Category: News
US Steel to resume steel production at southern Illinois plant shut 3 years ago
HARRISBURG, Pa. — U.S. Steel said it will resume making steel slabs at its Granite City Works plant in Illinois as demand rebounds.
The company shut down the last blast furnace there in 2023, and it even moved to wind down its steel processing mill there in September.
Trump’s tariffs revive Granite City jobs, and optimism
However, it reversed its stance on the processing mill, under pressure from the White House, and now says it is going a step further by resuming steel making by reopening the blast furnace it idled three years ago amid strikes by the United Auto Workers.
U.S. Steel on Thursday cited “customer demand” in beginning the process of restarting a blast furnace at the plant in southern Illinois, just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis.
“After several months of carefully analyzing customer demand, we made the decision to restart a blast furnace,” CEO David Burritt said a statement. “Steel remains a highly competitive and highly cyclical industry, but we are confident in our ability to safely and profitably operate the mill to meet 2026 demand.”
The Pittsburgh company expects to resume steel production in the first half of next year after it hires and trains workers and gets equipment in safe working order. It will need to hire 400 of the 500 workers necessary to operate the plant, the company said.
The American Iron and Steel Institute reported that domestic steel mills in October shipped 7.7 million net tons, a 9% percent increase over the same month a year ago. Year-to-date shipments through October were up 5% over the same period in 2024, it said.
Trump claims ‘great victory’ at Downstate steel plant in first visit to Illinois since taking office
Analysts say a robust U.S. steel market has been strengthened in recent years due to tariffs under President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden.
The decision by U.S. Steel, comes less than six months after Japan-based Nippon Steel sealed a deal with Trump to buy the iconic American steelmaker for $14.9 billion.
To resolve national security objections to the acquisition, Nippon Steel agreed to give the federal government a say in certain company decisions involving domestic steel production, including over closing or idling U.S. Steel’s plants.
It also pledged to invest some $14 billion in steel production in the U.S., including building a new electric furnace.
Under the national security agreement, protections expire in 2027 for Granite City Works, but last until 2035 for U.S. Steel’s other facilities.
Granite City Works makes rolls of sheet steel for the construction, container, pipe and automotive industries.
Northwest Indiana reacts as Nippon finalizes $15B takeover of U.S. Steel
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/05/us-steel-production-illinois-plant/
FBI Pipe Bomber Breakthrough Exposes Biden Era Failures After Four Years
FBI Pipe Bomber Breakthrough Exposes Biden Era Failures After Four Years
More than four years after pipe bombs appeared outside the RNC and DNC headquarters on January 5, 2021, and less than a month after The Blaze fingered a former Capitol Police officer in a now-retracted report (that their sources still stand by), the Trump administration announced the arrest of Brian Cole Jr., 30, of Woodbridge, Virginia, on Thursday. Cole has been charged under 18 U.S.C. § 844 for deploying an explosive device.
During a press conference the day of the arrest, Attorney General Pam Bondi made it clear how this cold case was finally solved. According to Bondi, no new tips or witnesses led to the breakthrough – just persistent investigation and teamwork.
“Today’s arrest happened because the Trump Administration has made this case a priority. The total lack of movement on this case in our nation’s capital undermined the public trust of our enforcement agencies,” she said. “This cold case languished for four years until Director Patel and Deputy Director Bongino came to the FBI. The FBI, along with US Attorney Pirro and all of our prosecutors, have worked tirelessly for months sifting through evidence that had been sitting at the FBI with the Biden administration for four long years.”
BREAKING: Bondi says there was NO new tip. NO new witnesses. Just good, diligent police and prosecutorial work.
It was the TRUMP FBI that solved this CRITICAL cold case. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/p7jYCWaVQ9
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) December 4, 2025
Deputy Director Bongino also appeared on Fox News Thursday night. He explained to Sean Hannity that the truth about the J6 pipe bomber case had been sitting in plain sight for years, and the problem wasn’t a lack of evidence but a lack of leadership. “It’s almost like they were intentionally trying to decimate faith in institutions,” he said.
“It’s horrifying,” he added. “I don’t know what they were doing.”
He explained that right after being sworn in – “probably 15 minutes later,” as he put it – he told the team, “When I get in there, I want a full brief on this pipe bomber case on day one.” Once he heard what had been done, he saw that the agents had put in real work, even “a pretty extensive amount of work,” but the case still needed urgent direction.
He blasted the old FBI brass for obsessing over politics while the case went cold. “I don’t know what the hell this prior leadership team was doing outside of… targeting political opponents, weaponizing the FBI, destroying its reputation,” he said. He argued that the agency’s credibility suffered because its leaders acted “almost like they were intentionally trying to decimate faith in institutions.”
According to Bongino, the agents had logged an enormous amount of legwork, including “thousands of leads, 6,000 plus interviews… hundreds of tips,” but the investigation had gone stale. He recalled pulling the case agent aside and telling him directly, “You’re gonna get me this guy… You’re gonna track this guy down, and you’re gonna find him. You’re gonna get me this guy. I want him.”
That order launched nearly nine months of work that led to the break they announced. He stressed that the success came from a full team effort across agencies. “You cannot do anything in the FBI without DOJ process,” he said, pointing to subpoenas, warrants, and filings handled by DOJ officials. He credited U.S. Attorney Pirro, Deputy Attorney General Blanche, and Attorney General Bondi, underscoring that “You cannot do anything in the FBI without DOJ process.”
🚨 JUST IN — DAN BONGINO on why the Biden admin didn’t find the J6 pipe bomber:
“I don’t know WHAT THE HELL the prior leadership was doing outside of—you know—targeting political opponents, weaponizing the FBI, destroying its reputation…”
“It’s almost like they were… pic.twitter.com/61wa1HPzfK
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) December 5, 2025
Now, questions remain about why the Biden-led Justice Department did not act sooner, despite having all the evidence necessary to catch Cole.
There is speculation that the Biden administration was more interested in tracking down and prosecuting peaceful January 6 protesters, which may have diverted resources from this case. Others speculate about possible deliberate stalling or withholding of information for political reasons.
By Thursday evening, we learned more details about Cole. The Daily Wire described him as a left-leaning, black activist whose background challenges the mainstream narrative about January 6. According to the report, Cole worked for his father’s bail bond business, which specialized in helping illegal immigrants secure release from ICE custody. The family’s company even sued the Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security over immigration policy, and later, Cole and his father reportedly enlisted attorney Benjamin Crump to pressure Joe Biden’s Department of Justice to investigate alleged racial discrimination by a local prosecutor. The story suggests that these connections cast doubt on the longstanding narrative that the pipe bombs linked to Cole were part of an organized right-wing plot tied to the Capitol riot.
Yet – ‘sources’ are now telling CNN and NBC News that Cole believed that the 2020 election was stolen – as they’re trying to make the case that he’s a Trump supporter.
The Biden administration’s handling of the pipe bomb investigation will likely draw further scrutiny as more details emerge.
Tyler Durden
Fri, 12/05/2025 – 12:20
Wall Street flirts with its all-time high
NEW YORK — The U.S. stock market is flirting with its all-time high on Friday.
The S&P 500 rose 0.3% and was on track earlier in the day to squeak past its record closing level, which was set in October. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 164 points, or 0.3%, as of 11 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.4% higher.
If the S&P 500 finishes the day at a record, it would mark the latest time the U.S. stock market has powered past what appeared to be a debilitating set of worries. Most recently, those concerns centered on what the Federal Reserve will do with interest rates, whether too many dollars are flowing into artificial-intelligence technology and if sharp drops for cryptocurrencies would bleed over into other markets.
Renewed hopes for a cut to interest rates by the Fed at its meeting next week helped stocks recover those losses, which included some of their worst days since their sell-off during April. So did a continuing parade of companies saying they’re making bigger profits than analysts had expected.
Ulta Beauty helped lead the market on Friday and jumped 14% after the retailer reported stronger profit and revenue for the latest quarter than expected. CEO Kecia Steelman said its customers are broadly feeling pressure, but Ulta saw growth across its categories, particularly in e-commerce. It raised its forecast for revenue over the full year.
Another encouraging signal for the holiday shopping season came from Victoria’s Secret & Co. It delivered a milder loss for the latest quarter than analysts expected, and it likewise raised its forecast for sales over the full year. Its stock rallied 13.2%.
Warner Bros. Discovery was also strong and rose 3.6%. Netflix said it would buy Warner Bros. for $72 billion in cash and stock following its pending split from Discovery Global.
The deal for the company behind HBO Max, “Casablanca” and “Harry Potter” is not a sure thing, though. It could raise fears at the U.S. government about too much industry power residing at Netflix. Shares of Netflix initially fell more than 5% after the deal was announced, but they briefly erased all of the loss and swung to a modest gain before settling back to a dip of 0.6%.
Paramount Skydance, which earlier had been seen as a front-runner to buy Warner Bros., fell 6.1%.
Also on the losing end of Wall Street was SoFi Technologies. The financial technology company fell 6.3% to $27.73 after saying it would add $1.5 billion worth of its stock into the market in order to raise cash. It’s selling the stock at a price of $27.50 per share.
The U.S. stock market broadly has been much quieter this week, a respite following earlier weeks of sharp and scary swings.
After some back and forth, the widespread expectation among traders is that the Fed will cut its main interest rate next week in hopes of shoring up the slowing U.S. job market. If it does, that would be the third cut of the year.
Investors love lower interest rates because they boost prices for investments and can juice the economy. The downside is that they can worsen inflation, which is stubbornly remaining above the Fed’s 2% target.
Economic reports released on Friday did little to change expectations for a coming cut. One said that an underlying measure of inflation that the Fed prefers to use was at 2.8% in September, exactly as economists expected.
A separate report said U.S. consumers appear to be downgrading their expectations for inflation coming in the near future. They’re now forecasting 4.1% inflation for the year ahead, down from their forecast of 4.5% last month, according to the University of Michigan.
That’s the lowest such reading since January, which is important because heightened expectations for inflation can create a vicious cycle that only worsens inflation.
In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury inched up to 4.12% from 4.11% late Thursday.
In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe and Asia Friday.
Germany’s DAX returned 0.8%, and South Korea’s Kospi jumped 1.8% for two of the world’s bigger gains.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.1% after data showed household spending in Japan fell 3.0% in October from a year earlier. It was the sharpest drop since January 2024. Japanese markets have been shaky recently after the Bank of Japan hinted that hikes to interest rates may be coming.
AP Writer Teresa Cerojano contributed.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/05/wall-street-friday/
Trio of Santas help make Christmas magical for hundreds of kids
Three Santas were among the 250 volunteers who helped 500 Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana members celebrate Christmas on Thursday in Merrillville.
“They might not have a very merry Christmas otherwise,” Vice President of Philanthropy Denise Koebcke said.
Boys and Girls Club of Greater NWI member Elyriah, on left, celebrates with a friend after unwrapping a “Stitch” plush during the organization’s annual “Christmas to Remember” event in Merrillville on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (Kyle Telechan/for the Post-Tribune)
“This community cares about them,” she said. “It just creates a community that gives kids and parents hope.”
For most of the kids, there were more presents Thursday than they could expect on Christmas morning, President and CEO Mike Jessen said.
Jacob, 11, promised he would make sure Santa’s milk was cold on Christmas Eve and looked forward to Santa eating all the cookies.
“When all the elves come to your house,” he said, is his favorite Christmas memory.
Volunteer Braden McCormick, with Valparaiso University Swim, carries sacks of presents to be distributed to Boys and Girls Club of NWI members during the organization’s “Christmas to Remember” event in Merrillville on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025.
Ayden, 12, enjoys setting up the Christmas tree. On Thursday, Santa and his volunteers gave him a basketball, Rubik’s cube, clothes and other gifts.
Samantha, 8, was likewise thrilled with her presents. “I liked my scarf and my earrings,” she said. She also got a coat, clothes and two Pokémon cards. “They’re rare,” she said.
All the kids enjoyed pizza, as did the volunteers.
The Christmas to Remember event lived up to its billing — for the volunteers as well as the kids.
Boys and Girls Club of Greater NWI member Jacob, on left, talks with Santa during the organization’s annual “Christmas to Remember” event in Merrillville on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (Kyle Telechan/for the Post-Tribune)
One of the Santas, Anthony Olivarez, of Valparaiso, brought his fiancée Kathy Siefert, also of Valparaiso, and his daughter Sophia Olivarez, of Valparaiso, to greet the children.
“It’s good to see the happiness they get and all the smiles,” Santa Olivarez said. It’s his second year of volunteering for the event.
“We’ve got the costumes; let’s dress up,” he decided. “They’re always happy to greet us.”
His Mrs.-to-be Claus is in the Christmas spirit.
Volunteer Tiffiney Smith, of East Chicago, smiles as she helps a child unwrap presents during the annual Boys and Girls Club of Greater NWI “Christmas to Remember” event in Merrillville on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (Kyle Telechan/for the Post-Tribune)
“I have 10 Christmas trees in the house,” she admitted.
Olivarez and Siefert met through an online dating service, she said. Where else could you arrange a date with Santa?
Sophia was happy to be an elf. “They see elves all the time, and they seem happy,” she said. “I like seeing their eyes light up when they see Santa.”
Maceo Rainey, of Merrillville, was one of the Santas. In his normal persona, he owns the Rainey Center in Gary, a child care provider.
Boys and Girls Club of Greater NWI member Amari reacts as she opens a new winter coat during the organization’s annual “Christmas to Remember” event in Merrillville on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (Kyle Telechan/for the Post-Tribune)
Seeing the children’s faces and the generosity of the volunteers reinforced his belief in the future.
“Northwest Indiana is a great place to be a kid. It truly is,” he said.
There are 25 children a day born in Northwest Indiana, Rainey said.
Jill Moranski, of Merrillville, wore a reindeer costume, walking on just two legs.
“I actually don’t have children of my own,” she said, so volunteering was fun. She helped at a gift-wrapping party for the children, too. “I’m glad we go the opportunity,” she said.
Tiffiney Smith, of East Chicago, was a first-time volunteer at the event, seeing the joy it brought the boy she was helping. The digital mini-hoop for playing basketball was his favorite gift, though he also got a handmade scarf, pants, coat and more.
“I don’t ever remember writing a list or anything,” she said. The Boys & Girls Club members who participated in the Christmas to Remember event got at least one gift on their list.
Savana Kolodziej, of Valparaiso, wore a Buddy the Elf costume. “It’s all so magical, walking around and seeing all the kids,” she said. “That’s why I dress up as the elf.”
Kolodziej has worn the costume in downtown Valparaiso. “All the kids started coming up to me and asking for hugs,” she said.
Board member Josh Schoon, of Chesterton, has been a volunteer with the organization for eight years. His wife helps coordinate the shopping and had 50 children’s gifts on her shopping list, he said.
“To see the joy on these kids’ faces, the excitement,” reinforced his commitment, he said.
“It’s about bringing that love and that hope. It’s one of my favorite nights of the year.”
Lisa Schneider, of St. John, accompanied her husband, Michael Schneider, who was dressed as the Grinch. He pretended to try to steal children’s presents, entertaining the kids.
“Many of the kids are doing the heart shape with their hands, showing his heart grew three times as big,” she said.
Jeff Carrico, Meijer’s market director for southeast Chicago and Northwest Indiana, watched the event with a smile. “It brings the youth back in you,” he said. “To see it light up the kids’ faces and bring joy, it’s worth it.”
“It’s a herculean effort to put all of these kids on one place,” Jessen said, but worth the effort. “They’re more excited about the boots, the shoes, the clothes, the coats,” he said, but the children also appreciate the toys.
“It’s like a true, true Christmas,” he said.
Doug Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Bloquean en México cuentas de dueño de Miss Universo investigado por presunto tráfico de drogas
Por FABIOLA SÁNCHEZ
CIUDAD DE MÉXICO (AP) — La Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera de México, que se encarga del combate al lavado de dinero, bloqueó las cuentas bancarias del dueño del concurso Miss Universo, el empresario mexicano Raúl Rocha Cantú, tras la investigación que le abrió la Fiscalía General por presunto tráfico de drogas, armas y combustible.
La medida se produce en medio del escándalo desatado por los procesos judiciales que enfrentan dos de los propietarios del certamen de belleza y la polémica que rodeó a la última edición de Miss Universo ante las denuncias de manipulación de uno de los jurados.
La UIF —que depende de la Secretaría de Hacienda— congeló las cuentas bancarias que tiene Rocha Cantú en México, confirmó a The Associated Press un funcionario federal que habló en condición de anonimato porque no está autorizado a hacer declaraciones sobre el proceso.
La semana pasada la Fiscalía General de la República informó que desde noviembre del año pasado tenía abierta una investigación a Rocha Cantú por delincuencia organizada en relación con narcotráfico, robo de combustible —conocido localmente como huachicol— y tráfico de armas.
El mes pasado, un juez federal emitió 13 órdenes de captura contra algunos de los implicados en el caso, entre quienes incluyó a Rocha Cantú.
El diario local Reforma reportó que el empresario solicitó en noviembre al Ministerio Público un beneficio que le permitió actuar como testigo colaborador en el proceso. La Fiscalía no ha confirmado la medida.
Rocha Cantú también se vio envuelto en el polémico caso del Casino Royale de la ciudad norteña de Monterrey, en el estado de Nuevo León, que sufrió un atentado en agosto de 2011 en el que murieron 52 personas. El casino era operado por las empresas CYMSA Corporation y Entertainment Enterprises of Mexico de las que Rocha Cantú era socio.
Por el caso fue condenado en julio pasado a 135 años de prisión Baltazar Saucedo Estrada, considerado el autor intelectual del ataque al casino.
Un tribunal de Tailandia emitió a fines de noviembre una orden de arresto contra la copropietaria de la Organización Miss Universo, Jakkaphong “Anne” Jakrajutatip.
Jakrajutatip fue acusada de fraude y luego liberada bajo fianza en 2023. No se presentó como se requería en un tribunal de Bangkok por lo que se consideró que existía riesgo de fuga, según un comunicado del Tribunal del Distrito Sur de Bangkok.
La copropietaria de Miss Universo y su empresa, JKN Global Group Public Co. Ltd., fueron demandados por presuntamente defraudar a Raweewat Maschamadol al venderle bonos corporativos de la empresa en 2023. Raweewat afirma que la inversión le causó una pérdida de 30 millones de baht (930.362 dólares).
JKN adquirió los derechos del certamen de Miss Universo de IMG Worldwide LLC en 2022. En 2023, vendió el 50% de sus acciones de Miss Universo a Legacy Holding Group USA, propiedad de Rocha Cantú.
En la última edición de Miss Universo surgió una controversia luego de la reprimenda mordaz que le hizo un organizador tailandés a la mexicana Fátima Bosch, quien fue coronada Miss Universo 2025 el 19 de noviembre. También dos jueces del certamen se retiraron, con uno sugiriendo que había manipulación en el concurso. La policía tailandesa investigó las acusaciones de que la publicidad del evento incluía promoción ilegal de casinos en línea.
Reducen sanción a Luis Díaz en la Liga de Campeones tras falta a Achraf Hakimi
NYON, Suiza (AP) — Luis Díaz, el atacante colombiano del Bayern Múnich, vio reducida su sanción de tres partidos en la Liga de Campeones a dos tras apelar por su imprudente falta sobre Achraf Hakimi del Paris Saint-Germain.
La UEFA informó el viernes que la apelación de Díaz por el cargo de “juego brusco grave” fue aceptada, sin especificar el motivo.
Esto significa que aún se perderá el partido del Bayern en casa contra el Sporting Lisboa el martes, pero podrá jugar contra el Union Saint-Gilloise de Bélgica el próximo mes.
Díaz anotó dos goles antes de ser expulsado en la victoria 2-1 contra el PSG el mes pasado. Hizo una fuerte entrada por detrás. El impacto fue al tobillo izquierdo de Hakimi, quien cayó mal.
Díaz todavía tiene que cumplir más que la sanción mínima obligatoria de un partido por una tarjeta roja, a diferencia de Cristiano Ronaldo.
En una decisión inusual el mes pasado, la FIFA impuso al astro portugués una sanción de tres partidos, pero con dos suspendidos por un período de prueba, debido a un incidente de juego brusco grave contra Irlanda el mes pasado en las eliminatorias de la Copa del Mundo. Esto significa que probablemente evitará perderse partidos al inicio de su récord sexto Mundial el próximo año.
___
Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
AT&T Scraps DEI Amid Broader Corporate Shift Toward Merit-Based Policies
AT&T Scraps DEI Amid Broader Corporate Shift Toward Merit-Based Policies
Authored by Tom Ozimek via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),
AT&T told federal regulators this week that it has eliminated all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and programs across its business, becoming the latest major corporation to unwind such initiatives amid a broader shift toward merit-based employment practices and heightened scrutiny from the Trump administration.
The AT&T logo on a building in Los Angeles on Aug. 10, 2017. Mike Blake/Reuters
In a Dec. 1 letter filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as part of AT&T’s bid to acquire U.S. Cellular spectrum licenses for roughly $1 billion, the company said it is “ending DEI-related policies … not just in name but in substance,” following recent executive orders, Supreme Court rulings, and guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
AT&T said it has adjusted its employment and business practices “to ensure that they comply with all applicable laws and related requirements,” AT&T wrote to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, adding that its hiring, training, and promotion practices “are not and will not be based on or limited by race, gender, or other protected characteristics.”
The company said it removed all training related to DEI, scrubbed internal and external messaging referencing the concept, discontinued sponsorships it deemed unrelated to its business strategy, and stopped conducting employee surveys focused on protected characteristics. AT&T also said it no longer uses DEI considerations in selecting suppliers and “will not have any roles focused on DEI.”
“AT&T has always stood for merit-based opportunity, and we are pleased to reaffirm our commitment to equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination today,” the company wrote. “Consistent with applicable law, our multi-pronged approach allows employees to thrive in an environment free from invidious discrimination.”
Carr, a Republican tapped by President Donald Trump in January to lead the FCC, praised the disclosure.
“AT&T has now memorialized its commitment to ending DEI-related policies in an FCC filing,” he wrote on X.
He added that the companywide rollback followed changes announced earlier this year after pressure from conservative activist Robby Starbuck, who urged AT&T to dismantle programs he argued were discriminatory.
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, a Democrat, criticized the move, saying in a social media post that AT&T’s reversal “isn’t a sudden transformation of values, but a strategic financial play to curry favor with this FCC/Administration.”
Gomez said that abandoning “fairness and inclusion for short-term gain will be a stain to their reputation long into the future.”
Part of a Broader Corporate Retreat
AT&T’s shift comes as major corporations reassess or eliminate DEI initiatives in response to new legal risks and regulatory scrutiny. Wireless carrier T-Mobile said in July it was ending its DEI programs while seeking approval for two major transactions, including a $4.4 billion deal to acquire most of U.S. Cellular’s wireless operations. Verizon agreed to end its DEI program in the context of its $20 billion acquisition bid for Frontier Communications earlier this year.
The trend also extends beyond the telecommunications sector. Ford, McDonald’s, John Deere, Walmart, Nissan, Toyota, Molson Coors, Citibank, and Meta are among the large employers that have recently rebranded, scaled back, or ended DEI programs, citing changing legal standards after the Supreme Court’s 2023 affirmative action ruling and sweeping executive actions by Trump directing federal agencies—and encouraging the private sector—to abandon race- and sex-based preferences.
Disney Softens DEI Language Amid FCC Probe
The rollback wave has reached Hollywood as well. The Walt Disney Co. removed virtually all DEI-related terminology from its 2025 annual report to the Securities and Exchange Commission—the first such omission in at least five years—even as the company faces an FCC investigation into whether its ABC and related networks violated federal equal employment opportunity rules.
Carr ordered the probe in March, citing Disney initiatives that sought to “amplify underrepresented voices” and inclusion standards requiring a high percentage of characters, writers, directors, and crew to come from “underrepresented” groups. He said the agency must ensure that such practices do not embed “identity quotas” in violation of the Communications Act.
Disney said it was reviewing the FCC’s letter and plans to cooperate.
Tyler Durden
Fri, 12/05/2025 – 12:00
El ejército de Pakistán califica al expremier Imran Khan de “enfermo mental”
Associated Press
ISLAMABAD (AP) — El ejército de Pakistán respondió el viernes al ex primer ministro Imran Khan, quien está en prisión y declaró que el jefe de las fuerzas armadas es “mentalmente inestable”. El ejército calificó a Khan de “enfermo mental” y lo acusó de utilizar visitas familiares y publicaciones en redes sociales para atacar a las fuerzas armadas y sembrar división.
Sin nombrar directamente a Khan, el portavoz del ejército, el teniente general Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, lo describió como un “narcisista” cuyas ambiciones políticas se habían vuelto tan extremas que creía que “si no está en el poder, nada más debería existir”.
Chaudhry dijo en una conferencia de prensa televisada que las personas que se reunían con Khan en prisión estaban siendo utilizadas “para esparcir veneno contra el ejército”. Sus comentarios se produjeron después de que una de las hermanas de Khan se reuniera con él en prisión y dijera que su hermano estaba enojado con el jefe del ejército, el general Asim Munir.
Las inusuales declaraciones de Chaudhry también siguieron a una publicación de Khan en X un día antes, en la que etiquetó a Munir como una “persona mentalmente inestable” y lo acusó de un declive moral que había causado “el colapso total de la Constitución y el estado de derecho en Pakistán”. Khan dijo que él y su esposa fueron encarcelados con cargos fabricados “por su orden” y afirmó que estaba siendo mantenido en confinamiento solitario y sometido a presión psicológica.
El portavoz de Khan, Zulfiquar Bukhari, dijo que la conferencia de prensa del ejército fue impulsada por la ira, no por la razón, e incluyó amenazas flagrantes contra Khan y su partido PTI. En un comunicado, lo calificó como un claro intento de allanar el camino para una represión más dura contra el partido y empeorar la tortura mental y sus condiciones en la cárcel.
“Ya han prohibido las reuniones con él en el futuro”, dijo.
Khan, de 73 años, está encarcelado desde 2023 tras una condena por corrupción y enfrenta una serie de otros cargos.
En la conferencia de prensa, Chaudhry mostró la última publicación de Khan en X, diciendo que los medios afganos e indios habían amplificado las “tonterías” de una “persona mentalmente enferma” y que sus acusaciones contra Munir eran infundadas.
El último desarrollo se produjo un día después de que el presidente de Pakistán, Asif Ali Zardari, y el primer ministro Shehbaz Sharif aprobaron la promoción del ampliamente popular Munir como jefe de las fuerzas de defensa, un cargo que se estableció el mes pasado para mejorar la coordinación entre el ejército, la marina y la fuerza aérea.
Munir ha ganado prominencia desde principios de este año, cuando Pakistán dijo que derrotó a India en un conflicto de cuatro días. Chaudhry dijo que Khan está tratando deliberadamente de avivar la hostilidad hacia el ejército.
“No permitiremos que nadie cree divisiones entre el ejército de Pakistán y su pueblo”, dijo Chaudhry. Dijo que la constitución garantiza la libertad de expresión, pero también establece límites y no permite que nadie socave la seguridad nacional. Chaudhry vinculó a Khan con los ataques del nueve de mayo de 2023 a instalaciones militares, incluida la sede del ejército en Rawalpindi.
”¿No fue esta misma persona quien orquestó esos ataques?” dijo.
La violencia de 2023 estalló después del arresto de Khan, cuando miles de sus seguidores asaltaron instalaciones gubernamentales y militares. Khan se ha declarado no culpable de los cargos de incitar a los disturbios.
Chaudhry dijo que correspondía al gobierno civil, no al ejército, decidir si el partido de Khan debería ser prohibido. Describió el supuesto mensaje contra el ejército del ex primer ministro como una preocupación de seguridad nacional y afirmó que operaba “en profunda colusión con actores externos”.
Khan fue destituido en una votación de no confianza en abril de 2022. Su partido ahora está en la oposición y continúa alegando que las elecciones parlamentarias de 2024 fueron manipuladas para favorecer al actual primer ministro Sharif, una afirmación que el gobierno niega.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Worship news: Deck the stalls event and Favorite Things party
Chesterton
Truth North Training Stables: 927 N. County Road 150 West — True North Training Stables will have a “Deck the Stalls & Cookie Walk” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 13. The event is $10 per family to decorate, cookies will be sold for $10 and $15 per box, and those in attendance can get a photo with Santa for $10. All proceeds go to the ministry, which seeks to bring hope, affirm, mentor and bring purpose to others through their love of the Lord and use of horses. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/927-north-150-west-chesterton-in-united-states-indiana-46304/deck-the-stalls-cookie-walk/1017335623365855/.
Crown Point
CrossPoint Church: 214 S. Court St. — CrossPoint Church will have a “Favorite Things” Women’s Christmas Party beginning at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 8. Attendees should bring three of the same item ($5 to $10 each) wrapped and ready to exchange. The gift should be a favorite item from the year. Register here: https://xpoint.churchcenter.com/people/forms/1080762.
St. Matthias Roman Catholic Church: 101 W. Burrell Drive — St. Matthias’ Youth Ministry will have a movie night showing of” The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” at 4 p.m. Dec. 7. The movie night will have hot cocoa and Christmas cookies. Doors open at 4 p.m. and the show will begin at 4:15 p.m.
Gary
Marquette Park United Methodist Church: 215 N. Grand Blvd. — All are welcome to worship at 11:15 a.m. Sundays at Marquette Park United Methodist Church. There will be refreshments afterward in the Fellowship Hall.
Hammond
Faith United Church of Christ: 3030 175th St. — Faith United Church of Christ holds its worship service at 10 a.m. on Sundays, followed by fellowship and coffee.
Regeneration Church: 6851 New Hampshire Ave. — “Glory Live: A Night of Worship with Michael E. Gould” will take place at Regeneration Church from 5-7 p.m. Dec. 13. The event will feature live performances from the “Glory Live” album, community workshop, prayer and praise, special guest worship leaders and musicians and more. Tickets are on sale at Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/glory-live-a-night-of-worship-with-michael-e-gould-tickets-1963812514094.
Saint Joseph Catholic Church: 5304 Hohman Ave. — Saint Joseph Catholic Church will have “Donut Sunday” on the last Sunday of every month after the 9 a.m. Mass. Free coffee and donuts are provided at the church hall.
Merrillville
Diocese of Gary Office: 9292 Broadway — The Diocese will be accepting donations hats, scarves and gloves for the Caps for Kids campaign at its Merrillville office through January. The Diocese is assisting the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, District Council of Gary, to collect new or handmade hats, scarves and gloves. Checks can also be mailed to “Caps for Kids,” c/o St. Vincent de Paul, 2714 169th St., Hammond, IN 46323. For more information, call (219) 769-9292, ext. 88251.
Our Lady of Queen of Martyrs – South Campus: 8303 Taft St. — Join Bishop Robert J. McClory in celebrating Simbang Gabi at 4 p.m. on December 20. Simbang Gabi is a Filipino Christmas tradition of nine days of Masses during the Christmas season. A reception will follow the Mass.
Munster
St. Thomas More Church: 8501 Calumet Ave. — Monsignor Weis Council 10596 Knights of Columbus will hold its annual Christmas Tree and Wreath Sale beginning Nov. 28. Hours are 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Those who are interested can walk the tree lot to find their perfect tree, and treats are available for kids. Proceeds support local charities, and orders are cash or check only.
Valparaiso
Liberty Bible Church: 1155 Sturdy Rd. — Liberty Bible Church will have a family campus movie night beginning at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6. The movie night will feature “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” and popcorn will be available. For more information, visit https://www.findliberty.net/events-1/movie-night-valparaiso.
Valparaiso Baptist Church: 612 Emmettsburg St — Valparaiso Baptist Church will have a Holiday Meal from Noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 7. The meal will celebrate the spirit of Christmas and Thanksgiving. For more information, call 219-464-1443, ot text 833-458-8611.
To submit worship news, email cnance@post-trib.com.
Zeds Dead bring their largest-ever Chicago shows to Wintrust Arena
Image provided by Max Thompson
Content oversight provided by Studio 1847
This December, Chicago’s dance music community will witness a homecoming of intergalactic proportions.
On Dec. 12 and 13, Canadian electronic icons Zeds Dead will descend upon Wintrust Arena for a two-night event that marks the climax of their 2025 Deadbeats tour — and the most ambitious chapter yet in their long-standing love affair with the Windy City.
Billed as “Return to the Arena of Intergalactic Happiness,” the back-to-back shows blend cutting-edge production with cinematic storytelling, closing out the duo’s most creatively expansive year in commanding fashion. But for fans in Chicago, this isn’t just another tour stop. It’s a tradition, a pilgrimage and a testament to a bond over a decade in the making.
Since their early days performing at Concord Music Hall and Aragon Ballroom, Zeds Dead — comprised of Dylan Mamid (DC) and Zachary Rapp-Rovan (Hooks) — have cultivated a uniquely loyal Chicago following. Their annual December runs have grown from club shows to multi-night events that draw fans from across the Midwest and beyond, effectively turning Chicago into a year-end destination for bass music lovers.
In recent years, they’ve sold out Radius and The Salt Shed, even debuting Chicago Bulls-inspired tracksuits at the latter in 2023. This year, the tradition levels up with a full arena-scale production — custom visuals, immersive stage design and nods to their critically acclaimed 2025 album, “Return to the Spectrum of Intergalactic Happiness.” In total, Zeds Dead have sold 150,000+ tickets in Chicago alone over the past decade — a staggering stat that cements the city’s role as a cornerstone of their touring legacy.
Image provided by Ascend Agency
The Wintrust shows arrive at a creatively defining moment for the duo. Their recent audiovisual piece, “Channel Flipping 2: Only You”, premiered exclusively via Billboard, has been described as “a heartstring-pulling, time-warping journey” that blends archival film and music samples into a narrative mashup — a perfect mirror of the duo’s deep-rooted sampling ethos. That same multidimensional energy will course through the Wintrust experience. Zeds Dead have promised rare throwback moments, layered storytelling and high-concept visuals drawn from the world of their latest album, a genre-blurring project that channels everything from hip-hop to rave nostalgia into a cohesive sonic universe.
With more than a decade of releases, hundreds of millions of streams and the founding of their acclaimed label Deadbeats, Zeds Dead’s legacy is etched into the fabric of modern dance music. But in Chicago, they’ve built something even rarer — a sustained relationship with a city that has shown up for them again and again.
This December’s shows are more than just a tour finale. They’re a celebration of roots, evolution and a bond that has transcended time, venues and even genres. For Chicago fans, it’s not the end of the year until Zeds Dead says so.
Tickets for “Deadbeats Presents: Zeds Dead – Return to the Arena of Intergalactic Happiness” are on sale now. Stream the album: Return to the Spectrum of Intergalactic Happiness.
