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Selena Gomez engaged to record producer Benny Blanco – National
Entertainment, Movies

Selena Gomez engaged to record producer Benny Blanco – National

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Pop singer and actor Selena Gomez announced on Instagram Wednesday that she’s engaged to record producer Benny Blanco. The photo post by Gomez, 32, which showcased her engagement ring and what appears to be a picnic-like setup, is simply captioned “forever begins now.” Story continues below advertisement “Hey wait… that’s my wife,” Blanco, 36, jokingly commented on the post. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. The pair went public approximately a year ago, after they worked together on Gomez’s songs I ...
A way to generate income on GM and possibly buy it on the cheap using options
Business

A way to generate income on GM and possibly buy it on the cheap using options

GM's decision to integrate Cruise into its operations and pivot away from the development of robotaxis could have significant implications for the company and competitors and collaborators like Lyft, Uber, Waymo (Alphabet), and Tesla. I'll discuss it and lay out how to trade it with options. GM's move appears to prioritize scalable, near-term technologies over speculative long-term projects like robotaxis. A few years ago, when Meta focused massive resources toward building virtual reality at Mark Zuckerberg's direction, equity investors revolted. The stock fell sharply, and despite Zuckerberg's voting control of the company, the punishment of the stock's significant declines eventually contributed to a course correction by management, which reduced their investment in speculative endeavor...
How the Ford government in Ontario plans to escalate trade war with the U.S.
Politics

How the Ford government in Ontario plans to escalate trade war with the U.S.

Cutting off power to 1.5 million Americans, restricting imports of U.S.-made alcohol, and limiting exports of Canadian critical minerals are among the list of measures the Ford government is considering if a looming trade war with the incoming Trump administration escalates in the new year. On Wednesday, Premier Doug Ford, along with other Canadian premiers, met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss the 25 per cent tariffs U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose on all Canadian imports.After the meeting, Ford, who now believes there is a “100 per cent” chance that tariffs will be imposed in early January, offered a threat of his own: to “cut off” millions of American residents living in border states from Ontario’s energy exports.“It would turn off the lights to ...
This crypto play is a Wall Street darling, topping many 2025 picks lists
Business

This crypto play is a Wall Street darling, topping many 2025 picks lists

Investors are betting that shares of the fintech company Block Inc. will rally further in the new year. Analysts at three separate Wall Street firms recently named Block, a provider of financial services through technology platforms, as one of their top ideas heading into 2025. Block is the parent company of the Square point-of-sale system for businesses, Cash App for peer-to-peer payments by consumers and the buy now, pay later company Afterpay. Shares of Block have surged almost 27% in 2024 through Wednesday, lagging behind the 27.6% gain the S & P 500. But that's not deterring the Street. Bernstein, for example, which has the lowest price target of the three firms that recently touted Square, still sees Block rising to $120 next year, almost 22% above Wednesday's close. Analyst Hars...
Premier Danielle Smith to announce Alberta’s border security plan in response to tariff threat
Politics

Premier Danielle Smith to announce Alberta’s border security plan in response to tariff threat

By Staff The Canadian Press Posted December 12, 2024 8:38 am Updated December 12, 2024 9:21 am 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is set to announce today steps the province plans to take to shore up security at the Canada-United States border. It comes after incoming U.S. president Donald Trump pledged to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian and Mexican imports on his first day back in office in January.Trump has said the tariffs would remain ...
SpaceX valuation surges to $350 billion as company buys back stock
Business

SpaceX valuation surges to $350 billion as company buys back stock

SpaceX's next-generation Starship spacecraft atop its powerful Super Heavy rocket is launched on its sixth test at the company's Boca Chica launch pad in Brownsville, Texas, on Nov. 19, 2024.Joe Skipper | ReutersThe valuation of Elon Musk's SpaceX hit $350 billion based on a secondary share sale, CNBC confirmed Wednesday.SpaceX, as well as investors, agreed to buy stock from insiders in a $1.25 billion purchase offer at $185 a share, according to copies of the offer obtained by CNBC. The round does not include raising new capital, as the purchase offer represents a secondary sale of existing shares.Notably, SpaceX is buying as much as $500 million in common stock as part of the offer, in a rare share buyback that demonstrates the strength of the privately held company's financial position....
South Korea’s ruling party backs impeachment as president refuses to step down over martial law
World News

South Korea’s ruling party backs impeachment as president refuses to step down over martial law

By Gawon Bae, Jerome Taylor, Helen Regan and Lex Harvey, CNN A television screen shows South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol announcing the lifting of martial law, in Seoul, South Korea on December 4, 2024, hours after Yoon imposed it. Photo: YONHAP / AFP South Korea's ruling party has thrown its support behind attempts to impeach embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol over his ill-fated decision to declare martial law that sparked a political crisis and widespread public anger in the country. The announcement came moments before Yoon delivered a defiant speech Thursday (local time) in which he attempted to justify his hugely controversial martial law decision and rejected growing calls from across the political spectrum for him to stand down. The People Power Party (PPP) had initially re...
Canada Post, union resolve complaint over temporary layoffs – National
Politics

Canada Post, union resolve complaint over temporary layoffs – National

By Staff The Canadian Press Posted December 12, 2024 7:36 am Updated December 12, 2024 7:39 am 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size The union representing Canada Post workers says an unfair labour practice complaint over the company’s layoffs has been resolved. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers filed the complaint with the Canada Industrial Relations Board on Nov. 29 after hundreds of striking postal workers received temporary layoff notices while on strike.The union said in a st...
Targeting gut cells may open new way to reduce depression and anxiety
Health

Targeting gut cells may open new way to reduce depression and anxiety

Developing antidepressant medications that target cells in the gut may open a novel path towards effective treatment of mood disorders like depression and anxiety, finds a study. Targeting gut cells may open new ways to reduce depression and anxiety.  These gut-targeting medications may also lead to fewer cognitive, gastrointestinal, and behavioral side effects for patients and their children than current treatments. “Antidepressants like Prozac and Zoloft that raise serotonin levels are important first-line treatments and help many patients but can sometimes cause side effects that patients can’t tolerate,” said Mark Ansorge, Associate Professor of clinical neurobiology at Columbia University Vagelos. Ansorge noted that the study, published in the journal Gastroenterology, suggests tha...
Nike renews its contract with the NFL until 2038
Business

Nike renews its contract with the NFL until 2038

Nike football shoes are seen in a store in Krakow, Poland, on Aug. 29, 2024.Jakub Porzycki | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesNike has renewed its partnership with the National Football League for another 10 years after the league briefly opened the bidding process to competitors and held talks with other companies. Under the terms of the deal, Nike will continue to be the exclusive provider of uniforms and sideline, practice and base layer apparel for all 32 NFL teams through 2038. Nike has been the NFL's exclusive apparel provider since 2012. "This partnership renewal is a testament to the strength and success of our collaboration with the NFL," Nike's newly appointed CEO Elliott Hill said in a news release. "As we embark on this new chapter, we're committed to co-creating cutting-edge solutions t...