711 bet bonus code 2024 Moreover, the upgraded group voice call feature on WeChat comes with a range of new interactive elements to make conversations more engaging and dynamic. Users can now send stickers, emojis, and even photos during a group voice call, adding a fun and personal touch to the conversation. Additionally, WeChat has introduced the option to create subgroups within a larger voice call, allowing users to break off into smaller discussion groups while remaining connected to the main call. This feature is particularly useful for organizing group calls with diverse topics or coordinating different activities within a single call.

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Amidst economic uncertainties and changing global conditions, the real estate market is expected to demonstrate resilience and adaptability in the face of challenges. Industry players are likely to adopt innovative strategies, diversify their portfolios, and explore new opportunities to navigate market fluctuations and capitalize on emerging trends. Flexibility, agility, and strategic planning will be key factors in determining success in the real estate market next year.The 26-year-old midfielder highlighted the importance of teamwork and unity in achieving a positive result against a top team like Arsenal. "We knew it was going to be a challenging game, but we stuck together as a team and fought hard for each other. That's what made the difference in the end," Reed added.

In response to public outcry, the Education Bureau has initiated a dialogue with stakeholders, including parents, students, and environmental organizations, to address concerns and gather feedback on improving school uniform management practices. The Bureau has expressed its willingness to collaborate with the community to develop sustainable solutions and promote a culture of responsible consumption and waste reduction.Zilinskas scores 32 as IU Indianapolis downs Alabama A&M 88-83

By Kemberley Washington, CPA, Bankrate.com The IRS Direct File program, which lets taxpayers file their federal income tax return directly with the IRS for free, is doubling its reach to 24 states for the 2025 tax season, up from 12 states in 2024, the program’s pilot year. The Direct File program will also accept more types of tax situations for the 2025 tax season. While taxpayers who used the system in 2024 could claim a handful of tax credits, including the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit , that list is expanding in 2025 to include the child and dependent care credit , among others. An estimated 30 million taxpayers will qualify for the Direct File program in 2025, the IRS says. More than 140,000 taxpayers filed their federal tax returns through the Direct File program in 2024. About 90% of users said their experience was excellent or above average, according to a survey of about 11,000 Direct File users in 2024, conducted by the General Services Administration. “We’re excited about the improvements to Direct File and the millions more taxpayers who will be eligible to use the service this year,” said Danny Werfel, the IRS commissioner, in a statement. “Our goal is to improve the experience of tax filing itself and help taxpayers meet their obligations quickly and easily.” The IRS says that taxpayers can use Direct File when the 2025 tax season kicks off in January, and it will be available until Oct. 15, 2025. But the program’s future is somewhat unclear: In December, 29 Republican lawmakers sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump, calling for him to end the Direct File program on his first day in office. Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives also introduced legislation in July to end the Direct File program. For now, here’s what you need to know about how the IRS Direct File program works, and how to qualify for it. The Direct File program is a new initiative, about to enter its second year, that allows taxpayers to file their federal tax returns electronically with the IRS. The no-cost tool guides taxpayers through every part of their federal income tax return. Taxpayers can file using a smartphone, computer or tablet. One of the program’s advantages is that, if you have questions as you’re working on your return, you can get live support directly from the IRS via chat or phone. IRS representatives can answer basic tax questions and help with technical issues in English and Spanish. The Direct File program has income limits, as well as limits on the types of income, deductions and credits you can enter on your tax return. For the 2025 tax season: To be eligible for Direct File, your income can come from the following sources: But if you’re self-employed, or have business or rental income, you can’t use Direct File . Same goes for IRA contributions or distributions: If you have either, you can’t use Direct File. You can use the IRS Direct File program only if you claim the standard deduction — the program isn’t available to people who itemize. But you can claim certain above-the-line deductions: student loan interest , educator expenses and health savings account contributions . You can’t use Direct File if you want to deduct your IRA contributions. The Direct File program allows for the following tax credits in 2025: However, if you want to claim education credits , credits for energy efficient home upgrades or the adoption expense credit , you can’t use the Direct File program. More taxpayers will have access to the IRS Direct File program in 2025. In 2024, the IRS kicked off the program with only 12 states; that number has expanded to 24 states for the 2025 tax season. For some of the states that participate in the IRS Direct File program, your federal return information will be transferred automatically to the state tax website, but in some cases you’ll have to re-enter your information. Visit this IRS Direct File page to get the details for your state. Here is a list of the participating states: If you don’t qualify for the IRS Direct File program, you may have other options to file your tax return for free. In addition to Direct File, the IRS offers the Free File program, in which it partners with online tax software providers to provide free federal income tax return filing. Some providers also allow you to file a state income tax return. For the 2024 tax season, your adjusted gross income had to be less than $79,000 to qualify for the Free File program. That dollar threshold is likely to rise slightly for the 2025 tax season. The IRS also offers the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which provides certified volunteers to prepare basic tax returns if you earn less than $67,000 a year, are disabled, or speak limited English. You can find a site near you by visiting this IRS page . ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.This incident serves as a reminder that words have power and that cyberbullying and online defamation can have serious consequences. It also highlights the need for greater awareness about the impact of online hate and the importance of promoting a culture of respect and empathy on social media.

In the end, what could have escalated into a major confrontation was resolved peacefully through communication and understanding. The young family showed maturity and grace in handling the situation, while the sedan driver learned a valuable lesson about taking responsibility for his actions. It was a reminder to all drivers that accidents happen, but how we choose to deal with them can make all the difference.

Shares of Netflix, Inc. ($NFLX) rose over 1% on Thursday, headed for a fourth consecutive session of gains. BofA Securities joined the bullish camp by raising its price target on the stock to $1,000 from $800, maintaining its ‘Buy’ rating. This came a day after Pivotal Research set a Street-high target of $1,100. BofA’s optimism stems from Netflix’s live broadcast of the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul boxing bout, which the brokerage described as “emphatic proof” of Netflix’s ability to attract a global audience for live events. With 108 million live viewers worldwide, according to the brokerage, the bout became “the most-streamed sporting event of all time,” despite reports of technical issues. The success underscores Netflix’s potential in live programming and advertising, according to BofA, which added that live broadcasts not only enhance ad inventory but also position advertising as a multi-year growth driver. The streaming giant is poised to build on this momentum with two National Football League games on Christmas and the start of a 10-year partnership with World Wrestling Entertainment’s Raw in 2025. “Live can be a knockout opportunity for Netflix,” BofA stated, noting that the company is cautiously exploring live content while managing costs. Despite the bullish outlook from Wall Street, retail investors on Stocktwits were more reserved. Sentiment stayed ‘neutral’ among Netflix’s 485,000 followers, even as message volume doubled over the past week. Some users expressed skepticism, citing Netflix’s relative strength index (RSI) exceeding 81. Others questioned the sustainability of the rally. However, bullish users speculated on the stock’s potential to hit $1,100 or undergo a stock split to attract more retail interest. Year-to-date, Netflix stock has gained over 90%, benefiting from a series of catalysts, including the growing adoption of its ad-supported tier and its strategic move into live-streaming.A 27-year-old worker from Bangladesh was killed on Dec 8 after a suspected electric shock, continuing a spate of deaths in the construction sector that has seen workplace fatalities triple from five in the first half of 2024 to 15 in the second half. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said the man and a co-worker were pulling cables into a distribution board in a riser room when the accident took place. He was taken to Changi General Hospital, where he died. MOM said his employer was HD Contractor, while the developer of the project is the Singapore University of Technology and Design. Calling the workplace safety and health (WSH) performance of the sector “concerning”, the MOM said in a Facebook post on Dec 13 that many of the deaths were caused by a lack of basic safety measures or non-compliance. “This points to a sense of complacency and a lack of ownership for workplace safety,” it said. In response to queries from The Straits Times, MOM said that apart from the death on Dec 8, it is investigating three other recent workplace incidents that had resulted in both fatal and major injuries in the construction sector. On the morning of Dec 13, a 77-year-old Singaporean man was operating a crawler crane’s boom when a hook block dislodged and struck his left foot. Images of the accident scene at the North-South Corridor site between Novena Rise and Toa Payoh Rise show a bloodied, grey-haired man with a mangled left foot trying to get out of the crane’s cabin, which was strewn with broken glass. The injured man is being treated at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and ST has contacted Samsung C&T Corporation – the occupier of the worksite – for more information. The Land Transport Authority, which is the developer of the project, said the accident occurred when a mobile crane’s auxiliary hook was undergoing repairs. It added that investigations are ongoing, and that a safety timeout will be called. In another incident on Dec 4, a 21-year-old Myanmar national who was working on the roof of a warehouse building died when he fell through a skylight that was about 10m above the ground. He was employed by Zebra Builders, while the occupier of the worksite is LHN Energy Resources. On Nov 27, a Chinese national, 34, died at Sengkang General Hospital after he became trapped between the operating console of the boom lift he was operating and the underside of the building’s ledge. The occupier of the worksite – Tiong Seng Contractors – has been ordered to stop all work activities at the site, which is being developed by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. The man’s employer was Rong Earn Construction. ST has contacted the employers involved for more information. In November, construction firms were strongly encouraged to impose a safety timeout, with an emphasis on three areas of concern, which were gleaned from recent workplace deaths. These consisted of falling objects that may strike workers, vehicular safety, as well as safe lifting and rigging activities. In its Facebook post, MOM said it stepped up its enforcement concurrently, and conducted more than 400 inspections in October and November. As a result, 13 stop-work orders were issued, while firms were fined more than $300,000 in total. The ministry said the enforcement reinforced its zero-tolerance stance against those who flout WSH regulations, and stressed that there would be serious consequences. “If the situation does not improve, MOM will not hesitate to take stronger actions against errant companies and individuals to drive stronger ownership of WSH,” it said, adding that the festive season is not an excuse for firms to cut corners to meet project deadlines. Since early 2024, the authorities have introduced a string of measures to improve workplace safety in the construction sector, including placing greater emphasis on safety when evaluating construction tenders called from April. In the first half of the year, 19 workers died in work-related accidents, up from 14 in the same period in 2023. The workplace safety and health (WSH) performance for the Construction sector in 2024 has been concerning. While the...By Kemberley Washington, CPA, Bankrate.com The IRS Direct File program, which lets taxpayers file their federal income tax return directly with the IRS for free, is doubling its reach to 24 states for the 2025 tax season, up from 12 states in 2024, the program’s pilot year. The Direct File program will also accept more types of tax situations for the 2025 tax season. While taxpayers who used the system in 2024 could claim a handful of tax credits, including the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit , that list is expanding in 2025 to include the child and dependent care credit , among others. An estimated 30 million taxpayers will qualify for the Direct File program in 2025, the IRS says. More than 140,000 taxpayers filed their federal tax returns through the Direct File program in 2024. About 90% of users said their experience was excellent or above average, according to a survey of about 11,000 Direct File users in 2024, conducted by the General Services Administration. “We’re excited about the improvements to Direct File and the millions more taxpayers who will be eligible to use the service this year,” said Danny Werfel, the IRS commissioner, in a statement. “Our goal is to improve the experience of tax filing itself and help taxpayers meet their obligations quickly and easily.” The IRS says that taxpayers can use Direct File when the 2025 tax season kicks off in January, and it will be available until Oct. 15, 2025. But the program’s future is somewhat unclear: In December, 29 Republican lawmakers sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump, calling for him to end the Direct File program on his first day in office. Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives also introduced legislation in July to end the Direct File program. For now, here’s what you need to know about how the IRS Direct File program works, and how to qualify for it. The Direct File program is a new initiative, about to enter its second year, that allows taxpayers to file their federal tax returns electronically with the IRS. The no-cost tool guides taxpayers through every part of their federal income tax return. Taxpayers can file using a smartphone, computer or tablet. One of the program’s advantages is that, if you have questions as you’re working on your return, you can get live support directly from the IRS via chat or phone. IRS representatives can answer basic tax questions and help with technical issues in English and Spanish. The Direct File program has income limits, as well as limits on the types of income, deductions and credits you can enter on your tax return. For the 2025 tax season: To be eligible for Direct File, your income can come from the following sources: But if you’re self-employed, or have business or rental income, you can’t use Direct File . Same goes for IRA contributions or distributions: If you have either, you can’t use Direct File. You can use the IRS Direct File program only if you claim the standard deduction — the program isn’t available to people who itemize. But you can claim certain above-the-line deductions: student loan interest , educator expenses and health savings account contributions . You can’t use Direct File if you want to deduct your IRA contributions. The Direct File program allows for the following tax credits in 2025: However, if you want to claim education credits , credits for energy efficient home upgrades or the adoption expense credit , you can’t use the Direct File program. More taxpayers will have access to the IRS Direct File program in 2025. In 2024, the IRS kicked off the program with only 12 states; that number has expanded to 24 states for the 2025 tax season. For some of the states that participate in the IRS Direct File program, your federal return information will be transferred automatically to the state tax website, but in some cases you’ll have to re-enter your information. Visit this IRS Direct File page to get the details for your state. Here is a list of the participating states: If you don’t qualify for the IRS Direct File program, you may have other options to file your tax return for free. In addition to Direct File, the IRS offers the Free File program, in which it partners with online tax software providers to provide free federal income tax return filing. Some providers also allow you to file a state income tax return. For the 2024 tax season, your adjusted gross income had to be less than $79,000 to qualify for the Free File program. That dollar threshold is likely to rise slightly for the 2025 tax season. The IRS also offers the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which provides certified volunteers to prepare basic tax returns if you earn less than $67,000 a year, are disabled, or speak limited English. You can find a site near you by visiting this IRS page . ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Libyan military officials said Monday they apprehended hundreds of migrants traversing the country’s vast desert hoping to ultimately cross the Mediterranean Sea in pursuit of a better life in Europe. The 444 Brigade, a powerful militia group that operates under the auspices of the Libyan army, said in a statement that its patrolling commanders detained more than 300 migrants and referred them to authorities. The group in a post on Facebook condemned smuggling and human trafficking and said its patrols would continue efforts to block smuggling routes. It posted satellite images of the desert and pictures of what appeared to be migrants sitting in rows in front of armed and masked militants. The apprehensions come as Libya remains a primary point of departure for men, women and children from the Middle East and Africa aiming to reach Europe. Many are escaping war or poverty and many employ smugglers to help them negotiate treacherous deserts and sea routes. Roughly 38,000 people have arrived in Italy and Malta from Libya this year, according to UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency. The overcrowded boats used by migrants and smugglers are known to routinely capsize and a key priority for European leaders has been to encourage North African countries to prevent migrants from reaching the sea. But unlike in Morocco and Tunisia — where tens of thousands of migrants also attempt to pass through en route to the southern shores of Europe — fighting between rival governments in Libya has added additional challenges to migration management partnerships. Migrant apprehensions are rarely reported in Libya, though the country’s state news service LANA reported more than 2,000 arrests in July. The oil-rich country plunged into turmoil after a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Since then, the country has been divided between dueling governments in the east and west, each backed by militias and foreign powers. Human traffickers have for years benefited from the political chaos. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk in July said migrants in the country had been subjected to torture, forced labor and starvation while being detained.The team that President-elect Donald Trump has selected to lead federal health agencies in his second administration includes a retired congressman, a surgeon and a former talk-show host. All could play pivotal roles in fulfilling a political agenda that could change how the government goes about safeguarding Americans’ health — from health care and medicines to food safety and science research. In line to lead the Department of Health and Human Services secretary is environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine organizer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Trump’s choices don’t have experience running large bureaucratic agencies, but they know how to talk about health on TV. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid pick Dr. Mehmet Oz hosted a talk show for 13 years and is a well-known wellness and lifestyle influencer. The pick for the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Marty Makary, and for surgeon general, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, are frequent Fox News contributors. Many on the list were critical of covid-19 measures like masking and booster vaccinations for young people. Some of them have ties to Florida like many of Trump’s other Cabinet nominees: Dave Weldon, the pick for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, represented the state in Congress for 14 years and is affiliated with a medical group on the state’s Atlantic coast. Nesheiwat’s brother-in-law is Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., tapped by Trump as national security adviser. Here’s a look at the nominees’ potential role in carrying out what Kennedy says is the task to “reorganize” agencies, which have an overall $1.7 trillion budget, employ 80,000 scientists, researchers, doctors and other officials, and effect Americans’ daily lives: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The Atlanta-based CDC, with a $9.2 billion core budget, is charged with protecting Americans from disease outbreaks and other public health threats. Kennedy has long attacked vaccines and criticized the CDC, repeatedly alleging corruption at the agency. He said on a 2023 podcast that there is “no vaccine that is safe and effective,” and urged people to resist the CDC’s guidelines on if and when kids should get vaccinated. Decades ago, Kennedy found common ground with Weldon, 71, who served in the Army and worked as an internal medicine doctor before he represented a central Florida congressional district from 1995 to 2009. Starting in the early 2000s, Weldon had a prominent part in a debate about whether there was a relationship between a vaccine preservative called thimerosal and autism. He was a founding member of the Congressional Autism Caucus and tried to ban thimerosal from all vaccines. Kennedy, then a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, believed there was a tie between thimerosal and autism and also charged that the government hid documents showing the danger. Since 2001, all vaccines manufactured for the U.S. market and routinely recommended for children 6 years or younger have contained no thimerosal or only trace amounts, with the exception of inactivated influenza vaccine. Meanwhile, study after study after study found no evidence that thimerosal caused autism. Weldon’s congressional voting record suggests he may go along with Republican efforts to downsize the CDC, including to eliminate the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, which works on topics like drownings, drug overdoses and shooting deaths. Weldon also voted to ban federal funding for needle-exchange programs as an approach to reduce overdoses, and the National Rifle Association gave him an “A” rating for his pro-gun rights voting record. Food and Drug Administration Kennedy is extremely critical of the FDA, which has 18,000 employees and is responsible for the safety and effectiveness of prescription drugs, vaccines and other medical products, as well as overseeing cosmetics, electronic cigarettes and most foods. Makary, Trump’s pick to run the FDA, is closely aligned with Kennedy on several topics. The professor at Johns Hopkins University who is a trained surgeon and cancer specialist has decried the overprescribing of drugs, the use of pesticides on foods and the undue influence of pharmaceutical and insurance companies over doctors and government regulators. Kennedy has suggested he’ll clear our “entire” FDA departments and also recently threatened to fire FDA employees for “aggressive suppression” of a host of unsubstantiated products and therapies, including stem cells, raw milk, psychedelics and discredited COVID-era treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine. Makary’s contrarian views during the COVID-19 pandemic included questioning the need for masking and giving young kids COVID-19 vaccine boosters. But anything Makary and Kennedy might want to do when it comes to unwinding FDA regulations or revoking long-standing vaccine and drug approvals would be challenging. The agency has lengthy requirements for removing medicines from the market, which are based on federal laws passed by Congress. Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services The agency provides health care coverage for more than 160 million people through Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, and also sets Medicare payment rates for hospitals, doctors and other providers. With a $1.1 trillion budget and more than 6,000 employees, Oz has a massive agency to run if confirmed — and an agency that Kennedy hasn’t talked about much when it comes to his plans. While Trump tried to scrap the Affordable Care Act in his first term, Kennedy has not taken aim at it yet. But he has been critical of Medicaid and Medicare for covering expensive weight-loss drugs — though they’re not widely covered by either. Trump said during his campaign that he would protect Medicare, which provides insurance for older Americans. Oz has endorsed expanding Medicare Advantage — a privately run version of Medicare that is popular but also a source of widespread fraud — in an AARP questionnaire during his failed 2022 bid for a U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania and in a 2020 Forbes op-ed with a former Kaiser Permanente CEO. Oz also said in a Washington Examiner op-ed with three co-writers that aging healthier and living longer could help fix the U.S. budget deficit because people would work longer and add more to the gross domestic product. Neither Trump nor Kennedy have said much about Medicaid, the insurance program for low-income Americans. Trump’s first administration reshaped the program by allowing states to introduce work requirements for recipients. Surgeon general Kennedy doesn’t appear to have said much publicly about what he’d like to see from surgeon general position, which is the nation’s top doctor and oversees 6,000 U.S. Public Health Service Corps members. The surgeon general has little administrative power, but can be an influential government spokesperson on what counts as a public health danger and what to do about it — suggesting things like warning labels for products and issuing advisories. The current surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, declared gun violence as a public health crisis in June. Trump’s pick, Nesheiwat, is employed as a New York City medical director with CityMD, a group of urgent care facilities in the New York and New Jersey area, and has been at City MD for 12 years. She also has appeared on Fox News and other TV shows, authored a book on the “transformative power of prayer” in her medical career and endorses a brand of vitamin supplements. She encouraged covid-19 vaccines during the pandemic, calling them “a gift from God” in a February 2021 Fox News op-ed, as well as anti-viral pills like Paxlovid. In a 2019 Q&A with the Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation, Nesheiwat said she is a “firm believer in preventive medicine” and “can give a dissertation on hand-washing alone.” National Institutes of Health As of Saturday, Trump had not yet named his choice to lead the National Institutes of Health, which funds medical research through grants to researchers across the nation and conducts its own research. It has a $48 billion budget. Kennedy has said he’d pause drug development and infectious disease research to shift the focus to chronic diseases. He’d like to keep NIH funding from researchers with conflicts of interest, and criticized the agency in 2017 for what he said was not doing enough research into the role of vaccines in autism — an idea that has long been debunked.

As the game unfolded, it was clear that Conte's tactical gamble had paid off. Inter's high-pressing game and quick transitions caught Lazio off guard, with the Nerazzurri controlling possession and creating numerous scoring opportunities. Lukaku's predatory instincts were on full display as he latched onto a through ball from Martinez to fire home the opening goal, sending the Inter fans into raptures. Lazio tried to mount a comeback, but Inter's resolute defending and clinical finishing proved to be too much for them to handle.McDonald’s ( MCD ) has had a rough year. The fast-food chain has been battling low sales all year as consumers across the country are increasingly avoiding fast-food restaurants in order to dodge inflated prices. The trend has contributed to McDonald’s facing a 3% year-over-year decline in its net income during the third quarter of this year. 💰💸 Don’t miss the move: SIGN UP for TheStreet’s FREE Daily newsletter 💰💸 McDonald’s was also recently hit with an unsettling E. coli outbreak, which affected multiple restaurant locations across the country, scaring away even more customers. Related: McDonald’s makes a desperate move to win back fleeing customers The outbreak sickened more than 100 people, hospitalized 34, and even killed one person. It is the first serious public health issue McDonald’s has faced at its U.S. restaurants in more than 40 years . McDonald's faces another major headwind To add to McDonald’s list of woes, the company’s espresso machines are now malfunctioning at multiple U.S. locations, which is posing a safety risk to its employees, according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal. A faulty component in the machines, which are manufactured by Melitta, could forcefully emit steam, causing the part to break. As a result of this issue, McDonald’s customers will have to find a new place to get their expresso fix since the fast-food chain is temporarily pulling hot and cold expresso drinks from its menus at multiple restaurants across the country. Bloomberg/Getty Images McDonald’s sells a wide variety of expresso drinks such as its Caramel Macchiato, Mocha Frappé, French Vanilla Cappuccino, etc. The drastic decision from McDonald’s comes after Melitta, which is investigating the issue, advised McDonald’s operators in a letter to stop using the machines for up to three weeks, according to the Journal. "We have moved quickly to decommission these machines in McDonald's restaurants and are staying in contact with our supplier to resolve the issue," said McDonald's in a statement to the Journal. "We are still determining the scope of the impact." McDonald's is on a rocky road to recovery Another calamity is the last thing McDonald’s needs. Last month, McDonald’s had to remove its Quarter Pounder hamburger from menus nationwide as a result of the E.coli outbreak. Related: McDonald’s new $5 Meal Deal isn’t going as planned (so far ...) During an earnings call on Oct. 29, McDonald’s Chief Financial Officer Ian Borden confirmed that the outbreak caused “daily negative sales and guest count” at the company’s U.S. restaurants. “We certainly are fully focused on getting the U.S. business back to the momentum that we were seeing, working hard to kind of restore [the] confidence of all of our consumers,” said Borden during the call. More Food + Dining: In late October, McDonald’s put the Quarter Pounder back on its menus, and the company has been doing expensive damage control ever since. The company is reportedly spending $100 million to help attract customers back into its restaurants. McDonald’s is investing $35 million in marketing to advertise its value meal deals and $65 million toward franchisees that were negatively impacted by the outbreak. Related: Veteran fund manager sees world of pain coming for stocksAfter an abysmal first month, the Minnesota Timberwolves seem to have new life after a huge win over the Los Angeles Lakers. In fact, the locker room seems quite positive despite all the trade rumors surrounding them. “We have great competitors in this locker room, so when you lose, obviously you get frustrated. But it’s true that you always gotta have perspective and never lose that perspective that it’s basketball. We dedicate our lives to it, but it’s still basketball. We have to have fun when we get on the court," center Rudy Gobert said. We're just over a month into the season and there is already tons of trade chatter. Also, there's resentment for the big trade just before the season that brought in forward Julius Randle and guard Donte DiVincenzo for All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns. With the power of social media, the players hear everything. Even if they don't see it for themselves. Reporters ask about it. Trade rumors have been circulating around DiVincenzo, Randle, Gobert, and others due to the team's chemistry woes. While we continue to speculate on the outside, the team seems aware of the chatter but remains locked in as a unit despite their frustration. Most of the trade talk has surrounded DiVincenzo. His numbers have declined since joining the Wolves. He hasn't looked as comfortable in his new role in Minnesota, but he finally addressed all of the incessant talk about the team and the rumors. “I said this at practice other day, we’re not worried about what other people are saying," DiVincenzo shared. "We leave everything up to all you guys to decide about what works, what doesn’t work. We’re focused on ourselves and staying together. Stack a few wins, and everybody’s energy changes. So we just got to stay with it. When rough patches hit, and we hit a big rough patch early, and we’re just staying together." Hopefully, the Lakers win can spark some life into the Wolves. It's still early in the season and they're still a .500 team. It's refreshing to see they're not as concerned as the rest of the basketball seems to be. With a great stretch in December, the team can quickly turn things around by the All-Star break. MORE WOLVES NEWS: Timberwolves' $117 million forward already predicted to hit the trade block

With her delicate features and classic beauty, Wen Yongsan's face is truly a work of art. There is a timeless quality to her appearance that seems to transport us back to the glamour of old Hong Kong. Her porcelain skin, high cheekbones, and captivating eyes exude a sense of mystery and allure that is reminiscent of the iconic beauties of the silver screen.

RICHMOND — Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-Virginia) let it be known this week that he is considering a run for Virginia governor. Or to be more precise, Scott said he is not not running. “I haven’t ruled it out,” he told Punchbowl News . However noncommittal and understated — less “I’m in!” than “I’m not out!” — Scott’s declaration tossed a bundle of political dynamite into the Democrats’ so far sleepy gubernatorial primary contest, which Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Virginia) has had to herself since her lone competitor dropped out in April.Congressional bicameral team pushes for insurance, pharmaceutical reform

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Getting blown out at Green Bay following another squandered late lead the previous week against Seattle has quickly turned the San Francisco 49ers from a Super Bowl contender into a team just fighting to get back to the playoffs. If San Francisco doesn't get healthy and eliminate the errors that led to Sunday's 38-10 loss to the Packers, the focus will turn from playoff permutations to what offseason changes are necessary. “I think everyone understands completely outside and inside what the situation is,” coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday. “That’s why the Seattle game was so tough of a loss and that’s why last night was even worse. We know what we got ahead of us. We know exactly what the playoff situation is. That is what it is. But really, all that matters is this week when you do need to go on a run and put a lot of wins to even think of that.” The task doesn't get any easier as the Niners (5-6) get set to play at Buffalo on Sunday night. The 49ers are hoping to get injured stars Brock Purdy , Nick Bosa and Trent Williams back for that game, but their presence alone won't fix everything that went wrong on Sunday . The defense got repeatedly gashed early and put San Francisco in a 17-0 hole before the offense even generated a first down. The running game never got going as Christian McCaffrey has looked nothing like the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year in his three games back from Achilles tendinitis. And whenever the Niners appeared to do something right, a penalty came back to haunt them. It added up to the most lopsided loss for San Francisco since the 2018 season, before Shanahan had turned the Niners into perennial contenders. “It’s probably one of the worst ones I’ve been a part of,” linebacker Fred Warner said. “It is embarrassing. You’ve got to take it on the chin, take it like a man and move on.” Despite the doom and gloom, the 49ers are only one game behind Seattle and Arizona in the NFC West standings with six games to go. But San Francisco already has three division losses and a difficult schedule featuring games against the Bills this week and Detroit in Week 17. “My optimism is not broken by any means,” tight end George Kittle said. “We still have a lot of very talented players. We will get some guys back and I still have full trust in the coaching staff to put our guys in position to make plays. I have no worry about that. But definitely an uphill grind. We'll see what we’re made of, which I’m looking forward to.” Red-zone passes to Kittle. Backup QB Brandon Allen connected on a 3-yard TD pass to Kittle late in the second quarter for San Francisco's only TD. Kittle leads the NFL with eight touchdown catches in the red zone, which is tied with Vernon Davis (2013) for the most in a season for a Niners player since 2000. Kittle was the only consistent part of the San Francisco offense with six catches for 82 yards. Avoiding penalties. San Francisco had nine penalties for 77 yards and they were costly and sloppy. The Niners had 12 men on the field on defense on back-to-back plays, three false starts, a pass interference in the end zone and three penalties on special teams, including a holding on Eric Saubert that negated an 87-yard kickoff return by Deebo Samuel to open the second half. Rookie Dominick Puni had three penalties after being penalized just once in the first 10 games. DE Leonard Floyd. There were few positive performances on defense, but Floyd had both of the team's sacks. Run defense. San Francisco allowed 169 yards rushing, including 87 in the first quarter for the team's second-worst performance in the opening quarter since 1991. The Niners missed 19 tackles, according to Pro Football Focus, as Josh Jacobs gained 83 of his 106 yards rushing after contact. Purdy took part in a light throwing session without pain on Monday and Shanahan is hopeful he can return to practice Wednesday after missing the Green Bay game with a shoulder injury. ... Bosa (hip, oblique) and Williams (ankle) also could return this week after sitting out Sunday. ... LG Aaron Banks, DT Jordan Elliott and WR Jacob Cowing all in the concussion protocol. ... RG Dominick Puni (shoulder) and CB Deommodore Lenoir (knee) underwent MRIs on Monday and the team is waiting for results. ... CB Renardo Green (neck) and LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (knee) are day to day. 11 — The Niners generated only 11 first downs, tied for the fewest in any game in eight seasons under Shanahan. They also had 11 in the 2022 NFC title game loss at Philadelphia when Purdy hurt his elbow and in Week 2 against Seattle in Shanahan's first season in 2017. The 49ers visit Buffalo on Sunday night. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL