99 jili slot BEFORE you do the “New Year, New Me” half-hearted resolutions, splurge on these beauty products, apparel and accessories to bid adieu to 2024 in style: • BURT’S BEES. Mindfully made in Maine, USA, Burt’s Bees deserves the buzz it has been generating among responsible beauty aficionados. The ingredients in each of its products is said to be “chosen for its proven ability to replenish and strengthen a healthy skin barrier. That means only the good stuff, and absolutely none of the bad, for hydrated and happy skin.” A Bit of Burt’s Bees (P495) comes in ornament-style packaging with a to/from section, a charming gift that include Beeswax Lip Balm with Hand Salve, and Cranberry Spritz Lip Balm with Hand Salve. • YVES ROCHER. For Yves Rocher, self-care is one of the best gifts you can give to yourself and to others. The global French brand knows that Filipinos appreciate its botanical products for being cruelty-free, sulfate-free, colorant-free and eco-conscious, besides being safe and gentle for sensitive skin. Starting at P249, the winter floral-themed boxes include shower gel and lotion sets, and hand creams such as the bestselling Olive Petitgrain, Vanilla, Mango, Raspberry, and new scents like Wild Algue. • AVON REGINA BRA. Besides being a beauty behemoth, Avon is fast becoming a leading player in intimate apparel. Its comfortable and stylish bras and panties “flatter and empower women.” The Regina underwire convertible molded T-shirt bra, for example, is said to be so beloved that it is sold every other minute. a LEVI’S AT SM MAKATI. A standout feature at the reopened Levi’s store in SM Makati is the Tailor Shop, where you can jazz up and personalize your denims to express more your personal style. An artist, who will bring every denim lover’s customization dreams to life, can add patches, embroidery and other creative touches to make your Levi’s outfit unique. • 9LIVES X VISION EXPRESS. Here’s an eye-catching collaboration: acclaimed actress and fashionista Nadine Lustre designs an eyewear collection called 9Lives for the optical retail shop Vision Express. The diverse, stylish and affordable frames embody the tagline “For Everybody.” The 9Lives collection features classic to contemporary frame styles to complement different face shapes and preferences. Customers have the option to personalize their lenses to highlight their individuality, while Vision Express provides in-store services to facilitate this customization. • DITA LANCIER. With a mission to help people “see the world better without sacrificing style,” chic eyewear brand Dita Lancier promises to provide timeless designs with advanced lens technology for optimal vision in any environment—land, sea, or air. Vision Express exclusively carries the brand The fall/winter line offers frames crafted from premium materials such as titanium and acetate, and features anti-slip rubber nose pads and temples to rest comfortable on any nose shape. The collection comes in square, rectangle, round and aviator frame shapes with lens in three colors: land (brown), sea (gray), and air (green). • CARENOLOGY95. Korean Care + Knowledge about skin care comes to the country through Carenology95. “We decided to bring Carenology to the Philippines because of its quality and proven effectiveness. It prioritizes the use of natural ingredients and cutting-edge technology which align with the needs of Filipinos seeking quality Korean skincare solutions,” said Dianne Gonzales, director of MMG Enterprises, the official distributor of the brand. Dr. Lim Ee Seok, the founder, swear by the brand’s proven effectiveness, as it uses a blue carbon oil of which 1g worth comes from 2,000 blue tansy flowers from Morocco whose benefits include skin antioxidants, anti-aging, complexion improvement, redness relief, and sebum improvement. The Re: Blue, the signature line, nourishes and moisturizes skin, quenching skin thirst and leaving it extra hydrated. This writer is a beauty, celebrity and fashion columnist for BusinessMirror, and did fashion editorials and celebrity profiles for D+, its monthly supplement. As much as possible the column, called Tota Pulchra, only deals with the good, the great and the glamorous.VCEDA OKs $3 million loan for Bluestone Park projectThe NSW government has drastically watered down the justification necessary for spending taxpayer dollars as accusations insist a new business case policy allows the premier to make major investment decisions “via media release”. NSW Treasury documents, quietly updated in November, reveal the government has provided a “fast track” pathway for investment decisions, meaning certain projects will not be subject to a business case assessment if they qualify under certain criteria. Under quietly updated reforms of NSW business case guidelines, the threshold for investment now includes a “public commitment” by the premier. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer A business case usually includes an overview of the purpose, benefits and costs of the investment decision, providing government justification for spending taxpayer dollars and cost-benefit analysis providing a metric for whether taxpayers dollars are being spent efficiently. The government has come under fire from the state’s audit office for a “lack of transparency” in financial reporting. An audit released in December found eight of the 15 most significant ongoing investment decisions did not have estimated total costs, while one-third did not have an estimated completion date. Projects which meet the following criteria could be accelerated: those considered a “public commitment” of the premier, where delivery is considered “time critical”, when “options development” is constrained by the investment, and when “bypassing or altering the business case” would “create benefits that outweigh risks”. However, a public commitment could constitute any “public statements approved by the premier”, projects that were considered time-critical when a delivery timeframe had been outlined by government publicly, and projects for which the benefits of bypassing the business case could include saving time and money from not proceeding with it. “Benefits include avoided expenditure on business case development and quicker progress to delivery,” the document said. Daniel Mookhey, NSW treasurer Credit: Fairfax “Business cases and assurance should not be done as a ‘tick the box’ when they won’t add value to resource allocation decisions or project delivery. This policy aims to get committed capital projects to delivery faster while ensuring appropriate analysis, due diligence and risk management takes place.” NSW Greens treasury spokesperson Abigail Boyd said while there were legitimate criticisms of the business case process, the new fast-track policy was a “deeply concerning backflip on promises of transparency and accountability” by the Labor government. “This new fast-track policy is a blatant attempt to bypass proper scrutiny and oversight,” she said. “This new policy literally allows the premier to make a major government investment decision via media release. “It deprives the parliament and the public the opportunity to check the government’s homework, to make sure we’re spending public money in ways that are in the public interest and not simply about trying to win elections.” University of Sydney Professor Hugh Harley said while he understood arguments against the premier’s prioritisation, he said the entirety of reforms changes were “sensible” in light of the need for governments to direct finite resources to the greatest good. “The government deserves some credit for reviewing the business case process. It would be entirely reasonable for someone to argue the premier’s prioritisation has gone a little too far, but in the context of the overall reforms I’m fairly relaxed about it,” Harley said, noting the additional role of the auditor-general. A NSW government spokeswoman said the reforms of the business case guidelines were to “sharpen the efficiency, quality and cost of decision-making”, noting that $134 million was spent by the Coalition government on the business case to support building dams at Dungowan and Wyangala — projects that never proceeded. “A refined system means government can reduce wasted hours and wasted money that comes when proposals endlessly cycle through a business case system without a decision ever being made,” she said. Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter .

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NEW YORK, Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) will be presenting at the following conference, with a webcast available at Nasdaq’s Investor Relations website: ir.nasdaq.com/events.cfm . About Nasdaq Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a global technology company serving corporate clients, investment managers, banks, brokers, and exchange operators as they navigate and interact with the global capital markets and the broader financial system. We aspire to deliver world-leading platforms that improve the liquidity, transparency, and integrity of the global economy. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software, exchange capabilities, and client-centric services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence. To learn more about the company, technology solutions and career opportunities, visit us on LinkedIn , on X @Nasdaq , or at www.nasdaq.com . Media Relations Contact: Nick Eghtessad +1.929.996.8894 Nick.Eghtessad@Nasdaq.com Investor Relations Contact: Ato Garrett +1.212.401.8737 Ato.Garrett@Nasdaq.com -NDAQF-Revolutionizing Home Control: The 2024 Tuya Smart Breaker - Smart Switch for Seamless Power Management and Energy EfficiencyThings are starting to look up for the Seattle Kraken. The Kraken won five of six games on their just-completed homestand to surpass hockey's version of .500 (10-9-1) and move within a point of the Western Conference's two wild-card playoff spots. Seattle will try to carry that momentum into Saturday's game against the host Los Angeles Kings, who have lost three of their past four games. The Kraken dropped four road games in a row -- a span in which they scored just four goals -- before returning home. "We were obviously losing those games, and I think your confidence, momentum and mindset starts to change a little bit," Kraken center Matty Beniers said. "So, I think being able to get home, we just kind of had a couple of days off. We were able to get some really good days of practice and make sure that our mindset and game was good and together. "And then we were able to get that first win ... and once that happens, you build confidence, and you build chemistry from there." The Kraken are coming off a 3-0 victory against visiting Nashville on Wednesday as Joey Daccord made 24 saves for his first shutout of the season. Brandon Montour (one goal, one assist) and Chandler Stephenson (three assists), Seattle's big offseason acquisitions, sparked the offense. Forward Jared McCann, the Kraken's leading scorer with nine goals and 21 points, scored three times during the homestand, including an overtime winner against Vegas. "The way things ended on the road trip, we felt like we'd let some games get away from us," McCann said. "Obviously, it wasn't good but coming home here we kind of turned the page and just tried to focus on the next game. "I mean, it's just more of a mental thing. You've got to get past that mental block. We didn't have our best (on the road), but you've got to just push that aside and worry about the next one. "That's kind of the way we had to look at it and it's worked out for us." The Kings lost 1-0 to visiting Buffalo on Wednesday despite 18 saves by David Rittich. It was the first time this season that Los Angeles was blanked. "There's nights that I'm really frustrated with how we played, and it's hard to be disappointed with the guys (Wednesday)," Kings coach Jim Hiller said. "They tried, it didn't go their way. Live with it and move on." The Kings came close to scoring several times, including a two-on-one rush late in the second period when Trevor Moore tried to pass to Phillip Danault instead of shooting. "Just one too many passes," Hiller said. "We thought Mooresy should have shot it. If the pass gets through and Phil taps it in the back door, we're saying, ‘Wow, what an incredible goal.' So you can't take that decision-making off the players. They have to play hockey and choose what's right in the situation. "On a night like (Wednesday) where it was hard to find a goal, you don't want to pass too many up. Maybe that was one that we passed up." --Field Level Media

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💻Police uncover social drug network 📲Rutgers students could browse drug menus 🔻Arrests include accused NJ leader A North Brunswick man who attended Rutgers University has been accused of creating a closed social media network to sell illegal drugs to current students at his alma mater. A months-long investigation dubbed “Operation RU Pharm” led to police making seven arrests and seizing a large amount of marijuana, LSD, cocaine, psilocybin mushrooms, Adderall and Xanax. All the individuals arrested were in their early 20s — four men and one woman from Central Jersey, with the remaining two defendants from New York. Law enforcement also recovered considerable cash and a gun, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said Thursday. The prosecutor's office Narcotics Task Force worked alongside Rutgers University police, New Brunswick police and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office. Rutgers students who proved their affiliation with the school were allowed to join the online network— where they could browse and buy from menus posted by drug dealers. Read More: NJ medical marijuana discount is new health insurance perk Anudeep Revuri, 23, North Brunswick As the accused creator, Revuri was charged with first-degree leader of a drug trafficking network. He also faced two counts of second-degree conspiracy to commit drug distribution and third-degree conspiracy to commit drug distribution. Revuri studied computer science at Rutgers, according to a LinkedIn profile. Joshua Duffy, 20, of Somerset Duffy was charged with second-degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, five counts of third-degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, two counts of third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, third-degree money laundering, and fourth-degree possession with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia. Zachary Petersen, 22, of Red Bank Petersen was charged with three counts of third-degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, three counts of third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, third-degree money laundering and fourth-degree possession with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia. Catherine Tierney, 23, of Shrewsbury Tierney was charged with three counts of third-degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, three counts of third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, third-degree money laundering, and fourth-degree possession with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia. David Nudelman, 20, of Jackson Nudelman was charged with second-degree possession of a firearm while committing a drug offense, second-degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, third-degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, fourth-degree possession with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled dangerous substance, a disorderly persons offense. Donovin Williams, 22, of Kingston, N.Y. Williams was charged with third-degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance in a school zone, three counts of third-degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, three counts of third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and fourth-degree possession with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia. Noa Lisimachio, 21, of New York, N.Y. Lisimachio was charged with third-degree resisting arrest and obstruction of justice, a disorderly persons offense. It was not immediately known whether any of the other defendants had an affiliation as students or former students at the university. Anyone with information on the ongoing investigation was asked to call the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force at 732-745-3300. Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom Comfort noodles: Delicious NJ ramen shops Yummy broth, fresh noodles — there are a growing number of must-visit ramen restaurants in New Jersey. Gallery Credit: Erin VogtA tender take on an incredible true story, Netflix 's Joy tells the story of the scientists who pioneered the investigation that created the world’s first baby born through in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Their research in the late '60s, early '70s changed the lives of many — since then, over 12 million babies have been born as a result of IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies like it. Directed by Ben Taylor, Joy is true to life in more ways than one, as the script was not only based on history but was co-written by Jack Thorne and his wife Rachel Mason, inspired by their own fertility struggles and experiences with IVF. Joy follows the lives of embryologist Jean Purdy (Thomasin Mackenzie), surgeon Patrick Steptoe (Bill Nighy), and scientist Robert Edwards (James Norton) as they fight opposition from church, state, and the media towards their work. But how much has really changed since then in terms of social stigma and discrimination around fertility and pregnancy? Joy zones in on harmful social stigma around fertility Thomasin McKenzie as Jean Purdy as James Norton as Robert Edwards in "Joy." Joy provides a telling snapshot of the ways that societal attitudes hindered the progress of the IVF investigation and establishment of the Bourn Hall Fertility Clinic in Cambridge, and how these views personally impacted not only the team working on it but the women who courageously volunteered to take part — they called themselves the Ovum Club. As the leading nurse and embryologist on the project, Jean suffers in her personal life. She is excommunicated by her devoutly religious mother Gladys (Joanna Scanlan) and church community for her work, and is especially criticised for working alongside Steptoe, who was part of a minority of doctors who performed legal abortions at the time, to the outrage of many. We even see Jean grapple with the tension between abortion and her faith, with one poignant scene seeing operating theatre supervisor Muriel "Matron" Harris (Tanya Moodie) reminding her of the overarching importance of providing women with a choice — whether that means giving them a chance to conceive using science or end a pregnancy. Thomasin McKenzie as Jean Purdy. Jean and Robert receive huge amounts of harassment in the film, with Robert heckled on live TV, taunted in the street, and called "Dr Frankenstein" for his efforts, with the words painted on the outer walls of the clinic. The women involved in the experiment (brought to the screen by actors such as Derry Girls star Louisa Harland as Rachel, Bridgerton ’s Harriet Cains as Gail, and Carla Harrison-Hodge as Alice) aren’t safe from society’s judgement either, or fertility (and infertility) stigma. Newspapers hound them during their treatment, offering thousands of pounds to the scientists for their names and addresses — all in the service of invading their privacy to shame them for their choice. The film's examination of infertility is personal for its protagonist; Jean's enduring issues with endometriosis and infertility are a key arc in Joy . Endometriosis — a gynaecological condition that makes it harder to conceive — is under researched to this day, and was even more so in the 1960s and 1970s, generating shame in women who were made to feel it was their fault they couldn’t conceive. Jean expands on this in a heartbreaking scene, explaining that so many women (including herself) feel lost without this ability, whatever the cause. As well as being vilified for seeking out IVF as an alternative, Jean reflects, patriarchal society determines the worth of these women by their ability to become a mother — an attitude that prevails today, arguably, and feeds into pregnancy, fertility and infertility stigma. Where does fertility stigma come from? Sadly, fertility stigma is as deeply embedded in our history as it is in our modern culture. For instance, noble women in medieval Japan faced judgement within their marriages if they did not produce children, while 19th century France saw doctors accuse women who didn't have children as being promiscuous, of having venereal disease, and having abortions. Even as recently as the mid 20th century — around the time where Joy is set — women were accused of committing “adultery” if they conceived by using artificial insemination by donor sperm. The suffering and vilification of women due to motherhood being viewed as the ultimate marker of femininity, and the traditional methods of conception being prioritised over women’s health and wellness, can be tracked through the centuries. The law's impact on our reproductive choices A protester in Trafalgar Square, London, in 2022 following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v Wade. We’ve seen a shift in attitudes towards fertility and pregnancy since the era Joy is set. However, we’ve also seen this manifest in different ways, solidifying into law and limiting how women make decisions around their bodies — the most prominent example being the U.S. Supreme Court's overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022 and subsequent state abortion bans. In October in the UK, following heavy campaigning, England and Wales passed a law to make mandatory safe access buffer zones at a 150-metre radius around all abortion clinics. This will provide protection for women accessing this healthcare, with activity designed to influence women or which causes harassment, alarm, or distress all banned by law. Reports of harassment continued all the way up to the ban, with British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) CEO Heidi Stewart reporting women being called "murderers and having leaflets shoved at them falsely claiming abortion causes breast cancer." Stewart describes the buffer zones as "a crucial step in ensuring that women can access essential healthcare without fear, shame, or intimidation." But Stewart is clear that there is much further to go to combat fertility and pregnancy stigma, and points to the importance of "remaining vigilant and relentless in the protection of abortion rights for women" — a sentiment shared by the U.S.-based Center for Reproductive Rights . After all, in the U.S., such stigma remains ever more volatile and threatening, particularly with November's re-election of Donald Trump, who played a key role in overturning Roe v. Wade , causing abortion to be nearly or completely banned in 17 states . “When issues of reproductive rights are allowed to fester in silence, stigma grows,” Stewart explains. "If the ongoing events in the United States have taught us anything – it’s that remaining silent on reproductive rights is no longer an option." It's crucial that such attitudes and actions are questioned to quell the spread of stigma on both sides of the Atlantic, so that the choices the team represented in Joy fought for are protected for all women. How fertility stigma impacts women's experience in the workplace We also know that this kind of discrimination doesn’t just surround a person’s attempts to become pregnant or their decision to end a pregnancy. Joeli Brearley, CEO and founder of Pregnant Then Screwed (PTS) — a charity dedicated to ending " the motherhood penalty " which encompasses the impacts motherhood has on women's careers — says that their experiences and progression in the workplace are affected too. “Women are seen as distracted and less committed to their job from the point they get pregnant,” she explains. “So we need managers to be trained in unconscious bias and to understand the business reasons for looking after pregnant employees." Brearley adds that women have been found to be scared to discuss fertility treatment with their employer for fear of discrimination. "According to our research, one in four women who are undergoing fertility treatment experience unfair treatment as a result ," Brearley says. Once women return to work after having a child, the situation doesn’t necessarily improve – according to PTS research , 77 percent of women experience discrimination when they return to work. “It's not a 'mum' problem, it's a societal problem,” she explains. The pioneering team represented in Joy faced such backlash and treatment, as did the self-described Ovum Club of women who participated in the early IVF tests. Their fertility was dismissed as a serious and impactful health issue back in the '60s, with personal, private choices around pregnancy made fodder for the public to debate. And decades later, we're not out of the woods yet. Much more needs to change for the stigma to truly be lifted, and for women to feel free. “When women can make these deeply personal decisions without fear of public judgement or confrontation," Stewart says, "we are affirming their right to choose and reinforcing that fertility and pregnancy choices should be free from stigma." Joy is now streaming on Netflix.DALLAS, Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Beneficient (NASDAQ: BENF) (“Ben” or the “Company”), a technology-enabled platform providing exit opportunities and primary capital solutions and related trust and custody services to holders of alternative assets through its proprietary online platform AltAccess, announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Mercantile Bank International Corp. (“Mercantile Bank”), a Puerto Rico-based International Financial Entity (“IFE”), in exchange for an aggregate purchase price of $1.5 million, which is payable in up to approximately 2.1 million shares of the Company’s Class A common stock and cash. “We are very excited about the potential avenues for revenue growth that would be facilitated through this acquisition,” said Beneficient. “Acquiring Mercantile Bank would enable the Company to offer an expanded range of companion custody and other fee-based services that complement our existing businesses on a broader scale with the potential to generate additional cash flow in the near term. Our objective is to deliver additional alternative asset custody services to customers with the potential to generate higher fee rates than are generally available for traditional custody services. We also believe the acquisition has the potential to enhance and broaden our current offerings in ways that may open new international opportunities, allowing us to further democratize the market for illiquid alternative assets.” IFEs are licensed and regulated by the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions of Puerto Rico (the “OCIF”) and may provide specific banking and other financial activity from Puerto Rico for persons, entities, and organizations around the globe that are non-residents of Puerto Rico. An IFE’s authorized activities may include custody, clearing, and payments and related traditional and digital products and services and, as approved by the OCIF, traditional banking services, such as deposits, lending, investments, and trusts. Upon closing of the acquisition, the Company, which has primarily focused on meeting the needs of individual investors and small-to-midsized institutions, expects to expand its offering of custody services to also address the current needs of large institutional investors and the growing needs of third-party alternative trading systems and foreign securities exchanges. The acquisition would position Ben to offer alternative asset custody services that include, among other potential items, a companion line of business focused on issuing depositary receipts to assist holders of foreign investments gain access to the capital markets of additional international jurisdictions. The Company believes these alternative asset custody services may yield higher fee assessments than more traditional custody offerings. The Company expects this companion business line to begin generating custody and depositary receipt issuance fee-based revenue and cash flow during calendar year 2025 that it would deploy to fund Ben’s ongoing operations and ultimately our core alternative asset liquidity product offerings. The acquisition reflects Beneficient’s execution on its objective of expanding its alternative asset custody fee-based service offerings to third parties and institutional investors. Closing of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including, among other things, approval by OCIF, and is anticipated to be completed in the second calendar quarter of 2025. About Beneficient Beneficient (Nasdaq: BENF) – Ben, for short – is on a mission to democratize the global alternative asset investment market by providing traditionally underserved investors − mid-to-high net worth individuals, small-to-midsized institutions and General Partners seeking exit options, anchor commitments and valued-added services for their funds− with solutions that could help them unlock the value in their alternative assets. Ben’s AltQuoteTM tool provides customers with a range of potential exit options within minutes, while customers can log on to the AltAccess ® portal to explore opportunities and receive proposals in a secure online environment. Its subsidiary, Beneficient Fiduciary Financial, L.L.C., received its charter under the State of Kansas’ Technology-Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institution (TEFFI) Act and is subject to regulatory oversight by the Office of the State Bank Commissioner. For more information, visit www.trustben.com or follow us on LinkedIn. Contacts Matt Kreps: 214-597-8200, mkreps@darrowir.com Michael Wetherington: 214-284-1199, mwetherington@darrowir.com Investor Relations: investors@beneficient.com Disclaimer and Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain of the statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements can be generally identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and, in each case, their negative or other various or comparable terminology. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, statements relating to the anticipated timing of closing the acquisition, benefits of the acquisition and the Company’s anticipated product and service offerings following the closing of the acquisition. These forward-looking statements reflect our views with respect to future events as of the date of this document and are based on our management’s current expectations, estimates, forecasts, projections, assumptions, beliefs and information. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct. All such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of our control, and could cause future events or results to be materially different from those stated or implied in this document. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. These risks include, but are not limited to, the ultimate outcome of the acquisition; the Company’s ability to consummate the acquisition in a timely manner or at all; the ability of the parties to satisfy the closing conditions to the acquisition; the possibility that the Company may be unable to successfully integrate Mercantile Bank’s operations with those of the Company or realize the expected benefits of the acquisition; the possibility that such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming, or costly than expected; the risk that operating costs, customer loss, and business disruption (including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, contractors, and customers) may be greater than expected following the acquisition or the public announcement of the acquisition; the Company’s ability to retain certain key employees of Mercantile Bank; the ability to launch and receive market acceptance for new products and services; and risks related to the entry into a new line of business; the risk factors that are described under the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this document and in our SEC filings. We expressly disclaim any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

MENLO PARK, Calif. , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Meta Platforms, Inc. (Nasdaq: META ) board of directors today declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.50 per share of the company's outstanding Class A common stock and Class B common stock, payable on December 27, 2024 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 16, 2024 . Contacts Investors: Kenneth Dorell [email protected] / investor.fb.com Press: Ryan Moore [email protected] / about.fb.com/news/ SOURCE MetaCollege football: Green, Braxton headline Herd's Sun Belt honorees

The A's clear the last major hurdle for a $1.75 billion Las Vegas stadiumIn commemoration of Human Rights Day, the US government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAid), and The Asia Foundation launched on December 12 a P16.8-million ($300,000) initiative that will strengthen the capacity of human rights organizations in the Philippines to thwart cybersecurity threats, including doxing, phishing, and organized digital attacks. As part of USAid and The Asia Foundation's ongoing Initiative for Advancing Community Transformation (I-ACT) project, the "Cybersecurity for Human Rights in the Philippines" (C4HR-PH) initiative will provide tools and training to more than 150 local organizations across the country over ten months. Register to read this story and more for free . Signing up for an account helps us improve your browsing experience. OR See our subscription options.None

Teen actor Hudson Meek, who appeared in ‘Baby Driver,’ dies after falling from moving vehicleDear Eric: We live on a lake and love hosting our great-nieces and nephews on school breaks and the entire family on vacations. My husband and I have no children. Our niece’s families are dear to us. Our 11-year-old great-nephew has been gaming now for about a year. When he comes to visit, instead of reading, playing cards or board games with us, like in the past, he wants to disappear with his video games. We feel vacated. How do we navigate this with his parents who think his being on a video gaming team at school is awesome and I think it is a bad omen? What is a fair place of compromise and balance? – Game Off Dear Game Off: Let his parents parent their child. The other night I re-watched the movie “Network” from 1977 (stay with me here; it relates). In it, a character in his 60s dismisses a character played by a young Faye Dunaway by saying “she’s the television generation. She learned life from Bugs Bunny. The only reality she knows is what comes to her over her TV set.” Every generation has anxieties about the ways that technology is changing social interactions or altering the minds of the generations below. While some of those concerns are valid, those of Faye Dunaway’s generation (now in their 70s and 80s) would argue that they’ve managed to stay quite well-rounded, despite (and often with the aid of) TV. In moderation, video games have been shown to improve a child’s cognitive function and working memory. While your great-nephew’s gaming might not be your choice, it’s important that you not seek to undermine the research and thinking that his parents have done about it. What you’re really yearning for is a sense of togetherness as a family, so try talking to your niece and her spouse about group activities you can plan to meet your great-nephew where he is. And don’t be afraid to pick up a controller and ask him to show you the ropes. Dear Eric: I eat at a local restaurant a couple times a week and tend to get one of three meals. This one waitress asks me what I want to eat, but then interrupts me to make guesses or tell me my choice. I just put my head down and nod yes or no to the guesses. It’s frustrating, but not life-threatening. She enjoys it. I hate it. However, if I were to say something, it would force her to make the choice of being herself, doing something she likes doing, or appeasing me so I can order the way I want to order. I don’t know if this is a big enough problem to have a “high road.” The answer will not change my life. She can easily change, and I can easily suffer. The question is who gets to be themselves? – Speaking Up Dear Speaking Up: I worked in the service industry for more than a decade. I loved it. I loved seeing regulars, meeting new people and carrying a lot of beverages in my hands at one time. The whole bit. I also loved knowing what people wanted, but I would always ask and confirm . That’s part of the job. She may think you’re a regular who likes to be known in this way. So, informing her that that’s not the case won’t be keeping her from being herself. It will be helping her to do her job better. You may not have the kind of temperament that easily or comfortably course-corrects in social situations. That’s just fine. But know you won’t be causing her suffering by saying something like “I’ve already decided on my meal. Let’s skip the guessing today and I’ll just tell you.” This also clears the path for the two of you to talk about something else, if you want. Ideally, it’s a conversation that you’ll both enjoy. Dear Eric: I’m not sure if the letter from “Invisible Dad” about his wife buying trinkets for their adult kids and having more close conversations with them is related to my better half and myself. I think it could be but I can’t be sure so don’t want to ask him. I never really thought about it all the time, but assumed kids knew that gifts were from both of us. If this question does relate to us, and even if it doesn’t, I will be mindful of what I haven’t been mindful of. My heart is melting if he does really care that much about the kids. Thank you for listening. – Daily Reader Dear Reader: Thanks for your thoughtful note and your openness. Please also reconsider talking to your husband about the ways you interact with your kids. It could be really healing and productive. (Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com .) ©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Brock Purdy and Nick Bosa are not available for the San Francisco 49ers when they enter Green Bay with designs on finding their finishing kick on Sunday afternoon. Purdy is out with a right shoulder injury and won't leave the sideline at Lambeau Field, head coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday, when he also declared Bosa out and confirmed journeyman Brandon Allen would make his 10th career start at quarterback. "Outside of here people haven't seen a lot of Brandon. But it's his second year (with the 49ers)," Shanahan said. "Obviously guys want Brock up, but guys are excited to see Brandon play." Shanahan said the 49ers are "a little surprised" Purdy experienced tightness and discomfort in his shoulder after an MRI exam on Monday that showed no long-term cause for concern. "The way it responded this week, it's really up in the air for next week," Shanahan said of Purdy's long-term prognosis. Allen's last NFL start on the road was with the Bengals at the Ravens in 2020. Allen completed 6 of 21 passes for 48 yards with two interceptions. He finished with a passer rating of 0.0 in a 38--3 loss. "It's definitely an opportunity for me to go out and play well and put our guys in a good position to win the game," Allen said Friday. "And obviously we want Brock back and healthy and all that, but for time being, it is an opportunity for me." Purdy took the practice field Thursday with the intent to participate. His shoulder tightened significantly, and the 49ers ushered him off the field to meet with trainers. Purdy beat the Packers in the NFC divisional playoffs at San Francisco in January, but Allen is familiar to Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. LaFleur was an assistant coach with the Rams during Allen's two-year run in Los Angeles. Allen broke into the NFL in 2016 with the Jaguars and is 2-7 in nine career starts. He went 1-2 with the Broncos in 2019 and 1-5 in six starts over two years with the Bengals in 2020 and ‘21. A victory against the visiting 49ers on Sunday would bolster the Packers' playoff chances, send a conference rival below .500 and avenge a bitter playoff defeat. Those seemingly rank in no particular order for the Packers (8-3), although they don't shy from living at least partially in the past ahead of a Week 12 showdown. San Francisco eliminated Green Bay 24-21 in the NFC divisional playoffs last season, scoring 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. "That's what you've got to sit with all offseason, is going back, watching the game, trying to see what you could have done better," Packers quarterback Jordan Love said. "What you could have done differently in that game. ... Just knowing that's the team that knocked us out, we're definitely hungry for this game." Ditto for San Francisco. The 49ers fell to 5-5 after last week's 20-17 home loss to Seattle, done in by Geno Smith's 13-yard touchdown run with 12 seconds to play. Still only a game behind NFC West-leading Arizona, the reigning conference champion 49ers are just 1-3 in division play and can ill afford to lose more ground. A visit to AFC East leader Buffalo awaits after the trip to Green Bay. While they're dealing with plenty of not-so-good news on the injury front, the 49ers do anticipate the return of other contributors. Cornerback Charvarius Ward, who missed the past two games following the death of his 1-year-old daughter, practiced Wednesday. Tight end George Kittle also is eager to play after a nagging hamstring injury sidelined him against the Seahawks. "Very excited," Kittle said. "Can't pass up playing the Packers, so no, I will be out there for sure." Allen was a three-year starter at Arkansas but has been a journeyman backup since entering the NFL in 2016 as the 201st overall pick of the Jaguars. Shanahan and LaFleur have been fierce competitors since twice working together, first as low-level assistants with the Texans in 2008, then on the so-called "dream team" staff in Washington that also included Sean McVay, Mike McDaniel and Raheem Morris; and two seasons with the Falcons (2015, 2016) where LaFleur was quarterbacks coach and Shanahan called the plays. Shanahan scored the most recent win over LaFleur in January. Green Bay has won seven of the past eight regular-season meetings between the franchises. But the familiarity and shared-brain approach to offense that has the coaches completed each other's play calls has led to some tight games. The past three at Lambeau Field were all decided by three points. Green Bay, which hosts a home game on Thanksgiving next Thursday, is starting a run of three games in 12 days. They'll play back-to-back Thursday games. Their Week 14 game is at Detroit. That might make it good news for LaFleur that surprising contributors have emerged of late. Packers wideout Christian Watson had a career-best 150 receiving yards on only four catches during last week's 20-19 road win against the Chicago Bears. His diving 60-yard reception in the fourth quarter put the Packers in position for Love's go-ahead, 1-yard scoring run with 2:59 to play. Watson entered the game with eight catches for 83 yards over his previous three contests, but LaFleur assured Watson remains a "big part" of the attack. "He's a guy who's got every measurable known to man in terms of the size, the speed, and it's not like those were easy plays he was making," LaFleur said. "He was making tough, contested catches." San Francisco will aim to generate more pressure against Love than the Bears, who sacked him just once. The 49ers collected four sacks against the Seahawks, with Bosa and Leonard Floyd contributing 1.5 apiece. Recent regular-season history between the Packers and 49ers at Lambeau Field has favored Green Bay. The Packers have won seven of their past eight home games against the 49ers and are 22-11 versus San Francisco at home all-time. Green Bay leads the series 34-28-1. --Field Level Media

CLEVELAND (AP) — Tyler Huntley scrambled for a touchdown and threw for one while starting for Tua Tagovailoa, and the Miami Dolphins stayed in the playoff race heading into their season finale with a 20-3 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. With Tagovailoa sidelined by a hip injury, Huntley did enough to keep the Dolphins (8-8) alive with one game left. Miami needs to win next weekend at the New York Jets and hope the Denver Broncos lose at home to Kansas City to get a wild-card berth. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and many of the top-seeded Chiefs' starters are expected to rest. Tagovailoa's status for next week is unclear, but Huntley showed he can get the job done if necessary. He finished 22 of 26 for 225 yards and didn't have any turnovers in his fourth start this season. The 26-year-old was with Cleveland in training camp before being released in August. The Browns (3-13) dropped their fifth straight and finished 2-6 at home. They improved their draft position for 2025, when they will likely look for a quarterback. Dorian Thompson-Robinson isn't the long-term answer. In his second straight start, the second-year QB completed 24 of 47 passes for 170 yards. He also threw an interception, lost a fumble and was flagged three times for intentional grounding. Both offenses had issues in windy and wet conditions, but Huntley handled them better. He ran for a 13-yard touchdown early in the third quarter to put the Dolphins up 13-3. After rolling right, Huntley made several precise cuts as he picked his way down the sideline and into the end zone. The Browns had a chance to cut into the lead, but Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey broke up Thompson-Robinson's fourth-and-goal pass toward Jerry Jeudy in the end zone. Huntley connected with tight end Jonnu Smith on a 7-yard TD with 3:38 left. Miami's Jason Sanders kicked field goals of 54 and 39 yards. He's made a franchise-best 25 in a row, the streak helped by a friendly bounce off the crossbar on his 54-yarder in the first quarter. The Browns tied it when Dustin Hopkins, who was benched for a game during a recent slump, kicked a 25-yard field goal. Browns defensive end Myles Garrett celebrated his 29th birthday with a pair of sacks. Last season's defensive player of the year has 14 this season, making him the first player in league history to get that many four years in a row. Dolphins: LT Terron Armstead suffered a knee injury in the second quarter and didn't return. Patrick Paul filled in. ... WR Jaylen Waddle (knee) was inactive. Browns: CB Denzel Ward (shoulder) didn't play in the second half after getting hurt in the second quarter. ... LB Jordan Hicks was ruled out with a head injury. ... RB Jerome Ford (ankle) was forced out in the first half. He came back but was only on the field for one play after halftime. ... RB Pierre Strong Jr. left with an apparent head injury in the final minutes. Dolphins: Wrap up the regular season against the Jets on Jan. 4 or 5. Browns: Visit Baltimore next weekend. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

The Latest: Former President Jimmy Carter is Dead at age 100The US market opened lower on Thursday, December 26, as Wall Street witnessed investors sticking with their existing portfolio, contributing to lighter trading volumes. At 9:30 am (EDT), the stock markets for the United States opened lower, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping 0.22 per cent to 43,201.85 points, compared to 43,297.03 points at Tuesday's market close. The stock market was closed on account of the Christmas holiday on Wednesday, December 25. Dow Jones stocks Even though the index opened lower, the top gainers for the early trading session were Boeing Co., Honeywell International Inc., UnitedHealth Group Inc., Verizon Communications, Walt Disney Co., Apple Inc., Procter and Gamble Co., 3M Co., Johnson and Johnson, Nike Inc., International Business Machines Corp., Merch & Co. Inc., American Express Co., McDonald's Corp, and Amgen. Home Depot Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Coca-Cola Co., Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Nvidia Corp., Sherwin-Williams Co., Salesforce Inc., Walmart Inc., Caterpillar Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Microsoft Corp., Cisco Systems Inc., Visa Inc., Travelers Cos. Inc., and Chevron Corp were amongst the top losers, in the early session. S&P 500 The S&P 500 index opened 0.25 per cent lower at 6,024.97​ points on Thursday, compared to its previous close of 6,040.04 points. Companies like Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., CVC Health Corp., Target Corp., Lamb Weston Holdings Inc., Broadcom Inc., Starbucks Corp., Ulta Beauty Inc., FedEx Corp., Dollar Tree Inc., and Best Buy Co. Inc. were the early trade gainers of the day. Other stocks include Fair Isaac Corp., Netflix Inc., Pool Corp., Williams Cos., Targa Resources Corp., GE Vernova Inc., Tesla Inc., Axon Enterprise Inc., Cintas Corp., and Royal Caribbean Group were the top laggards, according to Marketwatch data. Nasdaq Composite The Nasdaq Composite opened 0.26 per cent lower at 19,979.251 points, compared to 20,031.13 points in the previous market session. SKK Holdings Ltd., Millenium Group International Holdings Ltd., SciSparc Ltd., Zoomcar Holdings Inc., Palladyne AI Corp., SEALSQ Corp., Coeptis Therapeutics Holdings Inc., reAlpha Tech Corp., TruGolf Holdings Inc., and Color Start Technology Co Ltd. were the early trade gainers. While, Kidpik Corp., Molecular Templates Inc., Baosheng Media Group Holdings Ltd., SaverOne 2014 Ltd., Neuphoria Therapeutics Inc., Direct Digital Holdings Inc., Hour Loop Inc., Meiwu Technology Co. Ltd., and Brera Holdings PLC were the losers for the day.