President Trump vowed to make a push for peace in the war-torn African country of Sudan on Wednesday after listening to an appeal from Saudi Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman during his visit to Washington. “His majesty would like to me do something very powerful having to do with Sudan,” Trump told a crowd at…
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5613381-trump-sudan-peace-push/
Yearly Archives: 2025
RGGI was never a good fit for Pennsylvania
SALENA ZITO: THE UNSUNG HERO OF THE ROLLING THUNDER MINE The states currently part of RGGI are Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia all decidedly blue states whose energy costs soared after joining the initiative. Pittsburgh Works Together, a building trade organization headquartered in Western Pennsylvania, points to a new study from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, which documented that every state in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative had higher electricity prices than Pennsylvania. The deal gave Republicans lower costs and relief for the state’s powerful energy industry, and it gave Shapiro a chance to champion that industry while neutralizing GOP talking points ahead of his reelection bid. “For years, the Republicans who have led the Senate have used RGGI as an excuse to stall substantive conversations about energy production. Today, that excuse is gone,” Shapiro said at his press conference last week after the budget was finalized. “It is time now to look forward, and I’m looking forward to aggressively pushing for policies that create more jobs in the energy sector, bring more clean energy onto our grid, and reduce the cost of energy for all Pennsylvanians,” he added. RGGI was never a Shapiro thing. He inherited it from Gov. Tom Wolf, a York County Democrat, who in 2019 issued an order seeking to join RGGI. It didn’t go over well. The order was challenged in court and has dragged on for years. Kim Ward, a Westmoreland County Republican and the state Senate president pro tempore, said in a statement that leaving the program “will give Pennsylvania families more certainty with their electricity rates.” Climate activists were less than thrilled. Lena Moffitt, the executive director of Evergreen Action, said Shapiro was elected to be a fighter who would not back down, but instead, he caved to Republican obstructionism. Luke Bernstein, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, said the budget agreement offered significant victories for businesses, beginning with permitting reform and the state’s exit from RGGI, “something that will provide much-needed clarity and encourage energy development and investment.” SALENA ZITO: TRUMP EXPLAINS HOW CHARLIE KIRK’S MURDER CHANGED HIS LIFE The latest energy employment data for Pennsylvania from the Department of Energy show that there are 273, 364 energy workers statewide, representing 3. 4% of all U. S. energy jobs. Of these energy jobs, 21, 580 were in electric power generation, 48, 405 in fuels, 51, 437 in transmission, distribution, and storage, 69, 990 in energy efficiency, and 81, 952 in motor vehicles. The Keystone State’s energy sector represents nearly 5% of total state employment. By steering Pennsylvania out of RGGI, Shapiro showed the kind of pragmatism and independence voters rarely see in politics today.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/3892333/regional-greenhouse-gas-initiative-never-good-fit-pennsylvania-josh-shapiro/
Trump nominates new CFPB director, but White House says agency is still closing
By KEN SWEET, AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) President Trump nominated Stuart Levenbach as the next director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, using a legal maneuver to keep his budget director Russell Vought as acting director of the bureau while the Trump administration continues on its plan to shut down the consumer financial protection agency. Levenbach is currently an associate director inside the Office of Management and Budget, handling issues related to natural resources, energy, science and water issues. Levenbach’s resume shows significant experience dealing with science and natural resources issues, acting as chief of staff of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration during Trump’s first term. Levenbach’s nomination is not meant to go through to confirmation, an administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters. Under the Vacancies Act, Vought can only act as acting director for 210 days, but now that Trump has nominated someone to the position, that clock has been suspended until the Senate approves or denies Levenbach’s confirmation as director. Vought is Levenbach’s boss. The CFPB has been nonfunctional much of the year. Many of its employees have been ordered not to work, and the only major work the bureau is doing is unwinding the regulations and rules it put into place during Trump’s first term and during the Biden administration. While in the acting director role, Vought has signaled that he wishes to dismantle, or vastly diminish, the bureau. The latest blow to the bureau came earlier this month, when the White House said it does not plan to withdraw any funds from the Federal Reserve, which is where the bureau gets its funding, to fund the bureau past Dec. 31. The White House and the Justice Department used a legal interpretation of the law that created the bureau, the Dodd-Frank Act, that the Fed must be profitable in order to fund the CFPB’s operations. Several judges have rejected this argument when it was brought up by companies, but it’s never been the position of the government until this year that the CFPB requires the Fed to be profitable to have operating funds. “Donald Trump’s sending the Senate a new nominee to lead the CFPB looks like nothing more than a front for Russ Vought to stay on as Acting Director indefinitely as he tries to illegally close down the agency,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, in a statement. The bureau was created after the 2008 financial crisis as part of the Dodd-Frank Act, a law passed to overhaul the financial system and require banks to hold more capital to avoid another financial crisis. The CFPB was created to be a independent advocate for consumers to help them avoid bad actors in the financial system.
https://www.whittierdailynews.com/2025/11/19/trump-cfpb-nomination/
Building the Operating System of the Creator and Fan Economy – Luffa CTO Michael Liu
Luffa is the next-gen operating system for the creator and fan economy, combining wallets, identity, communication, community, AI, and mini-programs into one seamless experience. Luffa aims to become the ultimate Web3 connector that transforms attention into ownership and connection into commerce. By enabling creators, brands, and fans to participate in a shared, transactable value-driven social [.] Source:.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/tech/building-the-operating-system-of-the-creator-and-fan-economy-luffa-cto-michael-liu/
Quarterly profit slide at Target hints at a challenging holiday season for the retailer
By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO NEW YORK (AP) Target’s third-quarter profit tumbled as the retailer struggles to lure shoppers that are being pressed by stubbornly high inflation. The Minneapolis company said Wednesday that it expects its sales slump to extend through the critical holiday shopping season. The company also announced that it’s planning to invest another billion dollars next year to remodel stores, build new ones, increasing the total cost for the makeover to $5 billion. Investors have punished Target’s stock recently, sending it down 43% over the past year. Shares were essentially flat in early trading Wednesday. Turning around the 19% profit slide in the most recent quarter is the latest challenge for incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke, a 20-year company veteran who is replacing CEO Brian Cornell in February. The handover arrives as the retailer tries to reverse a persistent sales malaise and to revive its reputation as the place to go for affordable but stylish products. Comparable sales those from established physical stores and online channels dipped 2. 7% in its latest three-month period. That’s worse then the 1. 9% drop in the previous quarter and the third straight quarterly decline. Target’s troubles stand in stark contrast to rival Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer, which is thriving. Walmart reports on its most recent quarterly performance Thursday. Target announced in October that it was eliminating about 1, 800 corporate positions to streamline decision-making and accelerate company initiatives. The cuts represent about 8% of Target’s corporate workforce. To pump up sales, Target is offering more than 20, 000 new items, twice as many as last year, and it has lowered prices on thousands of groceries and other essential items. “The environment around us continues to evolve, whether it’s shifting consumer demand, changing competitor dynamics, or broader macroeconomic pressures,” Fiddelke said on an earnings call Wednesday. ”But let me be clear. We are not waiting for conditions to improve. We are driving the change ourselves right now.” With about 1, 980 U. S. stores, Target has struggled to find its footing since inflation caused Americans to curtail much of their discretionary spending. At the same time, Target customers have complained of messy stores lacking the budget-priced niche that long ago earned the retailer the nickname “Tarzhay.” Consumer boycotts since late January, when Target joined rival Walmart and a number of other prominent American brands in scaling back its corporate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, have compounded the predicament. Other, more recent macro headwinds, are buffeting the entire retail sector. For almost a year, retailers have struggled to navigate President Donald Trump’s wide-ranging tariffs on imports and his immigration crackdown that threatened to shrink the supply of workers available to U. S. companies. The just ended 43-day federal shutdown is expected to be another drag on an economy. Government contract awards have slowed and many food aid recipients have seen their benefits interrupted, both of which can cut into consumer spending at places like Target. Fiddelke told reporters that the company saw a weaker September but he said it was “tricky for us to isolate” the different factors behind that. The retailer’s profit fell to $689 million in the three-month period ended Nov. 1, or $1. 51 per share. Adjusted per share results added up to $1. 78. That is better than the $1. 71 that Wall Street was expecting, according to a poll by FactSet, but below the $1. 85 per share the company earned in the same period last year. Sales fell 1. 5% to $25. 27 billion, just shy of analyst projections. Sales gains in food and beverages were offset by continued weakness in discretionary goods, with anxious shoppers focused increasingly on buying essentials, even during the holidays. For example, customers this year customers bought candy and costumes for Halloween, but spent less on decorations, said Rick Gomez, chief commercial officer for Target. Gomez thinks they will make similar tradeoffs during the winter holiday season. “We think the consumer will prioritize what goes under the tree versus what goes on the tree,” he said. Target also announced a partnership with OpenAI on Wednesday that will let users browse Target items through the tech company’s app ChatGPT. When customers are ready to buy, they’ll be directed to the Target app. For the fourth quarter, Target expects that comparable sales will decline by low single digits. For the full year, it now expects earnings per share to be in the $7 per share to $8 per share range, down from its earlier forecast of $7 to $9.
https://www.courant.com/2025/11/19/target-results/
Texas Quad Agency Child Care Initiative holds inaugural meeting to enhance access, quality
AUSTIN Today the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) hosted the first meeting of the Texas Quad Agency Child Care Initiative (Quad Agency) Commission. The Quad Agency was established by the 89th Texas Legislature to enhance child care access, affordability, and quality by improving coordination among state agencies. “This initiative marks a significant step forward in our collective commitment to supporting Texas families,” said TWC Chairman Joe Esparza. “By bringing together these key agencies, we can work collaboratively to ensure child care providers have the support they need and Texas families have access to quality care.” Participating agencies include TWC, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), and the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The commission will focus on coordinating interagency initiatives to streamline regulations and help more Texas families gain access to quality, affordable child care. “This collaboration will help remove barriers to help more Texas families access high quality child care and we look forward to working with our partner state agencies on this initiative,” said Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath. Detailed information about the Quad Agency Child Care Initiative, including its mission, goals, and opportunities for public engagement, can be found on the Texas Workforce Commission website at twc. texas. gov/programs/child-care/quad-agency-child-care-initiative. “This initiative is critical to ensuring that Texas day care operations can focus on keeping children healthy and safe, rather than dealing with conflicting regulations or unnecessary red tape,” said HHSC Chief Policy and Regulatory Officer Jordan Dixon. “I look forward to working with my colleagues across these four agencies to improve the regulatory environment for day care providers and increase access to affordable, high-quality child care for Texas families.” Quad Agency meetings are open to the public. For information about how to access meetings, visit TWC’s website. Members of the public may submit input on existing or proposed regulations, rules, policies, or actions impacting the cost, quality, or accessibility of child care. Suggestions may be submitted to QuadAgency. feedback@twc. texas. gov and should include specific details, an explanation of the impact, and proposed solutions. “DFPS is proud to work alongside our partner agencies in a unified effort to make safe, nurturing childcare available to Texas families,” said DFPS Interim Deputy Commissioner of Programs Marta Talbert. “By sharing information, expertise, and resources, this initiative reflects our shared commitment to protecting children and promoting environments where they can learn, grow and thrive.” Stay informed about upcoming meetings and reviews by subscribing to receive updates. Texas Workforce Commission is a state agency dedicated to helping Texas employers, workers, and communities prosper economically. For details on TWC and its services in coordination with its local workforce development boards network, call 800-628-5115 or visit.
https://thehendersonnews.com/2025/11/19/texas-quad-agency-child-care-initiative-holds-inaugural-meeting-to-enhance-access-quality/
SRK classics and 12th Fail to screen in inflatable theatres at IFFI 2025
Imagine watching Shah Rukh Khan spread his arms, Vikrant Massey’s inspiring journey, and the pulse-racing rescue of a friend, all inside a fully equipped inflatable theatre? In a special collaboration, the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) have partnered with mobile digital theatre pioneer PictureTime Digiplex to install state-of-the-art inflatable cinemas in the upcoming 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. SRK classics and 12th Fail to screen in inflatable theatres at IFFI 2025 Known for bringing cutting-edge inflatable cinemas across the country, and especially in underserved regions, PictureTime will be setting up a state-of-the-art theatre at the prestigious Kala Academy campus-one of the festival’s main event hubs. The 2025 edition of IFFI will begin on November 20 and close on November 28. The inflatable theatre will screen a vibrant mix of titles across four categories: Inspirational Films, Indian Panorama Classics, Nostalgia, and Children’s Cinema. For the first time ever, three Shah Rukh Khan classics Chak De! India, Darr, and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge will be showcased in the inflatable cinemas. Joining them are Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s acclaimed 12th Fail, the Malayalam blockbuster Manjummel Boys, Rajkummar Rao’s Srikanth, Rani Mukerji’s Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway, Sooraj Barjatya’s Uunchai, Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay! Irrfan Khan’s celebrated Qissa, and classics like Satyajit Ray’s Shatranj Ke Khilari, Vijay Anand’s Teesri Manzil, Yash Chopra’s Chandni and Kala Patthar, among others. There will also be special movie screenings for school children every day, featuring titles like Kaphal: Wild Berries (Hindi), Gattu (Hindi), Banarasi Jasoos (Hindi), The Prince and the Crown of Stone (English) and Naal 2 (Marathi), among others. Beyond the main venue, PictureTime will also roll out open-air screenings across multiple sites in North and South Goa enabling local residents to access festival films. Sushil Chaudhary, Founder & CEO, PictureTime Digiplex, said it is an honour for PictureTime to collaborate with NFDC and ESG for IFFI. Their association with the event began in 2017 when the team organised Bioscope Village. “Bringing our mobile digital movie theatres to a festival of this scale underscores how far this technology has come from remote villages to one of the world’s most respected film events. Our goal has always been to democratise cinema, to take high-quality film experiences to audiences who may never have had access to such spaces, and IFFI gives us a powerful platform to demonstrate that mission in action. “This year’s programming ranging from Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic classics to acclaimed contemporary titles like 12th Fail and Manjummel Boys reflects the diversity and cultural richness of Indian cinema. We are especially excited about the screenings curated for children and young students, because nurturing early audiences is essential for the future of film appreciation. “With the Kala Academy inflatable theatre and our units enabling open-air screenings across Goa, we hope to create a festival experience that is immersive, inclusive, and truly celebratory of Indian cinema’s storytelling power. PictureTime remains committed to innovating how cinema is created, consumed, and accessed across the country,” he added. The inflatable theatre at Kala Academy is expected to welcome over 1, 000 visitors daily, ranging from global delegates and film professionals to school groups and cinephiles. Open-air screenings across Goa are projected to draw an additional 300-400 viewers per location, daily. Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan makes a royal entry on a throne at star-studded wedding; fans say ‘only one Baadshah!’ More Pages: 12th Fail Box Office Collection 12th Fail Movie Review BOLLYWOOD NEWS LIVE UPDATES.
https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/srk-classics-12th-fail-screen-inflatable-theatres-iffi-2025/
Orioles, Angels trade grades for Taylor Ward-Grayson Rodriguez swap
The Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Angels made the first significant trade of the offseason on Tuesday. Baltimore sent starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez to Anaheim for outfielder Taylor Ward. It is a one-for-one swap that puts Baltimore in a bind for free agency, but could lead to a bounce-back season. And what does this mean for Los Angeles’ offseason? Let’s find out in the Angels-Orioles trade grades. The Orioles put themselves in a pitching bind The Orioles won 100 games and snagged the AL East in 2023, and it seemed to be the beginning of a new era. Even after a playoff loss, they doubled down on the roster and traded for Corbin Burns. But the ace walked in free agency after 2024, leaving a hole in Baltimore’s rotation. When Grayson Rodriguez went down for the year in spring training, it put Baltimore in a bind. Now, after making this trade, the Orioles have a clear need for starting pitching. Trevor Rogers will be the ace after his 1. 81 ERA in 15 starts. But behind him, Rodriguez was supposed to step up and be a number-two starter. Now, they head into a free agency with a dearth of pitching with a desperate need. If they can get Framber Valdez, Dylan Cease, or Tatsuya Imai, this trade will look much better. The Orioles did get Taylor Ward, a power-hitting outfielder from the Angels. Ward is a free agent after the 2026 season, while Rodriguez won’t hit free agency until 2029. But if new ownership is willing to spend, Baltimore can get better because of this trade. Ward has 61 homers and 178 RBI over the past two seasons for a middling Angels squad. The Orioles get a B for now on the Rodriguez-Ward swap. If they end up signing an ace and extending Ward, this trade can bump up into the A range. But for now, it is a head-scratcher for a team that has not spent in decades. The Angels make the most of an expiring contract To get a controllable starter for an expiring outfielder is a strong move by the Angels. Would fans like them to spend to keep their middle-of-the-order bat? Of course, but that is not the reality for the Arte Moreno Angels right now. With Mike Trout on the decline and other rookie deals coming up soon, LA made the most of the situation with Ward. The Angels signed Yusei Kikuchi last offseason to a three-year deal. He had a solid first season in Anaheim, posting a 3. 99 ERA in 33 starts. With Kyle Hendricks retiring and no one bursting through the minors to take a rotation spot, targeting Rodriguez was a strong move. And if they were not going to re-sign Ward, they got a great piece in return. The biggest concern around Rodriguez is his injury history, as he missed 2025 with an elbow injury. But that is the reality for any starting pitcher in 2026, so it is worth the bet for the Angels. The future of the club is bleak as the lack of spending continues. But if they continue flipping near-free agents for solid players, they can maybe make a Wild Card run. The Angels get an A for this trade, as they flipped a pending free agent for a controllable starter. Rodriguez is far from perfect, but he can become their number-two starter as soon as this season. Meanwhile, Ward was almost certainly out the door. Final Grayson Rodriguez-Taylor Ward thoughts The Orioles now have a lot of decisions to make in free agency. Ward should get re-signed after giving up such a valuable piece to land him. But they also need a pitcher. New owner David Rubenstein has a big winter ahead of him, or a promising core could slip into irrelevance once again.
https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/orioles-angels-trade-grades-taylor-ward-grayson-rodriguez
Woman Buys Children’s Book at Thrift Store—She Breaks Down at What’s Inside
A woman picked up a book in a thrift store, unprepared for what was slipped inside it when she opened it up. The Reddit user, u/GabrielleCullenn, shared her find-Dr. Seuss’s Oh, Baby, the Places You’ll Go!-and the unexpected contents in the subreddit r/Goodwill_Finds. “A book I picked up for my library with Ultrasound Pictures inside. I always find ones with notes which is sad but this is worse,” she wrote. The accompanying image showed the book lying next to two ultrasound scans. Oh, Baby, the Places You’ll Go! is a popular read-aloud book inspired by Dr. Seuss’s classic Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Written by Tish Rabe with the blessing of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, it is often given as a baby-shower gift or used to celebrate a pregnancy. Reddit users quickly weighed in, offering a mix of theories and personal experiences. “Why would you assume the baby was lost? I had ultrasound photos and all sorts of things in storage. It was my ex’s storage, he didn’t pay it and I found out everything was gone. My baby is now 9 years old and totally fine lol [laugh out loud] it probably says the name of the obgyn on there and the patient, you could call the office and let them know you found the images. Just in case someone’s looking for them, I wish I had mine back,” wrote one user. Another shared a similar sentiment: “Idk [I don’t know], my oldest is 15 and I only have 4 ultrasounds and with my youngest I was unfortunately unable to get obgyn care so I have zero ultrasounds of them. which is sad for many reasons. Id be upset to lose what I do have.” Others offered more lighthearted possibilities. “I thought the parents used the photos as book marks and just forgot about them, rather than the baby passing. I use photos as bookmarks then find them years later lol,” one Reddit user said. Gabrielle acknowledged that theory but maintained her sadness over the find. “Maybe yes. They could have just read this book and placed them there to think of them. It’s just sad,” Gabrielle responded. Not everyone agreed. “I don’t get why it’s sad. It seems to be assuming a lot to consider this sad,” another user wrote. Gabrielle later elaborated on her feelings: “It’s just sad because it’s such an experience seeing your baby, honestly judging by how this looks it looks very similar to my pictures of my daughter at 6 weeks, likely one of the first pictures they saw of their child but maybe not idk. I personally have all mine in a safe so if I lost them I’d be devastated. We could not verify the details of the case.
https://www.newsweek.com/woman-buys-book-thrift-store-breaks-down-whats-inside-11074156
T-Series locks October 1, 2026 release for its romantic musical drama T178
T-Series has confirmed the release date of its upcoming romantic musical drama, Production No. T178. The film is scheduled to release in cinemas on October 1, 2026. T-Series locks October 1, 2026 release for its romantic musical drama T178 The banner, known for backing stories with strong emotional appeal and successful music-driven narratives, is keeping all creative details under wraps for now. The early announcement has been made to secure the date and signal the beginning of the film’s rollout. Gulshan Kumar and T-Series present T178, produced by Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar. The production house has reserved October 1, 2026 for the release of this romantic musical drama, and further updates will be shared in due course. Also Read: Chatha Pacha: The Ring of Rowdies’ becomes a Pan-India event as Dharma, Mythri, PVR INOX, Wayfarer Films and T-Series come on board BOLLYWOOD NEWS LIVE UPDATES.
https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/t-series-locks-october-1-2026-release-romantic-musical-drama-t178/