B.C. premier says feds and premiers have right-left strategy to tackle Trump tariffs A meeting last week between the premiers and Trudeau discussed Canada's diversity of representation, and how it could bring leverage and advantages in tariff talks. Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press Dec 5, 2024 2:41 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message B.C. Premier David Eby holds a press conference at the legislature in Victoria, Nov. 13. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito Listen to this article 00:02:29 VICTORIA — British Columbia Premier David Eby says his fellow premiers and the federal government have hatched a game plan to fight U.S. tariffs, with conservative premiers lobbying Republican counterparts, left-leaning provincial leaders courting the Democrats, and Ottawa focusing on president-elect Donald Trump. The premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talked about using their political diversity and connections to thwart the prospect of Trump's proposed 25 per cent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, Eby said Thursday in a year-end interview. He said it was discussed that conservative premiers Danielle Smith in Alberta, Doug Ford in Ontario and Nova Scotia's Tim Houston are well-placed to lobby Republican governors and business leaders. Eby said as a New Democrat he will likely have more in common with Democrat governors and business leaders from the West Coast states. "I can easily have conversations with governors and businesses down the West Coast of the U.S., where we have close relationships and our politics are very similar," he said. "Premier Smith can have conversations with Republican governors. That would be more challenging for me, and (she) would have more connections potentially with the Trump administration than an NDP administration in B.C. would." He said a meeting last week between the premiers and Trudeau discussed Canada's diversity of representation, and how it could bring leverage and advantages in tariff talks. "It's interesting, there was a lot of talk about what unity means in terms of Canada's response to the tariffs," he said. "There's obviously a diversity of views around the Council of the Federation table of all the premiers. Certainly, mine is not the same as Premier Smith's or Premier Ford's or Premier Houston's, and that diversity of views is actually potentially a significant strength for us as we enter into these discussions." Eby also said he was prepared to appear on American's right-leaning Fox News TV network, as did premiers Ford and Smith. "Anything that I can do to support the national effort to protect the families in Canada from the impact of tariffs and also families in the U.S. from those unjustified tariffs," he said. "Absolutely, if I thought it was helpful." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024. Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More National News Put politics aside and act on online harms, mother of sextortion victim tells MPs Dec 5, 2024 3:02 PM Quebec premier to attend Notre-Dame Cathedral reopening Saturday in Paris Dec 5, 2024 2:36 PM Hiking apps prompt warnings after separate rescues from B.C.'s backcountry Dec 5, 2024 2:34 PM Featured FlyerThe central government's capital expenditure is expected to surge by an impressive 25 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in the second half of the financial year 2025, according to a report by Jefferies. The report also noted that the overall expenditure of the government is also expected to surge by 15 per cent. It highlights that despite an increase in populist schemes in the run-up to elections, the central government remains committed to investing in infrastructure development over welfare-driven measures. Central governments spending show balanced approach The report underlined that while populist policies have gained traction, especially in state elections, the central government's spending priorities show a balanced approach. It said "Jefferies' India office expects total central government expenditure to rise by around 15 per cent YoY in 2HFY25 ending 31 March 2025 with capex rising by over 25 per cent YoY.. Still the rise of such populist policies should be seen in the context of a central government which is still spending more on capex than welfare". Let us know! 👂 What type of content would you like to see from us this year? Sucess of handout schemes The report noted that the growing success of handout schemes in state elections, such as Maharashtra's welfare programme costing Rs 460 billion annually (1.1 per cent of the state's GDP), does raise concerns about a potential wave of populism. The report analysis showed that 14 out of 28 Indian states already have similar schemes, covering approximately 120 million households and costing a combined 0.7-0.8 per cent of India's GDP. However, the central government's focus remains on creating long-term economic assets through infrastructure development, which is vital for sustained growth. Indian market is stabilising after correction In the financial markets, the report suggested a reasonable chance that the Indian stock market is stabilizing after a recent correction, particularly in the mid-cap segment. It said "Meanwhile, there is a reasonable possibility that the Indian stock market is bottoming out after a correction which has been primarily in the more expensive mid-cap stocks" While foreign investors sold more than USD 12.5 billion worth of Indian equities in the last two months, a significant amount by historical standards--domestic investors have absorbed the outflows. October saw record inflows in MF Notably, October saw record inflows into equity mutual funds, even as the stock market was undergoing a correction. The report emphasized that the strong domestic inflows are a reassuring factor for India's markets. The combined effects of government capex spending and robust local investment suggest a stable outlook, even amid concerns over rising populist measures at the state level.
I was treated better as a trans woman but changed my mind...now my college won't let me talk about it Berklee music college's stated support for 'creative expression' is questioned By JAMES REINL, SOCIAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT, FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 18:51 GMT, 29 December 2024 | Updated: 18:51 GMT, 29 December 2024 e-mail 38 View comments A top US music school is under fire for breaking its own rules on free speech by stopping one of its students from discussing his troubled history with changing sex. Simon Amaya Price, 20, says Berklee College of Music in Boston canceled his talk about the three years he struggled to live as a female, after the event sparked a campus backlash. Campaigners say it is the latest example of ' woke ' professors abandoning free speech when it goes against the narrow left-wing consensus that pervades academia. 'I wanted to talk about desisting from transgender identity, but that was too much for Berklee,' Amaya Price told DailyMail.com. 'Once the political response became apparent, Berklee administrators indefinitely postponed my event.' Berklee, a venerated 79-year-old college in Massachusetts that claims to support 'creative expression,' did not answer DailyMail.com's request for comment. Amaya Price, an indie pop singer-songwriter at the school, was set to make a presentation at a campus venue on October 20 as part of a course on 'social change'. His classmates spoke about homelessness , eating disorders and motherhood in their talks. Singer-songwriter Simon Amaya Price, 20, once again identifies as a man, and wants to warn others about his negative experiences Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music is under fire for sidelining its own rules on free speech by cancelling the talk Read More Transgender woman, 24, is forced to have testicle removed after it became twisted in agonising injury caused by 'tucking' He wanted to discuss his teenage years spent living as a woman and how he came to 'desist.' He started to question his identity and transition when he was 14 - a tough time in his life when he was mocked by peers and faced 'complete social ostracization'. Amaya Price says he transitioned because he was mixed up by his autism, puberty, sexual abuse and troubles with friends. He was spurred on by online trans activists and peers at a summer camp where teens introduced themselves in 'pronoun rituals'. 'I found that people treated me way better if I said my pronouns were anything but he/him,' Amaya Price said. 'I was like: "OK, this makes me feel better. People treat me better. This has got to be the right thing for me".' He started going by 'Ash.' Clinicians at Boston Children's Hospital affirmed him without delay and proposed cross-sex hormones, he says. But his dad, Gareth, 'put his foot down' and would not let him take sex change drugs until he was 18, he adds. He never did much more than mix up his wardrobe a little. His appearance — as a man, woman, and non-binary — was always androgynous. Amaya Price describes a 'turning point' when he was about 17 and started to see 'logical fallacies' in gender identity politics. Amaya Price's event at Berklee was cancelled, but he managed to raise his concerns about gender ideology weeks later at MIT For three teenage years, Amaya Price identified as a female called 'Ash' but has since switched back to being a guy He started to develop friendships with men and liked being 'one of the guys.' He also saw how trans friends undergoing medical procedures were harming themselves. The teen started to 'desist,' and now campaigns against gender ideology, especially when it comes to children. 'I don't think there's any situation where minors should be allowed to take cross-sex hormones, puberty blockers, or undergo these surgeries,' he says. 'Scientifically, we do not know how to tell apart the kids for whom it might work and for whom it doesn't work.' This view makes him an 'apostate' to trans activists and leftists, says Amaya Price. 'I falsify one of the core tenants of their ideology, which is that everybody with gender dysphoria needs to medically transition, which is simply not true,' he says. He wanted to explain all this in his Berklee talk, titled 'Born in the Right Body: Desister and Detransitioner Awareness.' The college was initially willing to back his event, but pulled the plug after Amaya Price's promotional fliers and Instagram post sparked an angry backlash. Within hours, he'd received more than 400 'overwhelmingly negative' responses, he says. Berklee students called him a 'Nazi' and a 'transphobe.' One said he should be 'scared' to make his presentation, another threatened to 'throw expired groceries' at him. Amaya Price, pictured here playing a violin aged 11, was interested in music from an early age Seen here climbing a wall at age six, Amaya Price says he did not question his gender identity when he was a child Transgender rights activists have pushed to silence conservative voices on US college campuses. Pictured: A gender-related protest in San Diego, California Read More EXCLUSIVE Trans for Trump: Meet the Americans who've transitioned gender and voted Trump Angry students gathered some 2,000 signatures in an online petition demanding Berklee cancel the talk. They said it would 'harm the mental well-being of individuals in the transgender community.' Within days, the school's vice president Ron Savage 'indefinitely postponed' the event, citing security concerns. Its office for diversity and inclusion also pulled its support and posted that the event 'will no longer take place as planned'. Amaya Price says the college had overstated the security threat, which he believed would amount only to heckling protesters. He was backed in this criticism by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (Fire), a free speech nonprofit that focuses on America's increasingly liberal schools and colleges. Fire highlighted Berklee's stated support for 'creative expression' and rejection of 'censorship' and those trying to 'obstruct the free exchange of ideas'. Officials canceled Amaya Price because he 'has the "wrong" things to say,' says Fire. 'Any discussion of transgender issues is likely to provoke controversy and offend some listeners, Fire said in a statement. 'But policing offensive speech effectively tells Amaya Price that he is not allowed to share his own life story — and that others are not permitted to hear and respond to it — simply because some may find it offensive.' The group stands up for scholars from across the political spectrum, but warns that US institutions have tacked to the left. Amaya Price warns against breast removal operations and other irreversible sex change procedures on kids Amaya Price now records music and performs, and has applied to join the US Space Force Read More First female president of Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music quits after two years as it's claimed she was 'domineering bully': ELEVEN staff left during stint that began with $250,000 welcome concert Most efforts to cancel speakers in recent years have targeted conservatives, says the group. Still, that could be changing. Of the 25 recorded efforts to sanction US scholars this year, most were led by right-wing individuals, groups and activists, Fire's database shows. Many of the targeted academics had spoken up for Palestinians or the militant group Hamas amid military confrontations with Israel. Conservative groups linked to Donald Trump seek to curb colleges they see as too liberal, but it's not clear if this will be a priority for the Republican president-elect's administration. Amaya Price, who graduated from Berklee on December 12, says he was not deterred by the cancellation. He instead hosted a similar event at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on November 24. As well as campaigning , he records music and performs , and has applied to become an officer in the US Space Force. Massachusetts Share or comment on this article: I was treated better as a trans woman but changed my mind...now my college won't let me talk about it e-mail Add comment
In one of the seven compelling games on the NBA slate today, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors will square off at Chase Center. Coverage of all the NBA action today is available for you, with the information provided below. Sign up for NBA League Pass to get access to games, live and on-demand, and more for the entire season and offseason. Charlotte Hornets vs. Chicago Bulls Washington Wizards vs. New York Knicks New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Clippers Utah Jazz vs. Denver Nuggets Sacramento Kings vs. Dallas Mavericks Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Portland Trail Blazers vs. Philadelphia 76ers Watch ESPN originals, The Last Dance and more NBA content on ESPN+. Use our link to sign up for ESPN+ or the Disney bundle. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .Chinese sprinter Su Bingtian poses for a photo outside the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France, July 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin) GUANGZHOU, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's star sprinter Su Bingtian said here on Sunday that he intends to retire after China's 15th National Games, which will be co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao in November 2025. "I hope to contribute my strength to my hometown and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, I will try my best to bring my career to a good conclusion at the National Games," Su said. The 34-year-old ran an Asian record of 9.83 seconds in the men's 100m semifinal and finished sixth in the final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but missed the 2024 Paris Olympics with injury. "I had considered retiring after missing the Paris Olympics, but when I realized that the 2025 National Games would be held in my hometown, I decided to spare no effort to be back," said Su, who was born and brought up in Guangdong Province. The veteran sprinter revealed he was currently in good shape and had already resumed training. "I am not able yet to manage intense training, but I can complete moderate tasks. I hope I can be back on the track as soon as possible," he said.ATLANTA, Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitcoin Depot Inc. (“Bitcoin Depot” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: BTM), a U.S.-based Bitcoin ATM (“BTM”) operator and leading fintech company, today celebrates a landmark moment in the cryptocurrency as Bitcoin surpasses its all-time price peak of $100,000. This industry milestone reflects growing global confidence in Bitcoin as a financial asset and highlights the increasing demand for accessible crypto solutions. "Bitcoin reaching $100,000 is an example of its resilience, staying power, and growing role in the financial ecosystem," said Brandon Mintz, CEO and founder of Bitcoin Depot. "This moment shows the growing trust millions place in Bitcoin and further establishes Bitcoin Depot’s commitment of 'Bringing Bitcoin to the Masses®' by providing secure, user-friendly access points that bridge traditional finance and the digital economy." 2024 has been a defining period for the crypto industry, marked by significant advancements such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's approval of the first Bitcoin spot ETFs and continued growing institutional adoption. These achievements, coupled with increased regulatory clarity and rising global interest in Bitcoin, further demonstrate cryptocurrency's expanding role in the financial landscape. Bitcoin Depot, with over 8,300 Bitcoin ATM kiosks deployed across North America and Puerto Rico, has cemented itself as a key player in facilitating crypto adoption. As the largest BTM operator in North America, the Company has built significant momentum in the last year, marked by key milestones such as bringing its BDCheckout Program to six new states, expanding into Puerto Rico , and introducing strategic retail partnerships with multiple major convenience and grocery store retailers. “Bitcoin’s momentum is driving new users to enter the market, and many are choosing BTMs for secure and convenient access to cryptocurrency,” said Scott Buchanan, COO of Bitcoin Depot. “At Bitcoin Depot, we’ve always believed in providing everyone with easy access to Bitcoin, and as we grow, our focus remains on delivering a simple and reliable way to buy Bitcoin quickly and securely. This is just the beginning for the cryptocurrency industry and Bitcoin Depot as a leading provider.” Bitcoin Depot BTMs are designed to provide a seamless user experience, allowing customers to quickly convert cash into Bitcoin and access the broader digital financial system for payments, transfers, remittances, and investments. About Bitcoin Depot Bitcoin Depot Inc. (Nasdaq: BTM) was founded in 2016 with the mission to connect those who prefer to use cash to the broader, digital financial system. Bitcoin Depot provides its users with simple, efficient and intuitive means of converting cash into Bitcoin, which users can deploy in the payments, spending and investing space. Users can convert cash to bitcoin at Bitcoin Depot kiosks in 48 states and at thousands of name-brand retail locations in 29 states through its BDCheckout product. The Company has the largest market share in North America with approximately 8,486 kiosk locations as of December 05, 2024. Learn more at www.bitcoindepot.com . Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release and any oral statements made in connection herewith include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements are any statements other than statements of historical fact, and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the expectations of plans, business strategies, objectives and growth and anticipated financial and operational performance, including our growth strategy and ability to increase deployment of our products and services, the anticipated effects of the Amendment, and the closing of the Preferred Sale. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current beliefs, based on currently available information, as to the outcome and timing of future events. Forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as "anticipate," "appears," "approximately," "believe," "continue," "could," "designed," "effect," "estimate," "evaluate," "expect," "forecast," "goal," "initiative," "intend," "may," "objective," "outlook," "plan," "potential," "priorities," "project," "pursue," "seek," "should," "target," "when," "will," "would," or the negative of any of those words or similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. In making these statements, we rely upon assumptions and analysis based on our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments, as well as other factors we consider appropriate under the circumstances. We believe these judgments are reasonable, but these statements are not guarantees of any future events or financial results. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond our control. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the business combination; future global, regional or local economic and market conditions; the development, effects and enforcement of laws and regulations; our ability to manage future growth; our ability to develop new products and services, bring them to market in a timely manner and make enhancements to our platform; the effects of competition on our future business; our ability to issue equity or equity-linked securities; the outcome of any potential litigation, government and regulatory proceedings, investigations and inquiries; and those factors described or referenced in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that we do not presently know or that we currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect our expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our assessments to change. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or other factors that affect the subject of these statements, except where we are expressly required to do so by law. All written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Contacts: Investors Cody Slach Gateway Group, Inc. 949-574-3860 BTM@gateway-grp.com Media Brenlyn Motlagh, Ryan Deloney Gateway Group, Inc. 949-574-3860 BTM@gateway-grp.com
Promising strategy leverages atomic displacements to control quantum properties of a vanadate perovskiteHere’s What ‘December 3’ Trend Means on TikTok By With the arrival of the last month of the year, has suddenly started becoming prominent on . The widely used video-sharing platform has been the brewing ground for many trends. These viral trends have become a source of entertainment all over the social media scene and turned into an annual tradition. Hence, with the return of the December 3 trend, here is what is its meaning and how people celebrate it. December 3 meaning on TikTok explained As December 3 is around the corner, TikTok users have taken over the platform sharing videos based on the trend. The trend surrounding this specific date has reportedly been generated from the popular song “Heather,” sung by none other than Conan Gray. The first lyric from the song which reads, “I still remember, the third of December, me in your sweater. You said it looked better on me than it did you,” was the main source from where the trend originated. Drawing inspiration from this lyric, the December 3 trend on TikTok revolves around videos of giving sweaters to one’s lover/crush or getting one from them. Although many users share reels about sweaters on December 3, it is unknown whether they actually follow this tradition. Acknowledging the December 3 trend in 2022 in an , Conan Gray wrote, “Happy annual heather day
Operations halted in Port Harcourt refinery days after resumption announcementSYDNEY, Nov 22 (Reuters) - U.S. billionaire Elon Musk, owner of social media platform X, has criticised Australia's proposed law to ban social media for children under 16 and fine social media platforms of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for companies for systemic breaches. Australia's centre-left government on Thursday introduced the bill in parliament. It plans to try an age-verification system to enforce a social media age cut-off, some of the toughest controls imposed by any country to date. "Seems like a backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians," Musk, who views himself as a champion of free speech, said in a reply late on Thursday to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's post on X about the bill. Several countries have already vowed to curb social media use by children through legislation, but Australia's policy could become one of the most stringent with no exemption for parental consent and pre-existing accounts. France last year proposed a ban on social media for those under 15 but allowed parental consent, while the U.S. has for decades required technology companies to seek parental consent to access the data of children under 13. Musk has previously clashed with Australia's centre-left Labor government over its social media policies and had called it "fascists" over its misinformation law. In April, X went to an Australian court to challenge a cyber regulator's order for the removal of some posts about the stabbing of a bishop in Sydney, prompting Albanese to call Musk an "arrogant billionaire" . ($1 = 1.5359 Australian dollars) Sign up here. Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by David Gregorio Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson will not appear at former President Donald Trump ’s rally on Saturday in the battleground state following a CNN report about Robinson’s alleged disturbing online posts, an absence that illustrates the liability the gubernatorial candidate poses for Trump and downballot GOP candidates. Robinson is not expected to attend the event in Wilmington, according to a person on the Trump campaign and a second person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal planning. Robinson has been a frequent presence at Trump's North Carolina campaign stops. The Republican nominee has referred to Robinson, who is Black, as “Martin Luther King on steroids" and long praised him. But in the wake of Thursday's CNN report , the Trump campaign issued a statement that didn't mention Robinson and instead spoke generally about how North Carolina was key to the campaign's efforts. Robinson's campaign didn't respond to a text Friday seeking confirmation on his Saturday plans. The deadline in state law for Robinson to withdraw as the Republican candidate for governor passed late Thursday. State Republican leaders could have picked a replacement had a withdrawal occurred. Robinson has denied writing the posts, which include racial and sexual comments. He said he wouldn't be forced out of the race by “salacious tabloid lies.” While Robinson won his GOP gubernatorial primary in March, he's been trailing in several recent polls to Democratic nominee Josh Stein , the state's attorney general. “Let me reassure you the things that you will see in that story — those are not the words of Mark Robinson,” he told supporters in a video released Thursday by his campaign. “You know my words. You know my character.” State law says a gubernatorial nominee had until the day before the first absentee ballots requested by military and overseas voters are distributed to withdraw. They were distributed starting Friday. Robinson has a history of inflammatory comments that Stein has said made him too extreme to lead North Carolina. They already have contributed to the prospect that campaign struggles for Robinson could help Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris win the state’s 16 electoral votes. Democrats jumped on Robinson and other Republicans after the report aired, showing on social media photos of Robinson with Trump or with other GOP candidates, attempting to tarnish them by association. Losing swing district races for a congressional seat and the General Assembly would endanger the GOP’s control of the U.S. House and retaining veto-proof majorities at the legislature. “The fallout is going to be huge,” Chris Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University, said Friday. “The Democrats are counting on this ... having a big effect.” But Cooper said Republicans could limit problems to the governor's race only if upward ticket-splitting trends among voters continue. Harris' campaign rolled out a new ad Friday it calls the first to link Trump to a down-ballot candidate. The commercial alternates between Trump’s praise for Robinson and the lieutenant governor’s comments which his critics have argued show his support for a statewide abortion ban without exceptions. Robinson's campaign have said that's not true. The Democratic National Committee is also running billboards in three major North Carolina cities showing a photo of Robinson and Trump and comments Trump has said about him. And a fundraising appeal Friday by Jeff Jackson, Democratic attorney general candidate, also includes a past video showing Republican opponent Dan Bishop saying he endorsed Robinson. “Every North Carolinian when they go to vote ought to look at whether a candidate has done that, because that sends a strong message about who you are as a candidate,” Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, a top Harris surrogate, said at a Friday news conference. CNN's story, which describes a series of comments that it said Robinson posted on the message board more than a decade ago, sent tremors through the state’s political class, particularly Republicans. While the state Republican Party came to Robinson’s defense late Thursday pointing out he's “categorically denied the allegations,” party Chairman Jason Simmons put out his own statement Friday calling them “deeply troubling” and that Robinson "needs to explain them to the people of North Carolina.” U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis , R-N.C., who endorsed a Robinson rival in the primary, said on X that Thursday “was a tough day, but we must stay focused on the races we can win.” He didn't mention the governor's race. U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina, chairman of House Republicans' campaign arm, discounted Robinson’s impact in North Carolina congressional races. CNN reported that Robinson, who would be North Carolina’s first Black governor, attacked on the message board civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in searing terms and once referred to himself as a “black NAZI.” CNN also reported that Robinson wrote of being aroused by a memory of “peeping” women in gym showers when he was 14 along with an appreciation of transgender pornography. Robinson at one point referred to himself as a “perv,” according to CNN. The Associated Press has not independently confirmed that Robinson wrote and posted the messages. CNN said it matched details of the account on the pornographic website forum to other online accounts held by Robinson by comparing usernames, a known email address and his full name. CNN reported that details discussed by the account holder matched Robinson’s age, length of marriage and other biographical information. It also compared figures of speech that were used in his public Facebook profile and that appeared in discussions by the account on the pornographic website. This story was first published on Sep. 20, 2024. It was updated on Nov. 22, 2024 to correct which of Robinson’s social media accounts CNN cited in a comparison to language in messages from a pornographic website message board. CNN cited his public Facebook account, not his Twitter account. Price reported from New York. Associated Press writers Kevin Freking in Washington, Meg Kinnard in Chapin, South Carolina and Makiya Seminera in Raleigh contributed to this report.We have much to be thankful for this year. One of those things is the defeat of Proposition 5, which would have made it easier to raise property taxes. Affecting homes, apartment buildings and commercial real estate, Prop. 5 would have burdened Californians with a higher cost of housing and a higher cost of living. We can all be grateful that voters resoundingly said no to that. It is also a good reminder of why we Californians should be thankful for Proposition 13, the 1978 initiative that put sensible limits on increases in property taxes, and put those limits into the state constitution. Prior to Proposition 13, property taxes were out of control. The tax rate throughout California averaged 2.67% of assessed value, and assessed value was regularly updated to match current market value. As inflation and market factors pushed property values higher and higher, homeowners received property tax bills based on their “paper profits,” with no limits on annual increases. Some properties were reassessed 50 to 100 percent higher in just one year, so their owners’ tax bills skyrocketed, often beyond the homeowners’ ability to pay. In one year in Los Angeles County alone, 400,000 people had not paid their property tax because they didn’t have the money, running the risk of being forced out of their homes. Retired people on fixed incomes were among the hardest hit. Many had paid off their mortgages yet faced losing their homes because they couldn’t afford the annual property tax bill. Then, just as millions of Californians were at risk of being driven out of their homes, Howard Jarvis gathered more than 1.5 million signatures to qualify a statewide initiative that would finally end excessive taxation and protect the security of property ownership — Proposition 13. An overwhelming majority of Californian voters voted for Proposition 13 despite a campaign of scare tactics. It turned out that nothing scared Californians more than opening their property tax bill. Proposition 13 made property taxes predictable and manageable. First, Prop. 13 cut the property tax rate from a statewide average of 2.67% down to 1%. To this day, even new homeowners are saving money compared to what they would have been paying. Check out the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association’s calculator at GuessingGame.org for a look at how much you’d be paying in annual property taxes if Prop. 13 had never passed. Second, it limits the annual increase in assessed value to the rate of inflation, capped at 2%. Under Prop. 13, even if a property doubles in market value in a single year, its “taxable value,” against which the assessor applies the 1% tax rate, can only be increased a maximum of 2% per year. Related Articles Opinion Columnists | Gavin Newsom should stop showboating and just do his job as governor of California Opinion Columnists | Will Trump double down on or fix Biden’s antitrust insanity? Opinion Columnists | Rafael Perez: Americans really need to relax and stop taking national politics so seriously Opinion Columnists | Elon Musk gets it: America’s legal immigration process need to change Opinion Columnists | Susan Shelley: The mundane reality of UFOs Third, Prop. 13 requires reassessment of property when it changes hands. This provides local governments with a stable and predictable source of tax revenue, which has grown virtually every year since 1978 in percentages that exceed inflation and population growth. Proposition 13 also protected taxpayers by requiring a two-thirds vote of the state legislature to raise taxes and by giving Californians the right to vote on local tax increases, with a two-thirds vote required to pass certain tax hikes. The two-thirds vote is particularly critical when it comes to property taxes. Because people can lose their homes if they can’t pay the property tax bill, the vote threshold must be higher than a simple majority of voters, many of whom are voting on a tax they won’t personally have to pay, at least not directly. It’s this two-thirds protection that Proposition 5 attempted to destroy. It’s hard enough to pay the bills in this state without politicians trying to raise taxes in every election. We’re thankful that Proposition 13 is protecting Californians, every day. Jon Coupal is president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.
International Business Machines Co. ( NYSE:IBM – Get Free Report ) was down 1.3% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $221.43 and last traded at $221.91. Approximately 327,849 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 92% from the average daily volume of 4,219,700 shares. The stock had previously closed at $224.89. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms recently commented on IBM. Bank of America raised their target price on International Business Machines from $209.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. StockNews.com cut shares of International Business Machines from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on shares of International Business Machines from $200.00 to $245.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, October 21st. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of International Business Machines from $208.00 to $222.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on shares of International Business Machines from $235.00 to $260.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, International Business Machines presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $208.94. Check Out Our Latest Report on International Business Machines International Business Machines Stock Performance International Business Machines ( NYSE:IBM – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 23rd. The technology company reported $2.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.27 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $14.97 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.08 billion. International Business Machines had a return on equity of 40.52% and a net margin of 10.22%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.20 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that International Business Machines Co. will post 10.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. International Business Machines Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, November 12th were given a $1.67 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, November 12th. This represents a $6.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.00%. International Business Machines’s payout ratio is 97.23%. Insider Activity In related news, SVP Nickle Jaclyn Lamoreaux sold 3,600 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $215.20, for a total value of $774,720.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 25,390 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,463,928. The trade was a 12.42 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link . 0.07% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Trading of International Business Machines Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in IBM. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. boosted its holdings in International Business Machines by 1,054.5% in the third quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 127 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 116 shares in the last quarter. Hara Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of International Business Machines during the 3rd quarter worth about $29,000. Oliver Lagore Vanvalin Investment Group acquired a new position in shares of International Business Machines during the 2nd quarter valued at about $36,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new stake in International Business Machines in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $43,000. Finally, Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in International Business Machines by 47.2% during the third quarter. Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management LLC now owns 240 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $53,000 after purchasing an additional 77 shares during the period. 58.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. About International Business Machines ( Get Free Report ) International Business Machines Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides integrated solutions and services worldwide. The company operates through Software, Consulting, Infrastructure, and Financing segments. The Software segment offers a hybrid cloud and AI platforms that allows clients to realize their digital and AI transformations across the applications, data, and environments in which they operate. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for International Business Machines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for International Business Machines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Sempra Named Among Newsweek's 'Most Responsible Companies'
Veteran actor Anupam Kher, who was last seen in the streaming movie Vijay 69 , is making the most of his trip to Thailand. Anupam Kher Shares Inspiring Insights From His 40-Year Film Career, Says ‘I’ve Never Stopped Experimenting or Challenging Myself’ (View Post). On Sunday, the senior actor took to his Instagram, and shared many pictures and videos from his vacation in which he could be seen enjoying fusion delicacies. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anupam Kher (@anupampkher) He also penned a long note in the caption, as he wrote, “This trip to #Thailand with my brother and childhood friends has been really special in many ways. Apart from my motivational lecture, travelling to #Ayutthaya (read Ayodhaya) temple to street shopping has been exceptional. But we ate some delicious food at some great restaurants too. Two of them stood out (Apart from @restaurant_gaa). Chef. @harinayak’s @jholbkk and @clarabangkok. Loved it and the people behind these wonderful places. Thank you and #Dhanyawad! #FriendsInThailand”. One of the delicacies was made from malabar parota and mushroom. Earlier, the actor took a walk down the memory lane as he felt that every experience in life counts. The senior actor earlier took to his Instagram, and shared pictures of himself at different locations, and in the company of different people. He also penned a long note in the caption, as he recollected his journey of 40 years in cinema, and the struggles that he went through. Anupam Kher Becomes New ‘Mahatma Gandhi’: Fake Currency Notes With Anupam Kher’s Photo and ‘Resole Bank of India’ Printed on Them Seized in Gujarat, Actor Reacts (See Pic and Video). He wrote, “Casa Maria, Bandra: Casa Maria on St Paul's Road is my third house in the city. This is during Saaransh (his debut film in 1984) and I was staying on the first floor”. He continued, “Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir, ( Bandra West). The first place I worked at when I came to Mumbai on June 3rd 1981 for a job in an acting school. Then I discovered that actually there was no building or a place or an acting school! We were conducting classes on the beach”. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 30, 2024 10:54 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com ).