A few months ago, I logged into my online Securus account to send an electronic message to a friend in a Washington State prison. To my shock, I found the word “blocked” on my account and I was not able to send any messages. The block came just a few weeks after I had published an article with Truthout on censorship inside of prisons and had sent the finished article to some of my sources over the e-messaging system. It’s hard to know for sure, but the block is either the result of my journalism, or it is a result of facilitating a book club that connects people inside with those on the outside. Since my Truthout article was about how difficult prisons make it to access information, especially for LGBTQ+ people, the block seems ironic, to say the least. People in prison do not have direct access to the internet or to any standard email services, nor can they generally receive phone calls. Instead, any communication other than paper mail ( which is increasingly rare ) takes place over services managed by for-profit companies like Aventiv, ViaPath and IC Solutions . If one of these services chooses to implement a block on an account, as in my case, an outside user cannot send e-messages, put money on a loved one’s books or pay for phone calls — for anyone who lives in a prison, anywhere in the United States, that uses the service that has implemented the block. The only remedy for this is apparently to appeal to the state Department of Corrections (DOC), but unsurprisingly, there is no obvious method for such an appeal available to an outside family member or friend. Figuring out how to appeal required several calls and emails, and in the end, did not yield any change to my situation. This block is inhibiting my ability to do my work, and more than that, it’s isolating my friends in prison from contact with the outside world. Censorship in prisons has expanded with the monopolization of prison communications in the hands of only a few private companies. For instance, the services I use the most — JPay and Securus — are under the parent company of the behemoth Aventiv. I have not yet found any information on how blocks like this are processed and how frequent they are, but it seems the Washington State Department of Corrections did not actually mean to block me from communicating with people in other states. That is just a side effect of monopolization. When Aventiv implements a block, it is companywide, meaning that I’m unable to message anyone who uses JPay or Securus, or where the phone service is provided by either Aventiv company, even though Washington State does not even use JPay. Half of all states that have e-messages in their prisons (22) use JPay as their e-message provider. Meanwhile, 42 percent of phone calls are managed by Securus, meaning that my block is a significant barrier to communicating with a large segment of the total prison population. According to the Securus helpline, blocks like this are not uncommon. My ban was upheld on appeal (an email) because I was sharing messages that included more than one person in the prison. Not only is barring people in prison from communicating with one another enforced in more draconian ways than in the past, but prisons are increasingly banning people on the outside from being in contact with more than one person in prison. Given the reality that almost 2 million people are imprisoned in the U.S. each year and the disproportionate impact of the criminal legal system on particular communities, it is arbitrary for prisons and communication companies to act as though no one will have two family members or two close friends in prison at the same time. It is also unfair and punitive to further limit the outside support available to those inside. My rule-breaking activities were related to the Abolitionist Book Club , a reading group that brings together people inside and outside prisons. I co-founded the group in 2023 with a close friend of mine, Vincent “Tank” Sherrill, who lives in a Washington State prison, and another outside organizer, Matthew Charlebois. Our original goal was to create a space for political education about abolition for our comrades outside and inside prison through reading Mariame Kaba and Andrea Ritchie’s book No More Police together. We have since finished the book and become a tight-knit community who meets together virtually once a month to grow our abolitionist imaginations through our relationships with each other. Organizing a group like this is not easy. Our meetings are held over Zoom, with each person in prison joining the video call via a buddy system with the outside members. We were pleasantly surprised that everyone in the prison received the copies of the book despite its title, but as soon as we held our first online meeting, book club members at the Washington Corrections Center for Women received a warning from the facility’s investigator telling them that they were not allowed to participate in this “illegal book club.” One member came to a second meeting — mainly to talk about how to proceed — and was punished with a major infraction (reduced to a minor infraction upon her appeal). This member submitted a formal proposal to the prison to make the group official, since our work fits the prison’s definition of “pro-social behavior” that it supposedly encourages, but she never received a response to the proposal and was not able to join any more of our discussions. After this intimidation, members from the women’s prison were too afraid to join our meetings, but punishment of some members of the book club did not stop us. The Abolitionist Book Club continues, building solidarity and shared analysis between comrades inside and outside prison. This experience has affirmed the value of doing collective work, rather than individual or even centralized work. I was the main outside instigator of the Abolitionist Book Club, and most of the first contacts were mine. I’m proud, though, that as we have grown, everyone in the group has taken ownership and I’m no longer any more central than anyone else. This meant that when I was cut off, other people in the group were ready to step in. Being formally cut off from my friends and comrades inside has been yet another lesson about creating dense webs of relationships rather than jealously guarding our relationships or contacts; it’s much harder for the DOC to destroy that whole web than to sever one particular line of communication. I would love to say that if we organize in this way, the DOC can’t touch us, but unfortunately that’s not true. Since the block, it has been much harder to be in touch with some of my close friends in prison, and I have dearly missed talking regularly with these folks. Nonetheless, I’m thankful for not being totally cut off since I am still able to communicate with the help of others in the book club. The block has a direct impact on my journalism as well as my personal relationships. It would be bad enough if I had only been blocked from communication inside Washington State, where I’m working with people on various projects, but I also can’t send messages to people I know in Michigan or in Missouri. Even worse, I can’t reach out to speak to people in any state or facility that uses an Aventiv service to report on their experiences, unless I reach out to them via another friend of theirs. That, however, would be third party contact , which is the same rule I’m accused of violating. I am stuck either continuing to violate that rule or ceasing to do journalism about the experiences of people in prison. Like so many people before me, most especially those in prison themselves, I have been censored by the prison for writing about censorship in the prison. I am outraged that this has happened; that the prison has extended its reach to censor those of us outside prison in this way is dangerous and disturbing. But the real travesty here is the regular , ongoing censorship that people in prison are subjected to daily, like the women in our book club who were cut off from one of the few sources of outside support and communication available to them. Worse yet, people in prison don’t necessarily have a way of knowing why I’m not responding to them — and Aventiv takes their money to send messages that are not delivered. I keep receiving emails from JPay telling me that someone has sent me a message, but I’m unable to read these messages. One person has been released from prison altogether after sending me a message I couldn’t read, and we’ve completely lost touch. The monopolization of communication technologies combined with the system’s bans on “double contact” significantly expands the existing regime that destroys relationships between people in prison and their communities on the outside. Ultimately, the result of blocking communication is to keep people in prison away from those who want to offer support, and away from people like me who might be able to tell their story to the broader world.Nonejili wild racer 。

Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen returns to a tournament after a dispute over jeans is resolved18-year-old dies when ATV goes through ice, Minnesota cops say. ‘Bright young man’ARLINGTON, Va. , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates (SOCMA) announces three new members for 2025: Pilot Chemical Company , a privately held, family-owned global specialty chemical company with a 72-year legacy of innovation and customer focus, known for its ability to deliver tailored surfactant technologies and EPA-registered biocide solutions to consumer and industrial markets. Solugen , a manufacturer of innovative chemical solutions that tackle tough industrial challenges with speed, precision, and a focus on creating lasting impact for customers. Longview Strategies , an affiliate member specializing in sustainability/ESG consulting and communication services. "As the landscape evolves across manufacturing, sustainability, and global trade, companies are recognizing SOCMA's essential value," said Jennifer Abril , President & CEO of SOCMA. "These companies bring expertise in bio-manufacturing innovation, chemical manufacturing, and ESG leadership at a time when the industry needs strategic collaboration to thrive." Member Perspectives: "Pilot Chemical Company is grateful for the access SOCMA membership gives us to so many potential innovation and manufacturing partners," said Glynn Goertzen , VP of Corporate & Business Development at Pilot Chemical Company. "We continue to appreciate SOCMA's industry-leading advocacy efforts. SOCMA's strong voice on behalf of its members these past five years has been much appreciated." "We are excited to join SOCMA as we expand into fine and specialty chemicals and continue to grow our onshore manufacturing capabilities to deliver innovative solutions to our customers," said Gaurab Chakrabarti , MD, PhD, CEO and Co-Founder at Solugen. "SOCMA's resources, advocacy, and network will be invaluable as we strengthen our efforts to support critical industries like energy and defense. We look forward to collaborating with industry leaders to drive meaningful advancements in the specialty chemicals sector." "We know that SOCMA and its members share an intense curiosity about how their businesses can adapt to meet new trends," said Evan Zall , President of Longview Strategies. "That's a shared trait at Longview Strategies and among our clients as we work together to successfully navigate the ESG landscape. Whether keeping pace with global regulations or seeking to stand out as leaders in sustainability, there are outstanding opportunities for manufacturers to take charge of their future." SOCMA concluded 2024 with strong growth, welcoming 23 new members throughout the year. About SOCMA: SOCMA is the only U.S.-based trade association dedicated to the specialty chemicals industry. Visit https://www.socma.org . Contact: Nate Bell Sr. Manager, Member Communications & Programs [email protected] SOURCE Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates

Nortec Minerals (CVE:NVT) Hits New 52-Week Low – Here’s What HappenedGrog again gets drink-driver with a bad history into trouble with policeThe piece of technology sits unassumingly on top of the helmet of veteran quarterback Sam Darnold during most practices at TCO Performance Center. ADVERTISEMENT It allows the Vikings to capture footage in real time, providing a peek into the past for the man at the forefront of the future. “It’s super cool,” Darnold said. “It’s a really amazing tool to be able to use.” Though the Vikings are very much keeping the focus on this season with big goals in mind, they also have started laying the foundation for next season with the help of a GoPro camera. “This is the first time I’ve done anything like that,” Darnold said. “It doesn’t really feel like anything when it’s on my helmet.” ADVERTISEMENT That’s arguably the biggest part of its appeal. The fact that the GoPro camera weighs much less than a pound means it doesn’t interfere with anything the Vikings are trying to get done on a daily basis. It exists more or less as an accessory for Darnold at this point, taking video from his perspective whether he’s calling a play in the huddle, making a check at the line of scrimmage or scanning the field after the ball is snapped. That has been extremely useful for rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy as he continues to work his way through his recovery from a knee injury that ended his rookie campaign before it even got started. The ability to see everything through the eyes of Darnold has helped McCarthy train his brain even if he isn’t able to experience it firsthand. ADVERTISEMENT “The mental reps are of utmost importance,” McCarthy said a couple of months ago. “Just watching film from that perspective is really good.” This is the best option for the Vikings right now. Originally, after selecting McCarthy with the No. 10 pick in the 2024 draft, the Vikings hoped he would be able to get live reps himself this season. ADVERTISEMENT Instead, after McCarthy had surgery to repair a torn meniscus, the Vikings are doing everything in their power to make sure he’s ready for next season. That’s something head coach Kevin O’Connell has stressed whenever McCarthy’s name has been brought up. “We wanted to make sure we’re maximizing every moment for him,” O’Connell said. “We thought, ‘How do we make sure we’re doing the things that we need to do to ensure that he’s in the best possible position when he is healthy?'” The use of a GoPro camera is simply another resource the Vikings have at their disposal. ADVERTISEMENT “We’ve done a lot of different stuff that maybe we don’t do with a 10-year veteran quarterback,” O’Connell said. “Just to make sure that we’re farming an ideal learning environment for him to hit the ground running when he’s healthy.” As soon as the GoPro camera captures the footage from a particular practice, McCarthy can go back and watch it, getting a feel for what life is like in the huddle, at the line of scrimmage and after the ball is snapped. Sometimes the Vikings will even put it on in their war room, where there’s a gigantic screen that takes up an entire wall. That grandiose display is something offensive coordinator Wes Phillips appreciates because it makes it feel like McCarthy is inside the helmet. ADVERTISEMENT “It’s pretty cool to watch in there,” Phillips said. “It gives him a chance to see it a little bit more from that perspective.” Some of the other creative ways the Vikings have kept McCarthy on track include allowing him to be a part of the dialogue that goes on between O’Connell and Darnold during games. He was cleared to travel with the team for the first time last month, for example, so he was in attendance at SoFi Stadium when the Vikings suffered a 30-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Just getting a glimpse of what it feels like in the heat of battle will go a long way for McCarthy as he continues to develop. “I’m really excited about having him with us,” O’Connell said. “Any and all areas we can find to maximize those chances, we’re going to use it.” All the while, McCarthy has also been attending meetings, asking questions to O’Connell, Phillips, quarterback coach Josh McCown, assistant quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski and anybody else he can find in their office at TCO Performance Center. “He’s great about saving some questions he has,” Phillips said. “He’ll do that off to the side, understanding that guys are getting ready for the game.” Though the Vikings would’ve loved for McCarthy to be able to learn everything firsthand as a rookie, they are making the most of their current situation, ensuring their young quarterback of the future is completely prepared heading into next season. “Obviously he wants more than anybody to be there physically,” Phillips said. “He’s doing everything he can to be ready when his time comes.” ______________________________________________________ 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 .

China unveils prototype of world's fastest train, capable of reaching 450 km/hBEAVER CREEK, Colo. (AP) — As the situation stands, snowboarder/ski racer Ester Ledecka has two Olympic races on the same day in 2026, at nearly the same time and in Italian mountain towns hours apart. The Czech Republic standout simply can’t make both starting gates. So she may have a big decision to make on Feb. 8, 2026 — race in the women's downhill at the Milan-Cortina Games or go for a three-peat in snowboarding’s parallel giant slalom. Unless, of course, her lobbying efforts pay off. Ledecka said she's going through her country's Olympic committee to reach out and see if one of the events can be switched. The Winter Games schedule was just recently released. “It’s like someone has broken your dream,” the 29-year-old Ledecka said after a training run in Beaver Creek as she prepares for a World Cup downhill and super-G this weekend. “So please change it. Please, please, please. It’s my biggest dream to do both. I can create a great show for people.” Ledecka is the rare athlete to do both winter sports at such a gold medal-winning level. Nearly seven years ago, Ledecka was a surprise winner in the super-G at the Pyeongchang Games — from bib No. 26, no less. A week later, she captured gold in the parallel GS (PGS). At the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, she defended her PGS crown along with finishing fifth in the super-G, 27th in the downhill and fourth in the Alpine combined. To amend an Olympic schedule would not be unprecedented. Before the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, the International Olympic Committee and the governing body for track and field accommodated a request from Allyson Felix to go for a 200-400 double. She earned a silver in the 400. In 1996, the schedule was shifted so American sprinter Michael Johnson could run in the 200 and 400 at the Atlanta Games. He won gold in both. “I would appreciate it,” said Ledecka, who started skiing at 2 years old and snowboarding three years later. “They’re fighting (for it) right now.” The current schedule has snowboarding parallel giant slalom holding a qualifying round from 9 a.m. to 11 on Feb. 8 in Livigno, Italy. The final is set for 1 p.m. Meanwhile, the women's downhill is set to take place in Cortina at 11:30 a.m. It's about a 4-hour drive between the two events. For now, she's leaning toward snowboarding. Only because a few days later she could ski race in a super-G. “I was quite sad about that fact,” Ledecka said of the conflict between events. "We'll see. It’s still quite far away.” Ledecka has 88 World Cup starts in skiing, with 10 podium finishes and four wins. She has 63 World Cup starts in snowboarding, featuring 39 podium finishes and 25 wins. “I don’t know how she does it,” said American ski racer Jacqueline Wiles, who dabbled in snowboarding as a kid. “It’s absolutely insane.” Ledecka enjoys both sports for different reasons. In skiing, it's for the speed. For snowboarding, it's the execution of a turn. It's not always easy splitting her time between the two sports, fitting in training around events. She won a PGS race on Nov. 30 in China before arriving in Beaver Creek. After this, it's off to St. Moritz, Switzerland, for more ski racing. She's currently traveling with eight snowboards and 20 pairs of skis. “You cannot believe how stacked the ski room is right now,” Ledecka cracked. “I really admire my tech guy and how he's handling it all. I’m very happy to have my team help me do this, my dream, of going from the snowboard World Cup to the ski World Cup. I'm having a lot of fun.” Notes: Lara Gut-Behrami of Switzerland had the fastest time in the second training run Thursday. Italians racers Sofia Goggia and Federica Brignone were both within a second. ... Lindsey Vonn is not expected to forerun before the third and final training session Friday. The 40-year-old Vonn still plans on testing out the course before this weekend's races on the Birds of Prey course. ___ AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing Pat Graham, The Associated PressNo secrets as Bucs visit Dave Canales, Panthers for NFC South showdown

ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands (AP) — Javohn Garcia scored 16 points as McNeese beat Illinois State 76-68 on Friday. Garcia also contributed seven rebounds for the Cowboys (3-2). Brandon Murray shot 4 of 10 from the field and 5 for 7 from the line to add 13 points. Sincere Parker shot 4 for 8 (2 for 5 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line to finish with 13 points.

NoneThe integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into the life sciences field has created exciting new opportunities for advancements in diagnostics, therapeutics, and personalized medicine. However, obtaining patent protection for AI/ML-based inventions in life sciences can be difficult, particularly due to the challenges posed by US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) rejections under 35 U.S.C. § 101 , which governs patentable subject matter. Patent applications directed to inventions at the intersection of AI/ML and life sciences are frequently rejected at the patent office under subject matter ineligibility grounds – more frequently than other life sciences inventions. Patent applicants in this area must navigate the heightened scrutiny applied by patent examiners, who may issue rejections on dual grounds: (1) that claims are directed to an abstract idea, and (2) that claims are directed to a natural phenomenon. Life sciences enterprises are often familiar with Mayo Collaborative Services v. Prometheus Laboratories (2012), in which the Supreme Court ruled that natural laws, such as drug dosage correlations, are not patentable unless supplemented by additional, inventive steps. Meanwhile, in Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank International (2014), the Court held that abstract ideas such as those represented in computer-related inventions must include a significant inventive concept to be patent eligible under § 101. When life sciences companies utilizing AI/ML technologies pursue patent protection, it is common for their patent applications to face both types of subject matter eligibility rejections under § 101, particularly when the claims are viewed as directed to either abstract ideas or natural laws – or both. Inventions that incorporate AI/ML models often center around the use of data processing techniques, such as predictive modeling or the analysis of biological data. While these are powerful tools for advancing research and clinical applications, claims directed to these techniques are at risk of being categorized as directed to an abstract idea without significantly more technical elements necessary to be patent eligible. This risk is higher if a patent application’s claims are framed too broadly or focus only on general computational steps without clearly establishing a concrete, technical application. For example, claims that merely describe steps like "receiving data," "analyzing data," and "generating a prediction"—without grounding the process in a specific technical application such as within a specific biological or clinical workflow—risk being rejected under these grounds. This is a common challenge for life sciences innovations that use AI/ML for purposes like disease prediction or biomarker discovery. Additionally, AI/ML technologies applied to image processing, such as radiological imaging, play a critical role in medical diagnostics. Without reciting an explicit technical improvement or enhancement to existing AI/ML techniques, or otherwise integrating the inventive concept into a practical application, claims to such inventions may not meet the threshold for patentability under § 101. Another frequent basis for rejection is raised against claims directed to AI/ML models that work with biological data, such as genetic correlations or physiological responses. In particular, when claims rely on the detection or analysis of natural relationships (e.g., the correlation between gene mutations and disease risk), they can be rejected under § 101 for reflecting a natural law without a sufficient technological improvement. Simply applying AI/ML to recognize or model these biological phenomena may not be enough; the claims must reflect a transformative application that goes beyond mere observation of natural laws. For example, an AI system that identifies genetic mutations linked to cancer may face rejection if the invention is viewed by the patent office as merely reflecting a known biological relationship. In some cases, AI/ML-assisted life sciences inventions encounter dual rejections , where claims are simultaneously deemed ineligible due to being directed both to abstract ideas and to natural phenomena. For instance, a patent claim that describes a machine learning model analyzing biological data might face rejection as directed to an abstract idea due to the computational focus while also being rejected for reflecting a natural law if it only observes natural biological relationships without representing a technological improvement or novel clinical application. Consider a claim directed at a machine learning model that analyzes genomic sequences to predict disease susceptibility. If the claim simply recites data processing steps—such as inputting genomic data, processing the data, and producing an outcome—it could be rejected as being directed to an abstract idea. This type of rejection is more likely if the claim does not connect the use of an ML model with a specific technical improvement represented by the invention. Similarly, a claim involving AI technology to detect correlations between genetic mutations and cancer risk could be rejected under § 101 if it only describes the natural law—the relationship between mutations and disease risk—without presenting a transformative application, such as utilizing the AI model to guide therapeutic decisions in real-time, which might represent a practical and inventive application representing significantly more than simply an underlying abstract idea. Strategies to Obtain Patent Eligible AI/ML Claims One of the most effective strategies for avoiding § 101 issues is to tie the AI/ML process to a specific technical solution within the life sciences context. Instead of merely claiming the computational steps or data analysis, the patent application should focus on how the AI/ML system enhances a particular biological or clinical process. For example, if the AI model is used to predict disease risk based on genomic data, the claims should emphasize any novel preprocessing techniques, feature extraction methods, or advanced machine learning architectures that contribute to faster diagnostics, more accurate predictions, or improved clinical outcomes. This approach aligns with the Supreme Court’s guidance in Mayo by ensuring that claims involving natural phenomena, such as genetic correlations, include additional inventive steps that transform the natural law into a patent-eligible application. By focusing on how the AI/ML process improves the life sciences workflow—whether by reducing error rates, increasing efficiency, or providing more accurate diagnoses—the claims demonstrate a concrete, technical benefit that addresses both the Mayo and Alice issues. Another strategy for avoiding § 101 issues is to incorporate real-world transformations or hardware integration into the claims. By showing how the AI/ML system is connected to physical devices or real-world processes, the claims can move beyond abstract ideas and natural phenomena. For instance, AI-driven diagnostic tools could interact with medical devices (including wearable devices) to process biological samples, or AI models could adjust therapeutic dosages in real-time based on patient data. Linking the AI process to tangible outcomes, such as physical transformations or hardware interaction, strengthens the case for a claim’s eligibility. This approach directly addresses the Mayo requirement by showing how the AI system translates natural biological phenomena into a practical application. Likewise, it satisfies the Alice framework by introducing a significant inventive concept through real-world integration. In drafting the claims, care should be taken to avoid divided infringement between different third parties that may eviscerate the strong protection that well-written claims can offer to patentees, especially now where there are many thousands of patent applications already filed with the USPTO. Finally, it is crucial to go beyond generic data processing in the claims. AI/ML systems in life sciences should be characterized in a way that highlights how they uniquely process biological data, offering specific benefits that set them apart from standard computational models. For example, the AI model may include innovative error correction mechanisms to handle noisy biological data, or it may dynamically adapt to real-time patient inputs to enhance predictive accuracy. By emphasizing these unique data processing features, the claims move beyond generic data manipulation, making the invention more likely to be patent-eligible. This strategy addresses the dual concerns of Mayo and Alice , ensuring that the AI/ML system provides both a transformative application of natural laws and a significant inventive concept that distinguishes it from abstract ideas. Conclusion For life sciences companies developing AI/ML-assisted technologies, successfully navigating § 101 rejections requires a strategic focus on specific technical solutions , real-world applications , and innovative data processing methods . Beyond obtaining patents, enforcement under Section 101 raises additional considerations. Patent holders should be aware of potential attacks on validity during enforcement, particularly in litigation. Future articles in this series will delve into further strategies for successfully enforcing AI/ML life sciences patents. By partnering with sophisticated patent counsel to develop claims that highlight the tangible benefits and transformative use of AI/ML in biological and clinical contexts, life sciences companies can strengthen their patent applications and increase the likelihood of securing patent protection. As AI/ML continues to revolutionize the life sciences, robust patent strategies are critical to maintaining a competitive edge in this rapidly evolving industry.

FIFA confirms 2034 World Cup coming to Saudi ArabiaCompromised Software Code Poses New Systemic Risk to U.S. Critical Infrastructure

NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Javon Small scored five of his 31 points in overtime and Tucker DeVries added key free throws late in regulation and finished with 16 points as West Virginia beat No. 3 Gonzaga 86-78 in the Battle 4 Atlantis on Wednesday. Small's layup with under 2 minutes left in OT gave West Virginia a 79-75 lead. After a Gonzaga miss, Sencire Harris hit two free throws to make it a six-point lead. With 27.1 seconds left, Harris made a steal and scored on a dunk for an eight-point lead, putting the game out of reach. Amani Hansberry scored a career-high 19 points and Toby Okani added 10 for West Virginia (3-2). Braden Huff scored 19 points and Khalif Battle 16 for Gonzaga (5-1). Takeaways Gonzaga showed its depth, outscoring the West Virginia bench 30-2. West Virginia’s only loss was by 24 points at Pitt, but the rebuild under Darian DeVries is showing promise. Key moment Gonzaga turned it over at midcourt late in regulation when Tucker DeVries poked it away from Nolan Hickman and raced the other way before getting fouled. DeVries made two free throws with 5.9 seconds left to tie it at 71-all. Battle inbounded the ball and got it back, but lost control on a drive as time expired. Key stats The shorter Mountaineers outrebounded Gonzaga 42-36 and shot 50% in the second half, battling the Zags to a draw in the paint. Nembhard had 12 assists and just one turnover in 43 minutes, but was 1 of 10 from the field. Up next West Virginia will play Louisville on Thursday in the winner's bracket. Gonzaga faces No. 14 Indiana on the consolation side. ___ 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 Copyright 2024 The Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will miss Sunday's game against the Packers with a sore throwing shoulder

However, the ECB’s decision is good news for the estimated 127,000 Irish people with tracker mortgages. Following a period of steep rises between 2022 and earlier this year, the interest rate on trackers reached over 4 per cent last June. Following the latest cut, the rate will average 3.1 per cent. Over 700,000 mortgage holders are either on fixed-rate or variable-rate mortgages and will be largely unaffected by the latest move. However, the rate cut is not such good news for savers. For a decade leading up to 2022 Irish depositors got a minimal return on their savings as the main ECB rate was at 0 per cent. From 2022, the returns on deposits started to rise as monetary policy tightened. At the end of October, there were € 159.1bn in deposits held by Irish households. But the outlook is once again bleak. It is expected that the ECB could cut rates to 1.75 per cent over the next year. Overall though, the backdrop to yesterday’s rate cut is deeply concerning. French borrowing costs have soared due to political instability following the collapse of Michel Barnier’s short-lived premiership last week. The German economy is teetering on the brink of recession amid ongoing political instability. Far-right parties are making gains across many member states and there is a looming threat of a trade war once Donald Trump takes over the White House. In September, Mario Draghi, the former president of the ECB, released a report on boosting EU competitiveness. He called for a series of far-reaching reforms and annual investment of €700bn to put the EU on a competitive footing with China and the US. So far little action has been taken, despite repeated warnings from the ECB. The bank’s latest cut and dovish outlook should act as a wake-up call for all member states, including Ireland.

NU-Q faculty’s new book examines how remittances reflect sense of belonging

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NoneRacing Optics® Introduces Game-Changing Twilight Tearoff to Enhance Visibility in Low-Light Racing ConditionsNEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street got back to climbing after the latest update on inflation appeared to clear the way for more help for the economy from the Federal Reserve. The S&P 500 gained 0.8% Wednesday to break a two-day losing streak and finished just short of its all-time high. Big Tech stocks led the way, which drove the Nasdaq composite up 1.8% to top the 20,000 level for the first time. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lagged with a dip of 0.2%. Stocks got a boost as expectations built that the Fed will deliver another cut to interest rates at its meeting next week. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes are rising Wednesday after the latest update on inflation appeared to clear the way for more help for the economy from the Federal Reserve . The S&P 500 gained 0.9% and is on track to break its first two-day losing streak in nearly a month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 7 points, or less than 0.1%, as of 2:45 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 1.8% and was heading for a record. Treasury yields edged higher in the bond market as expectations built that Wednesday’s inflation data will allow the Fed to deliver another cut to interest rates at its meeting next week. Traders are betting on a 95% probability of that, according to data from CME Group, up from 89% a day before. If they’re correct, it would be a third straight cut by the Fed after it began lowering rates in September from a two-decade high. It’s hoping to support a slowing job market after getting inflation nearly all the way down to its 2% target. Lower rates would give a boost to the economy, but they could also provide more fuel for inflation. Wednesday’s report said U.S. consumers paid prices in November that were 2.7% higher than a year earlier. That’s a slight acceleration from October’s inflation rate of 2.6%, but it was exactly what economists were expecting. Another report on inflation at the wholesale level will arrive on Thursday. “The data have given the Fed the ‘all clear’ for next week, and today’s inflation data keep a January cut in active discussion,” according to Ellen Zentner, chief economic strategist for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. Expectations for a series of cuts to rates by the Fed have been one of the main reasons the S&P 500 has set an all-time high 57 times this year , with the latest coming last week. On Wall Street, Stitch Fix jumped 47.8% after the company that sends clothes to your door reported a smaller loss for the latest quarter than analysts expected. It also gave financial forecasts for the current quarter that were better than expected, including for revenue. Albertsons edged down by 0.6% after filing a lawsuit against Kroger, saying it didn’t do enough for their proposed $24.6 billion merger agreement to win regulatory clearance. Albertsons said it’s seeking billions of dollars in damages from Kroger, whose stock rose 0.6%. A day earlier, judges in separate cases in Oregon and Washington nixed the supermarket giants’ merger. The grocers contended a combination could have helped them compete with big retailers like Walmart, Costco and Amazon, but critics said it would hurt competition. After terminating the merger agreement Albertsons said it plans to boost its dividend 25% and increased the size of its program to buy back its own stock. Mondelez, the company behind Oreo and other food brands, climbed 2.2% after announcing a plan to send cash to shareholders by buying back up to $9 billion of its own stock. The program replaces a prior $6 billion plan, which had about $2.8 billion of capacity remaining and would have otherwise expired at the end of next year. On the losing end of Wall Street, Macy’s fell 2.3% after cutting some of its financial forecasts for the full year of 2024, including for how much profit it expects to make off each $1 of revenue. Dave & Buster’s Entertainment sank 18.7% after reporting a worse loss for the latest quarter than expected. It also said CEO Chris Morris has resigned, and the board has been working with an executive-search firm for the last few months to find its next permanent leader. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.27% from 4.23% late Tuesday. The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks expectations for the Fed, rose to 4.16% from 4.14%. In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe and Asia. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was an outlier and slipped 0.8% as Chinese leaders convened an annual planning meeting in Beijing that is expected to set economic policies and growth targets for the coming year. South Korea’s Kospi rose 1%, up for a second straight day as it climbs back following last week’s political turmoil where its president briefly declared martial law. ___ AP Writers Matt Ott and Zimo Zhong contributed. Stan Choe, The Associated Press

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