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Yankees open to trading for Astros' Kyle TuckerOn December 1, President Joseph Biden announced a for his son, Hunter Biden, on charges of gun and tax violations, reversing his pledge not to pardon him if convicted. In , the president wrote: Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter ... The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election ... No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son ... I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice. With the pardon, many on both sides of the political aisle have become rankled. the pardon corrupt and warned of “irreparable damage,” while Donald Trump, the president-elect and effective leader of the Republican Party, argued in court that should be discounted. Meanwhile, some Democrats have been of the pardon, arguing Biden prioritized “himself over the party and even the country,” thus providing fodder for the Republican Party, or even . The judge presiding over the younger Biden’s case the pardon a rewriting of history. , long the paper of record, ran blaming Biden’s pardon for justifying “further abuses of pardon power and broader attacks on the integrity of the justice system” under Trump (apparently forgetting that Trump cares little for precedent). However, when it comes to the charges brought forth, this is no ordinary criminal case. Hunter Biden has had a long background of run-ins with the law and controversies stemming from drug abuse and depression, along with a history of being in the public eye in connection with allegations of corruption related to the Biden family’s purported dealings with Ukraine. The US Department of Justice (DOJ), through US Attorney for the District of Delaware (and Trump appointee) David Weiss, began investigating Hunter in for lying “about not using drugs on a [federal] form required for a firearm purchase.” The investigation continued well into President Biden’s term and expanded to encompass Hunter’s failure to pay taxes. In 2023, Hunter into a plea deal “to a pair of tax-related misdemeanors and enter into a pretrial diversion agreement that would enable him to avoid prosecution on one felony gun charge.” Following this, Republican legislators, government whistleblowers, and conservative commentators alleged Hunter was evading serious charges, despite some ’ claim to the contrary. Following the judge’s that Hunter’s attorneys and the DOJ rework discrepancies in the plea and diversion agreements, and their subsequent failure to come to an agreement, Weiss Hunter in both of the federal cases. Eventually, in June of 2024, Hunter was “of all three felony charges” related to his firearm purchase. The fact that Hunter was indicted after the DOJ had already come to a plea agreement raised that “Weiss’s thinking changed as the whistleblowers went public and criticism from Republicans intensified.” In effect, there are for the DOJ’s actions as it relates to the Hunter Biden investigation and prosecution: Number one is essentially incompetence: Prosecutors didn’t understand the implications of what they were promising. Number two is malfeasance: Prosecutors knew all along they were offering something more limited, but misled Hunter’s attorneys about what they meant. Number three is flip-flopping: Prosecutors initially made the broad promise, but reneged after political backlash from Republicans. It is not unreasonable to claim that Hunter Biden’s prosecution was because of his surname, his father’s position in government, the unfounded allegations made by Republicans about Biden-Ukraine, or the outcry from Republicans for judicial disparity. In fact, there is ample evidence to place blame on the DOJ for being too politically conscious and pursuing tougher sentencing due to Hunter’s prominence. Furthermore, Joe Biden’s pardoning of Hunter is not unlike other pardons by presidents from both parties and is far more justified than past pardons. It nowhere reaches the issued by Trump to insulate himself from the Russia investigation. It does not rise to the level of George H.W. Bush’s pardons to in Iran-Contra, which independent counsel Lawrence Walsh called “a grave disservice to the citizens of this country,” and arguably was meant to avoid incrimination. Nor was it like Andrew Johnson’s pardoning of Confederates in the aftermath of the Civil War. Joe Biden’s pardoning of his son is to address a wrong, correcting the political prosecution and persecution of his son who was only targeted for his father’s position in government and due to outcries from the vocal right wing. Hunter Biden has suffered more than enough for his crimes, being by Republican legislators in official committees, and by Trump supporters in the court of public opinion. It is even more likely he would face harassment by the incoming Trump administration. However, Hunter Biden is not the only person under threat of a second Trump administration; Kash Patel, the de facto nominee for FBI Director and a Trump loyalist, has developed that Trump should target and prosecute for alleged (and fictitious) crimes. These individuals include prominent Democrats like Joe Biden and Kamala Harris along with select Republicans, but also individuals from Trump’s previous administration including Bill Barr, Mark Esper, Jeff Sessions, and government employees like Robert Mueller, Jack Smith, and James Comey. These individuals are included on these lists because of a personal animus or because they took the oaths they made to the US Constitution seriously and spoke truth to power. If any individuals deserve pardons, then it is the individuals who are most at risk of a vindictive administration. Beyond these individuals, there are others who deserve pardons for their crimes. There are on federal death row, many of whom would face under Trump. There are a presumably substantial number of commissioned officers from the US Armed Forces who to be court-martialed for withdrawing from Afghanistan, under a deal by Trump. There are also numerous individuals whose criminal cases were fraught with bias, witness tampering, or other questionable legal tactics by judges and prosecutors; , , , and thousands of others remain in the federal criminal justice system who deserve pardons, clemency, and commutations. Furthermore, while in no way a surefire method of protection, Biden should grant clemency to the over one million eligible Dreamers, to at least provide a show of solidarity to the undocumented. In the days after Hunter’s pardon, pardoned 40 more individuals and granted clemency to nearly 1,500 others convicted of non-violent offenses, yet none of these were any individuals mentioned above. Naturally, issuing these pardons does not necessarily mean these individuals will be free from persecution. The Trump administration, it can be assured, regardless of , will go after its enemies and be vindictive. Yet, a pardon will certainly save some of these individuals’ lives, right wrongs that should have been done long ago, and provide another layer of protection to those whose safety and security, freedom, and liberty are at risk by the incoming administration. However, even if in some cases it proves infeasible or simply is a symbolic effort at reconciliation or solidarity, it nonetheless must be done and would be one last good deed from his presidency. If Joe Biden desires to have of impressive accomplishments maintained and remembered, then he should be conscious of the reality of Donald Trump and the threat he poses to more people than his own family. World court established at The Hague On December 13, 1920, the League of Nations Assembly, sitting in Geneva, approved the statute setting up the Permanent Court of International Justice at The Hague.Learn more about the . Visit the website of the Permanent Court's successor body, the . President Wilson arrives in France to negotiate WWI treaty On December 13, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson arrived in France to negotiate a treaty to conclude World War I. Wilson was the first US President to visit Europe while in office. His meeting with the other Allied leaders would result in the , which created the League of Nations and redrew borders across Europe. The treaty, however, was rejected by the US Senate, thus preventing the U.S. from joining the League with the other major powers.
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Shah Khursheed* Located 85 kilometers from Srinagar, the remote village of Jundinambal in Baramulla district, North Kashmir, is home to about 800 residents, who face daily struggles with poverty. The local economy relies on dairy farming, horticulture, and agriculture. While men are the main earners, women manage the household. Men work to provide for their families for seven months, but the seasonal slowdown during winter disrupts their income. During this time, freezing temperatures and impassable roads halt most agricultural activities, leaving many villagers without work. Additionally, limited healthcare facilities and poor connectivity make accessing even basic medical care difficult and costly. Amid these challenges, 29-year-old Rafiqa Begum, an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) from Limber Tehsil, Boniyar, Baramulla, has become a vital figure in her community. After moving to Jundinambal following her marriage, Rafiqa, a postgraduate degree in Political Science, began working as the village’s only ASHA worker in 2019. She provides essential services to the community, especially to women, including healthcare, maternal and infant care, nutrition, hygiene education, and vaccinations. Rafiqa’s work has been particularly impactful in educating women about menstrual hygiene, a topic that remains stigmatized in many parts of Kashmir. Masrat Bano, a local woman, recalls how Rafiqa introduced sanitary pads in 2019, explaining their use and benefits. Previously, Masrat, like many others, used cloth for menstrual hygiene, which was challenging and uncomfortable to maintain. “Sanitary pads seemed like a luxury,” she admits, adding that using cloth made it difficult to manage hygiene, especially during school hours, leading some girls to miss school altogether. Rafiqa explains that financial constraints and social stigma often prevent girls from accessing menstrual products. “Many women can’t afford sanitary pads, and even if they can, they are often too shy to buy them from male-run stores,” she shares. To address this, Rafiqa distributes subsidized pads and holds educational sessions for young girls and the broader community. Her efforts have helped normalize menstruation and reduce the shame around it, allowing women to manage their periods with dignity. The challenge of accessing menstrual hygiene products is not unique to Jundinambal. In Kupwara, ASHA workers like Asiya Reyaz in Langate are also working to improve women’s health. “We’ve helped reduce urinary infections to zero,” she says. Yet, even in Kupwara, challenges remain. Jabeena Begum, President of the ASHA Union in Kupwara, highlights an urgent issue: “Since July 23, there has been a shortage of supplies, which affects the health and dignity of girls in our community.” Reyaz adds that a lack of supplies forces women to buy pads from male-run stores, which is uncomfortable and often humiliating. “These are personal needs, and no woman should feel ashamed just to take care of herself,” she explains. This struggle resonates with women like Zahida Ahanger, who recalls her first experience with menstruation in eighth grade. “I didn’t know what was happening to me,” she remembers. When she asked a friend for help, she received an old cloth, which led to rashes and pain. For years, Zahida continued using rags, enduring discomfort and shame. Determined to change this, Zahida and 37 other women started a women’s wing in their community to break the silence around menstruation and fight the stigma. In areas like Haril in Langate, ASHA workers such as Asha Begum create safe spaces for girls at Anganwadi centers. “These centers aren’t just for food and supplies—they’re places of hope,” says Asha. Here, girls receive not only food but also support, guidance, and education about menstrual health. Despite challenges in accessing resources, ASHA workers in remote parts of Jammu and Kashmir are making a difference. In Kupwara, girls often pay 6-7 rupees for a single sanitary pad packet, while in Baramulla, it’s slightly cheaper at 5 Rupees. Yet, these costs remain unaffordable for many families, especially those struggling financially. Jabeena Begum highlights the financial struggles of ASHA workers. “We earn only 600 rupees per delivery at a government hospital and 300 rupees for private deliveries,” she says. “It’s degrading, but the work remains the same.” Recently, ASHA workers gathered in Srinagar to demand fair pay and better working conditions. “We are the frontline of healthcare in rural areas, but the government needs to acknowledge our work and provide respect and fair compensation,” Jabeena asserts. Local stores sometimes step in to help fill gaps. Abdul Ahad, who runs a small grocery store in Jundinambal, stocks sanitary pads for emergencies. “While most women get pads from ASHA workers, I keep them for those who need them urgently,” he says. Zainab Wani from Delina, Baramulla, points out issues with the sanitary pads distributed by ASHA workers. “The government must improve their quality,” she says, explaining that low-quality pads can cause rashes and anxiety, especially among teenagers. Through grassroots efforts, ASHA workers like Rafiqa Begum are helping the next generation of girls in Kashmir overcome menstrual stigma. “More young girls, especially from marginalized backgrounds, are now enrolling in schools,” Rafiqa says proudly. “We’re working to ensure menstrual hygiene doesn’t hinder their progress.” Mohammad Ramiz, a health supervisor at the Sub-District Hospital in Baramulla, emphasizes the role of ASHA workers in improving rural health outcomes. “ASHA workers are vital for promoting menstrual hygiene, immunization, maternal care, and nutrition,” he says. In remote Kashmir, ASHA workers are not only providing essential supplies but also empowering women to take control of their health and dignity. Their work is a crucial step toward a future where no woman or girl has to face these challenges in silence and where menstruation is recognized as a natural part of life. (The author is a freelance writer from Kashmir) —–New study shows voting for Native Americans is harder than ever
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Heights library has full slate of programs during the holidays, including the new yearStock indexes drifted to a mixed finish on Wall Street as some heavyweight technology and communications sector stocks offset gains elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 slipped less than 0.1% Thursday, its first loss after three straight gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%. Gains by retailers and health care stocks helped temper the losses. Trading volume was lighter than usual as U.S. markets reopened following the Christmas holiday. The Labor Department reported that U.S. applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years. Treasury yields fell in the bond market. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. Stocks wavered on Wall Street in afternoon trading Thursday, as gains in tech companies and retailers helped temper losses elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 was up less than 0.1% after drifting between small gains and losses. The benchmark index is coming off a three-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 10 points, or less than 0.1%, as of 3:20 p.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite was up 0.1%. Trading volume was lighter than usual as U.S. markets reopened after the Christmas holiday. Chip company Broadcom rose 2.5%, Micron Technology was up 1.3% and Adobe gained 0.8%. While tech stocks overall were in the green, some heavyweights were a drag on the market. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, slipped 0.1%. Meta Platforms fell 0.5%, Amazon was down 0.4%, and Netflix gave up 0.7%. Tesla was among the biggest decliners in the S&P 500, down 1.4%. Health care stocks helped lift the market. CVS Health rose 1.4% and Walgreens Boots Alliance rose 3.9% for the biggest gain among S&P 500 stocks. Several retailers also gained ground. Target rose 3.1%, Ross Stores added 1.8%, Best Buy was up 2.5% and Dollar Tree gained 3.6%. Traders are watching to see whether retailers have a strong holiday season. The day after Christmas traditionally ranks among the top 10 biggest shopping days of the year, as consumers go online or rush to stores to cash in gift cards and raid bargain bins. U.S.-listed shares in Honda and Nissan rose 4.2% and 15.9%, respectively. The Japanese automakers announced earlier this week that the two companies are in talks to combine. Traders got a labor market update. U.S. applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week , though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years, the Labor Department reported. Treasury yields turned mostly lower in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.58% from 4.59% late Tuesday. Major European markets were closed, as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar. Still, U.S. markets have historically gotten a boost at year’s end despite lower trading volumes. The last five trading days of each year, plus the first two in the new year, have brought an average gain of 1.3% since 1950. So far this month, the U.S. stock market has lost some of its gains since President-elect Donald Trump’s win on Election Day, which raised hopes for faster economic growth and more lax regulations that would boost corporate profits. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Even so, the U.S. market remains on pace to deliver strong returns for 2024. The benchmark S&P 500 is up roughly 26% so far this year and remains near its most recent all-time high it set earlier this month — its latest of 57 record highs this year. Wall Street has several economic reports to look forward to next week, including updates on pending home sales and home prices, a report on U.S. construction spending and snapshots of manufacturing activity. AP Business Writers Elaine Kurtenbach and Matt Ott contributed.
What’s in store for Bitcoin in 2025?Wall Street stocks finished a lackluster week on a muted note Friday as concerns about rising Treasury bond yields competed with enthusiasm over artificial intelligence equities. Of the major indices, only the Nasdaq mustered a gain in Friday's session. The tech-rich index was also the only of the three leading US benchmarks to conclude the week higher. "Equities are kind of treading water," said LBBW's Karl Haeling. "A negative influence to some extent is the rise in bond yields." The latest US consumer price index data released this week showed prices ticked higher in November and the wholesale data also showed stubborn inflationary pressures. "Yields rose to their highest levels in over two weeks as markets brace for the Federal Reserve's final meeting of the year, reflecting concerns over sticky inflation," said Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG. There is also growing concern over the inflationary pressures from President-elect Donald Trump's pledges to cut taxes and impose tariffs, as inflation still stands above the Fed's target. "While the markets still anticipate a rate cut from the Federal Reserve next week, the likelihood of a move in January has dropped," said Patrick Munnelly, partner at broker Tickmill Group. The CME FedWatch tool shows the market sees a more than 75 percent chance that the Fed will hold rates steady in January. In Europe, the Paris CAC 40 index ended the day down 0.2 percent after French President Emmanuel Macron named his centrist ally Francois Bayrou as prime minister, ending days of deadlock over finding a replacement for Michel Barnier. Frankfurt also dipped, with Germany's central bank sharply downgrading its growth forecasts on Friday for 2025 and 2026. It predicted a prolonged period of weakness for Europe's biggest economy. London stocks were also lower after official data showed that the UK economy unexpectedly shrank for the second consecutive month in October. The euro recovered after flirting with two-year lows against the dollar following a warning Thursday by ECB president Christine Lagarde that the eurozone economy was "losing momentum", cautioning that "the risk of greater friction in global trade could weigh on euro area growth". In Asia, Hong Kong and Shanghai both tumbled as investors were unimpressed with Beijing's pledge to introduce measures aimed at "lifting consumption vigorously" as part of a drive to reignite growth in the world's number two economy. President Xi Jinping and other key leaders said at the annual Central Economic Work Conference they would implement a "moderately loose" monetary policy, increase social financing and reducing interest rates "at the right time". The gathering came after Beijing in September began unveiling a raft of policies to reverse a growth slump that has gripped the economy for almost two years. "We're still not convinced that policy support will prevent the economy from slowing further next year", said Julian Evans-Pritchard, head of China economics at research group Capital Economics. Among individual equities, chip company Broadcom surged nearly 25 percent after reporting a 51 percent jump in quarterly revenues to $14.1 billion behind massive growth in AI-linked business. New York - Dow: DOWN 0.2 percent at 43,828.06 (close) New York - S&P 500: FLAT at 6,051.09 (close) New York - Nasdaq Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 19,926.72 (close) London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.1 percent at 8,300.33 (close) Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.2 percent at 7,409.57 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.1 percent at 20,405.92 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.0 percent at 39,470.44 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 2.1 percent at 19,971.24 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 2.0 percent at 3,391.88 (close) Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0504 from $1.0467 on Thursday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2622 from $1.2673 Dollar/yen: UP at 153.60 yen from 152.63 yen Euro/pound: UP at 83.19 pence from 82.59 pence Brent North Sea Crude: UP 1.5 percent at $74.49 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.8 percent at $71.29 per barrel burs-jmb/st
Vehicle sales may top 500,000 next year as interest rates go downCalifornia approves $1,4 billion plan to build thousands more vehicle chargers, boost ZEV infrastructure – electric charging and hydrogen refueling stations SACRAMENTO – Thousands more electric vehicle (EV) chargers are coming to California. The California Energy Commission (CEC) today that accelerates progress on the state’s EV charging and hydrogen refueling goals. These investments will help deploy infrastructure for light, medium, and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) across California, expanding the most extensive charging and hydrogen refueling network in the country. The plan details how the CEC’s will spend $1.4 billion in state funding over the next four years, with at least 50% targeted to benefit lower-income and disadvantaged communities. The funding is part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s historic California Climate Commitment, which includes more than $10 billion for ZEVs and ZEV infrastructure. The state has also received billions from the Biden-Harris Administration for clean transportation. Building ZEV infrastructure is a critical part of Governor Newsom’s build more, faster agenda delivering infrastructure upgrades across the state. Find projects building your community at . , said: “With this investment, and the help of the private sector, we’re building a bigger, better vehicle charging network that ensures Californians can reliably and affordably get where they’re going.” The funds approved today will result in nearly 17,000 new chargers for passenger vehicles statewide. Over are installed today. Combined with previous investment plans, funding from the federal government, electric utilities and other programs, the state expects to reach 250,000 chargers in the next few years. In addition to the public network, the state estimates that more than 500,000 private home chargers are installed statewide. The funds will become available over the next four years and distributed to projects through competitive grants. Projects include direct incentive and rebate programs for businesses, non-profit organizations, tribes and public agencies. Why this matters First created in 2007, the Clean Transportation Program is one of the first transportation-focused funding efforts established to help advance the state’s climate change policies. To date, $2.3 billion has been invested in projects supporting ZEV infrastructure, alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies, providing the following benefits. California’s strategy for a clean transportation transition This is a major milestone on California’s path to a clean transportation future. In addition to advancing ZEVs, which topped 26.4% of all new California vehicle sales in the third quarter of 2024, the Newsom Administration is prioritizing clean fuel production, public transit and rail infrastructure enhancements, and a cleaner, smarter electric grid to help power it all. As California works toward this clean transportation future, the state is also advancing efforts to prevent gasoline price spikes. the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at California approves $1,4 billion plan to build thousands more vehicle chargers, boost ZEV infrastructure – electric charging and hydrogen refueling stations, Next Hydrogen Solutions Inc Announces Closing of Private Placement of Unsecured Convertible Debentures MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Next Hydrogen Solutions Inc. (TSXV: NXH, OTC: NXHSF)... Everfuel and Karlstads Energi gets funding notification for potential project in Sweden Herning, Denmark, 13 December 2024 – Everfuel A/S’ is pleased to announce that its subsidiary Everfuel Production Karlstad AB... Charbone Hydrogen secures warrant proceeds, extends expiry dates, and grants stock options Charbone Hydrogen Corporation (TSX-V:CH, OTCQB:CHHYF) announced $371,150 from warrant exercises expiring in late 2024 and early...