roulette picker WASHINGTON (AP) — In the two weeks since Donald Trump won the presidency, he's tried to demonstrate his dominance by naming loyalists for top administration positions, even though many lack expertise and some face sexual misconduct accusations. It often seems like he's daring Congress to oppose his decisions. But on Thursday, Trump's attempt to act with impunity showed a crack as Matt Gaetz , his choice for attorney general, withdrew from consideration. Trump had named Gaetz, a Florida congressman, to be the country's top law enforcement official even though he was widely disliked by his colleagues, has little legal experience and was accused of having sex with an underage girl, an allegation he denied. After being plagued by investigations during his first presidency, Trump wanted a devoted ally in charge of the Justice Department during his second. However, it was never obvious that Gaetz could win enough support from lawmakers to get confirmed as attorney general. Trump chose for a replacement Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general who defended him during his first impeachment trial and supported his false claims of voter fraud. Now the question is whether Gaetz was uniquely unpalatable, or if Trump's other picks might exceed his party's willingness to overlook concerns that would have sunk nominees in a prior political era. The next test will likely be Pete Hegseth, who Trump wants to lead the Pentagon despite an allegation of sexual assault that he's denied. So far, Republicans are rallying around Hegseth , an Army veteran and former Fox News host. Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the controversy over Gaetz would have little bearing on Trump’s other choices. He said they would be considered “one at a time.” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, suggested otherwise, claiming “the dominoes are falling.” “The drip drip of evidence and truth is going to eventually doom some others,” he said. Trump's election victory was a sign that there may not be many red lines left in American politics. He won the presidential race despite authoritarian, racist and misogynist rhetoric, not to mention years of lies about election fraud and his role in sparking the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He was also criminally convicted of falsifying business records to pay hush money, and he was found liable for sexual abuse in a civil case. Empowered by voters who looked past his misconduct and saw him as a powerful agent of change, Trump has shown no deference to Washington norms while working to fill his second administration . The transition team hasn't pursued federal background checks for Trump's personnel choices. While some of his selections have extensive experience in the areas they've been chosen to lead, others are personal friends and Fox News personalities who have impressed and flattered Trump over the years. Several have faced allegations involving sexual misconduct . Hegseth is facing the most scrutiny after Gaetz. Once Trump announced Hegseth as his nominee for Pentagon chief, allegations emerged that he sexually assaulted a woman in California in 2017. The woman said he took her phone, blocked the door to the hotel room and refused to let her leave, according to a police report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing, the report said. However, he paid the woman a confidential settlement in 2023. Hegseth's lawyer said the payment was made to head off the threat of a baseless lawsuit. Trump’s choice for secretary of health and human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has faced allegations of misconduct too. A woman who babysat for him and his second wife told Vanity Fair magazine that Kennedy groped her in the late 1990s, when she was 23. Kennedy did not deny the allegation and texted an apology to the woman after the article was published. That isn't the only hurdle for Kennedy; he's spent years spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories about vaccines, raising fears about making him a top health official in the new administration. Linda McMahon, chosen by Trump to be education secretary, is fighting a lawsuit connected to her former company, World Wrestling Entertainment. She’s accused of knowingly enabling sexual exploitation of children by an employee as early as the 1980s, and she denies the allegations. Tulsi Gabbard is another person who could face a difficult confirmation battle, but for very different reasons. The former Democratic representative from Hawaii has been a vocal Trump ally, and he chose her to be national intelligence director. But there's grave concern by lawmakers and national security officials over Gabbard’s history of echoing Russian propaganda. Critics said she would endanger relationships with U.S. allies. Gaetz was investigated by federal law enforcement for sex trafficking, but the case was closed without charges and Republicans have blocked the release of a related report from the House Ethics Committee. However, some allegations leaked out, including that Gaetz paid women for sex. One of the women testified to the committee that she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old girl, according to a lawyer for the woman. As Gaetz met with senators this week, it became clear that he would face stubborn resistance from lawmakers who were concerned about his behavior and believed he was unqualified to run the Justice Department. “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction,” Gaetz wrote on social media when announcing his withdrawal. Sen. Mike Braun, an Indiana Republican, said he believed there were four to six members of the caucus who would have voted against Gaetz, likely dooming his nomination, and “the math got too hard.” He said some of the issues and allegations around Gaetz were “maybe beyond the pale." “I think there were just too many things, it was like a leaky dike, and you know, it broke," Braun said. Trump thanked Gaetz in a post on Truth Social, his social media website, without addressing the substance of the allegations against him. “He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect,” Trump wrote. Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Stephen Groves and Lisa Macaro contributed from Washington. Jill Colvin in New York and Adriana Gomez Licon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, also contributed.Atishi lauds growing involvement of parents in their ward's education at Mega PTMs

Wokeness is in retreat, but its stench will be hard to eliminate. Consider the curious case of the bone-headed “Nasdaq diversity rules” — edicts by the stock market giant to force every company that “lists” there to choose a board of directors that stresses intersectionality — racial, sexual and gender diversity — as opposed to competence. Sure, diversity is a worthy goal, but demanding outcomes in hiring through practices such as Diversity Equity and Inclusion is the most counterproductive way to run a business that woke mankind ever thought of. Forcing it on corporate boards as Nasdaq has been doing since 2020 is particularly scary. And now it’s illegal. Boards perform a vital function of oversight of public companies, and the C-suite. Making sure the CEO isn’t robbing the place blind is what the law — established through the Depression-era Securities and Exchange Act — ­demands from directors. Nasdaq turned decades of corporate law on its head at the height of the so-called social justice movement. It came at a particular hysterical time in American history, when the left tried to convince the country it was inherently racist because of the police killing of an ex-con named George Floyd as he was resisting ­arrest. That was then. These days, sanity is returning and woke is in retreat. Courts are ruling that DEI is illegal. The Fifth Circuit federal court did just that, telling Nasdaq it will have to end the insanity. Yes, the ruling is a sign wokeness is dying. But it’s not quite dead. The rules will likely find an afterlife because of a quirk in the disclosure system, and the way the securities regulators might interpret the court finding, The Post has learned. Reminder: Nasdaq, like its main competitor, the New York Stock Exchange, is a stock market; it wasn’t created to serve as a lefty NGO. One of its functions is to make sure people can buy and sell shares, in an ­orderly fashion, of the companies that “list” to trade there. Another is to ensure that listed companies ­follow basic corporate-governance rules that protect investors, including hiring competent directors. Under CEO Adena Friedman, Nasdaq joined the social justice movement that was all the rage in 2020. She demanded that listed companies stock their board with directors who were not the target of progressive ire during that eerie time, aka straight white men. “Each Company, except as described below in, must have or explain why it does not have, at least two members of its board of directors who are Diverse, including at least one Diverse director who self-identifies as Female; and at least one Diverse director who self-identifies as an Underrepresented Minority or LGBTQ+,” the Friedman-led Nasdaq said in its edict. As I point out in my book on progressivism run amok, “Go Woke Go Broke; The Inside Story of the Radicalization of Corporate America,” the idiocy of this rule isn’t confined to the very real fact that it’s illegal by any fair reading of the securities laws or various civil rights acts. There are also very real studies with control groups, margins of error, etc., that show that there’s no link between performance and ­diversity. Plus, this rule doesn’t apply to all those Chinese companies that Nasdaq lusts for to pay its listing fees. Companies hailing from one of the world’s most oppressive regimes — that are literally controlled by the repressive Chinese Communist Party — get a free pass. No members of the persecuted Uyghur minority need apply, according to Friedman & Co. Chinese listings can get away with placing a couple of women from the CCP to be directors. Nasdaq has argued to me the rules weren’t totally mandatory — though it always reserves the right to reject a listing. It also stressed that the rules were about disclosure, which sounds quaint until you realize that companies are supposed to disclose stuff investors care about like earnings, not their social justice preening. On top of that, the disclosure part had an interesting compulsory element. A company board’s diversity data, listed in its public disclosure filings, could be easily downloaded on the SEC’s website known as ­EDGAR. This enabled powerful social activist groups with ties to the lefties who run the Biden White House — the Human Rights Campaign, the Center for American Progress — to jump into the debate and pressure companies to up their diversity game as a de facto woke enforcement staff of the Nasdaq. Then something brilliant happened. Someone sued. Not Nasdaq, but its regulator, the equally woke Securities and Exchange Commission, which approved the measure. The lawsuit argued that stock markets weren’t created as political tools of the left. A federal court agreed. Case closed, right? Not quite. The mandates could live on in a perverse way because of the disclosure system that each public company must comply with. The way the people at the Nasdaq explained it to me, the rules were legal until the courts ruled they weren’t. That means the EDGAR system likely continues to keep a record of thousands of companies that compiled the useless and illegal data the Nasdaq asked for, they tell me, even after the Nasdaq is supposed to vacate the mandates in early February. They could be around well into perpetuity for the likes of the Human Rights Campaign to enforce their brand of social justice, securities lawyers I speak to say. As one corporate lawyer told me: “Just think how dumb it was to have a stock exchange telling companies what slots you have to fill while giving the Chinese a pass. Then they will just sit there, which is even dumber.”LOS ANGELES (AP) — After struggling to run the ball consistently all season, the Los Angeles Rams finally made some progress on the ground in New Orleans. Kyren Williams and rookie Blake Corum carried the Rams (6-6) to a 21-14 win that kept them squarely in the playoff race for another week. Los Angeles racked up a season-high 156 yards rushing against the Saints, with Williams going for 104 yards and a touchdown while Corum added 42 yards on a season high-tying eight carries. The game was the inverse of most afternoons this season for the Rams, who came into the week averaging fewer than 100 yards rushing per game. The running game was sturdy and productive, while Matthew Stafford and his receivers struggled to get into a rhythm at the Superdome. Coach Sean McVay always prefers to use his run game to set up the pass, and it finally worked for once this season. “I thought Kyren ran really well," McVay said. “I thought Corum ran really well. I thought our offensive line set the line of scrimmage in the run game. We really started slow in the pass game, but I thought Matthew was excellent in the second half. We were able to get some different things off of those run actions going, and that ended up being the difference in the game.” Not coincidentally, the Rams' running game worked well on the Sunday when the offensive line finally had a starting five uncompromised by injuries or suspension for the first time all season. Right tackle Rob Havenstein returned from an ankle injury, making the group whole around rookie center Beaux Limmer, who has beaten out high-priced free agent Jonah Jackson for a starting job. The Rams still had yet another slow start in a season full of them. They ran only three plays in the entire first quarter, and they were held scoreless in the first half when their other two drives resulted in a turnover on downs and a punt. But Los Angeles rebounded with an 11-play scoring drive to open the second half featuring seven runs by Williams. He eventually moved up to fifth in the NFL with 926 yards rushing despite averaging just 4.2 yards per carry — nearly a yard less than he had last season, and the lowest average among the league's top 10 rushers this season. The Rams have thrived without a strong rushing attack before: They averaged just 99.0 yards per game on the ground, ranking 25th in the NFL, during their Super Bowl championship season in 2021-22. But McVay prefers his first option to be a strong running attack, which he had during his first three seasons in charge with Todd Gurley in the backfield and Andrew Whitworth at left tackle. “Anytime the guys up front are moving them, and (Williams) is making great reads and moves on the second level, then that is a fun feeling for the offense," Stafford said. “It’s great when you can hand the ball off and get big creases. We converted when we needed to in short-yardage stuff. I thought our guys did a really great job up front, and Kyren ran it great.” What's working The Rams have struggled in the red zone all season, but they scored touchdowns on all three trips in New Orleans. They did it by committing to the run game up the middle, setting up TD passes on the outside to Demarcus Robinson and Puka Nacua. What needs help Alvin Kamara racked up 112 yards rushing in the latest strong game by an opposing running back. Los Angeles is 28th in the league against the run, allowing 144.2 yards rushing per game — including 194 per game over the past three weeks. Stock up Rookie edge rusher Jared Verse had another outstanding game, racking up five tackles, three quarterback hits and numerous big plays that don't show up on stat sheets. He capped the performance by hitting Derek Carr from behind and forcing an incompletion from the Los Angeles 9 on New Orleans' final play. Stock down Cornerback Darious Williams gave up a touchdown pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling and the ensuing 2-point conversion pass to Dante Pettis early in the fourth quarter, capping a second straight rough week for the free-agent signee. Williams is the Rams' best cornerback, but they haven't had an above-average shutdown pass defender since trading Jalen Ramsey. Los Angeles added cornerback depth Monday, claiming 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes off waivers from Washington. Injuries Robinson injured his hand during the game, and Stafford incurred a lateral ankle sprain. McVay said he doesn't expect either injury to affect the veterans' preparations this week. Key number 17 — Cooper Kupp's yards receiving. That's his lowest total in a game in which he didn't get injured since Oct. 18, 2020. Kupp had only six targets, few downfield routes and curiously scant chances to make big plays. Next steps The Rams are home underdogs this week against powerhouse Buffalo, followed by a Thursday night game at San Francisco. Getting even one win out of these two matchups will be difficult, but probably necessary to keep pace with Seattle and Arizona in the NFC West. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL Greg Beacham, The Associated PressBrattleboro's Thurber signs to play football at UVA

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No. 22 UCLA edges No. 14 Gonzaga in another classic between rivalsNone

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Published 4:42 pm Friday, November 22, 2024 By Rocky Hulne OFFENSE Camden Hungerholt, quarterback, LeRoy- Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli The senior is a Top 10 Mr. Football Finalist, member of the Minnesota Vikings All-State Team and a North/South All Star game selection. Hungerholt was a menace on the ground as he ran for 2,846 yards (12.9 per carry) and he threw for 2,421 yards and 34 TDs. Hungerholt finishes his career with 11,984 all purpose yards and 147 total touchdowns. His 5,267 all purpose yards are the most ever in a season in Minnesota, according to the Minnesota Football Coach’s Association. LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli’s Camden Hungerholt braces to be hit on a carry against Kingsland in the Section 1A Nine Man championship. Brady Kittelson, running back, Blooming Prairie The explosive playmaker was BP’s quarterback but his athleticism was on display with the Awesome Blossoms as he ran for 930 yards (13.7 per carry) and 13 TDs. As a quarterback, Kittelson connected on 60 percent of his passes for 1,814 yards, 23 TDs and five interceptions. Henry Wiste, running back, Southland The sophomore quarterback found his footing this season as he ran for 372 yards (3.3 per carry), while throwing for 1,463 yards and 17 scores. Dylan Christianson, offensive line, LeRoy-Ostrander/ Lyle-Pacelli The senior led a ground attack that ran for over 4,000 yards on the season. Owen Krueger, offensive line, Blooming Prairie The senior allowed just one sack as he anchored BP’s line all season. Vincent Hernandez, offensive line, Blooming Prairie The senior battled up front in the run game and passing game for the high powered Blossom offense. Hunter Tapia, offensive line, Austin The senior was a consistent force in the middle. Sam Winkels, offensive line, Austin The senior was the most physical player for the Packers up front. Lukas Loverink, wide receiver, Blooming Prairie The senior was a big target over the middle for the Awesome Blossoms as he hauled in 41 passes for 813 yards and nine scores. Loverink also chipped in in the running game as he had 88 rushing yards (4.9 per carry) and six TDs. Carter Sweeney, wide receiver, LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli The senior was Hungerholt’s top target as he caught 50 passes for 861 yards and 13 TDs. Kaleb Yunker, wide receiver, Southland The senior was a big playmaker for the Rebels. He caught 32 passes for 574 yards and seven TDs. DEFENSE Dylan Christianson, defensive line, LeRoy-Ostrander/ Lyle-Pacelli The senior had a huge season in his first year as a Cardinal as he finished with 100 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, 13.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. Lukas Loverink, defensive line, Blooming Prairie The senior had 71.5 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks, two fumbles forced, and one fumble recovered. Rob Lillis, defensive end, Austin The junior had 42 tackles, four tackles for loss and a sack. Sam Winkels, linebacker, Austin The senior finished with 108 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, one sack and one interception. Alex Lea, linebacker, Blooming Prairie The four-year starter finished with 94 tackles, 15 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, one interception, one fumble forced, one fumble recovered and one TD. Tyson Stevens, linebacker, LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli The senior had 112 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, three interceptions, .5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Ryder Stern, linebacker, Leroy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli The senior led an aggressive defensive front for the Cardinals as he finished with 139 tackles, 18 tackles for a loss, 12 sacks, one interception, eight forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Carter Sweeney, defensive back, LeRoy/Ostrander/ Lyle-Pacelli The senior had 59 tackles, five tackles for a loss, three interceptions and three defensive TDs. Camden Hungerholt, defensive back, LeRoy-Ostrander /Lyle-Pacelli The senior was the leader in the secondary for the Cardinals as he collected 94 tackles, 1.5 sacks, four interceptions, one fumble forced and one fumble recovery. Brady Kittelson, defensive back, Blooming Prairie The senior picked off five passes, including three for scores. He also had 37 tackles and one fumble recovery. Royce Jax, defensive back, Southland The junior had 121 tackles and one forced fumble. HONORABLE MENTION Isaac Anderson, defensive back, Austin The senior had 42 tackles and one tackle for a loss. Ryder Stern, tight end, LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli The senior helped make the calls on the offensive line and he was also effective when he get the chance as he caught nine passes for 285 yards for six TDs. Tyson Stevens, running back, LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli The senior ran for 504 yards and eight TDs, while catching 14 passes for 279 yards and three scores. Alex Lea, tight end, Blooming Prairie The senior caught 17 passes for 221 yards and five TDs. Bradley Boyd, wide receiver/defensive back, Blooming Prairie The senior caught 21 passes for 368 yards and four TDs, while contributing 22 tackles, one tackle for a loss and six passes defensed on defense. Cooper Cooke, offensive line/defensive line, Blooming Prairie The senior had 20 tackles, one sack and four tackles for a loss on defense. Beau Sathre, linebacker/ running back, Southland The sophomore had 72 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions and one fumble recovery. On offense, he ran for 231 yards and three scores and he caught 24 passes for 364 yards and three TDs. Kaleb Yunker, defensive back, Southland The senior had 50 tackles, two interceptions, two fumbles forced and one fumble recovery. Lawson Jax, offensive/ defensive line, Southland The senior was a solid blocker up front and he had 47 tackles, four sacks and two fumble recoveries on defense. Cam Forthun, offensive/ defensive line, Southland The sophomore had 30 tackles and four sacks. Halen Schumann, defensive end, Grand Meadow The senior was in on 70 tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery. Nate Fretty, linebacker, Grand Meadow The senior had 67 tackles on the season.

European markets set for higher open but France's political upheaval is in focusIndia kicks off the process to formulate ‘UDAN 2.0’

Romania's constitutional court on Friday cancelled the country's presidential election following allegations of Russian interference in favour of the far-right frontrunner, just two days ahead of the run-off. Romania's pro-EU President Klaus Iohannis said he would stay in his post until a new government that emerges from legislative elections last weekend can be formed to set a new presidential election date. Romanian authorities had objected after far-right outsider Calin Georgescu topped the first round of the election on November 24, a shock result in the EU and NATO member bordering Ukraine. On Wednesday, the presidency declassified documents detailing allegations against Georgescu and Russia, including "massive" social media promotion and cyberattacks. Based on this, said the court, it had unanimously decided to annul the entire electoral process to ensure its "correctness and legality". The process "was marred throughout its entire duration and at all stages by multiple irregularities and violations of electoral legislation that distorted the free and correct nature of the vote cast by citizens", it said in its ruling. "All these aspects had the converging effect of disregarding the essential principles of democratic elections," it added. Georgescu, a former senior civil servant, had been due to face centrist mayor Elena Lasconi in Sunday's runoff. "It is basically a formalised coup d'etat... Our democracy is under attack," Georgescu, 62, said in a video message, calling on Romanians to "remain faithful to our common ideal. "They will not be able to stop me. And they cannot stop the Romanian people from what they want to change," he told local media. Lasconi, a former journalist, 52, also called the court's decision "illegal, immoral... crushing the very essence of democracy". Fears had been raised that if Georgescu won, the country -- whose strategic importance has increased since Moscow invaded Ukraine -- would join the EU's far-right bloc and undermine European unity against Russia. While Bucharest streets were largely empty late Friday, without any protests taking place as far as AFP journalists could see, several people condemned the court's decision. "We are upset because this is a political game" to allow the losers to "get back in the game", said Marius Neagu, a 48-year-old salesman. Miruna Mihai, 25, said the decision "is a slap in the face of everyone who voted in this election" and risked "radicalising" Georgescu's supporters. IT worker Madalina Stroe, 34, welcomed it however, saying she didn't want Romania "to go back in time to Communism in case Georgescu was elected. I don't want us to lose our freedom". Outgoing Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu -- who lost in the first round of presidential elections -- hailed the decision as "the only correct solution". Anti-corruption prosecutors said Friday they had opened an investigation into "illegal operations with computer devices or software". Prosecutors are already probing "possible violations of electoral legislation" and "money laundering offenses". In documents drawn up for a security council meeting and published Wednesday, the authorities said data had "revealed an aggressive promotional campaign, in violation of electoral legislation". Last week, authorities condemned "preferential treatment" of Georgescu by TikTok, something the social media platform has denied. The European Commission announced on Thursday that it had stepped up monitoring of TikTok. A separate intelligence services document stated that Romania was a "target for aggressive Russian hybrid actions", including cyberattacks. On Monday, before the documents were released, Romania's constitutional court validated the first-round presidential results. Friday's decision to cancel the elections is "an unprecedented and historic decision", political analyst Costin Ciobanu told AFP. It "deepens uncertainty and polarization within Romanian society, raising serious concerns about the strength of Romania's institutions and democracy", he added. Georgescu shot into the limelight with his performance in the first round of voting. Having praised Russian President Vladimir Putin in the past, he has more recently avoided answering questions about him being pro-Russian. While the president's post is largely ceremonial, the head-of-state has moral authority and influence on Romania's foreign policy. The president also designates the prime minister -- a key role especially since legislative elections last weekend returned a fragmented parliament. The governing pro-European Social Democrats won the vote, but far-right parties made strong gains, together securing a third of the ballots. Since the fall of Communism in 1989, Romania has not seen such a breakthrough by the far right, fueled by mounting anger over soaring inflation and fears over Russia's war in neighboring Ukraine.

Whenever someone assures you that another person you’re both dealing with “understands” the “quid pro quo,” you’d be wise to run away as fast as you can and never look back. But that’s exactly how then-Ald. Daniel Solis assured then-House Speaker Michael Madigan in late June of 2017 that their mark — the developers of a West Loop apartment complex — would eventually be convinced to retain Madigan’s property tax appeals law firm. Solis chaired the powerful Zoning Committee, so the developers had to come through him, and Solis said they would understand the game: The developers hire Madigan’s law firm and their zoning changes would be approved. “I think they understand how this works,” Solis told Madigan. “The quid pro quo.” Solis admitted on the stand during Madigan’s corruption trial that what he said to Madigan was “dumb.” Madigan didn’t know that the federal government was recording all his conversations with Solis. So, what was dumb about what Solis said is that Madigan might’ve immediately cut all ties to Solis, and Solis’ federal handlers would’ve been furious that he let the target get away. Turns out, the real dummy was Madigan. Madigan didn’t walk away. Instead, he kept going back to Solis, only gently admonishing him weeks later by telling Solis not to say the quiet part out loud and instructing him in the polite way of conducting business. And then a few months later, while talking about another real estate deal, Solis asked whether the West Loop developers had signed on with Madigan’s firm. Madigan didn’t say, but appeared to give Solis the go-ahead to process their zoning request. “You were contemplating processing something,” Madigan said. “You should go ahead and process that.” Feds make their point The feds are also trying to prove that Madigan’s consigliere, longtime lobbyist and fellow defendant Mike McClain, wasn’t just freelancing without Madigan’s approval when it came to all the demands McClain was making of Commonwealth Edison. The trial so far has given the feds big wins on that point. Madigan and Solis were in discussions about the state transferring a Chinatown parking lot to the City of Chicago so that it could be developed into a hotel, and Madigan could get the property tax business. So, he told Solis to reach out to McClain. McClain would give the developer “some ideas about how to go about it.” A couple of months later, Solis again brought up the Chinatown parcel to Madigan. “Let me get back into it and, and, um, see if there’s some way to find somebody that can talk to IDOT. That, that’s where the decision’s going to be made,” Madigan said. “I’m trying to figure out a way to approach it,” Madigan later told Solis about the parcel. He appeared to be calculating how he could pass a bill to benefit his law firm without leaving any overt fingerprints. Madigan eventually told Solis that one of the Chinatown developers would soon be receiving a call from McClain. The effort to transfer the property extended into the spring of 2018 for several reasons, most importantly opposition from local legislators. In March of 2018, Madigan told Solis that maybe McClain should talk to the senator who was putting a brick on the land transfer, and then explained to Solis at length how this particular legislation could shorten the time it would take to transfer the property to the city. From there, jurors heard recordings about the intricacies of passing the bill, including who was blocking it. McClain is heard on a recording briefing Madigan about which legislators were opposing the bill and about how the then-secretary of transportation was “getting squeamish” about it. Also in March, Solis told Madigan that if Madigan could “take care of that [Chinatown] matter in May,” during the end of spring session, “I’m confident they’ll appreciate it and ... sign you up on after May.” Madigan didn’t run away then, either. But the bill eventually died and a possible payday was missed. On May 28, 2018, a few days before the scheduled end of spring session when there was still hope the bill would advance, McClain called a member of Madigan’s House staff to tell them about the property tax transfer bill, “that deals with a developer of [Madigan’s].” McClain told the staffer: “He wants to make sure he votes ‘present.’” In other words, if the feds didn’t have Madigan, McClain and Solis on numerous recordings, Madigan could’ve officially covered his rear by voting “present” on a bill that would’ve potentially padded his pockets and that he’d allegedly been actively pushing behind the scenes for months on end. Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com. Send letters to letters@suntimes.com Get Opinions content delivered to your inbox. Sign up for our weekly newsletter here .

roulette table layout The Osun Unity Forum, a support group within the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, has announced plans to adopt a strategy used by American President-elect Donald Trump to unseat Governor Ademola Adeleke in the 2026 governorship election. According to the group’s convener, Abimbola Amusan, the APC would mobilise new voters and students just like Trump did in the US to defeat Vice President Kamala Harris in the November presidential poll. Speaking at a press briefing held at the Osun APC State Secretariat in Osogbo, the group’s convener, Amusan, outlined a strategy to engage voters who will be turning 18 before the election. He said, “Every four years, new people reach voting age, and these are the demographics we are focusing on. “Let me give an example from American politics: Donald Trump became US President partly because he appealed to young voters just entering college. This shows how crucial this new bloc of voters can be. “So, we are focused on rallying this group behind the APC before the 2026 governorship poll. While I can’t provide exact numbers, we are targeting significant support from this demographic.” He said efforts would be made to make the young people realise they had a major stake in the polity. Related News Trump’s policies and old global ties Osun gov unveils agric scheme Osun recovers ₦53m overpayment to retirees “The best people to give the right orientation about political associations are the youth. We will use a technocratic approach to help them understand that politics is not just a jamboree but an intellectual endeavour where they can contribute meaningfully as voters,” he said. Amusa said his group would fully support whichever candidate emerges as the APC flagbearer, adding that the group’s activities were funded by committed APC members passionate about reclaiming power in Osun. He also expressed confidence that party elders would provide guidance at the appropriate time. But in an interview with The PUNCH, Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. Kolapo Alimi, dismissed the APC forum’s plans as futile. Alimi boasted that the 2026 governorship election would be a walkover for Adeleke, given his performance in office in the last two years. “We have infrastructural projects spread across the state, and when it is time for re-election, it will be a walkover for the governor, I can assure you,” Alimi said. “They can continue to dream.”

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THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) today announced that its Board of Directors declared a $2.38 per share dividend for the first quarter of 2025. The dividend will be paid on March 7, 2025 , to all stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 14, 2025 . About Amgen Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative medicines to help millions of patients in their fight against some of the world's toughest diseases. More than 40 years ago, Amgen helped to establish the biotechnology industry and remains on the cutting-edge of innovation, using technology and human genetic data to push beyond what's known today. Amgen is advancing a broad and deep pipeline that builds on its existing portfolio of medicines to treat cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, inflammatory diseases and rare diseases. In 2024, Amgen was named one of the "World's Most Innovative Companies" by Fast Company and one of "America's Best Large Employers" by Forbes, among other external recognitions . Amgen is one of the 30 companies that comprise the Dow Jones Industrial Average ® , and it is also part of the Nasdaq-100 Index ® , which includes the largest and most innovative non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market based on market capitalization. For more information, visit Amgen.com and follow Amgen on X , LinkedIn , Instagram , TikTok , YouTube and Threads . Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the current expectations and beliefs of Amgen. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including any statements on the outcome, benefits and synergies of collaborations, or potential collaborations, with any other company (including BeiGene, Ltd. or Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.), the performance of Otezla® (apremilast) (including anticipated Otezla sales growth and the timing of non-GAAP EPS accretion), our acquisitions of Teneobio, Inc., ChemoCentryx, Inc., or Horizon Therapeutics plc (including the prospective performance and outlook of Horizon's business, performance and opportunities, any potential strategic benefits, synergies or opportunities expected as a result of such acquisition, and any projected impacts from the Horizon acquisition on our acquisition-related expenses going forward), as well as estimates of revenues, operating margins, capital expenditures, cash, other financial metrics, expected legal, arbitration, political, regulatory or clinical results or practices, customer and prescriber patterns or practices, reimbursement activities and outcomes, effects of pandemics or other widespread health problems on our business, outcomes, progress, and other such estimates and results. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, including those discussed below and more fully described in the Securities and Exchange Commission reports filed by Amgen, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent periodic reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. Unless otherwise noted, Amgen is providing this information as of the date of this news release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially from those we project. Our results may be affected by our ability to successfully market both new and existing products domestically and internationally, clinical and regulatory developments involving current and future products, sales growth of recently launched products, competition from other products including biosimilars, difficulties or delays in manufacturing our products and global economic conditions. In addition, sales of our products are affected by pricing pressure, political and public scrutiny and reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payers, including governments, private insurance plans and managed care providers and may be affected by regulatory, clinical and guideline developments and domestic and international trends toward managed care and healthcare cost containment. Furthermore, our research, testing, pricing, marketing and other operations are subject to extensive regulation by domestic and foreign government regulatory authorities. We or others could identify safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with our products, including our devices, after they are on the market. Our business may be impacted by government investigations, litigation and product liability claims. In addition, our business may be impacted by the adoption of new tax legislation or exposure to additional tax liabilities. If we fail to meet the compliance obligations in the corporate integrity agreement between us and the U.S. government, we could become subject to significant sanctions. Further, while we routinely obtain patents for our products and technology, the protection offered by our patents and patent applications may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by our competitors, or we may fail to prevail in present and future intellectual property litigation. We perform a substantial amount of our commercial manufacturing activities at a few key facilities, including in Puerto Rico , and also depend on third parties for a portion of our manufacturing activities, and limits on supply may constrain sales of certain of our current products and product candidate development. An outbreak of disease or similar public health threat, such as COVID-19, and the public and governmental effort to mitigate against the spread of such disease, could have a significant adverse effect on the supply of materials for our manufacturing activities, the distribution of our products, the commercialization of our product candidates, and our clinical trial operations, and any such events may have a material adverse effect on our product development, product sales, business and results of operations. We rely on collaborations with third parties for the development of some of our product candidates and for the commercialization and sales of some of our commercial products. In addition, we compete with other companies with respect to many of our marketed products as well as for the discovery and development of new products. Discovery or identification of new product candidates or development of new indications for existing products cannot be guaranteed and movement from concept to product is uncertain; consequently, there can be no guarantee that any particular product candidate or development of a new indication for an existing product will be successful and become a commercial product. Further, some raw materials, medical devices and component parts for our products are supplied by sole third-party suppliers. Certain of our distributors, customers and payers have substantial purchasing leverage in their dealings with us. The discovery of significant problems with a product similar to one of our products that implicate an entire class of products could have a material adverse effect on sales of the affected products and on our business and results of operations. Our efforts to collaborate with or acquire other companies, products or technology, and to integrate the operations of companies or to support the products or technology we have acquired, may not be successful. There can be no guarantee that we will be able to realize any of the strategic benefits, synergies or opportunities arising from the Horizon acquisition, and such benefits, synergies or opportunities may take longer to realize than expected. We may not be able to successfully integrate Horizon, and such integration may take longer, be more difficult or cost more than expected. A breakdown, cyberattack or information security breach of our information technology systems could compromise the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our systems and our data. Our stock price is volatile and may be affected by a number of events. Our business and operations may be negatively affected by the failure, or perceived failure, of achieving our environmental, social and governance objectives. The effects of global climate change and related natural disasters could negatively affect our business and operations. Global economic conditions may magnify certain risks that affect our business. Our business performance could affect or limit the ability of our Board of Directors to declare a dividend or our ability to pay a dividend or repurchase our common stock. We may not be able to access the capital and credit markets on terms that are favorable to us, or at all. CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks Elissa Snook , 609-251-1407 (media) Justin Claeys , 805-313-9775 (investors) View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/amgen-announces-2025-first-quarter-dividend-302328180.html SOURCE Amgen

AKRON, Ohio , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BIT Mining Limited (NYSE: BTCM) ("BIT Mining" or the "Company"), a leading technology-driven cryptocurrency mining company, today announced that it will hold its annual general meeting of shareholders at 428 South Seiberling Street, Akron, Ohio , US on January 7, 2025 at 10:00 a.m., New York time. Holders of record of ordinary shares and Class A preference shares of the Company at the close of business on December 20, 2024 , New York time (the "Record Date") are entitled to receive notice of, and to attend and vote at, the annual general meeting or any adjournment thereof. Holders of the Company's American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") who wish to exercise their voting rights for the underlying ordinary shares must act through the depositary of the Company's ADS program, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas. The notice of the annual general meeting, which sets forth the resolutions to be submitted to shareholder approval at the annual general meeting is available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at https://ir.btcm.group . The Company filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on May 15, 2024 . Shareholders may obtain a copy of the Company's annual report, free of charge, from the Company's website at https://ir.btcm.group and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov , or by contacting BIT Mining Limited at 428 South Seiberling Street, Akron, Ohio , US, attention: Victor He , telephone: +1 (330) 676-2680, email: ir@btcm.group . About BIT Mining Limited BIT Mining (NYSE: BTCM) is a leading technology-driven cryptocurrency mining company with operations in cryptocurrency mining, data center operation and mining machine manufacturing. The Company is strategically creating long-term value across the industry with its cryptocurrency ecosystem. Anchored by its cost-efficient data centers that strengthen its profitability with steady cash flow, the Company also conducts self-mining operations that enhance its marketplace resilience by leveraging self-developed and purchased mining machines to seamlessly adapt to dynamic cryptocurrency pricing. The Company also owns 7-nanometer BTC chips and has strong capabilities in the development of LTC/ DOGE miners and ETC miners. Safe Harbor Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "future", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", "target", "going forward", "outlook" and similar statements. Such statements are based upon management's current expectations and current market and operating conditions and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control, which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under law. For more information: BIT Mining Limited ir@btcm.group ir.btcm.group www.btcm.group Piacente Financial Communications Victor He Tel: +1 (330) 676-2680 Email: BITMining@thepiacentegroup.com View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bit-mining-limited-to-hold-annual-general-meeting-on-january-7-2025-302327447.html SOURCE BIT Mining LimitedFox News' Brooke Singman provides details on President Biden's record-setting act of clemency. Two Chinese spies and a Chinese national who was charged for disseminating child pornography were part of a White House prisoner swap as Biden's presidency nears the end. On Nov. 22, Biden granted clemency to Yanjun Xu, Ji Chaoqun and Shanlin Jin. Their releases were part of a prisoner swap that returned three wrongfully detained Americans from Chinese custody: Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung. The three Americans returned to the U.S. before Thanksgiving. CHINA DENIES NEW REPORRT LINKING CCP TO FOUR SITES IN CUBA ALLEGEDLY USED TO SPY ON THE US Mark Swidan was arrested in China in 2012 on drug charges the U.N. says aren't legitimate. (Mark Swidan Family) Harrison Li holds a photo of his father, Kai Li, in Palo Alto, Calif., in January. (AP/Jeff Chiu) Xu and Chaoqun were both Chinese nationals who were convicted of espionage in the U.S. Xu, according to a release from the Department of Justice, was the first Chinese government intelligence officer ever to be extradited to the United States to stand trial and was sentenced to 20 years. According to court documents, Xu targeted American aviation companies, recruited employees to travel to China, and solicited their proprietary information, all on behalf of the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). BIDEN LEAVING OFFICE WITH LOWEST APPROVAL IN 16 YEARS, FOX NEWS POLLING SHOWS In one example, noted in court documents, Xu attempted to steal technology related to GE Aviation’s exclusive composite aircraft engine fan module – which no other company in the world has been able to duplicate – to benefit the Chinese state. The Department of Justice said that Xu openly discussed his effort to steal U.S. military information in addition to commercial aviation trade secrets. Yanjun Xu, the first Chinese spy extradited to the US for trial, was convicted in 2021 on counts of conspiring and attempting to commit economic espionage and trade secret theft. (U.S. District Court) A federal jury in Chicago in September 2023 convicted Ji Chaoqun, 31, of conspiracy to act as an agent of China's Ministry of State Security without notifying the U.S. attorney general, acting as a spy in the U.S., and lying on a government form about his contacts with foreign agencies. (Fox 32) Chaoqun was arrested and convicted after working with Xu on behalf of the CCP. The federal agency said that Xu recruited and "handled" Chaoqun, who was stationed in Chicago during the duration of the scheme. The DOJ said that Xu directed Chaoqun to collect "biographical information on people to potentially recruit to work with them." "Xu’s handling and placement of a spy within the United States to obtain information regarding aviation technology and employees is yet another facet of Xu’s egregious crimes towards the United States and further justifies the significant sentence of imprisonment he received today," said U.S. Attorney Parker at the time of the pair's conviction. Jin was serving his sentence after being convicted of possessing more than 47,000 images of child pornography while a doctoral student at Southern Methodist University in Dallas in 2021. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the latest developments in Syria from the Roosevelt Room of the White House on December 8, 2024, in Washington, DC. (Pete Marovich/Getty Images) Biden commuted on Thursday the sentences of 1,499 people. He is also pardoning 39 individuals who were convicted of non-violent crimes. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP President-elect Trump is set to take office in a little over a month, on January 20. He has said that he will immediately pardon people convicted of participating in the January 6, 2021, riot in the U.S. Capitol. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to sarah.rumpf@fox.com and on X: @s_rumpfwhitten .The Dangers of Isolated Gameplay: A Faith-Based Approach to VR Headsets

Pacific youth are tired of waiting for climate action, we demand justice at the world’s highest court

Person-to-person e-money transfers of $1.8 billion as at 30 June 2024, 87 per cent population with active mobile money accounts as at December 2023, percentage of adult population making or receiving digital payments other than mobile money in 2023 at 45.4 per cent, currency in circulation as at 31 July 2024 at $1.1billion and inward personal remittances increasing by 8.8 per cent to $1.2billion in the 2023-2024 financial year, an increase of 23.2 per cent from the previous are some of the key data presented in the Reserve Bank of Fiji August 2023-July 2024 annual report that was released this week. THE RBF Governor Ariff Ali states in the report the Fijian economy exhibited resilience in dealing with ongoing risks stemming from restrictive monetary policy in its trading partner economies and the escalation of inflationary pressures from both domestic and international factors. He said after registering a record-high growth of 19.8 per cent in 2022, followed by a 7.5 per cent expansion last year, the domestic economy growth is projected to grow for the third consecutive year in 2024. He adds this is at a slower pace, stating the positive economic activity is driven by a robust tourism sector, supported by an increase in Government expenditure and historically low rates in the financial sector. The commercial banking industry RBF reports prudential assessment of the commercial banking industry’s capital, earnings and liquidity positions were satisfactory, with asset quality indicators rated as marginal as of June 30 2024. RBF reports total assets of the commercial banks grew over the year by 5 per cent to $14.8billion as of 30 June 2024, underpinned by the increase in loans and advances by $974.9million, and balances due from banks by $109.6million. Commercial banks’ loans and advances continued with its growth momentum conducive to the Fijian economy’s recovery, increasing over 12 months by 11.8 per cent to $9.3billion, said the RBF. The majority of the commercial banks’ lending were to the private individuals’ sector at 27.6 per cent, followed by wholesale, retail, hotels and restaurants, and real estate sectors at 22.4 per cent and 19.8 per cent, respectively. The RBF states total deposits of the commercial banks’ rose by 7.4 per cent to $11.6billion over the 2023-2024 period, attributed to demand and time deposits which grew by $0.5billion and $0.3billion, respectively. Credit institutions The RBF reports performance indicators of the credit institutions industry were satisfactory for capital, earnings and liquidity positions, while asset quality was rated as poor. Credit institutions industry’s total assets grew annually by 4.3 per cent to $777.6million as at June 2024, mainly attributed to the $58.5million increase in loans and advances, while decreases were noted in balance due from banks by $35.5million and fixed assets by $10.7million. The RBF adds the growth in loans and advances to $561.9million was largely driven by the private individuals, professional and business services, and wholesale, retail, hotels and restaurants sectors. Credit institutions’ balance due from banks, on the other hand, reported a reduction of 21.3 per cent when compared to the same period in 2023, to $130.8million, said the RBF. Total deposits of the credit institutions increased by 7.1 per cent over 12 months, to $447.2million. Payment service providers The RBF states the uptake and usage of digital payment platforms in Fiji remains promising, driven by technology advancements and an increase in consumer demand for convenient, efficient and accessible financial solutions. The RBF added this is supported by the high volume of inward remittances. As of June 30 2024, the total value of electronic money (e-money) in circulation was reported at $94.8million (June 2023: $80.1m), with an average of $97.4million in circulation on a monthly basis during the 12-month period. RBF adds while the number of registered e-money accounts declined by 0.3 per cent to 945,390 in June 2024 compared to the same period last year, the number of active e-money users increased from 454,092 in June 2023 to 655,493. Person-to-person (P2P) transfers significantly increased by 56.1 per cent over the 12-month period, to $1.8billion as of June 30 2024. E-money platforms The RBF states the increase in the usage of e-money platforms indicate the general shift in behaviour of consumers towards digital financial services largely due to its convenience and accessibility. International inward remittances via e-money platforms stood at $551.2million as of June 30 2024, increasing by 36.6 per cent (or $147.8m) over the year, largely supported by the increase in the volume of inward remittances from Australia, the United States of America, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Total transactions acquired via payment service providers payment platforms increased by 151 per cent to $550.5million as of June 30 2024, said the RBF. The significant increase in the volume of acquired transactions indicate local businesses’ uptake of payment service providers payment platforms as a means for accepting payment transactions. The RBF states the Fijian Government’s regulated public transport fare payment system, e-Transport, continues to operate on Vodafone Fiji’s M-PAiSA platform. Aggregate value of top-up transactions for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2024 was reported at $292.4million, declining by 17.1 per cent from $352.6million worth of top-up transactions recorded in the same period last year. Currency in circulation The RBF states as of July 31 2024, total currency in circulation stood at just above $1billion. The value of notes in circulation increased by 4.4 per cent to $982.8million during the financial year, with the $5, $10 and $100 denominations being the highest circulated notes. The value of coins in circulation increased by 6.3 per cent to $78.9million during the financial year. The $2 and $1 coins registered a growth of 7.7 per cent to $23.8million and 7.4 per cent to $20.3million, respectively. The RBF states for the financial year ended July 31 2024, the value of currency issued to commercial banks was $1,118.4million, of which $1,112.4million was in notes and $6million in coins. The RBF adds the $100 and $50 notes issued continued to be the highest in value, driven by its increasing usage in automated teller machines. The $2 and $1 coins issued continued to be the highest in value, reflecting the shift in public demand from low to high-value coins.

Richard Drury My most prominent portfolio position has been short-term government debt for the better part of two years. Although short-term Treasury bills lik e the ones held in the iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF ( NYSEARCA: SGOV ) have not had the same Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of BIL,VTIP either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.IMC announces three-day production shutdown KARACHI: Indus Motor Company Limited has announced to close its production plant for three days amid supply chain disruptions. In a statement addressed to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Tuesday, the company secretary of Indus Motor said, “The company is currently experiencing a shortage of raw material and components, compounded by ongoing supply chain disruptions. As a result, the company is facing challenges in sourcing the necessary parts for vehicle production, which has impacted its ability to meet production requirements.” The company has temporarily suspended operations at its production plant from November 27 to November 29.It is pertinent to mention that the IMC plant also remained shut from November 18 to 20.

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Settlers ready to offer promotions Friday at 8 a.m.Australia's House of Representatives passes bill that would ban young children from social media MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia’s House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that would ban children younger than 16 years old from social media , leaving it to the Senate to finalize the world-first law. Rod Mcguirk, The Associated Press Nov 26, 2024 3:59 PM Nov 26, 2024 4:05 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers, right, gestures as he and Industry Minister Ed Husic speak to the media during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Lukas Coch/AAP Image via AP) MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia’s House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that would ban children younger than 16 years old from social media , leaving it to the Senate to finalize the world-first law. The major parties backed the bill that would make platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for systemic failures to prevent young children from holding accounts. The legislation was passed with 102 votes in favor to 13 against. If the bill becomes law this week, the platforms would have one year to work out how to implement the age restrictions before the penalties are enforced. Opposition lawmaker Dan Tehan told Parliament the government had agreed to accept amendments in the Senate that would bolster privacy protections. Platforms would not be allowed to compel users to provide government-issued identity documents including passports or driver’s licenses. The platforms also could not demand digital identification through a government system. “Will it be perfect? No. But is any law perfect? No, it’s not. But if it helps, even if it helps in just the smallest of ways, it will make a huge difference to people’s lives,” Tehan told Parliament. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said the Senate would debate the bill later Wednesday. The major parties’ support all but guarantees the legislation will be passed by the Senate where no party holds a majority of seats. Lawmakers who were not aligned with either the government or the opposition were most critical of the legislation during debate on Tuesday and Wednesday. Criticisms include that the legislation had been rushed through Parliament without adequate scrutiny, would not work, would create privacy risks for users of all ages and would take away parents’ authority to decide what’s best for their children. Critics also argue the ban would isolate children, deprive them of positive aspects of social media, drive children to the dark web, make children too young for social media reluctant to report harms they encountered and take away incentives for platforms to make online spaces safer. Independent lawmaker Zoe Daniel said the legislation would “make zero difference to the harms that are inherent to social media.” “The true object of this legislation is not to make social media safe by design, but to make parents and voters feel like the government is doing something about it,” Daniel told Parliament. “There is a reason why the government parades this legislation as world-leading, that’s because no other country wants to do it,” she added. T he platforms had asked for the vote on legislation to be delayed until at least June next year when a government-commissioned evaluation of age assurance technologies made its report on how the ban could been enforced. Rod Mcguirk, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More National Business Saskatchewan NDP motion to scrap gas tax fails in legislature Nov 26, 2024 3:48 PM Australia's House of Representatives passes bill that would ban young children from social media Nov 26, 2024 3:47 PM Alberta takes aim at GHG emissions cap, proposes rules on trespass and data gathering Nov 26, 2024 3:26 PM Featured FlyerStreaking Knicks aim for better defensive effort vs. Wizardsthe odds of roulette 。

Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah agree to a ceasefire after nearly 14 months of fightingMost children look up to NFL players as role models and heroes, simply because they play the game they love so much. It's not often these psuedo heroes become actual heroes. That was the case for Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton, who leaped into action during Sunday's game with the Carolina Panthers. More news: Chiefs' Hollywood Brown Posts New Workout Video Indicating His Return Following the big win, Wharton was seen walking to the tunnel, when a child was yelling out to him. A scary situation then followed, where the child fell from the stands and went rocketing to the ground. Wharton immediately stepped into action and prevented the child from being hurt. Now, Wharton joined "The Pat McAfee Show" to break down the moment, and also reveal he wants to invite the child to a game so they can formally meet. The video shows the exact moment that the child is seen yelling for Wharton and leaning too far over the railing. He begins to fall, leading to Wharton running to catch him. Wharton then explains how he caught the child from presumably being hurt by striking the ground. "I would like to reach out to him, get him out to a game." Chiefs DL Tershawn Wharton caught a kid who fell from the stands on Sunday and wants the chance to meet him 👏 (via @PatMcAfeeShow , @T__Russ ) pic.twitter.com/mBunC7cZk0 "Honestly it was a natural reaction," Wharton said on the "Pat McAfee Show " on Tuesday. "I kind of grabbed him right by the back of his back and kind of pushed him into the stands a little bit more." McAfee then asks if Wharton has had the chance to see the child following this scary situation. "I haven't, but I would like to reach out to him, get him out to a game. Reflect him with a little bit more, if I could," Wharton stated. Not only does the child in question get saved by presumably one of his heroes on the Chiefs, but he now will have a chance to meet Wharton and be invited to a game. Though the young Kansas City fan might be a bit shaken by the event, the video showcased him being hoisted back into the stands followed by security telling everyone to back up. The Chiefs ended up beating the Panthers on Sunday, extending their record to 10-1 on the season. Wharton finished the day with two total tackles. Through the 2024 season, the young defensive lineman has 2.5 sacks and 11 total tackles. Despite his solid stats, Wharton can now put hero on his resume after his "natural" reaction led to saving this child's life or at the very least, preventing the child from being injured in any way. For more on the Chiefs, head to Newsweek Sports .EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Snapping a franchise-record 10-game losing streak, winning for the first time at home this season and ending the Indianapolis Colts' slim playoff hopes Sunday didn't salvage the season for the New York Giants. The main positive in the 45-33 win that Drew Lock led with four touchdown passes and a late TD run was the Giants (3-13) got to walk off the field with smiles for the first time in months after a season of misery that will could lead to major changes. Another factor from the win: New York no longer has control of the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Giants coach Brian Daboll, who has had two straight losing seasons following a playoff berth in 2022 in his first year, said that he was happy the team got a chance to celebrate after losing eight straight at MetLife Stadium. “Those guys put a lot into it. They come out, they grind every day. They have good attitudes,” Daboll said. “It’s never easy when you when are losing. But I’m proud of the character and all the people in the building, and I’m mostly happy for them.” Lock, who threw two pick-6s in the loss to Atlanta a week ago, sandwiched touchdown passes of 31 and 59 yards to Malik Nabers around TD passes of 32 yards to Darius Slayton and 5 yards to Wan'Dale Robinson in leading the Giants (3-13) to their first win since beating Seattle on Oct. 6. “I've won a lot in my life,” Slayton said. "I wouldn’t say I ever forget the feeling of winning, but, you know, obviously it’s nice to get that feeling back today.” Ihmir Smith-Marsette had a 100-yard return on the second-half kickoff on a day the league's worst offense set a season high for points. Jonathan Taylor scored on runs of 3 and 26 yards for Indianapolis (7-9), while Joe Flacco, subbing for the injured Anthony Richardson, threw touchdown passes of 13 yards to Alec Pierce and 7 yards to Michael Pittman, the last bringing the Colts within 35-33 with 6:38 left in the fourth quarter. Lock, who finished 17 of 23 for 309 yards, clinched the game by leading a nine-play, 70-yard drive that he capped with a 5-yard run. “It’s kudos to him,” said Nabers, who now has 104 catches for 1,140 yards and six touchdowns. “He looked over the film, found some things that he could get better on and did all that through the week, and it showed how good he can be.” The 45 points were the most for New York since putting up 49 in a 52-49 loss to the Saints in 2015. It’s the Giants most in a win since a 45-14 rout against Washington in 2014 and most at home since a 52-27 win against the Saints in 2012. The No. 6 overall pick in the draft, Nabers finished with seven catches for a career-high 171 yards. “That’s why we drafted him, where we drafted him,” Daboll said. “I’ve been asked about it since training camp and I think the response has been, ‘He’s a pretty good football player.’” Flacco was 26 of 38 for 330 yards with two interceptions, the second by rookie Dru Phillips shortly after Lock's TD run. Taylor, who rushed for 218 yards in a win over Tennessee last week, finished with 125 yards on 32 carries. Pierce had six catches for 122 yards. The Colts came into the game needing to win their final two games and also get help to make the playoffs. “We had something to play for today and obviously we didn’t get it done," Flacco said. The Colts haven't made the playoffs since posting an 11-5 record in 2020. “It's hard to explain,” said Colts coach Shane Steichen, who led the team to a 9-8 record in his first season in 2023. “We had to play a complete game. We haven’t done it all year. We have to be on the same page, and to go out there like that is obviously not good enough.” Nabers and running back Tyrone Tracy become the third pair of rookies to have more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage in the same season. The previous duo was running back Reggie Bush and receiver Marques Colston of the Saints in 2006. Colts: Richardson was inactive with foot and back injuries sustained against Tennessee. Giants: DL Armon Watts (knee) was ruled out in the first half. Colts: Finish the regular season by hosting Jacksonville. Giants: At Philadelphia to face Saquon Barkley and the Eagles. AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Kenny Pickett says he'll 'be OK' after rib injury knocks him out of dream start for Eagles

Netanyahu's office says his security Cabinet has approved ceasefire deal with Hezbollah

Waitrose reveals the identity of the mystery 'dessert thief' as it unveils part two of its Christmas advert

VP Sara Duterte —RICHARD A. REYES Vice President Sara Duterte has tried to justify the existence of her assistance programs as not “duplications” of similar functions of other national government agencies, saying that she was just continuing what one of her predecessors had started. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday in Butuan City, Duterte said that the medical and burial assistance, among others, from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) began under former Vice President Noli de Castro, who served from 2004 to 2010 during the Arroyo administration. “The people got used to the OVP having medical and burial assistance because those programs have been there since the time of Vice President Noli de Castro,” she explained. “Therefore, if the people asked for assistance from us in the government, we can’t just turn them away and say ‘Hey, we apologize, you’re on your own now,’ we can’t just say that,” Duterte said. De Castro, who was involved in public service work as a broadcaster, continued this as a senator and as the second-highest official in the country, providing social assistance and basic needs to the public. The assistance came in the form of aid for medical, educational, burial, employment, transportation, livelihood, housing, and legal problems. The number of aid recipients continued to increase and the coverage expanded to include antipoverty concerns, housing problems, and problems of overseas Filipino workers. In the budget for 2006, the OVP said the bulk of the increase in its budget proposal was for assistance to indigent patients in hospitals, livelihood programs, comprehensive integrated delivery of social service programs, death and funeral benefits of the victims of calamities and other forms of financial assistance. Duterte noted that this was also part of her mandate as vice president under the 1987 Constitution. It was also part of her oath—which is “not to reject people asking for help.” “In my oath-taking, you can clearly see ‘implement laws,’ and I am in the Executive along with the President. This means that I will protect and defend the Constitution. This also means that everything written on the Constitution must be implemented,” she said. The OVP’s assistance to the public was not a duplication “because we are also a government agency that can’t just turn away people seeking assistance,” Duterte said. READ: Sara Duterte’s confidential fund spending raises new, more doubts Lawmakers, particularly from the House of Representatives, have questioned some of the social programs of the OVP similar to those of some government agencies such as the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). This prompted the House of Representatives to reduce Duterte’s proposed P2.03-billion budget for 2025 by P1.3 billion. The funds were realigned to the DOH and the DSWD, leaving the OVP with a budget of only P733.198 million, similar to the budget annually received by her most recent predecessor, former Vice President Leni Robredo. The Senate upheld the budget cuts after Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the Senate committee on finance, said the OVP had not responded to requests for documents that would answer the questions raised over its budget proposal. Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Thursday said the P733 million was already adequate and there was no need to alter it. “As of today, I would vote against adding to the OVP budget ... unless there is really a super, super, super duper good reason that could still convince me,” the Senate deputy minority leader said during the Kapihan sa Senado forum. “At a proper time, I will argue that it is sufficient. Other Vice Presidents in previous administrations have successfully operated with a similar budget level or even less as a matter of fact,” she added. During the Senate plenary deliberations on the OVP’s proposed 2025 budget, senators approved its P733 million outlay, adopting the House version. However, Duterte secured a promise from her allies in the chamber, Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong” Go, to either give additional funding to the OVP or restore the massive cuts during the period of amendments. Poe explained that the P733 million earmarked for the OVP was not yet final as senators may still propose to either increase or decrease it, subject to the body’s approval. According to Hontiveros, she did not change the House version of the proposed funding for the OVP programs, which appear to be a “repetition” of existing programs of other agencies. But Hontiveros said that one expense item that would be hard to justify was the P10 million for the distribution of copies of “Isang Kaibigan,” a children’s book authored by Duterte. “I think it’s important to note that the P10 million for a self-authored book to be distributed is really hard to justify as appropriate,” she said. At a Senate budget hearing in August, Duterte and Hontiveros engaged in a heated exchange over the P10-million allocation for the publication of the book after the latter questioned the propriety of the item tucked in the proposed 2025 budget of the country’s second-highest official. Her query piqued Duterte, who accused Hontiveros of “politicizing” the OVP’s budget request. Despite the massive budget cuts to the OVP next year, Duterte said they would make do with what they will receive, even with the possibility that 200 of her staff might lose their jobs. “But that [200] is just an estimate and I don’t have the exact knowledge on how many would lose their jobs. But definitely, there would be a budget cut and it may include the allocated funds for our personnel’s salaries in case they will be out of work,” she said. Hontiveros said she would ask for the details about the feared job losses to see “if it turns out to be a super duper good reason.” She added that she did not want any government worker to lose employment. —WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER RESEARCH Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . READ: Sara Duterte’s secret fund spending ‘a violation twice over’

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The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.PLAINS, Ga. — Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died at his home in Plains, Georgia. His death comes more than a year after the former president entered hospice care. He was 100 years old. Here are some significant events in Jimmy Carter's life: — Oct. 1, 1924: James Earl Carter Jr. is born in Plains, Georgia, son of James Sr. and Lillian Gordy Carter. — June 1946: Carter graduates from the U.S. Naval Academy. — July 1946: Carter marries Rosalynn Smith, in Plains. They have four children, John William (“Jack”), born 1947; James Earl 3rd (“Chip”), 1950; Donnel Jeffrey (Jeff), 1952; and Amy Lynn, 1967. — 1946-1953: Carter serves in a Navy nuclear submarine program, attaining rank of lieutenant commander. — Summer 1953: Carter resigns from the Navy, returns to Plains after father’s death. — 1953-1971: Carter helps run the family peanut farm and warehouse business. — 1963-1966: Carter serves in the Georgia state Senate. — 1966: Carter tries unsuccessfully for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. — November 1970: Carter is elected governor of Georgia. Serves 1971-75. — Dec. 12, 1974: Carter announces a presidential bid. Atlanta newspaper answers with headline: “Jimmy Who?” — January 1976: Carter leads the Democratic field in Iowa, a huge campaign boost that also helps to establish Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucus. — July 1976: Carter accepts the Democratic nomination and announces Sen. Walter Mondale of Minnesota as running mate. — November 1976: Carter defeats President Gerald R. Ford, winning 51% of the vote and 297 electoral votes to Ford’s 240. — January 1977: Carter is sworn in as the 39th president of the United States. On his first full day in office, he pardons most Vietnam-era draft evaders. —September 1977: U.S. and Panama sign treaties to return the Panama Canal back to Panama in 1999. Senate narrowly ratifies them in 1978. — September 1978: Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Carter sign Camp David accords, which lead to a peace deal between Egypt and Israel the following year. — June 15-18, 1979: Carter attends a summit with Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev in Vienna that leads to the signing of the SALT II treaty. — November 1979: Iranian militants storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 hostages. All survive and are freed minutes after Carter leaves office in January 1981. — April 1980: The Mariel boatlift begins, sending tens of thousands of Cubans to the U.S. Many are criminals and psychiatric patients set free by Cuban leader Fidel Castro, creating a major foreign policy crisis. — April 1980: An attempt by the U.S. to free hostages fails when a helicopter crashes into a transport plane in Iran, killing eight servicemen. — Nov. 4, 1980: Carter is denied a second term by Ronald Reagan, who wins 51.6% of the popular vote to 41.7% for Carter and 6.7% to independent John Anderson. — 1982: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter co-found The Carter Center in Atlanta, whose mission is to resolve conflicts, protect human rights and prevent disease around the world. — September 1984: The Carters spend a week building Habitat for Humanity houses, launching what becomes the annual Carter Work Project. — October 1986: A dedication is held for The Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta. The center includes the Carter Presidential Library and Museum and Carter Center offices. — 1989: Carter leads the Carter Center’s first election monitoring mission, declaring Panamanian Gen. Manuel Noriega’s election fraudulent. — May 1992: Carter meets with Mikhail and Raisa Gorbachev at the Carter Center to discuss forming the Gorbachev Foundation. — June 1994: Carter plays a key role in North Korea nuclear disarmament talks. — September 1994: Carter leads a delegation to Haiti, arranging terms to avoid a U.S. invasion and return President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power. — December 1994: Carter negotiates tentative cease-fire in Bosnia. — March 1995: Carter mediates cease-fire in Sudan’s war with southern rebels. — September 1995: Carter travels to Africa to advance the peace process in more troubled areas. — December 1998: Carter receives U.N. Human Rights Prize on 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. — August 1999: President Bill Clinton awards Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter the Presidential Medal of Freedom. — September 2001: Carter joins former Presidents Ford, Bush and Clinton at a prayer service at the National Cathedral in Washington after Sept. 11 attacks. — April 2002: Carter’s book “An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood” chosen as finalist for Pulitzer Prize in biography. — May 2002: Carter visits Cuba and addresses the communist nation on television. He is the highest-ranking American to visit in decades. — Dec. 10, 2002: Carter is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” — July 2007: Carter joins The Elders, a group of international leaders brought together by Nelson Mandela to focus on global issues. — Spring 2008: Carter remains officially neutral as Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton battle each other for the Democratic presidential nomination. — April 2008: Carter stirs controversy by meeting with the Islamic militant group Hamas. — August 2010: Carter travels to North Korea as the Carter Center negotiates the release of an imprisoned American teacher. — August 2013: Carter joins President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton at the 50th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech and the March on Washington. — Oct. 1, 2014: Carter celebrates his 90th birthday. — December 2014: Carter is nominated for a Grammy in the best spoken word album category, for his book “A Call To Action.” — May 2015: Carter returns early from an election observation visit in Guyana — the Carter Center’s 100th — after feeling unwell. — August 2015: Carter has a small cancerous mass removed from his liver. He plans to receive treatment at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta. — August 2015: Carter announces that his grandson Jason Carter will chair the Carter Center governing board. — March 6, 2016: Carter says an experimental drug has eliminated any sign of his cancer, and that he needs no further treatment. — May 25, 2016: Carter steps back from a “front-line” role with The Elders to become an emeritus member. — July 2016: Carter is treated for dehydration during a Habitat for Humanity build in Canada. — Spring 2018: Carter publishes “Faith: A Journey for All,” the last of 32 books. — March 22, 2019: Carter becomes the longest-lived U.S. president, surpassing President George H.W. Bush, who died in 2018. — September 18, 2019: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter deliver their final in-person annual report at the Carter Center. — October 2019: At 95, still recovering from a fall, Carter joins the Work Project with Habitat for Humanity in Nashville, Tennessee. It’s the last time he works personally on the annual project. — Fall 2019-early 2020: Democratic presidential hopefuls visit, publicly embracing Carter as a party elder, a first for his post-presidency. — November 2020:The Carter Center monitors an audit of presidential election results in the state of Georgia, marking a new era of democracy advocacy within the U.S. — Jan. 20, 2021: The Carters miss President Joe Biden’s swearing-in, the first presidential inauguration they don’t attend since Carter’s own ceremony in 1977. The Bidens later visit the Carters in Plains on April 29. — Feb. 19, 2023: Carter enters home hospice care after a series of short hospital stays. — July 7, 2023: The Carters celebrate their 77th and final wedding anniversary. — Nov. 19, 2023: Rosalynn Carter dies at home, two days after the family announced that she had joined the former president in receiving hospice care. — Oct. 1, 2024 — Carter becomes the first former U.S. president to reach 100 years of age , celebrating at home with extended family and close friends. — Oct. 16, 2024 — Carter casts a Georgia mail ballot for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, having told his family he wanted to live long enough to vote for her. It marks his 21st presidential election as a voter. — Dec. 29, 2024: Carter dies at home.

‘Will not be allowed’: America’s warning

KABUL (Amu Tv): Food insecurity in Afghanistan remains a pressing concern as 14.8 million people are projected to face critical shortages during the winter months, the UN International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) said. The figure accounts for 32 percent of the Afghan population, who will require urgent humanitarian food assistance from November 2024 to March 2025. UNICEF’s report underscores the challenges facing the nation, citing a fragile economy, limited access to basic services, and the lingering effects of 40 years of conflict. These issues are compounded by natural disasters, climate shocks, and shifting political dynamics in the region. Afghan returnees face heightened challenges The humanitarian crisis is exacerbated by the ongoing influx of Afghan returnees from Pakistan. Since mid-September 2023, more than 758,000 individuals have been registered crossing back into Afghanistan. UNICEF has been providing aid at border points like Torkham and Spin Boldak, offering health services, polio vaccination campaigns, clean water and sanitation (WASH), nutrition programs, and child protection interventions. “UNICEF continues to support the response,” the report stated, emphasizing the agency’s efforts to mitigate the growing humanitarian challenges. Voices of Hardship The report also highlighted the human toll of the crisis, with individuals like Mahboba, a former employee of a private organization in Badghis, offering a glimpse into life under Taliban rule. “For five or six years, I worked and earned 21,000 Afghanis a month. I was the sole breadwinner for my family,” she said. “But for the past two years, the Taliban have prohibited me from working. Now, I can’t even provide one meal a day for my children.” Mahboba, who cares for a family of five, described the winter as a season of unbearable sorrow. “We don’t have proper food to eat. Winter has come, and we don’t know what to eat, what to wear, or what to do. There is absolutely no way forward,” she said. Others share similar struggles. In Herat, a resident described waiting in vain for work each day. “There are eight people in my family, and there’s no labor available,” he said. “The price of rice, oil—everything—has gone up. We can’t afford it.” Abdullah, a resident of Kabul, spoke of the desperate measures families are taking. “I dismantled my chair to keep my forty-day-old baby warm because we don’t have coal,” he said. “Since morning, I’ve only earned ten Afghanis. How can we survive this way?” Shrinking aid amid funding shortages The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that the situation may worsen, as millions of Afghans are set to endure a harsh winter without adequate food assistance. Severe funding shortages mean the agency will only be able to support six million people this winter, leaving millions more without help. UNICEF noted that Afghanistan remains the second-largest humanitarian crisis in the world, with more than half the population in need of aid. While conflict has subsided, the drivers of need have shifted toward economic hardship and climate-induced shocks, compounded by significant operational barriers for aid organizations. As Afghans face another winter of struggle, the international community’s ability to sustain critical aid programs is being stretched thin, raising concerns about the nation’s long-term recovery prospects.

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner were spotted enjoying themselves at Jeff Bezos ’ holiday party at a high-end sushi restaurant in Colorado, on Saturday. The power couple appeared smiling and holding hands in photos, published by Page Six, that showed them departing the gathering at Matsuhisa’s location in Aspen. Their invite came after Bezos traveled to Mar-a-Lago earlier this month to bend the knee to her father, President-elect Donald Trump. Saturday’s event appeared to serve as a date night for Trump’s eldest daughter and his former adviser after they attended his Mar-a-Lago Christmas gala earlier this week alongside their three kids. The pair kept it casual for the gathering—Kushner wore a dark-teal button-down and black slacks, while Trump donned a brown suede dress, a tan leather jacket, and a pair of high-heel boots. Page Six reported that actor Kevin Costner also made an appearance at the party after being spotted earlier with Jennifer Lopez at a different nearby spot, although she was not at the Amazon founder’s event. Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sanchez shot down rumors last week that they had married in the same resort town where the gathering was held. Mufasa: The Lion King and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 continue to bolster the box office’s holiday performance, with both films raking in over $60 million this week. After an initial disappointing opening weekend, Disney’s prequel to its beloved tale bounced back over the Christmas stretch, bringing in a domestic total of around $63.8 million since Wednesday. Meanwhile, Sonic 3 trailed slightly behind with an estimated gross of $60.4 million since Christmas. As both films continue to perform well domestically and overseas, other new releases like Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu also found surprising wins at the holiday box office—with the vampire flick posting $40.3 million during its five-day opening. Elsewhere, the Bob Dylan biopic starring Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown , is also on course to gross $23.3 million over the five-day Christmas stretch, while Nicole Kidman’s raunchy erotica for A24, Babygirl , reported a $7 million five-day opening. Wicked also continues to defy gravity, posting a global gross of $634.4 million and surpassing Mamma Mia! as the highest-grossing stage musical adaptation of all time. Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. Boxing Week sales are still in full swing, folks! As an avid J.Crew fan , I can honestly say that the brand’s discount-laden factory store (the brand’s online outlet) is a great way to get high-quality wardrobe staples without the big price tag. J.Crew Factory always offers discounts up to 40 percent off J.Crew, but for a limited time, you can unlock even more savings from already discounted items. Right now, J.Crew Factory is offering 70 percent off clearance items with the code SALE70 at checkout. Now’s the time to invest in evergreen staples like jeans and office-friendly blazers while they’re half off, or grab a few outwear essentials to round out your cold-weather lineup. The sale also includes tons of denim for just $50, pure cotton crewneck T-shirts for $20, and even new arrivals like NYE frocks and cashmere items. And the sale is not just for women; the gents’ and kids’ sections are equally full of additional savings. Kieran Culkin once got Mark Ruffalo high while on the job after switching out a prop joint with the real thing. In a profile with The Guardian published Saturday, Culkin recalled the prank his 17-year-old self concocted while starring alongside Ruffalo in an off-Broadway play in 2000, and explained that he “just watched” as Ruffalo took a draw of the “fake” joint before passing it to his co-stars on stage. “I’m like, ‘I thought this was a good prank. I’m stupid. Oh my God, I’m so sorry.’ But actually, they loved it,” Culkin remembered. “Mark says, ‘I haven’t smoked pot in 10 years; the second half’s going to be so much fun.’ There was this other actor who had never smoked pot in her life. She goes, ‘Is this what being high is? This is lovely.’ And then Phyllis Newman comes in and goes, ‘I haven’t smoked pot since the 1960s. Thank you, darling.’” The Succession star proceeded to express that he was “17 and stupid” and added, “I’m 42 now. I know better. I’m not going to try to get anyone high on stage.” Two Sasquatch hunters were found dead after they went missing while searching for the mythical beast on Christmas Eve . The men, aged 37 and 59, were found after a 60-strong volunteer search and rescue team joined authorities in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington State . They had intended to be home for Christmas Day, but a family member reported them missing to Skamania County authorities after they didn’t return by the morning. Police said the harsh weather conditions and their ill-preparedness for the forest contributed to the men’s deaths. Seven law enforcement agencies and the Coast Guard used canines, drones, ground teams and helicopters to locate them. “Their exhaustive search efforts resulted in bringing family members home to their loved ones,” the sheriff’s office said of the search teams. The force extended their “deepest sympathies and condolences to the families” involved. Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. If you’re looking to revamp your at-home fitness lineup ahead of 2025 and don’t have hours to commit to exercising each day, allow us to introduce you to the CAROL Bike . The science-backed and AI-powered fitness bike is engineered to give you maximum results in the shortest time possible—and by the shortest time, we mean as little as five minutes. In fact, according to the brand, the CAROL bike is “proven to deliver double the health and fitness benefits in 90 percent less time compared to regular cardio.” Free Returns | Free Shipping Not only is it a huge time-saver, but the CAROL Bike is also designed to be personalized to the rider’s individual fitness levels, goals, and preferences, making the workouts easy to follow, time-efficient, and super effective. CAROL’s AI and Reduced Exertion HIIT (REHIT) technology optimizes the workout to your ability and fitness level, so every second matters. The personalized, optimal resistance levels are automatically adjusted as you work out—at exactly the right time—making the most efficient workouts easy to follow. “ CAROL Bike is designed to maximize training efficiency, with the shortest, most effective workouts, backed by science. And new rider-inspired features that give riders more flexibility to exercise their way,” says Ulrich Dempfle, CEO & Co-Founder at CAROL. You can try the CAROL Bike for yourself risk-free for 100 days, and the brand offers free shipping (7-10 business days) in the U.S. Loved ones of Hudson Meek, the teen actor who died in a car accident last week, gathered to celebrate his life on Saturday. The “celebration of life” service, held at a Baptist church in Homewood, Alabama, was livestreamed on the Baby Driver star’s Instagram. Several of the loved ones shared their favorite memories of the 16-year-old, and a choir sang in tribute. Fans expressed their appreciation for the service and their condolences in the comment section. “Wonderful celebration of Hudson’s life,” wrote user @melindaeubankswest, while @jeanniecmom added, “Praying for Hudson’s family at this difficult time. Fellow teen actor Grace Culwell shared in the comments that she was in attendance, writing: ”Such a beautiful service & so glad we were able to be there. Sending so much love & prayers to you all.” Meek died on Dec. 21 in from injuries sustained during a fall from a moving car on Dec. 19 in his hometown, Vestavia Hills, Alabama. Meek was known best for appearing in the 2017 crime movie Baby Driver alongside Ansel Elgort, Jon Hamm and Jamie Foxx. A post shared by Hudson Meek (@hudsonmeek) Andy Cohen’s biggest gripe with CNN star and New Year’s Eve partner-in-crime Anderson Cooper? Cooper’s annual giggle fit. Cohen explained to People why the anchor’s unceasing laughter adds extra chaos throughout their annual special. “Well, [it’s] that I have to be the straight guy,” Cohen said. “Literally, he’s in a puddle of giggles for the last 90 minutes of the broadcast, and I’m the one that’s hitting all the commercial breaks.” Cohen said he turns “into Mr. CNN for the last 90 minutes” while Cooper becomes “Mr. Bravo.” “It’s a very funny role reversal,” the Bravo star said. The longtime friends have hosted the CNN event together since 2017 after former co-host Kathy Griffin was booted in the wake of backlash for posing with a mask depicting the severed head of Donald Trump. Cohen and Cooper have found themselves in various antics since then— some alcoholic , some not —leading to Cooper’s own frustrations with the Bravo host. Cooper joked on Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live earlier this month that he constantly worries about “who [Cohen’s] gonna insult and what the clean up on aisle 3 is gonna be in the morning.” Billionaire businessman Charles Dolan, who founded HBO and Cablevision and whose family owns Madison Square Garden and a number of New York City sports teams, died on Saturday—he was 98. Dolan created Cablevision Systems Corporation in 1973, merging several small Long Island cable TV systems, according to the New York Times . At the time, the company served just 1,500 customers. But when he sold it for $17.7 billion in 2015, it supplied cable TV to over three million households in the New York metropolitan area, the Times reported. He also launched HBO in the early ’70s—it was at the time a pioneering cable TV channel that offered feature-length movies with no commercials. After his death, Dolan’s family will continue to be a powerful and influential force in the worlds of media and sports. His son Patrick is the owner of Newsday , the Long Island-based newspaper he and Charles bought in 2016. The family also owns MSG in New York City and the professional sports teams that play there, the NHL’s Rangers and the NBA’s Knicks. All three entities are led by Dolan’s son James. Tina Knowles sprang to her daughter Beyoncé’s defense after online trolls criticized her NFL halftime show performance on Christmas Day. Knowles clapped back at critics by reposting a message about her famous daughter on her Instagram on Friday. In the screenshot, user @iamkrisiman praised Beyoncé and wrote that “no matter how undeniably talented you are, people will always, ALWAYS, always have some negative ish to say.” Knowles cosigned the post in a lengthy caption. “It is mind-boggling to me that you would take your precious Christmas day and watch a performance of someone you hate and you don’t think has talent so that you can go talk ish about it later,” she wrote. “Obviously you are so obsessed with them, addicted to them, and secretly admire them,” she added. According to the New York Post, Knowles’ post came after some social media users called Beyoncé “overrated.” Fans and celebrities in the comments of Knowles’ response seemed to love her mama bear energy. “Period!!! Ms. T,” singer LeToya Luckett wrote. “All. Of. This!!!!!!” Oscar winner Octavia Spencer added. A post shared by Tina Knowles (@mstinaknowles) Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. 2025 is quickly approaching, and there’s no better way to celebrate the new year than with 2024’s cocktail du jour—the espresso martini. It’s the perfect way to toast 2025 with sophistication, flavor, and an energy boost. Think you can’t make the buzzy beverage at home because you’re not a bartender? Think again. You can create this beloved cocktail effortlessly with just a cocktail shaker, fresh espresso, vodka, coffee beans, and Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur . It all starts in the land Down Under—Australia. Mr Black sources its ingredients, including 100 percent specialty-grade Arabica coffee, from local farmers and cooperatives. The liqueur is then slowly brewed with purified cold water to preserve its delicate, complex flavors. The result? A bittersweet masterpiece with bold flavor, balanced sweetness, and a lasting coffee kick. Its rich, coffee-forward taste is a crowd-pleaser, and the sleek bottle design adds a touch of elegance to any bar cart. Making an espresso martini is simple. Combine Mr Black , vodka, and freshly brewed espresso in a shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously until cold. Then, strain the mixture into a martini glass and finish with three coffee beans as a garnish. Skip the champagne toast this year and ensure you stay awake for the countdown to 2025 with a Mr Black espresso martini. Elon Musk appeared to borrow a line from the 2008 film Tropic Thunder in an ongoing social media fight about H1B visas. Musk hit back against MAGA’s top players in a series of X posts, alleging that H1B visas are the reason why he, “and hundreds of other companies that made America strong,” are in the country. To a skeptical X user, Musk blasted: “Take a big step back and F--- YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend.” Although some were shocked by Musk’s sudden escalation—with former Trump strategist Steve Bannon calling him a “toddler”—others noticed that the disparaging remark was similar to a line in Tropic Thunder . Character Les Grossman, played by Tom Cruise, says in the film: “First, take a big step back, and literally, F--- YOUR OWN FACE ... I don’t know what kind of pan-pacific bulls--t power play you’re trying to pull here, but Asia, Jack, is my territory. So whatever you’re thinking, you’d better think again.” In response to Musk’s comment, the X user tweeted, “Bro was just memeing. I wouldn’t take it too seriously.” Nothing beats the classics pic.twitter.com/MRSdXifhH5 Charles Shyer, the writer-director best known for directing the 1991 Steve Martin comedy Father of the Bride has died at 83. According to Deadline, Shyer died Friday and no cause of death was given by his family in a statement. “His loss leaves an unfillable hole in our lives, but his legacy lives on through his children and the five decades of wonderful work he’s left behind. We honor the extraordinary life he led and know there will never be another quite like him,” his family told the outlet. In addition to directing, Shyer gained notoriety for his screenwriting and nabbed an Oscar nomination in 1981 for co-writing the Goldie Hawn-led military comedy Private Benjamin alongside Harvey Miller, and fellow writer-director Nancy Meyers. Meyers and Shyer married in 1980 before calling it quits in 1999. They share two daughters. Other notable films co-written by Shyer include Jumpin’ Jack Flash , The Parent Trap , and Baby Boom , which he also directed. His most recent credit behind the camera was co-writing and directing the 2023 Netflix Holiday film Best. Christmas. Ever.None

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Tayshawn Comer scores 18 to lead Evansville past Campbell 66-53Mexico president hails 'excellent' Trump talks after US tariff threat

CHANDIGARH: Punjab has sought Rs 1,000 crore Central assistance to strengthen its police infrastructure and security efforts in the border districts, among a slew of other demands, at a pre-budget meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held in Jaisalmer, an official statement said on Sunday. Industrial incentives similar to those provided to Jammu and Kashmir and the neighbouring hill states were also sought to support the MSMEs in Punjab's border and sub-mountainous regions, a Punjab government statement said on Sunday. Quoting Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, the statement said the state has strongly raised the demand to restore NABARD's Short-Term Seasonal Agricultural Operations (ST-SAO) limit to Rs 3,041 crore, from the reduced limit of Rs 1,100 crore, for FY 2024-25. Cheema said this restoration is vital to prevent farmers from turning to moneylenders, aligning with the 'Sahakar se Samriddhi' principle. Several states raised this issue which was discussed at length, he added. For road connectivity under PM Gati Shakti in Rajpura, the Punjab government has requested Rs 100 crore to construct a 5.6 km long, 45 mt wide approach road connecting NH-44 to the integrated manufacturing cluster (IMC) in Rajpura. This funding is essential for the timely completion of road construction and the successful implementation of the industrial cluster, Cheema said. Referring to the Vande Bharat train connecting Amritsar with New Delhi, Punjab government requested for a similar train to connect Bathinda, Punjab's agricultural and commercial hub, with the national capital to ensure seamless connectivity for the Malwa region of the state. Cheema also proposed financial support to address crop residue management in Punjab, saying despite providing 1.45 lakh crop residue management (CRM) machines since 2018, high operational costs remain a challenge. The Punjab government has proposed an incentive of Rs 2,500 per acre, with Rs 2,000 per acre from the Centre and Rs 500 per acre from the state, as per the statement. Out of the total estimated cost of Rs 2,000 crore for this initiative, the government of India has been requested to provide Rs 1,600 crore as budgetary support, the statement said. Cheema also requested the Centre for a special budgetary allocation for paddy diversification, saying diversifying cultivation across 10 lakh hectares could result in substantial savings of more than Rs 30,000 crore. The Punjab government has proposed allocating a portion of these savings towards a comprehensive diversification package, Cheema said. For the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) scheme, Cheema proposed enhancing the grant from Rs 1.2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh per beneficiary to accommodate rising construction costs. The minister also highlighted the need to release pending funds under the National Health Mission (NHM) amounting to Rs 1,119 crore, besides requesting an increase in the honorarium for cook-cum-helpers under the PM Poshan Abhiyaan from Rs 600 to Rs 2,000 per month. Additionally, Punjab sought support for urban transportation, requesting Rs 300 crore for the procurement of 250 electric buses and the installation of charging points. The state also called for reimbursement of procurement costs by the government of India, modernisation of driving licence testing with advanced technology, and reimbursement of pending rural development fee (RDF) amounting to Rs 6,857 crore. Expressing gratitude to Sitharaman for giving Punjab the opportunity to present its suggestions, Cheema said the state's demand for an incentive package to address the unique challenges faced by it, particularly due to its proximity to a hostile border with Pakistan, is crucial to bolster infrastructure and security measures. He also expressed hope that the upcoming Union Budget will act as a catalyst for fostering citizen welfare, driving regional development, and spurring economic growth, the statement said.

Mantis scores 17 points off the bench as Maine downs Holy Cross 80-55-- Shares Facebook Twitter Reddit Email Ariana Grande ought to be celebrating. The actor and singer is receiving rave reviews for her comedic turn in John M. Chu's big-screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical "Wicked." With her onscreen partner in crime Cynthia Erivo , the two have traversed the globe to promote their movie, which serves as a prequel to "The Wizard of Oz" and follows the evolution of Glinda (Grande) and Elphaba (Erivo) from frenemies to best friends at Shiz University in the magical world of Oz. Ultimately, "Wicked" is the tale of friendship overcoming how Elphaba has been ostracized for her unusual appearance: her bright green skin. However, this message about superficial prejudice has not fully penetrated to people online who continue to pick apart Grande's appearance. Over the last several weeks as the stars have promoted their film, viral posts across several different social media platforms have been pointing out Grande's slender frame while also sharing their opinions about the artist's mental health. It's a disturbing pattern Grande herself had to address last year. But despite her plea for people to refrain from commenting on her body and anyone's body, that hasn't stopped the unfounded diagnoses. Related "Wicked" is a bewitching spectacle that smartly probes who has power in a beloved fairy tale Salon goes over the timeline of the focus placed on Grande's body and mental health over the years: June 2018: Grande discusses mental health issues after 2017 Manchester concert bombing At her 2017 sold-out Manchester , England concert, Grande was present during a terrorist attack that claimed 22 lives and injured more than 500 people. In an interview with Elle , the star opened up about the residual trauma from the deadly attack. “When I got home from tour, I had really wild dizzy spells, this feeling like I couldn’t breathe,” she said. “I would be in a good mood, fine and happy, and they would hit me out of nowhere. I’ve always had anxiety, but it had never been physical before. There were a couple of months straight where I felt so upside down.” April 2019: The singer posted a scan of her brain, opening up about her PTSD After the Manchester attack and the sudden overdose of her off-and-on boyfriend and rapper Mac Miller , Grande shared a photo of her brain scan. In a follow-up post , Grande said she was doing her best even though her brain “looks like the world map.” She continued, “Didn’t mean to startle anyone with my brain thingy. “I love science and seeing the physical reality of what’s going on in there was incredible to me. Someday, when I’m more healed up, we can talk more about it. I am constantly working on my health/learning how to process pain (aren't we all)," she said. April 2023: Grande posts a TikTok addressing people's comments about her body Body-shaming comments seem to have hit a nerve with Grande last year. The star was still filming "Wicked" in the Spring of 2023 when her Instagram was flooded with comments and concerns about her thinness and what people perceived as a visible weight loss. The singer then took to TikTok to address the rampant speculation and "concern" around her weight. On the video was a caption that stated, "You have talked a lot about it over the past decade or longer so I'd like to join in this time. "I think we should gentler and less comfortable commenting on people's bodies — no matter what. If you think good or well-intentioned — whatever it is — healthy, unhealthy, big, small, this or that. We just shouldn't. We should work towards not doing that as much," she emphasized. She suggested that people should aim towards tweaking their compliments or ignoring something that bothers them so they don't comment at all to "keep each other safer." Grande added, "There are many different ways to look healthy and beautiful. I know personally for me, the body you've been comparing my current body to was the unhealthiest version of my body." The singer revealed that in the past, "I was on a lot of antidepressants and drinking on them and eating poorly and at the lowest point of my life when I looked the way you consider my healthy. But that in fact wasn't my healthy." She also reiterated she didn't have to explain this but wanted to have an openness and vulnerability with her audience to enact some positive change. "You never know what someone's going through. Even if you are coming from a loving place and a caring place, that person probably is working on it or has a support system that they are working on it with," Grande said. "So, be gentle with each other and with yourselves." October - November 2024: Numerous popular posts claim Erivo and Grande have eating disorders While Grande has already addressed the concerns around her weight the hypervisiblity of the "Wicked" press tour has revived the discourse. But this time it included Erivo too. In viral posts across platforms like Reddit, X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, people are speculating about why both Erivo and Grande look thinner. As their proof, they are posting photos of the actors years before they filmed "Wicked" comparing them to photos after filming the movie, while they're promoting the movie Others on TikTok are claiming that they have insight into the actors' weight loss and bodies. One post said, "Anyone who's been in a mutually destructive competitive ED friendship knows exactly what's going on." Influencer Chloe Forero said , "You could not pay me to say that Ariana Grande looks healthy because she does not. She looks sick . . . I want to approach this with sympathy because I understand that Ariana Grande is in the limelight and that comes with so much pressure. We have no choice but to acknowledge she is a role model and she does set an example for a lot of people. Little girls might see the billboard on the highway of Ariana looking strikingly thin and think they should look like that.” In a USA Today interview , an eating disorder expert, Dr. Elizabeth Wassenaar at the Eating Recovery Center explained, "These comments about how your body is acceptable or unacceptable, it reinforces again that you are not worth more than your body and that you have to present yourself a certain way for the world to find you acceptable." She continued, "It just reinforces that sort of superficial, body-focused idea that we know is so painful and harmful for every single one of us because we are so much more than this vessel that carries us." We need your help to stay independent Subscribe today to support Salon's progressive journalism Nov. 6: On "Las Culturistas," Grande calls out people who try to diagnose her On the podcast "Las Culturistas," Grande, along with her "Wicked" co-star Bowen Yang and podcast co-host Matt Rogers were joking about the internet's intrusive ability to diagnose a celebrity with a mental illness without the full picture. Rogers said, "I have a mental illness that no one can tell me what it is!" Grande chimed in, "Well, Twitter will tell you!" Rogers replied, "One day they all came for me like 'Matt has ADHD' and I was like 'Pfft stop!' Now I'm like, 'I do!'" Grande then shared, “They tell me I have a lot of things . . . You're actually invasive and scary, and triggering. Just wrong and loud, and unhealthy — that's toxic.” Read more about this topic "Wicked" memes have taken a nasty turn following Cynthia Erivo's poster slam "Wicked" star Cynthia Erivo slams fan-edited poster that covers her eyes Wicked drama: Elvira vs. Ariana Grande – The feud that haunted Halloween By Nardos Haile Nardos Haile is a staff writer at Salon covering culture. She’s previously covered all things entertainment, music, fashion and celebrity culture at The Associated Press. She resides in Brooklyn, NY. MORE FROM Nardos Haile Related Topics ------------------------------------------ Ariana Grande Body Image Body Positivity Cynthia Erivo Explainer Thinness Wicked Related Articles Advertisement:

Storm Bert forces Canterbury Christmas market to partially close after 'significant damage'Israel’s AI startup activity is two to four times greater than that observed in the United States or Europe, highlighting the unparalleled density of its AI sector. AI startups constitute 30% of Israel’s tech landscape, accounting for up to 40% of funding rounds and securing 47% of total investments, according to a recent report from Startup Nation Central or SNC. The 2024 Stanford AI Index , ranked Israel first globally in terms of AI talent concentration and fifth in relative AI skill penetration rate between 2015 and 2023, surpassing the global average by 1.63 times across similar occupations. “Israel stands at the forefront of global AI innovation, driven by an exceptional ecosystem of startups, academia, and strategic support from both local and multinational players,” says Avi Hasson, CEO of Startup Nation Central. Hasson highlights the unique “vertical” focus of Israeli AI startups. They have developed sector-specific AI solutions, using industry-specific data and expertise. “A key metric that sets Israel apart is its focus on applied AI solutions in areas like cybersecurity, health tech, and agriculture, which positions it as a leader in practical AI applications... with over 2,000 startups developing the next era of AI applications,” writes Arik Kol, Head of Nvidia Inception Startups Program at Nvidia Israel, in his preface to the SNC report. Nvidia has over 4,000 employees in Israel, including a substantial AI research team, working closely with Israeli universities to form the company’s 2nd largest R&D center outside of the U.S. Nvidia is one of more than 400 multinational corporations that have established R&D operations in Israel. From 2014 to 2023, top multinational corporations acquired one Israeli AI startup for every four American AI acquisitions, showcasing Israel’s strong global appeal. “Israel’s AI ecosystem stands out as a global innovator with its unique combination of applied AI focus, cross-industry expertise, and a thriving network of academia, startups, and multinational corporations,” writes Nvidia’s Kol. The AI development centers of Microsoft and Google focus on machine learning and natural language processing, Amazon’s AWS center drives AI integration within cloud services, Meta’s pursues AI-driven communications, and Apple’s Israeli R&D centers work on AI-powered features, including facial recognition. These R&D centers of the largest tech companies sometimes grow out of the acquisition of an Israeli startup but also often serve as the breeding grounds for new startups with founders moving from the “horizontal AI” of Big Tech to a vertical focus. This applied AI focus is based on unique Israeli experience and expertise in various economic sectors. For example, the vast amount of healthcare data digitized by Israel’s healthcare providers over the last 30 years has served as the launching pad for healthcare-focused AI startups: · Precision medicine startup Promise Bio has recently emerged from stealth with an $8.3 million seed investment to further develop its platform integrating epiproteomics and AI to identify predictive biomarkers for personalized therapies targeting immune-mediated diseases like autoimmune disorders. · UMass Memorial Health, the largest not-for-profit health care system in central Massachusetts, recently reported that within four months of adopting AEYE-DS, the AI-based autonomous diagnostic screening system developed by AEYE Health , diabetic retinopathy screening adherence increased from 29% to 49%, and the average screening time in the hospital’s primary care workflow fell by 75%. · Ballad Health, the leading healthcare provider in the Appalachian Highlands has deployed MedAware's AI-based medication safety monitoring platform, embedding it within the workflow of its Epic electronic medical record or EMR system. As a result, Ballad Health expects that thousands of patients will be safer from adverse drug events. Other areas of focus for practical AI solutions from Israeli startups include cybersecurity (e.g., 7AI, an agentic security platform), climate tech (e.g., FireDome, detecting and suppressing wildfires), and fintech (e.g., Next Insurance, insurance for small businesses). In addition to specific domain expertise, some of these vertically focused startups rely on data that is unique to their target market and application. In a recent event organized by UpWest , a Palo Alto-based VC investing in Israeli startups, Nadav Cohen observed: “Data can be a powerful differentiator, especially if you’ve got data that isn’t accessible to the public or being used by big companies to train their models.” Cohen is co-founder & CTO of Imubit (AI for process control) and Research Director of the Foundations of Deep Learning Lab at Tel Aviv University. While the majority of Israeli AI startups target a specific economic sector, a few have emerged as leaders of “horizontal” AI solutions. Hailo, for example, is in the hot AI chips business and has successfully developed AI processors uniquely designed to run high-performance AI models on edge devices. Another Israeli startup that plays in the big leagues is AI21, developer of an innovative “foundation model” that competes with OpenAI, Google, and others for the attention of enterprises. The impact of Israeli AI startups, whether vertical or horizontal, is felt way beyond Israel. Certainly in the U.S., their most important market, but also right in their Middle Eastern neighborhood. For example, Integrated Data Intelligence, an Abu Dhabi-basaed subsidiary of OurCrowd, a global investment platform and Israel’s most active VC, has recently onboarded the first cohort of customers for DANNA , its proprietary investment AI copilot. Jonathan Medved, CEO of OurCrowd, describes the specific leadership role of Israeli startups in the global AI landscape, given the sky-high cost of current AI technology: “Israel’s tech advantage lies in its roots in the military, where young engineers are imbued with the culture of doing more with less... Faced with immediate threats to their family and community, they learn to cut corners and move fast because the stakes are so high... Israeli startups have started to figure out significant optimization and cost efficiencies, with major price reductions that will allow AI to scale and reach its promise.”

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Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) at Atlanta (6-5) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS BetMGM NFL Odds: Chargers by 1 1/2 Series record: Falcons lead 8-4. Against the spread: Chargers 7-3-1, Falcons 5-6. Last meeting: Chargers beat Falcons 20-17 on Nov. 6, 2022, in Atlanta. Last week: Ravens beat Chargers, 30-23; Falcons had bye week following 38-6 loss at Denver on Nov. 17. Chargers offense: overall (21), rush (13), pass (20), scoring (18). Chargers defense: overall (13), rush (10), pass (10), scoring (13). Falcons offense: overall (8), rush (14), pass (5), scoring (16). Falcons defense: overall (25), rush (19), pass (26), scoring (26). Turnover differential: Chargers plus-8, Falcons minus-3. RB Gus Edwards could move up as the lead back for Los Angeles as J.K Dobbins (knee) is expected to miss the game . Edwards was activated from injured reserve earlier this month following an ankle injury and had nine carries for 11 yards with a touchdown in Monday night's 30-23 loss to Baltimore. WR Drake London has 61 catches, leaving him four away from becoming the first player in team history to have at least 65 receptions in each of his first three seasons. London has 710 receiving yards, leaving him 140 away from becoming the first player in team history with at least 850 in each of his first three seasons. Falcons RB Bijan Robinson vs. Chargers run defense. Robinson was shut down by Denver, gaining only 35 yards on 12 carries, and the Atlanta offense couldn't recover. The Chargers rank 10th in the league against the run, so it will be a challenge for the Falcons to find a way to establish a ground game with Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. A solid running attack would create an opportunity for offensive coordinator Zac Robinson to establish the play-action passes for quarterback Kirk Cousins. Dobbins appeared to injure his right knee in the first half of the loss to the Ravens, though coach Jim Harbaugh did not provide details. ... The Falcons needed the bye to give a long list of injured players an opportunity to heal. WR WR KhaDarel Hodge (neck) did not practice on Wednesday. WR Darnell Mooney (Achilles), CB Kevin King (concussion), DL Zach Harrison (knee, Achilles) and WR Casey Washington (concussion) were hurt in the 38-6 loss at Denver on Nov. 17 and were limited on Wednesday. CB Mike Hughes (neck), nickel back Dee Alford (hamstring), ILB Troy Andersen (knee), TE Charlie Woerner (concussion) and ILB JD Bertrand (concussion) also were limited on Wednesday after not playing against Denver. C Drew Dalman (ankle) could return. The Chargers have won the past three games in the series following six consecutive wins by the Falcons from 1991-2012. Los Angeles took a 33-30 overtime win in Atlanta in 2016 before the Chargers added 20-17 wins at home in 2020 and in Atlanta in 2022. The Falcons won the first meeting between the teams, 41-0 in San Diego in 1973. Each team has built its record on success against the soft NFC South. Atlanta is 4-1 against division rivals. Los Angeles is 2-0 against the NFC South this season. The Chargers have a four-game winning streak against the division. ... Atlanta is 0-2 against AFC West teams, following a 22-17 loss to Kansas City and the lopsided loss at Denver. They will complete their tour of the AFC West with a game at the Las Vegas Raiders on Dec. 16. ... The Falcons are the league's only first-place team with a negative points differential. Atlanta has been outscored 274-244. The loss of Dobbins, who has rushed for eight touchdowns, could put more pressure on QB Justin Hebert and the passing game. Herbert's favorite option has been WR Ladd McConkey, who has four TD receptions among his 49 catches for 698 yards. McConkey, the former University of Georgia standout who was drafted in the second round, could enjoy a productive return to the state against a Falcons defense that ranks only 26th against the pass. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) at Atlanta (6-5) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS BetMGM NFL Odds: Chargers by 1 1/2 Series record: Falcons lead 8-4. Against the spread: Chargers 7-3-1, Falcons 5-6. Last meeting: Chargers beat Falcons 20-17 on Nov. 6, 2022, in Atlanta. Last week: Ravens beat Chargers, 30-23; Falcons had bye week following 38-6 loss at Denver on Nov. 17. Chargers offense: overall (21), rush (13), pass (20), scoring (18). Chargers defense: overall (13), rush (10), pass (10), scoring (13). Falcons offense: overall (8), rush (14), pass (5), scoring (16). Falcons defense: overall (25), rush (19), pass (26), scoring (26). Turnover differential: Chargers plus-8, Falcons minus-3. RB Gus Edwards could move up as the lead back for Los Angeles as J.K Dobbins (knee) is expected to miss the game . Edwards was activated from injured reserve earlier this month following an ankle injury and had nine carries for 11 yards with a touchdown in Monday night's 30-23 loss to Baltimore. WR Drake London has 61 catches, leaving him four away from becoming the first player in team history to have at least 65 receptions in each of his first three seasons. London has 710 receiving yards, leaving him 140 away from becoming the first player in team history with at least 850 in each of his first three seasons. Falcons RB Bijan Robinson vs. Chargers run defense. Robinson was shut down by Denver, gaining only 35 yards on 12 carries, and the Atlanta offense couldn't recover. The Chargers rank 10th in the league against the run, so it will be a challenge for the Falcons to find a way to establish a ground game with Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. A solid running attack would create an opportunity for offensive coordinator Zac Robinson to establish the play-action passes for quarterback Kirk Cousins. Dobbins appeared to injure his right knee in the first half of the loss to the Ravens, though coach Jim Harbaugh did not provide details. ... The Falcons needed the bye to give a long list of injured players an opportunity to heal. WR WR KhaDarel Hodge (neck) did not practice on Wednesday. WR Darnell Mooney (Achilles), CB Kevin King (concussion), DL Zach Harrison (knee, Achilles) and WR Casey Washington (concussion) were hurt in the 38-6 loss at Denver on Nov. 17 and were limited on Wednesday. CB Mike Hughes (neck), nickel back Dee Alford (hamstring), ILB Troy Andersen (knee), TE Charlie Woerner (concussion) and ILB JD Bertrand (concussion) also were limited on Wednesday after not playing against Denver. C Drew Dalman (ankle) could return. The Chargers have won the past three games in the series following six consecutive wins by the Falcons from 1991-2012. Los Angeles took a 33-30 overtime win in Atlanta in 2016 before the Chargers added 20-17 wins at home in 2020 and in Atlanta in 2022. The Falcons won the first meeting between the teams, 41-0 in San Diego in 1973. Each team has built its record on success against the soft NFC South. Atlanta is 4-1 against division rivals. Los Angeles is 2-0 against the NFC South this season. The Chargers have a four-game winning streak against the division. ... Atlanta is 0-2 against AFC West teams, following a 22-17 loss to Kansas City and the lopsided loss at Denver. They will complete their tour of the AFC West with a game at the Las Vegas Raiders on Dec. 16. ... The Falcons are the league's only first-place team with a negative points differential. Atlanta has been outscored 274-244. The loss of Dobbins, who has rushed for eight touchdowns, could put more pressure on QB Justin Hebert and the passing game. Herbert's favorite option has been WR Ladd McConkey, who has four TD receptions among his 49 catches for 698 yards. McConkey, the former University of Georgia standout who was drafted in the second round, could enjoy a productive return to the state against a Falcons defense that ranks only 26th against the pass. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflFree screening of “The Honorable Shyne” comes to Princess Sunday evening

CALIFORNIA 83, SACRAMENTO STATE 77

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Tayshawn Comer scored 18 points as Evansville beat Campbell 66-53 on Sunday night. Comer had six rebounds and six assists for the Purple Aces (3-4). Cameron Haffner scored 16 points and added six rebounds. Gabriel Pozzato shot 3 for 5, including 2 for 3 from beyond the arc to finish with 10 points. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a weekNone

The winter season in Saudi Arabia officially began on Saturday, December 21, and will last for about 89 days, according to the Jeddah Astronomical Society (JAS). The winter solstice, occurred at 12:20 pm Makkah time on Saturday, marking the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. When the sun shines directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, it marks the beginning of winter. يحدث الإنقلاب الشتوي يوم السبت 21 ديسمبر 2024 عند الساعة 12:20 ظهراً بتوقيت مكة المكرمة وستكون الشمس ساطعة مباشرة على مدار الجدي وهي علامة على بداية فصل الشتاء فلكياً في النصف الشمالي من الكرة الأرضية ( والذي يستمر حوالي 89 يوماً) والانقلاب الصيفي في النصف الجنوبي. 🔆❄️ pic.twitter.com/PpVYPYJQm5 Majed Abu Zahra, head of the Astronomical Society in Jeddah , said that the winter solstice occurs due to Earth’s 23.5-degree tilt and orbit around the sun, not the distance from the sun. As the Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the sun, daylight hours shorten, whereas the Southern Hemisphere enjoys longer daylight. Abu Zahra explained that the winter solstice shifts the North Pole away from the sun, causing shorter days in equator-northern areas and longer days in south-south regions. However, beginning on Sunday, December 22, and lasting through Tuesday, December 24, the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) predicts a cold air mass over the northern border regions, including Tabuk, Al-Jouf, and Hail, with minimum temperatures between zero and four below zero.

Chargers are expected to be without top RB Dobbins and could lean on QB Herbert against Falcons

Kennesaw St. 27, Florida International 26Mohamed Salah provides update on his stay at Liverpool as he along with Virgil van Dijk and Tren Alexander-Arnold enter the final six months of their contract at Anfield. New Delhi: Liverpool forward, Mohamed Salah has said that he is still “far away” from an extension of his stay at the club after having three goal involvements, including one goal in the Red’s 5-0 win over West Ham. The win gives Arne Slot’s men an eight-point clearance at the top of the Premier League table. The 32-year-old’s contract with Liverpool on June 30th and from the start of next year can open talks with non-English clubs for a free transfer at the end of the season. Salah’s teammates Virgil van Dijk and Tren Alexander-Arnold are also entering the final six months of their contract at Anfield this week. Despite all the uncertainty regarding his future, Salah has maintained that his current focus is on winning the Premier League title with Liverpool. A lot of the success that Liverpool have had this year is a lot down to Egyptian international. However, neither Liverpool nor Salah have agreed to any terms of extension though there were earlier reports that the merseyside team had made an offer to extend Salah’s stay at the club. There was no confirmation on the duration which Liverpool want Salah to stay back. During his interaction with Sky Sports, Salah noted that he was focused on winning the Premier League trophy and felt the team couldn’t afford to become complacent at this point of the season with many teams making a stake at the title. For now Salah noted he was enjoying his game though he still wants more from his career. For his heroics, he was awarded the man of the match against the Hammers. In the current season, he is the highest goal scorer, with 17 goals and made 13 assists from 18 appearances. In the UEFA Champions League, he has six goal involvements in six games, including two goals. Arne Slot’s take on Mohamed Salah Liverpool manager, Slot remained unperturbed about the three senior players being able to begin talks with overseas teams from January 1st, 2025. Slot has noted that he still has some control over their “destiny”. Slot noted that while he obviously has no control on their personal life, he has some expectation from the trio on-field which they have time and again been abel to deliver. Slot addressed rumours about who they might bring during the January transfer period, saying that he was happy with the squad he has at the moment. Further, he noted that players had repaid the club’s and his faith with their performance so far. Speaking about Salah, Slot noted that the Egyptian was an “extraordinary” player. Slot noted that Salah’s current form is no doubt praiseworthy, but he has been a solid player for the side over the last eight years. He noted that Salah was no doubt very talented, and worked hard even when the oppositio has possession. Further Slot has said that other players in the squad have been equally good to build the game for Salah to finish well. Click for more latest Football news . Also get top headlines and latest news from India and around the world at News9. Roheen is an enthusiast for all things sports and motoring. He regularly follows football and cricket and immerses himself in the tactical intricacies of the game and keeps his eye on the automotive industry's development.LSU 109, UCF 102, 3OT

what are the odds in roulette Sam Altman's OpenAI Plans Major Restructuring to Non-Profit Structure Amid Rising CostsFaruqi & Faruqi Reminds ASML Holding Investors of the Pending Class Action Lawsuit with a Lead Plaintiff Deadline of January 13, 2025 - ASMLFor the first time since 2016, a new team is joining Formula 1 — Cadillac. Nearly two years after General Motors first announced it was launching a bid to join the premier class of international racing for open-wheel, single-seater formula racing cars, the automaker, along with TWG Global, have reached an agreement in principle with F1 to introduce a Cadillac team to the series in 2026. Since that bid first began, GM has been assembling its team, which will include board member Mario Andretti. Additionally, GM is also launching an F1 power unit that will eventually allow the Cadillac F1 team to be "full works," which means it will build its own vehicles and power units for its races. GM is hoping Cadillac will be a full works team by 2030. This will give GM and Cadillac more control over their own vehicles and a chance to develop innovative new high-performance engineering, including software, vehicle dynamics simulation, aerodynamics, and chassis and component development. It will also help showcase the brand to the million-plus viewers who have made Formula One among the fastest-growing sports in the world. While Cadillac has been around since the turn of the last century, GM has made it clear it's looking toward the future rather than the past with its new Caddys. Earlier this year, it unveiled its futuristic concept coupe, the Cadillac Opulent Velocity . It's very possible that technology developed by its F1 team may also find its way into street-legal passenger cars at some point. "As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence," said GM President Mark Reuss in a statement. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM's engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level." Formula One racing isn't just about the vehicles but the people behind them — which is exactly why it's such a tough sport to win. Cadillac isn't taking its spot as F1's eleventh team lightly and is bringing some of the biggest names in auto racing into the fold to ensure it's a Caddy that crosses the finish line first. "We're excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1," said Dan Towriss , CEO of TWG Global's motorsports businesses. "Together, we're assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world." This world-class team will include none other than automotive Hall of Famer Mario Andretti, who has won the Indy 500, Daytona 500, a dozen Grands Prix, and many other races — some of them while driving a 1965 Ford Brawner Hawk . In fact, Andretti was the last American to have been an F1 champion — though GM, who has enlisted the 84-year-old for its board of directors, clearly hopes he can bring future victories to the Cadillac team. "My first love was Formula 1," said Andretti, "and now — 70 years later — the F1 paddock is still my happy place." He continued, "To still be involved at this stage of my life — I have to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming." With operations in Fishers, Indiana; Charlotte, North Carolina; Warren, Michigan; and Silverstone, England, Andretti and the Cadillac team will officially compete in their first F1 circuit in 2026. Hopefully, the first Caddy they produce and race won't end up on the list of the worst F1 cars ever made .

Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management Market Growing Trends, Business Growth, Size, Future Scope, Segmentation, Dynamics and Forecast to 2028USC’s JuJu Watkins has to prove it against Notre Dame’s guards in first great game of women’s college basketball seasonCHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday hailed former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who died in Delhi aged 92, for his intellect and leadership and fondly recalled his partnership with former CM M Karunanidhi. In a post on 'X,' Stalin shared a picture of Singh and Karunanidhi seated together. "Deeply saddened by the passing of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, a statesman whose intellect and leadership steered India's economic transformation. His tenure marked an era of steady growth, social progress, and reforms that improved the lives of millions," he said. Singh's partnership with Karunanidhi was instrumental in advancing Tamil Nadu's development. "Their mutual respect and collaboration brought vital projects and strengthened the state's progress across various sectors. Dr Manmohan Singh valued Tamil Nadu's aspirations, ensuring that the voices of the South resonated in national policies." Stalin further said that even during turbulent times, Singh and Karunanidhi stood together, exemplifying the strength of coalition politics built on trust and respect for regional identities. "His calm, thoughtful leadership reflected a rare quality — a leader who spoke less but achieved more, driven by action rather than rhetoric." "To the people of Tamil Nadu, Dr Manmohan Singh was not only a Prime Minister but a friend of the state. His ability to understand and address our needs helped strengthen Tamil Nadu's role in India's growth story. His modesty, despite his vast knowledge and stature, left a lasting impression on all who had the privilege of working alongside him," the CM added. He said Singh's legacy of wisdom, humility, and service will continue to guide and inspire future generations. PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss condoled Singh's demise and hailed him as one of India's best Prime Ministers and a world-renowned economist.

Preparationshave been made for the treatment and examination of the plane crashvictims brought to Baku, the Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of HealthIlgar Gasimov told journalists, reports. He noted that seven individuals injured in the plane crash weretransported to Baku today. "Later in the day, the arrival of a second plane is alsoexpected, carrying another seven people who will be hospitalized.We are prepared for their examination and treatment. Among thosetransported, there are individuals whose health condition isassessed as moderate. Three people in critical condition remain inAktau, as their evacuation was deemed inadvisable. All thosebrought to Baku will be admitted to Yeni Klinika," said the DeputyMinister. Today, seven Azerbaijani citizens injured in the crash of anEmbraer 190 aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, performingflight J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny, near the city of Aktau, havebeen transported to the country. A special aircraft from the Ministry of Emergency Situations,which brought the injured, landed at Heydar Aliyev InternationalAirport in Baku. The injured citizens were accompanied on board by a specializedmedical team. The tragedy occurred on December 25, when an Embraer 190 planeoperated by AZAL, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed just 3kilometers from Aktau Airport. The Embraer 190 was carrying 67 people, including 62 passengersand five crew members. In the aftermath of the crash, 27 people were hospitalized. Amongthem, 15 are citizens of Azerbaijan, eight are from Russia, andthree are from Kyrgyzstan. The identity of one individual remainsunknown. The crash claimed the lives of both pilots and a flightattendant. Two other crew members survived. December 26 has been declared a day of mourning inAzerbaijan.

FAIRFIELD – The Solano County Board of Supervisors, at a special meeting on Friday, ratified and continued the Dec. 21 proclamation of a local emergency due to the levee breaches in the Suisun Marsh and one in the Sac-Joaquin Delta. The action allows the county to formally ask the state for assistance, after which Gov. Gavin Newsom can also seek national assistance. However, Robyn Rains, manager of the county Office of Emergency Services, said there is no guarantee the Governor's Office will declare an emergency exists. Several officials believe that the severe damage experienced in Santa Cruz recently will help Solano. The county reported that the combination of heavy rains, about 2.27 inches between Dec. 13-16, and high winds, with gusts up to 54 mph, swelled the King Tides, which caused the levee breaches. It was described as unusual for this time of year, but also reflects the effects of climate change on weather patterns. "Climate change is not our friend," Rains told the board. "We are seeing higher water, stronger winds ... We should not have seen a storm this big so early in the season." However, climate change is not a new phenomenon. In fact, some scientists sounded the alarm on increasing global temperatures back in 1988. The topic almost immediately became entangled in political debate. Supervisors Wanda Williams and Erin Hannigan, who thought her last meeting was actually her last meeting, wanted to know what the reclamation districts and other agencies are doing to confront the new weather realities. Steve Chappell, executive director of the Suisun Resource Conservation District, said planning is always in the works. The real challenge, he said, is having the financial resources needed to do the work. He complained that the state uses resources to protect its interests, leaving little to invest in the Suisun Marsh or other areas protected by levees. Chappell could not put a dollar figure on what it would take to build up the levees to climate change standard, but said his district could spend everything that comes into the marsh. More to the immediate future, board Chairman Mitch Mashburn wanted to know what could be done to help the damaged and other vulnerable levees given that another King Tide is scheduled for Jan. 11-13. Officials said it is too early to know exactly what kind of weather will hit the area on those days. "It could be a bright, sunny day," Chappell said. King Tides are the highest high tides of the year, often 1 to 2 feet higher than average high tides, according to the California Coastal Commission. The impacts of the latest incident were felt hardest in Reclamation District 1607, where Van Sickle Island sustained substantial damage, essentially washing away all the repairs it made to levee damage after the new year storm of 2022-23. The island is flooding. “Van Sickle Island took a direct hit from the storm at high tide. Our levee, which was recently repaired from the February 2023 storms, failed at a 150-foot breach, and Van Sickle is now flooded again," Chris Lanzafame, president of Reclamation District 1607, stated in a recent press release from the county. Moreover, the wave action that has resulted is also causing damage to the interior of the island levees, the board was told Friday. There also were reports of some damage to Reclamation District 2136 (Grizzly West), as well as RD 536 (Egbert Tract), RD 2127 (Simmons-Wheeler) and RD 2141 (Joyce Island). There have been no evacuations or immediate threat to human life, although Mashburn did note there is some risk to those working on the levees. Williams was assured by Rains that the levees are routinely inspected by the reclamation district personnel and are on maintenance schedules. However, the board was told that funding is the biggest challenge the impacted reclamation districts face, and in some cases, those districts are still waiting for federal dollars from past levee breaches. "Most of the work is done during the dry season, July through September," said Chappell, adding that this past storm was unusual for the time of year. While the reclamation districts are public agencies, the vast majority of the lands being protected are privately owned. Still, Chappell, in an interview following the meeting, said wildlife benefits as well as water quality – both public concerns – are projected by the levee system as well. It was not clear whether there is flood insurance available to the districts, or whether the private landowners have insurance, either.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies and right-handed pitcher Joe Ross finalized a $4 million, one-year contract on Monday. Ross can earn an additional $1 million in bonuses for days on the active roster: $333,333 each for 60 and 120, and $333,334 for 170. The 31-year-old Ross made 10 starts and 25 total appearances for the Milwaukee Brewers last season. He went 3-6 with a 3.77 ERA. Selected by the San Diego Padres in the first round of the 2011 amateur draft, the 6-foot-4 Ross has pitched in 123 career games across seven seasons with the Washington Nationals and Brewers. In his career, he has combined for a 4.19 ERA with 469 strikeouts to 170 walks. He's 29-34 with a 4.19 career ERA. Ross is the latest in an offseason of minor moves for the NL East champs. The Phillies acquired left-hander Jesús Luzardo from the Miami Marlins and signed free-agent outfielder Max Kepler to a $10 million, one-year deal. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLBCuban and Chinese Regimes Sign Agreements on CybersecurityThese new California laws will go into effect in 2025

NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Chucky Hepburn had 16 points, 10 assists and seven steals, Noah Waterman also had 16 points and Louisville beat No. 14 Indiana 89-61 on Wednesday in the opening game of the Battle 4 Atlantis. Louisville (4-1) beat a ranked team for the first time since topping Virginia Tech 73-71 on Jan. 6, 2021. Kasean Pryor scored 10 of his 14 points in the second half and Reyne Smith added 12 points for Louisville. Malik Reneau scored 21 points and Oumar Ballo added 11 for Indiana (4-1). Reneau reached 20-plus points for the eighth time in his career. The Cardinals led 37-29 at the break after making 7 of 17 from 3-point range and shooting 57% overall. Indiana missed six straight shots on two occasions in the first half, sandwiched around a string of seven missed field goals, as the Cardinals shot 9 of 29 (31%). Louisville exploded for 52 second-half points by shooting 66.7% from the field. Pryor missed only one of his six shots in the second half. Louisville quickly built a commanding lead in the second half after starting on an 11-2 run, highlighted by Pryor's fast-break dunk . The lead reached 30 on freshman Khani Rooths' alley-oop dunk that came during the Cardinals’ 16-0 run for a 78-40 lead. Louisville entered the week ranked sixth in the country in 3-point attempts per game at 34. The Cardinals attempted 27 against Indiana and made 10 of them — with four apiece from Waterman and Smith. Louisville also came into the game averaging 19 forced turnovers per game. The Cardinals scored 30 points off 23 Indiana turnovers. Louisville, which played its first road game of the season, faces West Virginia on Thursday. Indiana plays No. 3 Gonzaga in the consolation bracket. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. Netflix for its live NFL games on Christmas Day, with Nielsen ratings designating them “the most-streamed NFL games in US history.” The Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers notched a 24.1M AMA (average minute audience), while the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens hit 24.3M AMA, totaling nearly 65 million total viewers. Though Netflix of the more than that tuned into the boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul last month, its systems mostly held up during the two NFL games and star-studded performances from Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. Netflix has also confirmed it will of the “ ” halftime performance to the service later this week after it registered 27 million live viewers — the game’s peak viewership. Now, the league’s broadcast on Netflix for at least the next two years. The NBA, which has traditionally aired basketball without competition from the NFL on the holiday, said that despite the competing Netflix broadcasts, the “most-watched Christmas Day in five years, averaging 5.25 million viewers per game in the U.S.” All five games up year-over-year, with viewership overall up 84 percent from 2023. On Wednesday, the NFL offered a , saying the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers had already become the second most popular live title on Netflix and that one-third of Netflix’s viewers at the time were watching that game. /

SMU has plenty to play for when it closes the regular season against California on Saturday afternoon in Dallas. The Mustangs (10-1, 7-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), who checked in at No. 9 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday, would like to send their seniors off the right way. They would also like to complete a perfect regular season before appearing in the ACC title game in their first year in the conference. Most importantly, they want to continue to strengthen their playoff case. "You've got the College Football Playoff, so every game matters. That's what's so cool about it now. The regular season is important," SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said. "We'd like to finish well in everything we do, particularly on Saturday, to finish off the regular season, continue our momentum into the following week. Hopefully, continue to show the committee and others that we're worthy of continuing to play this year." The Mustangs are a worthy playoff team to date. Kevin Jennings has established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the country, throwing for 2,521 yards with 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also has rushed for 315 yards and four TDs. Brashard Smith has been another standout, rushing for 1,089 yards and 13 TDs. Defensively, the Mustangs rank tied for 14th in the country with 20 takeaways. "Obviously they've had a phenomenal season," Cal coach Justin Wilcox said of SMU. "As soon as you turn the tape on, it doesn't take very long to see why their record is what it is. They're very, very good really in every phase of the game - extremely explosive and quick and fast. They've got a dominant D-line. We've got a lot of challenges in front of us and our guys are excited for that." Cal (6-5, 2-5) is coming off an emotional win, defeating rival Stanford 24-21 on Saturday to secure a bowl berth. The Golden Bears will appear in consecutive bowls for the first time since 2018-19 and are now looking to clinch their first winning season since 2019. SMU is not overlooking Cal, as all five of the Golden Bears' losses have come by one score. "You'd be hard-pressed to find a better 6-5 team in America," Lashlee said. "I think you can conservatively say they very, very easily could be 9-2." Cal is led by quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who has thrown for 3,004 yards with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions. Tight end Jack Endries leads the team with 555 yards receiving, while wide receiver Nyziah Hunter has caught a team-leading five touchdowns. Defensively, Cal has the ACC's top scoring defense (20.7 points per game) and is tied with Clemson for the ACC's best turnover margin (plus-13). Defensive back Nohl Williams is the star of the group -- he leads the country with seven interceptions. Even though oddsmakers are heavily favoring SMU, Cal is going into the game with a simple mindset. "Our task at hand is to make the best bowl game right now," Mendoza said. "And the way to do that is to go into Dallas, give it our best and ruin SMU's season." Saturday will mark the first conference meeting between these ACC newcomers, and just the second meeting between the programs all time. SMU won a 13-6 game back in 1957. --Field Level Media

The global governing body believes that it could help ‘develop the virtual running scene’ World Athletics is considering a World Treadmill Championships. The global governing body, in an effort to broaden the sport to new markets, wants to ‘develop the virtual running scene’. If the concept materialises, then World Athletics – who are already close to signing a deal with a technology partner for it – will follow the likes of rowing and cycling in having a global championships using gym equipment. The World Indoor Rowing Championships, which started in 2018, sees athletes – over a variety of disciplines – compete against each other on rowing machines. In cycling, you’ve got an Esports World Championships, where competitors ride bikes indoors on turbo trainers, using a virtual platform. “There are millions of people around the world that just go to the gym and run on the treadmill,” . “We should create products for those people. We should have a Treadmill World Championships. You are an athlete if you go for a 30-minute run on a treadmill or if you win an Olympic gold medal in the 100m. It is all athletics.” World Athletics’ decision to advocate for a global treadmill competition shouldn’t be particularly surprising, given the fitness and running world has experienced a recent boom in popularity. For example, Hyrox – a fitness competition that combines five miles of running and eight functional workout stations – has witnessed a 1000% increase in participation over the past five years. In regards to running’s popularity, next year’s London Marathon saw a world record-breaking 840,318 people apply in the public ballot for an entry at the event. That was up from 578,304 applications for this year’s edition, a 45.3% increase in just twelve months. Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, when asked about a treadmill championships, added: “You might have to watch this space, but ultimately, why not? We have to embrace and we have got to take our sport to where people are. That is crucial. “Whether it is through virtual, whether it is through Esports, whether it is through treadmill, these are all the things that we want to really explore.”VIDEO: Stolen pickup truck sparks police chase in downtown VictoriaBOSTON — Forty years ago, Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie rolled to his right and threw a pass that has become one of college football’s most iconic moments. With Boston College trailing defending champion Miami, Flutie threw the Hail Mary and found receiver Gerard Phalen, who made the grab while falling into the end zone behind a pair of defenders for a game-winning 48-yard TD. Flutie and many of his 1984 teammates were honored on the field during BC’s 41-21 victory over North Carolina before the second quarter on Saturday afternoon, the anniversary of the Eagles’ Miracle in Miami. “There’s no way its been 40 years,” Flutie told The Associated Press on the sideline a few minutes before he walked out with some of his former teammates to be recognized after a video of The Play was shown on the scoreboards. A statue commemorating Doug Flutie's famed "Hail Mary" pass during a game against Miami on Nov. 23, 1994, sits outside Alumni Stadium at Boston College. Famous football plays often attain a legendary status with religious names like the "Immaculate Reception," the "Hail Mary" pass and the Holy Roller fumble. It’s a moment and highlight that’s not only played throughout decades of BC students and fans, but around the college football world. “What is really so humbling is that the kids 40 years later are wearing 22 jerseys, still,” Flutie said of his old number. “That amazes me.” That game was played on national TV the Friday after Thanksgiving. The ironic thing is it was originally scheduled for earlier in the season before CBS paid Rutgers to move its game against Miami, thus setting up the BC-Miami post-holiday matchup. Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie rejoices in his brother Darren's arms after B.C. defeats Miami with a last second touchdown pass on Nov. 23, 1984, in Miami. “It shows you how random some things are, that the game was moved,” Flutie said. “The game got moved to the Friday after Thanksgiving, which was the most watched game of the year. We both end up being nationally ranked and up there. All those things lent to how big the game itself was, and made the pass and the catch that much more relevant and remembered because so many people were watching.” There’s a statue of Flutie winding up to make The Pass outside the north gates at Alumni Stadium. Fans and visitors can often be seen taking photos there. “In casual conversation, it comes up every day,” Flutie said, when asked how many times people bring it up. “It brings a smile to my face every time we talk about it.” A week after the game-ending Flutie pass, the Eagles beat Holy Cross and before he flew off to New York to accept the Heisman. They went on to win the 49th Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day. Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie evades Miami defensive tackle Kevin Fagan during the first quarter of a game on Nov. 23, 1984, in Miami, Fla. “Forty years seem almost like incomprehensible,” said Phalen, also standing on the sideline a few minutes after the game started. “I always say to Doug: ‘Thank God for social media. It’s kept it alive for us.”’ Earlier this week, current BC coach Bill O’Brien, 55, was asked if he remembered where he was 40 years ago. “We were eating Thanksgiving leftovers in my family room,” he said. “My mom was saying a Rosary in the kitchen because she didn’t like Miami and wanted BC to win. My dad, my brother and I were watching the game. “It was unbelievable,” he said. “Everybody remembers where they were for the Hail Mary, Flutie pass.” Mike Tyson, left, slaps Jake Paul during a weigh-in ahead of their heavyweight bout, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Irving, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) In this image taken with a slow shutter speed, Spain's tennis player Rafael Nadal serves during a training session at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall, in Malaga, southern Spain, on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) A fan takes a picture of the moon prior to a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 between Uruguay and Colombia in Montevideo, Uruguay, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Santiago Mazzarovich) Rasmus Højgaard of Denmark reacts after missing a shot on the 18th hole in the final round of World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri) Taylor Fritz of the United States reacts during the final match of the ATP World Tour Finals against Italy's Jannik Sinner at the Inalpi Arena, in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (1) fails to pull in a pass against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford (20) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/ Brynn Anderson) Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, top right, scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) India's Tilak Varma jumps in the air as he celebrates after scoring a century during the third T20 International cricket match between South Africa and India, at Centurion Park in Centurion, South Africa, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski warms up before facing the Seattle Kraken in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Kansas State players run onto the field before an NCAA college football game against Arizona State Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) A fan rapped in an Uruguay flag arrives to the stands for a qualifying soccer match against Colombia for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Montevideo, Uruguay, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico) People practice folding a giant United States flag before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Brazil's Marquinhos attempts to stop the sprinklers that were turned on during a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match against Venezuela at Monumental stadium in Maturin, Venezuela, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) Georgia's Georges Mikautadze celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the UEFA Nations League, group B1 soccer match between Georgia and Ukraine at the AdjaraBet Arena in Batumi, Georgia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Tamuna Kulumbegashvili) Dallas Stars center Mavrik Bourque, right, attempts to score while Minnesota Wild right wing Ryan Hartman (38) and Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) keep the puck out of the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt) Mike Tyson, left, fights Jake Paul during their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Italy goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario misses the third goal during the Nations League soccer match between Italy and France, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki (88) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) President-elect Donald Trump attends UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Fans argue in stands during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between France and Israel at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Thursday Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova hits a return against Danielle Collins, of the United States, during a tennis match at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Malaga, southern Spain. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) St. John's guard RJ Luis Jr. (12) falls after driving to the basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against New Mexico, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith) England's Anthony Gordon celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between England and the Republic of Ireland at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) Katie Taylor, left, lands a right to Amanda Serrano during their undisputed super lightweight title bout, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Turner, right, tackles Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington, left, on a punt return during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) UConn's Paige Bueckers (5) battles North Carolina's Laila Hull, right, for a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Greensboro, N.C., Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown) Get local news delivered to your inbox!

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A day after The Asian Age reported the flaws in Maharashtra District Good Governance Index (DGGI) 2024 report, the Maharashtra government on Saturday swung into action to rectify the report. The state government has also suspended its website, namely https://dggi.maharashtra.gov.in, where the report was published. The Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES), an arm of the planning department of the state government, has called a meeting of the officials to remove errors from the data. A senior official of the state government said that they are verifying the data, which led to the suspension of the website. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday released the DGGI report, which is riddled with inaccurate data. The report is based on 161 benchmarks across 10 development sectors, namely Agriculture and Allied Sectors, Public Health, Public Infrastructure and Utilities, Economic Governance, Commerce and Industry, Social Development, Judiciary and Public Safety, Human Resource Development, Citizen Centric Governance and Environment. As per the data in the report, the total cultivated area under crop insurance in Kolhapur district in Rabi season was 4,30,067.06 hectares, which is 22 times more than the total cultivated area in Kolhapur district. Flaws can be observed in the data as each sector in the report contains a 2020-21 and 2021-22 financial year's data, which can't reflect the actual position of 2023-24. According to the sources, the actual crop insurance was taken for five percent of the total cultivated/sowing area in Kolhapur district. The senior official said that the website has been suspended on the instructions of the state government officials. “We’re under maintenance! Our website is currently undergoing maintenance. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding. Please check back later,” reads the website, if it is accessed. An official from the DES said, “We have called a meeting on holiday to conduct a verification of the data on the instruction of the state government.” Officials said that the DES has sought reports from various departments to conduct a verification of the data, which were earlier provided by respective departments. “It will be matched with existing data and make corrections wherever is needed,” the officials said. The senior official said that there is always a scope of improvement in the existing system. “The report will help to bring more transparency in the governance. We will soon publish a revised report after making a correction in it,” he said. An official from the National Informatics Centre (NIC) said that the report is likely to be updated by next week.When my rolling suitcase didn't come around the airport carousel with everyone else's bags following an international trip, I knew something was up. But I didn't panic, because I'd stashed a highly sophisticated tracking device inside. With a few taps on my iPhone , I could see that my luggage apparently decided to spend an extra day in Paris (not fair!). I've come to rely on Apple AirTags for all the things I want to keep tabs on -- I even took advantage of the current deal to buy another four-pack of AirTags for just $70 . Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money . Until just a few years ago, this would have seemed straight out of a spy movie. The Apple AirTag in my suitcase uses an ingenious method of tracking itself, detecting its location from nearby iPhones and using them to anonymously piggyback the coordinates to a secure server where I could look it up on my iPhone. Instead of wondering if my belongings were strewn across a tarmac or stuck on an abandoned luggage cart, I could see in almost real time that my suitcase was still chilling at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. I was able to calmly tell the airline my bag didn't make the flight, and it made arrangements to have it delivered to me a few days later. Apple AirTags are all about peace of mind By itself, an AirTag isn't much. A 1.26-inch smooth round puck that looks like a glossy white breath mint, it sinks to the bottom of a bag or dangles from a key chain (with a compatible key ring , sold separately). It's meant to disappear. Activating the AirTag was a simple process of pairing with my iPhone. And then, because it obviously doesn't really do anything out of the box, I forgot about it. But the next time I couldn't find my keys? Sorcery. My iPhone didn't just tell me they were somewhere nearby -- it walked me directly to them, thanks to the AirTag's built-in Ultra Wideband chip. Suddenly all that time I'd spent retracing my steps and overturning couch cushions in the past felt like ancient history. Now I have AirTags in or attached to every significant item I'd want to keep track of: My everyday laptop bag, my camera backpack, the suitcase I use most when traveling, my key chain, my car and a smaller sling bag I take on walks. I can pull up the Find My app on any of my Apple devices (or sign in to iCloud on any web browser) and see where my items are and the last time the AirTags registered their locations. Clip an AirTag onto a bag or bury it in the depths. AirTags aren't just for my everyday items. People I know in the movie business tell me that AirTags are tossed into nearly every bag and Pelican crate, not solely to ensure that the valuable equipment inside doesn't walk away but to quickly differentiate equipment amid similar looking containers. Some of my friends also attach AirTags to their pets' collars (though some experts say there are better ways to track pets ). AirTags are also useful for things that you want to keep close by Being able to detect my luggage a continent away provided a sense of relief, to be sure. But at the local level, my AirTags will also trigger an alert when I get too far away from them. For example, if I accidentally forget my camera bag in the car when I stop somewhere for lunch, a Find My notification appears telling me I've left it behind. It works the same for newer AirPods models as well. Sharing is now a big part of AirTag tracking My family has two cars, but it turned out to be inconvenient to pair the AirTag in the car my wife drives to her iPhone (and the one in my car to my iPhone). To guard against unwanted tracking, an AirTag will notify nearby iPhones of its existence, which means that whenever I drove my wife's car without her in it, I got a notification that an AirTag was traveling with me. (If the owner is near the AirTag, the alert does not appear.) As of iOS 17, AirTags are shareable, though. I shared my AirTag with her, and she with me, so regardless which car I'm driving, I can find it more easily in a crowded parking lot. Share an AirTag's location with someone you trust. A new feature coming to AirTags with iOS 18.2, currently in beta , is the ability to temporarily share an AirTag's location with someone I trust. In my luggage example above, if the suitcase was in the airport with me, but the airport's staff hadn't yet been able to locate it (not uncommon during peak travel times), I could share its location with an attendant who could quickly retrieve it from areas inaccessible to the public. The only minor annoyance about AirTags An AirTag includes Bluetooth, the U1 Ultra Wideband chip and an NFC chip to share basic details when it's in Lost Mode. That's all powered by a CR2032 coin cell battery, which in my experience lasts roughly a year before I need to replace it. I get notified when a battery is starting to get low, although there's no gauge to see how much is left until it goes into the red. And it's easy to change batteries. But my small fleet of AirTags means I need to swap multiple ones each year. I buy them in packs of 20 that I slowly work through. The CR2032 battery in an AirTag can easily be replaced. Why AirTags make great gifts Apple AirTags consistently appear in our Best Gift Guides because you can always find another use for one. They're often reduced in price when sold in packs of four. And there's an ever-growing ecosystem of ways to mount them , from sturdy vaults that adhere to a car to discrete fabric holders that will keep your favorite classic bomber jacket from flying away. Whenever I show someone how I use AirTags on a bag or keychain, I kind of wish I had a pocket of AirTags to hand out because someone sees how it works, they're sold. For even more gift ideas, here are CNET's picks for the best AirTag accessories of 2024 and our picks for the best giftable tech .Early Bitcoin Investor’s Next Big Bet Why He’s Choosing Lightchain AI Over ETH and SOL

MAURA Higgins stripped off in tonight's installment of I'm A Celeb, with Irish beauty baring some skin. Baring skin beneath the bubbles of a lavish bubble bath, Maura, 33, looked sensational as she relaxed in the tub while in the Jungle Junkyard camp. 5 Maura Higgins enjoyed a bubble bath in tonight's episode Credit: Rex 5 The Love Island star looked to be in her element Credit: Rex 5 Maura entered the jungle this week alongside Reverand Richard Coles Credit: Rex Stripping off on national television and showing off her toned figure to the world in a bikini, the Irish reality star could be seen taking a dip and having a pamper. With her brunette hair pulled back into a messy bun which sat atop her head, fresh-faced Maura looked overjoyed to be enjoying some rest and relaxation in a steaming hot bath. On the side of the tub were some grey towels and some bottles that had lotions and potions inside. Behind the former Islander was a huge lit candle, which really Read More about I'm A Celeb ex-tra opinion Tulisa's ex breaks silence after I'm a Celeb star's demisexual confession Rumble in the jungle Find out if I'm A Celeb is on ITV on Saturdays The former Love Island star entered the jungle last night with Reverand Richard Coles, with the duo thrown straight into the Jungle Junkyard. BEST CAMPMATE EVER Maura and Rev Coles are already being branded the best campmates ever, with fans of the show flooding social media with declarations and praise for the pair. "Maura Higgins and Reverend Richard are the best thing that could have happened to this camp. "They're absolute cinema, I already want a TV show where they travel around the world together. Superb casting by ITV," penned one person on X. Most read in I’m A Celebrity 2024 'FIGHTER' Tulisa's ex makes surprise admission about her changing face amid heath battles FAMILIAR FACE Maura Higgins breaks her silence on awkwardly sharing a camp with ex’s dad Mum's the word Inside I'm A Celeb star Tulisa's turbulent relationship with mum beaten down I’m A Celeb’s Sam Thompson begs producers to check on 'missing’ campmate "Bringing Maura on is the best thing they’ve done," penned a second. And a third added, "The best episode of @imacelebrity ever. Maura and Rev so fudging funny #ImACeleb." Watch horrified Maura Higgins slam dirty I'm A Celeb camp as she can't stop swearing Meanwhile, underneath Maura's most recent Instagram post, one person said, "DEFINITELY THE WINNER SHE ALREADY MADE SHOW 10000 TIMES BETTER. WHAT A WOMAN XX." "I’ve not even watched an episode yet but feel like she’s going to win," added a second. While a third said, "The queen of the jungle." And a fourth wrote, "Maura is the the best fun a breath of fresh air to wake up this boring camp." I'm A Celeb 2024 - late entries MAURA Higgins is a late entry to I'm A Celeb 2024. Yet who is joining her? 2019 Love Island star Maura, 33, will be a late entry to the jungle line-up. She will head into the I'm A Celeb camp , along with the Reverend Richard Coles , 62. The duo will join the likes of Coleen Rooney , Barry McGuigan and Danny Jones in Ant and Dec’s jungle camp a week into this year’s star-spangled series. Yet initially the duo will have their own private base - and a secret mission - before heading into the main compound Down Under. Maura has already described the jungle as "hell." Meanwhile Richard, who has starred on Strictly, has confessed his biggest "fear." DISGUST OVER CAMP CONDITIONS When Maura arrived at the camp, she was fuming over the living conditions. "It’s not liveable, we have nothing, this camp sucks," she fumed after seeing the camp for the first time. She then added, "I’m going to ask Richard to say a prayer for us tonight because I’m gonna need one." Read more on the Scottish Sun COMIC'S CASTLE Still Game star takes £150,000 hit to offload luxury £4m Scots castle HITTING THE HIGH NOTES Much-loved pub named best music bar in Scotland Then, Maura added, "We've definitely got the sh*t camp, so thanks for that. Jesus Christ. I tell you I saw this on a movie, there's a trick to doing this. "Guys this is not livable, this is not livable. This camp sucks." 5 Maura had a priceless reaction to the camp 5 Maura previously starred in Love Island Credit: RexNo. 16 Cincinnati tests efficient offense vs. Alabama State

“Wanted” posters with the names and faces of health care executives have been popping up on the streets of New York. Hit lists with images of bullets are circulating online with warnings that industry leaders should be afraid. The apparent targeted killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the menacing threats that followed have sent a shudder through corporate America and the health care industry in particular, leading to increased security for executives and some workers. In the week since the brazen shooting, health insurers have removed information about their top executives from company websites, canceled in-person meetings with shareholders and advised all employees to work from home temporarily. An internal New York Police Department bulletin warned this week that the online vitriol that followed the shooting could signal an immediate “elevated threat.” Police fear that the Dec. 4 shooting could “inspire a variety of extremists and grievance-driven malicious actors to violence,” according to the bulletin, which was obtained by The Associated Press. “Wanted” posters pasted to parking meters and construction site fences in Manhattan included photos of health care executives and the words “Deny, defend, depose” — similar to a phrase scrawled on bullets found near Thompson’s body and echoing those used by insurance industry critics. Thompson’s wife, Paulette, told NBC News last week that he told her some people had been threatening him and suggested the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage. Investigators believe the shooting suspect, Luigi Mangione, may have been motivated by hostility toward health insurers. They are studying his writings about a previous back injury, and his disdain for corporate America and the U.S. health care system. Mangione’s lawyer has cautioned against prejudging the case. Mangione, 26, has remained jailed in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested Monday. Manhattan prosecutors are working to bring him to New York to face a murder charge. UnitedHealthcare’s parent company, UnitedHealth Group, said this week it was working with law enforcement to ensure a safe work environment and to reinforce security guidelines and building access policies, a spokesperson said. The company has taken down photos, names and biographies for its top executives from its websites, a spokesperson said. Other organizations, including CVS, the parent company for insurance giant Aetna, have taken similar actions. Government health insurance provider Centene Corp. has announced that its investor day will be held online, rather than in-person as originally planned. Medica, a Minnesota-based nonprofit health care firm, said last week it was temporarily closing its six offices for security reasons and would have its employees work from home. Heightened security measures likely will make health care companies and their leaders more inaccessible to their policyholders, said former Cigna executive Wendell Potter. “And understandably so, with this act of violence. There’s no assurance that this won’t happen again,” said Potter, who’s now an advocate for health care reform. Private security firms and consultants have been in high demand, fielding calls almost immediately after the shooting from companies across a range of industries, including manufacturing and finance. Companies have long faced security risks and grappled with how far to take precautions for high-profile executives. But these recent threats sparked by Thompson’s killing should not be ignored, said Dave Komendat, a former security chief for Boeing who now heads his own risk-management company. “The tone and tenor is different. The social reaction to this tragedy is different. And so I think that people need to take this seriously,” Komendat said. Just over a quarter of the companies in the Fortune 500 reported spending money to protect their CEOs and top executives. Of those, the median payment for personal security doubled over the last three years to just under $100,000. Hours after the shooting, Komendat was on a call with dozens of chief security officers from big corporations, and there have been many similar meetings since, hosted by security groups or law enforcement agencies assessing the threats, he said. “It just takes one person who is motivated by a poster — who may have experienced something in their life through one of these companies that was harmful,” Komendat said. ___ Associated Press reporters Wyatte Grantham-Philips in New York and Barbara Ortutay in San Francisco, contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.Are Wall Street Analysts Predicting O'Reilly Automotive Stock Will Climb or Sink?

Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan to enter 2025 NFL Draft

NexOptic Technology Corp. ( CVE:NXO – Get Free Report )’s stock price dropped 20% during mid-day trading on Saturday . The company traded as low as C$0.02 and last traded at C$0.02. Approximately 480,200 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 387% from the average daily volume of 98,644 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.03. NexOptic Technology Trading Down 20.0 % The firm has a 50-day moving average of C$0.03 and a 200 day moving average of C$0.02. The company has a market cap of C$3.90 million, a P/E ratio of -1.00 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a current ratio of 0.07, a quick ratio of 0.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 56.33. NexOptic Technology Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) NexOptic Technology Corp., a technology company, develops artificial intelligence and imaging products. It engages in developing All Light Intelligent Imaging Solutions (ALIIS), a suite of intelligent imaging solution that processes raw images and video in real time; and NexCompress technological solutions. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for NexOptic Technology Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NexOptic Technology and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .WILMINGTON, Del., Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- InterDigital, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDCC), a mobile, video and AI technology research and development company, today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.45 per share on its common stock, payable on January 22, 2025, to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 8, 2025. About InterDigital ® InterDigital is a global research and development company focused primarily on wireless, video, artificial intelligence ("AI”), and related technologies. We design and develop foundational technologies that enable connected, immersive experiences in a broad range of communications and entertainment products and services. We license our innovations worldwide to companies providing such products and services, including makers of wireless communications devices, consumer electronics, IoT devices, cars and other motor vehicles, and providers of cloud-based services such as video streaming. As a leader in wireless technology, our engineers have designed and developed a wide range of innovations that are used in wireless products and networks, from the earliest digital cellular systems to 5G and today's most advanced Wi-Fi technologies. We are also a leader in video processing and video encoding/decoding technology, with a significant AI research effort that intersects with both wireless and video technologies. Founded in 1972, InterDigital is listed on Nasdaq. InterDigital is a registered trademark of InterDigital, Inc. For more information, visit: www.interdigital.com . InterDigital Contact: [email protected] +1 (302) 300-1857

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The closer a Prince Rupert woman looked at the deer in her yard, the stranger things became for her. “It was the first time I’ve seen anything like that; it was pretty bizarre,” said Joan Dudoward. Dudoward is a senior residing on 11th Avenue East in Prince Rupert. A flash of movement caught her eye as she scrubbed her breakfast plates on a typical Wednesday morning. Peeking out the window above her sink, she gasped— a majestic buck with massive antlers stood gracefully in her yard. “As soon as I noticed the huge buck, I ran and grabbed my camera to photograph it. I’ve been taking photos since I was a teenager...I photograph everything,” she said. She says he cozied up to lie on the grass and stayed for about half an hour. “He was wiggling his ears so I zoomed in and noticed a tag clipped on him,” she said. “I thought, why is this dear clipped? I got very concerned.” Dudoward, driven by her curiosity, noted that one side of the clip was labelled “BC WILDLIFE 06-529,” while the other read “CALL RAP: 877-952-7227.” It was suspicious because the number displayed is very similar but different from the official number of B.C.’s Conservation Officer Service, which is 1-877-952-7277. Also, the legitimate acronym for their hotline, Report All Poachers and Polluters, is “RAPP,” not “RAP,” as indicated on the tag. She called the number on the neon green tag to inquire about the buck, but reached a woman who spoke to her very hurriedly, she said. The woman, who identified herself as Jessica, wanted to send Dudoward a “free medical alert device” that she could wear around her neck. “We’re very excited to tell you about a special promotion for select callers,” Dudoward recalls the woman saying. She was then asked questions such as her age to check eligibility. Jessica then explained that as a senior, the device would help her in emergencies, such as falls, by alerting her immediate contacts. To proceed with delivery, she said she needed some personal information from Dudoward, such as her address. Then, Dudoward was abruptly transferred to another agent who continued the call. But when she tried to ask her about the buck and why the agency had clipped its number on his ear, they wouldn’t respond but instead continued to promote their products “That’s just cruelty to animals. They are targeting seniors for sure, and hurting the deer in the process,” said Dudoward. She wondered how they must have handled the wild animal to dart him. She questioned, “Did they sedate him? What exactly happened there?” She was absolutely shocked. Dudoward couldn’t comprehend why B.C. Wildlife, a legitimate organization, would have put this company’s number on the buck's ear. The incident reminded her of this continued pattern of companies attempting to target elderly and vulnerable individuals. “I also have my mother’s old number, and it gets scam calls all the time,” she said. “How can they do that? Especially to seniors. They are trying to decide if they should pay the rent or get medication,” said Dudoward in frustration. She proceeded to contact the legitimate conservation officer’s number, who, like the local RCMP, didn’t pay much heed to her situation, she said. The next day, Dudoward called the agency’s number on the tag again, and the conversation took a completely different turn. Now, the agent asked if she was 18 and was promoting products aimed at youth. They informed her that she needed to pay $3 through a call paywall to proceed to the next step, during which she would be directed to the free products for which she was eligible. “The message keeps changing; this is so strange,” said Dudoward. The Northern View investigated the call and found that it was an intricately designed AI automated voice call. The system guides the caller through different phases by detecting both their spoken responses and the number keys they press. Contrary to Dudoward’s initial belief, it wasn’t a live human speaking to her, but a pre-recorded one. In fact, similar cases of fraud involving medical alert devices have happened in the U.S. before, prompting the New York State Department of State and the Minnesota Attorney General to issue cautionary alerts for consumers regarding these “robocalls.” The authorities advised seniors to immediately hang up, not press any keys when prompted, and avoid sharing personal information. “Fraud is the number one crime against older Canadians. Though people of all ages can be victims of fraud, older people get targeted more than others,” states the Canadian Government on its website. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) says that there have been 40,623 reports of fraud this year up to Oct. 31, resulting in a loss of $503 million. Vishing is a social engineering technique that uses voice communication technology. It involves fraudulent phone calls to trick the victim into revealing personal data. The CAFC advises caution during phone calls. They urge people not to hesitate to say no if something feels off and not to feel pressured by urgency or time limits. They also encourage taking enough time to research before sharing personal information. The Northern View contacted the B.C. Wildlife Federation for a comment regarding the tag on the buck. “The Conservation Officer Service darted this deer Nov. 5 to remove wires wrapped around its antlers. The tag is legitimate, but unfortunately has the wrong number on it for RAPP. The new versions of the tag have the correct number and COS will stop using these older tags,” said Jesse Zeman, executive director at B.C. Wildlife Federation. Although the exact cause of this mistake is unclear, anyone who suspects fraud should contact CAFC at 1-888-495-8501 or their local police.Are you ready to uncover hidden gems in the crypto market? Following the Federal Reserve’s recent announcement, Bitcoin plunged sharply, going under 95,000. This unexpected drop has disappointed many investors, sparking renewed concerns about cryptocurrency market volatility. However, it highlights exciting opportunities for hot picks under $1 with strong growth potential. These projects offer a mix of innovation, scalability, and accessibility, creating unique opportunities for investors to maximize returns. Today, we’ll explore eight promising coins with solid fundamentals, and DexBoss will lead the list. Leading these promising coins is DexBoss, our top pick and the next crypto to explode. Top 8 Next Crypto to Explode These hot picks under $1 are affordable and widely regarded as the next crypto to explode. These coins offer savvy investors a chance to tenfold their investments. We’ve compiled a list of eight standout projects that combine innovation, accessibility, and impressive growth potential. Read more to find out how to get in before these coins soar. 1. DexBoss (DEBO) DexBoss, powered by the DEBO token, is transforming decentralized finance with innovative features and user-focused accessibility. With a presale goal of $50 million, early investors can buy DEBO tokens at just $0.01, rising to $0.15 at listing. This pricing structure promises substantial returns for early participants. DexBoss simplifies fiat-crypto transactions with more than ten on/off-ramp partners, attracting both beginners and experienced traders. Its deep liquidity pools and near-real-time order execution ensure a seamless trading experience. All these features make DexBoss the next crypto to explode. Click here to know more about DexBoss The DEBO token drives DexBoss’s ecosystem, delivering utility beyond simple transactions. Users can generate passive income through staking and liquidity farming, creating consistent earnings opportunities. A unique buyback and burn mechanism supports deflationary tokenomics, increasing DEBO’s value over time. DexBoss aims to onboard a billion users, offering advanced tools like margin trading and customizable charts alongside an intuitive interface. Combined with its structured presale and expected high trading volumes, these capabilities position DEBO as the next crypto to explode in the market. 2. Aureal One (DLUME) Aureal One is positioning itself as the next crypto to explode, delivering a blockchain ecosystem designed for gaming and the metaverse. With support for up to 10,000 transactions per second (TPS), Aureal One guarantees seamless real-time gaming interactions. This capability makes it a preferred choice for developers and players alike. The presale for DLUME, its native token, starts at $0.00428082, giving early investors substantial growth potential. The DLUME token powers every aspect of Aureal One, from in-game purchases to staking rewards. Its integration into Clash of Tiles, a strategy game tied to real-world asset fluctuations, demonstrates its broad utility. Early presale participants can buy DLUME at a low valuation, with a projected listing price of $0.01. This structure offers potential returns of over 2x at launch. With only 23.36 billion tokens available for presale and growing demand within the ecosystem, DLUME is positioned as the next crypto to explode. Additionally, its governance feature ensures the community actively shapes the platform’s direction, fostering a collaborative and decentralized future. Aureal One’s ambitious roadmap sets it apart, with key milestones like its blockchain development in Q1 2025. 3. yPredict (YPRED) yPredict (YPRED) is an AI-powered platform transforming crypto trading with advanced data-driven insights and predictive analytics. Using machine learning models, yPredict identifies over 100 chart patterns, analyzes sentiment on social media, and filters top technical indicators. YPRED token holders gain access to high-APY staking pools, predictive tools, and exclusive analytics. With a limited supply of 100 million tokens and a presale starting at $0.036, yPredict stands out as the next crypto to explode. The platform rewards developers and traders, fostering a thriving ecosystem driven by participation and innovation. Its DAO-based governance ensures transparency, building trust among traders and data scientists alike. 4. Algorand (ALGO) Algorand is a blockchain platform that tries to deliver security and scalability. ALGO plays a vital role in maintaining its operations and ecosystem. Token holders can stake ALGO to secure the network while earning consistent rewards for their participation. Unlike many networks, Algorand ensures all holders receive rewards rather than focusing incentives on block producers. This approach promotes widespread participation, making the platform highly decentralized and inclusive. Its unique features and commitment to sustainability position it as the next crypto to explode. These advancements may enhance its influence as blockchain innovation shapes the global economy. 5. The Graph (GRT) The Graph (GRT) offers a decentralized indexing protocol for efficient querying of blockchain data. It organizes blockchain information into open APIs called subgraphs, giving developers easy access to critical data. This feature powers decentralized finance (DeFi) applications and supports broader Web3 ecosystem functionalities. GRT, the native token of The Graph, rewards Indexers, Curators, and Delegators who process queries and index data. As decentralized services grow, The Graph’s ability to deliver accessible blockchain data becomes increasingly significant. Analysts and investors predict substantial growth, with some considering GRT the next crypto to explode. 6. Hedera (HBAR) Hedera operates as a public network powered by the groundbreaking Hashgraph consensus algorithm. This advanced technology delivers high transaction speeds, low latency, and excellent energy efficiency. These features make Hedera ideal for industries needing fast and secure solutions. Analysts frequently emphasize Hedera’s strong growth potential due to its advanced technology and increasing adoption. Its energy-efficient system and reliable governance model distinguish it from competitors. As the crypto market evolves, Hedera becomes the next crypto to explode. 7. Cardano (ADA) Cardano is a blockchain platform that has recently entered the Voltaire era, focusing on decentralization and advanced governance. This phase gives ADA holders voting rights on major platform decisions, enabling a community-driven approach. The Chang Hard Fork, launched in early September, enhances this initiative by increasing holders’ decision-making power. Cardano’s ecosystem has expanded significantly, now supporting over 1,300 projects and 9.1 million native tokens. The rising on-chain activity showcases Cardano as a strong candidate for the next crypto to explode. 8. Stellar (XLM) Stellar is a blockchain platform made for fast, low-cost global transactions. The network has recently expanded into Bolivia, integrating blockchain-based payment and loan solutions through Meru. Stellar’s ecosystem also gained smart contract capabilities with the Soroban platform, attracting developers and driving ecosystem growth. Analysts highlight Stellar’s growth potential, viewing it as a contender for the next crypto to explode. Experts predict significant price increases fueled by strategic partnerships and innovative technology. Stellar’s focus on efficient transactions and global adoption solidifies its position in the evolving cryptocurrency market. Conclusion The eight cryptocurrencies highlighted here have a high chance of being the next crypto to explode, offering incredible growth potential. These coins are ready to rise, making now the perfect time for investors to act. Among them, DexBoss stands out as the ultimate choice with its cutting-edge DeFi features and transformative potential. Now is the best time to invest in these hot picks under $1. This way, you get in before these coins soar, positioning yourself for significant gains in the next market surge. However, always conduct thorough research before investing. While these coins are ready to rise, a well-informed strategy is essential for navigating the dynamic and exciting cryptocurrency market.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have looked like a title contender and they haven’t played at full force yet. Entering the season, there were many singing the praises of the Oklahoma City Thunder . They added Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein — two crucial role players — while only losing Josh Giddey (arguably addition by subtraction) and zero draft capital. They’ve delivered since, as they currently sit atop the Western Conference with a 15-5 record. When factoring in injuries to both Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren, the squad’s two centers, their record is impressive. They’ve dealt with other absences, too, like Caruso and Jaylin Williams. The two additions have proved to be positive and the team is certainly headed in the right direction as a title contender. Having an MVP candidate in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a budding All-Star in Jalen Williams helps, too. The Thunder can achieve a historical feat this season The Thunder are on a 60-plus win rate with their current record. They’ve got a good squad, that much is no secret. As mentioned, having a player like Gilgeous-Alexander at the helm is quite beneficial. Still, they’ve got a play style that travels well. Oklahoma City thrives on hard-nosed defense (which has only gotten more physical this year) and getting to the rim offensively to create quality shot attempts. The second of those two is unique and promotes everyone making plays at a high level. Defensively, the Thunder are elite. Not just this season elite, either, but historically elite. Steph Noh revealed a glaring statistic on social media. The Thunder has a historical relative defensive rating at 8.6, which ranks No. 3 all-time (it’s worth noting, the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets are currently No. 10 all-time). After a quarter of the season, the Thunder's defense is looking like one of the most dominant in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/HP3GnLqKma What is a relative defensive rating? In the graphic shared by Noh, it’s described as this: “The difference between a team’s defensive rating and league-average defensive rating in any given season.” The Thunder are an incredibly great defensive squad. The statistic does a great job of showing that as there is an absurd amount of talent in the league, yet Oklahoma City does a great job at slowing their opposition down. The Thunder have yet to maximize their potential in the season Not only does Oklahoma City have a Western Conference-leading record, but they’ve done so while balancing injuries. Not just ticky-tacky injuries, either. Hartentstein missed a portion of the beginning of the season. Before Hartenstein was able to debut in Thunder threads, Chet Holmgren went down with an injury that will leave him out until February or beyond. Those two anchor an elite defense, yet they’ve been unable to share the floor together. Whenever one of Holmgren or Hartenstein are in the Thunder’s lineup, they’ve posted a 12-2 record. They are elite when their centers play. There is optimism the two will play incredibly well off one another, too. Hartenstein can body up defenders while Holmgren plays a “free safety” role, as in a football position, to disrupt the passing lanes with his length and mobility. This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.None

LIVE Strictly Come Dancing live: Latest updates as Pete Wicks makes surprise revelation and celebrities battle it out for a spot in the semi-final By OLIVIA CHRISTIE Published: 18:06 GMT, 30 November 2024 | Updated: 18:28 GMT, 30 November 2024 e-mail View comments Advertisement Strictly Come Dancing celebrities will tonight dance for a place in the semi-finals as the battle for the Glitterball Trophy hots up. This week's theme is musicals which will see the six remaining pairs perform routines inspired by classic productions such as Mary Poppins and West Side Story . Jamie became the latest celebrity to leave the show on Sunday as Tasha and Aljaz recorded the first perfect score of the series with an impeccable American Smooth. Follow live updates of the Strictly live show and join in the conversation in our comments section 18:32 Strictly star Pete Wicks reveals the terrifying death threats he has been receiving for staying in the dance competition as fans questions how he has managed to escape elimination By Poppy Atkinson Gibson Pete Wicks has revealed he has been on the receiving end of nasty death threats during his time on Strictly Come Dancing. The former TOWIE star, 36, opened up on his Staying Relevant podcast on Saturday while discussing having made it all the way to the quarter final stages of the hit BBC dance show. The reality star was talking about his time on the show with his professional dance partner Jowita Przystal , 30. Read more below: Pete Wicks reveals he has been receiving death threats The former TOWIE star, 36, opened up on his Staying Relevant podcast on Saturday while discussing having made it all the way to the quarter final stages of the hit BBC dance show. Mail Online 18:28 West End week songs and dances Can't wait for tonight's action? Here's a preview of the musical-themed songs and dances: Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe - Rumba to I'm Here from The Colour Purple Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola - Charleston to Popular from Wicked Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Škorjanec - Argentine Tango to Ex-Wives from SIX Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell - Quickstep to You're The Top from Anything Goes JB Gill and Lauren Oakley - Viennese Waltz to Let's Go Fly A Kite from Mary Poppins Pete Wicks and and Jowita Przystał - Waltz to Somewhere from West Side Story -not necessarily in order of performance 18:24 Strictly star JB Gill admits wife Chloe Tangney is 'so jealous' of him dancing with pro partners Amy Dowden and Lauren Oakley - but NOT because of the show's infamous curse By Geraint Llewellyn Strictly Come Dancing's JB Gill has revealed wife Chloe Tangney has been left 'so jealous' by his stint on the BBC show. However the JLS star, 37, who was paired with Amy Dowden and later Lauren Oakley , admitted that she's not fearful of the series' infamous curse, but envious of his weight loss . JB, who shares son Ace,10, and six-year-old daughter Chiara with his wife of ten-years, told The Sun : 'I’m already getting it in the neck from Chloe, she’s just so jealous'. Strictly's JB Gill reveals wife Chloe Tangney is 'jealous' Strictly Come Dancing's JB Gill has revealed wife Chloe Tangney has been left 'so jealous' by his stint on the BBC show. Mail Online 18:15 Week 10 leaderboard - which celebrities wowed the judges last Saturday Heading into quarter-final week, let's take a look at which celebrities impressed judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke. And who will be looking to surge up the leaderboard to avoid slipping into the bottom two. Thanks to the Samba-thon there was a tie at the top of the table: 46 (40+6) Tasha and Aljaz 46 (39+7) JB and Lauren 42 (37+5) Montell and Johannes 40 (36+4) Sarah and Vito 34 (32+2) Jamie and Michelle 34 (33+1) Chris and Dianne 32 (29+3) Pete and Jowita 18:06 Welcome to the Strictly quarter-finals! Hello and welcome to MailOnline's live coverage of the Strictly Come Dancing quarter-finals. Tonight's battle on the ballroom will be musicals themed with routines inspired by classic productions such as Mary Poppins and West Side Story. The ever increasing standards reached new highs last week as Tasha and Aljaz recorded fthe first perfect score as an impeccable American Smooth earned them 40 points. But with the Glitterball Trophy looming will the pressure start to toll? Who will cha-cha-charge through to the semi-finals and who will waltz away from the ballroom? Stick with us for the latest updates from tonight's live show plus reaction from viewers at home. Enjoy! Key Updates Welcome to the Strictly quarter-finals! View post TOP STORIES Body language expert reveals who Pete Wicks REALLY prefers in Maura Higgins and Jowita 'love triangle Joe Rogan reacts to wild claim Diddy 'poisoned' Jamie Foxx causing his 2023 hospitalization Lisa Barlow's unfiltered red carpet appearance sparks furious fan reaction over RHOSLC onscreen retouching Pregnant Charlotte Dawson says cruel trolls called social services and falsely accused her of neglecting her children and giving her son, 3, alcohol I'm A Celebrity's Jane Moore gleefully arrives back at the hotel before being warmly greeted by her campmates' loved ones after being the FIRST star to be booted from the jungle Lily Allen admits that self-medicating was always 'going to be on the cards' for her because addiction 'runs deep' in her family as she details her sobriety: 'It didn't feel like an 'if', it was a 'when'' Nicole Scherzinger passionately kisses co-star Tom Francis in steamy moment during their Sunset Boulevard performance after 'working with intimacy coach for sex scenes' My Chemical Romance drummer Bob Bryar found dead at his home at age 44 Who left I'm A Celeb? Loose Women's Jane Moore takes swipe at fellow campmates and says 'hard work does not get rewarded' as she becomes first star to leave the jungle following 'sexism' row Her mum is a TV icon and adored by Brits - but can you guess whose bikini clad celebrity daughter this is? How East 17 went from topping the charts to homeless and in a bitter fallout as they reveal what they're up to now 30 years on from Stay Another Day He's an iconic 80s action star known for his tough but tender persona and unique catchphrase... can you guess who? It's not quite the Kardashians. Or the Furys. But these Rees-Moggs are strangely addictive, writes JANE FRYER 'Emotional' Barry Keoghan reveals it feels 'right' to discuss the large scar across his wrist as he proudly bares it for first time The truth behind Jimmy Fallon's baffling performance at Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade Watch the moment Gregg Wallace touches his crotch and declare he 'never wears underwear' during Strictly rehearsals - following the Masterchef host stepping down amid miscount probe She starred in an iconic 1980s teen comedy (and there's a Tom Cruise connection)... can you guess who she is? Kris Jenner, 69, stuns fans with very youthful appearance in Thanksgiving photos with Khloe Kardashian Just why IS John Torode keeping so quiet? TV insiders reveal truth about his and Gregg Wallace's 'friendship' to KATIE HIND, and tell what was really happening on MasterChef set He's an Oscar-winning actor and director worth $400m (and there's a Friends link!)... can you guess who it is? 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Much-loved presenter sparks fears for his health just days before the pair reunite for huge new game show Neighbours and OnlyFans star who is married to STEPBROTHER and pregnant with his baby reveals husband 'fantasised' about step sibling content Dec Donnelly is left red-faced and in tears after making a VERY unfortunate innuendo on I'm A Celeb Unpacked as the team are left in uncontrollable hysterics Neighbours star pregnant with her STEPBROTHER's baby... after they married in a cringeworthy ceremony Jennifer Garner takes swipe at failed Ben Affleck marriage as she dishes out candid relationship tip Margot Robbie reveals why she insisted on full-frontal nudity in The Wolf of Wall Street Ben Affleck heads to Jennifer Garner's house for Thanksgiving after their cozy reunion at homeless shelter Penny Lancaster says she is prepared to go to the 'authorities' over MasterChef's Gregg Wallace after he was suspended for 'sexualised behaviour' and accused of bullying Lizzo shows off dramatic weight loss on Thanksgiving amid Ozempic rumors How Ariana Grande used Wicked promo tour to go public with her controversial relationship with co-star Ethan Slater - who was married with a newborn baby when they started shooting film Arnold Schwarzenegger's LA home 'swatted' on Thanksgiving Day after prankster makes bomb threat to police Demi Moore gives shocking Hot Ones interview that has gobsmacked fans all saying the same thing Penny Lancaster looks sensational as she enjoys night out with Rod Stewart as the couple are seen for the first time since her husband issued furious rant at 'tubby bully' Gregg Wallace Why Anthony Minichiello and Terry Biviano WON'T get their Christmas wish - for the fourth year running Rosie Huntington-Whiteley goes braless in a sexy white crop top as she shows off her model physique in cosy loungewear Natalie Wood's daughter reveals why people still feel protective of her mother 43 years after her death Jacob Elordi's new look sparks chaos from fans who are all asking him to do the same thing Danny Cipriani cuts concerned figure but estranged wife Victoria walks off SMILING amid couple's bitter divorce battle after ex-England rugby star 'flies back from seeing new actress girlfriend in LA' Zayn Malik pays heartfelt tribute to 'brother' Liam Payne on stage in the late One Direction star's hometown of Wolverhampton: 'I hope he sees this' Bethenny Frankel wears ring on engagement finger as she flaunts swimsuit body amid Tom Villante romance Gigi Hadid is the spitting image of her mom Yolanda in BTS from Holland's Next Top Model Nick Cannon left stunned after shock mental health diagnosis after fathering 12 children: 'I need help' Inside story of the Groucho Club's closure and allegations of a troubling crime that could be the REAL reason police suddenly decided to shut the infamous celebrity-filled Soho haunt Pregnant Charlotte Crosby reveals she has 'never been so let down' as her clothing brand is left 'stockless' after putting her 'trust' in an outside company Lives of the F1 WAGs revealed: They're the new queen bees of the sport world. Now MOLLY CLAYTON tells their secrets - from money to their splashy lives... and the 'love triangle' that electrified their circle Bake Off runner up Dylan Bachelet, 20, wows his bosses at Michelin star restaurant The Five Fields as they say they had 'no idea how good' the humble star actually was on the show Pilates queen Bernadette Fahey marries fiancé Jordan Sukkar in luxurious star-studded wedding in Sydney's Bellevue Hill with guests including Jade Yarbrough and Jasmine and Karl Stefanovic Ben Affleck 'felt blessed' to spend cozy Thanksgiving with ex Jennifer Garner amid Jennifer Lopez divorce Major Channel Seven star tipped to replace Matt Doran on Weekend Sunrise following his shock on-air resignation A tale of two Holtznagel sisters: As Madeline is set for life with Baby Hemmes on the way, Simone finds herself in a situation every young mother dreads... West Side Story Live Blog Strictly Come Dancing Share or comment on this article: Strictly Come Dancing live: Latest updates as Pete Wicks makes surprise revelation and celebrities battle it out for a spot in the semi-final e-mail Add comment

NoneFalcons feeling the pressure at .500 as Cousins' interceptions put spotlight on downturn for offense

NoneBryant 97, Tennessee St. 85ABU DHABI, Vereinigte Arabische Emirate--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 26, 2024-- Der Open-Source AI Summit Abu Dhabi, der vom Technology Innovative Institute (TII), einem globalen Forschungszentrum für angewandte Wissenschaft, veranstaltet wird, hat mit kritischen Gesprächen begonnen, die die globale KI-Agenda prägen werden. Der Summit, der heute und morgen im St. Regis Saadiyat Island stattfindet und an dem über 300 Personen teilnehmen, fällt mit dem wachsenden internationalen Fokus auf die Anziehungs- und Abstoßungskraft zwischen Open- und Closed-Source-KI zusammen. Diese Pressemitteilung enthält multimediale Inhalte. Die vollständige Mitteilung hier ansehen: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241126437075/de/ Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute Inaugurates Open-Source AI Summit with Critical Discussions on the Future of AI (Photo: AETOSWire) „Es gibt zwei entscheidende Entscheidungen, wenn es um KI geht“, sagte S.E. Faisal Al Bannai, Generalsekretär des Advanced Technology Research Council und Berater des Präsidenten der Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate. „Sie können ein Closed-Source-KI-Modell nutzen, das einem Unternehmen gehört. Sie kontrollieren es, einschließlich der Daten, die Sie ihm geben. Innovation beginnt und endet mit ihnen. „Alternativ können Sie ein Open-Source-Modell nutzen, das innerhalb der Gemeinschaft wächst. Wir entwickeln gemeinsam Innovationen, auf die jeder überall zugreifen und aufbauen kann. Wenn KI Teil des Gefüges unserer Gesellschaft sein soll – und das wird sie –, müssen Länder, Unternehmen und Einzelpersonen entscheiden, wer sie kontrolliert. Die Entwicklung der Falcon-KI-Modelle war der Beitrag von TII zur Welt.“ Dr. Najwa Aaraj, Chief Executive Officer von TII, eröffnete den Summit und sagte: „Der Open-Source AI Summit Abu Dhabi ist ein entscheidender Moment für den globalen KI-Diskurs. Wie andere Open-Source-Modelle bringt Falcon Wissenschaftler, Entwickler und Innovatoren zusammen, um technologische Fortschritte zu beschleunigen und so als Katalysator für globale Veränderungen zu wirken. Wir freuen uns darauf, zu sehen, welche Auswirkungen dies weiterhin haben wird, insbesondere im Rahmen unserer weiteren Zusammenarbeit mit der Falcon Foundation.“ Auf der Tagesordnung des Summits standen weiterhin Diskussionen mit renommierten Rednern, darunter Dr. Belgacem Haba, Vice President der Adeia Corporation in den USA, der über die Herausforderungen sprach, die KI in der Halbleiterindustrie mit sich bringt. Prof. Philip Torr, Professor und Chief Scientific Advisor an der Universität Oxford im Vereinigten Königreich, sprach darüber, wem KI gehören sollte, und ging dabei auf potenzielle Nachteile sowie auf die Regulierung ein. Er argumentierte, dass langfristig die Vorteile von Open-Source-KI die Risiken überwiegen. Dr. Hakim Hacid, Chief Researcher des KI-Forschungszentrums von TII, sagte: „Wir glauben, dass Open-Source-KI der richtige Weg ist, aber es ist alles andere als einfach – es gibt Herausforderungen und Fragen zu Kontrolle, Richtlinien, Rechenleistung und Hardware, die wir angehen müssen. Deshalb bringen wir auf diesem Summit so viele internationale Experten zusammen und werden dies auch in den kommenden Jahren in Zusammenarbeit mit der Falcon Foundation tun. Diese Gespräche sind von entscheidender Bedeutung.“ Zu den späteren Rednern gehören Dr. Natalia Vassilieva, Vice President und Field CTO von Cerebras Systems in den USA, Dr. June Paik, Gründerin und CEO von FuriosaAI in den USA, Dr. Armand Joulin, Research Director bei Google DeepMind in Frankreich, und Dr. Michal Valko, Principal Llama Engineer bei Meta Paris in Frankreich. Sie werden über den Grad der Offenheit von KI, nachhaltiges KI-Computing, die Erstellung kompakterer LLMs, die Nutzung von Basismodellen für vertrauenswürdige Algorithmen und vieles mehr sprechen. Dr. Jingwei Zuo von TII wird über Falcon Mamba sprechen, das erste State-Space-Sprachmodell, das auf einer völlig neuen Architektur basiert und Anfang dieses Jahres auf den Markt gebracht wurde. Der Summit wird in einer Podiumsdiskussion unter der Leitung von TII über ihre Vision für Open-Source-KI gipfeln. Die Falcon AI LLM-Serie von TII hat weltweite Anerkennung gefunden. Die Serie begann mit dem Start von Falcon 40B, dem ersten Open-Source-LLM der VAE, im Mai 2023. Seitdem gehören die nachfolgenden Falcon-Modelle durchweg zu den weltweit führenden Open-Source-KI-Modellen, wie die unabhängige Branchenrangliste Hugging Face bestätigt. Ein neues Falcon-Modell wird für Ende 2024 erwartet. *Quelle: AETOSWire Die Ausgangssprache, in der der Originaltext veröffentlicht wird, ist die offizielle und autorisierte Version. Übersetzungen werden zur besseren Verständigung mitgeliefert. Nur die Sprachversion, die im Original veröffentlicht wurde, ist rechtsgültig. Gleichen Sie deshalb Übersetzungen mit der originalen Sprachversion der Veröffentlichung ab. Originalversion auf businesswire.com ansehen: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241126437075/de/ CONTACT: Victoria Meven victoria.meven@edelman.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES FRANCE UNITED KINGDOM UNITED ARAB EMIRATES NORTH AMERICA EUROPE MIDDLE EAST INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SCIENCE SOFTWARE OTHER SCIENCE RESEARCH HARDWARE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGY OTHER TECHNOLOGY SOURCE: Technology Innovation Institute Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/26/2024 04:55 PM/DISC: 11/26/2024 04:56 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241126437075/de

(Bloomberg) -- Shares of Grupo Elektra tumbled 71% on Monday as trading resumed following a months-long halt, wiping off $5.5 billion from the fortune of billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego and pushing him out of the world’s top 500 wealthiest list. Shares of Elektra ended the session at 274.27 pesos per share compared to a 944.95 price where they last traded in July. Bolsa Mexicana de Valores said in a filing early Monday that it had been asked by regulators to let the stock trade even it blew past circuit breakers in the premarket auction — a mechanism which had barred it from resuming for days. Trading resumed even as Elektra said in a statement before market open that it had a court order keeping it blocked, adding that anyone dealing in the stock could be held responsible. “It is our obligation to reiterate that the resumption of trading in these, in addition to causing irreparable damage, could involve shares obtained improperly,” Grupo Salinas spokesman Luciano Pascoe said in a response to questions. 4-Month Halt Salinas himself had triggered the trading halt back in July, alleging he was a victim of potential fraud. His lawyers claimed a creditor had used the company’s shares to fund a $110 million loan, and later discovered most of the shares appeared to have been sold, pushing the stock price down. The rest, they say, was pocketed by the creditor, who has denied any wrongdoing. “It is important to remember that any eventual consequences are the exclusive responsibility of their buyers and sellers,” Pascoe said. After a month of no trading, Elektra got booted from the country’s main stock gauge. Now, it’s facing selling pressure from exchange-traded funds managed by BlackRock Inc and The Vanguard Group, which need to dump shares. Volume on Monday surged to a more than seven year high. Officials had been trying for days to lift the halt, but the low bids immediately triggered a market circuit breaker designed to limit volatility, suspending it again. Lawyers for Salinas had argued to keep the stock from trading, saying it would cause “irreparable damage to the company.” $5.5 Billion Salinas’ nearly 75% stake in the company is now worth about $2.2 billion, down from $7.6 billion on Friday. That gives him a net worth of $5 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Salinas, 69, has long been the third-wealthiest Mexican behind Carlos Slim and German Larrea. Heading into this week, he was ranked the world’s 262nd-richest-person by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. With the plunge, Salinas is no longer on the list of the 500 wealthiest people. Beyond Salinas’ stake, ETFs and other index-tracking funds hold around 4 million in shares out of 47.8 million in free floating shares, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. While the slump is vaporizing Salinas’ wealth on paper — which had been a key fixture of his ability to take loans out against Elektra’s value — it could make a bid to de-list the shares easier. Elektra said last week it would hold a meeting in late December to discuss taking the company private. --With assistance from Carolina Wilson. (Updates pricing throughout) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com ©2024 Bloomberg L.P.

Commanders keep purging roster of Ron Rivera-era draft picksFed officials see interest rate cuts ahead, but only 'gradually,' meeting minutes show

Overcoming some controversy, No. 7-ranked nationally (On3.com) Bradley Central turned its toughest challenge so far this season into another runaway win, knocking off fellow 2024 TSSAA State Tournament participant Lincoln County Saturday afternoon in the Bearette Thanksgiving Challenge, at Jim Smiddy Arena. Breaking open a four-point difference in the opening minute of the second half, "Papa Bear" Jason Reuter's squad went on a 24-2, seven-minute hot streak to break the game open on their way to a 62-35 blowout. "Lincoln's got a good team, I think returning every starter from last year's state tournament team," commented the veteran Bradley mentor. "We weathered the storm and outscored them by 15 in the third quarter and that was the ball game. "We held them to 18 points in the first half and I told the girls at halftime if we do that again in the second half we're going to win big, and we held them to 17. "We'll take it an move on. We've got one day to prepare to get ready to face a back-to-back state champion and then Cleveland on Friday, over there" he related. Bradley opened the two-day, five team event with an 84-33 blow out of private-school powerhouse Ensworth. Having five state tournament qualifiers in their first half dozen games, the Bearettes (4-0) head to Knoxville Tuesday for a battle of two-time defending state DII-AA champion Knox Catholic (5-1). The Lady Irish opened the campaign with four straight wins before falling to McMinn Central 63-39 Friday in the Farragut Thanksgiving Tournament. Continuing to start the season with an extremely tough schedule, Bradley will travel across town Friday to battle archrival and unbeaten Cleveland (6-0). The Lady Raiders are not only coming off a Class 4A Final Four run last season, but winning the Silverdale Thanksgiving Invitational earlier this week, despite missing a pair of key starters. In Saturday's other two game at the Bearette Thanksgiving Classic, 2024 TSSAA state semifinalist Coffee County came to town for a pair of wins over Ensworth (90-54) and Stewarts Creek (58-28). On Friday, Stewarts Creek (4-3) got past Lincoln County 54-44. After the teams evenly split the game's opening eight points, the Bearettes closed out the first frame with the final dozen markers for a 10-point (16-6) edge. Lincoln County (2-2) fought back to take the second quarter by a 12-9 margin to loser the deficit to single digits (25-17) at the intermission. Abby Bryan, who led all scorers with 19 points, netted a 3-ball and a free throw in the first 57 seconds of the third period, before the hosts flexed their muscles for 20 straight points over the final seven minutes of the period, pushing the difference back to 22 points (45-23). Bryan once again led the girls from Fayetteville in a short rally, netting the first eight points for thee visitors, but Arkansas signee Harmonie Ware countered the run with back-to-back fast break buckets off steals and assists by Walter State-bound Malia Wilcox. Wilcox then sparked 13-3 streak with her second long-range bomb of the day as the Bearette "D" held Lincoln County to just a trio of free throws in the final five minutes. Ware paced Bradley with 17 points, hitting 6-fo-10 shots from the field, plus 4-for-5 at the free throw line, while grabbing a half dozen rebounds. Samford-bound Avary Brewer helped out with a trio of treys in her 13 points, plus she copped three steals and dished a pair of assists. Kennesaw State signee Tatianna Stovall posted a double-double for the victors with 10 points and 11 rebounds, plus she handed out four "dimes," swiped a pair of thefts and "swatted" two Lincoln County shot attempts. Netting just a half dozen points, 2024 Miss Tennessee Basketball finalist Kimora Fields was limited to just 14:33 on playing time after picking up two quick fouls early in the contest. "We have to overcome a little adversity with Kimora getting into foul trouble, but we've practice for that and we did a good job of compensating," assessed Coach Reuter. "It was good to see us face the adversity and still come away with a 27-point win." Along with Bryan's 19, Lincoln County got 10 points from Molly Brown to account for more then 82.6% of its scoring. Another match up of top teams turned into a one-sided affair Friday as Bradley completely dominated private-school powerhouse Ensworth. The Bearettes handed the Lady Tigers, which have played in a dozen state title games since the school's inception in 2002, the worst defeat in program history with an 84-33 mauling. Before the 51-point defeat, Ensworth, which has played in 16 TSSAA DII state tournaments, winning seven and finishing runner-up five times, in 22 seasons, previous worst defeat was to archrival Brentwood Academy, by a 62-25 margin (37) in January of 2015. Bradley set the tone right off the bat with a fastbreak bucket by Class of 2026 top state recruit Fields off an opening tip assist Stovall. The Bearettes quickly added two more fast breaks off steals by Brewer and Ware, forcing the visitors to call a timeout. The brief break didn't slow down Bradley as it roared out to an 18-0 edge before the girls from Nashville finally found the bottom of the bucket on a NBA-range 3-pointer by Jillian Sanderson five minutes into the game. The Bearettes responded with the next 10 points for a 28-3 edge at the first horn, the majority of which came off their eight steals in the period. The onslaught continued with a 17-2 Bearette run to open the second frame to push the advantage to 40 points before the teams traded the final 18 points, with the hosts going into the halftime locker room with a 53-15 edge. Ensworth came out of the intermission to net two of the first three baskets, but by the end of the third frame they difference had grown to 75-25 on a banked in buzzer-beating 3-pointer from the top of the key by Fields. With the "running clock" in affect for the final eight minutes, Bradley added just a point to the lead with a 9-8 period. Fields led the attack, connecting on 10-of-15 shots from the field, including both her long-range attempts, plus went 10-for-14 at the foul line on her way to 32 points. The 6-foot junior also pulled down 11 rebounds for a double-double, plus swiped seven steals, handed out a trio of assists and blocked a pair of shots. Ware went 9-for-10 on two-point attempts and 3-of-5 at the stripe for 21 points to go with four caroms, four thefts and a couple of helps. Stovall tallied 14 markers, seven ricochets, five "dimes" and a pair of steals. Brewer overcame some struggles from the field (4-of-11) to post eight points while grabbing five boards. Senior Love Howard came off the bench for seven points, an assist, a steal and a block. Wilcox copped a half dozen thefts, handed out four assists and snatched a trio of caroms. Although Bradley hit just 4-of-19 (21.1%) from long range, the hosts shot 56% (28-for-50) from inside the arc, plus 16-of-23 (69.6%) free throws. Forcing 33 Ensworth turnovers, the Bearettes turned them into 45 points, while holding the Lady Tigers to just 36 shots, of which they made just 12 (33.3%). The visitors also went to the foul line just seven times, sinking three. The hosts won the backboard battle 37-30 and as well as holding a 48-6 edge in scoring in the paint. The Bearettes also handed out 20 assists on 32 made shots. Bradley did most of its damage Saturday in 28-4 opening period run at Lebanon before increasing the difference by seven points over the final three frames. Ware led the Bearette attack with 15 points, sinking 7-of-10 shots from the field, plus she dished off four helps. Wilcox stepped up with a trio of treys on her way to 11 points, seven steals, six assists, five boards and a blocked shot. Stovall collected 10 markers, a half dozen ricochets, six helps and a couple of steals. While Fields hit just 4-of-7 shots on her way only nine points, she had half dozen rebounds, five thefts and a trio of assists. Brewer aded eight markers and a pair of thefts, while Howard drilled a couple of shots from long range for a half dozen points. Bradley hit half of its 34 shots from inside the arc, plus went 6-for-16 (37.5) beyond it.When Miller Townsend's footy teammates shaved their heads to be like him, it brought a much-needed smile to his face. Login or signup to continue reading The boys, from Stockton Sharks Junior Rugby League Club, featured in a touching video posted on social media. The video showed them smiling while shaving their heads to the Kodaline song, Brother. The lyrics to the chorus are: "I've got you brother". Miller, who turned eight last Thursday, was facing "conditional chemotherapy " next month. His dad Matt Townsend, of Fern Bay , said Miller was "a bit upset at having to lose his hair". "He's a bit of a pretty boy. He loves brushing his hair and putting gel in. He loves dressing up and looking good," Mr Townsend said. "His footy teammates decided they'd cut their hair off so he wasn't alone. It was a nice little touch from them." Since birth, Miller's bone marrow hasn't produced red blood cells due to a condition called Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA). He required blood transfusions every three to four weeks since he was eight weeks old. "He was doing OK until April," Mr Townsend said. "Then they noticed a lot of iron build-up in his liver and kidneys due to the medication he was on. "He's had a lot of tests in the last couple of months and been put on new medication." He was booked in to have a bone marrow transplant from December 5. "We were going to have to move to Sydney for six months," Mr Townsend said. "He was going to start chemo before the transplant. That's to delete everything." Conditioning treatment makes room in the bone marrow for new blood stem cells to grow and helps prevent rejection of transplanted cells. It also kills any cancer cells in the body. The bone marrow donor will be Miller's 10-year-old brother, Mack. "The last few months have been really hard, preparing to know your son will go through so much sickness and pain," Mr Townsend said. "He's used to hospital. He's had well over 100 blood transfusions. He knows no different. "But to mentally prepare for it has been really hard for us all. We try to hold it together as much as we can." Mr Townsend said it was hard for Mack, too. "For a 10-year-old to know he has to help his brother stay alive would be so hard on him. "If Mack's bone marrow grafts to Miller, and it works out well, then he won't need blood transfusions." It's also been hard for the family to learn that Miller's transplant had to be delayed until March. "He was about to have an operation last week to put a central line in for meds and chemo," Mr Townsend said. "But the doctors said he had too much iron build-up in his liver. "He has to do another MRI in February to see if his iron has dropped." Mr Townsend said the family had been told "that the life expectancy of a patient with DBA is quite reduced". They hope the transplant will prolong his life. Health and medicine, science, research, nutrition. Health and medicine, science, research, nutrition. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. 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Omantel, the leading telecommunications service provider in the sultanate, has been recognised at the Business Today CXO Awards by Apex Media for its remarkable achievements in driving innovation, digital transformation, and technological advancement. The awards celebrated Omantel’s pivotal role in positioning the sultanate as a regional leader in the telecom industry. At the awards ceremony, Omantel’s Chief Executive Officer, Talal al Mamari and Chief Financial Officer, Ghassan al Hashar were individually honoured as CEO of The Year in Telecom Sector and CFO of The Year in Telecom Sector respectively, for their exceptional leadership, which has been instrumental in shaping Omantel’s transformational journey and its continued success. Under the visionary leadership of Mamari and the strategic financial stewardship of Hashar, Omantel has reached significant milestones that reflect its commitment to excellence and sustainable growth. Mamari’s leadership has guided Omantel through transformative projects, including the integration of fixed and mobile operations, the acquisition of a controlling stake in Kuwait’s Zain Group, and the creation of Zain Omantel International (ZOI), a joint venture serving over 55mn customers across eight markets. Hashar has been instrumental in optimising Omantel’s operations to support innovation and growth. His financial strategies have enabled key investments in cutting-edge technologies and infrastructure, ensuring that Omantel remains competitive and forward-looking in a dynamic market. Omantel’s achievements are further underscored by its partnerships with global technology leaders, including Huawei, AWS, and Google, which have accelerated advancements in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital transformation. These collaborations have enabled the company to deliver innovative solutions that empower businesses and enhance connectivity across Oman and beyond. A cornerstone of Omantel’s innovation strategy is its Innovation Labs, established in 2021 to support local startups and foster entrepreneurship. The Labs provide entrepreneurs with access to infrastructure, investment opportunities, and programmes to accelerate their growth. These efforts have driven the development of quality startups offering solutions that align with Omantel’s strategic goals, while contributing to Oman Vision 2040. Through the integration of its operations, processes, and extensive expertise in the field of communications and digital technology, Omantel has succeeded in establishing its position as a leading telecommunications company within Oman and beyond. The company’s innovative approaches have contributed to providing state-of-the-art solutions to various consumer and business sectors. Omantel aims to deliver an unparalleled, exceptional experience to its customers and strives always to exceed their expectations. To achieve the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, Omantel invests in emerging technologies and provides cutting-edge ICT solutions such as cloud solutions, AI, smart solutions, cybersecurity, and more, harnessing its technological capabilities to enhance innovation and leadership in new and advanced technologies.Ohio Makes $32.5M Available for College STEM Scholarships

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In addition to the beloved character of Nezha, the sequel will introduce new characters and villains that will add depth and complexity to the story. The screenwriters and animators have crafted a narrative that balances action-packed sequences with heartfelt moments, ensuring that audiences will be fully immersed in the world of "Nezha: The Demon Child Makes Waves."

The United States has approved the proposed sale of spare parts for fighter jets and radar systems as well as communications equipment to Taiwan, in deals valued at $385 million, a U.S. agency said Friday (November 29, 2024). While Washington does not have official diplomatic relations with Taipei, it remains the island's most important backer and biggest arms supplier. The proposed sale of the F-16 and radar system parts consists of equipment in existing US military stocks and was worth an estimated $320 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement, with deliveries estimated to start in 2025. "This proposed sale serves U.S. national, economic and security interests by supporting the recipient's continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability," the DSCA said. "The proposed sale will improve the recipient's ability to meet current and future threats by maintaining the operational readiness of the recipient's fleet of F-16 aircraft." A separate sale involving follow-on support and equipment for a tactical communications system was worth $65 million, the DSCA said. The deals were approved by the State Department, with the DSCA providing the required notification to Congress on Friday (November 29, 2024). China insists self-ruled Taiwan is part of its territory and has long opposed US arms sales to the island. The sales were announced as Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te was due to leave on Saturday for a trip to three Pacific island allies, with stopovers in Hawaii and the US territory of Guam. Taiwan's defense ministry on Saturday (November 30, 2024) "expressed gratitude" for the latest arms sales. The items "will help maintain the combat readiness of the Air Force's F-16 aircraft equipment and bolster our air defense," the ministry said in a statement. "Taiwan and the United States will continue to consolidate our security partnership." The Foreign Ministry said it was the 18th time that President Joe Biden' s administration had announced arms sales to the island. Taiwan was determined to strengthen its defences in the face of China's military pressure and "grey zone harassment," it said in a statement, referring to tactics that fall short of an act of war. China has ramped up military pressure on Taiwan in recent years with near-daily deployments of fighter jets and warships around the island. On Saturday (November 30, 2024), Taiwan's Defence Ministry said 18 Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels as well as two balloons were detected in the 24 hours to 6:00 am (2200 GMT Friday). Published - November 30, 2024 11:14 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit USA / Taiwan

The Mets were busy in the weeks leading up to their , but it had been oddly quiet in Queens since Soto’s momentous introductory news conference on Dec. 12. That finally changed this week, with reports that the Mets have to keep left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea in Queens following a terrific, breakout campaign for the 32-year-old southpaw. Beyond their pursuit of Soto, one of the biggest storylines for the Mets entering this winter was how they would choose to rebuild their rotation. In Manaea, Luis Severino and Jose Quintana, New York had its three top starters from 2024 hitting free agency at the same time. In response, the Mets first signed right-hander Frankie Montas to a two-year, $34 million deal. Then, not long after Severino inked a surprising, three-year deal to lead the A’s rotation as the franchise transitions to Sacramento, the Mets signed a second starting pitcher — and not one that many expected. Clay Holmes, the recent bullpen standout for the Yankees, agreed to a three-year, $38 million deal with the Mets and will attempt to transition back to a starting role he has not occupied since his rookie year with Pittsburgh in 2018. Montas and Holmes represented two intriguing steps toward assembling a new rotation, as both came with considerable questions based on their recent performance and roles. But their signings appeared to be a vote of confidence in the club’s pitching development infrastructure, which has begun to prove its mettle with the successes of Severino and Manaea, among others. The starting pitching market . But as a tidal wave of big contracts and blockbuster trades involving front-end arms came and went, Manaea remained unsigned. Meanwhile, having added Montas, Holmes and another depth piece in Griffin Canning, the new Mets rotation had started to take shape. Add an effective holdover in lefty David Peterson and, perhaps most importantly, a hopefully healthy Kodai Senga, and the Mets appeared to have the foundation for a solid starting staff. But for a club with World Series aspirations — and one that just gave $765 million to Soto — it felt a bit light. Manaea changes that. The true upside for this staff still hinges largely on Senga’s durability, as he offers the most impactful potential. But Manaea solidifies the middle of New York’s rotation and helps balance out the questions present in Montas’ and Holmes’ profiles. And with top pitching prospect Brandon Sproat potentially knocking on the door in 2025, the Mets also have a healthy amount of depth in case of injury or underperformance. Manaea’s massive deal to stay in Queens is another pivotal plot point in a major-league career that has spanned both coasts but began in the heartland. Relatively unknown to scouts as a high schooler growing up in a small town in northwest Indiana, Manaea stayed close to home for his collegiate career, heading to Terre Haute to play for a strong Indiana State program. He won a rotation job as a freshman and broke onto the national radar with an even bigger sophomore season in 2012. The buzz in scouting circles built further that summer, when Manaea was spectacular pitching in the prestigious Cape Cod League, skyrocketing his prospect stock to the point that he entered the following spring as a legitimate candidate to be the first overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft. But injuries limited Manaea’s velocity and consistency as a junior. While his supreme talent still enabled a sterling 1.47 ERA against mid-major competition, teams became wary of investing in the breakout southpaw at the very top of the draft. As a result, Manaea fell to Kansas City with the 34th pick, but the Royals demonstrated their belief in his potential by giving him a $3.55 million signing bonus, figure awarded to any player in the 2013 draft. Just two years later, Manaea was traded to the A’s as the primary prize in the return for Ben Zobrist, who helped the Royals win the World Series later that same year. In Oakland, Manaea established himself as a reliable big-league starting pitcher, with his brightest moment coming in 2018, when he against the Red Sox. Following a stellar 2021 campaign in which he amassed 191 strikeouts over 32 starts, Manaea was the fourth and final major piece dealt during Oakland’s dramatic roster teardown entering the 2022 season. Not long after Chris Bassitt was traded to the Mets, Matt Olson to the Braves and Matt Chapman to the Blue Jays, Manaea was sent to the Padres. Joining an ascendent Padres club seemed to offer a big stage on which Manaea could thrive in the final year of his contract before free agency. Instead, the left-hander took a sizable step back in San Diego. His 4.96 ERA in 2022 ranked 59th out of 62 pitchers who tossed at least 150 innings. He failed to crack the Padres’ playoff rotation and was blasted by the Phillies in a disastrous relief appearance Rather than hitting the open market as a premier rotation option, as previously projected, Manaea entered free agency on a far less optimistic note. He remained on the West Coast, signing a two-year, $25 million deal with the Giants in hopes of reestablishing his value. And though he bounced back and forth between the rotation and the bullpen in San Francisco, Manaea pitched well enough to opt out after 2023 and test the free-agent waters again. This time, an East Coast club came calling: the Mets, in need of rotation reinforcements, offered him a two-year-with-an-opt-out pact similar to the one he signed with San Francisco, this time for $28 million. And in Queens, Manaea flourished. On a delightful 2024 Mets club that had no shortage of lovable characters, Manaea was a fundamental part of the team’s success both on and off the field. The key turning point for him individually came in late July, when he watched eventual NL Cy Young winner Chris Sale dominate at Citi Field and in hopes of roughly replicating the challenging arm angle that Sale has long featured. Having long succeeded on the basis of deception and careful command of his arsenal, more so than overpowering opponents, this adjustment took Manaea’s funk to a whole new level. He had been solid over the first four months of the 2024 season, but this mechanical tweak, in conjunction with his leaning heavier into his sinker usage, unlocked a different version of him down the stretch. In Manaea’s next outing and first with his lower arm slot, he struck out 11 Minnesota Twins across seven scoreless innings in his best start of the season. The splits are stark: 20 starts before dropping his arm slot: 106 IP, 3.74 ERA, 4.18 FIP, 22.6% strikeout rate, 10.1% walk rate, .671 OPS allowed 12 starts after: 75 2/3 IP, 3.09 ERA, 3.35 FIP, 28.4% strikeout rate, 6.2% walk rate, .538 OPS allowed This new-and-improved Manaea sustained into October, with the grand finale of his breakout coming in NLDS Game 3, when he blanked the Phillies for seven frames before departing to a raucous Citi Field in the top of the eighth. He also showed well in a win over the Dodgers in NLCS Game 2 before faltering in his second run-in with the eventual champs in Game 6. By that point, though, Manaea had earned the trust and adoration of the Mets faithful. With his fantastic season ensuring he would opt out and become a free agent for the third straight winter, it was no guarantee that he would find his way back to the Mets. But in the end, a reunion was in store. The Mets chapter of Manaea’s career will not be a one-year fling. As for the rest of this winter, maybe the Mets have another big rotation addition in store; Corbin Burnes is still out there, after all, and Steve Cohen’s spending power remains more formidable than that of any other owner. The trade market is still active, with ace-level arms such as Luis Castillo and Dylan Cease reportedly available for the right price. But more likely, the next stage of the Mets’ winter will shift the focus back to their position-player group. That starts first and foremost with free agent Pete Alonso, whose potential landing spots seem to diminish by the day, given the recent flurry of transactions involving first basemen. Pairing one of the best hitters on the planet in Soto with another MVP candidate in Francisco Lindor makes the top of the Mets’ lineup as dangerous as any. Rising slugger Mark Vientos and franchise staple Brandon Nimmo represent stellar bats as well. Beyond those four, though, questions remain regarding the potency of the lineup as currently constituted — especially if Alonso lands elsewhere. As important as retaining Manaea was, weighing whether or not to keep Alonso in Queens looms as a far more consequential decision.