Several Republican attorneys general filed a lawsuit Wednesday against three major U.S. investment companies over concerns regarding their environmental activism. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and 10 other AGs accused BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street of violating antitrust laws by promoting environmental, social, and governance goals. The companies, some of the largest investors in U.S. coal production, allegedly pose a threat to competition within the energy industry. The complaint alleges the companies’ actions have driven up coal and energy prices. “As demand for the electricity Americans need to heat their homes and power their businesses has gone up, the supply of the coal used to generate that electricity has been artificially depressed—and the price has skyrocketed,” the document reads. “Defendants have reaped the rewards of higher returns, higher fees, and higher profits, while American consumers have paid the price in higher utility bills and higher costs.” The 109-page complaint charges the companies with seven violations and seeks $10,000 per violation, along with other fines. “Texas will not tolerate the illegal weaponization of the financial industry in service of a destructive, politicized ‘environmental’ agenda,” Paxton wrote on X. “BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street formed a cartel to rig the coal market, artificially reduce the energy supply, and raise prices. Their conspiracy has harmed American energy production and hurt consumers. This is a stunning violation of state and federal law.” BlackRock said it has complied with federal regulations regarding its involvement in the energy sector. “BlackRock’s holdings in energy companies are regularly reviewed by federal and state regulators,” it wrote. “We make these investments on behalf of our clients, and our focus is on delivering them financial returns.” “The suggestion that BlackRock has invested money in companies with the goal of harming those companies is baseless and defies common sense,” it added. “This lawsuit undermines Texas’ pro-business reputation and discourages investments in the companies consumers rely on.” State Street called the lawsuit “baseless” in a statement Friday morning. “State Street acts in the long-term financial interests of investors with a focus on enhancing shareholder value. As long-term capital providers, we have a mutual interest in the long-term success of our portfolio companies,” a State Street spokesperson said. The lawsuit follows President-elect Donald Trump’s decision to nominate Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright to lead the Department of Energy. Trump said Wright would oversee “U.S. energy dominance,” along with his pick to lead the Department of the Interior, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.Hannukah this year starts on Christmas Day in rare occurrence
Michigan upsets No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 for Wolverines' 4th straight win in the bitter rivalry COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Dominic Zvada kicked a 21-yard field goal with 45 seconds left and Michigan stunned No. 2 Ohio State 13-10, likely ending the Buckeyes’ hopes of returning to the Big Ten title game next week. Late in the game, Kalel Mullings broke away for a 27-yard run, setting up the Wolverines at Ohio State’s 17-yard line with two minutes remaining. The drive stalled at the 3, and Zvada came on for the chip shot. Ohio State got the ball back but couldn’t move it, with Will Howard throwing incomplete on fourth down to seal the Wolverines’ fourth straight win over their bitter rival. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a week$40,000 worth of goods stolen from Dak Prescott's fiancé's car the day before Luka Dončić's home was burglarized, police report saysMADRID (AP) — Spanish King Felipe VI used his traditional Christmas Eve speech to remember the victims of the catastrophic Valencia flash floods , and urged the country to remain calm while addressing hot-button issues such as immigration and housing affordability. In a pre-recorded speech that usually reviews the year's most relevant issues, Felipe said Spain “must never forget the pain and sadness" the floods caused. The Oct. 29 floods killed more than 225 people in eastern Spain, damaging countless homes and leaving graveyards of cars piled on top of each other. In some towns, the heavy downpours that caused the floods dropped as much as a year's worth of rain in just eight hours. In early November, as Spaniards' shock at the wreckage turned into frustration, a political blame game began, directed especially at regional authorities who failed to send timely emergency alerts to cell phones on the day of the floods. The frustration of residents in hard-hit Paiporta near Valencia was on display when people tossed mud and shouted insults at the king and government officials in early November when they made their first visit to the town. “We have seen — and understood — the frustration, the pain, the impatience, the demands for greater and more effective coordination," Felipe said about how the disaster was managed. He also addressed the country's housing crunch and high rents, which have become a leading concern in the southern European country that is the eurozone's fourth-largest economy. Fast-rising rents are especially acute in cities like Barcelona and Madrid, where incomes have failed to keep up, especially for younger people in a country with chronically high unemployment. Felipe urged that “all the actors involved reflect” and "listen to each other” so that they facilitate bringing access to housing under “affordable conditions.” Spain's immigration debate should keep in mind the country's European partners and immigrants' countries of origin, Felipe said, warning that “the way in which we are able to address immigration ... will say a lot in the future about our principles and the quality of our democracy.” Felipe said Spain needed to remain calm in the public sphere, even in the face of a “sometimes thunderous” contest in its politics.The insurance industry is projected to grow by 1.5-2.5% next year to achieve total premiums of around 291-294 billion baht, supported by economic and tourism recovery, said the Thai General Insurance Association (TGIA). In the first nine months of 2024, the non-life insurance sector recorded total premiums of 209 billion baht, edging 0.5% lower from the corresponding period of 2023. For the whole of 2024, the industry is projected to grow by 1% with premiums reaching 285-288 billion baht. This modest growth is attributed to several factors, including a sluggish economy, high household debt, structural changes within the industry, the impact of climate change and the country's transition to an aged society. TGIA president Somporn Suebthawilkul said the estimated performance for 2024 reflects ongoing economic challenges and uncertainties. However, the growth of health insurance and increased public awareness of natural disaster risks remain key drivers that underpin the future expansion of the industry. Most insurance categories showed minimal growth during the first nine months of the year compared with the same period last year. The exception was fire insurance, which grew 7.3%, with total premiums reaching 8.3 billion baht. On the other hand, motor insurance was down 1.3% with premiums of approximately 117 billion baht, driven by a 26% drop in new car sales and a decline in average premiums. Marine and transportation insurance saw premiums decrease 2.1% to 5.2 billion baht due to lower export volumes. By the end of the third quarter, the non-life insurance industry reported an overall loss ratio (LR) of 56.9% across all types, which was particularly notable in the categories of motor insurance, health insurance and all-risk insurance. By category, specific LR stood at 61.7% for motor insurance, 23.7% for fire insurance, 30% for marine insurance, 50.9% for miscellaneous insurance, 44% for all-risk insurance, 32% for legal liability, 48.8% for personal accident insurance, 65.5% for health insurance, 32.8% for travel insurance and 40.9% for other forms of insurance. "2025 represents new hope for the recovery of the non-life insurance industry, on the back of the global economic rebound, particularly in developing countries, and the adoption of digital technology or InsurTech, which helps reduce costs, improves efficiency and makes it easier to reach customers," said Mr Somporn. Moreover, there is increasing awareness of emerging risks, such as worsening natural disasters caused by climate change, the growing importance of cyber risk management for organisations at all levels and the intensifying competition within industry. These factors necessitate the continuous development of products to meet evolving customer needs, he added. Fire insurance is expected to attract greater attention next year, along with travel insurance, buoyed by positive factors such as the appreciation of the baht and government initiatives to stimulate the tourism sector. Mr Somporn noted that non-life insurance plays a vital role in helping individuals and businesses manage risks. It provides both financial protection and long-term stability by adapting to evolving circumstances and introducing new products tailored to customer needs. "Our industry's role is not merely a risk management tool but a key pillar that fosters economic stability and paves the way to a sustainable future."
Syria’s new foreign minister tells Iran not to spread chaos in SyriaBiometrics back developing shifts in KYC around the worldGiants release quarterback Daniel Jones just days after benching him EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Daniel Jones era in New York is over. The Giants quarterback was granted his release by the team just days after the franchise said it was benching him in favor of third-stringer Tommy DeVito. New York president John Mara said Jones approached the team about releasing him and the club obliged. Mara added he was “disappointed” at the quick dissolution of a once-promising relationship between Jones and the team. Giants coach Brian Daboll benched Jones in favor of DeVito following a loss to the Panthers in Germany that dropped New York's record to 2-8. Week 16 game between Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers flexed to Thursday night spot The Los Angeles Chargers have played their way into another prime time appearance. Justin Herbert and company have had their Dec. 22 game against the Denver Broncos flexed to Thursday night, Dec. 19. Friday’s announcement makes this the first time a game has been flexed to the Thursday night spot. The league amended its policy last season where Thursday night games in Weeks 13 through 17 could be flexed with at least 28 days notice prior to the game. The matchup of AFC West division rivals bumps the game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals to Sunday afternoon. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Noodles and wine are the secret ingredients for a strange new twist in China's doping saga Blame it on the noodles. That's what one Chinese official suggested when anti-doping leaders were looking for answers for the doping scandal that cast a shadow over this year's Olympic swim meet. Earlier this year, reports that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for a banned heart medication emerged. None were sanctioned because Chinese authorities determined the swimmers were contaminated by traces of the drug spread about a hotel kitchen. In a strange twist, the leader of China's anti-doping agency suggested this case could have been similar to one in which criminals were responsible for tainting noodles that were later eaten by another Chinese athlete who also tested positive for the drug. A civil jury in Ireland awards woman more than $250k for Conor McGregor sexual assault LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has found that mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor sexually assaulted a woman in a hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The Dublin jury awarded the woman nearly 250,000 Euros ($257,000) for her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her Dec. 9, 2018, leaving her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified he never forced her to do anything and that the woman had fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. The jury found for the woman on Friday. Nick Chubb plows through heavy snow for 2-yard TD, giving Browns 24-19 win over Steelers CLEVELAND (AP) — Nick Chubb ran for a 2-yard touchdown in heavy snow with 57 seconds left, and the Cleveland Browns stunned division rival Pittsburgh 24-19, ending the Steelers’ five-game winning streak. The Browns had blown a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter and were down 19-18 before getting the ball back with 3:22 remaining after Pittsburgh punter Corliss Waitman shanked a 16-yarder. With snow piling up and covering the yard lines on the field, Cleveland’s Jameis Winston completed a third-down pass to Jerry Jeudy to the Pittsburgh 9. Two plays later, Chubb barreled into the end zone. The AFC North-leading Steelers fell to 8-3 while the Browns are 3-8. Shohei Ohtani in early stages of rehab from shoulder surgery and hopes to be ready for opening day LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is in the early stages of rehabilitation from left shoulder surgery after the World Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar says the goal is for him to be ready to pitch and hit by opening day next March, but he's going to be conservative in his approach and make sure he's totally healthy first. Ohtani won his third MVP award Thursday, and first in the National League. He was in Los Angeles with his wife and beloved dog, Decoy, although because of his surgery four days after the Dodgers' World Series victory over the New York Yankees, the family hasn't been able to celebrate. Caitlin Clark to join Cincinnati bid for 16th National Women's Soccer League team WNBA star Caitlin Clark has joined Cincinnati’s bid for an expansion National Women’s Soccer League team. Major League Soccer franchise FC Cincinnati is heading the group vying to bring a women’s pro team to the city. The club issued a statement confirming Clark had joined the bid group. NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman has said the league plans to announce the league’s 16th team by the end of the year. The league's 15th team will begin play in 2026 in Boston. In a 'Final Four-type weekend,' two top-6 clashes put women's college basketball focus on West Coast LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two games featuring four powerhouse teams has put the focus in women's college basketball on the West Coast this weekend. JuJu Watkins and No. 3 Southern California host Hannah Hidalgo and No. 6 Notre Dame on Saturday. Top-ranked South Carolina visits Lauren Betts and fifth-ranked UCLA on Sunday. Both games are nationally televised and the arenas are expected to be packed. WNBA scouts will be on hand to check out some of the nation's top talent. Two teams will come away with their first losses of the season. USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb calls it “a Final Four-type weekend.” A documentary featuring Watkins will air on NBC ahead of USC's game, which leads into the Army-Notre Dame football game. Shohei Ohtani wins third MVP award, first in NL. Aaron Judge earns second AL honor in 3 seasons NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge earned his second American League honor on Thursday. Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was second with 263 points and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte third with 229. Judge was a unanimous pick for the first time. Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points.
85% candidates in Maha fray lose security deposit, Cong leads MVA chart with 9, none from BJP
Abnormal Patterns in Brain Waves May Indicate ADHD, Expert SaysCanada’s Trudeau says he had an ‘excellent conversation’ with Trump in Florida after tariffs threat
Nittany Lions will face No. 1 Oregon next Saturday in IndianapolisPoll: Most Agree Trump Should Pick Cabinet Members 'He Knows He Can Trust' over D.C. Experience
Colum Eastwood MP has said the Ofcom finding is a “clear demonstration that the North West isn’t a priority for BBC Northern Ireland”. Ofcom said the BBC had broadcast 300 fewer hours of news and current affairs on Radio Foyle in 2023/24 than it was required to. In 2023, the BBC cut its two-hour breakfast show on Radio Foyle down to 30 minutes as part of a number of schedule and programme changes. The decision provoked a number of protests from the public and politicians in Derry. In early 2024 the breakfast show replacement programme named North West Today was extended to an hour – but still an hour shorter than the original morning show. Ofcom said the BBC had informed it that the cuts meant it had "breached its BBC Radio Foyle news and current affairs condition". The operating licence condition requires the BBC to broadcast at least 1,043 hours of news and current affairs programmes (including repeats) on Radio Foyle. In June 2024, the Ofcom report said, the BBC told the regulator it had not met that quota. "In this case, the BBC has missed its quota by 300 hours, achieving only 71% of the required level of output," Ofcom said. The details of the breach are contained in an Ofcom report into the BBC's performance in 2024. BBC said it will be requesting that the regulator amends the operating licence to reflect changes to Radio Foyle’s output. Foyle MP Mr Eastwood said that the decision to seek changes to the license rather than providing the required news content is a” clear demonstration that the North West isn’t a priority for BBC Northern Ireland”. Colum Eastwood MP said: “When the BBC first announced its plan to cut programming at Radio Foyle, communities in the North West were rightly angry. “The decision ignored the unique political, cultural and news environment that exists here, it undermined hardworking staff and it diminished the entire station. It was, and remains, a bad call. “Our cross-party, cross-community campaign to resist the cuts was successful in saving elements of news programming but we were clear that the reduction in news content was a disservice to BBC staff, license fee payers and people who rely on public service broadcasting from Radio Foyle.” “The finding from Ofcom that the BBC breached its operating license by slashing news content in the North West is damning, it damages the credibility of BBC Northern Ireland as a broadcaster and it is deeply embarrassing for senior management. “People in the North West deserve first class public service broadcasting from the BBC. We have talented journalists, producers, researchers and broadcasters who can deliver it. It’s enormously disappointing that we aren’t a priority for BBC Northern Ireland.” The UK's communications regulator publishes annual reports into how the BBC is meeting the needs of viewers and listeners. When imposing the cuts at Foyle in 2023, the BBC said it was “committed to Foyle as a production centre for local and regional content”. The publicly funded corporation also said it would affect many different people within BBCNI. At the time BBC Radio Foyle had around 28 workers at its offices, while more than 600 staff are based in its headquarters in Belfast. According to the regulator's report, the BBC blamed "an internal miscommunication" which meant it "incorrectly believed it would still be able to meet its quota for this condition". "We consider that the quotas included in the Operating Licence are required to ensure the BBC continues to deliver content that reaches and serves all audiences," Ofcom said. "This is particularly the case where the quotas are intended to reach and serve specific audience groups, such as in this instance, where Radio Foyle serves audiences in the North West of Northern Ireland," it continued. "Non-compliance with these quotas is a potentially serious matter." A spokesperson for BBC Northern Ireland said: “We shortened the duration of our weekday news programme, re-directing editorial effort towards enhanced digital news output from/about the North West. And our Foyle newsroom has become an integrated part of the BBC’s region-wide news operation, delivering benefits for audiences and the service that we provide. “We announced these changes in November 2022 and they were the subject of significant discussion. Ofcom approval hadn’t been sought at the time. We set out this mistake clearly in the BBC’s Annual Report and Accounts in July 2024. "We will be requesting that Ofcom amends the operating licence to reflect changes to Foyle’s output.” The regulator said that it would assess the changes when it received the BBC's request and then decide what action to take about the breach of the quota.The night Donald Trump claimed victory, he celebrated with his closest friends. Among them was Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart. Rinehart, who describes herself as a “long standing member of the Trump support group ‘the Trumpettes’”, is not only cultivating her ties among America’s right-wing political elite. She also remains a highly influential figure in Australian politics. And with the Australian election just months away, Rinehart’s friendship with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is more pertinent than ever. Today, national correspondent for Mike Seccombe on Gina Rinhehart, her money, and how she uses it to shape the country. : Stay in touch with us on and : National correspondent for Mike Seccombe
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