
TESLA STOCK: GAMING THE FUTURE? A New Level AwaitsMemorial to Victims of Communism finally unveiled, but controversy lingers
Rocket Lab Sets Launch Window to Deploy Synspective SatelliteTrump gave Interior nominee one directive for a half-billion acres of US land: ‘Drill.’AP Business SummaryBrief at 2:10 p.m. EST
Article content Canada potentially becoming America’s 51st state has become a much-talked-about sore spot Donald Trump has enjoyed rubbing Justin Trudeau’s nose in. Not so fast, says the prime minister’s half-brother who suggests a 60-state setup might make sense. While Trump has called Trudeau “governor,” the Canadian leader’s kin has not outright rejected the concept or hypothetical conversations about it,. Kyle Kemper added his own thoughts on the matter. “Canada as a single state doesn’t make sense ... as 10 however ...” Kyle Kemper posted to X. Maybe 13 states if you include the territories. Whatever way you count it, if you bring Canada into the United States with its provinces becoming states, that would effectively put Trudeau or any prime minister out of a job. Over the phone from Florida, I learned Kemper believes his half-brother will no longer be prime minister after the next election, expected to take place in 2025. “By the time Pierre (Poilievre) comes into office, and I think he’s not just going to win, but he’s going to win by an unbelievable mandate the likes of which has never been seen by a Conservative government” the Trump agenda will be in full swing and help kick start “the mess Pierre is inheriting,” said Kemper, whose mother is Margaret Trudeau. Added Kemper: “There is a moment in time now to rethink a lot of the systems. We are going to be seeing major system updates in America and Canada has the benefit” of seeing how that goes. Recommended Videos Originally working on the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. independent presidential campaign and then shifting over to support Trump, Kemper believes Trump, Kash Patel, Elon Musk, JD Vance, Tulsi Gabbard, Vivek Ramaswamy and others are in a position to change America for the better — from economics to health. And he believes Canada is on the precipice of this as well if it moves on from the Trudeau regime. Trudeau’s younger brother believes Poilievre will have “an opportunity to rethink, discuss, deliberate and begin transformation and identify the corporate capture of the regulatory agencies and fix it, fix the tax code and fix all of it.” Kemper sees Canadians leaving Canada because of overwhelming government authority, control and “taxation” that eats away at “85% of what people” earn. The overall floating of Canada joining the United States has been an in-jest punchline shared by news outlets and on social media ever since America’s incoming president made the quip at Mar-a-Lago to Trudeau that with a $100-billion annual trade deficit, Canada should consider becoming a state. Where Trudeau’s half-brother got into this debate was in response to a poll posted by comedian Russell Brand on social-media site X. Brand asked the question “Canadians — Do you want to be America’s 51st state?” The results were surprising. On the notion of Canada becoming part of America, the number was 64.9% in favour and 35.1% against. Kemper was not surprised. “We are already the 51st state,” he said, adding the special relationship effectively already connects the two on many levels from business, trade and security. While in the past, he was against any such notion of connecting the two with the same dollar or political system, he said things are so broken in Canada, it’s not something he dismisses anymore. Canadians - do you want to be America's 51st state? On any new configuration going forward, “Canadians would have to be the ones to decide,” but “it’s worth having a thorough discussion on how we can create an outcome that really works for Canada and America,” he said. Whether Canada, officially or unofficially, aligns closer with Trump’s America, Kemper believes, “we absolutely must update our system to work with America to make a more beneficial relationship for all of us.” No matter what state or province you are from. Get your money out of Canadian banks; it’s no longer safe. Look into Bitcoin https://t.co/0IZjITK5jJ RECOMMENDED VIDEO Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. OnlyFans model tears up while describing having sex with 101 men in 24 hours WARMINGTON: 'We are already the 51st state,' says Trudeau's half-brother EDITORIAL: Bad news: Trump is getting to Trudeau Paige VanZant shows off sexy Santa outfit with three friends poolside on Instagram 5 more arrests in Peel extortion incidents targeting South Asian businesses 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 © 2024 Toronto Sun, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here . By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy . You've reached the 20 article limit. You can manage saved articles in your account. and save up to 100 articles! Looks like you've reached your saved article limit! You can manage your saved articles in your account and clicking the X located at the bottom right of the article.
( MENAFN - IANS) New Delhi, Dec 13 (IANS) The Russian Embassy in India hosted a distinguished reception to honour Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan, with Russia's esteemed Order of Friendship. The event, held on Thursday evening in New Delhi, celebrated the Catholicos' exceptional contributions to fostering ties between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, alongside his significant humanitarian efforts. Denis Alipov, Ambassador of Russia to India, presented the honour on behalf of the President of Russia, emphasising the Catholicos' unwavering dedication to promoting dialogue between the two sister Churches. The accolade also acknowledged his role in facilitating groundbreaking partnerships, such as the collaboration between Moscow's Central Clinical Hospital of St. Alexis and Kerala's St. George's Hospital. This recognition, presented by the President of Russia, honours individuals who have significantly fostered friendship and understanding between nations. Youhanon Mar Demetrios, Metropolitan of the Delhi Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, also addressed the gathering, highlighting the shared values and mutual respect that underpin the relationship between the Churches. The ceremony was attended by prominent diplomats, including ambassadors from Belarus, Uzbekistan, Egypt, and Mongolia, as well as representatives from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and other nations. Members of the business, social, and religious communities, along with Russian expatriates, graced the occasion. A performance of Antonio Vivaldi's Gloria by the Delhi Chamber Choir, adds a touch of cultural grandeur to the solemn event and was a special highlight of the evening. The recognition of Baselios Marthoma Mathews III marks a significant milestone in the history of the Malankara Orthodox Church. MENAFN12122024000231011071ID1108988679 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.Article content The hardest movie ticket to get this weekend was for a film audiences have been able to watch at home for years: Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar.” The science fiction epic starring Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway earned $4.5 million from only 166 screens in the U.S. and Canada. Its 70mm IMAX film presentations sold out in minutes, leaving theatres scrambling to add more and people paying up to $300 on the re-sale market. Those 10 film screens alone had a staggering $70,000 per theatre average, one of the highest of the year and usually the bragging rights of acclaimed arthouse movies playing on only four screens. Ten years after “Interstellar” was given a film release as a special exception at time when its studio, Paramount, was committing to a digital future, film is not only back but driving audiences to theatres. “I was just so gratified by the response,” Nolan said in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press. “It’s really thrilling when people respond to your work at any point. But 10 years later, to have new audiences coming and experiencing it in the way that we’d originally intended it on the big IMAX screens and in particular on those IMAX film prints? It’s really rewarding to see that it continues to have a life.” How Nolan fought for film and the re-release “Interstellar” had been a labor of love, with Nolan fighting against the tides of a changing industry to use film, certain of its value. Like McConaughey’s Cooper, an astronaut clinging to skills that were all but obsolete in his dust bowl reality, “Interstellar” was made by a celluloid-loving filmmaker when the format was least valued. “Celluloid film was very threatened. Digital was taking over everything,” Nolan said. “We put an enormous amount of work and effort into the IMAX 70mm film format release at the time feeling like we didn’t know how much longer we’d be able to do that.” During its time, “Interstellar” was received warmly and an unambiguous success, but it also had its detractors. Its five Oscar nominations and win were all for crafts. And yet in the decade since, “Interstellar” has become beloved, a true classic. Nolan observed that it was the film that people kept wanting to talk about, telling him what it meant to them and asking if it was ever going to be re-released. Those grand emotions and sentimental themes of love, family and exploration that were a liability with some are now its most cherished qualities. “A lot of these people were younger people who, it was clear to me, had seen the film in the home and hadn’t had the chance to see it on the big screen,” Nolan said. While there have been “Interstellar” rereleases internationally, in China and at the Science Museum in London, Nolan saw an opportunity and spoke to IMAX and Paramount, now under a new regime, about a proper North American re-release for its 10th anniversary. The prints, Nolan said, hadn’t aged a day. IMAX hardly needed convincing: They’ve had the anniversary date circled on the calendar. For years, “Interstellar” was by far the biggest request on their social channels. “We saw this coming from the beginning,” IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond said. “It reminded us in a small way of the frenzy around ‘Oppenheimer.’ But the result is far beyond our expectations.” “Interstellar” is now the ninth highest-grossing IMAX release of all time and is closing in on eight (currently occupied by “The Last Jedi.”) The company is currently exploring options for re-releases in different territories. What should Hollywood learn from the weekend? The “Oppenheimer” effect was real in redeeming film’s value for the business. IMAX screens accounted for some 20% of the nearly $1 billion this year’s Oscar best picture winner made globally (it ranks at No. 5 for IMAX). While filmmakers have long cherished film stock, “Oppenheimer” had studios, distributors and theatres taking note of the demand. Earlier this year the film showings of “Dune: Part Two” were sold out for four weeks. And there’s more to come: Ryan Coogler’s new film “Sinners,” opening in March 2025, was shot with IMAX cameras. The “Interstellar” release was fairly “low key” when it came to promotion, but it also didn’t need much — fans made sure of that. Before IMAX had even announced that tickets were on sale, some noticed that AMC had made them available. News spread on socials and overnight every 70mm IMAX showing at the Lincoln Square location in New York had sold out. It wasn’t just the “primetime” slots either: The 1 AM showtimes were at capacity too. After the weekend’s turnout surpassed expectations, they added more 70mm IMAX screenings through the week which also filled up quickly. While Nolan is in some ways an anomaly, as the rare filmmaker whose name alone can draw crowds for original fare, there are lessons to be learned from the weekend. “It just shows our industry once again that audiences truly understand the difference between a communal, big screen theatrical experience that they crave even on films that they’ve had the opportunities to see in the home,” Nolan said. “That theatrical experience that we all know and love is so powerful and so exciting. It’s a very clear demonstration of it, especially coming amidst all the great successes right now, “Wicked,””Gladiator II,””Moana 2.” “Audiences are coming out in droves for that experience that we all love so much.” Dreaming big for the future and appreciating the past Before the weekend, Nolan was able to see the film again on the big screen for the first time since the original release, accompanied by his Oscar-winning “Oppenheimer” cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema. “Interstellar” was their first collaboration and Hoytema’s introduction to IMAX cameras (where he proved that they could be handheld if you tried hard enough). “It was really, really fun,” Nolan said. He also approved the new 4K UHD “Interstellar” set that’s now available. Since “Oppenheimer’s” big night at the Oscars and Nolan’s best director win, there’s been much speculation about his next film with near daily rumors circulating about casting and genre, none of which have been officially confirmed. It’s not something he’s speaking publicly about yet. One thing he will say, however, is that he’s in the throes of intensive testing for a new film technology with IMAX to use in the next production. “They have an incredible engineering staff, really brilliant minds doing extraordinary work,” he said. “It’s wonderful to see innovation in the celluloid film arena still happening and happening at the highest level possible.” And he’s still making time to go to the movies Over the weekend, Nolan went to see “Wicked” at a theatre in Burbank where he also peeked into one of the IMAX presentations of his film. “It was pretty magical to see a full house on that film,” he said. “It was a very special thing to see, 10 years later.”None
The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing . But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin , gold and other investments also drove higher. Here’s a look at some of the numbers that defined the year. All are as of Dec. 20. Remember when President Bill Clinton got impeached or when baseball’s Mark McGwire hit his 70th home run against the Montreal Expos? That was the last time the U.S. stock market closed out a second straight year with a leap of at least 20%, something the S&P 500 is on track to do again this year. The index has climbed 24.3% so far this year, not including dividends, following last year’s spurt of 24.2%. The number of all-time highs the S&P 500 has set so far this year. The first came early, on Jan. 19, when the index capped a two-year comeback from the swoon caused by high inflation and worries that high interest rates instituted by the Federal Reserve to combat it would create a recession. But the index was methodical through the rest of the year, setting a record in every month outside of April and August, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices. The latest came on Dec. 6. The number of times the Federal Reserve has cut its main interest rate this year from a two-decade high, offering some relief to the economy. Expectations for those cuts, along with hopes for more in 2025, were a big reason the U.S. stock market has been so successful this year. The 1 percentage point of cuts, though, is still short of the 1.5 percentage points that many traders were forecasting for 2024 at the start of the year. The Fed disappointed investors in December when it said it may cut rates just two more times in 2025, fewer than it had earlier expected. That’s how many points the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by the day after Election Day, as investors made bets on what Donald Trump’s return to the White House will mean for the economy and the world . The more widely followed S&P 500 soared 2.5% for its best day in nearly two years. Aside from bitcoin, stocks of banks and smaller winners were also perceived to be big winners. The bump has since diminished amid worries that Trump’s policies could also send inflation higher. Related Articles Economy | Holiday shoppers increased spending by 3.8% despite higher prices Economy | Federal hostility could delay offshore wind projects, derailing state climate goals Economy | US applications for unemployment benefits hold steady, but continuing claims rise to 3-year high Economy | A million taxpayers will soon receive up to $1,400 from the IRS. Who are they and why now? Economy | An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump The level that bitcoin topped to set a record above $108,000 this past month. It’s been climbing as interest rates come down, and it got a particularly big boost following Trump’s election. He’s turned around and become a fan of crypto, and he’s named a former regulator who’s seen as friendly to digital currencies as the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, replacing someone who critics said was overly aggressive in his oversight. Bitcoin was below $17,000 just two years ago following the collapse of crypto exchange FTX. Gold’s rise for the year, as it also hit records and had as strong a run as U.S. stocks. Wars around the world have helped drive demand for investments seen as safe, such as gold. It’s also benefited from the Fed’s cut to interest rates. When bonds are paying less in interest, they pull away fewer potential buyers from gold, which pays investors nothing. It’s a favorite number of Elon Musk, and it’s also a threshold that Tesla’s stock price passed in December as it set a record. The number has a long history among marijuana devotees, and Musk famously said in 2018 that he had secured funding to take Tesla private at $420 per share . Tesla soared this year, up from less than $250 at the start, in part because of expectations that Musk’s close relationship with Trump could benefit the company. That’s how much revenue Nvidia made in the nine months through Oct. 27, showing how the artificial-intelligence frenzy is creating mountains of cash. Nvidia’s chips are driving much of the move into AI, and its revenue through the last nine months catapulted from less than $39 billion the year before. Such growth has boosted Nvidia’s worth to more than $3 trillion in total. GameStop’s gain on May 13 after Keith Gill, better known as “Roaring Kitty,” appeared online for the first time in three years to support the video game retailer’s stock, which he helped rocket to unimaginable heights during the “ meme stock craze ” in 2021. Several other meme stocks also jumped following his post in May on the social platform X, including AMC Entertainment. Gill later disclosed a sizeable stake in the online pet products retailer Chewy, but he sold all of his holdings by late October . That’s how much the U.S. economy grew, at annualized seasonally adjusted rates, in each of the three first quarters of this year. Such growth blew past what many pessimists were expecting when inflation was topping 9% in the summer of 2022. The fear was that the medicine prescribed by the Fed to beat high inflation — high interest rates — would create a recession. Households at the lower end of the income spectrum in particular are feeling pain now, as they contend with still-high prices. But the overall economy has remained remarkably resilient. This is the vacancy rate for U.S. office buildings — an all-time high — through the first three quarters of 2024, according to data from Moody’s. The fact the rate held steady for most of the year was something of a win for office building owners, given that it had marched up steadily from 16.8% in the fourth quarter of 2019. Demand for office space weakened as the pandemic led to the popularization of remote work. That’s the total number of previously occupied homes sold nationally through the first 11 months of 2024. Sales would have to surge 20% year-over-year in December for 2024’s home sales to match the 4.09 million existing homes sold in 2023, a nearly 30-year low. The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. A shortage of homes for sale and elevated mortgage rates have discouraged many would-be homebuyers. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on X (Opens in new window) Most Popular Get healthier in the new year with these resources in the Williamsburg area Get healthier in the new year with these resources in the Williamsburg area ‘We’re buddies now’: William & Mary students work with dementia patients as part of new program 'We're buddies now': William & Mary students work with dementia patients as part of new program Williamsburg leaders to prioritize funding for regional Trail757 project Williamsburg leaders to prioritize funding for regional Trail757 project How to dispose of natural Christmas trees in Hampton Roads How to dispose of natural Christmas trees in Hampton Roads Hitman who killed Navy officer in Newport News among 37 death row inmates commuted by Biden Hitman who killed Navy officer in Newport News among 37 death row inmates commuted by Biden Festival of Lights begins Wednesday to celebrate Hanukkah Festival of Lights begins Wednesday to celebrate Hanukkah A Santa by any other name still spells Christmas A Santa by any other name still spells Christmas New Kent administrator’s capital improvement plan has some big ticket items New Kent administrator's capital improvement plan has some big ticket items 50 years later, Christmas card still in the family as Virginia Beach man keeps tradition alive 50 years later, Christmas card still in the family as Virginia Beach man keeps tradition alive Where you can find restaurants with igloos in Hampton Roads Where you can find restaurants with igloos in Hampton Roads Trending Nationally 1 dead, 5 injured in boat explosion and fire at Florida marina California wharf partially collapses; 3 rescued from water Nordstrom family to take chain private in $6.25 billion deal A million taxpayers will soon receive up to $1,400 from the IRS. Who are they and why now? Need a cuddle? Check out America’s first CuppaPug caféNEW YORK (AP) — The man charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was not a client of the medical insurer and may have targeted it because of its size and influence, a senior police official said Thursday. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told NBC New York in an interview Thursday that investigators have uncovered evidence that Luigi Mangione had prior knowledge UnitedHealthcare was holding its annual investor conference in New York City. Mangione also mentioned the company in a note found in his possession when he was detained by police in Pennsylvania. “We have no indication that he was ever a client of United Healthcare, but he does make mention that it is the fifth largest corporation in America, which would make it the largest healthcare organization in America. So that’s possibly why he targeted that company,” said Kenny. UnitedHealthcare is in the top 20 largest U.S. companies by market capitalization but is not the fifth largest. It is the largest U.S. health insurer. Mangione remains jailed without bail in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested Monday after being spotted at a McDonald’s in the city of Altoona, about 230 miles (about 370 kilometers) west of New York City. His lawyer there, Thomas Dickey, has said Mangione intends to plead not guilty. Dickey also said he has yet to see evidence decisively linking his client to the crime. Mangione’s arrest came five days after the caught-on-camera killing of Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel. Police say the shooter waited outside the hotel, where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, early on the morning of Dec. 4. He approached Thompson from behind and shot him before fleeing on a bicycle through Central Park. Mangione is fighting attempts to extradite him back to New York so that he can face a murder charge in Thompson’s killing. A hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 30. The 26-year-old, who police say was found with a “ ghost gun ” matching shell casings found at the site of the shooting, is charged in Pennsylvania with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone. Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you. Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all. Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages. Mangione is an Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family. In posts on social media, Mangione wrote about experiencing severe chronic back pain before undergoing a spinal fusion surgery in 2023. Afterward, he posted that the operation had been a success and that his pain had improved and mobility returned. He urged others to consider the same type of surgery. On Wednesday, police said investigators are looking at his writings about his health problems and his criticism of corporate America and the U.S. health care system . Kenny said in the NBC interview that Mangione’s family reported him missing to San Francisco authorities in November. Related From Our Partner
Ware scores 17 points as UT Arlington knocks off UL Monroe 77-68
Niger junta suspends BBC accusing it of ‘spreading false news’ in coverage of attack
President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Friday to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. The request came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court, in which the company argued the court should strike down a law that could ban the platform by Jan. 19 while the government emphasized its position that the statute is needed to eliminate a national security risk. “President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute. Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act’s deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case,” said Trump’s amicus brief, which supported neither party in the case and was written by D. John Sauer, Trump’s choice for solicitor general. The argument submitted to the court is the latest example of Trump inserting himself in national issues before he takes office. The Republican president-elect has already begun negotiating with other countries over his plans to impose tariffs, and he intervened earlier this month in a plan to fund the federal government, calling for a bipartisan plan to be rejected and sending Republicans back to the negotiating table. RELATED COVERAGE Canadian Cabinet ministers meet with Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary in bid to avoid tariffs Janet Yellen tells Congress US could hit debt limit in mid-January US to send $1.25 billion in weapons to Ukraine, pushing to get aid out before Biden leaves office Trump has also reversed his position on the popular app, having tried to ban it during his first term in office over national security concerns. He joined the app during his 2024 presidential campaign and his team used it to connect with younger voters, especially male voters, by pushing content that was often macho and aimed at going viral. He said earlier this year that he still believed there were national security risks with TikTok, but that he opposed banning it. This month, Trump also met with TikTok CEO Shou Chew at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. The filings Friday come ahead of oral arguments scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. The law was was signed by President Joe Biden in April after it passed Congress with broad bipartisan support. TikTok and ByteDance filed a legal challenge afterwards. Earlier this month, a panel of three federal judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously upheld the statute , leading TikTok to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. The brief from Trump said he opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.” In their brief to the Supreme Court on Friday, attorneys for TikTok and its parent company ByteDance argued the federal appeals court erred in its ruling and based its decision on “alleged ‘risks’ that China could exercise control” over TikTok’s U.S. platform by pressuring its foreign affiliates. The Biden administration has argued in court that TikTok poses a national security risk due to its connections to China. Officials say Chinese authorities can compel ByteDance to hand over information on TikTok’s U.S. patrons or use the platform to spread or suppress information. But the government “concedes that it has no evidence China has ever attempted to do so,” TikTok’s legal filing said, adding that the U.S. fears are predicated on future risks. In its filing Friday, the Biden administration said because TikTok “is integrated with ByteDance and relies on its propriety engine developed and maintained in China,” its corporate structure carries with it risk.
Joe Burrow plays coy when asked about $3 million Batmobile purchase: 'Don’t know what you’re talking about'
MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Kedar Dighe has raised serious concerns over alleged irregularities in the handling of postal ballots. Dighe, who is contesting against Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in Thane’s Kopri-Pachpakhadi Assembly constituency, has demanded a re-poll, claiming that a box containing postal ballots was improperly sent to the election observer’s room instead of the designated strongroom. At the conclusion of voting, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and postal ballots are to be secured in strongrooms equipped with double locks, CCTV surveillance, and round-the-clock security by Central Armed Police Forces. However, Dighe alleged, “The observer’s room had no CCTV coverage. Anything could have happened under such circumstances. Officials claim that GPS trackers are attached to all boxes, but these devices can be manipulated. I demand that the entire process be halted, and a re-poll conducted.” Dighe further accused election authorities of failing to uphold the model code of conduct during the campaign. “My campaign ended at 10 PM, as per rules, but the Chief Minister’s rallies continued until midnight. If postal ballots can be mishandled, nothing is beyond tampering,” he charged. Kedar Dighe carries the legacy of his uncle, the late Anand Dighe, a towering Shiv Sena leader who held sway over Thane for decades and was a mentor to CM Eknath Shinde. The contest between the two candidates has been closely watched, given the deep personal and political animosities involved. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has openly labelled Shinde a “traitor” for his rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership, and fielded Dighe—a relative of Anand Dighe—against him to underline the betrayal narrative. Dighe’s allegations, however, were swiftly dismissed by both the Election Commission and political rivals. Thane district collector Ashok Shingare assured that he would seek clarification from the returning officer. Meanwhile, returning officer Sarjerao Mhaske Patil outright denied the claims, stating, “There is no truth to these allegations.” Thane MP and Shinde loyalist Naresh Mhaske accused Dighe of creating a smokescreen to divert attention from his imminent defeat. “Kedar Dighe is losing, and by a huge margin. He has been booked by the Election Commission for distributing liquor bottles on the eve of polls. Cash was also found in his car, and an FIR has been filed against him. He has no answers now,” Mhaske declared.SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Notifies Investors It Has Filed a Complaint to Recover Losses Suffered by Purchasers of Cassava Sciences, Inc. Securities and Sets a Lead Plaintiff Deadline of February 10, 2025