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NoneWASHINGTON — While Matt Gaetz has withdrawn from the nomination process for attorney general, President-elect Donald Trump has picked several other people for his Cabinet and key staff positions who have been accused of some form of sexual misconduct. Trump himself has long been accused of abusing or mistreating women and once was caught bragging about grabbing women by the genitals. He was found liable by a New York City jury for sexual abuse and defamation and eventually ordered to pay the woman, E. Jean Carroll, $83 million in damages. Taken together, there are a striking number of incidents in which potential high-ranking government officials in Trump's second administration face allegations of sexual abuse. Trump and all of his picks for government have denied the claims against them, with some of the people accused arguing the cases are driven by politics. Here's a look at what's known about the cases: President-elect Donald Trump Jurors in New York last year found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll, an advice columnist, in 1996. The verdict was split: Jurors rejected Carroll’s claim that she was raped, finding Trump responsible for a lesser degree of sexual abuse. Jurors also found Trump liable for defaming Carroll over her allegations. Trump did not attend the civil trial and was absent when the verdict was read. Carroll was one of more than a dozen women who have accused Trump of sexual assault or harassment. She went public in a 2019 memoir with her allegation that the Republican raped her in the dressing room of a posh Manhattan department store. Trump denied it , saying he never encountered Carroll at the store and did not know her. He has called her a “nut job” who invented “a fraudulent and false story” to sell a memoir. He has similarly denied claims by other women. Pete Hegseth, nominee for secretary of defense A woman told police that she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave, according to a detailed investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing, the report said. News of the allegations surfaced last week when local officials released a brief statement confirming that a woman had accused Hegseth of sexual assault in October 2017 after he had spoken at a Republican women’s event in Monterey. Hegseth’s lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, said in a statement that the police report confirms “what I have said all along that the incident was fully investigated and police found the allegations to be false, which is why no charges were filed.” Parlatore said a payment was made to the woman as part of a confidential settlement a few years after the police investigation because Hegseth was concerned that she was prepared to file a lawsuit that he feared could have resulted in him being fired from Fox News, where he was a popular host. Parlatore would not reveal the amount of the payment. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominee for secretary of health and human services A woman who babysat for Kennedy and his second wife told Vanity Fair magazine that he groped her in the late 1990s, when she was 23. Kennedy did not deny the allegation, telling a podcast: “I had a very, very rambunctious youth.” He texted the woman an apology after the story was published. According to an interview the woman gave this week with USA Today, she said she was babysitting for his children at Kennedy's home in Mount Kisco, New York. She said that the assault happened soon after she began working there. During a kitchen table meeting with Kennedy and another person, she said she felt him rubbing her leg under the table. She told the newspaper that another time, Kennedy, then 46, asked her to rub lotion on him when he was shirtless and she obliged because she wanted to get it over with. And he grabbed her in a kitchen pantry and groped her, blocking her exit. She stayed on the job for a few more months before leaving. Linda McMahon, nominee for secretary of education A lawsuit filed last month alleges that McMahon knowingly enabled sexual exploitation of children by a World Wrestling Entertainment employee as early as the 1980s. She denies the allegations. The suit was filed in October in Maryland, where a recent law change eliminated the state’s statute of limitations for child sex abuse claims, opening the doors for victims to sue regardless of their age or how much time has passed. The complaint alleges that Melvin Phillips, who died in 2012, would target young men from disadvantaged backgrounds and hire them as “ring boys” to help with the preparations for wrestling matches. Phillips would then assault them in his dressing room, hotels and even in the wrestlers’ locker room, according to the complaint, which was filed on behalf of five men. The abuse detailed in the lawsuit occurred over several years during Phillips’ long tenure with the organization spanning from the 1970s to the early 1990s. Because of his death, Phillips is not among the named defendants. Instead, the complaint targets WWE founders Linda McMahon and her husband Vince, who grew the organization into the powerhouse it is today. The couple was well aware of Phillips’ brazen misconduct but did little to stop him, according to the complaint. “This civil lawsuit based upon thirty-plus year-old allegations is filled with scurrilous lies, exaggerations, and misrepresentations regarding Linda McMahon,” said Laura Brevetti, Linda McMahon’s lawyer, in a statement. “The matter at the time was investigated by company attorneys and the FBI, which found no grounds to continue the investigation. Ms. McMahon will vigorously defend against this baseless lawsuit and without doubt ultimately succeed.” Brevetti confirmed Linda and Vince McMahon are separated. Elon Musk, Trump's choice to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk was accused of sexual misconduct by a flight attendant contracted by SpaceX who worked on his private jet in 2016. He denied the claim. A 2022 report by Business Insider said SpaceX paid the woman $250,000 in severance in 2018 in exchange for her agreeing not to file a lawsuit over her claim. The Business Insider report was based on an account by the flight attendant’s friend, who said the flight attendant told her about the incident shortly after it happened. The report also said the flight attendant was required to sign a non-disclosure agreement that prohibits her from discussing the payment or anything else about Musk and SpaceX. SpaceX didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Musk responded to the allegations on Twitter, which he was in the process of buying at the time they surfaced. “And, for the record, those wild accusations are utterly untrue,” he wrote in response to one user who tweeted in support of him. He replied to another: “In my 30 year career, including the entire MeToo era, there’s nothing to report, but, as soon as I say I intend to restore free speech to Twitter & vote Republican, suddenly there is ...” Matt Gaetz, who withdrew as Trump's choice for attorney general The former Florida congressman was embroiled in a sex trafficking investigation by the Justice Department he had been tapped to lead. He also was under scrutiny by the House Ethics Committee over allegations including sexual misconduct — until he resigned from Congress this week. He then withdrew his name for consideration. Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and said last year that the Justice Department’s investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls had ended with no federal charges against him. Federal investigators scrutinized a trip that Gaetz took to the Bahamas with a group of women and a doctor who donated to his campaign, and whether the women were paid or received gifts to have sex with the men, according to people familiar with the matter who were not allowed to publicly discuss the investigation. Two women House investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex and one of the women testified she saw him having sex with a 17-year-old, according to an attorney for the women. The committee began its review of Gaetz in April 2021, deferred its work in response to a Justice Department request, and renewed its work shortly after Gaetz announced that the Justice Department had ended a sex trafficking investigation.
How celebrities are driving TCM’s boom in the West and the treatments people seek
With the major indexes and many stocks taking breaks from record levels, names making new highs have been scarce. But stocks that reached new peaks Thursday include ( ) and ( ). Both Mastercard stock and LPL Financial have formed bullish patterns after tight closes. Mastercard stock hit a record high Thursday, after the payment processing giant reported higher-than-expected holiday spending for the period Nov. 1 through Dec. 24, according to . Consumer , excluding car sales, and topped its 3.2% forecast. LPL Financial is a , Kyle Voigt, and is one of his top two stock picks for 2025. Mastercard Stock Hovers Near Highs On Dec. 20, Mastercard stock climbed 0.9% in heavy after the company announced it Recorded Future, enhancing its artificial intelligence threat detection. Mastercard stock fell modestly Friday in light volume following Thursday's peak. The stock has formed a with a 537.70 buy point. Shares are extended from the of a with a 490 , according to its . Mastercard stock is testing and finding support at its The payment company has produced steady earnings growth over the last three years, as seen in its factor of 11. And full-year 2024 estimates show 18% profit growth and 12% in 2025. Its revenue has increased an average 12% over the last eight quarters, with the same expected over the next four quarters. LPL Financial Tightens Up The name has gained around 26% since it broke out of a cup-with-handle base with 263.44 buy point, following LPL Financial's positive third-quarter earnings report on Oct. 30. LPL Financial also formed a four-weeks-tight pattern. Its buy point is 336.40, which is also its record high. The financial services with 11% profit growth in the third quarter, following three straight declining quarters. Revenue is expected to rise 24% in its fourth quarter before easing. The wealth management firm provides business models and financial technology to financial advisors and institutions.On Thursday, the 27th day of December, 2024, I took a break from the feasting of the season to tidy up some deals. The drive was for business. I was the one behind the wheels. And my schedules were numerous. An appointment at my bank in Gwarinpa, and another with my barber. There was also an appointment with a course-mate to finetune some deals. My bank schedule popped up as the first. It was while on my way to the bank, that I spotted a team of Vehicle Inspection Officers doing their routine check which has come under motorists’ hammer. Professional, I will score this team as good. I spotted them pull a driver over. Surprisingly, the driver pretended to comply only for him to zoom off, forcing the team members to scamper for safety. The sight left me puzzled, not because it is a new development, but because of the thought of the risk traffic officers go through daily in the course of policing our roads with some maimed or even killed. With just a couple of days until the end of 2024, and a divine grand entry into 2025, I do not know whether to be excited or sad. Please do not get me wrong as I am excited and grateful to God for seeing 2024 come to a joyful end and awaiting 2025 with numerous promises. But while we regale over this wonder which can only be through the mercies of God Almighty, there are a handful who perished between 1st January, 2024, to 28th December,2024, while some couldn’t even make it through the first week of 2024.As we navigate through with prayers, fasting and guidance from God, there is need for us to remember that God owns the universe. No matter how powerful God is, He is not licensed to drive cars on earth because He is bound by His own laws which allows driving pastime for us humans. I am compelled by the scene I cited and other incidents reported across the nation, to remind us of some of the driving habits that claim lives and cause severe injuries, as a guide to staying alive as we navigate the remaining days of 2024. Before I dwell on these habits, I don’t know whether you believe in God because there are those who don’t. A good friend of mine recently told me that irrespective of our belief, everyone has his appointed time on earth, but must we be irresponsible and drive dangerously because we feel so? I don’t know what you think about my questions but I must confess that it worries me each time I observe traffic, especially on Fridays and Sundays when the faithful of the two major religions worship God. The case is not different during periods such as Christmas and other festivities such as Sallah when we throw decency to the wind all in the name of celebration without a thought for our safety and the safety of our loved ones. What kind of impatience would cause a parent to drive a vehicle, that has practically every member of his family, against traffic, creating multiple lanes whether in the city centres or on major highways? What values do such parents think they inculcate in their children? With a few days to the end of 2024, I believe that we need to help commuter drivers stay safe on the road and maintain safe driving practice by avoiding hazardous behavior, adopting defensive driving techniques to ensure that they keep their eyes and minds on the road and their hands on the wheel. “Many drivers on our nation’s roads and highways pose a safety threat to themselves and others and so you must be extra careful. The list of hazardous driving offenders and their bad driving habits are shared as a guide starting with beauty queens: Some drivers have been known to apply makeup (e.g, lipstick, mascara) while driving. This is the pastime of our female drivers with some male converts too. But it is very easy to lose control of a vehicle if both hands are on the steering wheel and eyes are not on the road. Drivers should put away all makeup products and keep them out of reach while driving. The hungry commuter should also be avoided; eating while driving is another habit that results in driving without both hands on the wheel. Drivers who are eating cannot react as quickly to sharp curves or properly handle lane changes because their hands are full. Drivers should take extra time to eat before they leave or plan a roadside stop to eat. The Gen-z/Tech-Obsessed: Even with state laws that prohibit sending text messages or talking on cell phones while driving, people still use their technology gadgets while driving. Studies especially in some developed climes have shown that about 25 percent of drivers admit to regularly or fairly often talking on cell phones while behind the wheel”. Drivers should refrain from this, as it slows down reflexes and takes attention off the road. The Sleepy travelers: Commuters sometimes refuse to pull over when they feel tired. A similar study found nearly a third of people admitted to driving when they had trouble keeping their eyes open. Sleepy drivers should find a rest stop and poll over if they feel unable to keep their eyes open and concentrate. I recall writing on daydreaming and phoning. The daydreamers are to be avoided. These drivers get lost in their thoughts and do not think about what they are doing. Drivers should focus on the road, rather than personal problems or to do lists. The next are Road Ragers: These drivers tailgate, cut off other drivers and anger easily while driving. Those prone to such behaviors should plan for sufficient time to reach a destination and work on having patience. If driving is too stressful, consider alternative modes of transportation. The Rule Breaker: Speeding, not wearing a seat belt, and disregarding traffic signs and signals are habits of rule breakers. Drivers must take proper precaution and obey the rules of the road to ensure safety and to avoid costly tickets. Speed is another commandment. The Traffic regulations specify different speeds for different vehicles. This is because speed is one of the critical factors identified by the World Health Organization and World Bank as responsible for increased fatalities. What this simply means is that your chances of survival while driving should you be involved in a crash are dependent on your speed. So, if you are a speed freak, watch that speed. Don’t forget that as you speed, anything can happen such as tyre burst, brake failure or even a pedestrian crossing the road. Whenever you speed, remember that at 100km/ph a vehicle moves at 28 meters per second on a road. The speed limit for private cars on an expressway is 100km/ph. Taxis and buses are allowed to maintain speed limit of 90km/ph on an expressway while articulated vehicles like tankers and trailers are to maintain speed limits of 60km/ph on the expressway and 50km/ph on the highway. Within built-up areas, taxis and buses are to maintain speed limits of 50km/ph. However, you must note that common sense often dictates lower speed limits. Common sense speed should therefore be lower in bad weather, or bad roads. The same should apply when the roads are busier. Globally, defensive driving is the ‘voodoo’ to safety on the road. It is therefore an all-round medication. A defensive driver assumes he is the only sane person on the road. Since crashes are caused by individual errors, he is always cautious, obeys all rules, and develops the right attitude such as patience, care, skill and consideration for other road users. A defensive driver never allows his safety to depend on the response of others, anticipates wrong actions of others, and always gives correct, prompt, adequate and clear signals.AKOOL Announces Strategic Bollywood Partnership to Revolutionize AI in Digital Immersion and Video Markets
LeBlanc and Joly offer little details about visit with Trump's team in Florida OTTAWA — Two senior members of the federal cabinet were in Florida Friday pushing Canada's new $1. Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press Dec 27, 2024 2:44 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, centre, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, and Dominic LeBlanc participate in a news conference in Ottawa, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. LeBlanc and Joly are in Florida to meet with officials from President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang Listen to this article 00:01:24 OTTAWA — Two senior members of the federal cabinet were in Florida Friday pushing Canada's new $1.3 billion border plan with members of Donald Trump's transition team, a day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau himself appeared to finally push back at the president-elect over his social media posts about turning Canada into the 51st state. Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Foreign Affair Minister Melanie Joly shared few details of their meetings in Palm Beach, simply saying in a statement the U.S. officials they met with took notes and agreed to relay messages to Trump. "Minister LeBlanc and Minister Joly had a positive, productive meeting at Mar-a-Lago with Howard Lutnick and Doug Burgum, as a followup to the dinner between the prime minister and President Trump last month," wrote Jean-Sébastien Comeau, a spokesman for LeBlanc. Lutnick is Trump's nominee for commerce secretary, and Burgum is the former governor of North Dakota and current nominee for secretary of the interior. When announcing Lutnick as his commerce pick Trump said the chief executive of the financial firm Cantor Fitzgerald would be in charge of the Trump "tariff and trade agenda." "Both Ministers outlined the measures in Canada’s Border Plan and reiterated the shared commitment to strengthen border security as well as combat the harm caused by fentanyl to save Canadian and American lives." He added the ministers agreed to continue the discussions in the coming weeks. Joly is also expected to meet in Florida with senator Lindsay Graham Friday evening. This trip comes less than four weeks before Trump is sworn in again as president. He has threatened to impose a new 25 per cent import tariff on Canada and Mexico the same day over concerns about a trade imbalance, as well as illegal drugs and migration issues at the borders. The broad strokes of Canada's new border plan were made public Dec. 17, including a new aerial intelligence task force to provide round-the-clock surveillance of the border, and improved efforts using technology and canine teams to seek out drugs in shipments leaving Canada. Comeau said earlier Friday morning the ministers would also emphasize the negative impacts of Trump's threatened tariffs on both Canada and the U.S. Comeau said the ministers were to build on the discussions that took place last month when Trudeau and LeBlanc met Trump at Mar-a-Lago just days after Trump first made his tariff threat. It was at that dinner on Nov. 29 when Trump first raised the notion of Canada becoming the 51st state, a comment LeBlanc has repeatedly since insisted was just a joke. But Trump has continued the quip repeatedly in various social media posts, including in his Christmas Day message when he said Canadians would pay lower taxes and have better military protection if they became Americans. He has taken to calling Trudeau "governor" instead of prime minister. It isn't clear if LeBlanc raised the issue with Trump's team in Palm Beach Friday. Trudeau had not directly responded to any of the jabs, but on Thursday posted a link to a six-minute long video on YouTube from 2010 in which American journalist Tom Brokaw "explains Canada to Americans." "Some information about Canada for Americans" was all he wrote in the post. The video, which originally aired during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, explains similarities between the two countries, including their founding based on immigration, their trading relationship and the actions of the Canadian Army in World War 2 and other modern conflicts. "In the long history of sovereign neighbours there has never been a relationship as close, productive and peaceful as the U.S. and Canada," Brokaw says in the video. Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, who is at the centre of some of Trudeau's recent domestic political troubles, also called out Trump's antics on X Thursday, calling it "casual disrespect" and "carrying the 'joke' too far." "Time to call it out, stand up for Canada, and build a true North American partnership," said Carney, who Trudeau was courting to join his cabinet before Chrystia Freeland resigned as finance minister last week. Freeland's sudden departure, three days after Trudeau informed her he would be firing her as finance minister in favour of Carney, left Trudeau's leadership even more bruised than it already was. Despite the expectation Carney would assume the role, he did not and has not made any statements about it. LeBlanc was sworn in as finance minister instead the same day Freeland quit. More than two dozen Liberal MPs have publicly called on Trudeau to resign as leader, and Trudeau is said to be taking the holidays to think about his next steps. He is currently vacationing in British Columbia. He did not make a public statement about the meeting as of publication. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 27, 2024. Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? 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HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some former employees who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company's collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work and wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives , including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling , were convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Ken Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but "We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company's website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory claiming all birds are actually government surveillance drones. Peters said she and some other former employees are upset and think the relaunch was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, 74, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. But Sherron Watkins, Enron’s former vice president of corporate development and the main whistleblower who helped uncover the scandal, said she didn’t have a problem with the joke because comedy “usually helps us focus on an uncomfortable historical event that we’d rather ignore.” “I think we use prior scandals to try to teach new generations what can go wrong with big companies,” said Watkins, who still speaks at colleges and conferences about the Enron scandal. This story was corrected to fix the spelling of Ken Lay’s first name, which had been misspelled “Key.” Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at https://x.com/juanlozano70( MENAFN - PR Newswire) Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $50,000 In Xiao-I To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options If you suffered losses exceeding $50,000 in Xiao-I as a result of purchasing (a) Xiao-I American depository shares (ADSs) issued in connection with the Company's initial public offering on or about March 9, 2023 and/or (b) Xiao-I securities between March 9, 2023 and July 12, 2024 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310) . [You may also click here for additional information] NEW YORK, Nov. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP , a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Xiao-I Corporation ("Xiao-I" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: AIXI ) and reminds investors of the December 16, 2024 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company. Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See . As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that (1) Defendants had downplayed the true scope and severity of risks that Xiao-I faced due to certain of its Chinese shareholders' non-compliance with Circular 37 Registration, including the Company's inability to use Offering proceeds for intended business purposes; (2) Xiao-I failed to comply with GAAP in preparing its financial statements; (3) Defendants overstated Xiao-I's efforts to remediate material weaknesses in the Company's financial controls; (4) Xiao-I was forced to incur significant R&D expenses to effectively compete in the AI industry; (5) Xiao-I downplayed the significant negative impact that such expenses would have on the Company's business and financial results; (6) accordingly, Xiao-I overstated its AI capabilities, R&D resources, and overall ability to compete in the AI market; (7) as a result of all the foregoing, there was a substantial likelihood that Xiao-I would fail to comply with the NASDAQ's Minimum Bid Price Requirement; and (8) as a result, the Offering Documents and Defendants' public statements throughout the Class Period were materially false and/or misleading and failed to state information required to be stated therein. On or around March 8, 2023, Xiao-I launched its initial public offering (IPO), selling 5.7 million American depositary shares (ADSs) at $6.80 each. Since the IPO, the price of Xiao-I's ADSs has dropped significantly, causing losses for investors. On August 10, 2023, Xiao-I Corporation filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission its amended annual report for the year ended December 31, 2022 on Form 10-K/A. In the amended annual report, Xiao-I disclosed that "However, should there be any changes to PRC laws and regulations or internal control policies of Bank of Ningbo in the future, [Zhizhen Artificial Technology (Shanghai) Company Limited, a Company subsidiary] then may be restricted from transferring funds from overseas to its capital account with Bank of Ningbo as a result." On this news, the price of Xiao-I American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") fell $0.93 per ADS, or 11.56%, to close at $7.11 on August 11, 2023. On July 15, 2024, Xiao-I issued a press release announcing "that it received a notification letter dated July 11, 2024 (the 'Deficiency Letter') from the Listing Qualifications Department of [t]he [NASDAQ], indicating that the Company is no longer in compliance with the minimum bid price requirement as set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(1) as the Company's closing bid price per [ADS] . . . has been below $1.00 for a period of 30 consecutive business days." On this news, Xiao-I's ADS price fell 2.28% to close at approximately $0.67 per ADS on July 15, 2024. The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Xiao-I's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others. To learn more about the Xiao-I Corporation class action, go to /AIXI or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310) . Follow us for updates on LinkedIn , on X , or on Facebook . Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP ( ). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner. SOURCE Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP MENAFN30112024003732001241ID1108941531 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. 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Special counsel Jack Smith moved to abandon two criminal cases against on Monday, acknowledging that Trump’s will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him for retaining classified documents or trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. The decision was inevitable, since longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face Yet it was still a momentous finale to an unprecedented chapter in political and law enforcement history, as federal officials attempted to hold accountable a former president while he was simultaneously running for another term. Trump emerges indisputably victorious, having successfully delayed the investigations through legal maneuvers and then winning reelection despite indictments that described his actions as a threat to the country’s constitutional foundations. “I persevered, against all odds, and WON,” Trump exulted in a post on Truth Social, his social media website. He also said that “these cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless, and should never have been brought.” The judge in the election case granted prosecutors’ dismissal request. A decision in the documents case was still pending on Monday evening. The outcome makes it clear that, when it comes to a president and criminal accusations, nothing supersedes the voters’ own verdict. In court filings, Smith’s team emphasized that the move to end their prosecutions was not a reflection of the merit of the cases but a recognition of the legal shield that surrounds any commander in chief. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” prosecutors said in one of their filings. They wrote that Trump’s return to the White House “sets at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: on the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities ... and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law.” In this situation, “the Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated,” they concluded. Smith’s team said it was leaving intact charges against two co-defendants in the classified documents case — Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira — because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” Steven Cheung, Trump’s incoming White House communications director, said Americans “want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country.” Trump has long described the investigations as politically motivated, and he has vowed to fire Smith as soon as he takes office in January. Now he will start his second term free from criminal scrutiny by the government that he will lead. The election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing Trump as he tried to reclaim the White House. He was to Joe Biden in 2020, an effort that climaxed with his supporters’ violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But the case quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The U.S. Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Smith’s team in October filed a lengthy brief laying out new evidence it planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will of voters after he lost to Biden. In dismissing the case, Chutkan acknowledged prosecutors’ request to do so “without prejudice,” raising the possibility that they could try to bring charges against Trump when his term is over. She wrote that is “consistent with the Government’s understanding that the immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office.” But such a move may be barred by the statute of limitations, and Trump may also try to pardon himself while in office. The separate case involving classified documents had been widely seen as legally clear cut, especially because the conduct in question occurred after Trump left the White House and lost the powers of the presidency. The indictment included dozens of felony counts accusing him of illegally hoarding classified records from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and obstructing federal efforts to get them back. He has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. The case quickly became snarled by delays, with U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon slow to issue rulings — which favored Trump’s strategy of pushing off deadlines in all his criminal cases — while also entertaining defense motions and arguments that experts said other judges would have dispensed with without hearings. In May, she indefinitely canceled the trial date amid a series of unresolved legal issues before dismissing the case outright two months later. Smith’s team appealed the decision, but now has given up that effort. Trump faced two other state prosecutions while running for president. One of them, a New York case involving hush money payments, on felony charges of falsifying business records. It was the first time a former president had been found guilty of a crime. The sentencing in that case is on hold as Trump’s lawyers try to have the conviction dismissed before he takes office, arguing that letting the verdict stand will interfere with his presidential transition and duties. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office is fighting the dismissal but has indicated that it would be until Trump leaves office. Bragg, a Democrat, has said the solution needs to balance the obligations of the presidency with “the sanctity of the jury verdict.” Trump was also indicted in Georgia along with 18 others accused of participating in a sprawling scheme to illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election there. Any trial appears unlikely there while Trump holds office. The prosecution already after an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Four defendants have pleaded guilty after reaching deals with prosecutors. Trump and the others have pleaded not guilty.Once a countercultural symbol of rebellion, tattoos are now so mainstream that a neck or hand tattoo is no longer an impediment to becoming a cop in Victoria. The recent change in heart is mostly about boosting recruitment to that State’s police force. But it also reflects changing societal norms, with about one-in-three Australians under the age of 30 now inked up. WA’s police force still bans face, neck and hand tattoos, as well as any body art considered offensive or culturally insensitive, but tattoos elsewhere are not an issue. Perth people love their tattoos so much that hundreds queued for up to six hours earlier this year when East Perth tattoo parlour Arcane Tattoo Studio offered free 50¢-sized tattoos for a day. Tattoos were already big business 15 years ago when Emma Commander of Fine Line Studios in Nedlands started in the industry. Since then she’s seen their popularity grow and sees everyone from 18-year-olds to those in their 70s embracing the needle for the first time. “The industry has changed a lot,” she says. “Advancements in technology, the introduction of social media have had big effects. “The accessibility of tattoos to the masses has grown and the options for styles have broadened . . . tattoos have always been popular since I started out but they are becoming so with a broader range of people. “I think it has been a gradual growth towards becoming mainstream within a larger culture in Australia. It’s continuing to grow.” But, while it’s estimated that as many as one in four Australians now have ink on their body — up from 10 per cent in 2000 — there are still pitfalls to consider before taking the plunge. You have probably heard the stories about tourists who thought they were getting the Chinese symbols for “hope” or “integrity” tattooed on their body and wound up with insults like “illiterate foreigner” instead. Some of those may be apocryphal. But choosing the wrong design can have long-term consequences and even limit future career options. US president-elect Donald Trump last month tapped former Fox News presenter Pete Hegseth to lead his Department of Defence. But Mr Hegseth, a US Army National Guard veteran, was previously flagged as a potential “insider threat” by a fellow service member because the words “Deus Vult” are tattooed on his bicep. The phrase, which translate as “God Wills It”, was once used by Christian crusaders in the Middle Ages and has since been co-opted by white nationalists. It is unclear whether Mr Trump would consider such an association a drawback. Ms Commander has received some “colourful” requests during her time in the industry. “Some I said yes to, some I said no to. . . I probably can’t go into too much detail about the nos, though,” she said. “You do have to learn to not be too judgmental in this job.” High on the right arm of Hollywood actor Johnny Depp’s arm is a tattoo that says: “Wino Forever”. But once it read “Winona Forever”, in tribute to Depp’s former fiancee Winona Ryder. Depp is not the first person to have a tattoo outline a paramour and he is certainly not the only celebrity to be left with a visible reminder of an ex. Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan got their matching “side by side” tattoos while on their honeymoon in Bali in 2009 — only to divorce nine years later. When Arianda Grande and Pete Davidson split up, the Thank U, Next singer covered up the matching tattoo she had acquired during the relationship with the name of another ex’s dog. New York tattoo artist Jon Mesa claimed to have staged something of an intervention with Davidson after being called in to help conceal the image of a former partner’s face. “I did a huge cover-up,” he told the New York Post. “After we were done, I told Pete, ‘hey, dude, let’s just stop with the girlfriend tats”. One survey found as many as 30 per cent of tatted-up Australians had at least one they regretted. It did not specify how many involved an ex-partner’s name. Social media is full of complaints about new partners whose skin still bears the mark of an ex. Ms Commander has tattooed clients with their partners’ names before but says it’s not an “overly common” request. So far she has never had someone return asking for a Wino Forever-style cover up. “Again, withholding any judgement, it’s not my place to make a call on whether that’s a good idea or not,” she said. “I’m sure some of them regretted it but I’ve never redone one of mine for that reason.” Ms Commander receives messages “almost daily” from people unhappy with tattoos they have had done elsewhere, hoping to have them altered or covered up. “It’s something I choose not to do personally, as it’s quite often not straightforward and doesn’t always have the desired outcome of making the tattoo more like what the client wanted.,” she said. At least in WA tattoo studios must comply with the Health (Skin Penetration Procedures) Regulations 1998 and Code of Practice for Skin Penetration Procedures, which impose basic standards for hygiene, disinfection and sterilisation. Not everywhere is quite so strict. Just ask Englishwoman, Kirsty Griffiths, who recently paid the equivalent of $250 to get a tattoo while on holiday in Turkey and got a lot more than the floral design she had wanted on her ankle. According to the Daily Mail, Ms Griffiths contracted a bacterial skin infection called cellulitis, which spread to her stomach and gall bladder. “Two different surgeons came to visit me and one said if this doesn’t clear up, I might have to have my foot amputated. I was crying and screaming every night in pain,” she said. “It was morphine drip after morphine drip and I could still feel the pain through the painkillers.” Ms Griffiths kept her foot but has decided to take a break from getting any more tattoos. For now.