GREENWOOD VILLAGE — The Bruins are, once again, inevitable. Cherry Creek dominated Valor Christian on Saturday in the Class 5A semifinal at the Stutler Bowl, 42-17. That sent coach Dave Logan’s squad to its seventh straight title game as the Bruins seek to get back on top after Saturday’s game was never close as the Bruins dominated in all facets. Quarterback Brady Vodicka and fellow junior running back Jayden Fox paced the offense while the Cherry Creek defense had a pair of takeaways that helped the Bruins pull away early. Fox’s 2-yard TD run put Cherry Creek up 7-0 late in the first quarter. Then an interception by Bruins senior safety Dwight Johnson, who sat down in coverage and read Dawson Olk’s pass, set Cherry Creek up in the red zone and led to Vodicka’s 23-yard touchdown run a few plays later to make it 14-0 in the waning seconds of the first. The Bruins defense had another highlight midway through the second quarter when senior linebacker Ashton Shepardson picked off a screen pass and ran it back 25 yards for a TD to extend the lead to 21-0. Valor Christian (11-2) then used an interception by senior safety Israel Waitman off a failed trick play to set up a scoring drive that culminated in do-everything junior Cash Spence’s 1-yard TD run out of the wildcat. That put the Eagles on the board at 21-7 with less than five minutes until half. But Cherry Creek had a response via Alijah Landrum-Hamilton’s 17-yd TD reception with 28 seconds left in the half. Even though the Eagles were able to muster a 45-yard field goal from senior Mason Walters at the halftime buzzer, Cherry Creek went into the locker room in command, 28-10. The Bruins got the ball to open the third quarter and marched down the field on a time-consuming drive that took 5 minutes, 11 seconds, and was polished off by Fox’s 5-yard TD run to push the score to 35-10. By the time Cherry Creek went on another clock-killing scoring drive that ate up 6:37 and was capped by freshman Elijah Cromwell’s 5-yard TD run, the Valor Christian fan section was thinning. Cromwell’s TD made it 42-10 with 9:42 left, and about seven minutes later, Olk threw a late TD pass to sophomore Jackson Coleman. Saturday marked the 12th overall meeting between the two Colorado powerhouses since they first met in 2014. Cherry Creek’s victory evened the all-time series at 6-6, though the Bruins hold a 4-1 advantage in title matchups. That included three straight wins over Valor Christian in the big game from 2020-22, as well as highlighted by a Bruins rally and late two-point conversion to deny the Eagles their sixth straight title. Cherry Creek plays Legend in next Saturday’s title game at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, after the Titans beat Fairview 35-21 at EchoPark Stadium. There, the Bruins (12-1) will be favored to win their fifth title in the last six years.Israel detains the director of one of northern Gaza's last functioning hospitals, Palestinians say DEIR AL BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza's Health Ministry says Israel’s army has detained the director of one of northern Gaza's last functioning hospitals. The announcement on Saturday came after health officials said Israeli troops stormed the hospital on Friday and forced many staff and patients outside and told them to strip in winter weather. Israel’s army didn’t respond to questions about the hospital director. It denied it had entered or set fire to the complex but acknowledged it had ordered people outside. It said it was conducting operations against Hamas in the area. The military repeated claims that Hamas militants operate inside Kamal Adwan Hospital, which officials there have denied. Israeli airstrikes hit a Yemen airport as a jet with hundreds onboard was landing, UN official says UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The top U.N. humanitarian official in Yemen says Israeli airstrikes hit Yemen’s main airport as a civilian Airbus 320 with hundreds of passengers on board was landing this week. He says a U.N. delegation led by the head of the World Health Organization was waiting to leave on Thursday as two Israeli airstrikes hit the airport in the capital of Sanaa. Julien Harneis told U.N. reporters on Friday that the most frightening thing about the airstrikes wasn’t the effect on him and about 15 others in the VIP lounge at the international airport. Rather, it was the destruction of the airport control tower as a Yemenia Airways plane was taxiing in after touching down. Trump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban so he can weigh in after he takes office President-elect Donald Trump has asked the Supreme Court to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. Trump's request Friday came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court. Oral arguments are scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. The brief said Trump opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.” Bloodied Ukrainian troops risk losing more hard-won land in Kursk to Russia KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Five months after their shock offensive into Russia, Ukrainian troops are bloodied by daily combat losses and demoralized by the rising risk of defeat in Kursk. Some want to stay in the region at all costs. Others question the value of having gone in at all. Battles are so intense that commanders are unable to evacuate their dead. Lags in communication and poorly timed operations have cost lives and commanders say they have little way to counterattack. The overstretched Ukrainians have lost more then 40% of the territory they won in the lightning incursion that seized much of Kursk in August. US to send $1.25 billion in weapons to Ukraine, pushing to get aid out before Biden leaves office WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say the United States is expected to announce it will send another $1.25 billion in military assistance to Ukraine. It's part of a push by the Biden administration to get as much aid to Kyiv as possible before leaving office on Jan. 20. Officials say the large package of aid includes a significant amount of munitions, including for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the HAWK air defense system. It also will provide Stinger missiles and 155 mm- and 105 mm artillery rounds. The officials say they expect the announcement will be made on Monday. They spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalition WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump’s supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in the president-elect’s political movement into public display. The argument previews fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare tensions between the newest flank of Trump’s movement — that is, wealthy members of the tech world who want more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump’s Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. Canadian Cabinet ministers meet with Trump's nominee for commerce secretary in bid to avoid tariffs TORONTO (AP) — Two top Canadian Cabinet ministers have met with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary at Mar-a-Lago as Canada tries to avoid sweeping tariffs when Trump takes office. New Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly met with Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, as well as North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick to lead the Interior Department. The meeting was a follow up to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago last month. Trump has threatened to impose sweeping tariffs if Canada does not stem what he calls a flow of migrants and fentanyl into the United States. Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who instituted economic reforms, cremated in New Delhi NEW DELHI (AP) — Manmohan Singh, the former Indian prime minister widely regarded as the architect of the country’s economic reform program, has been cremated after a state funeral. The veteran leader, who was also credited for a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, died late Thursday at age 92. Singh’s body was taken Saturday to the headquarters of his Congress party in New Delhi, where party leaders and activists paid tributes to him and chanted “Manmohan Singh lives forever.” Later, his body was transported to a crematorium ground for his last rites as soldiers beat drums. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh was prime minister for 10 years until 2014. Winning ticket for $1.22 billion lottery jackpot sold in California, Mega Millions says ATLANTA (AP) — At least one Mega Millions player has plenty of dough to ring in the New Year after drawing the winning number. After three months without anyone winning the top prize in the lottery, a ticket worth an estimated $1.22 billion was sold in California for the drawing Friday night. The winning ticket matched the white balls 3, 7, 37, 49, 55 and the gold Mega Ball 6. The identity of the winner or winners was not immediately known. The estimated jackpot was the fifth-highest ever for Mega Millions. The total amount of the jackpot would only be distributed to a winner who chooses an annuity paid over 29 years. Nearly all grand prize winners opt to take a cash payout, which for Friday night’s drawing is an estimated $549.7 million. A 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House says WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official says 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. 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, a deputy national security adviser, said 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 former Labour PM said the death of his newborn daughter in 2002 did “not convince me of the case for assisted dying; it convinced me of the value and imperative of good end-of-life care”. In a rare intervention ahead of the Commons debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on Friday, November 29, Mr Brown shared a glimpse of the time he and his wife Sarah spent with their baby, Jennifer, who died when she was only 11 days old. Writing in the Guardian newspaper, Mr Brown said: “We could only sit with her, hold her tiny hand and be there for her as life ebbed away. She died in our arms. “But those days we spent with her remain among the most precious days of my and Sarah’s lives.” While he acknowledged that at the heart of the assisted dying debate is a “desire to prevent suffering”, the former Labour MP called for a commission on end-of-life care to be set up, instead of the law change which MPs will consider. This commission, he said, should work to create a “fully-funded, 10-year strategy for improved and comprehensive palliative care”. “When only a small fraction of the population are expected to choose assisted dying, would it not be better to focus all our energies on improving all-round hospice care to reach everyone in need of end of life support?” he said. Mr Brown added: “Medical advances that can transform end-of-life care and the horror of people dying alone, as with Covid, have taught us a great deal. “This generation have it in our power to ensure no-one should have to face death alone, uncared for, or subject to avoidable pain.” Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP sponsoring the assisted dying Bill through the Commons, said she was “deeply touched” by Mr Brown’s decision to share his story. The Spen Valley MP said she agreed completely with his calls for better end-of-life care. But Ms Leadbeater added: “He and I agree on very many things but we don’t agree on this. “Only legislation by Parliament can put right what Sir Keir Starmer calls the ‘injustice that we have trapped within our current arrangement’. “The need to address the inability of the current law to provide people with safeguards against coercion and the choice of a better death, and to protect their loved ones from possible prosecution, cannot wait. “So for me it isn’t a case of one or the other. My Bill already includes the need for the Government to report back to Parliament on the availability and quality of palliative care, and I strongly support further detailed examination of its provision. We need to do both.” Though Ms Leadbeater made reference to the Prime Minister as she set out her difference from Mr Brown’s position, Sir Keir has opted not to say whether he will support the Bill. MPs will be given a free vote on the legislation, meaning their political parties will not require them to vote for or against it, and it will be a matter for their personal consideration. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is the latest senior minister to disclose her position on assisted dying, signalling to broadcasters on Friday that she may support the Bill. “I continue to support the principle of needing change but also to ensure that we’ve got the proper safeguards and systems in place,” she told ITV’s Good Morning Britain. Asked if that meant a “yes” when the Bill comes to the Commons, she replied: “I think I last voted on this about 20 years ago and so I have supported the principle in the past and continue to believe that change is needed but we do need to have that debate on the detail and I’ll continue to follow that debate next Friday.”Janet Yellen urges immediate Congress intervention on debt ceiling; Speaker Mike Johnson in a precarious situation to get deal done or else he may lose his job

South Korea lifts president's martial law decree after lawmakers reject military rule

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Saturday accused the Centre of insulting Manmohan Singh, the country's first Sikh prime minister, by carrying out his last rites at the Nigambodh Ghat instead of a designated spot that could later become his memorial. The opposition party had written to the Centre for identifying a designated place for Singh's last rites, where a memorial could be set up for him. As politics over the matter erupted, the Centre said a decision to set up a memorial has already been taken and a trust would be formed to identify the place soon. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said the great son of Mother India and the first prime minister from the Sikh community has been "totally insulted" by the BJP-led Centre by performing his last rites at the Nigambodh Ghat on Saturday. He said Singh was the prime minister for 10 years, the country became an economic superpower during his tenure and his policies are still the support system for the poor and backward classes. "Till date, respecting the dignity of all former prime ministers, their last rites were performed at authorised burial sites so that every person could have a last darshan and pay homage without any inconvenience. "Dr Manmohan Singh deserves our highest respect and a memorial. The government should have shown respect to this great son of the country and his proud community," Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said by not providing an appropriate place for the former prime minister's cremation, the Centre has not done justice to the dignity of the post, his personality, legacy and the self-respecting Sikh community. She said earlier, all former prime ministers were given the highest honour and respect. "Dr Manmohan Singhji deserves this honour and a Samadhi Sthal. Today, the whole world is remembering his contributions. The government should have thought beyond politics and narrow-mindedness in this matter," she said in a post in Hindi on X. "This morning, I felt this when I saw Dr Manmohan Singhji's family members struggling for a place at the funeral site, trying to find a place in the crowd, and the general public getting troubled due to the lack of space and paying tributes from the road outside," Priyanka Gandhi added. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor also took to X to say that he attended Singh's funeral at the Nigambodh Ghat. "It was difficult to see very much, beyond the backs of the heads of assorted dignitaries and close relatives of the departed soul, so it became more of an occasion to reflect on the life and legacy of the late great PM," Tharoor said, adding that he found himself seated next to Navjot Singh Sidhu, who was a memorable companion during the proceedings. "We shared a great regard for the late Prime Minister and agreed that a fitting memorial must be established by the government for Dr MMS without delay," he said, while sharing pictures of the funeral. Former Indian Youth Congress chief B V Srinivas said when former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away on August 16, 2018, his funeral took place at the National Memorial, the designated place for the cremation of former presidents, vice-presidents and prime ministers. He referred to Vajpayee's memorial, "Sadbhav Atal", which is spread over seven acres and "where memories related to Atalji are present", and shared pictures of the memorial on X. "But during the tenure of the same prime minister, Narendra Modi, the last rites of former prime minister Manmohan Singh were performed at the public Nigambodh Ghat instead of the National Memorial. Because he was a Congress leader, not a BJP leader?" he asked in a post in Hindi on X. After the matter of a memorial for Singh took a political colour, the Centre clarified that a decision to build one was already conveyed to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge by Union Home Minister Amit Shah after Friday's Cabinet meeting. A government statement also said the funeral could be held as the process of setting up a trust and allotting land for the memorial could take a while. Kharge had written to Modi on Friday seeking a memorial for Singh. Several sections of the society have also urged the government to confer Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour of the country, on the late economist-prime minister.Forge Institute Launches Phoenix Xcelerator to Scale Growth of Defense Tech Startups

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Some ASX shares can provide a very pleasing level of income, but which ones are worth owning? Companies such as ( ), ( ), ( ), and ( ) are well-known for paying dividends. However, they do not necessarily have a strong track record of consistently increasing their dividend payments each year. In fact, I believe that their dividend growth may be slow in the coming years. Therefore, I'd ideally want to own businesses that can deliver longer periods of dividend growth and offer investors a pleasing dividend yield today. With that in mind, I think the two stocks below are compelling options for dividends, growth, and . Medibank Private Ltd ( ) Medibank is the largest private health insurance business in Australia, with its Medibank and ahm brands. In my eyes, private health insurance is a defensive sector because most people value their health. The rising policyholder numbers are helping Medibank grow its operating profit and net non-resident policy unit growth was 69,000. Medibank reported that its operating profit increased 7.9% to $700 million, and overall underlying grew 14.1% to $570.4 million. This helped send the dividend per share higher by 13.7% to 16.6 cents. The latest annual payout translates into a grossed-up of 6.2%, including . Universal Store Holdings Ltd ( ) CTC (THRILLS and Worship). Despite all the economic uncertainty, the company and growth of 45.3% to $34.3 million. I believe this company can continue to grow profit by rolling out more stores in Australia, particularly Perfect Stranger. When it gave an update about the , the company said it was on track to achieve nine to 15 new stores in FY25 – it had 102 at the end of FY24. In that update, the business also said Perfect Stranger's total sales were up 111.1% year over year. The ASX share has a promising growth outlook, which would be very helpful for the company's dividend. In FY24, it grew its annual dividend to 35.5 cents – it has increased its dividend each year since it started paying one in 2021. The business has a grossed-up dividend yield of 6%, including franking credits.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 28, 2024-- Halper Sadeh LLC, an investor rights law firm, is investigating whether the sale of Avid Bioservices, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDMO) to funds managed by GHO Capital Partners LLP and Ampersand Capital Partners for $12.50 per share in cash is fair to Avid shareholders. Halper Sadeh encourages Avid shareholders to click here to learn more about their legal rights and options or contact Daniel Sadeh or Zachary Halper at (212) 763-0060 or sadeh@halpersadeh.com or zhalper@halpersadeh.com . The investigation concerns whether Avid and its board of directors violated the federal securities laws and/or breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders by failing to, among other things: (1) obtain the best possible consideration for Avid shareholders; (2) determine whether GHO and Ampersand are underpaying for Avid; and (3) disclose all material information necessary for Avid shareholders to adequately assess and value the merger consideration. On behalf of Avid shareholders, Halper Sadeh LLC may seek increased consideration for shareholders, additional disclosures and information concerning the proposed transaction, or other relief and benefits. We would handle the action on a contingent fee basis, whereby you would not be responsible for out-of-pocket payment of our legal fees or expenses. Halper Sadeh LLC represents investors all over the world who have fallen victim to securities fraud and corporate misconduct. Our attorneys have been instrumental in implementing corporate reforms and recovering millions of dollars on behalf of defrauded investors. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241228459950/en/ CONTACT: Halper Sadeh LLC One World Trade Center 85th Floor New York, NY 10007 Daniel Sadeh, Esq. Zachary Halper, Esq. (212) 763-0060 sadeh@halpersadeh.com zhalper@halpersadeh.com https://www.halpersadeh.com KEYWORD: NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES LEGAL SOURCE: Halper Sadeh LLC Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/28/2024 03:24 PM/DISC: 12/28/2024 03:24 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241228459950/enGrab a PS5 DualSense controller for under £40 in Amazon's Black Friday weekend sale

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KEARNEY — The 40th Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference is scheduled for Feb. 20-21 at the Holiday Inn Convention Center, 110 Second Ave., in Kearney. Attendees can look forward to hearing from keynote speakers Elaine Froese, Emily Reuschel, Leah Peterson and Jena Oschner. In addition to the keynote speakers, participants will select from more than 20 workshop options that cover the five areas of agricultural risk management: production, market, financial, human and legal. Selected workshops will offer Continuing Education Credits for Certified Crop Advisors. The photography exhibition, “Legacy of Leadership: Faces of Nebraska Women in Agriculture,” will be on display at the event to help celebrate 40 years of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Nebraska Women in Agriculture program. “We are thrilled to present such a diverse and inspiring lineup of speakers at this year’s conference,” said Jessica Groskopf, director of the Nebraska Women in Agriculture program. “The experts, innovators, and leaders joining us are truly exceptional, and their insights will provide invaluable knowledge for everyone involved in agriculture. This is an opportunity you won’t want to miss.” Elaine Froese has coached more than 1,000 families helping decrease their anxiety over the uncertainty of their future. She has authored five books and written a Grainews column for 30 years. Froese Family Farms, a certified seed farm near Boissevain in southwestern Manitoba is her home base, where she farms with her husband, son, and daughter-in-law. She says she “understands the culture of agriculture and is gifted at helping folks see great outcomes and workable paths for their family farms.” She also says her mission is to help families find harmony through understanding. Emily Reuschel is a “champion for the leaders, thinkers, doers and dreamers of rural communities and beyond.” Her “thoughtful leadership defies expectations, busts limiting beliefs, and asks better questions to understand this big, beautiful world and the people in it.” Whether from the stage, behind the Gather in Growth podcast mic, or within her signature virtual communities, she fosters conversations to help women heal, grow, evolve, and build empathy bridges to transform them from the inside out. Jena Ochsner is a fifth-generation farm wife and entrepreneur. She and her family raise cattle and grow commercial row crops with a commitment to faith, stewardship and sustainability. Known for her “relatable, educational content,” Ochsner connects her audience to the realities of farm life through social media, where she shares insights into rural life, modern farming practices, and her love for the land. “With deep roots in her community and an unwavering Christian faith, she encourages others to embrace the values of hard work, family and legacy.” She also speaks about diversifying farm income, using technology on the farm, healthy living, and all things relatable to being a woman in agriculture. Ochsner also ships their premium dry-aged beef nationwide and is cohost of Beyond the Crops Podcast. Leah Peterson started her social media account, Clear Creek Ranch Mom, in the midst of the 2019 Bomb Cyclone as it rolled across Nebraska. What began as a landing page where people could share help and resources for those affected, became a community of people engaged in supporting one another through the ups and downs of farm and ranch life. In the years since, Clear Creek Ranch Mom has become a page where people can come to learn about modern agriculture, with doses of reality, nostalgia and humor. The exhibition, “Legacy of Leadership: Faces of Nebraska Women in Agriculture,” aims to highlight the vital role of women in Nebraska’s agricultural landscape with a collection of over 70 portraits captured at the 2024 Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference by renowned photographer John Noltner. Each portrait is accompanied by the subject’s short answer to the question, “what has called you to this work?” “Legacy of Leadership: Faces of Nebraska Women in Agriculture” is funded in part by a grant from Humanities Nebraska. Registration opens on Jan. 1. The cost for a two-day registration is $150 for participants who register on or before Feb. 7. The two-day registration fee increases to $175 on Feb. 8. A one-day registration is available for $90. The Nebraska Women in Agriculture program and the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition are offering scholarships for students and producers to attend this year’s conference. The deadline for these applications is Feb. 1. To learn more, visit the Nebraska Women in Agriculture website at https://wia.unl.edu . Get local news delivered to your inbox!The Indiana Pacers played back-to-back games over the last two days, falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics. The Pacers had appeared to right the ship on their slow start to the season, but these last two losses snapped a five-game winning streak and brought them back below .500, sitting at 15-17 on the season. Against the Thunder, the Pacers gave up a career-high 45 points to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. They followed that up by allowing Jaylen Brown to score 44 points on them. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.None

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The president of South Korea early Wednesday lifted the martial law he imposed on the country hours earlier, bending to political pressure after a tense night in which troops surrounded parliament and lawmakers voted to reject military rule. President Yoon Suk Yeol, who appeared likely to be impeached over his actions, imposed martial law late Tuesday out of frustration with the opposition, vowing to eliminate “anti-state” forces as he struggles against opponents who control parliament and that he accuses of sympathizing with communist North Korea. Police and military personnel were seen leaving the grounds of parliament following the bipartisan vote to overrule the president, and the declaration was formally lifted around 4:30 a.m. during a Cabinet meeting. Parliament acted swiftly after martial law was imposed, with National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik declaring that the law was “invalid” and that lawmakers would “protect democracy with the people.” In all, martial law was in effect for about six hours. The president’s surprising move harkened back to an era of authoritarian leaders that the country has not seen since the 1980s, and it was immediately denounced by the opposition and the leader of Yoon’s own conservative party. Lee Jae-myung , leader of the liberal Democratic Party, which holds the majority in the 300-seat parliament, said the party’s lawmakers would remain in the Assembly’s main hall until Yoon formally lifted his order. Woo applauded how troops quickly left the Assembly after the vote. “Even with our unfortunate memories of military coups, our citizens have surely observed the events of today and saw the maturity of our military,” Woo said. While announcing his plan to lift martial law, Yoon continued to criticize parliament’s attempts to impeach key government officials and senior prosecutors. He said lawmakers had engaged in “unscrupulous acts of legislative and budgetary manipulation that are paralyzing the functions of the state.” Jo Seung-lae, a Democratic lawmaker, claimed that security camera footage following Yoon’s declaration showed that troops moved in a way that suggested they were trying to arrest Lee, Woo and even Han Dong-hoon, the leader of Yoon’s People Power Party. Officials from Yoon’s office and the Defense Ministry did not respond to requests for comment early Wednesday. Seemingly hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the Assembly, waving banners and calling for Yoon’s impeachment. Some protesters scuffled with troops ahead of the lawmakers’ vote, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or major property damage. At least one window was broken as troops attempted to enter the Assembly building. One woman tried unsuccessfully to pull a rifle away from one of the soldiers, while shouting “Aren’t you embarrassed?” Under South Korea’s constitution, the president can declare martial law during “wartime, war-like situations or other comparable national emergency states” that require the use of military force to maintain peace and order. It was questionable whether South Korea is currently in such a state. When martial law is declared, “special measures” can be employed to restrict freedom of press, freedom of assembly and other rights, as well as the power of courts. The constitution also states that the president must oblige when the National Assembly demands the lifting of martial law with a majority vote. Following Yoon’s announcement of martial law, South Korea’s military proclaimed that parliament and other political gatherings that could cause “social confusion” would be suspended, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said. The military said anyone who violated the decree could be arrested without a warrant. In Washington, the White House said the U.S. was “seriously concerned” by the events in Seoul. A spokesperson for the National Security Council said President Joe Biden’s administration was not notified in advance of the martial law announcement and was in contact with the South Korean government. Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said there was no effect on the more than 27,000 U.S. service members based in South Korea. The South Korean military also said that the country’s striking doctors should return to work within 48 hours, Yonhap said. Thousands of doctors have been striking for months over government plans to expand the number of students at medical schools. Soon after martial law was declared, the parliament speaker called on his YouTube channel for all lawmakers to gather at the National Assembly. He urged military and law enforcement personnel to “remain calm and hold their positions. All 190 lawmakers who participated in the vote supported the lifting of martial law. At one point, television footage showed police officers blocking the entrance of the National Assembly and helmeted soldiers carrying rifles in front of the building. An Associated Press photographer saw at least three helicopters, likely from the military, that landed inside the Assembly grounds, while two or three helicopters circled above the site. The leader of Yoon’s conservative party called the decision to impose martial law “wrong.” Lee, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, said Yoon’s announcement was “illegal and unconstitutional.” Yoon said during a televised speech that martial law would help “rebuild and protect” the country from “falling into the depths of national ruin.” He said he would “eradicate pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional democratic order.” “I will eliminate anti-state forces as quickly as possible and normalize the country,” he said, while asking the people to believe in him and tolerate “some inconveniences.” Yoon — whose approval rating dipped in recent months — has struggled to push his agenda against an opposition-controlled parliament since taking office in 2022. His party has been locked in an impasse with the liberal opposition over next year’s budget bill. The opposition has also attempted to impeach three top prosecutors, including the chief of the central Seoul prosecutors’ office, in what the conservatives have called a vendetta against their criminal investigations of Lee, who has been seen as the favorite for the next presidential election in 2027 in opinion polls. During his televised announcement, Yoon also described the opposition as “shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces who are plundering the freedom and happiness of our citizens.” He did not elaborate. Yoon has taken a hard line on North Korea over its nuclear ambitions, departing from the policies of his liberal predecessor, Moon Jae-in, who pursued inter-Korean engagement. Yoon has also dismissed calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and top officials, drawing quick, strong rebukes from his political rivals. Yoon’s move was the first declaration of martial law since the country’s democratization in 1987. The country’s last previous martial law was in October 1979, following the assassination of former military dictator Park Chung-hee. Sydney Seiler, Korean chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, argued that the move was symbolic for Yoon to express his frustration with the opposition-controlled parliament. “He has nothing to lose,” said Seiler, comparing Yoon’s move to the Hail Mary pass in American football, with a slim chance of success. Now Yoon faces likely impeachment, a scenario that was also possible before he made the bold move, Seiler said. Natalia Slavney, research analyst at the Stimson Center’s 38 North website that focuses on Korean affairs, said Yoon’s imposition of martial law was “a serious backslide of democracy" that followed a “worrying trend of abuse” since he took office in 2022. South Korea “has a robust history of political pluralism and is no stranger to mass protests and swift impeachments,” Slavney said, citing the example of former President Park Geun-hye, the country’s first female president, who was ousted from office and imprisoned for bribery and other crimes in 2017 . Associated Press writers Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul, South Korea, and Matt Lee, Didi Tang and Tara Copp in Washington contributed to this report.Apple Loop: iPhone SE Cancellation, AirPods Mac Problems, iPhone 17 Air Pricing

A baseline scenario for the global economy in 2025Simple intuitiveness would have suggested that in the absence of No. 1 wide receiver George Pickens over the past three games that Pat Freiermuth would have been a much-utilized weapon in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense. That has not materialized. Although Freiermuth does have two touchdown receptions in that time, he had a total of only 12 targets, nine catches and 86 yards over the past three games while Pickens has been out because of a hamstring injury. Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith maintained that Freiermuth is a major part of the game plan and was dismissive about those who track targets. “It’s just not a reality of how the game is played,” Smith said. “I only say that because I think Pat — and you can ask him this; this isn’t just coach-speak — you’re the primary (receiver) on a lot of (play calls), (but) obviously the coverage dictates a lot. And then other than things, if the quarterback sees something and likes a better matchup, that’s where the ball goes. “Pat has helped us in recent weeks. Pat has been pretty damn good in the red zone. When guys get the game plan, it’s not like you’re icing somebody out. It’s just whether the ball finds them or not. You may be the primary, may get a different look, something they break down, a guy gets off schedule where you’re not necessarily going to the primary target. I think Pat’s had an excellent season.” Freiermuth’s six receiving touchdowns leads the team and is tied for third among all NFL tight ends. His 50 catches are second on the team, his 508 receiving yards third behind Pickens and Calvin Austin III. During the three-game stretch without Pickens, only Austin has more catches, yards and targets for the Steelers than Freiermuth. In a turn of phrase intended to compliment, Smith called Freiermuth “the right guy” and respected his lack of selfishness in not demanding the ball more often. Less than four months removed from signing a four-year, $48 million contract, Freiermuth’s role in the offense is secure — even if it’s not necessarily producing gaudy receiving numbers. “I think anytime Pat touches the football for us is a good thing,” quarterback Russell Wilson said. “He helps us really attack the field vertically, attack it in the edges. Just he knows how to get first downs for us. He did a good picking up some big first downs last week. And so we trust him in every way.”

These ASX 200 shares could be buys if there's a stock market crash in 2025Bengaluru, Dec 28 (PTI) Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday said he is in favour of an independent and free probe by an agency under the state's Home Department into the alleged suicide of a contractor in Bidar earlier this week. The contractor left behind a seven-page note in which he made allegations against a person, said to be his associate. Accusing the BJP of politicising the issue, as it has sought his removal from the ministry and his arrest in connection with the case, the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister clarified that neither he, nor his department, nor the government is involved in any way. "While the contractor is suggesting one thing, the accused have also made complaints regarding another aspect of the entire incident. I’m very clear in saying that there should be an independent and free probe. I have personally requested the Home Minister for an independent investigative agency within the Home Department to investigate the matter," Kharge said. Speaking to reporters, he said that it is quite natural for the BJP to believe they have found something against him in the case, and pointed out that the party has been trying to get his resignation on frivolous grounds for a year. "I’m making it clear that neither I, nor my department, nor the government is involved in all these activities," he added. Sachin Monappa Panchal, a 26-year-old contractor, ended his life by falling under a train on Thursday, leaving behind a suicide note alleging that Raju Kapanur, a close associate of Kharge, had issued death threats demanding Rs 1 crore for awarding a contract. The note also mentioned the names of seven others who were accused of cheating by not awarding him a contract, despite taking a Rs 15 lakh bribe. The contractor alleged that they threatened to kill him if he failed to pay the Rs 1 crore. Hitting out at Kharge and the Congress government over the case, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy on Saturday demanded that Kharge be removed from his ministerial post and arrested immediately. He also called for Kharge to fully cooperate with the investigation, warning that BJP leaders and workers would launch a fierce agitation if he did not. Responding to a question about the BJP’s demand for his arrest, Kharge questioned "On what grounds?" and claimed the opposition party doesn’t understand the law. "BJP does not understand the law. Am I an accused? Eight people have been named as accused. Does the BJP know what the law of the land is? On what basis are they asking for my arrest? Is my name there for abetment to suicide? These people (BJP) just want to do politics. Their intention is very clear—they want to hide their internal problems," he said. Claiming that Priyank Kharge has become BJP leaders' "favourite dish on their menu," and hence they repeatedly target him, the Minister said it is because of his strong ideological stance, which goes against the BJP's political agenda. "So it is quite natural that they always blame me. Tell me one charge that they have been able to prove against me. They don’t come with facts, documents, and proof. While showing me one thing that I have accused the BJP of without documents or proof. They always do hit-and-run, this is also a hit-and-run. I dare them to prove it," he said. Noting that eight people have been named as accused in the case, Kharge said that one of them is a Congress Kalaburagi corporator's brother. "It is a fact that I cannot deny, but that doesn’t mean that I’m involved." "The accused are saying that there was a business transaction and they wanted money for the Earnest Money Deposit (EMD). There was a transfer of money from the bank, which is a legal transaction, and there is no ambiguity about the said money transfer. While the contractor has accused eight people, including his seniors in the private firm, of failing to get him some contracts... let the truth come out in the investigation," he said. Responding to the BJP’s demand for his resignation, Kharge hit back, saying that he was not here to cater to the BJP's whims and fancies and that they are the last people who should lecture on corruption. Everybody knows what they (BJP) did. How many contractors committed suicide during their tenure, naming the then Ministers and MLAs?" he said. BJP leaders, including Narayanaswamy, have alleged that Kalaburagi district has become a "republic of Kalaburagi," where the administration and police function only according to what Kharge says. Responding to this, the Minister said, "Yes, it is a republic of Kalaburagi for development, unlike the Ballari republic that the BJP ran while they were in power." Kharge hails from Kalaburagi and serves as the district in-charge Minister there. To a question about Congress demanding the resignation of K S Eshwarappa as a Minister when BJP was in power following a contractor’s suicide with a death note, Kharge said, "The Eshwarappa case is entirely different from this suicide case. In that case, Eshwarappa was himself an accused. He was named in that case...." (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)