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betfred wiki NEW YORK — U.S. stock indexes trimmed some of their stellar gains for the year. The S&P 500 slipped 0.4% Tuesday, though it’s still near its all-time high set earlier this month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 267 points, and the Nasdaq composite lost 0.3% from its record set the day before. Nvidia, the superstar stock that’s been a big reason for Wall Street’s run to records this year, fell for its eighth loss in the last nine days. Treasury yields held relatively steady after sales at U.S. retailers strengthened by more than expected. Bitcoin set another record. WASHINGTON — Consumers stepped up their spending at retail stores last month, providing a boost to the economy in the early phases of the winter holiday shopping season. Retail sales rose 0.7% in November, the Commerce Department said Tuesday, a solid increase and higher than October’s 0.5% gain. The boost in spending underscores that the economy is still growing at a healthy pace even with higher interest rates, a trend that could cause the Federal Reserve to lower borrowing costs more slowly next year than they have previously signaled. Tuesday’s report arrives just a day before the Fed is set to announce its latest rate decision Wednesday. WASHINGTON — Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm says the incoming Trump administration should proceed cautiously as it considers proposals for new natural gas export terminals. Granholm warns that “unfettered exports” of liquefied natural gas, or LNG, could raise wholesale domestic prices by more than 30% and increase planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. Granholm’s statement Tuesday came as the Energy Department released a long-awaited study on the environmental and economic impacts of natural gas exports, which have grown exponentially in the past decade. The analysis found that U.S. LNG shipments drive up domestic prices and could lead to higher global carbon emissions. WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden has endorsed a ban on congressional stock trading in an interview that’s being released this week. It’s the first time he’s publicly backed the idea. He made the comments to Faiz Shakir, a political adviser for Sen. Bernie Sanders. Shakir interviewed the Democratic president for A More Perfect Union, a pro-labor advocacy and journalism organization. The Associated Press reviewed a video of the interview before its release. A bipartisan proposal to ban trading by members of Congress and their families has dozens of sponsors, but it has not received a vote. NEW YORK — In a string of visits, dinners, calls, monetary pledges and social media overtures, big tech chiefs have joined a parade of business and world leaders in trying to improve their standing with President-elect Donald Trump before he takes office in January. The tech list includes Apple’s Tim Cook, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos. Meanwhile, the list of what the executives may be hoping for includes an open path toward developing artificial intelligence, easier access to energy for data centers and an easing of antitrust enforcement. COLUMBUS, Ohio — Amazon Web Services will invest another $10 billion to bolster its data center infrastructure in Ohio. The company and Republican Gov. Mike DeWine announced the plan Monday. The new investment will boost the amount it has committed to spending in Ohio by the end of 2029 to more than $23 billion. AWS launched its first data centers in the state in 2016. It currently operates campuses in two counties in central Ohio. The new investment will allow AWS to expand its data centers to new sites across the state, but the company says those locations have not been determined yet. WASHINGTON — Americans hoping for lower borrowing costs for homes, credit cards and cars may be disappointed after this week’s Federal Reserve meeting. The Fed’s policymakers are likely to signal fewer interest rate cuts next year than were previously expected. The officials are set to reduce their benchmark rate, which affects many consumer and business loans, by a quarter-point to about 4.3% when their meeting ends Wednesday. The problem is that while inflation has dropped far below its peak of 9.1% in mid-2022, it remains stubbornly above the Fed’s 2% target. WASHINGTON — A new poll finds that Democrats are feeling more pessimistic about the U.S. economy after Donald Trump’s victory. Republicans, meanwhile, are still dour about the current state of the economy but hopeful that growth will be stronger next year when Trump returns to the White House as president. The latest survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research suggests that some Americans are evaluating the economy more by who holds political power than on what the underlying trends suggest. This was a persistent challenge for President Joe Biden and raises the possibility that Trump might also struggle to translate his economic ideas into political wins. BANGKOK — Japanese tycoon Masayoshi Son has joined President-elect Donald Trump in announcing plans by technology and telecoms giant SoftBank Group to invest $100 billion in projects in the United States. Trump said the investments would create 100,000 jobs over four years, twice what Son promised when he pledged $50 billion in U.S. investments in 2016. Son is known for making bold choices, sometimes paying big and sometimes not. SoftBank has investments in dozens of Silicon Valley startups, big companies like semiconductor maker Arm and Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. The stock market rally and craze for AI has boosted the value of its assets, but some question if its investments will create that many jobs.US authorities on Tuesday charged the man suspected of gunning down a health insurance CEO in New York earlier this month with murder, including a charge of second-degree murder "as an act of terrorism." Mangione, 26, is accused of shooting UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson on a Manhattan street on December 4, triggering a nationwide manhunt that ended last week when he was spotted at a Pennsylvania McDonald's. The former data engineer remains jailed in that state as he fights efforts to extradite him to New York to face charges there over the killing, which brought into focus widespread public anger against the US health care system. Mangione "is charged with one count of murder in the first degree and two counts of murder in the second degree, including one count of murder in the second degree as an act of terrorism," said Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg. Bragg said the terrorism charge was included because the shooting met the prerequisites for such a determination under New York law. "In its most basic terms, this was a killing that was intended to evoke terror and we've seen that reaction," he said. "This was not an ordinary killing." The maximum penalty for the murder charges Mangione faces is life in prison without parole, Bragg said. The suspect was also charged with several crimes related to his possession of a weapon, which authorities said was a 3D-printed "ghost gun." "We allege he... took out a nine-millimeter 3D-printed ghost gun equipped with a 3D-printed suppressor and shot (Thompson) once in the back and once in the leg," said Bragg. "These weapons are increasingly proliferating throughout New York City and the entire country. Evolving technology will only make this problem worse," he said. "Last year, over 80 ghost guns and ghost gun parts were recovered in Manhattan alone." In the wake of Thompson's killing, many social media users have lionized Mangione, with some even calling for further killings of other CEOs. Jessica Tisch, the New York City police commissioner, criticized members of the public who had praised the murder. "In the nearly two weeks since Mr Thompson's killing, we have seen a shocking and appalling celebration of cold-blooded murder," said Tisch Mangione is due in a Pennsylvania court on Thursday, when he is also due at a hearing on his extradition to New York.

Bur Oak Resources Offers Ontario Renewable Energy Services 12-17-2024 10:30 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Content Hum Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2024/12/1734432908.jpg Pioneering Sustainable Solutions for Homes and Businesses in Ontario Bur Oak Resources is a leader in renewable energy solutions, offering cutting-edge, sustainable energy solutions for homes, businesses, and rural properties. With a strong commitment to reducing carbon footprints, the company is at the forefront of providing off-grid systems, wind turbine installations, and other eco-friendly technologies that make Ontario's energy future cleaner and more efficient. As Ontario continues to embrace sustainable energy solutions, Bur Oak Resources is helping to meet the growing demand for eco-friendly power sources. Their team specializes in developing and installing off-grid systems and wind energy solutions, allowing homeowners and businesses to generate and store their power. This move toward renewable energy is critical as the province aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build a resilient energy grid for the future. Bur Oak Resources is particularly well-known for its expertise in off grid systems Ontario [ https://bur-oak-resources.ca/off-grid-systems-ontario-canada ]. These systems are designed to provide complete energy independence to homeowners and businesses that are located far from the main power grid. Whether a remote cottage or a rural farm, off-grid solutions ensure a reliable and renewable energy supply using solar, wind, or hybrid systems. The company's experienced team works closely with clients to design and install customized off-grid systems that meet their energy needs and environmental goals. This ensures that Ontario residents can enjoy the benefits of renewable energy, regardless of their location. "We are committed to providing Ontarians with the tools and technology they need to reduce their environmental impact while increasing energy independence," said the spokesperson at Bur Oak Resources. "Our off-grid systems are a perfect example of how renewable energy solutions can empower people to take control of their energy needs, no matter where they live." One of the key offerings from Bur Oak Resources is the installation of Ontario wind turbines [ https://bur-oak-resources.ca/wind-turbines-ontario-canada ], a sustainable solution that harnesses the power of the wind to generate electricity. With the province's vast and diverse landscape, wind turbines are becoming an increasingly popular choice for those seeking to generate clean energy. Bur Oak Resources specializes in residential and commercial wind turbine installations, offering turnkey solutions, including site assessments, installation, and ongoing maintenance. Bur Oak Resources is a trusted provider of Ontario renewable energy [ https://www.bur-oak-resources.ca/ ] solutions, committed to delivering sustainable, cost-effective, and innovative systems to meet the energy needs of homes and businesses. With a focus on off-grid systems, Ontario wind turbines, and other renewable energy technologies, Bur Oak Resources helps clients take control of their energy use while reducing their environmental impact. The company's expert team offers full-service solutions, including energy audits, system design, installation, and maintenance, ensuring each project is tailored to the client's needs. Media Contact Company Name: Bur Oak Resources Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=bur-oak-resources-offers-ontario-renewable-energy-services ] Phone: 705-476-0990 Address:North Bay - Main Office 160 Pinewood Park Dr City: North Bay State: ON P1B 8Z4 Country: Canada Website: https://bur-oak-resources.ca/ This release was published on openPR.Cumberland Valley’s Jared Dolimpio sauntered to the bench midway through the second quarter of Saturday’s skirmish with Downingtown West. The sophomore was frustrated after missing two free throws. But Dolimpio’s reaction didn’t tell the whole story. It was more reflective of the individual competitiveness, the fight himself and the Eagles had exhibited through the first 12 minutes of play. The two missed attempts were the smallest of missteps in a race CV had seemingly already won. Dolimpio scored 15 of his game-high 21 points in the first quarter, fellow sophomore Aiden Diehl pumped in an additional 15, and the Eagles’ opening 18-0 run established the groundwork for a decisive 82-47 triumph over the Whippets in the Sauve Bros. Shootout at the Dome. “At the end of the day, it's always about the next game, the next opportunity,” CV head coach David Vespignani said. “So we just have to learn from the good and learn from the bad. Our kids are so competitive, and they're competitive with each other, too, and it's a good kind of competitive. They're constantly pushing and driving each other to kind of push out the best version of all of them. And when our kids know that individually, I think that's loud with kids, too.” The seating bowl had thinned out by the time CV (8-2) and Downingtown tipped off, but the Eagles gave the remaining faithful plenty to celebrate. Amid their 18-0 first-quarter spree, Dolimpio dropped 12 points while Diehl knocked down two 3-pointers for the remaining six. The Whippets (5-4) didn’t crack the scoreboard until 2:30 remained in the opening period. “It’s all of us just playing as a team, really,” Dolimpio said. “When we play with energy, everyone's gonna do their role. So everyone's doing their role and playing together.” When the regulation horn sounded, Dolimpio’s words were reflected. The Eagles had 12 scorers Saturday, including five of eight points or more. The running clock kicked in following a 49-14 halftime bludgeoning. CV's Elijah Welsh finished with nine points off the bench while starters Nolan Buzalka and Creston Austin III chipped in eight apiece. “There's positives and negatives of a lopsided win,” Vespignani said, “but (having so many scorers are) definitely a huge positive. Because those are guys who can play. They're guys who need those extended game minutes and experience to kind of just get the confidence in themselves.” Saturday’s victory was a change of confiedence for an Eagle squad that endured three overtime thrillers across its first five games. Couple that with a toilsome Mid-Penn Commonwealth schedule, and CV proved the daunting stretch paid dividens. Downingtown held serve with defending PIAA Class 6A champion Central York in a 71-54 opening-round loss Friday. Come Saturday, the Whippets didn’t hit their stride until a 17-point third quarter, and were led by Donovan Fromhartz and Brendon Kimble’s 12 points. “I think it started on the defensive end,” Diehl said. “Our offense just builds so much more energy off of what we do on defense. When we're getting stops, we're at our best, and we feel like we can score every time on the court.” The defensive stops came in bulk — 14 steals and three blocks — and the baskets were aplenty Saturday. Piloted by their sophomore surge, the Eagles were always looking to improve — in facets like free throws — but competitiveness was what steered the mastership. “It’s just a big momentum builder,” Diehl said. “We’re just trying to get the snowball rolling, and we’re going to keep it going as long as we can.” Carlisle's Parker Smith, left, shoots for two points over top of Cumberland Valley's Creston Austin III, right, during the first quarter of their Mid-Penn Commonwealth game at Carlisle High School. Carlisle's Luke Fischer, left, and Tyler Royal, right, battle with Cumberland Valley's Creston Austin III for a rebound during the first quarter of a Mid-Penn Commonwealth game at Carlisle High School. Carlisle's Lucas Ream lines up a three point shot during the first quarter of their Mid-Penn Commonwealth game against Cumberland Valley at Carlisle High School. Carlisle's Lucas Ream, left, and Luke Fischer, right, block Cumberland Valley's Creston Austin III during the first quarter of their Mid-Penn Commonwealth game at Carlisle High School. Carlisle's Tyler Royal shoots a free throw during the first quarter of their Mid-Penn Commonwealth game against Cumberland Valley at Carlisle High School. Carlisle's Luke Fischer, back, shoots for two points in front of Cumberland Valley's Sam Parsons during the first quarter of their Mid-Penn Commonwealth game at Carlisle High School. Carlisle's JD Knight, back, looks for an open teammate to pass to as Cumberland Valley's Aiden Diehl, right, applies pressure during the first quarter of their Mid-Penn Commonwealth game at Carlisle High School. Cumberland Valley's head coach Dave Vespignani yells instructions to his team during the first quarter of their Mid-Penn Commonwealth game against Carlisle at Carlisle High School. Carlisle's JD Knight, back, passes the ball away from in front of Cumberland Valley's Joe Richardson, right, during the second quarter of their Mid-Penn Commonwealth game at Carlisle High School. Carlisle's JD Knight shoots a free throw after getting fouled during the second quarter of their Mid-Penn Commonwealth game against Cumberland Valley at Carlisle High School. Carlisle's Masyn McMeekin, right, drives the ball around Cumberland Valley's Aiden Diehl, left, during the second quarter of their Mid-Penn Commonwealth game at Carlisle High School. Carlisle's Parker Smith, right, attempts a shot in front of Cumberland Valley's Creston Austin III, left, during the third quarter of their Mid-Penn Commonwealth game at Carlisle High School. Carlisle's head coach Andre Anderson watches his team play during the third quarter of their Mid-Penn Commonwealth game against Cumberland Valley at Carlisle High School. Christian Eby is a sports reporter for The Sentinel and cumberlink.com . You can contact him at ceby@cumberlink.com and follow him on Twitter at: @eby_sports Sent weekly directly to your inbox! Sports Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

Unlock Hidden Features! Master Interactive Charts TodayBy Jim Rossman, Tribune News Service (TNS) Everyone seems to be listening to something. I’m not sure what they’re listening to, because they all seem to be wearing headphones. I suppose they’re all listening to their favorite podcast or just their playlists. Here are a few gift suggestions for headphones that’ll make anything sound better. I’ve listed the retail pricing, but don’t be surprised if you find them on sale. We’ve all tried traditional earbuds. They can sound good if the fit is correct. The SoundCore AreoFit 2 ($99.99, soundcore.com) don’t fit inside your ear canal. Instead, they sit on the outside of your ear. The battery sits behind your ear, much like a hearing aid. The speaker is attached by a sturdy, yet flexible cable. The only adjustment is on the speaker end – it clicks to adjust the angle of the speaker to sit directly over your ear canal. The fact that they don’t insert into your ears means you can still hear the outside world, so you are not so isolated. These are great for jogging or biking. The sound is really nice. The full range of sound comes in very clearly and the form factor is comfortable to wear, even for hours at a time. There are four microphones, so your voice sounds clear on phone calls. They have an IP55 rating, so they can withstand water spashing, sweat or dust. They can also connect to more than one device, so you can keep them paired to your phone and laptop and switch easily between them. The AeroFit 2 can play for 10 hours on a charge. They live in a battery case that can keep them charged for more than 40 hours. The charging case can power up via a USB-C port or a Qi wireless charger. They are available in white, blue, green or black. The Soundcore C40i ($99.99, soundcore.com) is another fun option in a non-traditional form factor. Instead of going inside or even over the top your ears, the C40i earbuds are u-shaped and they clip on the sides of your ears. They are unlike anything I’ve ever tried, and they sounded surprisingly good once you get them in the right spot. They are a bit flexible, in that you can pull them apart slightly to get them in the right spot. Once you let go, they gently grip your earlobe. I must admit I was a little self-conscious when I first started wearing the C40i earbuds, as they look a bit like earrings. The fit is interesting. The end with the speaker sits in front of your ear canal and the end with the battery and action button goes behind your ear. You can adjust them on your ear until the sound becomes clear. It’ll be obvious to your ears when you have them adjusted correctly. If your earlobes are thin, there are some rubber sleeves that can help with the fit. You want them to be snug, but not to the point where they are pinching your ears. There is a customizable button on the back of each earbud for call and music control. They are on the small side, so the battery life is seven hours before needing to return to the case for a charge. The case can charge them twice more before it needs recharging. The case charges via USB-C cable, but it is too small for wireless chargers. The earbuds have a 12mm x 17mm oval shaped driver and the sound quality is very good. Voice quality on phone calls also surprised me with its clarity. They sync with the Soundcore phone app to let you assign the button commands and tweak the sound settings. They also can pair to two devices at once. Frequent flyers know all about noise canceling over-the-ear headphones. These headphones usually have active noise canceling, which uses microphones to listen to the ambient noise and reduce it before it can get to your ears. What I’m noticing is more and more people wearing these during workouts or just walking around. The Baseus Bowie 30 Max noise canceling headphones ($79.99, baseus.com) are fairly generic looking headphones, but their performance is incredible for the price. Baseus says the Bowie 30s can eliminate 96 percent of noise, but that actual noise cancellation will vary depending on the ambient noise level. I can tell you the noise canceling is impressive. There is also a transparency mode that lets in outside sounds so you can have a conversation with someone without taking them off. You can pair them to the free Baseus phone app to unlock some additional features including spatial acoustics, bass enhancement and low-latency mode. These connect to your phone or PC wirelessly via Bluetooth or wired with an included 3.5mm cable. They last an impressive 65 hours on a charge without noise canceling or 50 hours with noise canceling enabled. The ear cups and piece that fits over the top of your head are nicely padded and the entire headset folds up to take up less room in your bag. ©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Thomas Tuchel’s first England game confirmed with new boss handed Wembley World Cup double-header in March

AMHERST, Mass. (AP) — Malek Abdelgowad scored 26 points as UMass beat UMass-Boston 86-52 on Saturday. Abdelgowad also contributed 14 rebounds for the Minutemen (4-7). Daniel Rivera added 11 points while going 4 of 6 and 3 of 7 from the free-throw line while they also had 10 rebounds. Jaylen Curry had 10 points and finished 4 of 7 from the field. The Beacons were led in scoring by Cameron Perkins, who finished with 13 points, six rebounds and two steals. Xavier McKenzie added 13 points, two steals and two blocks for UMass-Boston. Raphel Laurent also recorded eight points. UMass took the lead with 15:49 remaining in the first half and did not relinquish it. The score was 47-24 at halftime, with Abdelgowad racking up 18 points. UMass extended its lead to 66-36 during the second half, fueled by a 14-2 scoring run. Abdelgowad scored a team-high eight points in the second half as their team closed out the win. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Published 4:20 pm Friday, December 13, 2024 By Staff Reports Ranked squads are on Saturday’s college basketball schedule in six games, including the Middle Tennessee Raiders taking on the Kansas State Wildcats. Watch women’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up. Catch tons of live women’s college basketball , plus original programming, with ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle.Subscribe Search Search Sort by Relevance Title Date Subscribe ALBAWABA - In a bid to strengthen their position against growing international competition in the electric vehicle (EV) sector, Honda Motor and Nissan Motor are reportedly commencing talks on a possible merger. Also Read Tesla Model Q, affordable EV rumored for 2025 The two manufacturers are reportedly considering setting up a single holding company, but specifics, such as share distribution remain to be determined, according to the Nikkei, with Mitsubishi Motors, in which Nissan holds a 24% stake, potentially be brought under the umbrella of this new alliance. If finalized, the merger would reshape Japan’s auto industry by consolidating it into two primary forces; Toyota Motor Corp, and a newly formed Honda-Nissan-Mitsubishi group. EXCLUSIVE: Honda Motor and Nissan Motor will enter negotiations toward a merger, Nikkei has learned, joining their resources to better compete against Tesla and Chinese electric vehicle makers in a rapidly changing automobile industry. https://t.co/neVDHqCwXY — Nikkei Asia (@NikkeiAsia) December 17, 2024 The initiative comes as both companies deal with growing threats from fierce EV rivals like Tesla and Chinese manufacturers like BYD. Even though Honda and Nissan have sold 7.4 million cars collectively in 2023, they continue to find it challenging to keep up with the quick EV advancements in China and other regions. An important step toward cooperation was taken in March when the two manufacturers announced their intention to work together to develop EV technology, such as software and batteries. The need of adaptability was emphasized at the time by Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida, stating “Emerging players are very aggressive and are making inroads at incredible speed,” The Guardian reports. The merger could represent the biggest consolidation in the sector since Stellantis was created in 2021 through the $52 billion merger between Fiat Chrysler and PSA Group. It also brings attention to various broad sector issues, such as declining earnings, a slowdown in EV demand, and the significant financial outlays necessary to switch from internal combustion engines to electric powertrains. A passionate about the Gaming Industry with a career of over 5 years in the field, I write about current trends and news in the Game Development business and how it impact the industry and players. Laith has recently started a new position at Al Bawaba as a freelance business writer. Subscribe Sign up to our newsletter for exclusive updates and enhanced content Subscribe Now Subscribe Sign up to get Al Bawaba's exclusive celeb scoops and entertainment news Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive updates and enhanced content SubscribeLamar defeats Ragin' Cajuns 74-45

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AP Business SummaryBrief at 4:39 p.m. ESTVance takes on a more visible transition role, working to boost Trump’s most contentious picksBy MARY CLARE JALONICK, STEPHEN GROVES and KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump ’s allies on Capitol Hill rallied around Pete Hegseth, Trump’s Pentagon pick, on Thursday even as new details surfaced about allegations that he had sexually assaulted a woman in 2017. The GOP embrace of Hegseth came as another controversial Trump nominee, Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration for attorney general. Gaetz said it was clear he had become a “distraction” amid pressure on the House to release an ethics report about allegations of his own sexual misconduct. An attorney for two women has said that his clients told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017, when Gaetz was a Florida congressman. Fresh questions over the two nominees’ pasts, and their treatment of women, arose with Republicans under pressure from Trump and his allies to quickly confirm his Cabinet. At the same time, his transition has so far balked at the vetting and background checks that have traditionally been required. While few Republican senators have publicly criticized any of Trump’s nominees, it became clear after Gaetz’s withdrawal that many had been harboring private concerns about him. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who served with Gaetz in the House, said it was a “positive move.” Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker said it was a “positive development.” Maine Sen. Susan Collins said Gaetz “put country first and I am pleased with his decision.” After meeting with Hegseth, though, Republicans rallied around him. “I think he’s going to be in pretty good shape,” said Wicker, who is expected to chair the Senate Armed Services Committee in the next Congress. Republican senators’ careful words, and their early reluctance to publicly question Trump’s picks, illustrated not only their fear of retribution from the incoming president but also some of their hopes that the confirmation process can proceed normally, with proper vetting and background checks that could potentially disqualify problematic nominees earlier. Gaetz withdrew after meeting with senators on Wednesday. Sen. Thom Tillis said Gaetz was “in a pressure cooker” when he decided to withdraw, but suggested that it would have little bearing on Trump’s other nominees. “Transactions — one at a time,” he said. As the Hegseth nomination proceeds, Republicans also appear to be betting that they won’t face much backlash for publicly setting aside the allegations of sexual misconduct — especially after Trump won election after being found liable for sexual abuse last year. Hegseth held a round of private meetings alongside incoming Vice President JD Vance on Thursday in an attempt to shore up support and told reporters afterward: “The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared, and that’s where I’m gonna leave it.” A 22-page police report report made public late Wednesday offered the first detailed account of the allegations against him. A woman told police that she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave. The report cited police interviews with the alleged victim, a nurse who treated her, a hotel staffer, another woman at the event and Hegseth. Hegseth’s lawyer, Timothy Palatore, said the incident was “fully investigated and police found the allegations to be false.” Hegseth paid the woman in 2023 as part of a confidential settlement to head off the threat of what he described as a baseless lawsuit, Palatore has said. Wicker played down the allegations against Hegseth, a former Fox News host, saying that “since no charges were brought from the authorities, we only have press reports.” Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., said after his meeting with Hegseth that he “shared with him the fact that I was saddened by the attacks that are coming his way.” Hagerty dismissed the allegations as “a he-said, she-said thing” and called it a “shame” that they were being raised at all. The senator said attention should instead be focused on the Defense Department that Hegseth would head. It’s one of the most complex parts of the federal government with more than 3 million employees, including military service members and civilians. Sexual assault has been a persistent problem in the military, though Pentagon officials have been cautiously optimistic they are seeing a decline in reported sexual assaults among active-duty service members and the military academies. Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, who will be the No. 2 Republican in the Senate next year, said after his meeting with Hegseth that the nominee is a strong candidate who “pledged that the Pentagon will focus on strength and hard power – not the current administration’s woke political agenda.” Senate Republicans are under pressure to hold hearings once they take office in January and confirm nominees as soon as Trump is inaugurated, despite questions about whether Trump’s choices will be properly screened or if some, like Hegseth, have enough experience for the job. Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed, who will be the top Democrat on the panel next year, said the reports on Hegseth “emphasized the need for a thorough investigation by the FBI on the background of all the nominees.” It takes a simple majority to approve Cabinet nominations, meaning that if Democrats all opposed a nominee, four Republican senators would also have to defect for any Trump choice to be defeated. Trump has made clear he’s willing to put maximum pressure on Senate Republicans to give him the nominees he wants – even suggesting at one point that they allow him to just appoint his nominees with no Senate votes. But senators insist, for now, that they are not giving up their constitutional power to have a say. “The president has the right to make the nominations that he sees fit, but the Senate also has a responsibility for advice and consent,” said Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota. In the case of Gaetz, he said, “I think there was advice offered rather than consent.” Boston.com Today Sign up to receive the latest headlines in your inbox each morning. Be civil. Be kind.

Manikbabur Megh —The Cloud and the Man—is a film about a lonely man falling helplessly in love with a cloud. Or the other way around. It boasts of a captivating performance by Chandan Sen, a stage and screen veteran who, despite his staggering talent, continues to be Bengal’s best-kept secret. The film marks the debut of a remarkable directorial voice in the form of Abhinandan Banerjee, who also wrote the screenplay. The central character of Manikbabu is an exceptional role, etched with extreme care and performed with great virtuosity by Sen. Manikbabu revels in his loneliness—his isolation is not imposed but self-inflicted. He loves nothing more than to be left to himself, tending to his dying father and to the plants on his terrace. When his father dies, the distraught but stoic Manikbabu feels a presence, a shade overhead. It seems to follow him wherever he goes. Thus begins one of the most bizarre but moving love stories to be filmed in recent times. Sen’s parents were involved in the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA), so theatre flourished in him organically. He has been a part of Bengali theatre ever since the late 70s. Among his teachers was the late great Utpal Dutt. It was in the mid-1980s that Sen started doing television and then graduated to the movies. Whether it was a key “supporting” role or bit parts, Sen managed to leave his mark. But barring one film called Aloy Phera , where he played a member of the Lodha tribe, there have been no significant lead roles coming his way. Until now. From the first scene to the last, Manikbabur Megh sparkles with Sen’s delectable performance. So, how did he approach the role of Manikbabu, a recluse who is supposed to be in a relationship with a wisp gliding through the ether? “I imagined that it was a person I was falling in love with. To me, she was a person, not merely a cloud. I thought it best to look at it that way, at least in the beginning. But gradually, as we progressed, I began seeing it/her as a cloud,” says Sen. Throughout several interviews, Sen has been insisting that the film is, at its core, just a good old love story. But when the script reached his desk, he could immediately see it for what it was. “Fortunately, I have a bad habit of reading the likes of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Bibhutibhushan Banerjee and Rabindranath Tagore. As a result, I am aware of magic realism, and how rare it is that one encounters it in a screenplay. But when that happens, nothing could be more pleasurable,” he says. The screenplay of Manikbabur Megh had such subtlety and nuance that when he read it, Sen looked at the 23-year-old Banerjee sceptically. “I actually gave him a suspicious look. Had this boy really written THIS script?” For Banerjee, etching out the character of Manikbabu has been a lifelong quest. “The story idea wouldn’t have come to me if it hadn’t been for this character (of Manikbabu). For me, the cloud is a harbinger for the liberation of the character.” Cinema has, for the longest time, examined loneliness in all its hues. Right from Travis Bickle ( Taxi Driver ) and Theodore ( Her ) to Fern ( Nomadland ), there has been a long line of lonely men and women on screen. But it is seen as an undesirable state, with characters finding ways of avoiding it or reeling from the impact of it. It is supposed to invoke pity or empathy. But for Manikbabu, loneliness is celebratory. “This character was brewing in me for a long time, and it was embedded with loneliness, but not how it is normally portrayed. It’s about the acceptance and celebration of loneliness. Very spontaneously and naturally, he likes to avoid crowds. If a lift is crowded, he would gladly take the stairs. On a bench, he would shift a little only to have some space between him and the other people. It’s these choices of the character that will create the resonance where a man can find that kind of connection with a cloud,” explains Banerjee. This is a hypersensitive man, one who is able to perceive things other “normal” people can’t. He takes care to avoid stepping on a flower, picks it up and tucks it beside his father’s old tape-recorder. One outcome of his self-imposed isolation is that he barely speaks, if at all. He is not taciturn; he just doesn’t feel the need to talk. In this respect, Manikbabu’s solitudinarianism brings to mind Hirayama, the central character in Wim Wender’s Perfect Days . Much like Manikbabu, Hirayama likes to keep to himself. Koji Yakusho, while speaking about his performance in Perfect Days , said: “Films are expressed more powerfully in those moments that don’t have the words.” Sen, whose layered performance of Manikbabu predated Yakusho’s work by at least four years ( Perfect Days was shot in Tokyo around 2023, while Manikbabur Megh was filmed in Kolkata in the peak summer of 2019), says what drew him to Banerjee’s script was the scope for “onuchcharito shonglap” , which roughly—and inadequately—translates to “unpronounced dialogue”. What he refers to is the ability to convey the contents of dialogue without uttering a word. “One of the things that attracted me to the script was that I had to speak an infinite number of such unpronounced dialogues. In a 97-minute-long film, I got to do that for 90 minutes. It is the dream of any actor,” Sen says. For Sen, Manikbabu has been, quite literally, the role of a lifetime. “Because of their political affiliations, my parents had to often be underground and leave me to do things on my own. From a very young age, I was able to travel to school by myself or go out on the streets alone,” he says. This experience of being comfortable in his own company equipped Sen with the kind of mindset that prepared him for Manikbabu. It was as if life had been. Besides, it is his belief that the sacred duty of the actor is to observe, and especially observe those who are slightly different in some way. “An actor must see such people with a keen eye and then when the time comes, not imitate them but capture their essence,” he avers. As far as Banerjee is concerned, Manikbabu also harks back to one of Bibhutibhushan’s abiding creations, one that was immortalised on the screen by another “Manik”—little Apu. In a poignant episode from Bibhutibhushan’s Pather Panchali , Apu’s father Harihar scolds the child for staring with his mouth wide open all the time. “A person like that, whose eyes are not merely recording devices, sees more than we ever can,” says Banerjee. “This ability shapes their psyche,” he adds. He sees himself as a smarter version of Manikbabu, he elaborates, the one who could sail through societal norms to make things happen. But why a cloud? The only parallel that comes to mind is Ritwik Ghatak’s Ajantrik , in which a taxi-driver is in a dysfunctional relationship with his Chevrolet jalopy. “The film is an allegory of liberation through the force of nature. That force could very well have been a tree,” explains Banerjee, “but a cloud is a mobile thing. Its shape changes, mood changes, it evolves according to seasons and times of the day.” In the end, Sen reminds us, Manikbabu is a part of us, with some notable exceptions “There’s a bit of Manikbabu in all of us, except politicians and the likes of Elon Musk,” says Sen. Amborish Roychoudhury is A national film award-winning writer, biographer and film historian