wild casino vegas Maybe 15 minutes before the Wild hosted and defeated the Nashville Predators on Saturday, general manager Bill Guerin took a few minutes to talk to the media about his first noteworthy acquisition of the season—the trade with Columbus, which will bring David Jiricek to the State of Hockey in the first few days of December. ADVERTISEMENT Maybe it’s just the pessimistic nature of a fanbase that hasn’t seen a men’s professional team play for a championship in more than three decades, but the grumbling had begun even before the collected media had reached the press box for Saturday’s game. “Seems like a lot to pay for a minor-leaguer,” was one of the comments overheard at the rink on Saturday. Indeed, to get Jiricek – the sixth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft – and a lower-round pick, Guerin surrendered defenseman Daemon Hunt and four draft picks, including Minnesota’s 2025 first-rounder and a second round pick in 2027. He wasted no time in getting an up-close look at the new guy, calling Jiricek up to the NHL level on Sunday, and sending former Gophers forward Travis Boyd back down to Iowa. Guerin and Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell are old friends from their time working together with the Pittsburgh Penguins. But there was no discount offered from Waddell to his old pal in Minnesota. “It took awhile. Donny,” Guerin said with an exasperated grin. “He played with me. He’s one of my old mentors. He made me work for it. He’s the best.” ADVERTISEMENT Still, Guerin would not have pulled the trigger had he not believed in two things: 1) The Wild can turn all of Jiricek’s size (6-foot-4) and potential into another piece of their bright future on the blue line. 2) The price they paid was not as steep as it might look on the surface. To that second point, consider that Hunt was not really part of the Wild’s NHL-level defensive picture, even at a time like this when Jonas Brodin’s long-term viability is a serious question mark. And after getting two points with an overtime win over the Predators on Saturday, the Wild were tied for the most points in the NHL, meaning that at this pace, that 2025 first-round draft pick is going to come in the 25th spot or later. If the Wild go into a tailspin this season, the pick sent to Columbus is lottery protected, meaning the Blue Jackets will not get to pick in the top 10 at the Wild’s expense. ADVERTISEMENT To the first point, Jiricek is a player Guerin and his assistants have had their eye on for some time, even before he was named the top defenseman in the tournament while playing for Czechia in the 2023 World Juniors. “He’s not 30, he’s not a rental. He’s a 21-year-old defenseman that we can invest in. And we did. That’s how I look at it. It’s an investment,” Guerin said. In 2022, the Wild grabbed Liam Ohgren with the 19th overall pick, more than a dozen selections after Jiricek was picked by Columbus and was posing for pictures in a new red-white-and-blue sweater. ADVERTISEMENT “He was somebody that we really liked (during) his draft year. We knew we weren’t going to get him, but we liked him,” Guerin said. “And, you know, when this became available, I did my due diligence and asked our staff what they thought. They were all on board with it. So it’s good.” Perhaps in hopes of getting the fans on board, Guerin also stressed patience. Jiricek has not yet been a star in the NHL, despite his high draft stock. But the Wild are confident that their system of developing players — especially defensemen — is the change the new guy needs. “He’s a young player. He’s got a lot to learn. He’s going to continue to improve, just like all young players,” Guerin said, name-dropping two youthful every-night members of the Wild roster who still have ample room to grow. “Brock Faber’s got to get better. Matt Boldy’s still going to get better. All these guys are going to continue to improve because they’re so young. So just because they’re in the NHL doesn’t mean they’re not going to develop their game and get better. That’s our job as the coaches, management. That’s our job to help him get better.” If he has to spend some future draft capital to put those pieces in place, that is clearly a chance Guerin is willing to take. ADVERTISEMENT ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .None

Syrian insurgents reach the capital's suburbs. Worried residents flee and stock up on supplies BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents’ stunning march across Syria is gaining speed with news that they have reached the suburbs of the capital of Damascus. The government on Saturday was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The rebels’ moves around Damascus were reported by an opposition war monitor and a rebel commander. They came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including two provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions. The factions are by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. An archbishop's knock formally restores Notre Dame to life as winds howl and heads of state look on PARIS (AP) — France’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral has formally reopened its doors for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed the 861-year-old landmark in 2019. The five-year restoration is widely seen as a boost for French President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the ambitious timeline, and brings a welcome respite from his domestic political woes. World leaders, dignitaries, and worshippers gathered on Saturday evening for the celebrations under the cathedral's soaring arches. The celebration was attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including President-elect Donald Trump, Britain’s Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. For Catholics, Notre Dame’s rector said the cathedral “carries the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and embracing presence.′′ Trump is welcomed by Macron to Paris with presidential pomp and joined by Zelenskyy for their talks PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed Donald Trump to Paris with a full dose of presidential pomp. And they held a hastically-arranged meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a day that's mixing pageantry with attention to pressing global problems. The president-elect's visit to France is part of a global a celebration of the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral five years after a devastating fire. Macron and other European leaders are trying to win Trump’s favor and persuade him to maintain support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion. Trump isn't back in office but he's already pushing his agenda and negotiating with world leaders NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump is making threats, traveling abroad, and negotiating with world leaders. He has more than a month-and-a-half to go before he’s sworn in for a second term. But the president-elect is already moving aggressively to not only fill his Cabinet and outline policy goals, but also to try to achieve his priorities. In recent days, Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, two of the country’s largest trading partners. That led to emergency calls and a visit. And he's warned of “ALL HELL TO PAY” if Hamas doesn't release the hostages still being held captive in Gaza. South Korea's president avoids an impeachment attempt over short-lived martial law SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol has avoided an opposition-led attempt to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law. Most of Yoon's ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. The scrapping of the motion is expected to intensify protests calling for Yoon’s ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea. A survey suggests a majority of South Koreans support the president’s impeachment. Yoon’s martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative People Power Party. But the party also apparently fears losing the presidency to liberals. Days after gunman killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO, police push to ID him and FBI offers reward NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly four days after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, police still do not know the gunman’s name or whereabouts or have a motive for the killing. But they have made some progress in their investigation into Wednesday's killing of the leader of the largest U.S. health insurer, including that the gunman likely left New York City on a bus soon after fleeing the scene. The also found that the gunman left something behind: a backpack that was discovered in Central Park. Police are working with the FBI, which on Friday night announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. UnitedHealthcare CEO's shooting opens a door for many to vent frustrations over insurance The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare's CEO has opened the door for many people to vent their frustrations and anger over the insurance industry. The feelings of exasperation, anger, resentment, and helplessness toward insurers aren’t new. But the shooting and the headlines around it have unleashed a new wave of patients sharing such sentiments and personal stories of interactions with insurance companies. Conversations at dinner tables, office water coolers, social gatherings and on social media have pivoted to the topic. Many say they hope the new amplified voices can bring about change for companies often accused of valuing profits over people. 2 Pearl Harbor survivors, ages 104 and 102, return to Hawaii to honor those killed in 1941 attack PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — The bombing of Pearl Harbor 83 years ago launched the United States into World War II. Two survivors returned to the Hawaii military base on Saturday for a remembrance ceremony on the attack's anniversary. Both are over 100 years old. They joined active-duty troops, veterans and members of the public for an observance hosted by the Navy and the National Park Service. A third survivor was planning to join them but had to cancel due to health issues. The bombing killed more than 2,300 U.S. servicemen. An explosion destroys an apartment block in a Dutch city, killing at least 3 and injuring others THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An explosion and fire has rocked a neighborhood in the Dutch city of The Hague, killing three people and injuring other people and destroying several apartments. The cause of the disaster is unclear. Emergency authorities said four people were rescued from the rubble and taken to the hospital. The mayor said rescuers were no longer looking for survivors but for eventual bodies, but could not specify how many people might still be unaccounted for. Residents of the northeastern neighborhood of Mariahoeve in The Hague heard a huge bang and screams before dawn. Dutch authorities have deployed a specialized urban search and rescue team to find victims. How 'Mufasa' rose with Aaron Pierre and Blue Ivy's voices along with new Lin-Manuel Miranda music SAN DIEGO (AP) — When Aaron Pierre was cast as Mufasa, the weight of following in the late James Earl Jones’ legendary footsteps was enough to rattle any actor. But instead of letting the pressure roar too loudly, he harnessed his nerves to breathe fresh life into his young lion character. Pierre found parallels between himself and his character while filming his leading role in “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which opens in theaters Dec. 20. He took the reigns as the new voice of Mufasa after Jones played the iconic King Mufasa in both the 1994 and 2019 versions of Disney’s “The Lion King.” The prequel offers a fresh exploration into Mufasa’s origin story.Comparably Announces Best Places to Work and Best CEOs of 2024 Based on Millions of Employee Ratings

WASHINGTON, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Texas Attor­ney Gen­er­al Ken Pax­ton said on Thursday his office launched investigations into over a dozen technology platforms over their privacy and safety practices for minors. Those being probed included artificial Intelligence chatbot startup Character.AI and fourteen other platforms like Reddit, Instagram (META.O) , opens new tab and Discord, the Texas attorney general added. Tech platforms have come under increasing scrutiny over their impact on children. Top U.S. social media platforms made an estimated $11 billion in advertising revenue from users younger than 18 in 2022, according to a Harvard study published last year. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy last year warned that young people using social media risked suffering body image issues, disordered eating, poor sleep quality and low self-esteem, especially among adolescent girls. "Technology companies are on notice that my office is vigorously enforcing Texas' strong data privacy laws," Paxton said. Social media companies have said they will work with officials to protect young users, and say they have introduced new tools designed to protect teens online, including parental control features. The firms had no immediate comment on Thursday. Paxton's statement said the probes would focus on the platforms' compliance with two Texas laws - the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment (SCOPE) Act and the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA). The SCOPE Act bans digital service providers from sharing, disclosing, or selling a minor's personal identifying information without permission from the child's parent or legal guardian. The legislation requires firms to provide parents with tools to manage and control the privacy settings on their child's account. The TDPSA imposes notice and consent requirements on companies that collect and use minors' personal data, Paxton's office said. Sign up here. Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington;Editing by Alistair Bell Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab Thomson Reuters Kanishka Singh is a breaking news reporter for Reuters in Washington DC, who primarily covers US politics and national affairs in his current role. His past breaking news coverage has spanned across a range of topics like the Black Lives Matter movement; the US elections; the 2021 Capitol riots and their follow up probes; the Brexit deal; US-China trade tensions; the NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan; the COVID-19 pandemic; and a 2019 Supreme Court verdict on a religious dispute site in his native India.Global stock markets mostly retreated Tuesday as traders eyed looming US inflation data and a key European interest rate call amid global political upheaval. After winning numerous records in the weeks since the November 5 US presidential election, US stocks fell for the second straight day as analysts pointed to profit-taking. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Former U.S. Rep. has filed to run for a seat on the New York City Council, launching a potential political comeback after his once-promising career was destroyed by sexting scandals and later for having illicit online contact with a child. Campaign finance records list a campaign committee that was set up on Friday for Weiner called Weiner 25, in addition to listing him as a candidate for a council seat in lower Manhattan. In an interview Tuesday, Weiner, a Democrat, said he is “still exploring” whether to actually campaign for the office, but said he opened the committee late last week so he could participate in a forum held by the Downtown Independent Democrats later this week. He referred additional questions to recent statements he made on his weekly radio show, “The Middle with Anthony Weiner,” where he said: “I haven’t decided if I want to do this yet” while considering the personal dynamics of a return to politics. Weiner represented a congressional district in New York City for about 12 years before he resigned in 2011 after sending lewd photos to several women. He tried to make a comeback in 2013 to run for mayor but was damaged by new revelations of explicit photos Weiner had sent under the online alias “Carlos Danger.” Weiner pleaded guilty in 2017 to having illicit online contact with a 15-year-old girl and was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison. He was released in 2019 and was ordered to register as a . ___ Izaguirre reported from Albany, N.Y. Anthony Izaguirre, The Associated PressBo Nix turned, looked to his right and threw his hands in the air as a gaping hole came into his periphery. As Audric Estime plunged into the end zone to cap a bruising opening drive last week in Los Angeles, he did so over a right side that had been completely caved in. Right guard Quinn Meinerz watched Chargers defensive tackle Poona Ford shift from his outside shoulder to inside and knew he had the big man right where he wanted him. Same for Mike McGlinchey, who saw Joey Bosa move to his inside and collapse him down right into the path of linebacker Junior Colson. That left little work for pulling left guard Ben Powers, who cleaned up Colson as Estime easily hit pay dirt. That’s $211.5 million in total contract value and $48.5 million in average pay per year paving the way at the point of attack for Denver. This is what the Broncos are built to do. It’s what head coach Sean Payton set out to forge from the day he took the job two years ago. And now comes a critical juncture at which Denver will put its eight-year playoff drought on the line and its inside-out building project to the test against a Cincinnati team that’s got real problems on both lines but terrific perimeter talent. “That’s what this group has prepared for,” Denver right guard Quinn Meinerz told The Post. “It’s what we’ve built on from Day 1 when this staff came in is being ready for the big moments. We talk about the moment of truth all the time and that’s these type of games. That’s these type of two-minute drills. That’s these type of end-of-game, end-of-half scenarios that we’ve been training for for two years now at this point.” From the moment , Payton’s regularly pointed to two ingredients that make life easier on a rookie quarterback: quality defense and a strong run game. The Broncos have had the former and sometimes the latter, but what’s clear is that both are powered by work at the line of scrimmage. And in that department, Denver’s been really good this season. In fact, the trenches more than perhaps any other factor have powered the Broncos’ surprise run to the doorstep of the postseason. They’ll likely determine, too, whether Denver kicks down the door and clinches its playoff spot or falters in the final two weeks of the season and leaves its fate in the hands of others. “It’s interesting when you look at how teams are built,” tight end Adam Trautman told The Post, using an example a couple of days before Chicago lost its 10th straight game Thursday night against Seattle. “If you look at the Bears, right, they’re built outside-in. Football is such a dependent sport. The quarterback depends on the O-line. The quarterback depends on the receivers getting open. Receivers depend on the O-line for targets. Tight ends depend on the O-line. “Everything meshes together, but it all, always, will begin with the guys up front.” For the most part, the statistical profile of Denver’s offense this year is that of a decent unit. They’re 10th in the NFL in scoring — and have scored 28-plus points seven times — but have also benefitted from a whopping 39 defensive points. They’re good in the red zone (No. 8 in red zone TD percentage) and middling on third down (No. 18). They’re tied for No. 22 in net passing yards per attempt (5.8) and tied for No. 17 in rushing yards per attempt. In terms of overall analytics like estimated points added, the Broncos check in at No. 18 offensively. Where the offense really shines, though, is in offensive line metrics. in pass block win rate and No. 3 in run blocking. is less charitable with the run game, ranking the Broncos No. 16 in run blocking, but also considers Denver the best pass-blocking unit in the NFL. It’s a group that’s paid upper-echelon dollars — McGlinchey and Powers were among the first two free-agent signings of Payton’s tenure in Denver, while Meinerz and left tackle Garett Bolles in — and feels like it’s performing to that standard. “One hundred percent,” Meinerz said. “I think the amount of time and effort we’ve put into becoming a cohesive group and the amount of extra reps, extra time, side conversations and all of that so that we can fit combinations or come up with our own little language of how we want to do things. It’s within the framework of our rules and stuff like that, but (offensive line coach Zach Strief) also does a great job of giving us the freedom — giving us multiple ways of being able to do something and then kind of leaving it up to us to figure out what the best way is with our skill sets.” McGlinchey and Powers have played on really good offensive lines for teams that have made playoff runs in San Francisco and Baltimore, respectively. Meinerz, Bolles and center Luke Wattenberg are trying to get to the postseason for the first time. McGlinchey said the group puts that goal on its own 10 shoulders. “Our group has preached it here under Strief that we want to be the reason this team goes somewhere,” he said. “I think we’ve done that to an extent so far this year, and now it’s time to go cash in.” The group has been at the vanguard of preaching confidence in Nix, the rookie quarterback, but it has also instilled confidence and calm in him. Payton is quick to point out that pressure can be controlled by the quarterback and the way he operates in the pocket. Sacks, he says often, are as much a quarterback stat as an offensive line stat. And yet, the Broncos offensive line has consistently given Nix time to think through what he’s seeing. Chicago rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked seven times against Seattle on Thursday night and has now been sacked 67 times in 16 games for a whopping 11.2% sack rate. Washington rookie Jayden Daniels, who is putting together a terrific season and has a chance to get the Commanders into the postseason, has a sack rate of 8.1%. New England’s talented Drake Maye? 8.4%. Nix is rolling along at 4.2%. That’s just 22 sacks, even though he’s No. 8 in the NFL in drop-backs. The 26% pressure rate against Nix is third-lowest in the NFL. Former Denver quarterback Russell Wilson, by comparison, missed the first six games of the season but in 10 starts for Pittsburgh has been sacked 29 times on just 351 drop-backs compared to Nix’s 22 on 571. So even if the Broncos haven’t exactly taken Nix off the high dive all the time — through 16 weeks across the league he was No. 6 the NFL in passing attempts — they’ve at least put him in a comfortable situation more times than not. “If you look around the NFL, teams with good offensive lines play good offense,” Denver offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said. “I think we have one. I feel very confident in that. I think we’re going to run the ball well. Our protection’s been excellent. And when you combine those things, good things are going to happen.” The Broncos now need good things to happen over the final two weeks of the season. For a while last week against the Chargers, it looked as though they’d ride a dominant outing by the offensive line to a Week 15 clinch. Denver rushed it and by halftime had 89 yards on 13 carries. That production, though, dried up in the second half. Los Angeles adjusted, the Denver offense stalled and Payton called just eight run plays in the second half despite leading into the fourth quarter and being within a score until the final 2 minutes, 27 seconds. McGlinchey called the critical fall-off the result of “a little bit of everything,” including adjustments that L.A. made. “That first-down call matters a lot, and you’ve got to stay ahead of the chains,” he said. “If you can stay in manageable situations and on schedule on second down, it gives the play-caller a lot more confidence to continue to call it. Obviously (Payton) comes from a place where they were lights-out for 20 years and nobody could stop them throwing the ball, so that’s what he knows. When it comes down to it, we’ve got to give him the reason to trust us and we’ve got to be better throughout the game.” They should still get their chances to show it over the next couple of weeks, beginning Saturday in against the Bengals. Asking Nix to match Joe Burrow throw-for-throw is bad business. The Broncos don’t have receivers like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, don’t have a tight end as accomplished as Mike Gesicki (47 catches for 511 yards), and don’t have a running back with nearly the offensive production as Chase Brown’s 1,259 scrimmage yards. What they do have is a big, expensive offensive line now in its second year mostly playing together. A group that believes it’s among the league’s best. A group that reveled in the early-game slug-fest against Los Angeles this week and is desperate to be turned loose against a Bengals defense that’s been every shade of bad so far this season. A group capable of driving an otherwise average offense to a place the franchise hasn’t been since 2015: the playoffs. “The more you get into important football games, the more obvious situations matter,” McGlinchey said. “The more every play matters. It matters how you block people. Giving the quarterback an extra second in the pocket, giving a receiver an extra second to get open, giving the running back a little bit more daylight to get that extra three or four yards. “You never know what it’s going to come down to, but it always comes down to blocking.”

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New Dragons and Old Tricks Help ‘House of the Dragon’ Declare War in Season 2RCMP has 'contingency plans' to bolster the Canada-U.S. border — but here's what it says it still needs from the Trudeau governmentItuka shot 5 for 10 (2 for 6 from 3-point range) and 6 of 8 from the free-throw line for the Gamecocks (4-1). Jaron Pierre Jr. added 16 points while shooting 4 of 10 from the field and 7 for 11 from the line while he also had six rebounds and six assists. Michael Houge had 15 points and shot 6 of 11 from the field and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line. RJ Felton led the Pirates (4-1) in scoring, finishing with 20 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. C.J. Walker added 20 points and seven rebounds for East Carolina. Yann Farell also had 12 points. Ituka scored 10 points in the first half and Jacksonville State went into halftime trailing 39-37. Jacksonville State used a 13-2 second-half run to take the lead at 71-66 with 3:52 remaining. Houge scored 12 second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Ministers are forging ahead with plans to use electric vehicles (EVs) for combat on the battlefield despite warnings from military grandees that they could put Armed Forces at risk. The Telegraph has learnt that the Ministry of Defence will be ramping up testing of s next year at the Army’s Bovington Garrison in Dorset, home of the . The testing, described by an insider as “putting these vehicles through their paces”, is at an experimental phase, but is an expansion of plans first mooted under the Conservative government on the development of combat EVs. Since coming to office in July, the Government has handed more than £400,000 in contracts to Magtec, a defence firm that specialises in the electrification of vehicles. In October, John Healey, the Defence Secretary, visited the firm’s design and manufacturing facility in south Yorkshire, saying he was impressed with the company’s “creative flair to improve the battlefield performance and the environmental performance of military vehicles”. The Government has pledged to put its wider at the heart of its defence industrial strategy, which was launched alongside a speech by Sir Keir Starmer this week on a major reset of government policy. It said the strategy would “support net zero, regional growth, and economic security and resilience”. A government source added: “New and emerging technologies can support decarbonisation efforts and improve battlefield capability, reducing the supply chain vulnerability of liquid fuel and also reducing the heat signature and noise of vehicles on the battlefield.” Asked about the possibility of an electric tank, they added: “never say never”. However, military grandees on Saturday night called for the Government to think again before pressing ahead with the “crazy endeavour”, warning that a rush to net zero on the battlefield could put British troops at a disadvantage. , former commander of the British forces in Afghanistan, said: “What this amounts to is virtue signalling by MOD, trying to get into the climate change agenda. I suspect it will be wasting quite a lot of people’s time and resources in trying to show they are playing their part. At the moment the technology is just not there. “It is hard enough to keep the current vehicles supplied with fuel, that is a massive operation on its own - I just can’t see how it would possibly work with EVs. “Fighting battles in an extremely difficult activity - to make it unnecessarily even more difficult seems to be a crazy endeavour. “I would be pretty confident that it is just not at all a starter in terms of maintaining the level of battleground capability that we have now.” of Spithead, former First Sea Lord, said: “The aim must be to get war-winning equipment that we can use in the conditions we find ourselves fighting in; that enable us to fight, win and defeat enemies like Russia. That should be the aim of what we are developing. “If they are saying we should have things that will achieve net zero, I don’t think that is the priority. We need things that we can use to fight and win - because we may well be at war in the next few years. “I have a horrible feeling some people might be thinking net zero is so important, but that is not the important thing in warfare terms.” , commander of the Royal Irish during the invasion of Iraq, said: “I doubt our adversaries will be looking much at this sort of thing. They’ll be looking for immediate effect, not approval ratings or whatever. “I doubt a battery can currently provide the horsepower necessary for warfare. What’s driving this? Is it battlefield necessity or fashion? If it’s fashion then it’s a bad idea. Renewables alone aren’t sufficient to deliver the power we need for potential conflicts.” Ed Arnold, senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, said: “The greening of the military needs to be communicated very well. It can’t just be an abstract net zero target. They have to show it will improve British defence capabilities. You have to make the argument for tactical advantage at the soldier level.” In 2019 , then Chief of the General Staff, said the current fleet of military vehicles would be the last to rely on fossil fuels. At the time the MoD announced a £3.2million project to develop green combat vehicles that would reduce the force’s carbon footprint. Brigadier James Vigne, the army’s head of climate change and sustainability, has previously said: “My personal view is that the internal combustion engine is on its last legs and we could see a switch to new technologies quickly.” In a 2022 paper on future electrification of vehicles, the Army said the effort was a “win-win” which “enables operational advantage, reduces logistic demand, and puts the Army on the path to meeting net zero”. The MoD has previously pledged to electrify its fleet of support vehicles in the UK by 2027. In 2023, specially converted Land Rovers went through rigorous testing at Millbrook, a proving ground in Bedfordshire, with the trial wrapping up earlier this year. Work has been underway on the electrification of and , two of the Army’s key armoured patrol vehicles. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “The rapid advancement of electric vehicle technology has opened up new possibilities for military applications, with comprehensive trials in 2025 set to explore whether EVs can match or exceed the performance of conventional vehicles across battlefield operations. “The Ministry of Defence remains committed to pursuing innovations that could enhance the operational effectiveness of our Armed Forces, while also supporting sustainability where possible.”Storm Darragh leaves woman stranded on ferry for 13 hours with docking impossible in high winds - meaning she might not make it to Christmas party By DAN WOODLAND Published: 14:48 GMT, 7 December 2024 | Updated: 15:42 GMT, 7 December 2024 e-mail 3 View comments A woman has been left stranded on a ferry for 13 hours after strong winds caused by Storm Darragh made docking in Ireland impossible. Eileen Roberts, 52, and her husband were on their way back from London to Belfast last night when their journey was thrown into chaos. The couple were meant to catch a Stena Line from the English capital last night, which was then cancelled, meaning they had to rush all the way to Scotland to board another ferry at 11.30pm instead. But just two hours into their journey, the captain announced they were unable to dock at Belfast Port due to the high winds. Ms Roberts and her husband have been stranded for more than 13 hours, while the ferry has been doing loops off the Belfast coast. To make matters worse, the 52-year-old fears she and her husband may miss a Christmas party they had planned to attend tonight, as they have no idea when they will make land. Ms Roberts told Sky News she has had just one hours sleep after a 'scary' and 'unsettling' night spent onboard. She added they may be forced to spend another evening on the ferry as it is unlikely they will dock 'anytime soon'. A woman has been left stranded on a Stena Line ferry for 13 hours after strong winds caused by Storm Darragh made docking in Ireland impossible (Stock image) The ferry has been doing loops off the Belfast coast since Friday night after the captain announced they were unable to dock at Belfast Port due to the high winds Eileen Roberts and her husband revealed on Facebook that her and her husband are on board the ferry Ms Roberts told Sky News: 'I'm fine we're just waiting to get into Belfast but it doesn't seem like it's going to be anytime soon. The boat is stable but it does look choppy outside. 'During the night, it was pretty black and we couldn't see what was going on and it was more unsettling. 'I've only had one hours sleep, it's just so uncomfortable 'We can see outside now and yes it is rough out there but the ship itself is calm inside.' She continued: 'We've got a family and friends party for tonight but I am not entirely sure if my husband and I will be able to make it. 'We might be spending the evening with the passengers onboard.' Earlier today Eileen posted on Facebook about her gruelling journey. She wrote: 'Currently aboard Stena Superfast VII...coming into Belfast Lough ship turned and captain announced it's too unsafe to come into Belfast. 'Going round in circles for a few hours I suspect...' The Met Office has issued yellow and amber warnings across Britain on Saturday CORNWALL: Huge waves whipped up by gale force winds from Storm Darragh crash against the cliffs at Sennen Cove in Cornwall LEEDS: A plane lands at Leeds Bradford Airport during Storm Darragh Authorities have warned people to undertake only essential travel as Storm Darragh continues to lash Northern Ireland. Trains and some bus services were suspended and nearly 50,000 customers left without power as high winds caused severe damage to the electricity network. Read More BREAKING NEWS Storm Darragh turns deadly: Man in his 40s dies - as destruction from 93mph gales is laid bare A bus was involved in a road crash in Co Antrim in the early hours of Saturday, while Stena Line ferry services from Belfast to Cairnryan in Scotland have been cancelled. The Department for Infrastructure said multi-agency partners have been meeting in response to the Met Office's amber weather warning for wind which remains in place until 9pm. In a statement, the Stormont department urged people to make only essential travel because road conditions are challenging. They said disruption to bus and train services as well as some flights was continuing on Saturday afternoon and the Strangford ferry has been suspended until further notice. 'Translink have taken steps to mitigate against the effects of Storm Darragh. Additional buses are on standby. Additional support and teams are also on standby, including chainsaw crews, to assist with any fallen debris blocking the railway,' a department spokesman said. 'If roads are blocked, it may be necessary to divert Ulsterbus or Goldliner services. NORTHERN IRELAND: An Airport bus has crashed into a property on the Ballyrobin Road near Antrim in Northern Ireland NORTHERN IRELAND: A huge tree blocks the slip road to the M1 to Belfast in Ballycare PORTHCAWL: High winds have ripped off a roof and caused damage to a building in Porthcawl, South Wales 'Safety is Translink's number one priority. All passengers should check the Translink Journey Planner or social media channels in advance of travel and to allow extra time for their journeys. 'Department for Infrastructure staff have been working through the night to respond to approximately 900 incidents which are mainly debris on the roads, fallen trees and branches and flooding.' A Translink spokesperson said a driver on the bus involved in the collision in Co Antrim had been the only person on board at the time and was taken to hospital for treatment. 'We can confirm that the driver has since been discharged from hospital,' they said. 'Our immediate priority is the welfare of our colleague, and we are providing support to them and their family. An internal investigation is under way, and we are working closely with the relevant authorities to establish the circumstances of the incident.' A number of roads, including Castle Street in Belfast city centre, were closed on Saturday morning while clean-up work was carried out. Some events in Northern Ireland, including three Irish League football clashes and a planned vigil in Belfast for the women of Afghanistan have been called off, while the Apprentice Boys of Derry shutting of the gates event in Londonderry is still set to go ahead. Northern Ireland London Share or comment on this article: Storm Darragh leaves woman stranded on ferry for 13 hours with docking impossible in high winds - meaning she might not make it to Christmas party e-mail Add comment

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Petmal Investment Thesis As estimated by the U.S. DOE (Department of Energy), the United States is returning to a period of rising electricity demand, with total energy demand potentially growing ~15-20% in the next decade and doubling by 2050. This will be driven by Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of FLNC 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.