHF) and Iwatani are progressing programs toward a financing decision in 2025. These include testwork and engineering studies, permit applications, and contracts for feed and offtake. KEY POINTS - During 2024, Cobalt Blue completed successful testwork on two key sources of feedstock. Recently, several new sources of potential feedstock have been identified with similar levels of success. - The Kwinana Cobalt refinery (KCR) engineering program is nearing completion in preparation for a project financing decision in 2025. - The primary operating permit for KCR has been submitted to the Western Australia Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. - Cobalt Blue and Ecobatt have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to evaluate the feasibility of treating blackmass from battery recycling (a mix of crushed metals produced from shredded battery scrap) within Australia. Testwork Throughout 2024, Cobalt Blue has undertaken testwork at the Broken Hill Technology Development Centre. The work has focused on leaching key sources of potential feedstock, including cobalt hydroxide (international source) and cobalt-nickel sulphide precipitate (from within Australia). These were purchased on commercial terms. Recently, COB has expanded testwork on other sources of feedstock: - Cobalt hydroxide from another major global supplier (name withheld for commercial in confidence) - Black mass from Ecobatt, an Australian battery recycler - A cobalt intermediate from battery recycling in India (name withheld for commercial in confidence) Each of the testwork programs has successfully demonstrated cobalt extractions of >95% from the head samples. Following leaching, the testwork program has covered separation of cobalt using precipitation, ion-exchange, solvent extraction, and crystallisation techniques. Cobalt Blue is aiming to produce cobalt sulphate heptahydrate in conformance with stringent Japanese market specifications. The most recent testwork has achieved purification of the cobalt sulphate, removing zinc, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, and magnesium to target levels. Testwork continues, in order to generate representative sample for evaluation by prospective offtakers. Engineering Tetratech has continued with the detailed design study. The refinery's integration within the Iwatani Australia-owned Doral Fused Materials (DFM) site has driven the design of plant layout, traffic management, power supply, and surface water management. The design case is nearing completion in preparation for a project financing decision in 2025. Permitting The testwork and engineering studies have supported the preparation of the two permit applications. A Works Approval was submitted by DFM (on behalf of Cobalt Blue) in November 2024 to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. This included details of the proposed refinery including: waste and emission management, feed and product logistics (via Fremantle container port), and consumption of water, reagents and power. Importantly, this application is a request to modify the existing DFM Works Approval. Financing As Cobalt Blue requires Government financial support to construct the Refinery, it is progressing through pre-screening processes with Government funding agencies to garner support to enable timely recommendations from them and prompt political decisions from State and Federal governments. Memorandum of Understanding with Ecobatt Cobalt Blue and Ecocycle Pty Ltd (Ecobatt) have entered into a MOU to evaluate the feasibility of treating black mass from battery recycling (a mix of crushed metals produced from shredded battery scrap) within Australia. There is increasing emphasis on creating a circular economy in Australia which can recover critical minerals from materials such as spent recycled batteries, minimises the necessity for new mining projects, and keeps these valuable resources here in Australia for re-use and out of landfills. According to the Battery Stewardship Council, up to 400 million batteries may be in use in Australia, but less than 5% are recycled (not including Lead Acid Batteries). Many of the used lithium-ion batteries find their way in kerbside bins to landfills, and the risks from fire and damage to recycling facilities around Australia is a daily problem, as are for companies and the community storing them at home or in factories. Ecobatt is the pre-eminent battery recycling company in Australia. It manages a national collection system to recycle and process battery products, based on proven world-class battery recycling technology. Cobalt Blue has successfully tested samples of black mass provided by Ecobatt to extract cobalt, nickel and manganese. The testwork program is now expanding to cover production of suitable forms of separate cobalt, nickel, manganese and lithium chemicals for onward sale for lithium-ion battery cathode manufacturing. The two companies have agreed to continue to collaborate to explore and evaluate opportunities around processing black mass into critical minerals to re-enter the battery supply chain. This partnership is built on the expectation that the result of the complementary functions will contribute to the growth of Australia's battery recycling ecosystem. The MOU shall remain in force until 31 December 2025 unless terminated earlier by a party. A party has the right to terminate the MOU with written notice. *To view tables and figures, please visit: Cobalt Blue Holdings Ltd (ASX:COB ) (FRA:COH) (OTCMKTS:CBBHF) has a strategic approach that positions us to be among the first wave of new entrants into the allied battery materials supply chain. We are committed to playing a leading role in securing a stable and sustainable future for critical minerals. MENAFN16122024000111011020ID1109000236 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
NEW YORK (AP) — In a string of visits, dinners, calls, monetary pledges and social media overtures, big tech chiefs — including Apple’s Tim Cook, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos — have joined a parade of business and world leaders in trying to improve their standing with President-elect Donald Trump before he takes office in January. “The first term, everybody was fighting me,” Trump said in remarks at Mar-a-Lago. “In this term, everybody wants to be my friend.” Tech companies and leaders have now poured millions into his inauguration fund, a sharp increase — in [...]Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow started the offseason by emphasizing the team's need to bolster the starting pitching staff. The front office has followed through with multiple noteworthy moves before the New Year. Boston's biggest deal thus far was in exchange for prospects Kyle Teel, Braden Montgomery, Chase Meidroth, and Wikelman Gonzalez. Crochet gives the Red Sox a bona fide ace, something the rotation has lacked for the last several seasons. In free agency, the Red Sox have signed southpaw Patrick Sandoval and righty Walker Buehler. Both veterans come with injury concerns but add tremendous upside to Boston's previously lackluster rotation. So, what could the Red Sox' full starting rotation look like in 2025? Who could be the odd man out? Here's a closer look at the projected group: If Crochet proves more than a one-year wonder, he'll give the Red Sox a legitimate Cy Young contender atop their rotation. The 25-year-old has flat-out filthy stuff, including one of the best fastballs in the sport which averages 97.2 mph and tops out around 100 mph. A former reliever, Crochet took the hill 32 times last year during his first season in the White Sox rotation. He posted a 3.58 ERA (2.69 FIP) with 209 strikeouts and only 33 walks across 146 innings for the 121-loss ballclub. Chicago lightened the southpaw's workload in the second half of the campaign as he missed the entire 2022 season due to Tommy John surgery and pitched only 12.2 innings in 2023. Fear not though, Sox fans. Crochet doesn't expect to require an innings limit in 2025. “In terms of how long my leash will be, I hope to not even be wearing a collar come second half next year,” Crochet told reporters during his introductory press conference. Houck wasn't even expected to be part of Boston's 2024 rotation, but he found his way in following Lucas Giolito and Garrett Whitlock's season-ending injuries. The 28-year-old stepped up, emerging as the Red Sox' de facto ace with a 3.12 ERA and 154 strikeouts in 30 starts (178.2 innings). His efforts earned him his first career All-Star nod. If Houck can duplicate his 2024 numbers, he'll give the Red Sox' new-look starting rotation a formidable 1-2 punch. The Red Sox to a one-year, $21.05 million contract on Monday. It's a low-risk, high-reward pickup for a pitching staff that desperately needed some star power. Buehler is a two-time All-Star with plenty of postseason experience, including World Series titles with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020 and 2024. He placed fourth in Cy Young award voting in 2021 but had a down season in 2022 before undergoing Tommy John surgery that forced him to miss all of 2023. In 2024, Buehler struggled in the regular season with a 5.38 ERA across 16 starts. He found his groove in the playoffs, however, posting a 3.60 ERA (2.77 FIP) in four appearances (three starts). He didn't allow a run in his six innings pitched during the World Series. If healthy, Buehler adds a ton of upside to Boston's talented rotation. He's a fan favorite in L.A. and will become one in Boston if he can help end the club's postseason drought. Bello enters his fourth big-league season still looking to break out. The former top prospect has shown flashes of brilliance but has yet to live up to the lofty expectations that led Boston to s before the 2024 season. While his 2024 numbers leave plenty to be desired, Bello was one of three Sox starters to make 30 starts. With injury concerns throughout the rest of the rotation, he'll be counted on to do the same in 2025. Boston will hope Bello can pick up where he left off in the second half of the 2024 season, when he posted a 3.00 ERA in August and a 3.55 ERA in September. It's unclear whether Giolito will be ready for Opening Day, but he joins the list until further notice. The veteran righty signed with Boston last offseason but didn't make an appearance in 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Assuming he enters 2025 without any setbacks, Giolito gives the Red Sox another high-upside starter. The 30-year-old was an All-Star in 2019 and earned Cy Young votes in each season from 2019 to 2021. Giolito's biggest bugaboo is the long ball. He allowed a whopping 41 home runs during a rough 2023 season spent with the White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and Cleveland Guardians. Red Sox pitching coach Andrew Bailey will be tasked with helping him cut that number significantly in 2025. Crawford looked like the Red Sox' "ace" to start the 2024 season but eventually regressed to the mean, finishing the year with a 4.36 ERA and 4.65 FIP. He led the majors with 34 homers allowed. The way Crawford ended the campaign may have cost him a spot in the rotation for 2025. With the additions of Crochet and Buehler, plus Giolito's return from injury, someone has to be the odd man out. Don't be surprised if Crawford is traded before Opening Day. If not, he could be moved to the bullpen and used sparingly as a spot-starter. Starting pitching depth appears to be a strength for Boston as we look ahead to 2025. There are several options if any of the current pieces of the injury-prone rotation go down. Richard Fitts, a top prospect acquired from the New York Yankees in last year's Alex Verdugo deal, highlights the list. The 25-year-old notched a 1.74 ERA across his first four big-league starts. Winckowski has primarily pitched out of the bullpen but made six spot starts for Boston last season. The Red Sox will hope to use him solely as a reliever in 2025, but he's another arm they can turn to if necessary. Criswell was a pleasant surprise after signing a $1 million contract with the club last offseason. The 28-year-old posted a 4.08 ERA in 26 appearances (18 starts). Whitlock should be used out of the bullpen in his return from an elbow injury, but he could step up as an occasional spot starter. He had a 1.96 ERA in four starts before having his 2024 campaign end prematurely. Priester was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the 2024 trade deadline in exchange for infield prospect Nick Yorke. A former top prospect himself, Priester only adds to the rotation's high upside despite entering 2025 with an uncertain role. Sandoval is this year's James Paxton for Boston. The 28-year-old is expected to miss the first half of the 2025 season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. The Red Sox on Friday. Over six seasons with the Angels, he enjoyed his most productive campaign in 2022 as he posted a 2.91 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 148.2 innings. He has a 4.01 ERA across 107 games (100 starts).Bradman letters revealed: What Don really thought about Packer, Warne, the queen and fame
NEW YORK (AP) — In a string of visits, dinners, calls, monetary pledges and social media overtures, big tech chiefs — including Apple’s Tim Cook, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos — have joined a parade of business and world leaders in trying to improve their standing with President-elect Donald Trump before he takes office in January. “The first term, everybody was fighting me,” Trump said in remarks at Mar-a-Lago . “In this term, everybody wants to be my friend.” Tech companies and leaders have now poured millions into his inauguration fund, a sharp increase — in most cases — from past pledges to incoming presidents. But what does the tech industry expect to gain out of their renewed relationships with Trump? Clearing the way for AI development A clue to what the industry is looking for came just days before the election when Microsoft executives — who’ve largely tried to show a neutral or bipartisan stance — joined with a close Trump ally, venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, to publish a blog post outlining their approach to artificial intelligence policy. “Regulation should be implemented only if its benefits outweigh its costs,” said the document signed by Andreessen, his business partner Ben Horowitz, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and the company’s president, Brad Smith. They also urged the government to back off on any attempt to strengthen copyright laws that would make it harder for companies to use publicly available data to train their AI systems. And they said, “the government should examine its procurement practices to enable more startups to sell technology to the government.” Trump has pledged to rescind President Joe Biden’s sweeping AI executive order, which sought to protect people’s rights and safety without stifling innovation. He hasn’t specified what he would do in its place, but his campaign said AI development should be “rooted in Free Speech and Human Flourishing.” Easier energy for data centers Trump’s choice to head the Interior Department, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, has spoken openly about the need to boost electricity production to meet increased demand from data centers and artificial intelligence. “The AI battle affects everything from defense to healthcare to education to productivity as a country,′′ Burgum said on Nov. 15, referring to artificial intelligence. “And the AI that’s coming in the next 18 months is going to be revolutionary. So there’s just a sense of urgency and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration′′ to address it. Demand for data centers ballooned in recent years due to the rapid growth of cloud computing and artificial intelligence, and local governments are competing for lucrative deals with big tech companies. But as data centers begin to consume more resources, some residents are pushing back against the world’s most powerful corporations over concerns about the economic, social and environmental health of their communities. Changing the antitrust discussion “Maybe Big Tech should buy a copy of ‘The Art of The Deal’ to figure out how to best negotiate with this administration,” suggested Paul Swanson, an antitrust attorney for the law firm Holland & Hart. “I won’t be surprised if they find ways to reach some accommodations and we end up seeing more negotiated resolutions and consent decrees.” Although federal regulators began cracking down on Google and Facebook during Trump’s first term as president — and flourished under Biden — most experts expect his second administration to ease up on antitrust enforcement and be more receptive to business mergers. Google may benefit from Trump’s return after he made comments on the campaign trail suggesting a breakup of the company isn’t in the U.S. national interest, after a judge declared its search engine an illegal monopoly . But recent nominations put forward by his transition team have favored those who have been critical of Big Tech companies, suggesting Google won’t be entirely off the hook. Fending off the EU Cook’s notoriously rocky relationship with the EU can be traced back to a 2016 ruling from Brussels in a tax case targeting Apple. Cook slammed the bloc’s order for Apple to pay back up to $13.7 billion in Irish back taxes as “total political crap.” Trump, then in his first term as president, piled on, referring to the European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who was spearheading a campaign on special tax deals and a crackdown on Big Tech companies, as the “tax lady” who “really hates the U.S.” Brussels was eventually vindicated after the bloc’s top court rejected Apple’s appeal this year, though it didn’t stop Cook from calling Trump to complain, Trump recounted in a podcast in October. Trump hosted Cook for a Friday evening dinner at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago resort, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment publicly. Neither Apple nor the Trump transition team has commented on the nature of their discussions. Making amends? Altman , Amazon and Meta all pledged to donate $1 million each to Trump’s inaugural fund. During his first term, Trump criticized Amazon and railed against the political coverage at The Washington Post, which billionaire Bezos owns. Meanwhile, Bezos had criticized some of Trump’s past rhetoric. In 2019, Amazon also argued in a court case that Trump’s bias against the company harmed its chances of winning a $10 billion Pentagon contract. More recently, Bezos has struck a more conciliatory tone. He recently said at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit in New York that he was “optimistic” about Trump’s second term, while also endorsing president-elect’s plans to cut regulations. The donation from Meta came just weeks after Zuckerberg met with Trump privately at Mar-a-Lago. During the 2024 campaign, Zuckerberg did not endorse a candidate for president, but voiced a more positive stance toward Trump. Earlier this year, he praised Trump’s response to his first assassination attempt. Still, Trump in recent months had continued to attack Zuckerberg publicly. And Altman, who is in a legal dispute with AI rival Elon Musk, has said he is “not that worried” about the Tesla CEO’s influence in the incoming administration. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year alleging that the maker of ChatGPT betrayed its founding aims of benefiting the public good rather than pursuing profits.FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas tied its school record for largest halftime lead in a 109-35 win over Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday night. John Calipari's Razorbacks (5-1) led 60-15 at the break, tying Arkansas' 45-point advantage at halftime in a 2009 win over Alcorn State. Arkansas raced to a 12-point lead before the first media timeout and went on a 30-1 run midway through the first half. Razorbacks guard Johnell Davis had scored 10 points by the 7:36 mark of the opening half, which was more than Maryland Eastern Shore (2-7) scored as a team at that point. Freshman Karter Knox scored a game-high 21 points to lead seven Arkansas players in double figures. Davis and Boogie Fland each added 16, Billy Richmond and Zvonimir Ivisic had 14 apiece, D.J. Wagner scored 13 points and Adou Thiero chipped in 11. Arkansas’ 74-point win tied for the third largest margin of victory in school history. Takeaways Maryland Eastern Shore: The Hawks don't have much to look back on as they shot 23% from the field and 15.4% from 3. Arkansas: The Razorbacks have beaten the teams they are supposed to so far in coach Calipari’s first year, but little can be gleaned in a win over Maryland Eastern Shore. Maryland Eastern Shore guard Ralph Martino, Jr. (1) shoots over Arkansas guard Johnell Davis (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. Credit: AP/Michael Woods Key moment Arkansas had no trouble from the opening tip, jumping out to a 15-3 lead. Ivisic hit back-to-back 3-pointers to provide the Razorbacks with a double-digit lead before first media timeout. Key stat The Razorbacks made more 3-pointers (15) than Maryland Eastern Shore made field goals (14). Arkansas also scored 31 points off 19 Hawks turnovers, while the visitors didn’t register a single point of Arkansas’ four giveaways. Up next The Hawks play at Little Rock on Wednesday, and Arkansas plays Illinois in Kansas City on Thanksgiving.
First it was Canada , then the Panama Canal . Now, Donald Trump again wants Greenland. The president-elect is renewing unsuccessful calls he made during his first term for the U.S. to buy Greenland from Denmark, adding to the list of allied countries with which he's picking fights even before taking office on Jan. 20. In a Sunday announcement naming his ambassador to Denmark , Trump wrote that, “For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity." Trump again having designs on Greenland comes after the president-elect suggested over the weekend that the U.S. could retake control of the Panama Canal if something isn't done to ease rising shipping costs required for using the waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He's also been suggesting that Canada become the 51st U.S. state and referred to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “governor” of the “Great State of Canada.” Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, said Trump tweaking friendly countries harkens back to an aggressive style he used during his days in business. “You ask something unreasonable and it’s more likely you can get something less unreasonable,” said Farnsworth, who is also author of the book “Presidential Communication and Character.” Greenland, the world’s largest island, sits between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. It is 80% covered by an ice sheet and is home to a large U.S. military base. It gained home rule from Denmark in 1979 and its head of government, Múte Bourup Egede, suggested that Trump’s latest calls for U.S. control would be as meaningless as those made in his first term. “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale,” he said in a statement. “We must not lose our years-long fight for freedom.” Trump canceled a 2019 visit to Denmark after his offer to buy Greenland was rejected by Copenhagen, and ultimately came to nothing. He also suggested Sunday that the U.S. is getting “ripped off” at the Panama Canal. “If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America, in full, quickly and without question,” he said. Panama President José Raúl Mulino responded in a video that “every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to,” but Trump fired back on his social media site, “We’ll see about that!” The president-elect also posted a picture of a U.S. flag planted in the canal zone under the phrase, “Welcome to the United States Canal!” The United States built the canal in the early 1900s but relinquished control to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999, under a treaty signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter. The canal depends on reservoirs that were hit by 2023 droughts that forced it to substantially reduce the number of daily slots for crossing ships. With fewer ships, administrators also increased the fees that shippers are charged to reserve slots to use the canal. The Greenland and Panama flareups followed Trump recently posting that “Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State" and offering an image of himself superimposed on a mountaintop surveying surrounding territory next to a Canadian flag. Trudeau suggested that Trump was joking about annexing his country, but the pair met recently at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida to discuss Trump's threats to impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods. “Canada is not going to become part of the United States, but Trump’s comments are more about leveraging what he says to get concessions from Canada by putting Canada off balance, particularly given the precarious current political environment in Canada,” Farnsworth said. “Maybe claim a win on trade concessions, a tighter border or other things.” He said the situation is similar with Greenland. “What Trump wants is a win," Farnsworth said. "And even if the American flag doesn’t raise over Greenland, Europeans may be more willing to say yes to something else because of the pressure.” The Associated Press Gary Fields in Washington contributed to this report.