sports writing filipino "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.Global Molybdenum Market Insights 2024: Key Trends, Market Size, and Growth ForecastPresident Bola Tinubu’s frequent trips outside the country, which are reportedly about 30, has attracted comments from many Nigerians, who view the constant trips as jamboree and waste of resources at a period the nation is experiencing serious crisis occasioned by fuel subsidy removal and floating of the naira by the current administration. It will be recalled that the president started his official travels in June 2023, a few weeks after he took the oath of office. His media team was quoted to have said that the purpose of the numerous travels was to strengthen Nigeria’s position on the global stage, foster economic growth, and address some of the country’s other challenges. However, data from GovSpend, a BudgIT Foundation analytics platform, revealed that between February 21 and July 19, Tinubu spent N2, 346,623,000 on foreign trips. Since then the expenditures incurred on foreign trips have increased because the President had embarked on several trips since July. Critics have, however, raised the alarm that the frequent foreign travels by the President have not yielded commensurable results to benefit Nigerians at a time they are facing excruciating pains owing to the policies of the government. They hold that the humongous amount of money expended on the foreign trips could have been better spent in fixing the nation’s infrastructures. Critics’ positions Comrade Emeka Nkwoala, Delta State chairman of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), has said that the trips are just a jamboree. He believes that Nigeria only needs a home grown solution to her myriad of challenges, saying that President Tinubu should sit at home and face these issues squarely. He said: “This travels are just jamborees. That’s not what is needed. We need a home grown solution to our myriads of challenges. Our President should sit at home and face these issues squarely. Nigeria ought to benefit from foreign direct investment (FDI) but that is not happening because the local investors in the country are not smiling. They consult them (intended investors), and their stories are not funny. “They face challenges of insecurity, high and multiple taxation; high and unreliable energy cost, volatility of the foreign exchange, inconsistent government policies and lack of government patronage, the list goes on. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must stop these travels and take up the task of nation’s building vigorously. He should also end hunger and hardship in the land, especially since the sudden removal of fuel subsidies.” Also, Chief Nkereuwem Udofia Akpan, a human rights activist and constitutional lawyer, says though there’s a Constitutional limit as to how long the President can be away from office without handing over to the Vice President, there’s no limit as to how many trips he can make abroad within a particular time frame. “But here is the deal, incessant travels fuels the rumour mills that he is unwell. Unless his handlers find a plausible explanation for the prolonged trips, then we are in for a constitutional crisis sooner or later,” Akpan said. A don at the University of Lagos, Professor Christopher Anyokwu, in his reaction, said: “Like every right-thinking Nigerian, I know his travels are not likely to do much by way of attracting FDI, inter alia. “Frankly, the less said the better. I’m utterly disappointed in this government as things stand.” His counterpart at the Delta State University, Abraka, Dr Boniface Chukwuma Anyanwu (Associate Professor), has also said that it’s only right that he travels for the benefit of justifying the CIA and its interest. He added: “But, what can possibly be relevant and beneficial from the travels that we’re not seeing from the beginning? About 30 times in about 30 months in office, and no sign of anything positive; why would Nigerians expect anything? “Can anything good come out of Nazareth? That question came from the Holy Book. Something more than good eventually came from Nazareth, you know. “But again, with the American CIA declaring the traveller as an asset or what was the word again, it’s only right that he travels for the benefit of justifying the CIA and its interest.” Presidency reacts But the Presidency has consistently maintained that the President needed to move around the world in search of foreign direct Investments (FDI) and to re-establish the nation as the premium economic powerhouse in Africa. In his response to the many criticisms against Tinubu’s frequent travels, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Mr Sunday Dare, said: “Such criticisms are misplaced and unfair. “Part of the job of a President is to travel to important global meetings to interact with other leaders at bilateral and multilateral levels. The President is the diplomat-in-chief and marketer-in-chief of the country. He represents Nigeria and Nigeria must never be missing at the table. “The president’s foreign trips have brought important benefits to the country. The Prime Minister just visited last Sunday on his way to the G20 Summit in Rio. “The last time an Indian PM visited Nigeria was 2007. India is now the 4th largest economy in the world and one of the top trading partners of our country. “The Indian PM invited President Tinubu to the G20 Summit last year and the government attracted $14bn dollars investment from Indian businessmen.” He added: “Some of these investments are in Nigeria and at the meeting in Nigeria on Sunday; the PM further assured the remaining commitments will soon be implemented. “On this current trip to the G20 Summit in Brazil, the Ministry of Agriculture signed on behalf of the Federal Government $1.2bn deal on food security that will advance private sector development in fertiliser production, hybrid seed technology and agric financing. “The deal is between the Federal Government and the Brazilian government. The job of a President is not only to stay in the office. A president must go out to market his country, to promote investment climate, people to people diplomacy and generate goodwill abroad. “These things can only happen when he embarks on these diplomatic shuttles. They are very important and essential for national development and progress. “President Tinubu gets invited for State Visits and Official Visits by world leaders because of Nigeria’s preeminent role in Africa and world affairs.”

In March, newly installed Social Security chief Martin O’Malley criticized that “shock our shared sense of equity and good conscience as Americans.” He promised to overhaul the Social Security Administration’s to claw back money that — including people who are living in poverty, are elderly, or have disabilities — were allegedly overpaid, as described by a KFF Health News and Cox Media Group investigation last year. “Innocent people can be badly hurt,” O’Malley said at the time. Nearly eight months since he and announced a series of policy changes, and with two months left in his term, O’Malley’s effort to fix the system has made inroads but remains a work in progress. For instance, one change, moving away from withholding 100% of people’s monthly Social Security benefits to recover alleged overpayments, has been a major improvement, say advocates for beneficiaries. “It is a tremendous change,” said Kate Lang of Justice in Aging, who called it “life-changing for many people.” The number of people from whom the Social Security Administration was withholding full monthly benefits to recoup money declined sharply — from about 46,000 in January to about 7,000 in September, the agency said. Asked to clarify whether those numbers and others provided for this article covered all programs administered by the agency, the SSA press office did not respond. Another potentially significant change — relieving beneficiaries of having to prove that an overpayment was not their fault — has not been implemented. The agency said it is working on that. Meanwhile, the agency seems to be looking to Congress to take the lead on a change some observers see as crucial: limiting how far back the government can reach to recover an alleged overpayment. Barbara Hubbell of Watkins Glen, New York, called the absence of a statute of limitations “despicable.” Hubbell said her mother was held liable for $43,000 because of an SSA error going back 19 years. “In what universe is that even legal?” Hubbell said. Paying down the overpayment balance left her mother “essentially penniless,” she added. In response to questions for this article, Social Security spokesperson Mark Hinkle said legislation is “the best and fastest way” to set a time limit. Establishing a statute of limitations was not among the policy changes O’Malley announced in his March congressional testimony. In an interview at the time, he said he expected an announcement on it “within the next couple few months.” It could probably be done by regulation, without an act of Congress, he said. Speaking generally, Hinkle said the agency has “made substantial progress on overpayments,” reducing the hardship they cause, and “continues to work diligently” to update policies. The agency is underfunded, he added, is at a near 50-year low in staffing, and could do better with more employees. The SSA did not respond to requests for an interview with O’Malley. O’Malley announced the policy changes after KFF Health News and Cox Media Group jointly published and broadcast on the damage overpayments and clawbacks have done to millions of beneficiaries. When O’Malley, a former Democratic governor of Maryland, presented his plans to three congressional committees in March, lawmakers greeted him with rare bipartisan praise. But the past several months have shown how hard it can be to turn around a federal bureaucracy that is massive, complex, deeply dysfunctional, and, as it says, understaffed. Now O’Malley’s time may be running out. Lang of Justice in Aging, among the advocacy groups that have been meeting with O’Malley and other Social Security officials, said she appreciates how much the commissioner has achieved in a short time. But she added that O’Malley has “not been interested in hearing about our feelings that things have fallen short.” One long-standing policy O’Malley set out to change involves the burden of proof. When the Social Security Administration alleges someone has been overpaid and demands the money back, the burden is on the beneficiary to prove they were not at fault. Cecilia Malone, 24, a beneficiary in Lithonia, Georgia, said she and her parents spent hundreds of hours trying to get errors corrected. “Why is the burden on us to ‘prove’ we weren’t overpaid?” Malone said. It can be exceedingly difficult for beneficiaries to appeal a decision. The alleged overpayments, which can reach tens of thousands of dollars or more, often span years. And people struggling just to survive may have extra difficulty producing financial records from long ago. What’s more, in letters demanding repayment, the government does not typically spell out its case against the beneficiary — making it hard to mount a defense. Testifying before House and Senate committees in March, O’Malley promised to shift the burden of proof. “That should be on the agency,” he said. The agency expects to finalize “guidance” on the subject “in the coming months,” Hinkle said. The agency points to reduced wait times and other improvements in a phone system known to leave beneficiaries on hold. “In September, we answered calls to our national 800 number in an average of 11 minutes — a tremendous improvement from 42 minutes one year ago,” Hinkle said. Still, in response to a nonrepresentative survey by KFF Health News and Cox Media Group focused on overpayments, about half of respondents who said they contacted the agency by phone since April rated that experience as “poor,” and few rated it “good” or “excellent.” The survey was sent to about 600 people who had contacted KFF Health News to since September 2023. Almost 200 people answered the survey in September and October of this year. Most of those who said they contacted the agency by mail since April rated their experience as “poor.” Jennifer Campbell, 60, a beneficiary in Nelsonville, Ohio, said in late October that she was still waiting for someone at the agency to follow up as described during a phone call in May. “VERY POOR customer service!!!!!” Campbell wrote. “Nearly impossible to get a hold of someone,” wrote Kathryn Duff of Colorado Springs, Colorado, who has been helping a disabled family member. Letters from SSA have left Duff mystified. One was postmarked July 9, 2024, but dated more than two years earlier. Another, dated Aug. 18, 2024, said her family member was overpaid $31,635.80 in benefits from the Supplemental Security Income program, which provides money to people with or other resources who are disabled, blind, or at least 65. But Duff said her relative never received SSI benefits. What’s more, for the dates in question, payments listed in the letter to back up the agency’s math didn’t come close to $31,635.80; they totaled about a quarter of that amount. Regarding the 100% clawbacks, O’Malley in March said it’s “unconscionable that someone would find themselves facing homelessness or unable to pay bills, because Social Security withheld their entire payment for recovery of an overpayment.” He said that, starting March 25, if a beneficiary doesn’t respond to a new overpayment notice, the agency would default to withholding 10%. The agency warned of “a short transition period.” That change wasn’t automated until June 25, Hinkle said. The number of people newly placed in full withholding plummeted from 6,771 in February to 51 in September, according to data the agency provided. SSA said it would notify recipients they could request reduced withholding if it was already clawing back more than 10% of their monthly checks. Nonetheless, dozens of beneficiaries or their family members told KFF Health News and Cox Media Group they hadn’t heard they could request reduced withholding. Among those who did ask, roughly half said their requests were approved. According to the SSA, there has been almost a 20% decline in the number of people facing clawbacks of more than 10% but less than 100% of their monthly checks — from 141,316 as of March 8 to 114,950 as of Oct. 25, agency spokesperson Nicole Tiggemann said. Meanwhile, the number of people from whom the agency was withholding exactly 10% soared more than fortyfold — from just over 5,000 to well over 200,000. And the number of beneficiaries having any partial benefits withheld to recover an overpayment increased from almost 600,000 to almost 785,000, according to data Tiggemann provided. Lorraine Anne Davis, 72, of Houston, said she hasn’t received her monthly Social Security payment since June due to an alleged overpayment. Her Medicare premium was being deducted from her monthly benefit, so she’s been left to pay that out-of-pocket. Davis said she’s going to need a kidney transplant and had been trying to save money for when she’d be unable to work. A letter from the SSA dated April 8, 2024, two weeks after the new 10% withholding policy was slated to take effect, said it had overpaid her $13,538 and demanded she pay it back within 30 days. Apparently, the SSA hadn’t accounted for a pension Davis receives from overseas; Davis said she disclosed it when she filed for benefits. In a letter to her dated June 29, the agency said that, under its new policy, it would change the withholding to only 10% if she asked. Davis said she asked by phone repeatedly, and to no avail. “Nobody seems to know what’s going on” and “no one seems to be able to help you,” Davis said. “You’re just held captive.” In October, the agency said she’d receive a payment — in March 2025. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

TORONTO, Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Xtract One Technologies Inc. (TSX: XTRA) (OTCQX: XTRAF) (FRA: 0PL) (“Xtract One” or the “Company”) a leading technology-driven threat detection and security solution that prioritizes the patron access experience by leveraging AI, today announced fiscal first quarter results for the three months ended October 31, 2024. All information is in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated. “As expected, first quarter revenue, while up year-over-year, was a little lighter in new bookings than recent periods reflecting order timing, as we focused on bringing Xtract One Gateway to market and actively engaged in business development initiatives to build our pipeline for the remainder of fiscal 2025,” stated Peter Evans, Chief Executive Officer of Xtract One. “We continue to win customers outside of our core sports and live entertainment markets, welcoming new clients in the Education, Healthcare, and Manufacturing sectors, which made up 67% of the total contract value of new bookings this quarter. Demand remains strong as evidenced by our growing sales pipeline, and we’ve been pleased with the initial response of our newly announced Xtract One Gateway, particularly in high-traffic facilities like schools, convention centers, and commercial properties where we offer a highly differentiated solution. We expect to see revenue accelerate as the year progresses and continue to make progress on our path to profitability.” Consolidated revenue was $3.6 million for the three months ended October 31, 2024 as compared to $3.1 million for the same period last year, reflecting new business contract wins and a greater number of installations. Gross profit was $2.3 million, or a margin of 64%, in the fiscal 2025 first quarter versus $2.1 million, or 67% of sales, in the prior-year period. Comprehensive loss was $2.7 million for the three month period ended October 31, 2024 as compared to $2.7 million for the same period in fiscal 2024. This reflects higher revenue and gross profit, largely offset by an increase in operating expenses. This press release should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements, prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) and the Company’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the three month periods ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, which can be found on the Company’s website and under the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at . Xtract One will host a conference call to discuss its results tomorrow, December 6, 2024 at 10:00 am EST. Peter Evans, Xtract One CEO and Director, and Karen Hersh, CFO and Corporate Secretary, will provide an overview of the interim financial results along with management’s outlook for the business, followed by a question-and-answer period. The webcast and presentation will be accessible on the company’s website. The and the telephone number for the conference call is 844-481-3016 (412-317-1881 for international callers). is a leading technology-driven threat detection and security solution leveraging AI to provide seamless and secure patron access control experiences. The Company makes unobtrusive threat detection systems that enable facility building operators to prioritize and deliver “Walk-right-In” experiences while providing unprecedented safety. Xtract One’s innovative portfolio of AI-powered Gateway solutions excels at allowing facilities to discreetly screen and identify weapons and other threats at points of entry and exit without disrupting the flow of traffic. With solutions built to serve the unique market needs for schools, hospitals, arenas, stadiums, manufacturing, distribution, and other customers, Xtract One is recognized as a market leader delivering the highest security in combination with the best individual experience. For more information, visit or connect on , , and . , Kristen Aikey, JMG Public Relations, 212-206-1645, Chris Witty, Darrow Associates, 646-438-9385, The Company utilizes specific supplementary financial measures in this earnings release to allow for a better evaluation of the operating performance of the Company’s business and facilitates meaningful comparison of results in the current period with those in prior periods and future periods. Supplementary financial measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to measures presented by other companies. Supplementary financial measures presented in this earnings release include ‘Agreements pending installation’ and ‘Total contract value of new bookings.’ Agreements pending installation reflects total value of signed contracts awarded to the Company that has not been installed at the customer site. ‘Total contract value of new bookings’ is comprised of all new contracts signed and awarded to the Company, regardless of the performance obligations outstanding as of the end of the reporting period. Total contract value is the aggregate value of sales commitments from customers as at the end of the reporting period without consideration of the Company’s completion of the associated performance obligations outlined in each contract. : This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as “will”, “may”, “should”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “believes”, and similar expressions or the negative of these words or other comparable terminology. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include but are not limited to the risks detailed from time to time in the continuous disclosure filings made by the Company with securities regulations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements only as expressly required by applicable law. No securities exchange or commission has reviewed or accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The following table is extracted from the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements and presented in Canadian dollars to demonstrate the Statements of Loss and Comprehensive loss for the three months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023: The following table is extracted from the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements and presented in Canadian dollars to demonstrate the Company’s financial position as at October 31, 2024 and July 31, 2024: The following table is extracted from the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements and presented in Canadian dollars to demonstrate the Company’s cash flows for the three month periods ended October 31, 2024 and 2023:

NoneEyewitnesses Say Nancy Mace Called For Man's Arrest After He Shook Her Hand

sports writing journalism ( ) stock fell late Wednesday after the cybersecurity firm reported third quarter revenue that edged by Wall Street estimates while guidance came in slightly above views. The company reported October-ended quarter SentinelOne earnings after the market close. SentinelOne said it broke even on an adjusted basis vs. an 3-cent loss a year earlier. The cybersecurity company posted revenue of $210.6 million, up 28%. SentinelOne stock analysts expected the Mountain View, Calif.-based company to report revenue of $209.7 million and a 1-cent loss. SentinelOne Stock: Key Metric SentinelOne said annualized recurring revenue from subscription-based services increased 29% to $859.7 million, just above estimates of $857 million. For the current quarter ending in October, SentinelOne predicted revenue of $222 million. On the , SentinelOne stock fell more than 10% to 25.70 in extended trading. In 2024, SentinelOne stock had gained nearly 4%. The company's software detects malware on laptops, mobile phones and other "endpoints" that access corporate networks. Also, it's building a broad, threat-detection cybersecurity platform. Also, SentinelOne rivals include ( ), ( ) and ( ). Meanwhile, SentinelOne stock owns a Relative Strength Rating of 85 out of a best-possible 99, according to . Further, SentinelOne is among .

Cencora, Inc. (NYSE:COR) Chairman Sells $5,208,619.44 in StockConditions in abandoned mine are too dangerous for crew searching for Pennsylvania woman

Hackers eager to steal valuable information or siphon off money have targeted big corporations and banks for years. Their focus on high-profile targets gave many small businesses a false sense of security, and complacency set in. But what’s easier: hacking a big corporation and risking exposure or going after a small business with weaker security measures and getting away unnoticed? Yes, you guessed it. Small businesses are an easier target. That’s why small businesses cannot afford not to take their cybersecurity seriously. Here are five things small businesses can do to strengthen their cybersecurity and secure their online assets: Cybersecurity is not a one-time training event; it’s an ongoing process. Unfortunately, many local businesses make the mistake of conducting a single cybersecurity workshop and thinking that’s enough. Since cyber threats evolve constantly, SMEs should run regular training sessions and offer employees refresher courses on recognizing phishing emails, using secure password practices, and adopting safe web browsing habits. Additionally, include best practices for handling sensitive customer data and protecting personal devices used for work. Regular cybersecurity training is a foundational business principle that helps keep your team vigilant and prepared to handle new cybersecurity challenges. Invest in a suite of cybersecurity tools that provide comprehensive protection; options include firewalls, anti-virus software, encryption tools, and data backup systems. Implementing security technologies ensures that even if an employee makes a mistake or overlooks a potential threat, there is an additional layer of defense. Businesses looking to justify cybersecurity investments can use tools like the ROSI calculator to measure and assess ROI on security spending, which makes it easier to understand the financial benefits of implementing robust security systems. Weak passwords are a fast gateway for cybercriminals to access company data. Encourage employees to use complex, unique passwords for every work account and implement a password management system. Strong passwords should combine upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid common phrases or predictable sequences. Additionally, adopt multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible to add an extra layer of protection. Cybersecurity simulations can include fake phishing emails, attempts to access company data or mock ransomware attacks. The goal is to test how well employees respond to these threats in a controlled environment. Simulations can help SMEs identify vulnerabilities and improvement areas and give employees the hands-on experience they need to deal with potential cyber threats. This proactive approach helps create a more security-conscious culture and ensures your team is ready to respond quickly and effectively when an actual attack occurs. As a business operating in a hybrid setup, ensure all mobile devices used for business purposes are encrypted. Additionally, protect these devices with strong passwords or biometric security features. Implement a mobile device management (MDM) system to monitor and secure devices accessing your network, particularly those outside the office. Educate employees on secure remote work practices, such as using virtual private networks (VPNs). Also, ensure they secure their home Wi-Fi networks with strong passwords. Providing continuous training, implementing clear policies, encouraging strong password habits, and simulating cyberattacks are the key ways local businesses can enhance their cybersecurity.

Texas AG's office launches investigations into tech companies over potential violations of the SCOPE ActAs snow blankets the Colorado mountains, outdoor enthusiasts have a unique opportunity: the winter hut trip. Whether you’re a skier or a snowshoer, a hut trip offers an excellent opportunity to connect with nature while exploring the rugged beauty of the state’s wilderness and enjoying the warmth and camaraderie of a cozy mountain hut. From the towering peaks of the San Juan Mountains to the snow-covered trails in Summit County, Colorado’s winter hut trips provide an unforgettable experience for adventurers of all levels. Huts fill up fast, so check each property’s for pricing and availability. Located between Telluride and Silverton near the top of Ophir Pass in the San Juan Mountains, the Opus Hut was built for backcountry skiers, mountaineers, hikers and mountain bikers. At 11,700 feet, the hut sits at treeline with low-angle glades below and open slopes above. While intermediate powder skiing is available out the back door of the hut, owner Travis Mohrman said the terrain is best suited for experienced backcountry skiers. Mohrman estimates that 15% to 20% of the groups visiting Opus Hut do so with guides. “They’re not personally comfortable with the terrain or they’re not from the area,” Mohrman said. “They guides are knowledgeable about local conditions — what the snow is, what’s safe and what’s not safe.” The cabin accommodates up to 20 people in five rooms. Some visitors book the whole hut and bring friends and family, while others reserve available beds in unbooked rooms. The hut features solar-powered lighting and 110-volt outlets for charging electronic devices. It also has filtered drinking water, hot and cold tap water, and indoor composting toilets. It provides full bedding and clean sleeping bag liners. During winter, the hut has four to six employees who sleep in a separate cabin. They prepare meals with natural, organic, and, when possible, locally grown products. The hut accommodates vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets–just be sure to inform the staff beforehand. It also offers beer, wine, and a limited selection of spirits for purchase. “You can travel much lighter if you don’t have to bring in your food,” said Mohrman, who took over the hut three years ago. “You don’t have to focus on the upkeep of being in the backcountry.” Reservations for Opus Hut open Aug. 1. “The winter fills up quick,” Mohrman said. “Every winter weekend books in the first five minutes.” Nestled at 11,200 feet in the San Juan National Forest, Campfire Ranch Red Mountain Pass is the perfect base for exploring world-class skiing, split boarding, snowshoeing, and ice climbing. Located between Silverton and Ouray, it’s is accessible during the winter via a half-mile backcountry over-snow approach. Campfire Ranch is an ideal choice for novices. While other Colorado hut systems require you to carry your own food, bring sleeping bags, and live off-grid, this one provides food service, solar-powered electricity, Wi-Fi, and bedding. The dog-friendly cabin accommodates eight people. “We took a hospitality approach to remove barriers to entry for people who want to have the experience but don’t have the gear or the knowledge,” said Katrin Meiusi, director of marketing for the properties. Campfire Ranch first opened a campground on the Taylor River in Almont near Crested Butte. RVs are not permitted at the campground, which is open from May to October. Amenities include unlimited firewood, clean bathrooms, and drinkable well water. The 38 backcountry huts managed by the non-profit 10th Mountain Division Hut Association are connected by 350 miles of trails among some of the tallest peaks in the lower 48 states. All huts, some of which accommodate up to 17 people, have kitchens with propane burners for cooking — propane is provided. They provide pots, pans, potholders, dishware, cooking and eating utensils, a percolator or French press for coffee, salt and pepper, paper towels, dish soap, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies and trash bags. Some huts have ovens and propane grills. All huts provide lighting from on-site solar power, propane or a generator. A few huts also have outlets for charging small devices such as phones. The huts have either an outhouse or an indoor bathroom with toilet paper supplied. All huts include mattresses and pillows, but you must bring your sleeping bag and pillowcase. Summit Hut Association operates five backcountry huts open for winter from November to May. Francie’s and Janet’s cabins are also open for summer use from July to September. All huts have solar-powered lights, fully stocked kitchens, and wood-burning stoves. Francie’s, Janet’s, and Sisters’ cabins have saunas and indoor toilets. The association hosts its annual Backcountry Ball fundraiser in October at The Maggie on Peak to kick off the season. The event includes dinner, drinks, a silent auction and entertainment. Proceeds help maintain the network of backcountry cabins.

Hyderabad: The Banjara Hills police issued a notice to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy in connection with a case registered against him for obstructing a government officer from performing his duties. The police have asked Kaushik Reddy to appear at the Jubilee Hills police station on Friday at 10 am. A criminal case has been filed against Kaushik Reddy, Manne Govardhan Reddy and others for allegedly barging into the Banjara Hills police station, misbehaving with inspector KM Raghavendra and threatening him with abusive language. The case was registered based on a complaint by Raghavendra who stated that Kaushik Reddy, Govardhan Reddy, and their supporters created an intimidating scene, hindering the officer from performing his lawful duties. According to the complainant, he was leaving the police station for emergency law and order duty, when a white car suddenly blocked his vehicle’s path. Around 20 to 30 individuals led by Kaushik Reddy, approached Raghavendra’s car, yelling and threatening him, saying, “Where are you going? Why are you running away? We will see how you can leave here.” They reportedly demanded he exit the vehicle and instructed their followers to prevent the car from moving. Despite the driver attempting to honk and clear the way, the mob surrounded the car, banging on the windows.Canada's newly-appointed Finance Minister Dominic Leblanc and Foreign Minister Melanie Joly met with Howard Lutnick, Trump's commerce secretary nominee, who will also lead the country's tariff and trade agenda. Interior secretary nominee Doug Burgum was also at the meeting held at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Leblanc's spokesman Jean-Sebastien Comeau, who confirmed the participants, described the talks as "positive and productive." Trump has vowed to impose crippling 25-percent tariffs on all Canadian imports when he takes office next month. He has said they will remain in place until Canada addresses the flow of undocumented migrants and the drug fentanyl into the United States. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised retaliatory measures should Trump follow through on his pledge, raising fears of a trade war. Leblanc and Joly "outlined the measures in Canada's Border Plan and reiterated the shared commitment to strengthen border security as well as combat the harm caused by fentanyl to save Canadian and American lives," Comeau said in a statement. Canada's Border Plan -- estimated to cost CAN$1 billion ($694 million) -- was crafted as part of Ottawa's response to Trump's concerns. Lutnick and Burgum "agreed to relay information to President Trump," the statement said. Trudeau is facing his worst political crisis since sweeping into office in 2015. Leblanc was named finance minister earlier this month after the surprise resignation of Chrystia Freeland. In a scathing resignation letter, Freeland accused Trudeau of prioritizing handouts to voters instead of preparing Canada's finances for a possible trade war. More than 75 percent of Canadian exports go to the United States and nearly two million Canadian jobs depend on trade. bs/ahamovies about sports 。

Vivek Ramaswamy , who is a pretty prominent figure in the upcoming administration of US President- elect Donald Trump, pretty recently stirred controversy with a social media post absolutely criticizing the US culture for valuing mediocrity over excellence, reported Daily Beast. ET Year-end Special Reads Two sectors that rose on India's business horizon in 2024 2025 outlook: Is it time for cautious optimism or rekindling animal spirits? 2024: Govt moves ahead with simultaneous polls plan; India holds largest democratic exercise Vivek Ramaswamy criticizing US culture According to Daily Beast, in his lengthy social media post, Vivek Ramaswamy actually lamented that the US society celebrates figures like prom queens and high school jocks over academic achievers while asserting that this cultural trend has hindered the ability of the nation to produce top engineers. He eventually placed an argument that such values have persisted since the time of 1990s and called for a cultural shift while suggesting that children should prioritize reading and science competitions over watching sitcoms like Friends. The recent comments of Vivek Ramaswamy eventually sparked heavy backlash from several MAGA supporters and conservative influencers who actually felt that he was straying from key issues like government spending and immigration policy, asserted Daily Beast. Several critics which included Nikki Haley and Mike Cernovich severely challenged his perspective on US workers and culture while putting an emphasis on the need to invest in domestic talent rather than relying on foreign workers through programs like H-1B visas, noted Daily Beast. Artificial Intelligence(AI) Java Programming with ChatGPT: Learn using Generative AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrows Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program In spite of the genuine pushback, Vivek Ramaswamy actually maintained his stance that addressing these cultural issues is crucial for revitalizing US innovation. FAQs: Which famous personality of the upcoming US President- elect Donald Trump administration recently stirred up controversy by criticizing US culture? Vivek Ramaswamy, who is a pretty prominent figure in the upcoming administration of US President- elect Donald Trump, pretty recently stirred controversy with a social media post absolutely criticizing the US culture for valuing mediocrity over excellence. Who are the renowned critics that challenged the perspective of Vivek Ramawamy regarding the criticism of US culture? Several critics which included Nikki Haley and Mike Cernovich severely challenged his perspective on US workers and culture while putting an emphasis on the need to invest in domestic talent rather than relying on foreign workers through programs like H-1B visas. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )(KAR) is throwing its annual New Year’s Eve party and fireworks Dec. 31 and everyone is invited to come join the celebration. 5:30 – 8:15 p.m. Night skiing and riding. 7 – 9 p.m. Ski Hill Bash! Kids games and activities, fire spinners, kids entertainers, facepainting, pinata, BBQ, beer gardens and more. 8:55 p.m. Torch Light Parade. 9 p.m. – Fireworks presented by and KAR. Stemwinder Bar and Grill – NYE DJ Dance Party – starts after the fireworks until 1 a.m. Cover charge after 10 p.m. 19+ (no pre-purchased tickets). Find more information on KAR’s Events Calendar on its website. : The Torch Light Parade and fireworks on New Year’s Eve at Kimberley Alpine Resort.Oil slips ahead of OPEC+ decision on production cuts

'I feel dodgy face fillers have scarred me for life - I don’t want to look in mirror'White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaignS&P/TSX composite, U.S. markets trade lower Friday morning after holiday break

Amazon and Starbucks workers are on strike. Trump might have something to do with it

CenturyLink fined for leaving WA customers on hold too longFormer US president Jimmy Carter dies aged 100

Another Voice: Indigenous people violated again with STAMP site

For developing countries around the world – especially the poorest – the economic terrain has seldom been so slippery. Low-income countries have already suffered a lost decade, with virtually zero per capita income growth since 2010. Many middle-income countries are coming to terms with a demographic shift that puts them at risk of growing old before they grow rich. And many high-income countries risk stagnation because of sky-high debt and anaemic productivity growth. Such conditions are not conducive to international comity, at least not of the kind that fuelled so much progress after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Developing economies will need to get better at fending for themselves, and while some are already preparing to do so, they are operating with an antiquated policy framework. In the third decade of the 21st century, does it really make sense for developing countries to place an all-or-nothing bet on manufacturing? New research from the World Bank shows clearly that it does not. Developing countries would do far better to put services in the lead role, with manufacturing and agriculture serving as the supporting cast. Services include a wide range of activities – finance, health, tourism, logistics – and the benefits they generate spill over to other sectors. Yet relative to manufacturing, they continue to get a bad rap. Supposedly, they are notoriously slow to innovate, hard to trade, and difficult to free from regulatory restrictions. Yet services now account for more than two-thirds of global GDP and half of global trade (once you factor in services that are used in manufacturing and agriculture). Among those seizing the opportunities offered by trade in services, the most striking examples come from the home of the “Asian miracle.” While the textbook manufacturing-led model of economic growth once worked wonders in East Asia, these countries’ circumstances and needs have changed. Their populations are ageing quickly, the global economy is becoming more fragmented, and they are adapting. Over the past decade, our research shows, the share of services grew from 44% of economic activity in China to 53%, and from 44% to 48% in other economies across East Asia. These sectors now account for nearly 50% of employment in the region, up from 42% a decade ago. This shift reflects the rapid rise of digital technologies – nearly three-quarters of people in East Asia and the Pacific now have access to the Internet, a sevenfold increase from 2000 – as well as modest trade liberalisation for services. The result is an Asian economic renaissance. Opening services to competition has fuelled higher labour productivity even in manufacturing and agriculture, where firms can check prices, deliver goods, and receive payments much more efficiently. Across all major economies in East Asia and the Pacific, services now contribute more than manufacturing to overall labour-productivity growth, an essential condition for higher wages. In Vietnam, for example, labour productivity climbed by 2.9% after the government eased restrictions on foreign entry and ownership in several services sectors between 2008 and 2016 – reform commitments that were part of Vietnam’s accession to the World Trade Organisation. Moreover, manufacturing firms that use these liberalised services registered a 3.1% annual increase in labour productivity, and the biggest beneficiaries were small and medium sized private enterprises. The rise of services in East Asia has yielded other important benefits. It is powering foreign direct investment, with the growth rate of FDI in services exceeding that of manufacturing by a factor of five. It is also driving demand for higher-skilled workers. Close to 40% of formal workers in digital services in East Asia today have a university degree or higher. That’s double the rate for workers in other sectors. And the same trend is unlocking greater economic opportunities for women, because the ratio of female to male workers tends to be higher in the services sector than in manufacturing, and the proportion of women in the workforce grows as the level of economic development increases. These are all essential ingredients for long-term growth. But because the trajectory of services is so closely tied to the spread of digital technologies, developing economies have not benefited equally. The countries with the fastest growth in services tend to be upper-middle-income economies – especially in East Asia. In such economies, services have gone from a 40% share of GDP in 1970 to about 50% today. In low-income countries, however, services as a share of GDP are still about 40%, pretty much the same as in 1970. Yet even in the poorest countries, services represent a promising path to future prosperity. They can help all countries move from low- to middle- to high-income status. But first, we must reject the false choice between supporting services and supporting manufacturing. Policymakers should do both, while maximising the potential of the services sector to deliver growth and jobs. – Project Syndicate Indermit Gill is Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics at the World Bank. Aaditya Mattoo is Chief Economist of the East Asia and Pacific Region at the World Bank. Related Story Ministry of Social Development and Family celebrates Qatar National Day GCC agreements to enhance carbon market services, liquidity

In context: Google does not want to sell off Chrome, which the U.S. government has proposed, so it has countered with its own suggestion about how to remedy its outsized and – according to a recent ruling – illegal domination of the online search market. Google is proposing to modify its agreements with Apple and other partners regarding default search engine settings on new devices. This comes in response to a recent U.S. ruling that found the tech giant unlawfully dominating the online search market. Google's proposal, submitted to U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington, suggests a more limited approach compared to the government's push for more drastic measures. It aims to address the court's concerns while urging caution against interventions that could potentially stifle innovation, especially in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence and its impact on online services, including search engines. While the company plans to appeal the ruling that it holds an illegal monopoly in online search and related advertising, it suggests that the upcoming "remedies" phase should focus primarily on its distribution agreements. These agreements, which the judge found to give Google a "major, largely unseen advantage over its rivals," have resulted in most U.S. devices coming pre-loaded with Google's search engine. To address this, Google proposes making the agreements non-exclusive, particularly for Android manufacturers, and unbundling the Play Store from Chrome and search for Android phone manufacturers. Additionally, the company suggests allowing browser developers to annually reconsider Google as the default search engine. Notably, Google's proposal does not include ending revenue-sharing agreements, which provide a portion of ad revenue to device and software companies that set Google as the default search engine. These agreements have been crucial for independent browser developers like Mozilla, with Apple reportedly receiving an estimated $20 billion from its agreement with Google in 2022 alone. The proposal has already faced criticism from competitors. Kamyl Bazbaz, spokesperson for search engine competitor DuckDuckGo, argued that Google's suggestions attempt to maintain the status quo and fall short of truly restoring competition in the affected markets. In contrast to Google's more limited approach, the U.S. Department of Justice and a coalition of states are seeking more extensive remedies. These include forcing Google to sell off Chrome and potentially its Android mobile operating system, stopping Google from paying to be the default search engine, ceasing investments in search rivals and query-based AI products, and licensing Google's search results and technology to rivals. Google maintains that the government's proposed remedies are extreme and don't properly reflect the specific conduct found to be illegal by the judge. The company argues that courts have historically discouraged such drastic measures and that remedies should be of the "same type or class" as the violations. Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google's vice president for regulatory affairs, emphasized that the company's proposal would allow competing browsers like Apple's Safari to have the freedom to partner with any search engine they deem best for their users. Google also proposes allowing device makers to preload multiple search engines and not requiring them to include Chrome and Google search if they want to include other Google apps. As the case progresses, Judge Mehta has scheduled a proceeding in April to decide on appropriate measures to address the lack of competition in the industries Google has dominated. This trial will see prosecutors calling witnesses from OpenAI, AI search startup Perplexity, and Microsoft. A final decision is expected by August 2025.Rajnath Singh lauds efforts of Indian Army training institutes3 Dividend Stocks Up 8%, 16%, and 17% So Far in 2024 to Buy in December

Leading Vietnamese maritime-logistics operator Haivanship (HVS) is growing its Konecranes fleet with two Lloyd’s-certified Generation 6 Konecranes Gottwald ESP.9B crane on barge. The order for the first crane was booked in Q3 2024 and the second in Q4, with both to be delivered at the end of 2025. Haivanship is currently providing coal transshipment using two Konecranes Gottwald HPK 7400B cranes at transshipment buoys in Go Gia, Ho Chi Minh City, servicing power plants in southern Vietnam, especially in the Mekong Delta. The Vietnamese operator specializes in bulk handling of coal imported from Australia and Indonesia. Coal is still a critical energy resource in Vietnam, fueling approximately half of the nation’s electricity supply. HVS is now expanding its coal transshipment business in northern Vietnam, starting a project at the South Cat Ba Deep Water Anchorage, with a depth of approximately 20 meters for vessels up to 210,000 DWT (near Haiphong port and Hon Mieu, Cam Pha Anchorage of Quang Ninh), using two Lloyd’s-certified Generation 6 Konecranes Gottwald ESP.9B crane on barges. “Our experience working with Konecranes equipment in the south has been very positive. The cranes are efficient and have consistently delivered reliable performance. Now this new Konecranes equipment will play a key role in handling coal transshipments on the open sea and expanding our services into the north,” says Tran The Vinh, General Manager at Haivanship. The Generation 6 Konecranes Gottwald ESP.9B Mobile Harbor Crane is fully certified for barge operations under the Lloyd’s Register Code for Lifting Appliances in Marine Environments. Engineered to perform in demanding open-sea environments, the crane can withstand wind speeds reaching 24 meters per second and wave heights up to 2.5 meters. The cranes come equipped with Konecranes TRUCONNECT remote monitoring, providing HVS with vital crane data for predictive maintenance planning. “Haivanship is a valued partner in Vietnam and we’re very pleased to add to their fleet with our Generation 6 technology. Supporting the company’s expansion is perfectly aligned with Konecranes’ goal of growing our business in the country,” says Holger Wagner, Sales Manager for Asia-Pacific at Konecranes. A strong focus on customers and commitment to business growth and continuous improvement make Konecranes a material handling industry leader. This is underpinned by investments in digitalization and technology, plus our work to make material flows more efficient with solutions that decarbonize the economy and advance circularity and safety. Source: KonecranesKEY POINTS Leading blockchain security auditor Hacken has launched a next-generation AI-powered platform, Extractor, that will automate security and compliance for Web3 companies, covering some of the most critical aspects of compliance such as AML/CFT (anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing), the European Union's MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation), DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act), and ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Market) Standards. Extractor offers companies with a scalable and highly-efficient solutions for various business segments and regulators, at a time when global regulations are tightening and standards like MiCA and DORA are gradually reshaping the world of cryptocurrency business operations. What is Extractor? Hacken's Extractor is a monitoring platform that crypto companies can use to ensure that they are always up-to-date with the latest and emerging compliance requirements. Launched Tuesday, the platform is available for use on major blockchains such as Ethereum, Optimism, Binance Smart Chain, Gnosis, Polygon, Arbitrum, Base, Avalanche, and more. Extractor is the first-of-its kind Compliance Monitoring Framework for Web3 projects. It simplifies the process of adhering to regulatory standards and unlike other existing solutions, the platform combines AML/CFT, TVL (total value locked) analysis, transaction tracking, and detection of circulating supply into a structured compliance approach. Threat actors will always exist in every industry, but with the Hacken Extractor, continuous protection and operational resilience is ensured as it integrates real-time threat detection, post-incident reporting, and automated safeguards. "We developed Extractor to address the critical need for proactive monitoring and compliance in the crypto space. Combining real-time on-chain analysis, AI-powered risk detection, and automated safeguards enables projects to meet strict regulatory requirements while mitigating security risks," Hacken Co-founder and CEO Dyma Budorin said in a press release shared with International Business Times . Compliance to be a Major Cornerstone of Crypto Starting 2025 The cryptocurrency community is well aware that 2025 will change everything for the industry. In particular, compliance with AML/CFT standards is set to become a global standard. "Beginning Jan. 17, 2025, DORA's requirements will become enforceable. Non-compliance can result in severe penalties, such as fines of up to 2% of the total annual worldwide turnover or 1% of the average daily global turnover. Operating without compliance is no longer an option for entities serving EU customers," said Valentyna Kondratenko, Hacken's legal counsel. With the Extractor, crypto companies can rest assured that they will meet global compliance standards that pack risk detection, advanced monitoring, asset protection, and incident recovery planning into a standalone tool. Aside from the high-security features and necessary monitoring integrations, the platform also provides thorough post-incident root cause analysis and reporting, which is critical in giving crypto projects the proactive ability to improve their systems' resilience and address vulnerabilities over time. Incoming Compliance Regulations Governments and regulators are continuously working on evolving the rules for digital assets and blockchain technology. With parts of the comprehensive MiCA framework already enforced, more compliance requirements are coming. Hacken's Extractor, which has a structured framework, ensures that crypto service providers are ready for compliance at every stage of risk management. It represents Hacken's expertise in blockchain security auditing and also reflects its collaborative efforts with some of the most prominent regulatory bodies worldwide.

Pearl Holdings Acquisition Faces Delisting from Nasdaq Due to Business Combination DelayFile: A stack of various daily newspapers. Photo: Sebastian Kahnert/dpa-Zentralbild/ZB (Photo by Sebastian Kahnert / dpa-Zentralbild / dpa Picture-Alliance via AFP) File: A stack of various daily newspapers. Photo: Sebastian Kahnert/dpa-Zentralbild/ZB (Photo by Sebastian Kahnert / dpa-Zentralbild / dpa Picture-Alliance via AFP) JOHANNESBURG - Once upon a time, people learnt about and understood their world through a newspaper. People would sit at the table or the couch reading the printed words. The first few pages generally contained the most important news of the day, followed by opinion pieces, then something lighter like lifestyle or travel and finally, sport. Before the sport pages came the classified section. It was akin to what we now experience on Facebook’s marketplace. These days, newspapers are disappearing. It is a trend that started many years ago and by the end of this year, a few more titles will disappear, either forever or just in print form. This week marked the end of City Press in the printed form. It will continue online. Mondli Makhanya, the editor, said the plan was for the title to go big on stories that were important. He accepts that there is strong competition online but believes maintaining good journalistic values will give the title the competitive edge. These values include accuracy, trust, and bold reporting. Another title to ditch its print edition and embrace the digital world was the Daily Sun – a newspaper that focused on the ordinary person. Amos Mananyetso, the editor, said: ‘Upon establishment, the philosophy of the Daily Sun was clear. It was a newspaper for the man in the blue overall, a factory worker, a taxi driver, a domestic worker, or a retail worker. These were commuters who bought their papers at taxi ranks, train stations, or bus stops’. ‘But suddenly, on 26 March 2020, that commuter market was not there. The country was on lockdown and suddenly the Daily Sun did not have a paper to sell to someone,’ he said. Most newspapers were not able to win back readers after COVID-19. The world had changed. Money was tight. And there were other platforms to get information. Mananyetso said there was a need to shift gears – moving from a traditional print media publication and into the online space. He said there were also advantages as journalists could use audio and video to tell their stories. ‘It is not the end of the word. It is a changing word. We are just using a different medium to tell the same stories of our community and the suffering of our people’. During the course of 2024, the Competition Commission conducted the Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry to investigate the plight of smaller news organisations in the digital age. The commission said, ‘The Publishers Support Service submitted that the transition to digital news consumption and advertising had resulted in all publishers seeing a massive decline in advertising revenue, and an increase in costs as newsrooms needed to devote resources to their digital presence. This transition leaves the publishers in a precarious financial position despite cutting costs.’ Additionally, the commission said the loss of advertising revenue for publishers meant they were unable to make the necessary investments. This in turn had the potential to reduce the quality and diversity of content. According to the commission, a "smooth transition" into digital distribution required investment in technology and highly skilled developers, which came at a price. A recent survey referred to by the Commission showed that 77% of people interviewed got their news from social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok. Those surveyed were attracted to these platforms because it of convenience and immediacy. However, 48% of respondents, still turned to traditional media because they saw it as dependable and in-depth. Whether traditional media organisations will have a happy ending and remain credible and relevant online remains to be seen. By Zandile Khumalo

Zion Williamson's Weight Called Into Question After Viral Video Surfaces

nintendo switch sports WASHINGTON — A lead organization monitoring for food crises around the world withdrew a new report this week warning of imminent famine in north Gaza under what it called Israel’s “near-total blockade,” after the U.S. asked for its retraction, U.S. officials told the Associated Press. The move follows public criticism of the report from the U.S. ambassador to Israel. The rare public dispute drew accusations from prominent aid and human-rights figures that the work of the U.S.-funded Famine Early Warning System Network, meant to reflect the analysis of unbiased international experts, has been tainted by politics. A declaration of famine would be a great embarrassment for Israel, which claims its 15-month war in Gaza is aimed against the Hamas militant group and not against its civilian population. U.S. ambassador to Israel Jacob Lew this week called the warning by the internationally recognized group inaccurate and “irresponsible.” Lew and the U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the monitoring group, both said the findings failed to properly account for rapidly changing circumstances in north Gaza. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan to enter 2025 NFL DraftChoosing the Right Fiber Optic Cable for Consumer Needs 11-22-2024 11:06 PM CET | Industry, Real Estate & Construction Press release from: ABNewswire Image: https://www.fiberopticcn.com/uploads/ADSS-1.jpgChoosing the right fiber optic cable for specific applications can be challenging. Understanding the differences between single-mode and multimode cables is crucial. Single-mode cables, with a core diameter of 9m, excel in high bandwidth and long-distance applications. They offer up to 50 times more distance than multimode cables. In contrast, multimode cables, with thicker cores ranging from 50m to 62.5m, suit shorter distances, typically under 550 meters. When deciding how to choose fiber optic cable, consider the application's distance and bandwidth requirements to ensure optimal performance.Types of Fiber Optic CablesSingle-mode Fiber Optic CablesCharacteristics Single-mode fiber optic cables feature a core diameter of 9m, surrounded by 125m of cladding. This design allows only one light mode to travel through the core, typically using a laser. The single light path minimizes signal attenuation and dispersion, making these cables ideal for long-distance data transmission. They operate efficiently at wavelengths of 1310nm and 1550nm, which are optimal for high-bandwidth applications. Pros and Cons Pros: * Long-distance capability: Single-mode cables excel in transmitting data over vast distances without significant loss. * High bandwidth: They support higher data rates, making them suitable for high-demand applications. * Cost-effective for long-term use: While initial costs might be higher, their efficiency in long-distance applications often results in lower overall expenses. Cons: * Higher initial cost: The equipment required for single-mode systems can be more expensive than multimode systems. * Complex installation: Requires precise alignment due to the small core size, which can complicate installation and maintenance. Multimode Fiber Optic CablesCharacteristics Multimode fiber optic cables have thicker cores, typically ranging from 50m to 62.5m. This larger core diameter allows multiple light modes to travel simultaneously, which can lead to modal dispersion over longer distances. These cables are commonly used within data centers or between buildings in a campus setting, where transmission lengths are limited but require high bandwidth. They operate at wavelengths of 850nm and 1300nm. Pros and Cons Pros: * Cost-effective for short distances: Multimode cables are generally less expensive for short-range applications. * Easier installation: The larger core size simplifies alignment, making installation and maintenance more straightforward. * Versatile applications: Suitable for various environments, including data centers and local area networks. Cons: * Limited distance capability: Multimode cables are not ideal for long-distance transmissions due to modal dispersion. * Lower bandwidth potential: Compared to single-mode cables, they offer reduced bandwidth over extended distances. Understanding these characteristics and trade-offs is crucial when selecting the appropriate fiber optic cable for specific needs. Each type serves distinct purposes, and the choice should align with the application's requirements. Comparing Single-mode and Multimode Fiber Optic CablesKey DifferencesDistance Capabilities Single-mode fiber optic cables excel in long-distance data transmission. They can cover distances up to 50 times greater than multimode cables without significant signal loss. This capability makes them ideal for applications that require data to travel over vast areas, such as intercity or international communications. In contrast, multimode cables are more suitable for shorter distances, typically under 550 meters. Their design supports multiple light paths, which can lead to modal dispersion over longer distances, limiting their effective range. Bandwidth and Speed Fiber optic cables offer superior bandwidth and speed compared to traditional copper cables. Single-mode cables support higher data rates, making them suitable for high-demand applications requiring ultra-fast data transmission. They operate efficiently at wavelengths of 1310nm and 1550nm, which are optimal for high-bandwidth applications. Multimode cables, while offering lower bandwidth potential over extended distances, still provide sufficient speed for many local area network (LAN) applications. They operate at wavelengths of 850nm and 1300nm, making them effective for environments like data centers where high-speed data transmission is crucial. ApplicationsSuitable Scenarios for Single-mode Single-mode cables are the preferred choice for long-distance networks and high-bandwidth applications. They are ideal for telecommunications, cable television, and internet service providers that require reliable data transmission over large distances. These cables are also suitable for connecting different buildings within a campus or for use in metropolitan area networks (MANs), where long-distance capability and high-speed data transfer are essential. Suitable Scenarios for Multimode Multimode cables find their niche in environments where shorter distances and high bandwidth are required. They are commonly used within data centers, where they connect servers and storage systems. These cables are also suitable for local area networks (LANs) and campus networks, where the transmission lengths are limited but require high-speed data transfer. Their cost-effectiveness and ease of installation make them a popular choice for these applications. How to Choose Fiber Optic Cable Selecting the right fiber optic cable involves a careful assessment of specific needs and cost considerations. Understanding how to choose fiber optic cable ensures optimal performance and value for money. Assessing Your NeedsEvaluating Distance Requirements The first step in determining how to choose fiber optic cable is evaluating the distance over which data must travel. Single-mode cables are ideal for long-distance applications, often exceeding 10 kilometers without significant signal loss. They suit scenarios like intercity communications or connecting buildings across a campus. In contrast, multimode cables work best for shorter distances, typically under 550 meters, making them suitable for data centers or local area networks. Determining Bandwidth Needs Bandwidth requirements play a crucial role in deciding how to choose fiber optic cable. Single-mode cables support higher bandwidths, making them perfect for high-demand applications such as telecommunications and internet services. Multimode cables, while offering lower bandwidth over long distances, still provide adequate speed for many local applications. Consider the data rate and the number of users to ensure the chosen cable meets the network's demands. Cost Considerations Image: https://www.fiberopticcn.com/uploads/2029598e-4b92-494a-89ce-bb329650febc.jpg Budget Constraints Budget constraints often influence how to choose fiber optic cable. It's essential to obtain quotations from multiple providers to discover who offers the best value for money. Multimode cables generally have a lower initial cost, making them attractive for short-distance applications. However, single-mode cables, despite their higher upfront expense, may prove more cost-effective for long-term use due to their efficiency in long-distance scenarios. Long-term Investment Investing in high-quality materials for optical fiber cables is crucial for ensuring a stable and reliable connection over time. Quality cables reduce maintenance costs and enhance network performance. When considering how to choose fiber optic cable, weigh the initial investment against potential long-term savings. High-quality single-mode cables, for instance, might offer better returns in environments requiring extensive data transmission. In conclusion, understanding how to choose fiber optic cable involves evaluating distance and bandwidth needs while considering budget and long-term investment. By aligning these factors with specific application requirements, one can make an informed decision that balances performance and cost-effectiveness. Choosing between single-mode and multimode cables requires careful consideration of specific needs. Single-mode cables excel in long-distance and high-bandwidth applications, while multimode cables suit shorter distances with less demanding bandwidth requirements. To make an informed decision, assess the application's distance and bandwidth needs. Consider future-proofing network infrastructure by investing in fiber optic cables, which offer advantages like exceptional bandwidth and low attenuation over long distances. As Connector Supplier highlights, fiber provides isolation from electromagnetic interference, making it a superior choice for reliable data transmission. See Also A Complete Guide To Efficient Fiber Optic Testing [ https://www.fiberopticcn.com/news/optimizing-fiber-optic-cable-testing-a-comprehensive-guide/ ] 6 Essential Tips For Choosing The Right Fiber Patch Cord [ https://www.fiberopticcn.com/news/6-steps-to-help-you-to-find-the-best-fibre-optic-patch-cord/ ] Why Fiber Optic Pigtails Are Crucial For Connectivity [ https://www.fiberopticcn.com/news/the-importance-of-fiber-optic-pigtails-in-modern-connectivity/ ] How Fiber Optic Cables Are Transforming Communication Tech [ https://www.fiberopticcn.com/news/the-wonders-of-fiber-optic-cable-revolutionizing-communication-technology/ ] Understanding Fiber Optic Adapters For Better Connectivity [ https://www.fiberopticcn.com/news/enhancing-connectivity-introduction-to-fiber-optic-adapters/ ] Media Contact Company Name: Dowell Industry Group Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=choosing-the-right-fiber-optic-cable-for-your-needs ] Address:4th Floor, Building A, 959 Industrial Park, No. 959, Chengxin Road City: Yinzhou State: Ningbo Country: China Website: https://www.fiberopticcn.com/ This release was published on openPR.

If you have an avid cook or food lover in your life, your gifting opportunities these days are vast and deep. There are authentic ingredients and creative concoctions in brick-and-mortar shops and online. The global pantry beckons. Plus, in many cases, the packaging is gorgeous! Many of these affordable luxuries can be tucked into a stocking, but they also make great presents for a co-worker, mail carrier, nephew or teacher. As a slightly compulsive and obsessive gift giver, matching the right edible treat to the recipient is my jam (another great gifting option!). All of these items cost under $50, but make a big splash. Let’s go! Two Chinese American friends took the flavors of their favorite childhood treats and transformed them into sweet spreads, ready to be slathered on toast, apples or just eaten with a spoon. Rooted Fare sells spreads like Crunchy Black Sesame Butter (inspired by tang yuan, a Lunar New Year dessert ), Pineapple Cake Cashew Butter, and Chinese Almond Cookie Butter. $15 per jar. Il Colle del Gusto makes some sweet and unusual nut-based spreads with an Italian twist: Coarse Hazelnut and Cocoa, Crunchy Peanut, and Sicilian Pistachio, all blended with olive oil. Swirl them into ice cream, slather them onto toast. Each jar under $10. Related: Sesame lovers will be delighted with either an assortment of tahini products such as Chocolate Sesame Sauce, or a tub of flaky, melt-in-your-mouth halva in flavors like cardamom and pistachio from Seed + Mill . Some great gift sets available for under $50. Chile crunch condiments have taken the cooking world by storm, and there are some highly giftable options. Fly By Jing makes a large assortment of Asian-inspired chile crunches, and they have some attractively packaged gift sets for the holidays . The mini sampler set is around $20. The aptly named Chile Crunch sells several varieties of their crunchy condiment, including hot, chipotle, mild and original, all for about $13 per jar. Somos' Salsa Macha Mexican Chili Crisps explode with texture thanks to a whole lot of nuts and seeds. Scoop these spicy-crunchy sauces over everything from avocado toast to tacos — and try the sweeter one on ice cream! The gift set of two comes with a cute spoon for $35. Chef Patricia Quintana has created a line of salsas, sauces, dressings and condiments that preserves the heritage of traditional Mexican cooking. Treat someone to a jar of Achiote sauce or Pineapple Habanero Salsa (and hope you get invited over for the ensuing meal). $15 to $20 per jar. Ever heard of Secret Aardvark sauces ? You might be tempted to spread the word. This Caribbean/Tex-Mex line of condiments has a big following for what they call their “flavor that kicks you in the mouth.” There are many choices, including Drunken Jerk Jamaican Marinade, and Aardvark Habanero Hot Sauce. $10 each, with combo packs starting at $20. Tinned fish is also having a blockbuster culinary moment (and in many cases the packaging is super fun). Fishwife cans ethically sourced fish, like salmon, anchovies and trout, from around the world, with some attractive gift boxes under $50. La Narval focuses on combinations of fish and sauce, such as their mussels in Spanish sauce. Each tin is about $10. The Drinks Bakery creates savory snacks with flavor profiles meant to match up perfectly with your favorite libations. Munch on a Lancashire Cheese and Spring Onion biscuit with a hoppy IPA or a sauvignon blanc. Serve the Parmesan, Toasted Pine Nut and Basil biscuits with a whiskey highball or champagne. Choose from small or larger boxes. I can’t think of a food gift I’m happier to see than a high-quality bottle of oil or vinegar, two of the most-used ingredients in my kitchen. Bona Furtuna's selection of Sicilian olive oils is fresh and fragrant, and their aged balsamic vinegars are thick, sweet and rich. The Invecchiato 7-Year Aged Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, for instance, sells for $44.95; Forte Extra Virgin Olive Oil from $10.95 to $39.95. Metafora olive oil comes in a beautiful bottle and is a nice introduction to Portuguese olive oil. $40. Alvear makes lovely Andalusian sherry vinegars. For the salad makers and Spanish chefs in your life, think about gifting one each of the bottles, a sweet and a dry , about $20 apop. Tartuflanghe makes all sorts of luxury ingredients infused with white and black truffles. Elevate your cooking game with truffle-infused butters with flavors like porcini or anchovy (about $10 each). Pick up a box of decadent, truffle-flavored Tartufissima 19 for $32. Or how about a little jar of black truffle pearls, which look like caviar, and are the most elegant way to finish off a risotto or a deviled egg ($40)? ’Tis the season for sweet things, but there's no need to settle for the same old bonbons. Sanders is known for decadent, chocolate-covered caramels, and this holiday season they have some limited-edition flavors. Do you know someone who might like a bag of bourbon, maple or peppermint dark-chocolate sea-salt caramels? I do! $10. Perhaps you’ve seen the elegant Lady M layered crepe cakes? Well this holiday, try their more portable and giftable Holiday Crepe Biscuit Collection . Eight wedge-shaped boxes contain a delicate crepe biscuit with fillings such as vanilla, chocolate hazelnut and green tea. $28. André’s Confiserie Suisse makes handmade chocolate with deep rich flavor, a result of generations of Swiss chocolate-making expertise. Some unusual classics include the Nussbergerli Sticks, a mix of caramel, candied orange peel and nuts, covered in either dark or milk chocolate, as well as a lovely assortment of chocolate-covered almonds. Also check out the festive, almond-stuffed chocolate pinecones, a cute edible ornament. Offerings start at $7. There are chocolate bars and then there are chocolate bars. At Chocopologie , it's hard to decide among the creative confections. Burnt Caramel Hawaiian Sea Salt? A S'Mores Bar that includes organic graham crackers and vegan marshmallows? At $10 each, you might need to buy a few. The bakers you know will love playing around with the Salted Caramel Crumbles from Kitty Keller. These toffee-like crumbles are made from the butter and salted caramel of Brittany, France, and can be used to finish all kinds of sweet treats with a crunchy little panache. $12. I could go on (quite clearly), but suffice it to say that a little special treat can have a big impact. Those stockings aren’t going to stuff themselves! For more AP gift guides and holiday coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/gift-guide and https://apnews.com/hub/holidays . This story was first published on Nov. 20, 2024. It was updated on Dec. 12, 2024 to correct the spelling of Bona Furtuna.

US stocks experience mixed fortunes on quiet day of tradingNFL stands by Jay-Z amid rape allegation: 'Our relationship is not changing,' Roger Goodell says

$4 billion more: Amazon deepens its bet on generative AI with AnthropicAstros introduce new first baseman Christian Walker, as Bregman negotiations stall

A range of independent TDs are contemplating the prospect of entering Ireland’s next coalition government as Fianna Fail and Fine Gael consider ways to secure a solid majority. Three long days of counting in the General Election finished late on Monday night when the final two seats were declared in the constituency of Cavan-Monaghan. Fianna Fail was the clear winner of the election, securing 48 of the Dail parliament’s 174 seats. Sinn Fein took 39 and Fine Gael 38. Labour and the Social Democrats both won 11 seats; People Before Profit-Solidarity took three; Aontu secured two; and the Green Party retained only one of its 12 seats. Independents and others accounted for 21 seats. The return of a Fianna Fail/Fine Gael-led coalition is now highly likely. However, their combined seat total of 86 leaves them just short of the 88 needed for a majority in the Dail. While the two centrist parties that have dominated Irish politics for a century could look to strike a deal with one of the Dail’s smaller centre-left parties, such as the Social Democrats or Labour, a more straightforward route to a majority could be achieved by securing the support of several independent TDs. For Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and current taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, wooing like-minded independents would be likely to involve fewer policy concessions, and financial commitments, than would be required to convince another party to join the government benches. Longford-Westmeath independent TD Kevin “Boxer” Moran, who served in a Fine Gael-led minority government between 2017 and 2020, expressed his willingness to listen to offers to join the new coalition in Dublin. “Look, my door’s open,” he told RTE. “Someone knocks, I’m always there to open it.” Marian Harkin, an independent TD for Sligo-Leitrim, expressed her desire to participate in government as she noted that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael were within “shouting distance” of an overall majority. “That means they will be looking for support, and I certainly will be one of those people who will be speaking to them and talking to them and negotiating with them, and I’m looking forward to doing that, because that was the reason that I ran in the first place,” she said. Meanwhile, the Social Democrats and Irish Labour Party both appear cautious about the prospect of an alliance with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. They will no doubt be mindful of the experience of the Green Party, the junior partner in the last mandate. The Greens experienced near wipeout in the election, retaining only one of their 12 seats. Sinn Fein appears to currently have no realistic route to government, given Fianna Fail and Fine Gael’s ongoing refusal to share power with the party. Despite the odds being stacked against her party, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald contacted the leaders of the Social Democrats and Labour on Monday to discuss options. Earlier, Fianna Fail deputy leader and outgoing Finance Minister Jack Chambers predicted that a new coalition government would not be in place before Christmas. Mr Chambers said planned talks about forming an administration required “time and space” to ensure that any new government will be “coherent and stable”. After an inconclusive outcome to the 2020 election, it took five months for Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Greens to strike the last coalition deal. Mr Chambers said he did not believe it would take that long this time, as he noted the Covid-19 pandemic was a factor in 2020, but he also made clear it would not be a swift process. He said he agreed with analysis that there was no prospect of a deal before Christmas. “I don’t expect a government to be formed in mid-December, when the Dail is due to meet on December 18, probably a Ceann Comhairle (speaker) can be elected, and there’ll have to be time and space taken to make sure we can form a coherent, stable government,” he told RTE. “I don’t think it should take five months like it did the last time – Covid obviously complicated that. But I think all political parties need to take the time to see what’s possible and try and form a stable government for the Irish people.” Fine Gael minister of state Peter Burke said members of his parliamentary party would have to meet to consider their options before giving Mr Harris a mandate to negotiate a new programme for government with Fianna Fail. “It’s important that we have a strong, stable, viable government, whatever form that may be, to ensure that we can meet the challenges of our society, meet the challenges in terms of the economic changes that are potentially going to happen,” he told RTE. Despite being set to emerge with the most seats, it has not been all good news for Fianna Fail. The party’s outgoing Health Minister Stephen Donnelly became one of the biggest casualties of the election when he lost his seat in Wicklow in the early hours of Monday morning. Mr Donnelly was always predicted to face a fight in the constituency after boundary changes saw it reduced from five to four seats. If it is to be a reprise of the Fianna Fail/Fine Gael governing partnership of the last mandate, one of the major questions is around the position of taoiseach and whether the parties will once again take turns to hold the Irish premiership during the lifetime of the new government. The outcome in 2020 saw the parties enter a coalition on the basis that the holder of the premier position would be exchanged midway through the term. Fianna Fail leader Mr Martin took the role for the first half of the mandate, with Leo Varadkar taking over in December 2022. Current Fine Gael leader Mr Harris succeeded Mr Varadkar as taoiseach when he resigned from the role earlier this year. However, this time Fianna Fail has significantly increased its seat lead over Fine Gael, compared with the last election when there were only three seats between the parties. The size of the disparity in party numbers is likely to draw focus on the rotating taoiseach arrangement, raising questions as to whether it will be re-run in the next coalition and, if it is, on what terms. On Sunday, Simon Coveney, a former deputy leader of Fine Gael, said a coalition that did not repeat the rotating taoiseach arrangement in some fashion would be a “difficult proposition” for his party. Meanwhile, Fine Gael minister Paschal Donohoe said he would be making the case for Mr Harris to have another opportunity to serve as taoiseach. On Monday, Mr Chambers said while his party would expect to lead the government it would approach the issue of rotating the taoiseach’s role on the basis of “mutual respect” with Fine Gael. “I think the context of discussions and negotiations will be driven by mutual respect, and that’s the glue that will drive a programme for government and that’s the context in which we’ll engage,” he said. On Monday, Labour leader Ivana Bacik reiterated her party’s determination to forge an alliance with fellow centre-left parties with the intention of having a unified approach to the prospect of entering government. Asked if Labour was prepared to go into government with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael on its own, she told RTE: “No, not at this stage. We are absolutely not willing to do that. “We want to ensure there’s the largest number of TDs who share our vision and our values who want to deliver change on the same basis that we do.” The Social Democrats have been non-committal about any potential arrangement with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, and have restated a series of red lines they would need to achieve before considering taking a place in government. Leader Holly Cairns, who gave birth to a daughter on polling day on Friday, said in a statement: “The party is in a very strong position to play an important role in the next Dail. In what position, government or opposition, remains to be seen.” Fianna Fail secured the most first preference votes in Friday’s proportional representation election, taking 21.9% to Fine Gael’s 20.8%. Sinn Fein came in third on 19%. While Sinn Fein’s vote share represented a marked improvement on its disappointing showing in June’s local elections in Ireland, it is still significantly down on the 24.5% poll-topping share it secured in the 2020 general election. The final breakdown of first preferences also flipped the result of Friday night’s exit poll, which suggested Sinn Fein was in front on 21.1%, with Fine Gael on 21% and Fianna Fail on 19.5%.BBC Call the Midwife fans 'work out' Roger's true identity in Nancy Corrigan twist

SC halts all mandir-masjid cases until 1991 Act verdictATLANTA -- After a contentious election cycle, many people look forward to the holidays as a time to reset. But some of us dread talking about politics with certain family members. Producer Natalie Mendenhall spoke to Drew Westen, a professor emeritus at Emory University and a licensed psychologist. Here’s that interview with tips for you on keeping things civil with family and friends this holiday season. The answers were edited for clarity and brevity. And here are excerpts from the interview. Q: How can we prep for talking politics with family members who disagree with us politically? A: The best rule on holidays in an election like this, where the country is so polarized, is to stay clear of politics if you have really divergent opinions around the table. And whatever the holiday, to have a prayer at the beginning. To be thankful for family and for close friends, if they’re there. And regardless of their different opinions, we all share most of the same values at (our) core. We’re thankful for that. Q: What if the conversation gets heated, how can we de-escalate? A: Have a safe word. You could do this at the beginning of dinner. All of you agree that if a political discussion gets heated, someone says a word or a phrase, something — it could be George Washington — and then everyone knows to stop the political conversation. Q: How can we model good behavior for children and younger family members when talking about politics? A: It’s a really important question and they’ll be listening to what the adults are saying, at least with one of their ears and picking it up unconsciously if they’re not picking it up consciously. The first thing ... is to do everything possible for the adults not to get heated so that the kids can see that you might have different points of view on things, but you’re not making personal attacks on a family member. A second thing is something you mentioned, which is kids know a lot about what we feel, but also about what they feel. And it obviously depends on their age. You’re not going to talk to your 3-year-old extensively about whether we’re going to have a democracy when they grow up. Probably not a good idea, but you might talk to your 10-year-old or 12-year-old about that. If I could add one thing, when you’re speaking privately with your kids, it’s good to take your cues from what they know and what they say. And if they’re capable of having a fairly adult conversation or almost adult conversation about a candidate, I think you should feel free to talk openly with your kids about what your fears are, what your hopes are, what their fears and hopes are, and have nothing between you on that so that you don’t create walls within your own nuclear family. Q: If you just can’t agree to disagree, when do you know it’s time to cut off certain family members? A: You have to follow your gut on what you’re comfortable with. I do think a lot of people have lost respect for family members because of decisions they’ve made. It’s useful to remember at those moments that blood is thicker than water and that you were born with a family and you should be happy for it. But I’d be open with the other person and just say, “don’t think we have enough of a meeting of the minds on that for the moment.” And so make a (break) temporary. ... Hopefully we can get back on better terms later. Q: What if you’re the one that ended up making politics personal, how do you apologize? A: Your point about apologizing is actually really important. I mean, to maintain relationships, there are really two phrases you really have to be able to say genuinely — that is, thank you and I’m really sorry. You know, and if you can’t say those two things, you’re not going to be able to maintain relationships. Be able to say to someone, “you know what? I’m really sorry. I crossed the line with that comment and I didn’t mean to make this personal about you, but it’s so personal to me.” Q: What should our political New Year’s resolution be? I think our leaders in particular, but all of us, should make the New Year’s resolution that we’re going to tone down the partisanship and we’re going to focus more on what we all agree on. Because there are things we all agree on. ©2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

After opening the week with a perfectly clean injury report, Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Rob Havenstein is dealing with a shoulder injury that occurred in practice, putting his status up in the air in advance of Saturday's home game against the Arizona Cardinals. The Rams (9-6), who are on a four-game winning streak that moved them into the lead in the NFC West, have rebounded from a 1-4 start. That poor early stretch was due, in part, to injuries on the offensive line. Havenstein missed the season opener against the Detroit Lions with an ankle injury, then missed a three-game stretch in November with more ankle issues. Havenstein did not practice Thursday because of the shoulder injury, although he typically does not participate in the final practice of the week for rest purposes. The 32-year-old is in his 10th NFL season, all with the Rams going back to the team's 2015 season in St. Louis. Joe Noteboom would likely start if Havenstein is not available Saturday. The Rams can clinch the NFC West this weekend with a victory over the Cardinals (7-8), combined with a loss or tie by the Seattle Seahawks (8-7) against the Chicago Bears (4-11). --Field Level Media

House Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl

US stocks experience mixed fortunes on quiet day of tradingPM seems ‘disinterested’ as he presides over a govt bereft of economic solutions

What Has Filmmaker Michael Moore Said About UnitedHealthcare CEO Shooting?TORONTO — Canada's main stock index pushed higher to end Monday up almost 150 points on light trading action, while U.S. stock markets also gained ahead of the Christmas break. "Today is a quiet pre-Christmas Day of trading," said Kevin Burkett, a portfolio manager at Victoria, B.C.-based Burkett Asset Management. While markets in both Canada and the U.S. were mild, Burkett suggests watching the markets closely during the holiday season, a contrast to what's typically a sleepy period for markets. "We're continuing to watch markets very closely here because you've got some tectonic plate shifting in terms of the macroeconomic backdrop," he said. "It's all the political conversations both in Canada and in the U.S." Burkett added fiscal policy seems to be disconnected from monetary policy in the post-pandemic period. "The fiscal policy may shift and that shift absolutely has market implications both in the short and long term," he said. The S&P/TSX composite index was up 149.50 points at 24,748.98. Statistics Canada released its latest numbers on Canada's economic growth, up 0.3 per cent in October — driven by the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector. The loonie continued its slide, trading for 69.47 cents US compared with 69.61 cents US on Friday. The telecom sector was the biggest loser at the closing on TSX, which Burkett attributed to "tax loss selling happening at the end of the year." Competition Bureau Canada announced on Monday it was suing Rogers Communications Inc. for allegedly making misleading claims about its infinite wireless plans. The stock price for Rogers, which is hovering near 52-week lows, fell 0.7 per cent on Monday. Meanwhile, BCE was down almost 1.4 per cent and Telus dropped 0.9 per cent. Burkett suggested the day's poor performance among telecom companies was likely tax loss selling since it's almost the end of the year. "It's been a tough year for the communication services sector," he said. South of the border, communications services was the top-performing sector, led by large-cap tech companies. Several big technology companies helped support the gains, including chip companies Nvidia and Broadcom. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 66.69 points at 42,906.95. The S&P 500 index was up 43.22 points at 5,974.07, while the Nasdaq composite was up 192.29 points at 19,764.89. The February crude oil contract was down 22 cents at US$69.24 per barrel and the February natural gas contract was down six cents at US$3.35 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was down US$16.90 at US$2,628.20 an ounce and the March copper contract was down one cent at US$4.09 a pound. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 23, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX: GSPTSE, TSX: CADUSD, TSE: BCE, TSE: RCI. B) Ritika Dubey, The Canadian Press

sports article example PSG beats Toulouse 3-0 and Akliouche double gives Monaco home win over Brest

UCLA 2025 football schedule: Bruins will see Big Ten talent, former Pac-12 foes

Sarnia stands at a pivotal moment in its development, facing challenges that include housing affordability, homelessness, and the growth strain of encampments. As Draft 2 of the proposed zoning by-law is under review—the first major update in decades—its implications for the city’s growth, economy, and housing landscape warrant careful attention. Central to the discussion is the concept of infill development and how zoning policies can either unlock its potential or create unnecessary roadblocks. Here’s why the new by-laws matter and what’s at stake for Sarnia. Sarnia currently ranks 95th out of 100 in housing starts—a stark indicator of how far we need to go to meet the demand for housing. When housing supply is limited, landlords hold significant power, often leading to higher rents and lower housing quality. Scarce supply also drives predatory practices like “renovictions,” where tenants are displaced under the guise of renovations only to see rents increase beyond affordability. On the other hand, an abundance of housing naturally balances this power dynamic. With more options, tenants gain leverage, and landlords are incentivized to maintain and improve their properties to attract and retain residents. Simply put, when housing options are plentiful, everyone benefits. Infill development—the process of building within existing neighbourhoods—offers an efficient, sustainable solution to housing shortages. By utilizing existing infrastructure and increasing population density, infill development can reduce urban sprawl and foster activities that enhance community vibrancy, such as improved access to local businesses and greater opportunities for social interaction. Current zoning regulations in Sarnia introduce complexities for infill projects. While the new Official Plan outlines a vision for progress, some aspects of the draft zoning by-laws include requirements that may pose challenges for development: These restrictions create obstacles to the gradual, incremental growth that’s essential for Sarnia to adapt and thrive. Incremental development—allowing neighbourhoods to grow by small steps, like converting a single-family home into a duplex or adding a granny flat—is a proven method for creating diverse, affordable housing options without disrupting community character. This approach offers several benefits: Zoning policies that enable Missing Middle Housing could have several economic implications for Sarnia: Without significant updates to the zoning by-law, Sarnia risks stifling growth and innovation. The current framework prioritizes single-family homes and restricts the types of housing that meet the needs of a changing population. This “business as usual” approach exacerbates housing shortages and leaves families, seniors, and young professionals with few affordable options. Meanwhile, cities that embrace flexible zoning policies are seeing significant benefits, from revitalized neighbourhoods to thriving local economies. Sarnia must act now to stay competitive and meet its residents’ needs. To address potential challenges in the proposed zoning by-laws, the following changes could be considered: Although the deadline for submitting written comments has passed, residents can still participate in discussions about the proposed zoning by-laws:

JERUSALEM/CAIRO, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Israelis and Palestinians are signaling new efforts to forge a ceasefire deal, even a limited one, for the first time in a year that would pause the fighting in Gaza and return to Israel some of the hostages still held in the Palestinian enclave. Israel Defence Minister Israel Katz told his U.S. counterpart Lloyd Austin in a phone call on Wednesday there was now a chance for a new deal that would allow the return of all the hostages, including U.S. citizens, Katz's office said. A Western diplomat in the region, however, said a deal was taking shape, but it would likely be limited in scope, involving the release of only a handful of hostages and a short pause in hostilities. Such a truce and release would be only the second since the start of the war in October 2023. The guarded optimism emerges as U.S. President Joe Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan heads to Israel for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday and then to Egypt and Qatar, co-mediators with the U.S. on a deal. Separately, President-elect Donald Trump has demanded that militants of the Palestinian Hamas group release the hostages held in Gaza before he takes over from Biden on Jan. 20. Otherwise, Trump has said, there will be “hell to pay.” Trump's designated hostage envoy Adam Boehler has said he too is involved, having spoken already to Biden and to Netanyahu. Israel says 100 hostages remain captive in Gaza. Seven are believed to be U.S. citizens. Citing Trump's threat of "hell to pay," Boehler told Israel's Channel 13 news last week: "I would appeal to those people that have taken hostages: Make your best deal now. Make it now because every day that passes, it is going to get harder and harder and more Hamas lives will be lost." Although Biden and Trump are working separately, their efforts overlap and both stand to gain from a deal. A U.S. official said Trump's public statements about the need for a swift ceasefire “have not been harmful.” The official said the priority is to get the hostages home, whether it is at the end of the Biden term or the start of the Trump term. Steve Witkoff, Trump's designated Middle East envoy, met separately in late November with Netanyahu and Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said a source briefed on the talks. The timing for a deal may never have been better politically for Netanyahu. The prime minister told reporters on Monday that Hamas' increasing isolation following the collapse of Syrian President Hafez al-Assad's rule opened the door to a possible hostage deal even if it was too early to claim success. Israel's military chief and the head of the Shin Bet internal security service were in Cairo on Tuesday to discuss post-war Gaza border crossings and administration, according to three Israeli security sources. The public optimism of Israeli leaders over the past week has matched the general tone in internal discussions behind closed doors, according to an Israeli official. For Netanyahu, concessions would be far easier now with Israel having reestablished its reputation as the most powerful Middle East force and its Iran-backed enemies in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria now posing less of a threat. Netanyahu's once-fragile coalition has been strengthened by the addition of Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and his more centrist faction. Netanyahu, having achieved a ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon, can complete the picture with the return of the hostages in a deal with Hamas. Over the past year, some of the far-right ministers in his cabinet had voiced objections, even threatening to bring down the government, should the war in Gaza end. But with Israel's enemies weakened, and his coalition strengthened, Netanyahu is far less vulnerable politically. Saar said on Monday that Israel was now more optimistic about a possible hostage deal amid reports Hamas had asked other Gaza factions to help it compile a list of Israeli and foreign hostages in their custody, whether dead or alive. A Palestinian official close to the talks and familiar with the positions of all the parties involved described what he called "a fever of negotiations" with ideas emerging on all sides, including among mediators in Egypt and Qatar. Trump's involvement had given the talks a boost, even if the sides have yet to present lists of Palestinian prisoners and hostages to be exchanged or to complete plans for a temporary or phased truce, the Palestinian official said. He said Hamas was willing to show some flexibility should there be guarantees Israel would not resume the fighting. It is unclear how the sides can bridge the largest gap that has persisted through numerous rounds of failed negotiations; Hamas demands an end to the war, while Israel says the war will not end before Hamas no longer rules Gaza. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken headed to Jordan and Turkey on Wednesday for talks on Syria, the State Department said. Israel is not in his official itinerary but there is always a possibility he might add the stop. Sign up here. Reporting by Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo; Additional reporting by Steve Holland, Andrew Mills and Humeyra Pamuk; Writing by Howard Goller; Editing by Daniel Wallis Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab Thomson Reuters A senior correspondent with nearly 25 years’ experience covering the Palestinian-Israeli conflict including several wars and the signing of the first historic peace accord between the two sides.

Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx has reached her final hours as the conference's leader on education policy. For 20 years, Foxx has served on the House Education and the Workforce Committee. For the last two terms while Republicans were in the majority in the House, she's held the coveted position of chairwoman and was ranking member when Democrats were in control from 2019 until 2021. In fact, the 81-year-old congresswoman was granted a waiver to lead the committee for the 118th Congress because Republicans limit their top committee position to six years. The Republican Steering Committee will elect the next chair on Thursday. Foxx told ABC News that her top priority this session was reducing college costs through reauthorizing the Higher Education Act. Many of the K-12 topics on the former college instructor and community college president's legislative agenda became winning issues for Republicans. Parents' rights, protecting women and girls in sports, and school choice policies -- issues that reached the national stage on the campaign trail this year -- were widely supported by Republicans under Foxx's leadership. Foxx is known for foiling the Biden administration's signature higher education policies, including his student loan forgiveness program. She's been called a "hero" by staffers and a "force of nature" by House Speaker Mike Johnson. "She has been a very faithful friend to me and a good model for all of us," Johnson recalled in an interview with ABC News. "Her work ethic is incredible. She is so passionate about what she does. She is a force of nature, but she also has a way to balance it with humility," Johnson said. Dedication to education Foxx's dedication to education was exhibited by her committee's crackdown on alleged antisemitism engulfing college campuses over the last year. She spearheaded the collecting of more than 400,000 pages of documents, historic subpoenas for documents and internal communications, and hearings that led to the resignations of Ivy League presidents who failed to protect Jewish students at U.S. universities, according to the committee's wide-reaching report . "Our goal was and is to make sure that Jewish students are safe on campus," Foxx told ABC News, adding, "All students should be safe on campus, but it was the Jewish students who were being threatened and harassed and, at times, assaulted." House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik has worked alongside Foxx for the last decade on the committee. Stefanik credits Foxx with being the driving force pushing education to the top of the House's agenda as Johnson took up the antisemitism issue earlier this spring. "The great thing about Virginia is she's not going to slow down, and I think she will have other great chapters in Congress, but it's been great to be on the committee with her, and I'm very proud of her, and she is someone that so many people look up to," Stefanik told ABC News. Foxx's work ethic can be traced back to her humble beginning in Avery County, North Carolina, in Appalachia. She told ABC News that she grew up very poor. "I just never imagined, in my wildest dreams, being in Congress or having a portrait," Foxx said when asked this fall about the painting of her that now hangs in the Education Committee's hearing room on Capitol Hill. "I grew up in a town with no electricity and no running water." Foxx is now a mentor to her colleagues, including Stefanik and Utah's Burgess Owens. "She's a bulldog when it comes down to what she wants to get accomplished and that's what we've needed to actually bring education to the forefront," Rep. Owens told ABC News. A former NFL player, Owens said he admires Foxx's ability to build a team and compared the chairwoman to his legendary head coach Al Davis. "I see what Dr. Foxx is doing with education in the same way," Owens said. "I think for the first time, education is becoming a priority, not only for those of us who have a passion for it, but for Americans across the country who just took it for granted," he said. Who will be the next chair? A relative newcomer to the committee, Owens wants to follow in Foxx's footsteps. He is challenging Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Michigan, to succeed Foxx as chair. Owens told ABC News he's feeling anxious about winning over his colleagues on the committee. Meanwhile, Walberg and Rep. G.T. Thompson of Pennsylvania are the second-longest serving Republicans on the committee behind Foxx. After 16 years, Walberg said he believes he deserves the top position. Foxx said she has loved chairing the committee, but it's just one of many highlights during her time on the Hill. "My greatest achievement comes every day when we help another constituent, so my life isn't just tied up in the committee," she said.Heparin Market to Grow by USD 3.34 Billion (2024-2028), Driven by Coagulation Disorder Prevalence and AI Impacting Market Trends - TechnavioThe Buffalo Bills enter their bye week less-than a game behind the top seed in the AFC after their win against the Kanas City Chiefs in Week 11. One of the biggest reasons for the Bills' success so far this season has been Josh Allen, who took over in the final minutes of the Chiefs matchup, scrambling for a 26-yard game-sealing touchdown on fourth down. Allen now has 23 total touchdowns, 2,859 total yards and five interceptions on the season. Against Kansas City, Allen finished with 317 total yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Allen's massive performance has earned him plenty of praise from the national media, with some calling him the MVP favorite through 11 weeks. Former teammate and Pro Bowl running back LeSean McCoy is one of those who feels he is the favorite. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports “Josh is right there with [the top quarterbacks in football]," said McCoy. "When it’s clutch moments, he’s going to take over, and that’s why he should be your MVP this season.” Related: Shocking Bills vs. Chiefs Viewership Numbers Revealed McCoy continued, claiming he was confident in Allen and the Bills even before the massive touchdown. “Not to even brag, but I knew he would win the game because the scenario,” McCoy said. “Like, you’ve got the champs, close game, third down doesn’t work out, now it’s fourth-and-two, fourth-and-three, you go for it, obviously . . . Josh took over. That’s what he does, though. McCoy was named to three Pro Bowls in his four seasons with the Bills. His last season with the team came in 2018, which was also Allen's rookie year. Related: Bills Coach Outlines 'Scary' Bye Week Plan

Supreme Court seems likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on medical treatments for transgender minors

After being ejected from Sarnia City Council’s budget meeting for disruptive personal attacks against the mayor and fellow members, Councillor Bill Dennis says he will apologize to get back to work. “Was it right to get personal?” he asks in an interview with the Journal. “No, it’s never right. Believe me, I’ve been reminded about that by my mother and my wife for the last week or so.” During the November 26 virtual meeting, Councillor Dennis told Mayor Mike Bradley to “f– off,” calling him a “drunk,” a “cokehead,” a “damned crook,” and a “joke.” He called Councillor Adam Kilner a “joke as a pastor,” a “fruitcake,” and repeatedly said “kiss my a–.” Councillor Dennis’s outburst transpired when council members called for order when he became increasingly heated in delivering his opinions and was calling out Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Chris Carter. In the November 26 meeting, the topic of fees for consultants had arisen and Councillor Dennis was objecting to the amount spent. CAO Chris Carter and other staff provided insights contrary to the councillor’s perceptions of the issue. They described how consultant allocations are for specialized project staff, specifically trained individuals, such as architects or structural engineers, that are not full-time city staff. Using these individuals as consultants rather than as permanent staff offsets increases to the long-term operating budget. Councillor Dennis referenced $3 million as the price tag for these consultants, but city staff demonstrated that those numbers were closer to $2.17 million 2024 and $1.6 million for 2025, the budget year in question. Councillor Dennis became upset at CAO Carter for allegedly failing to provide him with those numbers before the budget meeting, and disputed the 2024 numbers. He said, “It’s been very typical of you for the last six months. I’m an elected official. I asked for that information and you never gave it to me.” As an example of out-of-control spending on consultant fees, Councillor Dennis brought up a proposal from the previous council meeting (a motion, it should be noted, that did not pass by unanimous vote) that would have seen marketing consultants hired for approximately $35,000 to inform how much to charge for naming rights for the Progressive Auto Sales Arena. Mayor Bradley interrupted and asked Councillor Dennis if he had a motion. He responded “Cut it in half, cut the damn thing in half.” He continued, “These guys, the reason they go to consultants all the time is most of the senior staff isn’t from here, most of them don’t live here, they have no idea...” At this point, Councillors Anne Marie Gillis and Adam Kilner called for order, which agitated Councillor Dennis even more. He called them “sellouts.” Mayor Bradley ruled that his behaviour was unacceptable, at which point Councillor Dennis began to hurl invective. The meeting came to a halt and resumed a short time later with Councillor Dennis expelled. “It’s the first time in 36 years I’ve used the rules of order to expel a member,” says Mayor Mike Bradley speaking to the Journal. “This is conduct so beyond slanderous toward various individuals, including staff, including councillors, and this is not the first time.” The incident highlights the ongoing friction between Councillor Dennis and other council members, city staff, and members of the public, as concerns continue to be raised about his conduct in and out of meetings. Regarding Councillor Dennis’s conduct, Mayor Bradley tells us, “Everywhere I go, people say to me, ‘If I did that in the workplace, I’d be gone in 20 seconds.” At the same time, the Ontario government has just introduced legislation that will give municipalities tools to potentially remove councillors who violate the Code of Conduct. Councillor Dennis has three times been previously found to be in violation of Council’s Code of Conduct by the Integrity Commissioner. In a post on social media, Councillor Dennis identified himself as the subject of a workplace harassment complaint filed at city hall in the spring. This complaint is what led to council meetings returning to virtual format, as well as the directive to Councillor Dennis that all of his communication with city staff go through CAO Carter. “Protecting your employees in the workplace, it’s paramount,” says Mayor Bradley. Regarding CAO Carter, Councillor Dennis says, ”If I become mayor he’s fired. Day one, he’s fired. It’s the first act I’ll do. He knows that, so he’s doing everything in his power to make me look bad.” “When I’m questioning the CAO, I get all these idiots jumping in and saying ‘point of order, point of order,’” he says, referring to fellow council members. “That really bugs the hell out of me. I’m entitled to ask him questions, to bring my points up. Then, of course, they bait me. They don’t like me. I don’t like them and that’s fine. In October, Councillor Dennis filed a $200,000 lawsuit alleging that CAO Carter has been deliberately undermining him. The lawsuit also names the corporation of the City of Sarnia. “We’ve had to engage two different legal groups to respond to this,” says Mayor Bradley. “The amount of money taxpayers are spending defending two lawsuits. Tens and tens of thousands of dollars.” Communications Manager for the city, Steve Henschel, tells the Journal, “It would be inappropriate to provide any comment related to, or that could be perceived to be related to, any ongoing legal matter or Occupational Health and Safety investigation.” The Employee Code of Conduct for city staff states, “Employees shall treat all Members of Council with professionalism and courtesy, must not favour, nor be seen to favour, the interests of one Member over the interests of Council as a whole.” Regarding his conduct during the November 26 meeting, Councillor Dennis says it was unfortunate that he lost his cool, but says, “People are hung up on that, they should be hung up on the fact some of these clowns on Council are making decisions that are destroying our city.”Do you remember the moment in "Star Wars" when the Death Star destroys Alderaan? Eight laser beams converge at a single point to form a super-powered laser that obliterates the planet. It was a memorable scene that demonstrated the unrelenting power of the Empire. Although it is unclear whether they were inspired by the scene, Chinese scientists claim they have created a new type of microwave weapon that combines several high-powered electromagnetic waves. They can then concentrate them onto a target. The weapon system consists of multiple microwave-transmitting vehicles that are deployed to different locations. Each of the vehicles fire microwaves with high-precision synchronization. These merge together into a powerful energy beam to attack one target. This is a lot harder than it seems. Microwaves are narrow beams of energy that need to be precisely aligned to then converge. This means that the timings with which they are fired need to be controlled to within millionths of a second. According to the research team, each microwave vehicle also has to be precisely positioned to within a millimeter. China 's BeiDou satellite navigation system is capable of providing positioning accuracy to within 0.4 inch (1 centimeter), but that still does not meet the requirements of the new weapon system. Related: 'It invites us to reconsider our notion of shadow': Laser beams can actually cast their own shadows, scientists discover To attempt to overcome this, laser-ranging auxiliary positioning devices were installed on each transmitting vehicle to achieve the millimeter-accuracy positioning system. The vehicles must also be perfectly level. Any changes in the surface mean that microwave emitters will not be properly aligned. Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox. The firing synchronization has to be within 170 picoseconds (or 170 trillionths of a second). To put this into perspective, a typical household computer takes 330 picoseconds to complete a single processing cycle. To overcome this challenge, the scientists connected the transmitting platforms using optical fibers to ensure they were properly synchronized. Each of the weapon system vehicles was also directly controlled by a mobile command center. According to the South China Morning Post , a scientist involved in the project claimed the combined power of the converging microwave beams has a combined effect of “1+1>2” — despite such a claim breaking the law of conservation of energy. Nonetheless, a powerful combined microwave is more useful than multiple smaller microwave sources. — New DragonFire laser weapon can shoot drones out of the sky, UK says — Russia's space weapon: How anti-satellite nuclear weapons could lead to utter chaos in orbit — Scientists uncover the secret to building Star Wars-style laser weapons — but don't worry, we won't have a Death Star anytime soon Microwaves cannot operate over long distances as dust and moisture scatter the waves. This can be countered by increasing the power, but doing so presents significant logistical challenges as batteries currently do not have the energy storage capacity to provide that amount of energy. Quite possibly, the Chinese research team has been able to achieve a converging microwave weapon system in a controlled environment. However, the real world is vastly more chaotic, which will present huge challenges for any technology that relies on such a high degree of precision.3 Top Bargain Stocks Ready for a Bull Run

NEW DELHI: The food processing industry is expected to double in size by 2025-26, driving hiring in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. A report by TeamLease EdTech shows that hiring intent for freshers increased to 32 per cent in the second half of 2024, compared to 27 per cent in the first half of the year. The growth in hiring is linked to the expansion of the food processing industry, which is projected to grow from $ 263 billion in 2019-20 to $ 535 billion by 2025-26, with an annual growth rate of 12.6 per cent. IPL 2025 mega auction IPL Auction Live: Pant, Iyer, Arshdeep enter in marquee list CSK need Dhoni; Gaikwad still new to captaincy - says Raina How and where to watch Indian Premier League mega auction This growth has enabled deeper penetration into rural and semi-urban markets. The report highlights that key product segments including dairy, RTE foods, frozen meat, and snacks are generating employment opportunities, particularly in supply chain and market research sectors. "The rise in demand for fresh talent in FMCG can clearly be attributed to deeper expansion in rural and semi-urban markets, fueled by the rapid growth of India's food processing industry," Shantanu Rooj, founder and CEO, TeamLease Edtech, was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. The report also highlights that FMCG companies are focusing on hiring freshers with expertise in market insights, retail distribution, and regional consumer behavior to support their expansion into untapped markets. Specific job roles are seeing high hiring intent in various cities. Food engineers have a hiring intent of 41 per cent in Bengaluru, logistics coordinators 39 per cent in Delhi, supply and distribution chain positions 37 per cent in Hyderabad, and brand management trainees 34 per cent in Bengaluru. The survey was conducted across 526 small, medium, and large companies in 18 industries and covered 14 geographical areas, including metros, tier-1, and tier-2 cities. Ready to Master Stock Valuation? ET's Workshop is just around the corner!sports career of carlos yulo 。

: The Fishermen Welfare Association has urged the state government to set up the State Fisheries Development Board and protect the interests of the fishermen community. The community is residing in 555 villages across the coastal stretch spanning 975km in AP. Barring Rayalaseema, all other districts of AP abutting the sea coast. The association suggested diversion of the budgeted amount for fisheries welfare to the board. It also sought issuing of orders to the industrial units in the coastal districts to allocate to the board some 10 per cent of their funds earmarked for fisheries sector development. Convener of the Fishermen Parirakshana Samithi, Pesangi Adinarayana, said deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan was keen on helping the fishermen community. The oranisation requested PK to chart a programme for the welfare of the fishermen community. He said, “Fishermen are spread over the areas of Krishna, Godavari, Vamsadhara, Nagavali, Penna, Tungabhadra, the lakes like Kolleru, Pulicat and the mangroves at Koringa, Visakhapatnam,Machilipatnam and Nellore." “There are 14 sub-sects among the fishermen community like Vadabalija, Agnikula Kshatriya, Jalari, Bestha, Vanya Kula Kshatriya, Vanne Kapu, Vannereddy, Pallikapu, Vallireddy, Gangaputra, Goondla, Neyyapattapu, Vaddi, Palle etc. To develop these communities, a Welfare Board is a must.” He proposed allocation of 10 per cent of the outlay of industries to the fisheries welfare board, and compensation to the fishermen from ONGC, Reliance, GSPC, the aquaculture and fisheries processing units, seafood factories etc and a 10 per cent cess towards funding for the board. Adinarayana said a law should be enacted to provide rights to fishermen on the sea and training given to them on new technology in fishing. Fishermen, he said, should also be provided education and medical facilities free of cost. He wants recognition of the fishermen community as a coastal tribe on the lines of the Schedule Tribes. Special educational institutions should be set up for the children of the fishermen community. He also requested the government to provide fishermen cold storage facilities to store the fish.NEW YORK, Dec. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a lawsuit has been filed against PACS Group, Inc. PACS and certain of the Company's senior executives for potential violations of the federal securities laws. If you invested in PACS, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting : https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/pacs-group-inc . Investors have until January 13, 2025, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in PACS securities. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and is captioned Manchin v. PACS Group, Inc. , et al. , No. 24-cv-08636. What is the PACS Lawsuit About? The Complaint alleges that PACS is one of the largest operators of skilled nursing facilities in the United States. As alleged, PACS repeatedly represented to shareholders that it possesses a winning "turnaround" strategy to make its nursing facilities profitable. However, in truth, it is alleged that PACS's turnaround was driven by illicitly accessing Medicare benefits for thousands of patients. On November 4, 2024, prominent investment research firm Hindenburg Research published a report titled: "PACS Group: How to Become A Billionaire In The Skilled Nursing Industry By Systematically Scamming Taxpayers." After a 5-month investigation that included interviews with 18 former PACS employees, competitors, and an analysis of more than 900 PACS facility cost reports, Hindenburg alleged that "PACS abused a COVID-era waiver, inappropriately accessing skilled care Medicare benefits for thousands of patients across its national portfolio of facilities." Hindenburg further estimated that "the scheme drove more than 100% of PACS' operating and net income from 2020 – 2023, enabling PACS to IPO in early 2024 with the illusion of legitimate growth and profitability." On November 6, 2024, PACS then announced that it was postponing its Q3 earnings and that it had "received civil investigative demands from the federal government regarding the Company's reimbursement and referral practices that may or may not be related to this week's third-party report." The news caused a significant decline in the price of PACS stock. On November 4, 2024, the price of the company's stock fell 27.8%, from a closing price of $42.94 per share on November 1, 2024, to $31.01 per share on November 4, 2024. On November 6, 2024, the price of the company's stock fell 38.8%, from a closing price of $29.54 per share on November 5, 2024, to $18.09 per share on November 6, 2024. Click here if you Suffered Losses: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/pacs-group-inc . What Can You Do? If you invested in PACS you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm. All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses. Submit your information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/pacs-group-inc Or contact: Ross Shikowitz ross@bfalaw.com 212-789-3619 Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP? Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It was named among the Top 5 plaintiff law firms by ISS SCAS in 2023 and its attorneys have been named Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thompson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors (pending court approval), as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd. For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com . https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/pacs-group-inc Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Deere & Company ( NYSE:DE – Get Free Report ) declared a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, December 3rd, RTT News reports. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be paid a dividend of 1.62 per share by the industrial products company on Monday, February 10th. This represents a $6.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.51%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 31st. This is an increase from Deere & Company’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.47. Deere & Company has raised its dividend by an average of 20.5% annually over the last three years. Deere & Company has a dividend payout ratio of 33.1% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect Deere & Company to earn $22.23 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $6.48 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 29.1%. Deere & Company Trading Down 0.9 % Shares of DE opened at $430.06 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89, a current ratio of 2.09 and a quick ratio of 1.90. Deere & Company has a 1-year low of $340.20 and a 1-year high of $469.39. The stock has a market cap of $116.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 0.96. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $425.95 and a 200-day simple moving average of $397.14. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth DE has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Deere & Company from $401.00 to $450.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, November 25th. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Deere & Company from $404.00 to $462.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of Deere & Company from $460.00 to $470.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, December 9th. Oppenheimer raised their price objective on Deere & Company from $448.00 to $477.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, November 22nd. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on Deere & Company from $400.00 to $475.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. Thirteen research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $443.94. View Our Latest Report on DE Deere & Company Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Deere & Company engages in the manufacture and distribution of various equipment worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Production and Precision Agriculture, Small Agriculture and Turf, Construction and Forestry, and Financial Services. The Production and Precision Agriculture segment provides large and medium tractors, combines, cotton pickers and strippers, sugarcane harvesters and loaders, harvesting front-end equipment, pull-behind scrapers, and tillage and seeding equipment, as well as application equipment, including sprayers and nutrient management, and soil preparation machinery for grain growers. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Deere & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deere & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Texans foiled by mistake after mistake in 32-27 loss to TitansWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said the extension of the debt ceiling will "go down as one of the dumbest political decisions made in years," referring to a 2023 budget deal struck by then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Joe Biden. Under that deal, Congress suspended the debt ceiling until Jan. 1, 2025. The U.S. Treasury will be able to pay its bills for several more months, but Congress will have to address the issue at some point next year. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "The extension of the Debt Ceiling by a previous Speaker of the House, a good man and a friend of mine ... will go down as one of the dumbest political decisions made in years." He added, "The Democrats must be forced to take a vote on this treacherous issue NOW, during the Biden Administration, and not in June. They should be blamed for this potential disaster, not the Republicans!" (Reporting by Jasper Ward; Editing by Don Durfee)

Stock indexes drifted to a mixed finish on Wall Street as some heavyweight technology and communications sector stocks offset gains elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 slipped less than 0.1% Thursday, its first loss after three straight gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%. Gains by retailers and health care stocks helped temper the losses. Trading volume was lighter than usual as U.S. markets reopened following the Christmas holiday. The Labor Department reported that U.S. applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years. Treasury yields fell in the bond market. On Thursday: The S&P 500 fell 2.45 points, or 0.04%, to 6,037.59. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 28.77 points, or 0.1%, to 43,325.80. The Nasdaq composite fell 10.77 points, or 1%, to 19,764.89. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 20.34 points, or 0.9%, to 2,280.19. For the week: The S&P 500 is up 106.74 points, or 1.80%. The Dow is up 485.54 points, or 1.1%. The Nasdaq is up 447.76 points, or 2.3%. The Russell 2000 is up 37.82 points, or 1.7%. For the year: The S&P 500 is up 1,267.76 points, or 26.6%. The Dow is up 5,636.26, or 15%. The Nasdaq is up 5,009.01 points, or 33.4%. The Russell 2000 is up 253.12 points, or 12.5%.

A recent survey by AARP finds that three out of four adults over 50 would prefer to stay in their home as long as possible. Camille Delongis spoke to Rodney Harrell, vice president of family, home and community for AARP, who shares more on how that can be a reality for more seniors. Harrell spoke on some common home improvements or renovations that can be done to help seniors remain in their homes as they age, how technology in the home is being used to help keep seniors safe and also what kinds of things in the community are vital for seniors as they age. You can watch the full interview in the video player above.

NoneHOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans made mistakes in every facet of the game Sunday against the Tennessee Titans to lose for the third time in four games. C.J. Stroud threw two interceptions, the defense gave up multiple big passing plays and Ka′imi Fairbairn missed a 28-yard field goal that would have tied it late in a 32-27 loss . “Just a disappointing loss for us,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We didn’t do anything well enough to win this game. Out of all the positives that we did have, there were way too many negatives, too many negative plays.” Jimmie Ward had a 65-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter and the Texans tied a franchise record with eight sacks. Danielle Hunter led the group with a season-high three sacks and Will Anderson Jr. added two in his return after missing two games with an ankle injury. But the offense sputtered for most of the game as Joe Mixon was held to 22 yards on 14 carries. But Ryans refused to blame the offense for the loss. “Our offense did plenty," Ryans said. "They gave us enough points. On defense, we have to be able to stop them.” Chig Okonkwo grabbed a short pass and rumbled 70 yards for a touchdown to put the Titans (3-8) up 30-27 with 91⁄2 minutes remaining. Safety Eric Murray missed a tackle that would have stopped him near midfield. It was the last of three big passing plays the Titans had Sunday. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine got in front of the defense and was wide open for a 38-yard TD catch that made it 10-7 late in the first quarter. Calvin Ridley had a 63-yard reception that set up their next touchdown in the second. “It was just way too many negative plays,” Ryans said. “Defensively, unexplainable explosives for touchdowns. We didn’t play good across the board and that starts with me.” Despite this, the Texans (7-5) had a chance to tie it with less than two minutes remaining, but Fairbairn’s short field-goal attempt sailed wide left. He fell to the ground after the miss before getting up and slamming his helmet on the field. “The most frustrating part about it is out of all the bad things that happened, we still had a chance to finish the game,” Ryans said. “Everything that could go wrong, it went wrong. We still had a chance there to tie it up and finish the game, and we didn’t.” The Texans forced a three-and-out, but couldn’t move the ball after that and Harold Landry sacked Stroud in the end zone for a safety to make it 32-27 and allow Tennessee to snap a two-game skid. Stroud threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns, but his two interceptions Sunday give him five combined in the past three games. He now has more interceptions in 12 games this season (nine) than he had in 15 games as a rookie last season (five). “It’s no secret that I haven’t been playing well ... I’ve got to be harder on myself,” he said. “I’m not going to hold my head down. I know I can be a great player, but I’ve got to make better plays.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Troubled Manchester City held by lowly Everton3 Portfolio Moves Stock Market Investors Should Make Before the End of the YearDOHA, Qatar , Dec. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On December 25, 2024 , the First JETOUR Fan's Festival and the Launch of T2 i-DM was held in Qatar , themed "Think Future". During the event, JETOUR launched its user brand "Traveler" in the Middle East and its first hybrid model, JETOUR T2 i-DM. The launch event highlights JETOUR's commitment to exploring sustainable travel modes and ambition to become the "The World's Leading Brand in Hybrid Off-road Vehicles" under the "Travel+" strategy. JETOUR T2 i-DM not only inherits the strengths of T2 series, but also achieves high energy efficiency, high performance, high safety, and high intelligence with its advanced hybrid technology, i-DM. With a maximum combined power of 280kW and torque of 610N•m, T2 i-DM boasts a NEDC pure electric range of 139km and an overall range exceeding 1,000km at just 0.8L/100km, addressing range anxiety and promoting green travel. Mr. Dai Lihong, executive vice president of JETOUR Auto, emphasized technology's role in producing world-class products. The launch also introduced "Traveler", enriching user experience through diverse products and superior performance. This year, JETOUR has ranked third in sales across the Qatari auto market. The Fan's Festival invited user representatives from across the Middle East to witness the unveiling of "Traveler", experiencing "Travel+" culture through city tours and co-creation workshops. JETOUR prioritizes users, listening to their needs and co-creating products, brand, and lifestyle. Through "Traveler," JETOUR aims to provide richer travel experiences and benefits globally, leveraging the platform to spread the "Travel+" culture worldwide. Mr. Alex Tan , Vice President of JETOUR International, said, "Serving 'JETOUR users' and being 'a user-oriented JETOUR' are JETOUR's development philosophy. JETOUR will continue to build a travel community centered around users, cars, and lifestyles, sharing the joy of traveling together with users." JETOUR also partnered with Diamond League to promote athletics in Qatar and the Middle East , embodying JETOUR Speed and the brand's image of breakthroughs and innovations. With T2 selling over 150,000 units globally, T2 i-DM will continue its success to meet customers' needs and reshape the hybrid SUV market. The launch of T2 i-DM marks JETOUR's new journey towards "the World's Leading Brand in Hybrid Off-road Vehicles." JETOUR plans to introduce more hybrid and off-road models, providing customers with eco-friendly and diversified travel choices. With its innovative spirit and user-oriented philosophy, JETOUR will lead the global automotive industry towards a more sustainable and smarter future. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-launch-of-jetour-t2-i-dm-reshaping-the-hybrid-suv-market-302339886.html SOURCE JETOUR AUTO

sports eyeglasses

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Russian state news agencies are reporting that ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad has arrived in Moscow with his family and given asylum. The agencies, Tass and RIA, cited an unidentified Kremlin source. The Associated Press was not immediately able to verify the reports but has contacted the Kremlin for comment. RIA also cited an anonymous Kremlin source that Moscow had received guarantees from Syrian insurgents of the security of Russian military bases and diplomatic posts in Syria. The report did not give further details. Assad reportedly left Syria early Sunday. Syrians have been pouring into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire after a stunning rebel advance reached the capital, ending the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule . THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syrians poured into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire on Sunday after a stunning rebel advance reached the capital, ending the Assad family's 50 years of iron rule but raising questions about the future of the country and the wider region. Joyful crowds gathered in squares in Damascus, waving the Syrian revolutionary flag in scenes that recalled the early days of the Arab Spring uprising, before a brutal crackdown and the rise of an insurgency plunged the country into a nearly 14-year civil war. Others gleefully ransacked the presidential palace and residence after President Bashar Assad and other top officials vanished, their whereabouts unknown. Russia, a close ally, said Assad left the country after negotiations with rebel groups and had given instructions to transfer power peacefully. Abu Mohammed al-Golani , a former al-Qaida commander who cut ties with the group years ago and says he embraces pluralism and religious tolerance, leads the biggest rebel faction and is poised to chart the country's future. In his first public appearance since fighters entered the Damascus suburbs Saturday, al-Golani visited the sprawling Umayyad Mosque and called Assad's fall “a victory to the Islamic nation.” Calling himself by his given name, Ahmad al-Sharaa, and not his nom de guerre, he told hundreds of people that Assad had made Syria “a farm for Iran’s greed.” The rebels face the daunting task of healing bitter divisions in a country ravaged by war and still split among armed factions. Turkey-backed opposition fighters are battling U.S.-allied Kurdish forces in the north, and the Islamic State group is still active in some remote areas. Syrian state television broadcast a rebel statement early Sunday saying Assad had been overthrown and all prisoners had been released. They called on people to preserve the institutions of “the free Syrian state.” The rebels later announced a curfew in Damascus from 4 p.m. to 5 a.m. The rebels said they freed people held at the notorious Saydnaya prison, where rights groups say thousands were tortured and killed . A video circulating online purported to show rebels breaking open cell doors and freeing dozens of female prisoners, many of whom appeared shocked. At least one small child was seen among them. “This happiness will not be completed until I can see my son out of prison and know where is he,” said one relative, Bassam Masr. "I have been searching for him for two hours. He has been detained for 13 years.” Rebel commander Anas Salkhadi later appeared on state TV and sought to reassure Syria's religious and ethnic minorities, saying: “Syria is for everyone, no exceptions. Syria is for Druze, Sunnis, Alawites, and all sects.” “We will not deal with people the way the Assad family did," he added. Damascus residents prayed in mosques and celebrated in squares, calling, “God is great.” People chanted anti-Assad slogans and honked car horns. Teenage boys picked up weapons apparently discarded by security forces and fired into the air. Revelers filled Umayyad Square, where the Defense Ministry is located. Some waved the three-starred Syrian flag that predates the Assad government and was adopted by the revolutionaries. Elsewhere, many parts of the capital were empty and shops were closed. Soldiers and police left their posts and fled, and looters broke into the Defense Ministry. Videos showed families wandering the presidential palace, some carrying stacks of plates and other household items. “It’s like a dream. I need someone to wake me up," said opposition fighter Abu Laith, adding the rebels were welcomed in Damascus with “love.” At the Justice Ministry, where rebels stood guard, Judge Khitam Haddad said they were protecting documents from the chaos. Outside, some residents sought information about relatives who disappeared under Assad. The rebels “have felt the pain of the people,” said one woman, giving only her first name, Heba. She worried about possible revenge killings by the rebels, many of whom appeared to be underage. Syria’s al-Watan newspaper, which was historically pro-government, wrote: “We are facing a new page for Syria. We thank God for not shedding more blood.” It added that media workers should not be blamed for publishing past government statements, saying it “only carried out the instructions.” A statement from the Alawite sect that has formed the core of Assad's base called on young Syrians to be “calm, rational and prudent and not to be dragged into what tears apart the unity of our country.” The rebels mainly come from the Sunni Muslim majority in Syria, which also has sizable Druze, Christian and Kurdish communities. In Qamishli in the northeast, a Kurdish man slapped a statue of the late leader Hafez Assad with his shoe. Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali said the government was ready to “extend its hand” to the opposition and turn its functions over to a transitional government. A video shared on Syrian opposition media showed armed men escorting him from his office and to the Four Seasons hotel on Sunday. Rami Abdurrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told The Associated Press that Assad, 59, took a flight early Sunday from Damascus. A senior diplomat from the United Arab Emirates, which had sought to rehabilitate Assad's image and has welcomed high-profile exiles in recent years, declined to comment on his whereabouts. Anwar Gargash said Assad's destination at this point is a “footnote in history,” comparing it to the long exile of German Kaiser Wilhelm II after World War I. The rebel advances since Nov. 27 were the largest in recent years, and saw the cities of Aleppo, Hama and Homs fall within days as the Syrian army melted away. Russia, Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group, which provided crucial support to Assad throughout the uprising, abandoned him as they reeled from other conflicts. The end of Assad’s rule was a major blow to Iran and its allies, already weakened by conflict with Israel . Iran, which had strongly backed him throughout the civil war, said Syrians should decide their future “without destructive, coercive, foreign intervention.” The Iranian Embassy in Damascus was ransacked after apparently having been abandoned. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meanwhile said Israeli troops had seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established in 1974, saying it was to protect Israeli residents after Syrian troops abandoned positions. Israel's military later warned residents of five southern Syria communities to stay home for their safety, and didn’t respond to questions. Israel captured the Golan in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed it. The international community, except for the United States, views it as occupied, and the Arab League on Sunday condemned what it called Israel’s efforts to take advantage of Assad’s downfall occupy more territory. The rebels are led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS , which has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and the United Nations. Al-Golani, has sought to recast the group as a moderate and tolerant force. “Golani has made history and sparked hope among millions of Syrians," said Dareen Khalifa, a senior adviser with the International Crisis Group. "But he and the rebels now face a formidable challenge ahead.” The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, called Saturday for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” The Gulf nation of Qatar, a key regional mediator, hosted an emergency meeting of foreign ministers and top officials from eight countries with interests in Syria late Saturday. They included Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Turkey. Majed al-Ansari, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, said they agreed on the need “to engage all parties on the ground," including the HTS, and that the main concern is “stability and safe transition.” Sewell reported from Beirut. Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue, Sarah El Deeb and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut; Samar Kassaballi, Omar Sanadiki and Ghaith Alsayed in Damascus; Jon Gambrell in Manama, Bahrain; Josef Federman in Doha, Qatar; and Tia Goldenberg in Jerusalem, contributed.Photos from the Chicago Bears’ Week 14 game against the San Franciso 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 8, 2024. 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) makes a touchdown reception as Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (29) chases in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 8, 2024. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown, center, watches the first quarter against the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 8, 2024, in Santa Clara, California. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) pulls back to make a throw downfield in the first quarter against the Bears at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 8, 2024, in Santa Clara, California. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Bears safety Jonathan Owens walks on the field to warm up before the San Francisco 49ers host the Bears at Levi’s Stadium Dec. 8, 2024. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Bears tight end Marcedes Lewis signs an autograph on the field during warmups before facing the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 8, 2024. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Chicago Bears fans walk though the stadium before the Bears play the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium, Dec. 8, 2024, in Santa Clara, California. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Bears quarterback Caleb Williams views the video board while warming up before the 49ers host the Bears at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 8, 2024. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Bears tight end Cole Kmet (85) and teammates wait to take the field before the 49ers host the Bears at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 8, 2024. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown walks the perimeter of the field before a game against the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 8, 2024, in Santa Clara, California. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent warms up before the 49ers host the Bears on Dec. 8, 2024. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) A 49ers fan playfully blocks a Bears fan’s phone camera with a 49ers medallion as they watch players warm up at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 8, 2024, in Santa Clara, California. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Bears quarterback Caleb Williams takes the field before facing the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 8, 2024, in Santa Clara, California. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) A 49ers fan walks near the sideline before San Francisco hosts the Chicago Bears at Levi’s Stadium, Dec. 8, 2024. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) A Bears fan watches players warm up before the San Francisco 49ers host the Bears at Levi’s Stadium, Dec. 8, 2024. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Bears defensive end Montez Sweat takes the field before the 49ers host the Bears at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 8, 2024. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Gymnast Simone Biles walks near the sidelines before the San Francisco 49ers host the Bears at Levi’s Stadium, Dec. 8, 2024. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

College Football Coach Bloodied After Headbutting Player on Sideline: WatchThese eleven large-cap stocks were the worst performers in the last week. Are they in your portfolio? Texas Pacific Land Corporation TPL stock tumbled 16.35%, probably due to OPEC's supply decision. Microchip Technology Incorporated MCHP shares plummeted 13.03% after the company announced it halted its application for U.S. semiconductor government grants and cut revenue guidance for the December 2024 quarter . Intel Corporation INTC shares dived 13.01% after the company announced the retirement of CEO Pat Gelsinger . KB Financial Group Inc KB stock declined 12.68%. Guidewire Software, Inc. GWRE stock dipped 12.48% after it reported first-quarter results . Analysts revised their price forecast on the stock . Toast, Inc. TOST stock fell 10.86%. It expanded its partnership with Uber Technologies, Inc. UBER to give restaurants more choices and provide guests additional delivery options . Several analysts downgraded the stock . UnitedHealth Group Incorporated UNH stock declined 9.93% following the fatal shooting of the insurance division's CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel where the company was hosting its annual investor conference . Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. ODFL stock fell 9.83% last week due to the threat of new tariffs on Canada, which could impact several sectors, including transportation companies. Halliburton Company HAL stock lost 9.67% last week due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East affecting commodity prices. POSCO HOLDINGS INC. PKX shares decreased 9.67%, probably after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law . Rocket Lab USA, Inc.'s RKLB stock dipped 9.53% last week due to profit-taking in the sector. The company also stated it would announce the launch window for its sixth synspective mission on December 18 . Image via Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

GREENWOOD VILLAGE — The Bruins are, once again, inevitable. Cherry Creek dominated Valor Christian on Saturday in the Class 5A semifinal at the Stutler Bowl, 42-17. That sent coach Dave Logan’s squad to its seventh straight title game as the Bruins seek to get back on top after Saturday’s game was never close as the Bruins dominated in all facets. Quarterback Brady Vodicka and fellow junior running back Jayden Fox paced the offense while the Cherry Creek defense had a pair of takeaways that helped the Bruins pull away early. Fox’s 2-yard TD run put Cherry Creek up 7-0 late in the first quarter. Then an interception by Bruins senior safety Dwight Johnson, who sat down in coverage and read Dawson Olk’s pass, set Cherry Creek up in the red zone and led to Vodicka’s 23-yard touchdown run a few plays later to make it 14-0 in the waning seconds of the first. The Bruins defense had another highlight midway through the second quarter when senior linebacker Ashton Shepardson picked off a screen pass and ran it back 25 yards for a TD to extend the lead to 21-0. Valor Christian (11-2) then used an interception by senior safety Israel Waitman off a failed trick play to set up a scoring drive that culminated in do-everything junior Cash Spence’s 1-yard TD run out of the wildcat. That put the Eagles on the board at 21-7 with less than five minutes until half. But Cherry Creek had a response via Alijah Landrum-Hamilton’s 17-yd TD reception with 28 seconds left in the half. Even though the Eagles were able to muster a 45-yard field goal from senior Mason Walters at the halftime buzzer, Cherry Creek went into the locker room in command, 28-10. The Bruins got the ball to open the third quarter and marched down the field on a time-consuming drive that took 5 minutes, 11 seconds, and was polished off by Fox’s 5-yard TD run to push the score to 35-10. By the time Cherry Creek went on another clock-killing scoring drive that ate up 6:37 and was capped by freshman Elijah Cromwell’s 5-yard TD run, the Valor Christian fan section was thinning. Cromwell’s TD made it 42-10 with 9:42 left, and about seven minutes later, Olk threw a late TD pass to sophomore Jackson Coleman. Saturday marked the 12th overall meeting between the two Colorado powerhouses since they first met in 2014. Cherry Creek’s victory evened the all-time series at 6-6, though the Bruins hold a 4-1 advantage in title matchups. That included three straight wins over Valor Christian in the big game from 2020-22, as well as highlighted by a Bruins rally and late two-point conversion to deny the Eagles their sixth straight title. Cherry Creek plays Legend in next Saturday’s title game at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, after the Titans beat Fairview 35-21 at EchoPark Stadium. There, the Bruins (12-1) will be favored to win their fifth title in the last six years.Longtime USA Today Sports Columnist Passes Away At 82

The international community must come together to support the economic recovery of Syria. Multilateral efforts, including aid packages, investment initiatives, and debt relief, are essential to jumpstart the economy and provide a lifeline to the Syrian people. At the same time, efforts to promote stability, reconciliation, and peace in the region are crucial to creating an environment conducive to economic growth.

According to reports, the female master's graduate, whose name has been withheld for privacy reasons, sought shelter in the village after experiencing financial difficulties and personal issues. A local family kindly offered her a place to stay, but rumors soon began to circulate that she was not allowed to leave the premises and was being kept under strict surveillance.

Domestic violence has long been a pervasive issue that affects individuals and families around the world. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of addressing and preventing domestic violence through legal means. One significant development in this area is the establishment of clear standards for evidence of domestic violence. The introduction of these new rules has important implications for the fight against domestic violence.Traditionally, the holidays are for spending time with family and friends, perhaps with a varying degree of religious rituals or practices. There’s also pressure not to miss certain family celebrations, but there will be times you can’t make it – whether by choice or circumstance. So, if you’re spending the holidays alone this year, you’re actually not alone in wondering if it’s OK to be alone. You hold the ticket to your happiness, even if you’re spending the holidays (or any special day of the year) in a less conventional way—all by yourself. There’s no correct formula for how to spend the holidays, experts say, and keeping that in mind is key when you’re not going to be around your loved ones. Spending the holidays alone can feel lonely or empty, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Loneliness is an issue during the winter holidays for many students and other clients, according to Diana Winston, director of UCLA Mindful , the mindfulness education center at UCLA Health. Not having people to spend the days with, “can compound any existing loneliness and worsen it during the holiday times,” Winston said. New York psychologist Dr. Bryant Williams agreed, noting that being alone during the holidays “accentuates existing problems.” Both experts suggest taking action to strengthen your mindset and fill your days with activities that you know nurture you. Step outside for some fresh air Go on a hike, take a walk in a park, visit the beach or engage in nature in a way that suits your lifestyle and location. Get out into “whatever nature you have available to you,” Winston said, highlighting the importance of seizing opportunities to be outdoors. The benefits of simply being outside and surrounding yourself with nature are plenty, and why not rack up those benefits when you’re spending the day or week alone? In the practice of forest bathing , one spends time in nature through activities like a walk or sitting and enjoying the environment, Dr. Leana Wen previously told CNN. “Forest therapy” can lower anxiety, improve mood and reduce blood pressure, studies show . You can simply take a walk, and make the most of that walk. A higher daily step count is linked to fewer depressive symptoms, according to a recent study in the journal JAMA Network Open. And it’s not an impossible number—even 7,000 steps can lead to better mental health , said clinical psychologist Dr. Karmel Choi, who previously spoke to CNN. ‘Zoom in’ to celebrate You don’t have to miss out on all the fun just because you can’t be there to celebrate in person. Williams recommended people take action to reach out to people with a phone or video call. Do something “similar to what people did during the pandemic, when people were so isolated,” he said. “People, because they weren’t spending time with each other in person, started spending a lot of time on Zoom.” Social experiences are important to health, so carving out time for this can improve your well-being. More specifically, reach out to loved ones who make you feel good about yourself since positive social interactions are linked to better coping and lower stress , research shows. If your schedule and circumstances allow for catching up in-person, aim for a spontaneous coffee meetup with a friend or accept your colleague’s invitation to join their festivities. None of the plans have to be grand, orchestrated celebrations. The point is to connect with someone at some point during the holidays if possible. Volunteer where people need help Volunteering, such as at a children’s hospital or at a nursing home, can be beneficial for those spending this season alone. You can also find opportunities to serve meals at a soup kitchen or food bank in your community. Some locations could use the help to hand out food at a holiday meal pick-up center. “There’s all sorts of structured activities that people can engage in when they’re spending time with other people, even strangers, and they’re doing something thoughtful and nice for them,” Williams said. That kind of an activity can impact one’s brain in a positive way. “If someone takes action, they get outside of themselves, then they’re thinking about other people,” Williams said. “People generally feel better when that happens.” Treat yourself to something nice You might be missing only your grandma’s mac-and-cheese or wishing you were baking pies for many to enjoy. It’s common for holidays to evoke images of people gathering around a shared meal. If you’re alone, try to cook something special, order takeout or order something delicious at a restaurant, Winston said. If you’re going to be out of town on a work trip, research the best nearby restaurants to your liking and splurge on a nice dinner. If you’re choosing to be a homebody this year, be as lazy or as complex as you’d like with the meal—if it nurtures you. Rituals Rituals and fun family routines around the holidays are an important part of celebrating and maybe what you are missing most this time of year. “Can they perform some ritual that punctuates the day and makes it feel special in some way?” Williams said. Taking a hot bath, getting a massage or playing a sport can be nurturing to some people, Winston said. Light the menorah, hang up a stocking on your fireplace, or do the New Year’s Eve countdown for yourself. You can observe the days however you’d like without disagreements with others, judgment or the pressure of expectations. Get a head start on your to-do list Having a sense of accomplishment, such as by working on a home project, during this solitary time can also be one way to get through the holidays, Winston said. “People can be creative about their use of their time,” she said. Seasonal chores like raking leaves or shoveling snow, decorating your house or decluttering your closets can also count as functional exercise without hitting the gym. Reflect on the year Another more introspective activity is to take advantage of the solitude to plan for the new year or review the past year. “Especially for (the) new year, people love to reflect on the previous year,” Williams said. “And doing that in an intentional, structured way and even outlining the ways they want the new year to be different or even citing specific goals for the new year.” Spend the holiday creating new traditions, like creating a vision board or reviewing the highs and lows of your year in a journal. Shifting your mindset Winston suggests coupling actions with a strong mental approach—a mindfulness perspective— to help one with loneliness feelings. “Paying attention to our present moment experiences with openness, curiosity and a willingness to be with that experience” is mindfulness, according to Winston. “It’s really about learning to live in the present moment, not lost in the past or the future.” Understandably, the willpower to focus only on the now and block out the other noise can be challenging, and fully accepting that present reality is key. When things look and feel different and when one is in a transition period, clinical psychologist Dr. Adam Brown previously told CNN that there is no requirement to have the holidays look or feel the same as they had in the past. Compassion for yourself “Be compassionate with yourself and do the best that you can and know that this is a particular moment in the year,” Winston said. “There’s nothing wrong with you and you will get through it.” It’s also helpful to remember that not all those who are spending their holidays surrounded by people are having a good time. “We have a lot of input, demands and stress in general that is elevated during the holidays , so it is extra important to be attentive to your need for alone time,” Sophie Lazarus, a clinical psychologist in the department of psychiatry and behavioral health at Ohio State University told CNN earlier this month. Due to some last-minute logistical challenges last month, I was unable to spend Thanksgiving with my family. Even though I knew I would be able to fly home the next day, I was still bummed to miss my family traditions. To make the best of the situation, I did as many of my favorite things as I could: I walked around my neighborhood, read news magazines and sat for hours in a bustling coffee shop to write. To cap it off, I went to a special Thanksgiving dinner by myself at a local restaurant. I missed time with my family, but I would say I still had an experts-approved day. I highly recommend turning your day alone into a gratifying one, and even if you’re not going to be alone, try to carve out time for yourself in the midst of social obligations to help keep you grounded and serene.

As Greenwood continues to light up the French Ligue 1 with his goal-scoring exploits, fans and pundits alike are eagerly anticipating what other records he will break and milestones he will achieve in his career. With his blend of skill, determination, and raw talent, there is no doubt that Mason Greenwood is destined for greatness in the world of football.Learn from Indian women how to invest in gold and silver: Jim Rogers NEW DELHI: As the prices of gold and silver continue to rise amid geo-political tensions, ace global investor Jim Rogers has an advice for people: stay invested in precious metals and nothing can teach us better about bullion than Indian women. In an interaction with a wire agency, Rogers, who is known for his expertise and strategic insights, said he owns both gold and silver. “Everybody should own gold and silver. That is one thing I learned in India where women in the markets taught me a lot about gold and silver,” he quipped. “If I were buying one today, I would buy silver because it’s cheaper. I hope I’m smart enough to buy more of both if they go down in price,” Rogers added. According to a recent report by the World Gold Council (WGC), the demand in India surged 18 per cent (year-on-year_ to 248.3 tonnes in the September quarter due to a rise in jewellery consumption and investment in gold. In terms of value, India’s gold demand during the quarter surged 52 per cent (on-year) to Rs 1.65 lakh crore compared with Rs 1.08 lakh crore in the same period last year. India’s demand for gold jewellery rose 10 per cent on year to 171.6 tonnes in the September quarter owing to weddings and the festive season. On mutual funds (MFs), Rogers said if people know what they’re doing, everybody should invest in MFs “because it’s a way to have better prosperity”. “But do not invest unless you know what you’re doing yourself. Don’t listen to other people. Only invest in what you know a lot about. But if you know a lot about something, you should find investments and have success,” the veteran global investor said. “I sold my investments in India too soon. I will invest more in India as the country has a brighter future,” said Rogers, the American millionaire based in Singapore. AgenciesIn the wake of the devastating fire, Alibaba Cloud quickly sprang into action to address the situation and provide timely updates to the public. In a press release, the company acknowledged the severity of the situation and assured customers that they were working tirelessly to restore services and minimize the impact of the incident.

Aston Villa return to winning ways by blowing away BrentfordLiverpool Hits Jackpot! Glad to Let Go, 32-Year-Old Former Star Falters: From £150 Million Valuation to Merely £6 Million

However, the truth behind the incident was far from what the villagers had initially feared. Upon further investigation and interviews with both the graduate and the villagers who had offered her shelter, it became apparent that there was no foul play involved. The young woman had simply lost her way while exploring the nearby forest and had unintentionally strayed far from her intended path.

The actions of the People's Liberation Army have also raised questions about China's intentions in the region and its long-term strategic goals. Some analysts believe that Beijing's increased military presence near Taiwan is aimed at exerting pressure on the Taiwan authorities and testing the resolve of the international community.Nuclear power station hosts Christmas Cracker event for youngsters

One week into a new Syria, rebels aim for normalcy and Syrians vow not to be silent again DAMASCUS (AP) — A transformation has started to take place in the week since the unexpected overthrow of Syria’s President Bashar Assad. Suddenly in charge, the rebels have been met with a mix of excitement, grief and hope. And so far the transition has been surprisingly smooth. Reports of reprisals, revenge killings and sectarian violence are minimal, looting and destruction has been quickly contained. But there are a million ways it could go wrong. Syria is broken and isolated after five decades of Assad family rule. Families have been torn apart by war, former prisoners are traumatized, and tens of thousands of detainees remain missing. The economy is wrecked, poverty is widespread, inflation and unemployment are high. Corruption seeps through daily life. Christians in Syria mark country's transformation with tears as UN envoy urges an end to sanctions DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — In churches across long-stifled Syria, Christians have marked the first Sunday services since Bashar Assad’s ouster in an air of transformation. Some were in tears, others clasped their hands in prayer. The U.N. envoy for Syria is calling for a quick end to Western sanctions as the country’s new leaders and regional and global powers discuss the way forward. The Syrian government has been under sanctions by the United States, the European Union and others for years as a result of Assad’s brutal response to what began as peaceful anti-government protests in 2011 and spiraled into civil war. Israel will close its Ireland embassy over Gaza tensions as Palestinian death toll nears 45,000 DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel says it will close its embassy in Ireland as relations deteriorate over the war in Gaza, where Palestinian medical officials say new Israeli airstrikes have killed over 30 people including children. Israel's decision to close the embassy came in response to what Israel’s foreign minister has described as Ireland's “extreme anti-Israel policies.” Ireland earlier announced that it would recognize a Palestinian state. And the Irish cabinet last week decided to formally intervene in South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, which accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. The Palestinian death toll in the war is approaching 45,000. The GOP stoked fears of noncitizens voting. Cases in Ohio show how rhetoric and reality diverge AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Ohio's Republican secretary of state and attorney general sought to reassure voters before the November election that the state's elections were being vigorously protected against the possibility of immigrants voting illegally. That push coincided with a national Republican messaging strategy warning that potentially thousands of ineligible voters would be voting. The officials' efforts in Ohio led to charges against just six noncitizens in a state with 8 million registered voters. That outcome and the stories of some of those now facing charges show the gap both in Ohio and across the United States between the rhetoric about noncitizen voting and the reality that it's rare and not part of a coordinated scheme to throw elections. South Korean leaders seek calm after Yoon is impeached SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s opposition leader has offered to work with the government to ease the political tumult, a day after the opposition-controlled parliament voted to impeach conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol over a short-lived attempt to impose martial law. Liberal Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, whose party holds a majority in the National Assembly, urged the Constitutional Court to rule swiftly on Yoon’s impeachment and proposed a special council for policy cooperation between the government and parliament. Yoon’s powers have been suspended until the court decides whether to remove him from office or reinstate him. If Yoon is dismissed, a national election to choose his successor must be held within 60 days. Storms across US bring heavy snow, dangerous ice and a tornado in California OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Inclement weather has plagued areas of the U.S. in the first half of the weekend, with dangerous conditions including heavy snow, a major ice storm and unusual tornado activity. An ice storm beginning Friday created treacherous driving conditions across Iowa and eastern Nebraska. More than 33 inches of snow was reported near Orchard Park, New York, which is often a landing point for lake-effect snow. On Saturday, a tornado touched down in Scotts Valley, California, causing damage and several injuries. In San Francisco, a storm damaged trees and roofs and prompted a tornado warning, which was a first for a city that has not experienced a tornado since 2005. Small businesses say cautious shoppers are seeking 'cozy' and 'festive' this holiday season With a late Thanksgiving, the holiday shopping season is five days shorter than last year, and owners of small retail shops say that people have been quick to snap up holiday décor early, along with gifts for others and themselves. Cozy items like sweaters are popular so far. Businesses are also holding special events to get shoppers in the door. But there’s little sense of the freewheeling spending that occurred during the pandemic. Overall, The National Retail Federation predicts retail sales in November and December will rise between 2.5% and 3.5% compared with same period a year ago. US agencies should use advanced technology to identify mysterious drones, Schumer says After weeks of fear and bewilderment about the drones buzzing over parts of New York and New Jersey, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer is urging the federal government to deploy better drone-tracking technology to identify and ultimately stop the airborne pests. The New York Democrat is calling on the Department of Homeland Security to immediately deploy advanced technology to identify and track drones back to their landing spots. That is according to briefings from his office. Federal authorities have said that the drones do not appear to be linked to foreign governments. West Africa regional bloc approves exit timeline for 3 coup-hit member states ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — West Africa’s regional bloc ECOWAS has approved an exit timeline for three coup-hit nations. It comes after a nearly yearlong process of mediation to avert the unprecedented disintegration of the grouping. The president of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, said in a statement: “The authority decides to set the period from 29 January, 2025 to 29 July 2025 as a transitional period and to keep ECOWAS doors open to the three countries during the transition period." In a first in the 15-nation bloc’s nearly 50 years of existence, the military juntas of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso announced in January that they decided to leave ECOWAS. Pope Francis makes 1st papal visit to France's Corsica awash in expressions of popular piety AJACCIO, Corsica (AP) — Pope Francis on the first papal visit ever to the French island of Corsica on Sunday called for a dynamic form of laicism, promoting the kind of popular piety that distinguishes the Mediterranean island from secular France as a bridge between religious and civic society. The one-day visit to Corsica’s capital Ajaccio, birthplace of Napoleon, on Sunday is one of the briefest of his papacy beyond Italy’s borders, just about nine hours on the ground, including a 40-minute visit with French President Emmanuel Macron. It is the first papal visit ever to the island, which Genoa ceded to France in 1768 and is located closer to the Italian mainland than France.If you have room in your investment portfolio for some new ASX shares in December, then it could be worth checking out the three listed below. That's because they have all been named as buys by brokers. Here's what you need to know about these explosive growth shares: ( ) The team at Goldman Sachs continues to see Life360 as an ASX growth share to buy. It is the location technology company behind the hugely popular Life360 app. At the last count, there were over 70 million monthly active users (MAU) across more than 150 countries using this app to keep their family safe. Goldman Sachs believes the company has a very bright future. It said: We believe Life360 remains in the early stages of its multi-year revenue growth opportunity, with subscription growth momentum continuing at scale in the US and internationally, as well as a new high-margin revenue stream in advertising. Goldman has a buy rating and $25.00 price target on Life360's shares. ( ) Over at Morgans, its analysts believe that this leading global cross platform games company could be an ASX growth share to buy. The broker feels that its shares are undervalued at current levels. Especially given its potential to be a multi-year compounder. It said: Light & Wonder has a solid track record of delivering and in our opinion has the potential to be a multi-year compounder. It boasts top-tier game developers, including much of the team behind Aristocrat's standout growth in the 2010s. Light & Wonder is busy buying back stock as it believes the share price undervalues the business. We agree and regard the discount to Aristocrat on which Light & Wonder trades as unwarranted. Morgans currently has an rating and $180.00 price target on the company's shares. ( ) A third ASX growth share that is rated as a buy by brokers is Megaport. It is a leading global provider of elastic interconnection services. The company has been growing at a quick rate in recent years thanks to the cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) boom. The team at Morgans believes there's plenty more to come from Megaport. It said: Megaport is a global cloud connection network and the leading Network as a Service provider. It operates the largest data centre connection business in the world, connecting to 850 data centres through a fully automated, on-demand telco network. We think it is uniquely placed to help business move data globally and benefit from the growth of data related to both cloud computing and AI. The broker has an add rating and $12.50 price target on its shares.sports glasses 。

Jeffrey Fleishman | (TNS) Los Angeles Times The national furor in recent years around banning books on race and gender in public schools is intensifying as President-elect Donald Trump threatens to shut down the Department of Education, emboldening conservatives to end “wokeness” in classrooms. Battles over books in school libraries have become emblematic of the country’s larger culture wars over race, historical revisionism and gender identity. A new report by PEN America found book bans increased by nearly 200% during the 2023-24 school year, including titles on sexuality, substance abuse, depression and other issues students face in an age of accelerating technologies, climate change, toxic politics and fears about the future. Book censorship has shaken and divided school boards, pitted parents against parents, and led to threats against teachers and librarians . It is part of an agenda driven by conservative parental rights groups and politicians who promote charter schools and voucher systems that could weaken public education. The issue goes to the heart not only of what students are taught but how federal and state education policies will affect the nation’s politics after one of the most consequential elections in its history. “It’s not just about taking a book off a shelf,” said Tasslyn Magnusson, an author and teacher from Wisconsin who tracks book censorship across the U.S. “It’s about power and who controls public education. It’s about what kind of America we were and are. We’re trying to define what family is and what America means. That comes down to the stories we tell.” She said she feared Trump’s return to the White House would further incite those calling for book bans: “I don’t have lots of hope. It could get a lot worse.” Over the last year, PEN counted more than 10,000 book bans nationwide that targeted 4,231 unique titles. Most were books dealing with gender, sexuality, race and LGBTQ+ storylines. The most banned title was Jodi Picoult’s “Nineteen Minutes,” about a school shooting that included a short description of date rape. Florida and Iowa — both of which have strict regulations on what students can read — accounted for more than 8,200 bans in the 2023-24 school year. “This crisis is tragic for young people hungry to understand the world they live in and see their identities and experiences reflected in books,” Kasey Meehan, director of PEN’s Freedom to Read Program, said in a statement. “What students can read in schools provides the foundation for their lives.” Trump’s calls to close the Department of Education would need congressional approval, which appears unlikely. Although public schools are largely funded and governed by state and local institutions, the department helps pay to educate students with disabilities, provides about $18 billion in grants for K-12 schools in poor communities and oversees a civil rights branch to protect students from discrimination. But Trump’s election has inspired conservative parental groups, including Moms For Liberty and Parents Defending Education, to strengthen efforts to limit what they see as a liberal conspiracy to indoctrinate children with books and teachings that are perverse, amoral and pornographic. Tiffany Justice, co-founder of Moms for Liberty, has criticized schools that she says spend too much time on diversity and inclusion when only about one-third of U.S. children are reading at grade level: “We’re talking about public school libraries and content for kids,” Justice told NewsNation after Trump’s victory. “I think it’s very clear that there are certain things that are appropriate for kids, certain things that are appropriate for adults. We’re just getting back to commonsense America.” Trump’s threat to deny federal funding to schools that acknowledge transgender identities could affect curricula and the kinds of books school libraries stock. During his rally at Madison Square Garden in October, Trump — who has has accused schools of promoting sex change operations — said his administration would get “transgender insanity the hell out of our schools.” Vice President-elect JD Vance has accused Democrats of wanting to “put sexually explicit books in toddlers’ libraries.” Nicole Neily, president of Parents Defending Education, told Newsmax that she was excited about Trump’s calls to remake education and “clean up a lot of the mess” he has inherited from the Biden administration. Trump “has centered parental rights back in his platform, which is incredible. He has prioritized knowledge and skill, not identity politics,” she said. “American children deserve better, and it is time for change.” In nominating Linda McMahon to be his secretary of Education, Trump appears to be pushing for more conservative parental control over what is taught and read in classrooms. A former professional wrestling executive, McMahon chairs the America First Policy Institute, a Trump-connected organization that has criticized schools for teaching “racially divisive” theories, notably about slavery and a perspective about the nation’s founding it views as anti-American. “Today’s contentious debates over using classrooms for political activism rather than teaching a complete and accurate account of American history have reinvigorated calls for greater parental and citizen involvement in the curriculum approval process,” the institute’s website says. Culturally divisive issues, including race and LGBTQ+ themes, cost school districts an estimated $3.2 billion during the 2023-24 school year, according to a recent study called “The Costs of Conflict.” The survey — published by the Institute for Democracy, Education and Access at UCLA — found that battles over books and teaching about sexuality and other topics led to increased expenses for legal fees, replacing administrators and teachers who quit, and security, including off-duty plainclothes police officers. “Are we really going to spend our tax dollars on these kinds of things?” asked Magnusson. “After Trump was elected, I saw a bunch of middle-class white ladies like me who were saying, ‘This isn’t America.’ But maybe it is America.” One school superintendent in a Western state told the study’s researchers that his staff was often consumed with correcting misinformation and fulfilling public record requests mainly from hard-line parental rights activists attempting to exploit cultural war issues to discredit the district. “Our staff are spending enormous amounts of time just doing stupid stuff,” the superintendent said. “The fiscal costs to the district are enormous, but [so are] the cultural costs of not standing up to the extremists. If someone doesn’t, then the students and employees lose. ... It’s the worst it’s ever been.” The survey found that 29% of 467 school superintendents interviewed reported that teachers and other staff quit their profession or left their districts “due to culturally divisive conflict.” Censoring books in school libraries grew out of opposition to COVID-19 restrictions. A number of conservative parental groups, including Moms for Liberty, which invited Trump to speak at its national convention in August, turned their attention to lobbying against “liberal indoctrination.” Their protests against what they criticized as progressive teaching on sexuality and race were focused on increasing conservative parental control over a public education system that was struggling at teaching children reading and math. That strategy has led to a national, right-wing effort that is “redefining government power to restrict access to information in our schools,” said Stephana Ferrell, co-founder of the Florida Freedom to Read Project. “This movement to protect the innocence of our children believes if children never read it in a book they won’t have to know about it and can go on to lead harmonious lives. But books teach us cautionary tales. They instruct us. You can’t protect innocence through ignorance.” School districts across the country have removed “Gender Queer” by Maia Kobabe and “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George Johnson, which are about gender identity and include graphic depictions of sex, along with titles by renowned writers such as Toni Morrison, Kurt Vonnegut, George Orwell, Maya Angelou and Flannery O’Connor. Related Articles National Politics | Trump transition says Cabinet picks, appointees were targeted by bomb threats, swatting attacks National Politics | Southwest states certify election results after the process led to controversy in previous years National Politics | Political stress: Can you stay engaged without sacrificing your mental health? National Politics | Trump fills out his economic team with two veterans of his first administration National Politics | Trump chooses controversial Stanford professor Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead NIH Surveys show that most Americans do not favor censorship. The Florida Freedom to Read Project and similar organizations around the country have called for thorough public reviews of challenged books to prevent one scene or passage from being taken out of context. Moderate and liberal parents groups over the last two years have also become more active in school board politics. They have supported school board candidates who have defeated those backed by Moms for Liberty in Texas, Florida and other states. “People say the pendulum will swing back,” said Ferrell. But, she said, conservatives want to “stop the pendulum from swinging back.” Picoult is accustomed to conservatives attempting to censor her. Her books have been banned in schools in more than 30 states. Published in 2007, “Nineteen Minutes” explores the lives of characters, including a girl who was raped, in a town leading up to a school shooting and its aftermath. “Having the most banned book in the country is not a badge of honor. It’s a call for alarm,” said Picoult, whose books have sold more than 40 million copies. “My book, and the 10,000 others that have been pulled off school library shelves this year, give kids a tool to deal with an increasingly divided and difficult world. These book banners aren’t helping children. They are harming them.” ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) celebrated Qatar National Day with an event that brought together students, faculty members, staff and their families to honour the nation’s rich heritage and values. The celebration featured a series of cultural and educational activities aimed at fostering national pride and unity. Dr Salem al-Naemi, president of UDST said: "Qatar National Day is a time to celebrate our nation’s achievements and reflect on the values of unity, resilience, and progress. It reminds us of the vision that drives Qatar forward and the collective efforts that have brought us to where we are today. "At UDST, we take pride in our role in preparing the next generation of leaders across various industries, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to contribute to achieving the nation’s vision and continue its success.” The event featured a display of cultural booths, celebrating Qatar’s rich heritage and showcasing its remarkable achievements. Also, a photo gallery highlighted key milestones, offering a deeper insight into the nation’s journey of progress and innovation. The celebration featured a variety of engaging activities, including a student poem recitation by Abdallah Ahmed from the College of Health Sciences that paid tribute to the country’s history, and a traditional Qatari attire fashion show that highlighted its cultural heritage. Furthermore, an interactive contest added an element of fun and excitement to the day, while a screening of the film “Ode to Our Land” provided a cinematic tribute to Qatar’s journey and its people. Attendees also had time to connect and try traditional Qatari cuisine, which created a sense of community and togetherness. Related Story UDST signs pacts with UK institutions UDST signs MoU with Constructor Institute of Technology Switzerland

A rock retrieved from a near-Earth asteroid is crawling with microbial life, scientists have discovered. But the bacteria on its surface almost certainly came from Earth. The sample is part of a 0.2-ounce (5.4 grams) chunk of rock that Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft scraped from the surface of the asteroid Ryugu and brought back to our planet in 2020. After the spacecraft landed back on Earth, researchers opened the rock in a vacuum room located inside a clean room to prevent contamination, before storing it in a room flooded with pressurized nitrogen. Then, samples were placed inside nitrogen-filled canisters to be shipped around the world for analysis. But it seems that somewhere along the way, for one sample of this rock, these preventative measures were not enough. The scientists behind a new study found that one sample, which was embedded in a resin at Imperial College London in the U.K., had filamentous microorganisms, closely matching terrestrial prokaryotic bacteria, crisscrossing its surface. They published their findings Nov. 13 in the journal Meteorics and Planetary Science . Related: NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission almost bit the dust — then Queen guitarist Brian May stepped in "The presence of microorganisms within meteorites has been used as evidence for extraterrestrial life, however, the potential for terrestrial contamination makes their interpretation highly controversial," the researchers wrote in the study. "The discovery emphasizes that terrestrial biota can rapidly colonize extraterrestrial specimens even given contamination control precautions." Scientists have long debated whether the blueprints for life on our planet originated here or came from the heavens. Previous analyses of meteorites found on Earth have revealed that some of these space rocks contain the five nucleobases essential for organic life. Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox. But whether the compounds came from space aboard the rocks or contaminated the meteorites after their arrival on Earth has long been an open question. The Hayabusa2 mission was one attempt to address this, and with some success — parts of its sample contained amino acids and even the nucleobase uracil . After receiving their sample, which was shipped from Japan to the U.K. inside its container, the researchers scanned the space rock using X-rays and found no signs of bacteria on its surface. Then, after three weeks, they moved the sample into a resin, studying it more closely after a subsequent week using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). — 'Building blocks of life' recovered from asteroid Ryugu are older than the solar system itself — Bits of asteroid Ryugu are among 'most primordial' materials ever examined — Boulders on Ryugu are surprisingly fluffy, space probe finds Surprisingly, their results revealed rods and filaments of organic matter teeming over the sample's surface. Yet to the researchers' disappointment, the growth rates, shapes and sudden appearance of the bacteria all matched closely with microbes found on Earth, suggesting that the sample became contaminated sometime after being placed inside the resin. This means the chunk of asteroid is unlikely to reveal any unambiguous insights into the contents of Ryugu's surface, but it doesn't mean it has nothing to teach us. Beyond flagging the importance of extremely stringent decontamination procedures for samples retrieved from space, the researchers said their study also highlights the incredible adaptability of microbes — which rapidly consume organic material from anywhere, no matter the planet. "The presence of terrestrial microorganism[s] within a sample of Ryugu underlines that microorganisms are the world's greatest colonizers and adept at circumventing contamination controls," they wrote. "The presence of microorganisms within space-returned samples, even those subject to stringent contamination controls, is, therefore, not necessarily evidence of an extraterrestrial origin."

'Jesus is here for me.'

Rupert Murdoch has been dealt a setback in his bid to steer control of his empire to his son Lachlan after the media mogul dies. Murdoch, 93, had sought to change the terms of his irrevocable family trust to ensure his older son, Lachlan, would have sole control over his media companies News Corp. and Fox Corp. News Corp. owns influential publications such as the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, Investor’s Business Daily and Dow Jones. Fox Corp. is the parent company of Fox News and the Fox broadcast network. But a Nevada probate commissioner rejected the request to amend the trust that had been opposed by Murdoch’s other children named in the trust — Prudence, James and Elisabeth. In the current version of the trust, the four eldest siblings, including Lachlan, were set to jointly inherit control of the businesses. That commissioner, Edmund J. Gorman Jr., said in a ruling over the weekend that the elder Murdoch and Lachlan Murdoch had acted in “bad faith” in their attempt to rewrite the trust, according to a sealed court filing obtained by the New York Times . “The effort was an attempt to stack the deck in Lachlan Murdoch’s favor after Rupert Murdoch’s passing so that his succession would be immutable,” Gorman wrote in the filing. “The play might have worked; but an evidentiary hearing, like a showdown in a game of poker, is where gamesmanship collides with the facts and at its conclusion, all the bluffs are called and the cards lie face up.” While the Nevada proceedings were behind closed doors, the outcome had enormous implications because Murdoch controls the world’s most influential conservative-leaning media empire. The trust was established following Murdoch’s divorce from his second wife, Anna Torv Murdoch Mann, the mother of Elisabeth, Lachlan and James. As part of that 1998 divorce settlement, Murdoch agreed to set up the trust that would give control of his empire to his then-four adult children after the mogul’s passing. The trust gave Anna’s children and Murdoch’s eldest daughter from his first marriage, Prudence, equal voting shares — in a bid to establish a power-sharing arrangement to oversee his corporate empire. Murdoch’s two daughters from his marriage to Wendi Deng were given economic stakes in the trust, but not voting shares. A lawyer for Rupert Murdoch did not respond immediately to a request for comment, nor did News Corp. Fox Corp. referred comment to Murdoch’s lawyer. Prudence, James and Elisabeth Murdoch said in a statement that “We welcome Commissioner Gorman’s decision and hope that we can move beyond this litigation to focus on strengthening and rebuilding relationships among all family members.” The elder Murdoch had claimed changing the trust was necessary to preserve the conservative bent of his media properties, which would maintain shareholder value for all the heirs. Lachlan is known for sharing his father’s political views, and since last year has served as sole chairman of News Corp. and executive chairman of Fox. The three other siblings are more politically moderate.Mphasis share price 2.31 per cent

WOOD DALE, Ill. , Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AAR CORP. (NYSE: AIR), a leading provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators, MROs, and OEMs, today announced that it will release financial results for its second quarter of fiscal year 2025, ended November 30, 2024 , after the close of the New York Stock Exchange trading session on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 . Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

President-elect Donald Trump has tapped several Californians — including former San Joaquin Valley congressman Devin Nunes — for posts in his next administration. Nunes, a Republican and former dairy farmer from Tulare, resigned his House seat after nearly two decades in 2022 to become chief executive of Trump Media & Technology Group, which is the parent company of the president-elect’s Truth Social platform. On Saturday, Trump announced on the platform that he had selected Nunes to serve as chairman of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board. The board “exists exclusively to provide the President with an independent source of advice” on intelligence matters, and “has access to all information necessary to perform its functions,” according to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Its members do not require Senate confirmation. Trump wrote that Nunes would use his experience as former chair of the House Intelligence Committee “and his key role in exposing the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax” to provide Trump with “independent assessments of the effectiveness and propriety” of actions taken by the U.S. intelligence agencies. Nunes was a staunch ally of Trump throughout the House’s investigation into ties between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia, which Nunes helped lead given his intelligence committee post. He dismissed various connections between Trump campaign officials and Russian assets even as now-Sen. Adam B. Schiff — a Democrat from California on the intelligence committee — alleged Trump’s team had colluded with the Russians and the Justice Department pursued its own investigation. Trump said Nunes would maintain his CEO position with Trump Media. Trump has also nominated other Trump Media officials to prominent posts in his administration — including pro wrestling mogul Linda McMahon, his pick for Education secretary , and Kash Patel, his pick for FBI director . Patel is a former staffer on the House Intelligence Committee under Nunes, and a fellow Trump loyalist. Nunes wrote on Truth Social that he was “looking forward to serving our great nation again” under Trump. On Fox News, Nunes sang Patel’s praises and said they would work together — with Trump’s other justice and intelligence nominees — to “restore integrity back into” the system. “It’s critical to do what the president wants to do, what he promised the American people, [which] is to get these agencies focused on going after bad guys and keeping Americans safe,” Nunes said. Trump also on Saturday named Richard “Ric” Grenell, another loyalist from California, as his “envoy for special missions” — a role that does not currently exist. Grenell, who during Trump’s first term served as acting director of national intelligence and as ambassador to Germany, previously worked at the United Nations Security Council. Trump said Grenell “will work in some of the hottest spots around the World, including Venezuela and North Korea,” and “will continue to fight for Peace through Strength, and always put AMERICA FIRST.” Grenell called working under Trump “an honor of a lifetime” in a post on X. “President Trump is a problem solver who keeps Americans safe and prosperous,” he wrote. “We have so much to do. Let’s get to work.” Grenell is a firebrand known for his caustic attacks on social media. He was heavily criticized by German officials while ambassador — one called him “a biased propaganda machine” — and his appointment as acting national intelligence director during Trump’s first term was met with scorn from Democrats, who said he lacked the intelligence experience necessary for the post. Grenell, who has a home in Palm Springs and previously taught at the USC Annenberg School of Communication, has also drawn both support and derision from California lawmakers. Grenell, who is gay, has been flagged as anti-LGBTQ+ by queer rights groups for railing against transgender youth rights and the Equality Act. When California Republicans honored Grenell on the California Senate floor in the name of Pride Month in 2023, several Democrats walked off the floor in protest — including gay state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), who called Grenell “a guy who is truly a self-hating gay man, who takes tons of anti-LGBTQ positions.” Trump on Saturday also nominated former Los Alamitos Mayor Troy Edgar to serve as deputy secretary of Homeland Security. Edgar, an IBM executive, previously served in Trump’s first term as chief financial officer and as associate deputy undersecretary of management for Homeland Security. In a Truth Social post announcing his selection, Trump credited Edgar with helping to lead a “revolt” against sanctuary cities as mayor of Los Alamitos, a tiny Orange County city. “I am very excited to have Troy on our team, as he will help us Make America Great Again!” Trump wrote. The California Values Act, which took effect Jan. 1, 2018, restricts local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration officials in many cases. Edgar and other Los Alamitos officials approved an ordinance that tried to exempt the city from the state law — galvanizing support from other conservative officials in the state and drawing the attention of Trump, who invited Edgar to the White House. The Trump administration sued to block the California law, but the Supreme Court rejected the challenge in 2020, leaving the law intact.

Trump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it?

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

Vail Resorts Reports Fiscal 2025 First Quarter and Season Pass Sales Results, and Announces 2025 Capital Plan

Damascus stirred back to life on Monday at the start of a hopeful but uncertain era after rebels seized the capital and president Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia, following 13 years of civil war and more than 50 years of his family's brutal rule. Busy traffic returned to the streets and people ventured out after a nighttime curfew, but most shops remained shut. Rebels milled about in the centre. Advertisement The main rebel commander Ahmed al-Sharaa, better known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, met overnight with Assad's prime minister Mohammed Jalali and vice president Faisal Mekdad to discuss arrangements for a transitional government, a source familiar with the discussions told Reuters. Al Jazeera television reported that the transitional authority would be headed by Mohamed Al-Bashir, who ran the administration in a small pocket of rebel-held territory before the 12-day lightning offensive that swept into Damascus. Syria's banks would reopen on Tuesday and staff had been asked to return to offices, according to a Syrian central bank source and two commercial bankers. Syria's currency would continue to be used, they said. At the Interior Ministry that ran Assad's police force, furniture had been looted and staff stayed away. Armed rebels were there to maintain order. Advertisement The oil ministry called on all employees in the sector to head to their workplaces starting on Tuesday, adding that protection would be provided to ensure their safety. Fighters from the remote countryside milled about in the capital, clustering in the central Umayyad Square before Damascus's great 1,300-year-old mosque. A Syrian rebel fighter fires rounds as people celebrate near the Clock Tower in the central city of Homs after rebel forces entered Syria's third city overnight. Photo: Getty Images "We had a purpose and a goal and now we are done with it. We want the state and security forces to be in charge," said Firdous Omar, who said he had been battling the Assad government since 2011 and was now looking forward to laying down his weapon and returning to his job as a farmer in provincial Idlib. Advertisement The advance of a militia alliance spearheaded by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al Qaeda affiliate, was a generational turning point for the Middle East. It ends a war that killed hundreds of thousands, caused one of the biggest refugee crises of modern times and left cities bombed to rubble, countryside depopulated and the economy hollowed out by global sanctions. Millions of refugees could finally go home from camps across Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. Assad's fall wipes out one of the main bastions from which Iran and Russia wielded regional power. Turkey, long aligned with Assad's foes, emerges strengthened. The Arab world faces the task of reintegrating one of the Middle East's pivotal states, while containing the militant Sunni Islam that has in the past metastasized into the sectarian violence of Islamic State. Advertisement HTS is still designated as a terrorist group by the United Nations, but has spent years trying to soften its image to reassure foreign states and minority groups within Syria. 'A new history' The group's leader Golani, who spent years in US custody as an insurgent in Iraq but later broke with al Qaeda and Islamic State, has vowed to rebuild Syria. "A new history, my brothers, is being written in the entire region after this great victory," he told a huge crowd at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus on Sunday. Assad's prime minister Jalali told Sky New Arabia he was ready to provide documents and help for the transfer of power. Advertisement The fate of Syria's army would be "left to the brothers who will take over the management of the country's affairs", Jalali said. "What concerns us today is the continuation of services for Syrians." Assad's police state was known for generations as one of the harshest in the Middle East, holding hundreds of thousands of political prisoners. On Sunday, elated inmates poured out of jails. Reunited families wept in joy. Newly freed prisoners were filmed running through the Damascus streets holding up their hands to show how many years they had been in prison. One of the final areas to fall was the Mediterranean coast, heartland of Assad's Alawite sect and site of Russia's naval base. Two Alawite residents said so far the situation had been better than expected, seemingly without retribution against Alawites. One said a friend was visited at home by rebels who told him to hand over any weapons he had, which he did. Near Latakia, rebels had yet to enter the Assad family’s ancestral village of Qardaha, site of a mausoleum for Assad's father who seized power in a coup in 1970 and ruled until his death in 2000. A resident said all senior figures tied to Assad had left. The Kremlin said it was too early to know the future of Russia's military bases in Syria, but it would discuss the issue with the new authorities. Israel, US launch strikes Israel said Assad's fall was a direct consequence of Israel's punishing assault on Iran's Lebanese allies Hezbollah, who had propped up Assad for years but were decimated since September by an Israeli air and ground campaign. Since rebels entered Damascus, Israel has struck sites in Syria. Israeli officials said those air strikes would carry on for days, to keep Assad's former arsenal out of hostile hands. The US, which has 900 soldiers in Syria alongside Kurdish-led forces in the east, said its forces hit around 75 targets in air strikes on Islamic State on Sunday. The US-backed Kurdish forces have clashed with Turkey-backed rebels in the north. A video, verified by Reuters, showed rebels entering the town of Manbij, captured from the Kurdish forces on Monday.

Renuka Rayasam | (TNS) KFF Health News In April, just 12 weeks into her pregnancy, Kathleen Clark was standing at the receptionist window of her OB-GYN’s office when she was asked to pay $960, the total the office estimated she would owe after she delivered. Clark, 39, was shocked that she was asked to pay that amount during this second prenatal visit. Normally, patients receive the bill after insurance has paid its part, and for pregnant women that’s usually only when the pregnancy ends. It would be months before the office filed the claim with her health insurer. Clark said she felt stuck. The Cleveland, Tennessee, obstetrics practice was affiliated with a birthing center where she wanted to deliver. Plus, she and her husband had been wanting to have a baby for a long time. And Clark was emotional, because just weeks earlier her mother had died. “You’re standing there at the window, and there’s people all around, and you’re trying to be really nice,” recalled Clark, through tears. “So, I paid it.” On online baby message boards and other social media forums , pregnant women say they are being asked by their providers to pay out-of-pocket fees earlier than expected. The practice is legal, but patient advocacy groups call it unethical. Medical providers argue that asking for payment up front ensures they get compensated for their services. How frequently this happens is hard to track because it is considered a private transaction between the provider and the patient. Therefore, the payments are not recorded in insurance claims data and are not studied by researchers. Patients, medical billing experts, and patient advocates say the billing practice causes unexpected anxiety at a time of already heightened stress and financial pressure. Estimates can sometimes be higher than what a patient might ultimately owe and force people to fight for refunds if they miscarry or the amount paid was higher than the final bill. Up-front payments also create hurdles for women who may want to switch providers if they are unhappy with their care. In some cases, they may cause women to forgo prenatal care altogether, especially in places where few other maternity care options exist. It’s “holding their treatment hostage,” said Caitlin Donovan, a senior director at the Patient Advocate Foundation . Medical billing and women’s health experts believe OB-GYN offices adopted the practice to manage the high cost of maternity care and the way it is billed for in the U.S. When a pregnancy ends, OB-GYNs typically file a single insurance claim for routine prenatal care, labor, delivery, and, often, postpartum care. That practice of bundling all maternity care into one billing code began three decades ago, said Lisa Satterfield, senior director of health and payment policy at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists . But such bundled billing has become outdated, she said. Previously, pregnant patients had been subject to copayments for each prenatal visit, which might lead them to skip crucial appointments to save money. But the Affordable Care Act now requires all commercial insurers to fully cover certain prenatal services. Plus, it’s become more common for pregnant women to switch providers, or have different providers handle prenatal care, labor, and delivery — especially in rural areas where patient transfers are common. Some providers say prepayments allow them to spread out one-time payments over the course of the pregnancy to ensure that they are compensated for the care they do provide, even if they don’t ultimately deliver the baby. “You have people who, unfortunately, are not getting paid for the work that they do,” said Pamela Boatner, who works as a midwife in a Georgia hospital. While she believes women should receive pregnancy care regardless of their ability to pay, she also understands that some providers want to make sure their bill isn’t ignored after the baby is delivered. New parents might be overloaded with hospital bills and the costs of caring for a new child, and they may lack income if a parent isn’t working, Boatner said. In the U.S., having a baby can be expensive. People who obtain health insurance through large employers pay an average of nearly $3,000 out-of-pocket for pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care, according to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker . In addition, many people are opting for high-deductible health insurance plans, leaving them to shoulder a larger share of the costs. Of the 100 million U.S. people with health care debt, 12% attribute at least some of it to maternity care, according to a 2022 KFF poll . Families need time to save money for the high costs of pregnancy, childbirth, and child care, especially if they lack paid maternity leave, said Joy Burkhard , CEO of the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, a Los Angeles-based policy think tank. Asking them to prepay “is another gut punch,” she said. “What if you don’t have the money? Do you put it on credit cards and hope your credit card goes through?” Calculating the final costs of childbirth depends on multiple factors, such as the timing of the pregnancy , plan benefits, and health complications, said Erin Duffy , a health policy researcher at the University of Southern California’s Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics. The final bill for the patient is unclear until a health plan decides how much of the claim it will cover, she said. But sometimes the option to wait for the insurer is taken away. During Jamie Daw’s first pregnancy in 2020, her OB-GYN accepted her refusal to pay in advance because Daw wanted to see the final bill. But in 2023, during her second pregnancy, a private midwifery practice in New York told her that since she had a high-deductible plan, it was mandatory to pay $2,000 spread out with monthly payments. Daw, a health policy researcher at Columbia University, delivered in September 2023 and got a refund check that November for $640 to cover the difference between the estimate and the final bill. “I study health insurance,” she said. “But, as most of us know, it’s so complicated when you’re really living it.” While the Affordable Care Act requires insurers to cover some prenatal services, it doesn’t prohibit providers from sending their final bill to patients early. It would be a challenge politically and practically for state and federal governments to attempt to regulate the timing of the payment request, said Sabrina Corlette , a co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University. Medical lobbying groups are powerful and contracts between insurers and medical providers are proprietary. Because of the legal gray area, Lacy Marshall , an insurance broker at Rapha Health and Life in Texas, advises clients to ask their insurer if they can refuse to prepay their deductible. Some insurance plans prohibit providers in their network from requiring payment up front. If the insurer says they can refuse to pay up front, Marshall said, she tells clients to get established with a practice before declining to pay, so that the provider can’t refuse treatment. Related Articles Health | Which health insurance plan may be right for you? Health | California case is the first confirmed bird flu infection in a US child Health | Your cool black kitchenware could be slowly poisoning you, study says. Here’s what to do Health | Does fluoride cause cancer, IQ loss, and more? Fact-checking Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s claims Health | US towns plunge into debates about fluoride in water Clark said she met her insurance deductible after paying for genetic testing, extra ultrasounds, and other services out of her health care flexible spending account. Then she called her OB-GYN’s office and asked for a refund. “I got my spine back,” said Clark, who had previously worked at a health insurer and a medical office. She got an initial check for about half the $960 she originally paid. In August, Clark was sent to the hospital after her blood pressure spiked. A high-risk pregnancy specialist — not her original OB-GYN practice — delivered her son, Peter, prematurely via emergency cesarean section at 30 weeks. It was only after she resolved most of the bills from the delivery that she received the rest of her refund from the other OB-GYN practice. This final check came in October, just days after Clark brought Peter home from the hospital, and after multiple calls to the office. She said it all added stress to an already stressful period. “Why am I having to pay the price as a patient?” she said. “I’m just trying to have a baby.” ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Pep Guardiola has apologised for a self-harm remark made during his post-match press conference following Manchester City ’s 3-3 Champions League draw with Feyenoord. After City squandered a 3-0 lead, Guardiola was asked about a scratch on his nose. In a moment he later described as an ill-judged joke, he replied, “I want to harm myself.” The comment, intended humorously, raised concerns given its sensitive nature. City, enduring a five-game losing streak before the match, saw their lead evaporate following a defensive error by Josko Gvardiol that allowed Feyenoord’s Anis Hadj Moussa to spark the comeback. Guardiola, visibly frustrated, was seen with his head in his hands during the match. In response to the backlash, Guardiola took to social media on Wednesday to clarify his comment: “I was caught off guard with a question about a scratch on my face and explained that a sharp fingernail had caused it. My answer was in no way intended to make light of the serious issue of self-harm,” he wrote. He expressed his awareness of the mental health challenges many face and used the moment to promote support resources. “I know that many people struggle with mental health issues every day, and I want to highlight that help is available by calling the Samaritans hotline on 116 123 or emailing [email protected] ,” Guardiola added. Guardiola’s apology comes amid rising pressure on City, whose recent poor form has placed their Champions League ambitions in jeopardy. The team is now focused on turning their fortunes around in upcoming fixtures.

Shares of Hershey ($HSY) rose more than 10% on Monday after larger fellow confectionery company Mondelez International ($MDLZ) was reportedly said to be exploring an acquisition of the former, dampening retail sentiment. On Monday, Bloomberg reported that Mondelez, which makes Oreos, was in talks to buy the "Hershey Kisses" maker in a potential deal that would create a combined company with nearly $50 billion in annual sales. A potential deal would be the largest one in the sector this year. Retail sentiment on the Hershey stock turned ‘extremely bearish’ (6/100) from ‘neutral’ (46/100) a week ago, with some users skeptical of the deal going through. However, sentiment on the Mondelez stock was optimistic, with message volumes climbing into the ‘extremely high’ zone. According to the Bloomberg report, Mondelez is seeking to expand its chocolate and snack businesses. The company made a “preliminary approach” and talks are reportedly in early stages. Mondelez previously launched a takeover bid for Hershey in 2016 but scuttled the deal after Hershey didn’t accept the offer. Hershey’s North America Confectionery segment net sales grew 0.8% to $2.48 billion during its most recent quarter while North America Salty Snacks segment’s net sales declined 15.5% to $291.8 million. A stocktwits poll on the merger pointed to users doubting Hershey shareholders would approve the deal. Wall Street analysts were similarly skeptical about the deal’s prospects, with one firm, Jefferies, reportedly believing a potential deal has a "higher probability than in 2016." HSY stock is up 0.71% year-to-date. For updates and corrections email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.

MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) — Steven Clay scored 16 points as Morehead State beat Kentucky Christian 86-63 on Sunday. Clay shot 5 of 8 from the field, including 3 for 5 from 3-point range, and went 3 for 5 from the line for the Eagles (4-6). Jalen Breazeale scored 10 points, shooting 4 of 5 from the field and 1 for 3 from the line. Jerone Morton had nine points and went 3 of 6 from the field. Jayden Loydd finished with 15 points for the Knights. Kaleb Ramer added 12 points and four assists for Kentucky Christian. Josh Stacy also had 10 points. Up next for Morehead State is a Thursday matchup with UT Martin at home, and Kentucky Christian visits Wofford on Saturday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .BeyondBrain Unveils Lumi AI Travel Agent

Brainy, 'normal guy': the suspect in US insurance CEO's slaying