mnl777 vip login registration philippines Is there already a College Football Playoff controversy? Potential bye wracking nerves with 2 weeks left — 'The data doesn’t lie'Jaipur: Cabinet minister Kirori Lal Meena on Friday accused circle inspector (CI) Kavita Sharma of misconduct and accused the state govt of turning against him. Meena's allegations, made at a press conference he held at Pink City Press Club, gave many an impression of an internal discord within the Bhajan Lal Sharma-led govt at a time when preparations are on full swing for Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit and PM Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to the state. The controversy stems from a case registered against Meena at Mahesh Nagar police station on Dec 3 for allegedly obstructing official work during a protest that demanded a re-exam for the Sub Inspector (SI) 2021 Exam. "The CM must clarify on whose orders this case was filed against me. I was fulfilling my responsibilities as an elected representative by standing up for students who were detained for protesting. Yet a case was lodged against me. I will not intervene in such matters again if this is the outcome," said Meena. The minister demanded immediate action against CI Kavita Sharma, whom he accused of harassing the protesting students and their families. Meena also claimed Sharma's actions led to the death of Manju Sharma's grandmother, who he said suffered trauma following police intervention. "CI Sharma is directly responsible for this tragic incident, and strict action must be taken against her," he asserted. Meena further alleged that CI Sharma enjoys protection from influential individuals. "I will reveal the names of those shielding her after consulting BJP state president Madan Rathore," said Meena. He also mentioned a prior controversy involving Sharma in a 2017 case where she and her sisters were accused of forging documents for a fake land lease. Meena lamented that recommendations for Sharma's suspension and removal from field duty by the DCP (east) were ignored. The minister's public criticism left senior BJP leaders unsettled, particularly in view of the PM's scheduled visit to Jaipur. Sources said the party has viewed Meena's press conference, held at a private venue, as a breach of protocol. Khachariyawas criticises BJP govt Former minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas of Congress criticised the BJP govt on Friday, saying it has failed to address its own minister's grievances. "When a cabinet minister openly questions the administration and says his voice is not being heard, where does the common citizen go?" said Khachariyawas. "The govt is busy organising grand events like Rising Rajasthan, yet a minister is left to vent his frustrations publicly. The CM's silence on this matter reflects a lack of control and unity in the administration. If a minister is crying out in frustration, who will wipe the tears of ordinary citizens?" said Khachariyawas. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .CHICAGO — With a wave of her bangled brown fingertips to the melody of flutes and chimes, artist, theologian and academic Tricia Hersey enchanted a crowd into a dreamlike state of rest at Semicolon Books on North Michigan Avenue. “The systems can’t have you,” Hersey said into the microphone, reading mantras while leading the crowd in a group daydreaming exercise on a recent Tuesday night. The South Side native tackles many of society’s ills — racism, patriarchy, aggressive capitalism and ableism — through an undervalued yet impactful action: rest. Hersey, the founder of a movement called the Nap Ministry, dubs herself the Nap Bishop and spreads her message to over half a million followers on her Instagram account, @thenapministry . Her first book, “Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto,” became a New York Times bestseller in 2022, but Hersey has been talking about rest online and through her art for nearly a decade. Hersey, who has degrees in public health and divinity, originated the “rest as resistance” and “rest as reparations” frameworks after experimenting with rest as an exhausted graduate student in seminary. Once she started napping, she felt happier and her grades improved. But she also felt more connected to her ancestors; her work was informed by the cultural trauma of slavery that she was studying as an archivist. Hersey described the transformation as “life-changing.” The Nap Ministry began as performance art in 2017, with a small installation where 40 people joined Hersey in a collective nap. Since then, her message has morphed into multiple mediums and forms. Hersey, who now lives in Atlanta, has hosted over 100 collective naps, given lectures and facilitated meditations across the country. She’s even led a rest ritual in the bedroom of Jane Addams , and encourages her followers to dial in at her “Rest Hotline.” At Semicolon, some of those followers and newcomers came out to see Hersey in discussion with journalist Natalie Moore on Hersey’s latest book, “We Will Rest! The Art of Escape,” released this month, and to learn what it means to take a moment to rest in community. Moore recalled a time when she was trying to get ahead of chores on a weeknight. “I was like, ‘If I do this, then I’ll have less to do tomorrow.’ But then I was really tired,” Moore said. “I thought, ‘What would my Nap Bishop say? She would say go lay down.’ Tricia is in my head a lot.” At the event, Al Kelly, 33, of Rogers Park, said some of those seated in the crowd of mostly Black women woke up in tears — possibly because, for the first time, someone permitted them to rest. “It was so emotional and allowed me to think creatively about things that I want to work on and achieve,” Kelly said. Shortly after the program, Juliette Viassy, 33, a program manager who lives in the South Loop and is new to Hersey’s work, said this was her first time meditating after never being able to do it on her own. Therapist Lyndsei Howze, 33, of Printers Row, who was also seated at the book talk, said she recommends Hersey’s work “to everybody who will listen” — from her clients to her own friends. “A lot of mental health conditions come from lack of rest,” she said. “They come from exhaustion.” Before discovering Hersey’s work this spring, Howze said she and her friends sporadically napped together in one friend’s apartment after an exhausting workweek. “It felt so good just to rest in community,” she said. On Hersey’s book tour, she is leading exercises like this across the country. “I think we need to collectively do this,” Hersey explained. “We need to learn again how to daydream because we’ve been told not to do it. I don’t think most people even have a daydreaming practice.” Daydreaming, Hersey said, allows people to imagine a new world. Hersey tells her followers that yes, you can rest, even when your agenda is packed, even between caregiving, commuting, jobs, bills, emails and other daily demands. And you don’t have to do it alone. There is a community of escape artists, she said of the people who opt out of grind and hustle culture, waiting to embrace you. The book is part pocket prayer book, part instruction manual, with art and handmade typography by San Francisco-based artist George McCalman inspired by 19th-century abolitionist pamphlets, urging readers to reclaim their divine right to rest. Hersey directs her readers like an operative with instructions for a classified mission. “Let grind culture know you are not playing around,” she wrote in her book. “This is not a game or time to shrink. Your thriving depends on the art of escape.” The reluctance to rest can be rooted in capitalist culture presenting rest as a reward for productivity instead of a physical and mental necessity. Hersey deconstructs this idea of grind culture, which she says is rooted in the combined effects of white supremacy, patriarchy and capitalism that “look at the body as not human.” American culture encourages grind culture, Hersey said, but slowing down and building a ritual of rest can offset its toxicity. The author eschews the ballooning billion-dollar self-care industry that encourages people to “save enough money and time off from work to fly away to an expensive retreat,” she wrote. Instead, she says rest can happen anywhere you have a place to be comfortable: in nature, on a yoga mat, in the car between shifts, on a cozy couch after work. Resting isn’t just napping either. She praises long showers, sipping warm tea, playing music, praying or numerous other relaxing activities that slow down the body. “We’re in a crisis mode of deep sleep deprivation, deep lack of self-worth, (and) mental health,” said Hersey. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data from 2022 , in Illinois about 37% of adults aren’t getting the rest they need at night. If ignored, the effects of sleep deprivation can have bigger implications later, Hersey said. In October, she lectured at a sleep conference at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota, where her humanities work was featured alongside research from the world’s top neuroscientists. Jennifer Mundt, a Northwestern clinician and professor of sleep medicine, psychiatry and behavioral sciences, praises Hersey for bringing the issue of sleep and rest to the public. In a Tribune op-ed last year, Mundt argued that our culture focuses too heavily on sleep as something that must be earned rather than a vital aspect of health and that linking sleep to productivity is harmful and stigmatizing. “Linking sleep and productivity is harmful because it overshadows the bevy of other reasons to prioritize sleep as an essential component of health,” Mundt wrote. “It also stigmatizes groups that are affected by sleep disparities and certain chronic sleep disorders.” In a 30-year longitudinal study released in the spring by the New York University School of Social Work, people who worked long hours and late shifts reported the lowest sleep quality and lowest physical and mental functions, and the highest likelihood of reporting poor health and depression at age 50. The study also showed that Black men and women with limited education “were more likely than others to shoulder the harmful links between nonstandard work schedules and sleep and health, worsening their probability of maintaining and nurturing their health as they approach middle adulthood.” The CDC links sleeping fewer than seven hours a day to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and more. Although the Nap Ministry movement is new for her followers, Hersey’s written about her family’s practice of prioritizing rest, which informs her work. Her dad was a community organizer, a yardmaster for the Union Pacific Railroad Co. and an assistant pastor. Before long hours of work, he would dedicate hours each day to self-care. Hersey also grew up observing her grandma meditate for 30 minutes daily. Through rest, Hersey said she honors her ancestors who were enslaved and confronts generational trauma. When “Rest Is Resistance” was released in 2022, Americans were navigating a pandemic and conversations on glaring racial disparities. “We Will Rest!” comes on the heels of a historic presidential election where Black women fundraised for Vice President Kamala Harris and registered voters in a dizzying three-month campaign. Following Harris’ defeat, many of those women are finding self-care and preservation even more important. “There are a lot of Black women announcing how exhausted they are,” Moore said. “This could be their entry point to get to know (Hersey’s) work, which is bigger than whatever political wind is blowing right now.” Hersey said Chicagoans can meet kindred spirits in her environment of rest. Haji Healing Salon, a wellness center, and the social justice-focused Free Street Theater are sites where Hersey honed her craft and found community. In the fall, the theater put on “Rest/Reposo,” a performance featuring a community naptime outdoors in McKinley Park and in its Back of the Yards space. Haji is also an apothecary and hosts community healing activities, sound meditations and yoga classes. “It is in Bronzeville; it’s a beautiful space owned by my friend Aya,” Hersey said, explaining how her community has helped her build the Nap Ministry. “When I first started the Nap Ministry, before I was even understanding what it was, she was like, come do your work here.” “We Will Rest!” is a collection of poems, drawings and short passages. In contrast to her first book, Hersey said she leaned more into her artistic background; the art process alone took 18 months to complete. After a tough year for many, she considers it medicine for a “sick and exhausted” world. “It’s its own sacred document,” Hersey said. “It’s something that, if you have it in your library and you have it with you, you may feel more human.” lazu@chicagotribune.com

Ever since pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto published a whitepaper on Bitcoin BTC/USD in 2008, there have been plenty of cryptocurrency skeptics. President-elect Donald Trump was one of them . “I am not a fan of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, which are not money, and whose value is highly volatile and based on thin air,” Trump tweeted in 2019. He also called out Libra, a virtual currency that Meta Platforms was working on at the time. The Facebook parent company should “seek a new Banking Charter and become subject to all Banking Regulations, just like other Banks,” he insisted. But during his 2024 U.S. presidential campaign , Trump changed his mind. He suggested a strategic national crypto stockpile for the U.S. Trump also launched his own non-fungible tokens on the Polygon MATIC/USD blockchain and accepted Ethereum ETH/USD as a payment option. Read Also: Trump Appoints VC David Sacks As White House Crypto Czar: ‘He Will Work On A Legal Framework’ A key milestone for the crypto sector came when Trump spoke at the 2024 Bitcoin Conference in Nashville. "For too long our government has violated the cardinal rule that every Bitcoiner knows by heart: Never sell your Bitcoin," Trump said at the event on July 27. "This afternoon I'm laying out my plan to ensure that the United States will be the crypto capital of the planet and Bitcoin superpower of the world and we'll get it done.” Investing $1,000 in Bitcoin: Bitcoin holders saw a soaring valuation ever since Trump made that speech. Bitcoin traded between $66,705.22 to $69,398.51 on July 27, 2024, the date of Trump's event appearance. A $1,000 investment at the day's highest price could have purchased 0.0144 BTC. Fast-forward to today and Bitcoin trades at $101,478.46, recently passing the $100,000 milestone for the first time. The $1,000 investment would be worth $1,461.29 today, up 46.1% in less than five months. The same $1,000 invested in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, which tracks the S&P 500, would be worth $1,111.21 today. That’s up only 11.1% over the same time period. Bitcoin quickly passed new all-time highs after Trump won the 2024 presidential election. Over the past month, Bitcoin has traded between $74,480.42 and $103,900.47. Bitcoin investors are optimistic that Trump's incoming administration will continue being pro-crypto compared to his predecessor, President Joe Biden . Now Read: EXCLUSIVE: Bitcoin Briefly Tops $100,000, But Where Do Benzinga Readers Predict It Will Finish 2024? Image: Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.St. Catharines city councillors have approved five amendments to the 2025 municipal budget, adding slightly to the 2.71 per cent tax hike that accompanied the spending plan tabled by Mayor Mat Siscoe on Nov. 6. The amendments, approved during Thursday’s council meeting, will pay for new self-watering flower baskets in Port Dalhousie and Merritton, equipment and staff for the city’s forestry department, new speed humps near Sunset Beach and limited funding for Rodman Art Institute of Niagara . Councillors agreed to add 10 self-watering flower baskets each in the Port Dalhousie Heritage district and on Merritt Street. However, the $20,000 total cost of the baskets will not impact the 2025 tax rate, with funding instead coming from the city’s civic project fund — a reserve established with proceeds from the merger of St. Catharines Hydro and Hamilton Hydro in 2005, along with interest income and the proceeds from the sale of excess city lands. Port Dalhousie Coun. Bruce Williamson said the flower baskets should have been included in the initial budget, adding the money allocated to beautification “has been cut drastically over the years.” Merritton Coun. Jackie Lindal said the baskets added to her ward “will be a fantastic thing to help the Merritt Street area.” Councillors then voted to add $510,000 to the city’s budget to purchase an aerial lift truck and brush chipper for the forestry department, while also adding $85,709 to the operating budget in both 2025 and 2026. The amendment also adds three full-time employees to the forestry department, adding $1.21 to the tax bill of a median St. Catharines household next year. St. George’s Coun. Mark Stevens opposed the expense, calling it “ridiculous” to purchase equipment without first addressing staff shortages. But other councillors argued in favour of the purchases, after the cost of the equipment came in significantly lower than originally proposed. Councillors voted to spend $50,000 to add speed humps on Cumberland Street, Beachaven Drive and Bogart Street, adding 70 cents to average 2025 tax bill. Grantham Coun. Bill Phillips said the speed humps are intended to slow down traffic in the Sunset Beach area. “This year we had temporary speed humps on Cumberland that were used, and they did the work, but, unfortunately, we had to take them out,” he said. Phillips said the neighbourhood will be canvassed before permanent speed humps are installed to make sure they are still wanted. If the residents don’t want them, treasurer Kristine Douglas said the funds will be used in other areas. Councillors also voted to provide funding to Rodman Art Institute of Niagara (RAIN), amending the budget to add $73,500 for the organization, while again tapping into the civic project fund to prevent the expenditure from impacting taxes. “We have very valuable pieces of art. They’re being stored in a climate-controlled area at great expense,” Phillips said, adding it’s about $70,000 a year. “Plus, to keep the viability of a potential art gallery going, they’re asking for continuance of funding.” While Phillips initially called for a $125,000 contribution to RAIN, St. Andrew’s Coun. Joe Kushner amended it to instead provide $70,000 directly to the organization, while $51,500 would be added to the St. Catharines Cultural Investment Program (SCCIP). “We have to get some reports from RAIN because I’m not exactly sure what they’re doing,” Kushner said. “They’ve gotten $125,000 for a couple of years now, and when I look at that money I think, could it be better spent on successful organizations like SCCIP?” Phillips said the priority is to preserve the quality of the artwork in the collection, valued at millions of dollars. “As far as the other money that RAIN is required to have in order to exist, they can apply to ensure they exist, they can apply to SCCIP like the other arts organizations, and it will be up to them to do that,” he said. The amendment calls for financial statements from RAIN for any future funding requests as well as other fundraising and grant initiatives. While voting to end the consideration of any further budget amendments, Williamson said he was disappointed that too few people have been able to share any thoughts or concerns they may have about it. “I’ve heard from very few people and we haven’t had any delegations come in or anything,” he said. Although the budget had been discussed at recent town hall meetings, as well as through social media, Williamson asked if there would be future opportunities for public consultation. Deputy chief administrative officer Erin O’Hoski said there is still “a big opportunity for residents to have their say,” as the city undergoes a core services review until Dec. 10. She said the review will be a “key point in informing future staff budgets and reporting to council.” Under the province’s strong mayor legislation, Siscoe had 10 days starting Nov. 22 to veto any of the amendments brought forward by city councillors. If he does veto an amendment, councillors would then have 15 days to overrule it, requiring a two-thirds majority vote to do so.

Many of us are anxiously awaiting the return of President Donald Trump to the White House, as some look to the future with hope and others despair. If Trump’s previous four years in office are a preview of what’s to come, my prediction is that much of his campaign agenda won’t be enacted. Before you write an angry letter to the editor labeling me a liberal Trump-hater, realize that most presidents promise sweeping changes on the campaign trail, but deliver few of those vows when they enter the Oval Office. That’s somewhat the beauty of our republic – a complex system that requires cooperation at multiple levels for legislation to be approved. Trump will return with a Republican-controlled Senate and House. But Trump, like President Barack Obama before him, enjoyed party control of congress during his first two years in office. Some of Trump’s 2016 campaign promises, such as building a border wall and ending the Affordable Care Act, never came to fruition despite the Republican majority in 2017-2018. You likely recall the famous “thumbs down” vote by the late Republican Sen. John McCain, which essentially killed Trump’s effort to overhaul Obama’s signature health care plan. Trump’s populist rhetoric makes him a great candidate on the campaign trail. Whether it’s the truth or a lie, Trump tells his followers what they want to hear. But his ability to translate that talk into meaningful legislation that’s backed by congress, including members of his own party, has been subpar. And we’re already seeing signs that his next administration will face similar challenges. Trump’s initial pick for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, was defeated by Senate Republicans before hearings ever began. While the victor of the election certainly has the right to propose picks for his cabinet, even Republicans balked at the idea of appointing a man accused of sexual assault and misconduct to the attorney general post. While cabinet picks aren’t legislation, the block of Gaetz shows that Trump still has to play ball with members of his own party to get his way. And frankly, some Republicans are likely to disagree with some of the key aspects of his agenda. “Eliminate the Department of Education” has become the “Defund the Police” of 2024-25. In both cases, a group has issues with certain aspects of an established system. In both cases, eliminating that system is nonsensical and unlikely to happen. They’re catchy phrases that invoke emotional reactions, especially on the campaign trail, but they’re not realistic. This is where the true statement that “All Politics is Local” comes into effect. If federal funding and oversight from the Department of Education is eliminated, state and local officials will be responsible for such programs. How many angry phone calls do you think your state representative or school board member will receive when parents find out money has been slashed for special education, or that after-school programs have been eliminated. The truth of the matter is that states like Indiana and Kentucky greatly depend on federal funding, and if that money goes away, it has to be made up somewhere. That somewhere is your wallet. You, the taxpayer, fund the local, state and federal government. You, the taxpayer, will either have to pay more for local and state departments to pick up the slack left behind by the elimination of the Department of Education, or be prepared to see teachers laid off and schools closed. While some may not care, enough do, and attacking education has been the death of many a politician’s political career. What’s more likely to happen, Trump will ask congress to make major cuts to the Department of Education, those will get whittled down and, if some sort of bill is passed, it will not result in the elimination of the federal department. Trump will likely take executive action on immigration, but if he goes too far, business leaders will quickly show who actually runs the country. Removing people who are here illegally that have committed crimes in our country is one thing, but deporting workers and others who are helping our economy as employees and consumers is quite another thing. Trump can greatly influence such issues through his own actions, or inactions. He notoriously ridiculed anyone who opposed him during his first administration, blasting Democrats, former presidents and even members of his own party almost hourly on social media. He actually showed more restraint during the 2024 campaign, but how long will that last? Democrats will of course vote against most of his ideas, but if there are Republicans on the fence and he goes after them, that could spell disaster for his campaign promises.

MARKET REPORT: Shares in British Airways 'to keep gaining altitude'Peacock’s ‘Hysteria!’ set in Michigan during 1980s satanic panicTORONTO, Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The entertainment and media (E&M) industry is at a turning point: global revenues soared to US$2.8 trillion in 2023, with projections indicating they will exceed US$3.4 trillion by 2028, according to PwC . Yet, behind this growth lies a web of challenges. Streaming services are grappling with monetization hurdles, the gaming industry continues its explosive expansion, and media & entertainment professionals face mounting pressure to adapt to shifting business models and technological advancements. Addressing these complexities, Schulich Executive Education (Schulich ExecEd), Schulich School of Business, York University has launched the Schulich Mini-MBA: Media Mastery in the Digital Age in collaboration with York University's School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design (AMPD). This innovative program blends creative and business insights to help media professionals thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape. A New Era of Media & Entertainment Challenges From declining revenue growth in streaming to the dominance of gaming, the media industry is transforming faster than ever: Equipping Media & Entertainment Professionals for the Future The Schulich Mini-MBA: Media Mastery in the Digital Age has been curated in 2024 to address these challenges. This program empowers participants with the tools to adapt, innovate, and lead, blending storytelling expertise with foundational business strategies. The curriculum includes modules on audience engagement, managing digital platforms, and leadership in a digitally disrupted world, providing participants with a competitive edge in today's market. "This program offers advanced training in navigating the modern media marketplace in order to grow your business, be it as an independent producer, a content creator, or a cultural leader,” says Beth Janson, Program Director for the Mini-MBA, AMPD alumna, and former Chief Operating Officer of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). "The skills you will acquire in this program are those that we believe producers desperately need to be competitive - the very skills that many don't know how to attain.” Sarah Bay-Cheng, Dean of York University's School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD), underscores the program's importance: "I'm excited to be a part of this innovative and timely program and to work with such a talented team led by Beth Janson,” says Dean Bay-Cheng. "There are important conversations about the convergence of media and digital culture right now and this program will provide key insights from industry leaders.” Executive Director of Schulich Executive Education (Schulich ExecEd), Schulich School of Business, York University, Rami Mayer, highlights how the program builds on Schulich ExecEd's success in other industries: "The Schulich Mini-MBA: Media Mastery in the Digital Age brings together the business and creative worlds to equip media professionals with essential management skills. As we have supported healthcare professionals in mastering the business aspects of their fields through our Mini-MBA series, we now offer media leaders the necessary tools to excel in a rapidly evolving industry. Partnering with York University's School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD) on this brand new, one-of-its-kind Mini-MBA program enables us to deliver a truly unique opportunity for growth and innovation in the media sector.” A Timely and Flexible Opportunity This fully online program, consisting of 14 three-hour sessions over four months starting in February 2025, is tailored for busy professionals in the media, entertainment, and digital industries. Its flexible delivery format allows participants to advance their careers while gaining essential skills to navigate the industry's evolving landscape. With applications now open, the Schulich Mini-MBA: Media Mastery in the Digital Age offers a timely solution for media professionals eager to tackle industry challenges head-on and position themselves as leaders in the field. For more information, visit https://execed.schulich.yorku.ca/program/schulich-mini-mba-media-mastery-in-the-digital-age/ . Schulich ExecEd Phone: +1-800-667-9380 or 416-736-5079 Email: [email protected]FBI director Christopher Wray has said he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January, an announcement that came a week and a half after President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate loyalist Kash Patel for the job. At a town hall meeting with the bureau workforce, Mr Wray said he would be stepping down “after weeks of careful thought”. Mr Wray’s intended resignation is not unexpected considering that Mr Trump had picked Mr Patel for the role in his new administration. Mr Wray had previously been named by Mr Trump and began the 10-year term — a length meant to insulate the agency from the political influence of changing administrations — in 2017, after Mr Trump fired then-FBI director James Comey. Mr Trump had demonstrated his anger with Mr Wray on multiple occasions, including after Mr Wray’s congressional testimony in September. “My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day,” Mr Wray told agency employees. “In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.” Mr Wray continued: “It should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway — this is not easy for me. I love this place, I love our mission, and I love our people — but my focus is, and always has been, on us and doing what’s right for the FBI.” Mr Wray received a standing ovation following his remarks before a standing-room-only crowd at FBI headquarters and some in the audience cried, according to an FBI official who was not authorised to discuss the private gathering and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press. Mr Trump applauded the news on social media, calling it “a great day for America as it will end the weaponisation of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice” and saying that Mr Patel’s confirmation will begin “the process of Making the FBI Great Again”. If confirmed by the Senate, Mr Patel would herald a radical leadership transformation at the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency. He has advocated shutting down the FBI’s Washington headquarters and called for ridding the federal government of “conspirators”, raising alarm that he might seek to wield the FBI’s significant investigative powers as an instrument of retribution against Mr Trump’s perceived enemies. Mr Patel said in a statement Wednesday that he was looking forward to “a smooth transition. I will be ready to serve the American people on day one”. We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate.

Tokopeatau String Band album launch on Nov 28ADELAIDE, Australia , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Fleet Space Technologies (Fleet Space), Australia's leading space exploration company, today announced the closing of a A$150M Series D funding round, led by Teachers' Venture Growth (TVG), the late-stage venture and growth investment arm of Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, and joined by existing investors Blackbird Ventures, Hostplus, Horizons Ventures, Artesian Venture Partners, and Alumni Ventures. The new investment will be used to expand the capabilities of Fleet Space's global end-to-end exploration platform, ExoSphere, to accelerate the discovery of critical minerals needed for Earth's clean energy future. "The ability to meet the rapidly increasing demand for critical minerals presents a significant challenge to achieving global net-zero targets," said Rick Prostko , Senior Managing Director, Teachers' Venture Growth. "Current mineral exploration methods are inadequate for efficient discovery and production. Fleet Space addresses this with advanced 3D subsurface imaging and AI analysis tools, which have the potential to sustainably transform the industry. We are proud to support the multidisciplinary team at Fleet Space in their efforts to accelerate the global energy transition." "We're proud to continue our investment in Fleet Space, building on many years of history," added Niki Scevak, Partner at Blackbird. "Quite simply, the discovery of critical minerals must exponentially increase if we are to electrify our society by 2050 and breakthroughs, like ExoSphere, are needed to make it happen." Real-Time Exploration Powered by Space & AI Founded by former propulsion engineer at the European Space Agency, Flavia Tata Nardini , and aerospace entrepreneur, Matt Pearson , Fleet Space was created to harness the capabilities of space exploration technologies for a new wave of solutions that can accelerate decarbonisation and the global energy transition. By integrating Fleet Space's satellites in LEO, smart seismic sensors, and AI into an end-to-end solution, Fleet Space's ExoSphere technology streamlines the acquisition, processing, and integration of exploration datasets, providing the global mining industry with high-quality targeting insights faster than ever before while minimising environmental impact. "There are two versions of the future. One where we bend the latest advances in space, AI, and big data towards building a clean energy future and another where we risk net-zero targets falling out of reach as the rate of new discoveries of energy transition minerals continues to decline," added Flavia Tata Nardini , CEO & Co-Founder of Fleet Space. "With ExoSphere, we have combined these technologies into an end-to-end platform that seamlessly integrates with and compliments modern mining operations - making the frontier of exploration technology accessible to the global mining industry within a single workflow. This is a fundamental step to unlock humanity's potential for making extraordinary discoveries with less environmental impact." Exponential Growth Today's announcement caps a period of exponential growth for Fleet Space. In the past year, Fleet Space has: Technology Roadmap for Explorers of New Worlds While advancing the capabilities of data-driven exploration on Earth with ExoSphere, Fleet Space has also laid the technology foundation to rapidly accelerate the exploration of new worlds. The smart seismic sensors used as part of Fleet Space's terrestrial ExoSphere system represent the technological precursor for its lunar variant - SPIDER - which will be deployed on the Moon in 2026 to enhance humanity's understanding of the lunar subsurface. Collaborating with MIT Media Lab's Space Exploration Initiative , Fleet Space is also helping to advance off-world research needed for the planning of future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Additionally, Fleet Space unveiled a cost-effective, resilient full duplex SATCOM system using microsatellites and reprogrammed Centauri-4 to become the world's smallest voice-enabled satellite . "The convergence of innovation in space, AI, and 3D subsurface imaging represents a foundational pillar of the core technology set that will enable humanity to build permanent research stations on the Moon, Mars, and beyond," said Matt Pearson , Chief Exploration Officer at Fleet Space. "The flywheel we've created by continuously enhancing the subsurface understanding of Earth through the global deployment of ExoSphere simultaneously drives advances in the technology needed to build highly scalable, data-driven exploration systems for new worlds. A bold new chapter in the history of space exploration is about to begin and we are positioned to play a significant role as humanity boldly ventures deeper into our solar system." About Fleet Space Technologies Fleet Space Technologies , Australia's leading space exploration company, is revolutionizing critical mineral discovery with its end-to-end mineral exploration solution, ExoSphere, which combines satellite connectivity, 3D multiphysics, and AI to image mineral systems in real-time. Over 40 leading exploration companies like Rio Tinto, Barrick Gold , and Core Lithium have used ExoSphere's real-time 3D subsurface imaging on projects across five continents. Due to global demand for ExoSphere, Fleet Space's international footprint has expanded to the US, Canada , Chile , and Luxembourg with over 130+ employees, representing 37 nationalities, worldwide. In 2024, Fleet Space was recognised as the winner of the Innovation category at the Mining Technology Excellence Awards and received the Climate Impact Technology Award by the Banksia Foundation. To learn more about ExoSphere, please reach out to the Fleet Space team here . About Teachers' Venture Growth Teachers' Venture Growth (TVG) focuses on late-stage venture and growth equity investments in cutting-edge technology companies worldwide. We partner with founders with bold missions, looking to expand their product offering, scale geographically, and become the leaders in their markets. We bring long-term thinking and active investing to help build better businesses and a better world. We think globally and act locally through our direct presence across Asia , North America and Europe . TVG is part of the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board (Ontario Teachers'), a global investor with net assets of CAD 255.8 billion as at June 30, 2024 . We invest in more than 50 countries in a broad array of assets including public and private equities, fixed income, credit, commodities, natural resources, infrastructure, real estate and venture growth to deliver retirement income for 340,000 working members and pensioners. Our more than 450 investment professionals operate in key financial centres around the world and bring deep expertise in a broad range of sectors and industries. We are a fully funded defined benefit pension plan and have earned an annual total-fund net return of 9.3% since the plan's founding in 1990. At Ontario Teachers', we don't just invest to make a return, we invest to shape a better future for the teachers we serve, the businesses we back, and the world we live in. For more information, visit otpp.com/teachersventuregrowth and follow us on LinkedIn . Fleet Space Co-Founders, Flavia Tata Nardini (CEO) & Matt Pearson (CXO) Photo - https://mma.prnasia.com/media2/2578405/Fleet_Space_Series_D_Funding.jpg?p=medium600 Photo - https://mma.prnasia.com/media2/2578406/Fleet_Space_Co_Founders.jpg?p=medium600

The three word phrase driving Grant High football to state title gameARLINGTON, Va. , Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) approved an increase of 2% in the Company's quarterly common stock dividend, from $0.1725 per share to $0.17595 per share, beginning in the first quarter of 2025. The Company's first quarter 2025 common stock dividend of $0.17595 per share is payable on February 14, 2025 to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 31 , 2025. Additional information regarding dividends paid by AES, including tax treatment, can be found on www.aes.com by selecting "Investors" then "Stock Information" and then "Dividend History." About AES The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) is a Fortune 500 global energy company accelerating the future of energy. Together with our many stakeholders, we're improving lives by delivering the greener, smarter energy solutions the world needs. Our diverse workforce is committed to continuous innovation and operational excellence, while partnering with our customers on their strategic energy transitions and continuing to meet their energy needs today. For more information, visit www.aes.com . Safe Harbor Disclosure This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those related to future earnings, growth and financial and operating performance. Forward-looking statements are not intended to be a guarantee of future results, but instead constitute AES' current expectations based on reasonable assumptions. Forecasted financial information is based on certain material assumptions. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, our expectations regarding accurate projections of future interest rates, commodity price and foreign currency pricing, continued normal levels of operating performance and electricity volume at our distribution companies and operational performance at our generation businesses consistent with historical levels, as well as the execution of PPAs, conversion of our backlog and growth investments at normalized investment levels, and rates of return consistent with prior experience. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in our forward-looking statements due to risks, uncertainties and other factors. Important factors that could affect actual results are discussed in AES' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including, but not limited to, the risks discussed under Item 1A: "Risk Factors" and Item 7: "Management's Discussion & Analysis" in AES' 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K and in subsequent reports filed with the SEC. Readers are encouraged to read AES' filings to learn more about the risk factors associated with AES' business. AES undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except where required by law. Any Stockholder who desires a copy of the Company's 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed February 26, 2024 with the SEC may obtain a copy (excluding the exhibits thereto) without charge by addressing a request to the Office of the Corporate Secretary, The AES Corporation, 4300 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22203. Exhibits also may be requested, but a charge equal to the reproduction cost thereof will be made. A copy of the Annual Report on Form 10-K may be obtained by visiting the Company's website at www.aes.com . Website Disclosure AES uses its website, including its quarterly updates, as channels of distribution of Company information. The information AES posts through these channels may be deemed material. Accordingly, investors should monitor our website, in addition to following AES' press releases, quarterly SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts. In addition, you may automatically receive e-mail alerts and other information about AES when you enroll your e-mail address by visiting the " Subscribe to Alerts " page of AES' Investors website. The contents of AES' website, including its quarterly updates, are not, however, incorporated by reference into this release. Investor Contact: Susan Harcourt 703-682-1204, susan.harcourt@aes.com Media Contact: Amy Ackerman 703-682-6399, amy.ackerman@aes.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aes-announces-2-increase-in-quarterly-dividend-302325157.html SOURCE The AES Corporation

AP Top 25: Alabama, Mississippi out of top 10 and Miami, SMU are in; Oregon remains unanimous No. 1

DALLAS (AP) — More than 60 years after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated , conspiracy theories still swirl and any new glimpse into the fateful day of Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas continues to fascinate . President-elect Donald Trump promised during his reelection campaign that he would declassify all of the remaining government records surrounding the assassination if he returned to office. He made a similar pledge during his first term, but ultimately bended to appeals from the CIA and FBI to keep some documents withheld. At this point, only a few thousand of the millions of governmental records related to the assassination have yet to be fully released, and those who have studied the records released so far say that even if the remaining files are declassified, the public shouldn't anticipate any earth-shattering revelations. “Anybody waiting for a smoking gun that’s going to turn this case upside down will be sorely disappointed,” said Gerald Posner, author of “Case Closed,” which concludes that assassin Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. Friday's 61st anniversary is expected to be marked with a moment of silence at 12:30 p.m. in Dealey Plaza, where Kennedy's motorcade was passing through when he was fatally shot. And throughout this week there have been events marking the anniversary. When Air Force One carrying Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy touched down in Dallas , they were greeted by a clear sky and enthusiastic crowds. With a reelection campaign on the horizon the next year, they had gone to Texas on political fence-mending trip. But as the motorcade was finishing its parade route downtown, shots rang out from the Texas School Book Depository building. Police arrested 24-year-old Oswald and, two days later, nightclub owner Jack Ruby fatally shot Oswald during a jail transfer. A year after the assassination, the Warren Commission, which President Lyndon B. Johnson established to investigate the assassination, concluded that Oswald acted alone and there was no evidence of a conspiracy. But that hasn't quelled a web of alternative theories over the decades. In the early 1990s, the federal government mandated that all assassination-related documents be housed in a single collection in the National Archives and Records Administration. The collection of over 5 million records was required to be opened by 2017, barring any exemptions designated by the president. Trump, who took office for his first term in 2017, had boasted that he'd allow the release of all of the remaining records but ended up holding some back because of what he called the potential harm to national security. And while files have continued to be released during President Joe Biden's administration, some still remain unseen. The documents released over the last few years offer details on the way intelligence services operated at the time, and include CIA cables and memos discussing visits by Oswald to the Soviet and Cuban embassies during a trip to Mexico City just weeks before the assassination. The former Marine had previously defected to the Soviet Union before returning home to Texas. Mark S. Zaid, a national security attorney in Washington, said what's been released so far has contributed to the understanding of the time period, giving “a great picture” of what was happening during the Cold War and the activities of the CIA. Posner estimates that there are still about 3,000 to 4,000 documents in the collection that haven’t yet been fully released. Of those documents, some are still completely redacted while others just have small redactions, like someone's Social Security number. There are about 500 documents where all the information is redacted, Posner said, and those include Oswald's and Ruby’s tax returns. “If you have been following it, as I have and others have, you sort of are zeroed in on the pages you think might provide some additional information for history,” Posner said. Trump's transition team hasn’t responded to questions this week about his plans when he takes office. From the start, there were those who believed there had to be more to the story than just Oswald acting alone, said Stephen Fagin, curator of the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, which tells the story of the assassination from the building where Oswald made his sniper's perch. “People want to make sense of this and they want to find the solution that fits the crime," said Fagin, who said that while there are lingering questions, law enforcement made “a pretty compelling case” against Oswald. Larry J. Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said his interest in the assassination dates back to the event itself, when he was a child. “It just seemed so fantastical that one very disturbed individual could end up pulling off the crime of the century," Sabato said. “But the more I studied it, the more I realized that is a very possible, maybe even probable in my view, hypothesis.”No. 21 Creighton PG Ashworth doubtful vs. SDSU

Assiniboia rolls out red carpet for SJHL's Weyburn Red Wings after rink closure

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