The City of Angels will remain home to a twist-laden legal thriller! The filming of the second season of Apple TV+’s ‘Presumed Innocent’ will start in Los Angeles, California, in September. David E. Kelley, who created the series, continues to serve as the showrunner.
Book causes quite the exclamationFrench author Victor Hugo wrote the classic “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” in 1831. Set in and around the great Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, it tells the story of the deformed hunchback Quasimodo, who lived in the cathedral and rang its bells.Quasimodo was in love with the beautiful Esmeralda, but couldn’t have her because of his deformities and limitations. Esmeralda was wrongly accused of murder, tried, convicted and wearing a white dress she was hung on the public gallows in Paris.
From the cathedral’s towers, Quasimodo could see Esmeralda’s white dress, could see her hanging from the gallows. Her body was taken down and placed in the public burial vault underneath the gallows, a place reserved for those who were considered to have lived disreputable lives. Overcome with grief, Quasimodo found Esmeralda’s body, put himself beside her and his arms around her. From that time on he was not seen again publicly.A few years later, the vault was opened in search of a recently placed body that had been found worthy of reburial in a more honorable location. Inside, they found two skeletons locked together in an eternal embrace, one wearing the remnants of a white dress, the other was a deformed hunchback. The story ends this way:
Good Wednesday morning. Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, one of the nation’s top lobbying firms, is expanding its national footprint by opening a new office in Tampa. The new office will strengthen the firm’s existing strategic alliance with Rubin, Turnbull & Associates, a leading Florida-based lobbying firm headquartered in Fort Lauderdale with offices in Miami and…
Washington Huskies (10-5, 1-3 Big Ten) at Michigan State Spartans (12-2, 3-0 Big Ten)East Lansing, Michigan; Thursday, 8 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: Washington plays No. 16 Michigan State after DJ Davis scored 31 points in Washington’s 81-77 loss to the Illinois Fighting Illini.The Spartans are 7-0 in home games. Michigan State is the top team in the Big Ten with 19.4 fast break points.The Huskies are 1-3 against conference opponents. Washington ranks ninth in the Big Ten scoring 34.1 points per game in the paint led by Great Osobor averaging 9.7.Michigan State’s average of 5.6 made 3-pointers per game this season is just 0.3 more made shots on average than the 5.3 per game Washington gives up. Washington has shot at a 44.8% clip from the field this season, 4.9 percentage points above the 39.9% shooting opponents of Michigan State have averaged.The matchup Thursday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams in conference play.TOP PERFORMERS: Jaxon Kohler is averaging 8.1 points and 8.5 rebounds for the Spartans.Osobor is averaging 14.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.3 steals for the Huskies.LAST 10 GAMES: Spartans: 9-1, averaging 80.3 points, 37.2 rebounds, 17.6 assists, 5.3 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 66.8 points per game.Huskies: 6-4, averaging 75.6 points, 29.6 rebounds, 14.1 assists, 7.9 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 71.4 points.The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LINDSAY MAST, HOST: It’s Wednesday the 8th of January. This is WORLD Radio and we’re so glad you’ve joined us today! Good morning, I’m Lindsay Mast. NICK EICHER, HOST: And I’m Nick Eicher. Time now for Washington Wednesday. Many Americans got a snow day on Monday, but Congress plowed right on. Outgoing Vice President Kamala…
Jimmy Carter’s remains arrive in D.C. » The Navy Band paid tribute to the late President Jimmy Carter on Tuesday as his remains arrived at the Navy Memorial in Washington. Carter’s flag-draped casket was flown yesterday from his home state of Georgia to the nation’s capital, where political leaders from both sides of the aisle…
Jobseekers check booths set up at the Global Telent Fair in Seoul, Aug. 27. Korea is moving to attract foreign professionals in high-tech areas such as artificial intelligence and electric vehicle batteries, with legislative bills and programs being introduced to make Korea a more appealing destination for them. Newsis Bill proposed to offer special visas,…
KPL
In a significant step towards boosting economic development, 21 business entities have collectively contributed 55 billion kip to establish the Product Development Fund for the Lao PDR. The handover ceremony took place on January 6, 2025, at the National Convention Hall in Vientiane.
(KPL) In a significant step towards boosting economic development, 21 business entities have collectively contributed 55 billion kip to establish the Product Development Fund for the Lao PDR. The handover ceremony took place on January 6, 2025, at the National Convention Hall in Vientiane.Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone presided over the event, which saw attendance from several key government figures, including Minister and Head of the Prime Minister’s Office, Mr. Bouakhong Nammavong, Minister of Home Affairs, Dr. Vilayvong Bouddakham, Minister of Finance, Mr. Santiphab Phomvihane, and Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mr. Malaythong Kommasith. Representatives from the contributing businesses also participated.Among the contributors, ST Bank made the largest donation of 6 billion kip. Several leading companies, including PT Sole, Phongsapthavy Co., the Lao Development Bank (LDB), Joint Development Bank (JDB), Petroliam Trading Lao Public Company, Lao Green Developments Co., AIF and AIDC, and CK Group, each donated 5 billion kip.Other notable contributors included Sisaket Construction Sole Co., Sokxay Co., Latsavong Development Co., Saisomboun Wealth Development Co., Khounkham Co., and Bouathip Co., which each donated 1 billion kip. Companies such as Douangchalern Group, Nixan Mining Development Co., Phouxy Construction Group, Panthamit Co., HKS Co., and 3S Co. contributed amounts ranging from 100 million kip to 500 million kip.Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone expressed profound gratitude to the business community for their commitment and patriotic spirit, emphasizing their crucial role in national development. He highlighted the importance of the Product Development Fund in supporting local enterprises, enhancing the quality and competitiveness of Lao-branded goods, and fostering economic resilience.“These contributions are a testament to our shared vision of building a prosperous and self-reliant Laos. This fund will serve as a cornerstone for empowering local businesses and expanding our export potential,” the Prime Minister stated.The fund will be managed by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, in collaboration with the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Finance, and the Bank of the Lao PDR. These entities will work together to develop comprehensive regulations and guidelines, incorporating input from stakeholders to ensure transparency and efficiency in fund utilization.The government’s strategy emphasizes fostering economic self-reliance and resilience in the new era, with a focus on creating a robust foundation for sustainable development. By channeling the contributions into strategic initiatives, the Product Development Fund aims to stimulate innovation, enhance production capabilities, and strengthen the overall economy.The establishment of the Product Development Fund marks a significant step forward for Laos, reflecting the collective determination of the government and private sector to achieve economic prosperity. This collaboration is expected to pave the way for transformative growth, benefiting businesses and communities across the nation.
KPL
(Xinhua) 08:16, January 08, 2025
This photo taken on Jan. 7, 2025 shows the headquarters of Japan’s Nippon Steel in Tokyo, Japan. Japan’s Nippon Steel CEO Eiji Hashimoto said Tuesday U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to block its acquisition of United States Steel was politically motivated, while stressing the company has no intention to give up on the takeover deal. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Blocking foreign investments and rejecting competition will not revive American industry; it will only cripple it. Washington must stop using “national security” as a blanket excuse to stifle competition.
BEIJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) — Washington, once an architect of the global economic order, now seems intent on dismantling it, one “national security” excuse at a time.
For U.S. politicians, foreign investment and economic competition have been conveniently labeled as “threats” to national security. That is how the White House recently justified its blocking of Japan’s Nippon Steel from acquiring U.S. Steel.
While the U.S. protectionist tactics against Chinese companies stem from framing China as a “primary strategic competitor,” the blockage of the U.S. Steel merger is more rooted in domestic politics. The Democrats promised to kill the transaction — a sensitive political issue — in the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign.
Regardless of the motivations — whether domestic political calculations or an attempt to reinforce U.S. economic hegemony, the message is clear: Washington has no qualms about resorting to protectionism.
This obstinate adoption of protectionist policies not only jeopardizes the future of the U.S. economy, but also strikes a serious blow to the stability of the global trade system.
History is replete with examples of Washington chanting “free trade” in sectors where America dominates, but wielding protectionist sticks on the pretext of national security where it does not.
From using coercive tactics such as the 1985 Plaza Accord to counter Japan’s economic influence, to implementing measures like extraterritorial jurisdiction to dismantle iconic French manufacturing company Alstom, and continually finding pretexts to hurt competitive Chinese high-tech enterprises, Washington has long been indulging in dressed-up protectionism, for which national security is repeatedly used as a handy excuse.
For Washington, tariffs, sanctions, and unilateral measures have replaced cooperation. This is not just detrimental for other countries; it is disastrous for the United States itself.
U.S. President Joe Biden is pictured at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Jan. 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)
As Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel pointed out, the blockage of the deal sent “a chilling message to any company based in a U.S. allied country contemplating significant investment in the United States.” The New York Times also argued that the decision is “a departure from America’s long-established culture of open investment, one that could have wide-ranging implications for the U.S. economy.”
By closing the door on foreign investments and rejecting economic and technological competition, the United States risks isolating itself from the global marketplace, undermining its competitiveness, and stalling the very innovation and capital influx that have historically fueled its economic strength.
Blocking foreign investments and rejecting competition will not revive American industry; it will only cripple it. Washington must stop using “national security” as a blanket excuse to stifle competition.
Protectionism is a dangerous game of economic self-sabotage. In the end, it is American consumers and workers who will pay the price.
(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
US President-elect Donald Trump held an hour-long press conference — his second since victory in the November election — and made global headlines once again. He gave a 30-minute speech, somersaulting from one topic to another in his own inimitable style, before he took questions. Trump made a series of assertions and pronouncements which are…