Reasons to Upgrade Your Business Infrastructure in 2025Anyone who has shopped for groceries with a toddler knows to be on high alert for the impulse items the store has thoughtfully placed at a child’s eye height. And these days, grown-ups investing using web platforms or mobile investment apps must also be on high alert for carefully placed virtual nudges that might encourage impulsive trades . A growing body of research has found that many seemingly innocuous design decisions embedded in investment apps or websites — such as replacing checkboxes with swipes or highlighting lists of stocks that have had the biggest price moves — can encourage investors to trade more. That can generate profits for the brokerage, but research has long shown that it can also reduce investors’ long-term returns. Even in an era of zero trading commissions, brokers benefit from trading volume. They might receive a commission for directing your order to a particular market maker , for instance. Or they might simply want to keep you engaged so they can entice you into more-expensive or fee-generating products and services. Subscribe to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail. Brokerages are in a bind: On the one hand, they want to make their sites as engaging, easy to use and profitable as possible. But they also need to retain their customers’ trust. And regulators are watching as investing moves increasingly online. “Securities regulators have been focused on digital engagement practices to ensure that these technological advances incorporate adequate investor protections,” says Amanda Senn , director of the Alabama Securities Commission. “They should not be allowed to encourage poor investment practices or incorporate manipulative tactics.” In January 2024, for example, Robinhood Markets settled charges by the Massachusetts Securities Division and agreed to eliminate from its app game-like features such as digital confetti that celebrated trades. Although Robinhood did not admit or deny any wrongdoing (and it had removed the confetti back in 2021), as part of the Massachusetts settlement, the firm also agreed to stop sending out emoji-laced e-mail messages about the day’s “top movers,” which the state agency argued prompted recipients to make impulsive trades. (Robinhood did not respond to requests for comment for this article.) Brokerages have tamped down on most of the game-like features, regulators say. Still, worrisome “dark patterns” — the term for design choices that users may not realize are steering them to take certain actions — remain. Dark patterns are typically made up of two kinds of design choices: “nudges,” which encourage users toward some action, and “sludge,” which makes it more difficult to take an action. Experts who’ve studied online investment platform designs recommend that investors watch for characteristics that might influence how they make investing decisions — especially those that might negatively affect their portfolio. Here are some of the things to look for: Does the platform create a sense of urgency? On many brokerage websites and apps, among the first things investors see are the one-day returns of their portfolios, news headlines or lists of “biggest movers” or “most traded” stocks. Brokerages say their research indicates that’s what clients want. “On any given day, who’s logging into the app? It’s active traders, who tend to want to know, ‘How am I doing today? What’s driving the performance of the market and my account?’” explains Jon Nelson , director of digital trading experience at Charles Schwab. He adds that the Schwab site also typically displays longer-term results next to one-day returns. But James Tierney , an assistant professor at Chicago Kent College of Law and former attorney for the SEC, says that by highlighting short-term news and returns, brokerages “are pushing the idea that there are short-term swings in prices that are potentially tradeable and profitable. This gives rise to the false belief that by trading you can capture those gains.... And there is a ton of academic research showing the more you trade, the worse you do.” Many online brokerages enable clients to personalize landing pages, so you can reduce the short-term distractions. But news headlines are everywhere. Benjamin Schiffrin , director of securities policy for Better Markets, a nonprofit focused on investor protection, suggests a self-imposed waiting period before making portfolio decisions based on headlines or short-term price swings. Does the platform make it too easy to trade? Of course, investors want their brokerage platforms to be easy to use. But investors should be wary if the website or app makes things too easy. Schiffrin, for example, is worried about platforms’ expansion of trading hours late into the night. That makes trading easier for those whose day jobs don’t allow for time on brokerage apps. But, he says, “people are more apt to act impulsively in the middle of the night.” And in a January 2024 report, the Ontario Securities Commission said it was concerned about U.S. and Canadian investing websites and apps that enabled “one-click trading,” rather than the more typical practice of requiring a second step to confirm orders. The commission said it was also monitoring apps and sites that made it easy for unsophisticated investors to start trading options. And it alerted investors to notice mobile apps that enable trade confirmations with a swipe. A recent experiment found that users made larger investments when they could execute trades using swipes instead of clicking on boxes. The commission said that investors are better served when platforms inject a little extra “friction into processes where it is known that users are making fast decisions — for example, placing a trade — to help prompt vigilance and thoughtfulness in decision-making.” Investors can think of such friction as “good sludge.” Interactive Brokers’ basic web trading platform is one of the services that enables one-click trading. And Interactive, like many other brokerages, also promotes after-hours trading. Steve Sanders , the company’s executive vice president of marketing and product development, notes that these options are permitted by law, and users like them. Interactive also uses good sludge to slow down certain trades. For example, it requires a confirmation screen for those placing market orders, which are orders to buy or sell a stock at the market price when the order is executed, no matter what that price is. Interactive uses the extra step to nudge customers to use a limit order, which specifies the most a buyer is willing to pay for the shares, or the least a seller is willing to accept, which prevents investors from being victimized by sudden price movements, Sanders says. Does the platform make trading too much fun? To keep customers engaged, investing platforms have experimented with design tweaks, including social media-like features such as emojis and indicators of popularity, or using vibrant colors — such as green, which traditionally denotes gains. “At best, these practices encourage motivation and engagement,” says Tierney, the former SEC lawyer. But there can be too much of a good thing. The more a brokerage app looks and feels like a gambling or gaming site, the warier investors should be, he says. Note: This item first appeared in Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine, a monthly, trustworthy source of advice and guidance. Subscribe to help you make more money and keep more of the money you make here . Related content Investment Gamification: Not All Cons, Some Important Pros Best Online Brokers and Trading Platforms Who Are the Best Small Online Brokers?
A new year on the London Underground is around the corner. This brings with it developments on the network, and maybe progress towards some long-term goals. Sadiq Khan and Transport for London (TfL) say they need more cash from the Government for some of the capital's largest projects. But some things are already underway. Changes coming in 2025 include new trains and the roll out of new technology at stations and on lines. In addition, discussions will definitely be happening behind the scenes regarding proposals that need developing further. READ MORE: Plans for new London Overground station next to HS2 'under consideration' New Piccadilly line trains A change that is definitely coming is new trains on the Piccadilly line. The stock is part of a £2.9 billion upgrade. Next year, this will begin in earnest as customers will be able to ride the state-of-the-art carriages for the first time. They will be introduced over two years, with the final train rolled out in 2027. Passengers will be able to enjoy walk-through carriages, air con, USB charging ports and better travel information. As well as the new stock, the power system on the Piccadilly line will be upgraded. TfL says this will ensure that the new trains run as reliably and efficiently as possible when it starts running more at the busiest times. The new trains will be also be 'rigorously tested' before they carry our customers. Officials say TfL is also improving its train maintenance depots to ensure that the stock 'works reliably, efficiently and provide the maximum comfort'. At Cockfosters and Northfields depots, staff are building new facilities to maintain the trains with extra stabling track and cleaning facilities. At South Harrow , TfL has installed extra stabling track so that trains can be quickly brought into use when services start to run more frequently. In addition, bosses say the following will be delivered: Four lines modernisation A new signalling system is being installed on the Circle, Hammersmith and City, District and Metropolitan lines. In September 2022, TfL introduced a new timetable. Officials say this has improved journey times by around five per cent on average on the Circle and District lines between Monument, Fulham Broadway, Barons Court and Paddington. Since September 2021, bosses add that journey times between Hammersmith and Aldgate have improved by approximately 10 per cent. Operators have also increased the number of trains between Baker Street and Aldgate from 27 trains an hour to 28 trains an hour during the busiest times. TfL says that areas still to go live include the Metropolitan Line north of Finchley Road and sections of the District line from Barons Court to Stamford Brook and Fulham Broadway to East Putney. The next section to come into service will be on the Metropolitan line between Finchley Road and Preston Road in 2025, officials add. Bakerloo line extension and new stock Something that is less certain, however, is what is happening with the proposed Bakerloo line extension to Lewisham. TfL says more cash from the Government is needed, and a new fleet of trains for the Tube's brown line will need to be built first. This will also require money. But this is included as an option in an already existing contract with Siemens , the same firm that is producing the new Piccadilly line trains. So it's down in black and white in some form. In addition, TfL has asked Aecom and architects WW+P to examine the feasibility of constructing four new stations. These are Burgess Park, Old Kent Road, New Cross Gate and Lewisham. The New Civil Engineer reports that this is expected to take four months. It seems that the extension will be dependent on how well the UK's economy performs in 2025. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, told MyLondon in April : "Of course I want to see the investment in infrastructure our country needs to grow after 14 years of mismanagement. But we have to always show where the money is going to come from, and we need to grow the economy to be able to release funds for crucial infrastructure investment." However, Ms Reeves has said that she will change the Government's self-imposed debt rules in order to free up billions of pounds for infrastructure spending. This is to 'grow the economy', she said. The DfT says that it is working with the Mayor on funding for TfL. Air filters, noise measures and cooling the Tube down The trial of an air filtration system at Baker Street started in May 2024. The technology will be assessed over the coming months to understand its ability to handle large volumes of air, the rate at which dust is captured, ease of maintenance, and any other possible issues, Sadiq Khan has said. The mayor's TfL budget for this year also said that Green Park was also going to get a new filter system as part of the trial. If these prove successful, we could see these rolled out more widely. In addition, testing a brand new Underground train could be deployed as part of officials' efforts to improve the air quality on platforms and in tunnels. The mayor told the London Assembly on July 5 : "As part of its continuing work to improve air quality on the Tube network, Transport for London (TfL) is exploring the latest advances in innovation. This includes trialing a bespoke track cleaning train, which is currently going through TfL’s approval process, to ensure it is safe to operate on the Tube network. "The trial is expected to take place later this year." Who knows, this could start to operate in 2025. In an effort to curb Tube noise, new technology, Delkor fastenings, are now fitted as standard as part of TfL's ongoing Deep Tube track renewal programme. TfL has carried out renewal works – which include the installation of Delkor fastenings – at a number of sites. Further renewal works – including the installation of Delkor fastenings – will continue as part of TfL’s ongoing programme, Mr Khan has said . Further, TfL has successfully trialled new technology that cools down Underground station platforms. The Mayor of London says that they could be rolled out to deep Tube lines in future, but installing them across the city would require more funding. After they were tried out at Holborn Station, testing would need to take place in a station open to customers (Knightsbridge) before TfL could look to potentially introduce them at four additional stations on the Piccadilly line (Green Park, Holborn, Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus). Sign up for our London Underground newsletter for the latest travel updates to make your commute easier, plus a weekly fix of Tube trivia! Sign up HERE.Watch: Indiana grandma gets Caitlin Clark surprise
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A court in Maharashtra's Beed district on Friday (December 27, 2024) extended till January 6 the police custody of NCP's former tehsil chief Vishnu Chate in connection with the kidnap and murder of village head Santosh Deshmukh . Chate is the fourth accused to be arrested in the murder case. He was produced before a court in Kej tehsil of Beed district after his police custody ended on Friday. Those arrested earlier are Jairam Chate, Mahesh Kedar and Pratik Ghule. Police are on the lookout for three others who have been named as wanted accused for kidnapping Santosh Deshmukh, sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district, and brutally killing him on December 9. Among those wanted in connection with a related extortion case is Beed-resident Walmik Karad, reportedly a close associate of NCP minister and Parli MLA Dhananjay Munde. Karad's wife has been questioned as part of efforts to nab him, the official said. A CID team probing the murder case took custody of Vishnu Chate and interrogated him on Friday, the official said. Vishnu Chate was held December 18 by the crime branch from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in the extortion case. He allegedly demanded Rs 2 crore from an energy company that had installed a windmill in the district and threatened to stop their operations if their demands were not met, police said. Deshmukh had tried to intervene and stop the extortion, leading to his abduction, torture and murder on December 9, following which an FIR was registered against seven persons, including Vishnu Chate. The extortion case against Vishnu Chate, Walmik Karad and another person was registered on the complaint of the energy firm, police said. Following Deshmukh's murder, there were protests across Beed, especially after photographs of his body with injury marks were shared widely on social media. While Deshmukh belongs to the Maratha community, Vishnu Chate, considered one of the masterminds, and two other accused are from the Vanjari community, part of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs). This has given the horrific murder a caste angle, especially against the backdrop of the Maratha quota agitation and opposition by OBCs to it. Published - December 28, 2024 01:40 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp RedditJohn Legend's 8-Year-Old Daughter Luna Is Asking for This “Compromise”Not in basketball, though. Wemby was playing chess. And this wasn't on a whim: He knows how to play and even brought his own chess set. Before the San Antonio Spurs left New York for a flight to Minnesota, Wembanyama put out the call on social media: “Who wants to meet me at the SW corner of Washington Square park to play chess? Im there,” Wembanyama wrote. It was 9:36 a.m. People began showing up almost immediately. Washington Square Park is a known spot for chess in New York — Bobby Fischer among others have famously played there, and it's been used for multiple movie scenes featuring the game. Wembanyama was there for an hour in the rain, from about 10-11 a.m. He played four games, winning two and losing two — he told Bleacher Report afterward that both of the losses were to professional chess players — before departing to catch the Spurs' flight. Wembanyama had been trying to get somewhere to play chess for the bulk of the team's time in New York — the Spurs played the Knicks on Christmas and won at Brooklyn on Friday night. The schedule never aligned, until Saturday morning. And even with bad weather, he bundled up to make it happen. He posed for photos with a couple of dozen people who showed up, braving a morning of cold rain to play chess with one of the NBA's biggest stars. “We need an NBA players only Chess tournament, proceeds go to the charity of choice of the winner,” he wrote on social media after his chess trip was over. Wembanyama is averaging 25.2 points and 10.1 rebounds this season, his second in the NBA after winning rookie of the year last season. The Spurs play at Minnesota on Sunday.
NEW YORK (AP) — Daniel Penny chose not to testify and defense lawyers rested their case Friday at his trial in the death of an agitated man he choked on a subway train. Closing arguments are expected after Thanksgiving in the closely watched manslaughter case about the death of Jordan Neely , 30. The encounter between Penny, a white Marine veteran, and Neely, a homeless Black man with mental health and drug problems, has been drawn into U.S. political divides over race, public safety and cities’ ability to handle mental illness and social ills. Penny, 26, has pleaded not guilty. Many criminal defendants don't take the stand, and juries are routinely instructed that they cannot hold defendants' silence — a constitutional right — against them. One of Penny’s lawyers, Daniel Kenniff, noted after court that jurors did hear from Penny, in the form of his recorded statements to police minutes and hours after he put Neely in a chokehold. “Virtually everything he said then is consistent with credible testimony of his fellow passengers," Kenniff said. Penny told police that he wrapped his arm around Neely's neck, took him to the floor and “put him out” because he was angrily throwing things and making threatening comments. Penny said on police video that he hadn't wanted to injure Neely but rather to keep him from hurting anyone else. A number of other passengers testified that they were scared of Neely and relieved that Penny grabbed hold of him. A man who later stepped in and held down Neely's arms, however, told jurors that he urged Penny to let go but that the veteran kept choking Neely for a time. Prosecutors say Penny meant to protect people but recklessly used too much force, overlooking Neely's humanity and making no effort to spare his life. City medical examiners ruled that the chokehold killed Neely. A pathologist hired by Penny's defense disputed that finding . Prosecutors, defense lawyers and the judge are set to meet Monday to hash out jury instructions.(AP) — A ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans, a top White House official said Friday. Biden administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies, as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, told reporters Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks. The update from Neuberger is the latest development in a massive hacking operation that has alarmed national security officials, exposed cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the private sector and laid bare China’s hacking sophistication. The hackers compromised the networks of telecommunications companies to obtain customer call records and gain access to the private communications of “a limited number of individuals.” Though the FBI has not publicly identified any of the victims, officials believe senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures are among those whose whose communications were accessed. Neuberger said officials did not yet have a precise sense how many Americans overall were affected by Salt Typhoon, in part because the Chinese were careful about their techniques, but a “large number” were in the Washington-Virginia area. Officials believe the goal of the hackers was to identify who owned the phones and, if they were “government targets of interest,” spy on their texts and phone calls, she said. The FBI said most of the people targeted by the hackers are “primarily involved in government or political activity.” Neuberger said the episode highlighted the need for required cybersecurity practices in the telecommunications industry, something the Federal Communications Commission is to take up at a meeting next month. “We know that voluntary cyber security practices are inadequate to protect against China, Russia and Iran hacking of our critical infrastructure,” she said. The Chinese government has denied responsibility for the hacking. (AP) — A ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed Remember this moment because it probably won't last: A U.S. Sales rose this year during the holiday shopping season even Stock indexes drifted to a mixed finish on Wall Street
(BPT) - Every year, roughly 20-30% of older Americans head to warmer climates for the colder winter months. Snowbirds are often retirees on fixed incomes, though flexible work environments now provide more opportunities for anyone to spend several months escaping the chill. Whether on a fixed income or an empty nester with disposable income, consumers are interested in saving money where they can. With this in mind, snowbirds can look to their AARP membership to take advantage of relevant discounts and offerings as they fluff their feathers and get ready for takeoff. From savory breakfast options while driving to your seasonal destination, to home and auto protection, and even resources to support mental and physical health, AARP member benefits offer deals and savings that will help snowbirds take flight this winter. "Spending winters in warmer places has so many benefits that come with being able to be outside more often. Warmth and sunlight not only increase serotonin levels , which can result in more positive moods and a calm, focused mental outlook, but they also stimulate vitamin D production and may even boost immunity ," said Elvira Christiansen, Director of Retail and Loyalty for AARP Services. "An AARP membership makes it even better by offering savings as you plan your trip, as well as at many dining, entertainment and retail locations you will come across in your winter getaway destination, helping you to enjoy it to the fullest." 1. Order Up Road trips are often the preferred way to travel to a winter home for the flexibility of having a car once there. Whether your drive will have you behind the wheel for hours or days, you'll want to make sure you have your meals planned out. Fill up with a tasty breakfast or lunch with a stop at Denny's, which is easy to spot from most major highways. AARP members can save when heading to Denny's . With over 1,500 locations nationwide, members save 15% on everything from diner classics to breakfast items every day; maximum discount not to exceed $10. Restrictions apply. 2. Primary Care from Almost Anywhere Feeling under the weather can put a damper on your winter travels, so it's a good idea to make sure you can access quality healthcare even when you're at your winter destination. If you are on Medicare, you can check whether there is an Oak Street Health primary care clinic near you. Oak Street Health , the only primary care provider to carry the AARP name, provides primary care for adults on Medicare and focuses on prevention with personalized care to help keep you healthy — physically, mentally and socially. Benefits include same-day/next-day appointments where available, convenient locations, a dedicated care team and a 24/7 patient support line. AARP membership is not required to visit an Oak Street Health clinic. 3. Wellness Checklist Once you check off primary care needs for your winter destination, don't overlook other priorities like maintaining your prescriptions and protecting your vision. Start by making sure your prescriptions are up to date before you head out of town. If you do need a refill while you're away, you have access to a free prescription discount card from AARP ® Prescription Discounts provided by Optum Rx ® that can be used at over 66,000 pharmacies nationwide for savings on FDA-approved medications. You do not need to be an AARP member to take advantage of these benefits, though AARP members receive additional perks, including deeper discounts on medications, home delivery, coverage for your dependents and more. If you're having trouble with your vision, want to update your sunglass prescription, or simply want to maintain your annual visits to an optometrist or ophthalmologist while away, AARP members have access to information on vision insurance options that offer individual and family plans, featuring a large doctor network, savings on frames, lens enhancements, progressives and more. 4. Home (Safety) Away from Home One thing that should always be a priority is keeping your home safe while you're away for the winter. While Neighborhood Watch is always helpful, long periods away from a home require additional security systems. With an AARP membership, homeowners can secure their homes for less. Members save 5% on monthly home security monitoring with ADT Home Security , which covers smart home security systems including intrusion monitoring, connected smoke and CO detection, and smart automation for video doorbells, security cameras and smart locks. 5. Pack Auto Coverage in Your Luggage Driving south for the winter? Utilize AARP member benefits to save on auto care so you can road trip worry free. AARP members save up to 20% on annual membership fees for Allstate Roadside Assistance plans, which provides access to assistance for towing, jump-starts, tire changes, lockout assistance, fuel delivery and more. Allstate Roadside plan benefits can be used 24/7 in any car you drive, including rented and borrowed ones. And, if you want to bring any personal items with you but don't have room to squeeze them in your car, Budget Truck Rental has a variety of trucks for you to choose from. AARP members can save 20% on local or one-way truck rentals on Sunday through Thursday and 10% on Friday and Saturday, plus receive a $10-per-day Physical Damage Waiver. Regardless of how you're traveling or spending your winter months, AARP member benefits can help you maximize your budget while you prioritize the things that matter. To learn more about the benefits and discounts for AARP members to help you prepare for your relaunch, please visit aarp.org/save . AARP member benefits are provided by third parties. AARP receives a royalty fee for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. Provider offers are subject to change and may have restrictions.
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Politicians on both sides of the aisle expressed shock after for his son, Hunter Biden, over the weekend, slamming the president for breaking a promise to stay out of the criminal cases filed against his son. “This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later Presidents and will sadly tarnish [Biden’s] reputation,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, wrote of Biden on the social media platform X. “Hunter brought the legal trouble he faced on himself, and one can sympathize with his struggles while also acknowledging that no one is above the law, not a President and not a President’s son.” The younger Biden faced possible prison time for tax evasion and falsifying a federal weapons purchase form, and he was set to receive his sentence in both cases later this month. The 82-year-old president said in a statement Sunday that his son’s prosecutions were politically motivated. Biden “believes in the justice system, but he also believes that politics infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who along with Biden and other White House officials insisted for months that Hunter Biden would not get a pardon. The clemency caps a long-running legal saga for the younger Biden, who publicly disclosed he was under federal investigation in December 2020 — a month after his father’s 2020 victory — and casts a pall over the elder Biden’s legacy. Colorado Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet said Biden “put personal interest ahead of duty” with a decision that “further erodes Americans’ faith that the justice system is fair and equal for all.” While Rep. Greg Stanton, an Arizona Democrat, said on X: “This wasn’t a politically motivated prosecution. Hunter committed felonies and was convicted by a jury of his peers.” Also speaking out was House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisana Republican, who decried the president’s abuse of Americans’ trust. “Trust in our justice system has been almost irreparably damaged by the Bidens and their use and abuse of it,” he wrote on X. Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, condemned the president for going back on his word. “I’m shocked Pres Biden pardoned his son Hunter [because] he said many many times he wouldn’t & I believed him,” the senator wrote on X. “Shame on me.” His colleague, Sen. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, also expressed frustration with the reversal. “Most Americans can sympathize with a father’s decision to pardon his son, even if they disagree,” Cotton wrote. “What they can’t forgive is Biden lying about it repeatedly before the election.” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, accused Biden of using the pardon to bolster his public reputation as a concerned father. “Joe did not pardon Hunter because he is a father who loved his son like the mockingbird media and Democrat liars are saying,” she wrote. “Hunter is not just Joe’s son, he is his business partner, and Hunter sold his Dad’s power and influence for millions while Joe was VP and beyond.” Sen. Peter Welch, a Vermont Democrat, called the pardon “understandable” if viewed only as the “action of a loving father.” But Biden’s status as “our nation’s Chief Executive,” the senator said, rendered the move “unwise.” Certainly, the president has Democratic defenders who note Trump’s use of presidential power to pardon a slew of his convicted aides, associates and friends, several for activities tied to Trump’s campaign and first administration. “Trump pardoned Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn and Paul Manafort, as well as his son-in-law’s father, Charles Kushner — who he just appointed US ambassador to France,” wrote prominent Democratic fundraiser Jon Cooper on X. Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison said there “is no standard for Donald Trump, and the highest standard for Democrats and Joe Biden.” Harrison pointed to Trump’s apparent plans to oust FBI Director Christopher Wray and replace him with loyalist Kash Patel and suggested the GOP’s pursuit of Hunter Biden would not have ended without clemency. “Most people will see that Joe Biden did what was right,” Harrison said. Biden’s broken promise follows his decision to drop out of the presidential race, a move he also repeatedly rejected when pressed by reporters earlier this year. That decision led Vice President Kamala Harris to become the Democratic Party nominee before ultimately losing the election to Trump last month. Democrats already are facing the prospects of a Republican trifecta in Washington, with voters returning Trump to the White House and giving the GOP control of the House and Senate. Part of their argument against Trump and Republican leaders is expected to be that the president-elect is violating norms with his talk of taking retribution against his enemies. Before beating Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump faced his own legal troubles, including two cases that stemmed from his efforts to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. Those cases, including Trump’s sentencing after being convicted on New York state business fraud charges, have either been dismissed or indefinitely delayed since Trump’s victory on Nov. 5, forcing Democrats to recalibrate their approach to the president-elect.Blac Chyna has no doubt that Dream Kardashian is going to follow in her parents' footsteps. "I feel like Dream is going to be a businesswoman and a leader," the reality star—who shares Dream with ex Rob Kardashian —recently told Entertainment Tonight of their 8-year-old’s future career path, "because she has all the elements." "I'm instilling what she needs now organically by watching me," the influencer (real name Angela White ) explained. "And that's the best way to learn. Just to be confident and understand family values and how to treat people, all of this. And how important school is. We were just talking about that." In fact, Chyna—who is also mom to son King Cairo , 11, with ex Tyga —revealed Dream already has some ambitious college plans in the works. "We were driving and she goes, 'I'm gonna go to UCLA,' all this cute stuff. I'm like, 'That's hard, Dream,'" the 36-year-old recounted. "She's going to go very, very, very far. Just how she moves, she has a lot of common sense." Plus, Dream has already broken into the music industry with her debut single "Besties Do It Better," which was released earlier this year. “She’s all in,” Chyna noted. “She freestyles it.” As for how Chyna encourages Dream to tap into her singing talents, she shared, "Honestly, just letting her be creative. This is not a thing to where she be like, 'Hey you have to go to the studio.' Whenever she feels, gets that urge—which it is an urge. You can't just force it, music just has to be in you, not on you. Authentic." In addition to flaming Dream's ambitions to become a successful entrepreneur, Chyna is also instilling confidence in her only daughter as she grows into a young woman. The two even went viral in October when Chyna reassured Dream about her appearance during a heartwarming Instagram Live. "I noticed her in the mirror putting her fingers on her forehead," the Rob & Chyna alum recalled. "I'm like, 'You don't have a big forehead.' She didn't say anything, I just saw her physically doing it, and then I said something to her in a positive way." "Everyday I just let her have her natural hair," she added. "I'm not brushing it and putting into styles and putting all this product in her hair, because I don't want her to feel like she has to put on this image every time she walks out the door. She's beautiful. A lot of times, people dress their kids when they should just be kids. Let 'em be." Keep reading to look back at Dream's most adorable childhood moments through the years. Runway Debut Rob Kardashian and ex Blac Chyna 's daughter made her runway debut at age 7 at the Zeus & Lexi Kids show during New York Fashion Week Sept. 7, 2024. How sweet is this photo of Dream with her bag of candy at the store? Dream was all smiles about beginning the 2022/2023 school year. Just like her famous aunts, Dream knows how to pose for the perfect picture. Dream out her science skills to the test with a colorful experiment using Skittles and water. Dream enjoyed a tropical drink while on Khloe's birthday trip to Turks and Caicos with the family in July. Dream Kardashian appeared in an ad with Kris Jenner for Amazon Glow and sweetly stole the spotlight. "Dream and I wish you Peace and love only," Khloe posted in June 2022. Blac Chyna posted a video of her and her daughter baking some peach cobbler in May 2022. Khloe shared this sweet selfie on Nov. 11 following Dream's Barbie birthday party thrown by Rob. Rocking a pink and silver Barbie ensemble, Dream adorably posed in the giant photo-op while celebrating her fifth birthday. Dream channels her inner superhero. "She found Robert's shirt when Robert was just a child," Rob's January 2021 post read. Rob Kardashian shared this photo of his daughter on Instagram in January 2021, writing, "My Queen wanted to be her favorite superhero — WONDER WOMAN — so here she is." Dream Kardashian looked just like dad Rob Kardashian in this snap from November 2020. In July 2020, Rob took to Instagram and shared this sweet smiling pic of his daughter. "Eat up Dreamy bean," Rob wrote for this post. "Sand baby," her father penned online. "See the line where the sky meets the sea?" Rob noted on this picture. "She dressed herself," the caption read on social media. "But she rocking the Dodgers hat let's go" Dream rocked the leopard-print trend like no one else! "Night night," Rob wrote alongside this cute nighttime pic of Dream. Dream on Halloween! Rob Kardashian 's daughter Dream Kardashian celebrates her third birthday alongside Kim Kardashian and Chicago West . "Happy Birthday sweet Dreamy! We all love you so very much!," Rob gushed. "Going through my phone and see so much of you and Saint makes my heart so happy that you all are so close and have each other." Dream celebrated her third birthday in style! On Sunday, Nov. 10, Rob shared a sweet photo series to Instagram that pictured his daughter looking happy as can be on a helicopter ride with her dad. Rob's little girl is all smiles while playing on a jungle gym. Rob posted a pic of his "little lady" wearing an adorable sun hat by the pool. Dream and cousin True cool off during a hot summer day in August 2019. Dream appreciates the wonders of a good vanilla milkshake. We get it!"in my casual ware, I love wearing U of I gear and my same blue jeans. My kids call me a walking advertisement of UIUC," Rashid Bashir says. To subscribe, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. To pitch a 'My Turn' guest column, email jdalessio@news-gazette.com . Want to purchase today's print edition? Here's a map of single-copy locations. Sign up for our daily newsletter here How’s this for an immigration success story: Teen brothers, aged 15 and 17, move from their native Pakistan to the United States, landing in Lubbock, Texas, where the youngest gets a part-time job working the grill at McDonald’s and eventually grows up to become dean of the University of Illinois’ Grainger College of Engineering. “It was our father’s vision to send us to America for education and to better our lives. I had money for one year and a return ticket,” says RASHID BASHIR , who’s in Year 7 of running higher ed’s No. 9 engineering school, per U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings. You name it, the scholar with two degrees from Purdue has done it in his field — Bashir has authored 250-plus journal papers, been granted 45 patents and been named a fellow in eight international professional societies. The Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering, who joined the UI faculty in 2007, took time out to answer questions from Editor Jeff D’Alessio in the 261st installment of our weekly speed read spotlighting leaders of organizations big and small. Grainger College of Engineering Dean Rashid Bashir chats with acclaimed UI alum Steve Chen, who co-founded YouTube. The single-most important question I ask job candidates during interviews is ... how would you like to change the world for the better or what Mars-shot goal would you like to achieve in 10 years? My philosophy on meetings is ... define the purpose, focus on outcomes, assign tasks and walk away with action items. My single favorite moment of all-time in this job was ... the celebrations of the college naming to Grainger College of Engineering. When it comes to the one thing I can’t live without ... I hate to say this but my cellphone. The three adjectives I hope my staff would use to describe me are ... empathetic, humble and visionary. On my office walls, you’ll find ... pictures of my family, my professional awards and fellowships of professional societies. My professional role model is ... in my current research realm, John Rogers, who is now at Northwestern. John is a genius, works super hard and is just a very nice guy. I’m frugal in that ... in my casual ware, I love wearing U of I gear and my same blue jeans. My kids call me a walking advertisement of UIUC. If I could trade places for a week with any other business person in town, I wouldn’t mind switching with ... Dr. Jim Leonard, CEO of Carle, to learn and experience the health-care delivery industry from the inside. And health care is such a challenging and important industry. I have great regards for Carle — how it’s running and growing and partnering with us in the Carle Illinois College of Medicine. My one unbreakable rule of the workplace is ... have respect for each other. The first thing I do when I get to work most days is ... talk to Cindy Pruitt, my amazing administrative assistant, about the day and the next few days. For lunch, I like to ... just work through and catch up on email and tasks. Lunch is not a priority if I don’t have meetings. I wind down after work by ... spending time with family, catching up on news and monologues from the previous night’s comedy shows. The most beneficial college classes I took were ... two bioengineering graduate elective classes during the last year of my Ph.D. I fell in love with biology and bioengineering. That is when I decided to make a switch from electrical engineering and nanotechnology research to integrating nanotechnology with biology and medicine. I also took a short course on neuro-electric interface at Princeton and my Ph.D. advisor supported me to take that summer short course, and this further heightened my interest in bioengineering. The last good book I read was ... “Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology” — but I now have a stack that I cannot find time to read. My exercise routine consists of ... at least 30 minutes on the elliptical and 20 minutes on weights — three to four times a week if I can. I knew this is what I wanted to do for a living at age ... 25, when I finished my Ph.D. I knew I wanted to do research in bioengineering and be a professor. The first job I ever had was ... when I was 15/16, at McDonald’s in Lubbock, Texas, making hamburgers on the 10:1 grill. I learned a lot — discipline, hard work, customer service. The manager taught all the high schoolers to never stand still and keep smiling. I was the proud winner of the store competition, in-town competition and went to state competition — a great experience. The worst job I ever had was ... my second job — at Fur’s Cafeteria in Lubbock, washing dishes. It was tough. I was 17.SANTA CLARA — Brandon Allen prepared as if he was the 49ers’ starting quarterback all week, but the reality didn’t hit home until Friday, when Brock Purdy again missed practice. “I know he had a plan for his shoulder all week, rest it a little bit on Wednesday and we’d split reps,” Allen said of Purdy. “I think the plan Thursday was to come out and practice. I guess in warmups it just wasn’t feeling right. I found out (Friday).” Allen, a 32-year-old veteran in his ninth season, will start Sunday when the 49ers (5-5) visit the Green Bay Packers (7-3) at Lambeau Field. Purdy was ruled out with a shoulder injury sustained in a 20-17 loss to Seattle , the first time he has missed a start because of injury after 31 regular-season and six postseason starts. Here are five things to know about Allen: 1. Arkansas roots The Fayetteville, Arkansas native’s father Bobby spent more than 20 years as an Arkansas assistant coach. After a redshirt season in 2011, Allen played in 42 games with 38 starts for the Razorbacks. As a senior, Allen completed 57.4 percent of his passes for 3,440 yards, 30 touchdowns and eight interceptions as Arkansas went 8-5. His brother Austin took over as the Arkansas quarterback. In his ninth season, only Joe Ferguson (11 seasons) of the Buffalo Bills has more time in the NFL among Arkansas quarterbacks. 2. Professional route Drafted in the sixth round by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Allen spent his rookie season behind Blake Bortles and Chad Henne as a third-string quarterback and did not play. He was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Rams in 2017 and played behind Jared Goff and Sean Mannion before being signed by the Denver Broncos in 2019. Allen won his first start against Cleveland 24-19 in Week 9 of that season, passing for 193 yards and two touchdowns. Allen signed with Cincinnati in 2020, spent time on the practice squad and was promoted to the active roster in November. Subbing for Joe Burrow, Allen had his career-best game, passing for 371 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-31 win. Allen is 2-7 as an NFL starter with 1,611 yards passing, 10 touchdowns, six interceptions and a 78.0 passer rating. 3. Signing with the 49ers Allen became a 49er on May 8, 2023, signing as a free agent. The 49ers, who up to that point seldom kept a third quarterback on the 53-man roster, kept Allen as a No. 3 all season behind Purdy and Sam Darnold after the previous year’s injuries to Trey Lance, Jimmy Garoppolo, and finally Purdy in the NFC Championship Game. Allen did not take a snap. 4. Installed as No. 2 QB Allen signed another one-year contract with the 49ers for one year and $1.21 million (which is more than the $985,000 that Purdy makes on his rookie deal). The 49ers also signed Joshua Dobbs to a one-year, guaranteed $2.35 million contract. Allen and Dobbs competed throughout training camp, with Allen earning the nod from coach Kyle Shanahan. “You’ve got to make a decision. Usually I don’t want to have to make it,” Shanahan said. “I want it to be that obvious, let it play out. Brandon had the head start just being here. I thought he did some better things in practice.” 5. Familiarity with the system While in Denver, Allen’s offensive coordinator was Rich Scangarello, who was the quarterbacks coach under Shanahan in 2017-18. In Los Angeles, the head coach was Sean McVay and the offensive coordinator was Matt LaFleur, both of whom run variations of the Shanahan offense. In 2018, Zac Taylor was his quarterbacks coach with the Rams. Taylor, upon being hired as head coach in Cincinnati, signed Allen to back up Burrow.
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SANTA CLARA — Brandon Allen prepared as if he was the 49ers’ starting quarterback all week, but the reality didn’t hit home until Friday, when Brock Purdy again missed practice. “I know he had a plan for his shoulder all week, rest it a little bit on Wednesday and we’d split reps,” Allen said of Purdy. “I think the plan Thursday was to come out and practice. I guess in warmups it just wasn’t feeling right. I found out (Friday).” Allen, a 32-year-old veteran in his ninth season, will start Sunday when the 49ers (5-5) visit the Green Bay Packers (7-3) at Lambeau Field. Purdy was ruled out with a shoulder injury sustained in a 20-17 loss to Seattle , the first time he has missed a start because of injury after 31 regular-season and six postseason starts. Here are five things to know about Allen: 1. Arkansas roots The Fayetteville, Arkansas native’s father Bobby spent more than 20 years as an Arkansas assistant coach. After a redshirt season in 2011, Allen played in 42 games with 38 starts for the Razorbacks. As a senior, Allen completed 57.4 percent of his passes for 3,440 yards, 30 touchdowns and eight interceptions as Arkansas went 8-5. His brother Austin took over as the Arkansas quarterback. In his ninth season, only Joe Ferguson (11 seasons) of the Buffalo Bills has more time in the NFL among Arkansas quarterbacks. 2. Professional route Drafted in the sixth round by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Allen spent his rookie season behind Blake Bortles and Chad Henne as a third-string quarterback and did not play. He was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Rams in 2017 and played behind Jared Goff and Sean Mannion before being signed by the Denver Broncos in 2019. Allen won his first start against Cleveland 24-19 in Week 9 of that season, passing for 193 yards and two touchdowns. Allen signed with Cincinnati in 2020, spent time on the practice squad and was promoted to the active roster in November. Subbing for Joe Burrow, Allen had his career-best game, passing for 371 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-31 win. Allen is 2-7 as an NFL starter with 1,611 yards passing, 10 touchdowns, six interceptions and a 78.0 passer rating. 3. Signing with the 49ers Allen became a 49er on May 8, 2023, signing as a free agent. The 49ers, who up to that point seldom kept a third quarterback on the 53-man roster, kept Allen as a No. 3 all season behind Purdy and Sam Darnold after the previous year’s injuries to Trey Lance, Jimmy Garoppolo, and finally Purdy in the NFC Championship Game. Allen did not take a snap. 4. Installed as No. 2 QB Allen signed another one-year contract with the 49ers for one year and $1.21 million (which is more than the $985,000 that Purdy makes on his rookie deal). The 49ers also signed Joshua Dobbs to a one-year, guaranteed $2.35 million contract. Allen and Dobbs competed throughout training camp, with Allen earning the nod from coach Kyle Shanahan. “You’ve got to make a decision. Usually I don’t want to have to make it,” Shanahan said. “I want it to be that obvious, let it play out. Brandon had the head start just being here. I thought he did some better things in practice.” 5. Familiarity with the system While in Denver, Allen’s offensive coordinator was Rich Scangarello, who was the quarterbacks coach under Shanahan in 2017-18. In Los Angeles, the head coach was Sean McVay and the offensive coordinator was Matt LaFleur, both of whom run variations of the Shanahan offense. In 2018, Zac Taylor was his quarterbacks coach with the Rams. Taylor, upon being hired as head coach in Cincinnati, signed Allen to back up Burrow.Councilwoman, city leaders clash as questions over “Operation Aurora” deportation plan persist