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d'hotel & suites Applications for new Zip Oyster photocards for children aged five to 16+ are now being accepted by Transport for London (TfL), after they were temporarily paused following a recent brutal cyber attack. Zip Oyster cards for children come in three categories - 5-10, 11-15 and 16-17. It follows TfL reopening Oystercard concessions for pensioners, students and others in recent weeks . It means all photocard concessions are available once again. TfL intends to refund customers who have paid more for their travel than they should have, due to TfL not being able to accept new photocard applications. TfL plans to write to photocard customers who were impacted by not being able to apply for a new Photocard with further details about how to apply for refunds and the criteria for processing these. TfL says it has been continually monitoring its systems to ensure only those authorised can gain access, following a serious cyber attack on September 1. TfL identified suspicious activity and took immediate action to secure its network, ensuring all safety critical systems and processes were maintained. Shashi Verma, Chief Technology Officer at TfL said: "We’re pleased that we can now accept photocard applications for all concessions managed by TfL and will be working hard to process these as quickly as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience that this has caused our customers. "Following the recent highly sophisticated cyber security incident, we have been working to restore systems which we had to take offline as part of our mitigations. We are now able to start processing refunds for those requiring refunds for journeys made using Oyster or paper tickets. We hope to shortly contact all new photocard customers who those who were impacted by not being able to apply for their new photocard, as well as continue work to allow us to begin processing refunds for contactless journeys, and for customers to be able to see their full journey history again." TfL has worked closely with the National Crime Agency and the National Cyber Security Centre following the hack attack and notified the Information Commissioner's Office. As part of the measures to deal with the incident, TfL decided to pause new concession photocard applications while it undertook security checks. With the concession photocard website now fully back online again , TfL is working to process all new photocard applications as quickly as possible. Already, more than 30,000 18+ Student photocards, more than 10,000 60+ London Oyster photocards and nearly 600 Apprentice photocards have been processed and dispatched since applications reopened. TfL and train operating companies across London continue to accept expired 5-10 and 11-15 Zip Oyster photocards, where they are normally valid, in light of the cyber security incident until December 31, 2024. This gives expired Zip photocard holders plenty of time to apply for their new concession photocard. Parents and guardians of those with expired Zip photocards are encouraged to apply as soon as possible for a new photocard for their children or dependent to help ensure that they receive one before the end of the year. Expired photocards will not be accepted for travel on TfL or train operating company services from 1 January 2025. Photocard applications can be made via photocard.tfl.gov.uk . For the latest information on TfL’s recovery from the cyber security incident can found here – tfl.gov.uk/campaign/cyber-security-incident . Looking for more from MyLondon? Subscribe to our daily newsletters here for the latest and greatest updates from across London.

The recent tragic death of a female internet celebrity following a cosmetic surgery procedure has sparked a wave of concern and discussion about the risks associated with such procedures. The young woman, who left behind a 10-year-old son, underwent a liposuction surgery that tragically resulted in her untimely passing. This devastating incident has once again brought to light the potential dangers of cosmetic surgeries and the importance of understanding and considering the risks involved before undergoing such procedures.As for the woman who was poisoned, she was discharged from the hospital after a few days of observation and recovery. She expressed her gratitude to the medical team for their swift response and lifesaving efforts. She also shared her story as a cautionary tale to others, urging them to be vigilant and informed when seeking beauty treatments to avoid falling victim to similar incidents.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A businessman with no experience in public office is taking over as mayor of Oregon’s biggest city as it embraces an entirely new system of government — one that’s so different, the City Council chambers had to be completely renovated. Portland voters last month elected Keith Wilson, a trucking company executive and founder of a nonprofit working to increase homeless shelter capacity. He ran on an ambitious pledge to end unsheltered homelessness within a year and was sworn in Thursday alongside a council expanded from five seats to 12. Portland is contending with , and a rising cost of living. Wilson, a Portland native, plans to reach his goal of ending unsheltered homelessness by increasing the number of nighttime walk-in emergency shelters in facilities such as churches and community centers. His message appeared to have resonated in a city where surveys conducted over the past few years have shown that residents view homelessness as a top issue. He ran against three outgoing City Council members. “Our city government has been reimagined, embodying the best of our innovation and values,” Wilson said on the stage of the Newmark Theater in downtown Portland after taking the oath of office. “Now it's time for Portland's new leadership to meet the moment we now face and solve the issues that prevent us from reaching our true potential.” Wilson said he will treat homelessness as a crisis. He noted the city's plans, announced earlier in the day, to open 200 overnight winter emergency shelter beds. “Tents, tarps and RVs are not places to sleep, because we will have secure shelters for everyone,” he said. , which featured 19 candidates, was thrown open when Mayor Ted Wheeler decided against seeking reelection after holding the city’s top post since 2017. Wheeler rose to national prominence in 2020 as nightly protests erupted on Portland streets and around the country in response to . The field of candidates in council races was crowded as well, with nearly 100 running for the new seats that were elected by voters in individual districts rather than citywide. The new city council sworn in Thursday “is more diverse and representative than any that came before,” Wilson said. Women make up half of the new council, which also includes multiple people of color — including the first two Asian-Americans to serve on the body. The 130-year-old City Hall was renovated for $8.3 million to accommodate the increase in members. The new dais can now seat 12 people; floor layouts were changed to create more office space; and technology, seismic and accessibility updates were added throughout the building. “Remodeling council chambers is a once-in-a-generation activity,” Maty Sauter, director of Portland's Bureau of Fleet and Facilities, told the outgoing City Council as it held its last meeting on Wednesday in the new chambers. “We've been able to reuse this 1895 facility and make it modern, contemporary and useful.” It’s going to take time for the new government to figure out which of the many changes are working, said Chris Shortell, associate professor of political science at Portland State University. In another first for City Hall, Wilson and the incoming Council members were elected under Portland's new system of . A candidate would win if they were the first choice of more than 50% of voters in the first round. Otherwise, a second round would eliminate the candidate with the fewest votes and their supporters’ votes go to their next choice. The process would repeat until someone emerges with a majority of votes. Some 34% of voters ranked Wilson as their first choice, according to final results. The new City Council will hold its first meeting in January. Claire Rush, The Associated PressOn the opposing side, the prosecuting team spared no effort in building a case against Manchester City, citing discrepancies in financial disclosures, irregularities in sponsorship agreements, and instances of financial doping that supposedly gave the club an unfair advantage over their rivals.

The selection of "贪" as the representative character for Taiwan reflects a growing awareness of the pervasive influence of greed in society. Many believe that the character serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of excessive desire for material wealth and power, which can lead to moral decay and social unrest. By highlighting the negative aspects of greed, the hope is that it will serve as a cautionary tale for individuals and institutions to resist the temptation to prioritize personal gain over the common good.Unwrap the latest AI features with Amazon Fire Tablets

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Armada Hoffler Announces Quarterly DividendVIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Armada Hoffler (NYSE: AHH) announced that its Board of Directors declared the cash dividend of $0.205 per common share. The fourth quarter dividend will be paid in cash on January 2, 2025, to stockholders of record on December 26, 2024. The Board of Directors also declared a cash dividend of $0.421875 per share on its 6.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock payable on January 15, 2025, to stockholders of record on December 31, 2024. About Armada Hoffler Armada Hoffler is a vertically integrated, self-managed real estate investment trust ("REIT") with over four decades of experience developing, building, acquiring, and managing high-quality, institutional-grade office, retail, and multifamily properties located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. In addition to developing and building properties for its own account, the Company also provides development and general contracting construction services to third-party clients. Founded in 1979 by Daniel A. Hoffler, the Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For more information, visit ArmadaHoffler.com . Contact: Chelsea Forrest Armada Hoffler VP of Corp. Comms. and Investor Relations Email: CForrest@ArmadaHoffler.com Phone: (757) 366-4000SCHEID FAMILY WINES REPORTS SECOND QUARTER FISCAL 2025 RESULTSjilihot app download



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Alan Shearer lamented Manchester City's approach to the final 15 minutes against Feyenoord on Tuesday night as Pep Guardiola saw his side throw away a 3-0 lead in the Champions League . The result leaves City's hopes of automatically qualifying for the last-16 in the balance. Goals either side of half time from Erling Haaland (two) and Ilkay Gundogan had set City well on their way towards ending a run of five consecutive defeats only for a late and dramatic collapse at the Etihad Stadium . City conceded three times in the space of 14 minutes to draw 3-3, stopping the streak of losses but extending a winless run to six. Anis Hadj-Moussa had set up a potentially nervy finish, capitalising on a wayward passback to Ederson from Josko Gvardiol , before the City goalkeeper was once more caught out allowing a cross to get squeeze past him at the near post and into the net via Santiago Gimenez. READ MORE: Man City vs Feyenoord HIGHLIGHTS READ MORE: Man City player ratings vs Feyenoord City then failed to hold out at home, losing possession from a free kick and seeing David Hancko nod in above Rico Lewis after Ederson had once again left his goal open. Speaking on commentary, Shearer could not believe what he was watching. "We're in for an interesting 10 minutes," he said with the scoreline at 3-2, slamming City's management of proceedings. "Through stupid errors, lapses in concentration and inviting the opposition back into the game. [They were] In such a comfortable position, it's all their own fault. [They were] Cruising." He added: "I said earlier the game had been won, I did them a disservice, Feyenoord, they've stuck together and they've kept on ploughing away in the hope they'd be given an oipportunity and that's exactly what's happened. "Man City have given them just that and they've taken it up to now. They've got 10 mins to get something out of this game that looked impossible 10 mins ago." Shearer was then left further aghast at City as a blip threatens to turn into a season-defining run of poor form, labelling Guardiola's side as 'weak, light and frail' in a damning three-word verdict of their recent performances. "Conceding the way they did at the weekend [a 4-0 loss to Tottenham], three again this evening; They look weak, they look light, they look frail," Shearer said. "They've given the opposition too many chances. They were cruising midway through this game, whatever you do, what you cannot do is give the opposition chances, give them a little bit of hope and that's exactly what they did. Even when they were winning 3-2 with three minutes to go they tried to take a quick free-kick. Why? Kill the game. You're winning the game there's no need to do that. Sit on the ball. "The game management was awful and they've been punished. It's been an absolute disaster for them this season after being in such a comfortable position." Get City transfer updates on WhatsApp! Manchester City wrapped up the 2023/24 season with a fourth successive Premier League title, but they missed out on another Treble with defeat in the FA Cup final and Champions League quarter-finals. It's now time for Pep Guardiola and co to turn their attention to the transfer window. Our MEN team of City experts will be on top of all the goings-on at the Etihad this summer and beyond, and you can get the latest updates and inside information to your phone by joining our new free WhatsApp community . You can also join the 40,000 (and growing!) band of Blues fans who are following our WhatsApp channel . Sign up to our community here , and join our City channel here . -- We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .NoneSportlogiq’s Mike Kelly joined the Hockey Central panel to discuss why the Edmonton Oilers Connor McDavid is considered the best hockey player in the world and why advanced analytics confirm it. From zone entries to rush chances, Kelly and the panel unpacked the numbers that make McDavid a generational talent. Here’s a breakdown of their conversation and what it means for hockey. McDavid’s Unmatched Statistical Dominance One of the most staggering insights shared by Kelly is McDavid’s sheer statistical superiority since his rookie season. First, he has a staggering lead in controlled zone entries. McDavid has 900 more controlled zone entries than Nathan MacKinnon , the next closest player in this category. Second, he leads the NHL in rush chances. He has generated over 100 more rush chances than anyone else in the NHL. Third, his playmaking in high-danger areas is second to none. McDavid leads in contested slot passes with 216 more successful attempts than any other player. These stats highlight McDavid’s ability to create plays, maintain possession, and consistently threaten opposing defenses. As Kelly notes, McDavid isn’t just good at these aspects—he’s redefining what elite looks like. As a result, the panel emphasized that McDavid’s level of play places him firmly in the “generational talent” category. The Oilers are lucky to have him. McDavid’s average average of 1.52 points per game for the Oilers dwarfs even elite players like Mitch Marner , who trails by nearly half a point. Over a season, this gap equates to about 40 points—a massive difference. His level of consistency is outstanding. Whether he’s creating opportunities off the rush or dominating in high-danger areas, McDavid’s game has elite qualities that no other player can replicate. McDavid Is Excited for International Play Another fascinating takeaway is McDavid’s enthusiasm for representing Canada in the upcoming Four Nations Face-Off. During the interview about representing Canada, McDavid shared a rare display of excitement when he expressed his eagerness to play alongside stars like Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon. His passion for best-on-best hockey is evident. Despite a grueling Oilers regular season and playoff runs, McDavid is energized by the opportunity to compete at the highest level internationally. This excitement contrasts with McDavid’s reserved demeanor, giving fans a glimpse into his passion for hockey. What McDavid Means for the Game of Hockey McDavid’s dominance isn’t just about his stats; it’s about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in hockey. His skillset forces opponents to adapt, reshaping defensive strategies across the league. Moreover, his willingness to embrace international play suggests he values legacy and the sport’s growth on a global stage. With McDavid leading the charge, hockey fans witness his era-defining talent. McDavid isn’t just statistically the best player in the world—he’s redefining how hockey is played and watched. From his dominance in advanced metrics to his enthusiasm for international competition, McDavid sets a standard that may not be matched for decades. As Kelly and the panel highlighted, fans should appreciate this generational talent because players like McDavid don’t come along often. Could McDavid’s international play further cement his status as the best in the world? All signs point to yes. Fans should expect even more brilliance as he sets new benchmarks for excellence. This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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Gaetz withdraws as Trump's pick for attorney general, averting confirmation battle in the Senate(BPT) - Tech gifts are consistently some of the most popular presents to give and receive during the holidays. In fact, according to the annual , a record 233 million U.S. adults (89%) will buy tech products during the 2024 holiday season. But with so many devices out there, it can be hard to decide on the perfect option for the loved one on your list. A tablet like the new Fire HD 8 from Amazon offers the versatility of an all-in-one device, with access to streaming, gaming, video chatting, reading or writing all at your fingertips. also features a vibrant 8-inch HD display and lightweight, portable design, for high-quality entertainment on the go. Plus, comes with three new AI features that can help you get the most out of your tablet experience. Check them out below and learn how they can help you with daily tasks this holiday season and beyond. Do you struggle with writing a heartfelt message or finessing a tricky email? Fear not! Writing Assist is here to help. Writing Assist works as part of your Fire tablet's device keyboard and compatible apps, including email, Word documents and social media. In just a few taps, you can transform your writing from good to great. Try Writing Assist's pre-set styles to turn a simple email into a professionally written note. Or, you can ask Writing Assist for grammar suggestions to make your writing more concise, or elaborate on your ideas. You can even "emojify" your writing to add more fun and personality. Say goodbye to scrolling through pages of information. The new Webpage Summaries feature allows you to learn pertinent information as quickly as possible. Available on the Silk browser on Fire tablets, Webpage Summaries provides quick insights on web articles. In a matter of seconds, this feature will distill the key points in an article or on a webpage into a clear, concise summary of what you need to know. With Wallpaper Creator, you can easily add a touch of creative flair and customization to your tablet's home screen. You can choose from one of the curated prompts to get started on creating a unique background. Or, if you're ready to let your imagination run wild, type a description of what you'd like to see. For example, you can ask for an image of a tiger swimming underwater or a watercolor-style image of a desert landscape in space. Wallpaper Creator will then turn your vision into a reality, delivering a high-resolution image that you can use as your tablet's wallpaper. Writing Assist, Webpage Summaries, and Wallpaper Creator are now available on Amazon's new and other compatible Fire tablet devices, including the latest and tablets. To learn more, or to order a new Fire tablet this gift-giving season, visit .Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce was the in his Leawood, Kansas home on Oct. 7, just hours before their game against the New Orleans Saints. The All-Pro tight end reportedly lost an assortment of valuable items, which included his Super Bowl jersey from the Chiefs' first trip to the championship game back in 2019 when they defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 31-20, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. Kelce has since to beef up his security and ensure that another break-in does not happen again. At the same time, however, there have been no reports indicating that the nine-time Pro Bowler has recovered the priceless memorabilia he lost during the robbery. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.

Kanye West is in the middle of some massive flack for alleged Nazi designs in his newest Yeezy merch drop, and it lined up with his potential return to a more communicative space. In other words, get ready for another potential firestorm. Ye reportedly reactivated his Twitter this week, and you probably know at least some of the massive controversies and antics that he engaged in via the social media platform. As such, a lot of fans don't know what to expect and are understandably cautious as to the Chicago artist's potential activity. Of course, this is all just speculative, but history shows us that this is a potentially volatile combination. Furthermore, no one really has a solid vision of Kanye West's mind state these days, but many are going off of his past tendencies. For example, fans might point to a 2020 lawsuit deposition that he participated in, footage of which recently emerged via A&E's Interrogation Raw: Celebrity Under Oath show. As many probably expected or predicted, Ye's behavior at this meeting was quite standoffish and unruly , although it doesn't even come close to his lowest moments. Read More: Top 40 Hottest Hip-Hop Albums Of 2024 Elsewhere, perhaps Kanye West will take advantage of his Twitter to speak about the various lawsuits against him these days... For better or worse. One of these is from former teenage employees alleging a hostile work environment, who request a default judgement against him. For those unaware, this group of teens – aged from 14 to 17 – claimed along with adult plaintiffs that they suffered discriminatory bullying and received explicit content while Ye was working on adult entertainment ventures. The lawsuit also names Milo Yiannopoulos, his former chief of staff, and Yeezy LLC as codefendants. With all this in mind, we're sure that many Kanye West fans would rather stay in the dark on his Twitter activity, or hope that he just stayed off it. But then again, we have no idea if this reactivation will actually yield anything. Amid a turbulent 2024 critically and an even more chaotic year personally, this is certainly a worrisome sign. Let's cross our fingers and manifest a lack of incendiary statements. Read More: Top 50 Hottest Hip-Hop Songs Of 2024Published 4:29 pm Tuesday, November 26, 2024 By Data Skrive The college basketball schedule on Wednesday is sure to please. Our computer model has provided picks against the spread for 10 games, including the Cornell Big Red taking on the Syracuse Orange at Imperial Arena. Watch men’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up for a free trial. Bet on this or any men’s college basketball matchup at BetMGM. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .

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Sowei 2025-01-12
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Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Market to grow by USD 92.31 Billion from 2024-2028, driven by favorable government policies and AI-powered market evolution - TechnavioANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan gave athletic director Warde Manuel a five-year contract extension Thursday on the heels of the Wolverines' upset over rival Ohio State and a strong start to the basketball season. Manuel, who has held the position since 2016, signed through June 30, 2030, the school announced. Manuel is also chairman of the College Football Playoff selection committee. “During Warde’s tenure as director, Athletics has put a structure in place where our student-athletes compete for Big Ten and national championships, excel in the classroom, and proudly graduate with their University of Michigan degrees,” university President Santa J. Ono said in the announcement. Michigan had a disappointing football season, finishing 7-5 (5-4 Big Ten), but a 13-10 win over then-No. 2 Ohio State took some pressure off of the program. The Buckeyes were favored by 21 points, the widest point spread for the rivalry since 1978, according to ESPN Stats and Info. The Wolverines won the national championship last year in their final season led by coach Jim Harbaugh, whose tenure at the school involved multiple NCAA investigations for recruiting and sign-stealing allegations. Manuel supported Harbaugh through those processes. In basketball, the women's team made its season debut (No. 23) in the AP Top 25 this week. The men are 7-1 a season after firing coach Juwan Howard, who lost a school-record 24 games in 2023-24 as Michigan plummeted to a last-place finish in the Big Ten for the first time since 1967. Michigan has won 52 Big Ten championships since 2020. “Every day, I am thankful to work at this great institution and to represent Michigan Athletics," Manuel said in a statement. "I especially want to thank the student-athletes, coaches and staff who compete for each of our teams and who have helped us achieve unparalleled success athletically and academically. I am excited to continue giving back to a university that has provided me with so much over my career.” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

A second young person is on the run from the government's trial boot camp, after one vanished while at the funeral of another participant , Oranga Tamariki senior executives have told a parliamentary committee. On Thursday it was reported that one of the young men taking part in the boot camp pilot was on the run after attending the funeral of another who had died. Those taking part in the pilot were released from the youth justice facility in Palmerston North in October, and have been in the community phase of the boot camp programme. Oranga Tamariki deputy chief executive of youth justice services and residential care Tusha Penny told a parliamentary select committee on Friday morning that two participants were actually on the run. One escaped from the tangi and another a day later, she said. Penny acknowledged the death of one of the boot camp's participants and their whānau. Speaking to MPs, Penny said the whānau of the teenager who has died was dealing with having to bury a son and brother, and that needed to be acknowledged first and foremost. "We sat here probably a year ago now and said transition is going to be tough, because it's evidenced up the wazoo and everyday people are fighting. The recidivism rates we have every week going into the youth justice residences are around 60 to 80 percent. "So I want to put that out there, because we need the reality." Penny says she was not going to give up, despite how tough it is, and everyone in the programme has had traumatic experiences. "Right now, two of the remaining nine rangatahi have absconded - one absconded from the tangi and one absconded a day later. "It's been tough, we've had two of the young people arrested on charges already, one of those people the charges were withdrawn," she said. "Do I think there will be further offending? Absolutely. "We also though have to look for the good cholestreol, because there's always some good. "We have one of our people in fulltime employment today, I say today because this is dynamic," Penny told MPs. "We have one of our young people on work experience, we have one likely to start work soon, we have six engaged in some education course." National MP Joseph Mooney, who chairs the social services committee, has worked as a youth advocate and criminal lawyer and got emotional talking to Penny about how tough it is to try and change young people's lives. Penny said the boot camps have been "incredibly politicised" but the programme was making change despite the whole thing not always "being successful". "I'm not saying this is the panacea, I'm not saying it's the answer, but I'm definitely saying what we're seeing could be an improvement for youth justice across the board with an operating model." Oranga Tamariki and Waikato police both confirmed the 15-year-old, who was granted bail on compassionate grounds to attend the funeral by the Youth Court, had absconded. Waikato police said he was wanted for arrest. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

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Sowei 2025-01-13
CIBC Asset Management Inc raised its position in SoFi Technologies, Inc. ( NASDAQ:SOFI – Free Report ) by 3.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 28,409 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 962 shares during the period. CIBC Asset Management Inc’s holdings in SoFi Technologies were worth $223,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of SOFI. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of SoFi Technologies by 30.0% during the 3rd quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 24,498 shares of the company’s stock valued at $193,000 after purchasing an additional 5,650 shares during the last quarter. Balboa Wealth Partners purchased a new stake in SoFi Technologies during the third quarter worth about $82,000. Oak Harbor Wealth Partners LLC raised its position in SoFi Technologies by 10.0% in the third quarter. Oak Harbor Wealth Partners LLC now owns 11,000 shares of the company’s stock worth $86,000 after acquiring an additional 1,000 shares during the period. Huntington National Bank raised its position in SoFi Technologies by 442.0% in the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 8,856 shares of the company’s stock worth $70,000 after acquiring an additional 7,222 shares during the period. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in SoFi Technologies by 1.0% in the third quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 128,661 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,011,000 after acquiring an additional 1,319 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 38.43% of the company’s stock. SoFi Technologies Price Performance SoFi Technologies stock opened at $15.60 on Friday. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $10.44 and a 200 day simple moving average of $8.20. SoFi Technologies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $6.01 and a 52 week high of $15.75. The stock has a market cap of $16.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 156.02, a PEG ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 1.60. The company has a quick ratio of 0.18, a current ratio of 0.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts recently commented on SOFI shares. Needham & Company LLC lifted their price target on shares of SoFi Technologies from $10.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Barclays boosted their target price on SoFi Technologies from $8.00 to $9.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Citigroup lowered SoFi Technologies from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, October 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on shares of SoFi Technologies from $7.50 to $8.50 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on shares of SoFi Technologies from $12.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 29th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $9.80. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on SoFi Technologies Insider Activity In other news, EVP Kelli Keough sold 9,308 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.36, for a total transaction of $96,430.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 152,203 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,576,823.08. This represents a 5.76 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Also, CTO Jeremy Rishel sold 68,081 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $8.12, for a total value of $552,817.72. Following the transaction, the chief technology officer now owns 521,505 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,234,620.60. This represents a 11.55 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last quarter, insiders have sold 96,287 shares of company stock worth $863,250. 2.60% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. About SoFi Technologies ( Free Report ) SoFi Technologies, Inc provides various financial services in the United States, Latin America, and Canada. It operates through three segments: Lending, Technology Platform, and Financial Services. The company offers lending and financial services and products that allows its members to borrow, save, spend, invest, and protect money. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SOFI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for SoFi Technologies, Inc. ( NASDAQ:SOFI – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for SoFi Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SoFi Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .When it comes to crypto, few tokens are as captivating for investors as Shiba Inu (SHIB). If you traded SHIB's last bull run, you might remember the $108 investment turning into $1,080,000 in a meteoric rise that still inspires and intrigues. As the crypto landscape evolves, a new contender has emerged: Rexas Finance (RXS). With a presale price of $0.15, RXS is capturing the imagination of the market with an innovative approach to real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. AI-based predictions are predicting that RXS could become the next SHIB by 2026 and the crypto world is eager to know more about it. Rexas (RXS): Could $200 Become $2 Million? AI-Backed Predictions Point to a SHIB-Like Surge in 2025! With Rexas Finance, it’s not merely just another token... It symbolizes a new way of thinking about asset ownership and investment. Rexas is looking to utilize blockchain technology to make high-value assets, including real estate, commodities, and art, accessible to all through tokenization. With this process, investors can buy fractional ownership of these assets and eliminate the barriers that have historically excluded investors from lucrative markets. With RXS now in its tenth presale stage, the presale has so far raised over $29 million towards its target of $33 million. The momentum behind RXS is clearly palpable with 354 million tokens sold out of a total of 380 million available. The presale itself has been so successful that it has consistently finished stages ahead of time with a good indicator for the investor confidence and interest. RXS’ excitement arises equally due to its innovative model, and ambitious projections given by AI analysts. According to AI, like Shiba Inu’s incredible growth, where it saw a 999,900% rise, RXS could have a similar spike. Take for instance, just $200 of initial investment could turn into an almost $2 million investment if RXS is able to become like SHIB. The current market dynamics and the unique value proposition of Rexas Finance give this optimism a boost. With an increasing number of investors looking for opportunities not only with tangibility but also long-term growth, RXS is an attractive offer. Rexas Finance (RXS): Unlocking Real-World Asset Investment with Blockchain Innovation—A Game-Changer for the Crypto Space! The essence of Rexas Finance is real-world asset tokenization. This new approach enables physical assets to be converted to digital tokens on a blockchain. This enables Rexas to provide more liquidity and accessibility to its customers as well as lower transaction costs typical of traditional asset management services. The implications are significant: The result is that investors can now own portions of high-value assets without requiring vast amounts of capital. Owning a fraction of a luxury property, investing in valuable commodities like gold, or any other type of being able to own something valuable that has usually been restricted to a select few is the type of thing that Rexas Finance offers. It is strategically situated within the rapidly emerging cryptocurrency world. While many projects base themselves on speculative trading alone, Rexas is a real utility in the sense that it provides a place to easily and securely tokenize ASSETS. That makes it better than competitors like Shiba Inu, which are having difficulties in maintaining growth momentum in a market filled with more players. Its listing on CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko is a major step in making Rexas Finance more visible and credible to investors. Moreover, RXS has gained trust in the community through an audit performed by Certik – a well-known authority in blockchain security. 🔥 $RXS Presale Stage 10 Sold Out 🔥 We’re excited to announce that Rexas Finance Presale Stage 10 has been sold out! ✅ Presale Stage 11 is now live, with the price per token increasing to $0.175 🚀 Don’t miss your chance to get in early! ⭐️ Buy Now: https://t.co/tNJAsvBiYe ... pic.twitter.com/6lg1WFwnkH Rexas Finance (RXS): Is This The Next Shiba Inu? Real World Asset Tokenization & Community Driven Growth. One of the most important things in a crypto project is its community, without it, you have no project, and it's really important if your project is to succeed. Now, with this community, Rexas Finance is poised to enter this journey together. But that doesn't mean that individual investors are the only ones flocking to presale events, as supporters of the collective purpose have also taken part. So, this was community-driven as Shiba Inu came from grassroots support and their token value took off as well. As more people buy RXS, it has a huge chance of large price appreciation given the demand of retail and institutional investors. As we look ahead to 2026, the question remains: Can Rexas Finance replicate the extravagant success of Shiba Inu? Although past performance does not guarantee future results, RXS’s trajectory looks positive. With a focus on real-world tokenization assets as well as strong community support, Rexas Finance is set to become a name to watch in the cryptocurrency space. Website: https://rexas.com Whitepaper: https://rexas.com/rexas-whitepaper.pdf Twitter/X: https://x.com/rexasfinance Telegram: https://t.me/rexasfinance Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.jiliph6

NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday said disinformation , misinformation , mal-information, and fake news have such power that they are always ready to tear the social fabric with the use of the latest technology. He also underlined that divisive forces are still active in the country, Delivering the '37th Intelligence Bureau Centenary Endowment Lecture', Shah said a country where social unity does not exist cannot progress in any meaningful way. Responsibility for addressing these challenges and preparing the entire police force to tackle them now lies with the country's information warriors, he said. He said that by identifying and eliminating threats promptly, the intelligence ecosystem helps maintain trust and stability within society. He said if challenges such as Naxalism, terrorism, organised crime, divisive forces, communalism, narcotics, and antisocial elements are to be fully controlled, ensuring the security of society is of paramount importance. Shah said there was a need for a robust ecosystem to counter misinformation, and in order to reduce the spread of propaganda to zero, there is a need for a strategy, technology, and readiness in place. The home minister said for the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to realise the vision of a developed India, it must prepare itself to become a cutting-edge agency. He also claimed that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India will become the world's third-largest economy by 2027. Shah said that as we progress, competition intensifies, threats increase, and obstructive forces emerge. He said that building a robust infrastructure to counter these threats, from headquarters to police stations and constables is the responsibility of young officers. In order to achieve a fully developed India by 2047, we must visualise all potential threats and prepare a comprehensive roadmap to safeguard the nation from them, he said. Shah said that inclusive development, along with peace and stability in the country, is only possible if we reshape our work under this expanded definition, prepare anew, and remain vigilant. Over the past 10 years under the Modi government, significant successes have been achieved in combating terrorism, Naxalism, insurgency, narcotics, and anarchic elements, he said. He said that under the current government, a major focus has also been placed on improving coordination between states and agencies and they have been strengthened with the backing of the law and amendment to several legislations. Shah said the Modi government introduced three new criminal laws starting from July 1 after discussing with all the stakeholders in many meetings over the last five years. He said he was involved throughout in the drafting of the laws. Once they are fully implemented, India's criminal justice system will become the most modern in the world, justice will be delivered within three years of the filing of any FIR, right up to the Supreme Court, the minister claimed. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword . Spread love this holiday season with these Christmas wishes , messages , and quotes.Insurers Urged to Safeguard Data Amid Rising AI Adoption and Privacy Risks, Says Info-Tech Research Group

US stocks retreat from records ahead of employment dataCORNELIUS, N.C. and NEW YORK, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alpha Modus Corp. ("Alpha Modus" or the "Company”), a technology company with a core focus on artificial intelligence in retail, and Insight Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company ("Insight” NASDAQ: INAQ) plan to close their business combination today. Alpha Modus expects to begin trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker symbols "AMOD” (its common stock) and "AMODW” (its warrants) on Monday, December 16, 2024. About Alpha Modus Alpha Modus engages in creating, developing and licensing data-driven technologies to enhance consumers' in-store digital experience at the point of decision. The company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Cornelius, North Carolina. For additional information, please visit alphamodus.com. About Insight Acquisition Corp. Prior to the closing, Insight Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: INAQ) is a special purpose acquisition company formed solely to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Insight Acquisition Corp. is sponsored by Insight Acquisition Sponsor LLC. For additional information, please visit insightacqcorp.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Insight's and Alpha Modus' actual results may differ from their expectations, estimates, and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believes," "predicts," "potential," "continue," and similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying these statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, Insight's and Alpha Modus' expectations with respect to future performance and anticipated financial impacts of the Business Combination. Insight and Alpha Modus caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Insight and Alpha Modus do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in their expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Contacts: Alpha Modus Shannon Devine MZ Group +1(203) 741-8841 [email protected]

Hart High dinner and winter wonderland worth the wait

Anxiety: The Silent Struggle Affecting Millions—Here’s How to Take Control

Bitcoin has surpassed the $100,000 mark as the post-election rally continues. What's next?

CWD-infected deer harvested in west-central MinnesotaMegan Moroney isn’t one for, ahem, splitting hairs. When a TikTok user posted a video criticizing the country star’s hair extensions at the 2024 CMA Awards (held Wednesday, November 20) she didn’t miss a beat before clapping back. The video in question featured a shot of the TV screen showing Moroney, 27, accepting her award for best new artist of the year. The user went off in the caption, claiming the country singer’s extensions were two different colors. “I swear the hairstylist brain never shuts off. Who matched her extensions???” the user wrote. Adding: “She’s golden on the top and ashy ends.” Since then, the video has amassed 900,000 views (and counting), one of which was apparently Moroney, who responded with a sarcastic but no less pointed response, writing: “Very nice of u!” Other commenters were quick to come to Moroney’s defense. “As a fellow extension blondie, it’s the lighting! You looked beautiful, congratulations!” one user replied to her comment. “Literally. Megan looked BEAUTIFUL. Her hair slayed the outfit slayed, like, they need to leave her alone,” said another. A third wrote, “You looked beautiful Meg, don’t let this one comment overshadow the hundreds others praising you!” Indeed, Moroney was a winner in more ways than one, not least of all for her red-carpet style. The singer stunned in an ultramarine Christian Siriano mermaid gown with a dramatic organza tulle skirt that earned her a top spot on Us Weekly ’s annual CMA Awards best-dressed list . Speaking on Hulu’s red carpet live stream, Moroney described her look as “very blue and very sparkly.” She accessorized with Giuseppe Zanotti heels and a custom Edie Parker clutch that spelled out the name of her latest album, “Am I Okay?” in pitch-perfect blue cursive lettering. Moroney went full country glamour above the neck. Her bright blond tresses were thoroughly teased, fluffed and curled into a crown of big barrel waves. Meanwhile, makeup artist Jessica Candage used SHEGLAM products to create the singer’s bold lashes, glitter-flecked eye shadow and glossy pink lips. The end result read: southern belle, but make it red carpet. You have successfully subscribed. By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Check our latest news in Google News Check our latest news in Apple News After performing her single, “Am I Okay?” during the show, Moroney lassoed the CMA award for best new artist, a career milestone which she lovingly dedicated to her legions of fans at home. “This is for the fans... they’re a large reason why I’m up here right now,” she gushed in her speech. “The way they show up for me, the way they care about my songs, and they make signs and T-shirts, and they wait outside the venue starting at 3 a.m. It’s really insane to me.” And now Moroney can thank them for standing up against her haters on social media, too.

More than 18 months ago, Minnesota State women's soccer player Maille Mathis tore her ACL and underwent surgery. She rehabbed diligently while sitting out the 2023 season and returned to the squad this year. On Friday, she admitted she may not be 100% healed, but showed she's most of the way back by scoring the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over St. Cloud State at The Pitch. The triumph came in the first round of the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament and advances the Mavericks to the quarterfinals of the regional. "I've had a few setbacks but it feels pretty good right now," Mathis said after the match. "I'm sure it will continue to get better." Mathis' goal was a bang-bang-bang play which started near midfield on the left side of the pitch. Addison Clarey brought the ball up along the sideline, delivered a perfectly-timed pass to Maddix Archer who in turn sent the ball over to Mathis. Without breaking stride, Mathis quickly shot the ball into the upper-left quadrant of the net for the game-winner at the 59:18 mark. "We're getting to know each other pretty well by now," Mathis said of her teammates. "We have a feel where each of us is going to at any given time." St. Cloud dominated action in the first 10 minutes of the game, outshooting the Mavericks 4-0 and rarely letting the ball outside the MSU zone. The Mavericks withstood the blitz until the 14:46 mark, when SCSU's Grace Olson converted a free kick that appeared to glance off a defender and into the net. The 1-0 lead stood until halftime. "We know there's usually going to be a 10-20 minute span when our opponents take their best shot and that's usually at the beginning of the game," MSU coach Brian Bahl said. "We held on until halftime when we were able to make a couple of adjustments and came out a lot more aggressive." After applying constant pressure to start the second frame, the Mavericks evened things up when Archer took a straight-on shot that goalie Meriel Orham was able to stop but not able to hang on to. When the ball popped out of her hands, a hard-charging Clarey was there to clean it up and slide the ball into the net to tie the game at 53:21. "When the ball came out I just pounced on it," Clarey said. Six minutes later, Mathis scored the game-winner and MSU held on for the win. St. Cloud had a handful of opportunities in the second frame, but Mavericks' goalie Clare Longueville and the rest of the defense thwarted all of them. MSU was outshot 12-9 for the game. The decision improves MSU to 15-1-6 and ends SCSU's season at 11-4-5. The Mavericks, the No. 2 seed, are in quarterfinal action at 1 p.m. Sunday at The Pitch with a game against No. 3 seed Northwest Missouri State. NWMSU advanced with a 2-1 win over Concordia-St. Paul Saturday morning.Share Tweet Share Share Email Choosing the right medical billing service in 2025 is important for healthcare providers who want to ensure smooth operations and faster payments. With constantly changing healthcare rules and billing processes, outsourcing medical billing has become a smart choice. Two top options for 2025 are DocVaz.com and UMBSBillingServices.com . Let’s break down what makes these services stand out. DocVaz.com: Reliable and Innovative DocVaz.com is known for its advanced technology and easy-to-use platform, making medical billing efficient and hassle-free. Key Features of DocVaz.com: Cloud-Based System DocVaz.com uses a cloud-based platform that allows providers to access billing information anytime and anywhere, helping you stay connected to your practice’s financial data. Automation & Accuracy Automation reduces mistakes, ensuring claims are processed accurately. This helps lower the chances of claim denials and speeds up reimbursements. Compliance The service keeps up with healthcare regulations, ensuring your claims are always compliant with the latest rules. Scalable Solutions Whether you run a small clinic or a large healthcare system, DocVaz.com grows with your needs. Why Choose DocVaz.com? Real-Time Access : Check your billing data from any location. Faster Payments : Fewer errors mean quicker reimbursements. Regulatory Support : Stay compliant with ever-changing healthcare rules. GET FREE CONSULTATION UMBSBillingServices.com: Personalized and Experienced UMBSBillingServices.com focuses on offering personalized solutions tailored to your practice’s needs, ensuring you get the right support. Key Features of UMBSBillingServices.com: Specialized Expertise Certified experts handle different medical specialties, ensuring accurate billing for complex cases. Fewer Denials Their knowledge of medical coding reduces claim denials and helps you get paid faster. Scalable & Customized Whether you’re a small practice or a large healthcare system, the service adjusts to your specific requirements. Detailed Reporting Tools UMBSBillingServices.com provides reports that help track your financial performance and make better decisions. Why Choose UMBSBillingServices.com? Expert Support : Certified experts handle billing for various specialties. Quick Reimbursements : Fewer denials and faster claim processing. Customizable Solutions : Tailored to fit your practice’s unique needs. Detailed Financial Insights : Track performance with easy-to-understand reports. GET FREE CONSULTATION How to Choose the Right Medical Billing Service When choosing the best medical billing service for your practice, consider these key points: Compliance & Accuracy Look for services that stay updated with healthcare rules and submit accurate claims to reduce denials. Technology & Automation Choose a service that offers automation, real-time data access, and analytics to improve efficiency. Customer Support Ensure the service provides reliable support whenever you need help. Specialization If you specialize in certain areas like pediatrics or dentistry, look for a service with experts in those fields. Conclusion In 2025, DocVaz.com and UMBSBillingServices.com are top choices for medical billing services. Whether you need advanced technology, specialized expertise, or customized solutions, both services have strong features to support your practice. Choose the one that best fits your needs to streamline your billing process and improve your revenue cycle. FAQs 1. What is medical billing, and why is it important? Medical billing involves managing and processing claims submitted to insurance companies to ensure healthcare providers get reimbursed for services rendered. In 2025, with the increasing complexity of healthcare regulations, outsourcing medical billing has become essential to streamline operations and improve cash flow. 2. Why should I outsource medical billing in 2025? Outsourcing medical billing helps healthcare providers reduce administrative burdens, minimize claim denials, and ensure faster reimbursements. By partnering with a reliable medical billing service like DocVaz.com or UMBSBillingServices.com , you can focus more on patient care while ensuring smooth financial operations. 3. What are the benefits of using DocVaz.com for medical billing? DocVaz.com offers several benefits, including: Real-Time Data Access : Cloud-based platform ensures you can monitor billing data anytime, anywhere. Accuracy & Automation : Reduces manual errors and speeds up claim processing. Regulatory Compliance : Keeps your practice compliant with changing healthcare rules. Scalable Solutions : Suits both small clinics and large healthcare systems. GET FREE CONSULTATION on DocVaz.com 4. What sets UMBSBillingServices.com apart from other billing services? UMBSBillingServices.com stands out due to: Expertise in Medical Specialties : Certified billing experts handle specialized medical coding. Reduced Claim Denials : Advanced coding and accuracy result in quicker reimbursements. Customized Solutions : Tailored services that grow with your practice size. Comprehensive Reporting : Provides detailed financial insights for better decision-making. GET FREE CONSULTATION on UMBSBillingServices.com 5. How do I choose the best medical billing service for my practice? When selecting a medical billing service: Ensure the service offers accuracy , automation , and compliance with healthcare regulations. Look for a service that provides real-time access to billing data and reliable customer support . Consider whether the service specializes in your specific healthcare field or accommodates your practice size (small or large). 6. Is medical billing easy to manage without outsourcing? Medical billing can be complex due to constantly changing healthcare policies and coding standards. Outsourcing to a professional service like DocVaz.com or UMBSBillingServices.com ensures accurate and timely processing of claims, allowing healthcare providers to focus more on patient care. 7. What features should I look for in a medical billing service? Key features to look for include: Automation for reducing manual errors. Real-time data access to monitor performance. Compliance with healthcare regulations to minimize claim denials. Specialized expertise for handling specific medical specialties. Scalability to accommodate growth as your practice expands. 8. Can I switch my medical billing service during the year? Yes, you can switch your medical billing service at any time. DocVaz.com and UMBSBillingServices.com offer seamless transitions with minimal disruption to your practice’s billing process. 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Police release new photos as they search for the gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO NEW YORK (AP) — Two law enforcement officials say a masked gunman who stalked and killed the leader of one of the largest U.S. health insurance companies on a Manhattan sidewalk used ammunition emblazoned with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose." The official were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke Thursday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Police also released photos of a person they say is wanted for questioning in the ambush the day before of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The words on the ammunition may have been a reference to tactics insurance companies use to avoid paying claims. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are bringing Trump's DOGE to Capitol Hill WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s DOGE time at the U.S. Capitol. Billionaire Elon Musk and fellow business titan Vivek Ramaswamy arrived on Capitol Hill for meetings with lawmakers. The two are heading up President-elect Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, with its plans to “dismantle” the federal government. Trump tapped the duo to come up with ways for firing federal workers, cutting government programs and slashing federal regulations — all part of Trump's agenda for a second-term at the White House. House Speaker Mike Johnson said there's going to be “a lot of change” in Washington. House rejects Democratic efforts to force release of Matt Gaetz's ethics report WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has shut down Democrats’ efforts to release the long-awaited ethics report into former Rep. Matt Gaetz. The party line vote pushes the fate of any resolution to the yearslong investigation of sexual misconduct allegations into further uncertainty. Democrats had been pressing for the findings to be published even though the Florida Republican left Congress and withdrew as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general. Earlier Thursday, the Ethics panel met to discuss the Gaetz report but made no decision, saying in a short statement that the matter is still being discussed. Gaetz has repeatedly denied the claims. Hamas official says Gaza ceasefire talks have resumed after weekslong hiatus ISTANBUL (AP) — A Hamas official says that after a weekslong hiatus international mediators have resumed negotiating with the militant group and Israel over a ceasefire in Gaza, and that he was hopeful a deal to end the 14-month war was within reach. Ceasefire negotiations were halted last month when Qatar suspended its talks with mediators from Egypt and the United States over frustration with a lack of progress between Israel and Hamas. But Bassem Naim, an official in Hamas’ political wing, said Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press that there has been a “reactivation” of efforts to end the fighting, release hostages from Gaza and free Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Hegseth faces senators' concerns not only about his behavior but also his views on women in combat WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth has spent the week on Capitol Hill trying to reassure Republican senators that he is fit to lead President-elect Donald Trump’s Department of Defense in the wake of high-profile allegations about excessive drinking and sexual assault. But senators in both parties have also expressed concern about another issue — Hegseth’s frequent comments that women should not serve in frontline military combat jobs. As he meets with senators for a fourth day Thursday, his professional views on women troops are coming under deeper scrutiny. Hegseth said this week that “we have amazing women who serve our military.” Pressed if they should serve in combat, Hegseth said they already do. Why the rebel capture of Syria's Hama, a city with a dark history, matters BEIRUT (AP) — One of the darkest moments in the modern history of the Arab world happened more than four decades ago, when then-Syrian President Hafez Assad launched what came to be known as the Hama Massacre. The slaughter was named for the Syrian city where 10,000 to 40,000 people were killed or disappeared in a government attack that began on Feb. 2, 1982, and lasted for nearly a month. Hama was turned into ruins. The memory of the assault and the monthlong siege on the city remains visceral in Syrian and Arab minds. Now Islamist insurgents have captured the city in a moment many Syrians have awaited for over 40 years. France's Macron vows to stay in office till end of term, says he'll name a new prime minister soon PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to stay in office until the end of his term in 2027 and announced that he will name a new prime minister within days. In his address to the nation on Thursday, Macron came out fighting, laying blame at the door of his opponents on the far right for bringing down the government of Michel Barnier. He said they chose “not to do but to undo” and that they “chose disorder.” The president also said the far right and the far left had united in what he called “an anti-Republican front.” He said he’ll name a new prime minister within days but gave no hints who that might be. 7.0 earthquake off Northern California prompts brief tsunami warning SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The National Weather Service has canceled its tsunami warning for the U.S. West Coast after there was a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. According to the U.S. Geological Survey on Thursday, at least 5.3 million people in California were under a tsunami warning after the earthquake struck. It was felt as far south as San Francisco, where residents felt a rolling motion for several seconds. It was followed by multiple smaller aftershocks. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injury. Yoon replaces the defense minister as South Korea's parliament moves to vote on their impeachments SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s president has replaced his defense minister as opposition parties moved to impeach both men over the stunning-but-brief imposition of martial law that brought armed troops into Seoul streets. Opposition parties are pushing for a vote on motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday evening. They hold 192 seats but need 200 votes for the motion to pass. Yoon’s office said he decided to replace Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun with Choi Byung Hyuk, a retired general who is South Korea’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Kim earlier apologized and said he ordered troops to carry out duties related to martial law. The Foreign Ministry also worked to mitigate the backlash and concern over South Korea's democracy. From outsider to the Oval Office, bitcoin surges as a new administration embraces crypto NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin burst on the scene after trust had withered in the financial system and Washington’s ability to protect people from it. Now, it’s Washington’s embrace of bitcoin that’s sending it to records. Bitcoin briefly surged above $103,000 after President-elect Donald Trump said he will nominate Paul Atkins, who's seen as friendly to crypto, to be the Securities and Exchange Commission's next chair. The crypto industry, meanwhile, did its part to bring politicians friendly to digital currencies into Washington. It's a twist from bitcoin's early days, when it was lauded as a kind of electronic cash that wouldn’t be beholden to any government or financial institution.

MAP Meeting Evolves into MedSpa Pro, Builds Momentum for Record-Breaking 2025Sabrina Ionescu is joining Unrivaled as the new 3-on-3 league's final playerKing laughs at British comedian’s impression of Donald Trump at Royal VarietySeveral male celebrities took the internet’s heart by storm in 2024, but a handful stood out from the rest of the pack. For those unfamiliar with the phrase “Internet Boyfriend,” the term is applied to popular celebrities who fans collectively have a crush on at the same time. For example, Nicholas Alexander Chavez not only won fans over with his impressive performance in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story but also for a viral TikTok fan edit. Longtime internet boyfriend Timothée Chalamet , meanwhile, had a jam-packed 2024 with his films Dune: Part Two and A Complete Unknown . Not to mention, he was one of the first stars to be the subject of the recent celebrity look-alike competition trend. He even showed up to his own New York City doppelgänger contest in October. You have successfully subscribed. By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Check our latest news in Google News Check our latest news in Apple News Similar to Chalamet — who sang live on the set of A Complete Unknown — Jonathan Bailey made fans fall in love with singing chops as Fiyero in Wicked: Part One . Stars such as Adam Brody and Josh Hartnett made millennials nostalgic with 2024 comeback projects, while Marcello Hernandez and Jack Schlossberg made waves online with their hilarious personalities. Keep scrolling for Us Weekly ’s unofficial ranking of the internet’s top boyfriends of 2024: Credit: Getty Images (3) Ranking the Internet’s Best Boyfriends of 2024: Jonathan Bailey, Paul Mescal and More Several male celebrities took the internet’s heart by storm in 2024, but a handful stood out from the rest of the pack.For those unfamiliar with the phrase “Internet Boyfriend,” the term is applied to popular celebrities who fans collectively have a crush on at the same time. For example, Nicholas Alexander Chavez not only won fans over with his impressive performance in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story but also for a viral TikTok fan edit.Longtime internet boyfriend Timothée Chalamet , meanwhile, had a jam-packed 2024 with his films Dune: Part Two and A Complete Unknown . Not to mention, he was one of the first stars to be the subject of the recent celebrity look-alike competition trend. He even showed up to his own New York City doppelgänger contest in October.Similar to Chalamet — who sang live on the set of A Complete Unknown — Jonathan Bailey made fans fall in love with singing chops as Fiyero in Wicked: Part One . Stars such as Adam Brody and Josh Hartnett made millennials nostalgic with 2024 comeback projects, while Marcello Hernandez and Jack Schlossberg made waves online with their hilarious personalities.Keep scrolling for Us Weekly ’s unofficial ranking of the internet’s top boyfriends of 2024: Credit: Phillip Faraone/WireImage 20. Ryan Gosling Ryan Gosling followed up his 2023 Barbie success with the action movie The Fall Guy . As if we couldn’t love him enough already, his character in the film cried while listening to Taylor Swift’ s “All Too Well” in a car. Gosling even tweaked the lyrics to the hit song during his Saturday Night Live hosting monologue on April, bringing out costar Emily Blunt as a special surprise. Credit: Araya Doheny/WireImage 19. Tyler James Williams Tyler James Williams ’ Gregory Eddie and Quinta Brunson ’s Janine Teagues are finally a couple on Abbott Elementary , and fans couldn’t be happier. “What we have seen up until this point was a mutual admiration for each other,” Williams exclusively told Us of the TV couple’s future in October. “Regardless of where it goes, it's about how much they really respect and care for each other. That's the key. Credit: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Empire State Realty Trust 18. Jack Schlossberg The only grandson of late President John F. Kennedy , Schlossberg has made waves on social media since becoming a political correspondent for Vogue earlier this year. “If you’re going to ask people to think about something serious, you need to make it entertaining or fun,” he told the outlet in July. “That’s what all the great leaders do. You can’t just hammer people with how bad stuff is. You’ve got to bring some positivity and good energy to the things you think are important. That’s the only strategy I have.” Credit: Maya Dehlin Spach/WireImage 17. Taron Egerton The Welsh native added another swoon-worthy role to his Hollywood resume as Ethan Kopek in the Netflix holiday thriller Carry-On . The film quickly rose to the No. 1 spot on the streamer’s Top 10 movies list following its December premiere. Credit: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images 16. Kit Connor and Joe Locke One year after the release of Heartstopper season 2, Kit Connor and Joe Locke returned to their beloved roles as Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring, respectively, for the Netflix series’ third season. Outside of Heartstopper , Locke joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Billy Kaplan (a.k.a. Wiccan) in the Disney+ series Agatha All Along . In addition to voicing the adorable Brightbill in The Wild Robot , Connor made his Broadway debut alongside Rachel Zegler in the play Romeo + Juliet . Credit: Cindy Ord/Getty Images 15. Nicholas Galitzine The British actor romanced Anne Hathaway as boy band star Hayes Campbell in the Prime Video film The Idea of You . Plus, he surprised fans by showing off his impressive body transformation into He-Man for the upcoming Masters of the Universe movie with a buff Instagram Story snap earlier this month. Credit: Ernesto Ruscio/WireImage 14. Josh Hartnett Hartnett made moviegoers fall in love with a serial killer thanks to his performance in the thriller Trapped . He also made a surprise appearance on a season 3 episode of The Bear . Credit: Michael Tran / AFP 13. Marcello Hernandez Hernandez — or should we say, Domingo — went viral for his latest Saturday Night Live original character . He played-up the Domingo hype by appearing as the character at a Sabrina Carpenter concert in November. Credit: Getty Images (4) 12. Chase Stokes, Drew Starkey, Jonathan Daviss and Rudy Pankow The cast of Netflix’s Outer Banks made Us fall in love with them all over again when the show’s fourth season dropped in November. Unfortunately for the on-screen besties, the season ended with the shocking death of Rudy Pankow ’s character, JJ. (R.I.P.) Credit: Mike Coppola/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue 11. Donald Glover Donald Glover had big footsteps to follow for Prime Video’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith TV adaptation, as Brad Pitt starred in the original 2005 spy romance. Luckily, Glover (a.k.a. Childish Gambino) pulled off the role with ease and cemented himself as an action star to watch. Credit: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Netflix 10. Glen Powell Glen Powell showed fans many sides of himself in 2024, from taking on multiple personas in the Netflix movie Hit Man to chasing storms as Tyler Owens in the summer blockbuster Twisters . Credit: Getty Images (3) 9. Luke Newton, Luke Thompson and Victor Alli The men of Bridgerton continued to make Us swoon in season 3. While the latest installment ended with Luke Newton ’s Colin Bridgerton and Victor Alli ’s Lord John Stirling happily in love with their respective romantic partners, the finale set up Luke Thompson ’s Benedict Bridgerton to take on the leading man role in season 4. Credit: David Eulitt/Getty Images 8. Travis Kelce Taylor Swift ’s “guy on the Chiefs” continued to prove he’s the ultimate Hollywood boyfriend goals by attending several of her Eras Tour concerts and taking the Grammy winner out for several romantic date nights. Not to mention, he threw Swift a surprise Eras -themed party to celebrate her December birthday and the end of her record-breaking tour. Credit: Mike Marsland/WireImage 7. Timothee Chalamet On top of earning critical and fan praise for his work in A Complete Unknown and Dune: Part Two , Timothée became an uncle in 2024 with the birth of his sister Pauline Chalamet ’s baby girl. Credit: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival 6. Andrew Garfield Andrew Garfield made fans fall in love and cry their eyes out with his role as Tobias in We Live in Time , cementing himself as a British rom-com heartthrob. Credit: Stewart Cook/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios 5. Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist The internet was just as obsessed with Challengers stars Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist as their characters were with Zendaya ’s Tashi Duncan in the sports drama. Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty Images 4. Adam Brody Gilmore Girls and The O.C. fans rejoiced when Brody returned to the small screen as Noah (a.k.a. the hot rabbi) in the Netflix series Nobody Wants This . Luckily for viewers, the show was renewed for a second season. Credit: Getty Images (3) 3. Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Joseph Quinn As if fans weren’t already obsessed with Paul Mescal , Pedro Pascal and Joseph Quinn before their roles in Gladiator II , the Ridley Scott -directed sequel furthered their status as some of the internet’s favorite boyfriends. Credit: Presley Ann/Getty Images for Netflix 2. Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez The two actors gave emotional and chilling breakout performances as the Menendez brothers in Netflix’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story . Chavez went on to play the hot priest in the Ryan Murphy series Grotesquerie , while Koch scored a 2025 Golden Globes nomination for his portrayal of Erik Menendez . (Shout-out to Koch’s performance in the show’s one-take episode titled “The Hurt Man.”) Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage 1. Jonathan Bailey To Us , Bailey dominated the 2024 pop culture zeitgeist. He began the year reprising his beloved role of Anthony Bridgerton in Bridgerton season 4, and later made a cameo as Nick and Charlie’s famous author crush, Jack Maddox, in Heartstopper season 3. However, it’s his performance as Fiyero in Wicked: Part One that will have Us dancing through life and into the new year. In order to view the gallery, please allow Manage Cookies For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on YouTube!

DocOnChain revolutionizes document security with blockchain technologyBy Manas Mishra , Reuters The suspect in the murder of UnitedHealth Group executive Brian Thompson was not a customer of the health insurer, a company spokesperson said on Friday (US time). Ivy League-educated Luigi Mangione was charged with murder on 9 December for the killing of Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel before a company conference, following a five-day manhunt. Mangione suffered from chronic back pain that affected his daily life, according to friends and social media posts, though it is unclear whether his personal health played a role in the shooting. UnitedHealth does not have prior records for either Mangione or his mother, the spokesperson said. Thompson's murder was met with shock across the industry, as well as an outpouring of anger from Americans struggling with healthcare costs and the complexities of US health insurance. Public officials and healthcare executives have acknowledged the frustrations, but in the last few days have been more vocal in pushing back against social media glorification of an accused killer. In a New York Times opinion piece on Friday, UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty said he understood public frustrations with the "flawed" US healthcare system , but mourned Thompson's killing and decried the "vitriol that has been directed at our colleagues who have been barraged by threats". Thompson was CEO of the company's large health insurance business. The New York Times reported that an internal New York City police report analyzing Mangione's writings concluded that he viewed the killing as a justified response to what he believed to be corruption in the healthcare industry. In some circles, Mangione has been celebrated and more than a thousand donations have poured into an online fundraiser for his legal defense . ABC News and others reported on Friday that a Florida woman was arrested after she allegedly ended a phone call with a representative from her insurer Blue Cross Blue Shield by saying the words "Delay, deny, depose. You people are next." The words "deny," "defend" and "depose" were carved into shell casings found at the Thompson murder scene, several news outlets reported, evoking the title of a book critical of the insurance industry published in 2010 titled Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don't Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It. 'Intensely personal and very complicated' Health insurance companies have come under sharp public scrutiny since the attack. Shares of UnitedHealth alone have fallen nearly 15 percent since the attack. "Health care is both intensely personal and very complicated, and the reasons behind coverage decisions are not well understood," Witty wrote in his first public comments since the murder, noting that the US healthcare system is a patchwork built over decades. "We share some of the responsibility for that. Together with employers, governments and others who pay for care, we need to improve how we explain what insurance covers and how decisions are made," he wrote. Insurers say they work to negotiate down high fees from doctors and hospitals, as well as costly prescription drugs and medical devices. It isn't clear if the recent events "represent a watershed moment" that could catalyze change in the industry, said Morningstar analyst Julie Utterback. "You can definitely feel the potential for some kind of change in the air." - Reuters( MENAFN - GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) GEELONG, Australia, Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Carbon revolution plc (Nasdaq: CREV) (the "Company"), a Tier 1 OEM supplier and the leading global manufacturer of lightweight advanced technology automotive carbon fiber wheels, today announced that it has reached an agreement with Orion Infrastructure Capital ("OIC") for a further US$25 million financing, which will be released in five tranches, each equal to US$5 million, subject to satisfying certain release conditions. In connection with the release of each of the five tranches of US$5 million, the Company will issue to OIC and the lenders under the US$60 million PIUS loan entered into in May 2023 ("Existing Noteholders"), penny warrants to purchase an aggregate number of shares equal to 5.0% of the Company's shares outstanding. The original US$110 million funding agreement with OIC included the US$70 million previously drawn and provided for up to US$40 million of additional funding by OIC, of which this US$25 million has now been secured. In connection with this further US$25 million, Existing Noteholders have also agreed to release up to US$2 million of existing loan reserves in five equal tranches of US$400,000 concurrent with the five OIC funding tranches. Following this combined US$27 million of additional funding, both OIC and the Existing Noteholders have also agreed to partial payment in kind, in lieu of cash, for certain interest payments. The first of these five funding tranches closed on Friday December 20, 2024. The incremental $25 million of capital, reserve release and changes to interest terms, are intended to support the ongoing liquidity of the business and fund the Company as it works to satisfy the demand from Carbon Revolution's OEM customers. The Company is making substantial investments in capacity and throughput and has a number of new programs entering, or expected to enter, production in the near-term. "OIC continues to be a great funding partner for Carbon Revolution, sharing our vision for our world-leading technology," said Jake Dingle, CEO of Carbon Revolution. "This capital supports the ongoing liquidity of the business and underpins the continued delivery of our production capacity increase and the near-term launch of a number of new OEM programs." "We are firm believers in Carbon Revolution and the transformative impact of their lightweighting value proposition," said Chris Leary, Investment Partner & Head of Infra Equity at OIC. "The progress made by the Company on its capacity investments and increasing the efficiency of its production, as the only company capable of producing carbon fiber wheels at scale, has further demonstrated the unparalleled value to automotive OEMs as they modernize their product portfolios." The terms and conditions of the financing are summarized in the Company's filing with the SEC, which can be accessed here . The Company continues to work diligently to file its Annual Report as promptly as practical to regain compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) as described here . About Carbon Revolution plc Carbon Revolution plc (Nasdaq: CREV) (the "Company" or "Carbon Revolution") is the parent of Carbon Revolution Pty Ltd, an early-stage growth company which has successfully innovated, commercialized and industrialized the advanced manufacture of carbon fiber wheels for the global automotive industry. The Company has progressed from single prototypes to designing and manufacturing lightweight wheels for cars and SUVs in the high performance, premium and luxury segments, for the world's most prestigious automotive brands. Carbon Revolution is creating a significant and sustainable advanced technology business that supplies its lightweight wheel technology to automotive manufacturers around the world. For more information, visit carbonrev.com . Forward-Looking Statements All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this communication are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may generally be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," "plan," "project," "forecast," "predict," "potential," "seem," "seek," "future," "outlook," "target" or other similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the expectation of continued listing of Carbon Revolution's ordinary shares and warrants on Nasdaq, the Company's ability to file its Annual Report and promptly regain compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1), the future financial performance, business strategies, financings and expectations for the Company's business. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this communication, and on the current expectations of Carbon Revolution's management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and may differ from such assumptions, and such differences may be material. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Carbon Revolution. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including (i) the ability to maintain the listing of Carbon Revolution's securities on Nasdaq or any other exchange on which such securities may be listed in the future; (ii) the failure to realize the benefits of being listed on a U.S. securities exchange and publicly-traded in the United States; (iii) Carbon Revolution's liquidity, including its ability to pay its obligations and to issue equity, refinance its indebtedness or otherwise obtain financing at all or on acceptable terms, (iv) risks related to its ability to meet financial covenants and other key covenants under existing financing arrangements or to obtain waivers or forbearance from compliance with such covenants, which could result in the acceleration of outstanding indebtedness, (v) changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; (vi) risks related to the rollout of Carbon Revolution's business strategy and the timing of expected business milestones; (vii) the effects of competition on Carbon Revolution's future business and the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth, establish and maintain relationships with customers and retain its management and key employees; (viii) risks related to domestic and international political and macroeconomic uncertainty, including the Russia-Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East; (ix) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Carbon Revolution; (x) the impact of pandemic and governmental responses on any of the foregoing risks; (xi) risks related to Carbon Revolution's industry; (xii) changes in laws and regulations; and (xiii) those factors discussed in the documents Carbon Revolution filed with the SEC, including the Shell Company Report on Form 20-F. If any of these risks materialize or Carbon Revolution's assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that Carbon Revolution does not presently know or that Carbon Revolution currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Carbon Revolution's expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. Carbon Revolution anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Carbon Revolution's assessments to change. However, while Carbon Revolution may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Carbon Revolution specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, unless required by applicable law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Carbon Revolution's assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. For further information, please contact: Investors ... Media ... MENAFN23122024004107003653ID1109025217 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

Several male celebrities took the internet’s heart by storm in 2024, but a handful stood out from the rest of the pack. For those unfamiliar with the phrase “Internet Boyfriend,” the term is applied to popular celebrities who fans collectively have a crush on at the same time. For example, Nicholas Alexander Chavez not only won fans over with his impressive performance in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story but also for a viral TikTok fan edit. Longtime internet boyfriend Timothée Chalamet , meanwhile, had a jam-packed 2024 with his films Dune: Part Two and A Complete Unknown . Not to mention, he was one of the first stars to be the subject of the recent celebrity look-alike competition trend. He even showed up to his own New York City doppelgänger contest in October. You have successfully subscribed. By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Check our latest news in Google News Check our latest news in Apple News Similar to Chalamet — who sang live on the set of A Complete Unknown — Jonathan Bailey made fans fall in love with singing chops as Fiyero in Wicked: Part One . Stars such as Adam Brody and Josh Hartnett made millennials nostalgic with 2024 comeback projects, while Marcello Hernandez and Jack Schlossberg made waves online with their hilarious personalities. Keep scrolling for Us Weekly ’s unofficial ranking of the internet’s top boyfriends of 2024: Credit: Getty Images (3) Ranking the Internet’s Best Boyfriends of 2024: Jonathan Bailey, Paul Mescal and More Several male celebrities took the internet’s heart by storm in 2024, but a handful stood out from the rest of the pack.For those unfamiliar with the phrase “Internet Boyfriend,” the term is applied to popular celebrities who fans collectively have a crush on at the same time. For example, Nicholas Alexander Chavez not only won fans over with his impressive performance in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story but also for a viral TikTok fan edit.Longtime internet boyfriend Timothée Chalamet , meanwhile, had a jam-packed 2024 with his films Dune: Part Two and A Complete Unknown . Not to mention, he was one of the first stars to be the subject of the recent celebrity look-alike competition trend. He even showed up to his own New York City doppelgänger contest in October.Similar to Chalamet — who sang live on the set of A Complete Unknown — Jonathan Bailey made fans fall in love with singing chops as Fiyero in Wicked: Part One . Stars such as Adam Brody and Josh Hartnett made millennials nostalgic with 2024 comeback projects, while Marcello Hernandez and Jack Schlossberg made waves online with their hilarious personalities.Keep scrolling for Us Weekly ’s unofficial ranking of the internet’s top boyfriends of 2024: Credit: Phillip Faraone/WireImage 20. Ryan Gosling Ryan Gosling followed up his 2023 Barbie success with the action movie The Fall Guy . As if we couldn’t love him enough already, his character in the film cried while listening to Taylor Swift’ s “All Too Well” in a car. Gosling even tweaked the lyrics to the hit song during his Saturday Night Live hosting monologue on April, bringing out costar Emily Blunt as a special surprise. Credit: Araya Doheny/WireImage 19. Tyler James Williams Tyler James Williams ’ Gregory Eddie and Quinta Brunson ’s Janine Teagues are finally a couple on Abbott Elementary , and fans couldn’t be happier. “What we have seen up until this point was a mutual admiration for each other,” Williams exclusively told Us of the TV couple’s future in October. “Regardless of where it goes, it's about how much they really respect and care for each other. That's the key. Credit: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Empire State Realty Trust 18. Jack Schlossberg The only grandson of late President John F. Kennedy , Schlossberg has made waves on social media since becoming a political correspondent for Vogue earlier this year. “If you’re going to ask people to think about something serious, you need to make it entertaining or fun,” he told the outlet in July. “That’s what all the great leaders do. You can’t just hammer people with how bad stuff is. You’ve got to bring some positivity and good energy to the things you think are important. That’s the only strategy I have.” Credit: Maya Dehlin Spach/WireImage 17. Taron Egerton The Welsh native added another swoon-worthy role to his Hollywood resume as Ethan Kopek in the Netflix holiday thriller Carry-On . The film quickly rose to the No. 1 spot on the streamer’s Top 10 movies list following its December premiere. Credit: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images 16. Kit Connor and Joe Locke One year after the release of Heartstopper season 2, Kit Connor and Joe Locke returned to their beloved roles as Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring, respectively, for the Netflix series’ third season. Outside of Heartstopper , Locke joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Billy Kaplan (a.k.a. Wiccan) in the Disney+ series Agatha All Along . In addition to voicing the adorable Brightbill in The Wild Robot , Connor made his Broadway debut alongside Rachel Zegler in the play Romeo + Juliet . Credit: Cindy Ord/Getty Images 15. Nicholas Galitzine The British actor romanced Anne Hathaway as boy band star Hayes Campbell in the Prime Video film The Idea of You . Plus, he surprised fans by showing off his impressive body transformation into He-Man for the upcoming Masters of the Universe movie with a buff Instagram Story snap earlier this month. Credit: Ernesto Ruscio/WireImage 14. Josh Hartnett Hartnett made moviegoers fall in love with a serial killer thanks to his performance in the thriller Trapped . He also made a surprise appearance on a season 3 episode of The Bear . Credit: Michael Tran / AFP 13. Marcello Hernandez Hernandez — or should we say, Domingo — went viral for his latest Saturday Night Live original character . He played-up the Domingo hype by appearing as the character at a Sabrina Carpenter concert in November. Credit: Getty Images (4) 12. Chase Stokes, Drew Starkey, Jonathan Daviss and Rudy Pankow The cast of Netflix’s Outer Banks made Us fall in love with them all over again when the show’s fourth season dropped in November. Unfortunately for the on-screen besties, the season ended with the shocking death of Rudy Pankow ’s character, JJ. (R.I.P.) Credit: Mike Coppola/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue 11. Donald Glover Donald Glover had big footsteps to follow for Prime Video’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith TV adaptation, as Brad Pitt starred in the original 2005 spy romance. Luckily, Glover (a.k.a. Childish Gambino) pulled off the role with ease and cemented himself as an action star to watch. Credit: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Netflix 10. Glen Powell Glen Powell showed fans many sides of himself in 2024, from taking on multiple personas in the Netflix movie Hit Man to chasing storms as Tyler Owens in the summer blockbuster Twisters . Credit: Getty Images (3) 9. Luke Newton, Luke Thompson and Victor Alli The men of Bridgerton continued to make Us swoon in season 3. While the latest installment ended with Luke Newton ’s Colin Bridgerton and Victor Alli ’s Lord John Stirling happily in love with their respective romantic partners, the finale set up Luke Thompson ’s Benedict Bridgerton to take on the leading man role in season 4. Credit: David Eulitt/Getty Images 8. Travis Kelce Taylor Swift ’s “guy on the Chiefs” continued to prove he’s the ultimate Hollywood boyfriend goals by attending several of her Eras Tour concerts and taking the Grammy winner out for several romantic date nights. Not to mention, he threw Swift a surprise Eras -themed party to celebrate her December birthday and the end of her record-breaking tour. Credit: Mike Marsland/WireImage 7. Timothee Chalamet On top of earning critical and fan praise for his work in A Complete Unknown and Dune: Part Two , Timothée became an uncle in 2024 with the birth of his sister Pauline Chalamet ’s baby girl. Credit: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival 6. Andrew Garfield Andrew Garfield made fans fall in love and cry their eyes out with his role as Tobias in We Live in Time , cementing himself as a British rom-com heartthrob. Credit: Stewart Cook/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios 5. Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist The internet was just as obsessed with Challengers stars Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist as their characters were with Zendaya ’s Tashi Duncan in the sports drama. Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty Images 4. Adam Brody Gilmore Girls and The O.C. fans rejoiced when Brody returned to the small screen as Noah (a.k.a. the hot rabbi) in the Netflix series Nobody Wants This . Luckily for viewers, the show was renewed for a second season. Credit: Getty Images (3) 3. Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Joseph Quinn As if fans weren’t already obsessed with Paul Mescal , Pedro Pascal and Joseph Quinn before their roles in Gladiator II , the Ridley Scott -directed sequel furthered their status as some of the internet’s favorite boyfriends. Credit: Presley Ann/Getty Images for Netflix 2. Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez The two actors gave emotional and chilling breakout performances as the Menendez brothers in Netflix’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story . Chavez went on to play the hot priest in the Ryan Murphy series Grotesquerie , while Koch scored a 2025 Golden Globes nomination for his portrayal of Erik Menendez . (Shout-out to Koch’s performance in the show’s one-take episode titled “The Hurt Man.”) Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage 1. Jonathan Bailey To Us , Bailey dominated the 2024 pop culture zeitgeist. He began the year reprising his beloved role of Anthony Bridgerton in Bridgerton season 4, and later made a cameo as Nick and Charlie’s famous author crush, Jack Maddox, in Heartstopper season 3. However, it’s his performance as Fiyero in Wicked: Part One that will have Us dancing through life and into the new year. In order to view the gallery, please allow Manage Cookies For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on YouTube!China's AIMA brand electric motorbike is now in BangladeshJordan Ivy-Curry, UCF aim to topple Tulsa

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Don't brine your turkey in the lake, park tells AmericansNEW YORK — The masked gunman who stalked and killed the leader of one of the largest U.S. health insurance companies outside a Manhattan hotel used ammunition emblazoned with the words "deny," "defend" and "depose," two law enforcement officials said Thursday. The words were written in permanent marker, according to one of the officials, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. With the gunman still at large, police also released photos of a person they said was wanted for questioning in connection with the shooting. UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, died in a dawn ambush Wednesday as he walked to the company's annual investor conference at a Hilton hotel in Midtown. The reason behind the killing remained unknown, but investigators believe it was a targeted attack. This image shows a man wanted for questioning in connection to the investigation of the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel. The message left on the ammunition echoes the phrase "delay, deny, defend," which is commonly used by attorneys and insurance industry critics to describe tactics used to avoid paying claims. It refers to insurers delaying payment, denying a claim and then defending their actions. Health insurers like UnitedHealthcare have become frequent targets of criticism from doctors and patients for complicating access to care. Investigators recovered several 9 mm shell casings from outside the hotel and a cellphone from the alleyway through which the shooter fled. Inside a nearby trash can, they found a water bottle and protein bar wrapper that they say the gunman purchased from a nearby Starbucks minutes before the shooting. The city's medical examiner was looking for fingerprints. The killing and the shooter's movements in the minutes before and after were captured on some of the multitudes of security cameras present in that part of the city. The shooter fled on a bike and was last seen riding into Central Park. Bullets lie on the sidewalk Wednesday outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan where Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot and killed in New York. The hunt for the shooter brought New York City police to at least two hostels on Manhattan's Upper West Side on Thursday morning, based on a tip that the suspected shooter might have stayed at one of the residences, according to one of the law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation. The photos police released Thursday of a man wanted for questioning were taken in the lobby of the HI New York City hostel. "We are fully cooperating with the NYPD and, as this is an active investigation, can not comment at this time," said Danielle Brumfitt, a spokesperson for the hostel. Police received a flood of tips from members of the public, many of them unfounded. On Wednesday evening, police searched a Long Island Rail Road train after a commuter claimed to have spotted the shooter, but found no sign of the gunman. "We're following up on every single tip that comes in," said Carlos Nieves, a police spokesperson. "That little piece of information could be the missing piece of the puzzle that ties everything together." Investigators believe, judging from surveillance video and evidence collected from the scene, that the shooter had at least some prior firearms training and experience with guns and the weapon was equipped with a silencer, said one of the law enforcement officials who spoke with the AP. This still image from surveillance video shows the suspect, left, sought in the the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, center, Wednesday outside a Manhattan hotel. Security camera video showed the killer approach Thompson from behind, level his pistol and fire several shots, barely pausing to clear a gun jam while the health executive tumbled to the pavement. Cameras showed him fleeing the block across a pedestrian plaza before getting on the bicycle. Police issued several surveillance images of the man wearing a hooded jacket and a mask that concealed most of his face, which wouldn't have attracted attention on a frigid day. Authorities also used drones, helicopters and dogs in an intensive search, but the killer's whereabouts remained unknown. Thompson, a father of two sons who lived in suburban Minneapolis, was with UnitedHealthcare since 2004 and served as CEO for more than three years. The insurer's Minnetonka, Minnesota-based parent company, UnitedHealth Group Inc., was holding its annual meeting with investors in New York to update Wall Street on the company's direction and expectations for the coming year. The company ended the conference early in the wake of Thompson's death. UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state and federally funded Medicaid programs. In the U.S. healthcare system, even the simplest act, like booking an appointment with your primary care physician, may feel intimidating. As you wade through intake forms and insurance statements, and research out-of-network coverage , you might wonder, "When did U.S. health care get so confusing?" Short answer? It's complicated. The history of modern U.S. health care spans nearly a century, with social movements, legislation, and politics driving change. Take a trip back in time as Thatch highlights some of the most impactful legislation and policies that gave us the existing healthcare system, particularly how and when things got complicated. In the beginning, a common perception of American doctors was that they were kindly old men stepping right out of a Saturday Evening Post cover illustration to make house calls. If their patients couldn't afford their fee, they'd accept payment in chicken or goats. Health care was relatively affordable and accessible. Then it all fell apart during the Great Depression of the 1930s. That's when hospital administrators started looking for ways to guarantee payment. According to the American College of Healthcare Executives, this is when the earliest form of health insurance was born. Interestingly, doctors would have none of it at first. The earliest health plans covered hospitalization only. A new set of challenges from the Second World War required a new set of responses. During the Depression, there were far too many people and too few jobs. The war economy had the opposite effect. Suddenly, all able-bodied men were in the military, but somebody still had to build the weapons and provision the troops. Even with women entering the workforce in unprecedented numbers, there was simply too much to get done. The competition for skilled labor was brutal. A wage freeze starting in 1942 forced employers to find other means of recruiting and retaining workers. Building on the recently mandated workers' compensation plans, employers or their union counterparts started offering insurance to cover hospital and doctor visits. Of course, the wage freeze ended soon after the war. However, the tax code and the courts soon clarified that employer-sponsored health insurance was non-taxable. Medicare, a government-sponsored health plan for retirees 65 and older, debuted in 1965. Nowadays, Medicare is offered in Parts A, B, C, and D; each offering a different layer of coverage for older Americans. As of 2023, over a quarter of all U.S. adults are enrolled in Medicare. The structure of Medicare is not dissimilar to universal health care offered in other countries, although the policy covers everyone, not just people over a certain age. Medicaid was also signed into law with Medicare. Medicaid provides health care coverage for Americans with low incomes. Over 74 million Americans are enrolled in Medicaid today. The Obama administration was neither the first nor the last to champion new ways to provide health care coverage to a wider swath of Americans. The first attempts to harmonize U.S. healthcare delivery systems with those of other developed economies came just five years after Medicare and Medicaid. Two separate bills were introduced in 1970 alone. Both bills aimed to widen affordable health benefits for Americans, either by making people Medicare-eligible or providing free health benefits for all Americans. As is the case with many bills, both these died, even though there was bipartisan support. But the chairman of the relevant Senate panel had his own bill in mind, which got through the committee. It effectively said that all Americans were entitled to the kind of health benefits enjoyed by the United Auto Workers Union or AFL-CIO—for free. But shortly after Sen. Edward Kennedy began hearings on his bill in early 1971 , a competing proposal came from an unexpected source: Richard Nixon's White House. President Nixon's approach , in retrospect, had some commonalities with what Obamacare turned out to be. There was the employer mandate, for example, and an expansion of Medicaid. It favored healthcare delivery via health maintenance organizations, or HMOs, which was a novel idea at the time. HMOs, which offer managed care within a tight network of health care providers, descended from the prepaid health plans that flourished briefly in the 1910s and 1920s. They were first conceived in their current form around 1970 by Dr. Paul M. Ellwood, Jr. In 1973, a law was passed to require large companies to give their employees an HMO option as well as a traditional health insurance option. But that was always intended to be ancillary to Nixon's more ambitious proposal, which got even closer to what exists now after it wallowed in the swamp for a while. When Nixon reintroduced the proposal in 1974, it featured state-run health insurance plans as a substitute for Medicaid—not a far cry from the tax credit-fueled state-run exchanges of today. Of course, Nixon had other things to worry about in 1974: inflation, recession, a nation just beginning to heal from its first lost war—and his looming impeachment. His successor, Gerald Ford, tried to keep the proposal moving forward, but to no avail. But this raises a good question: If the Republican president and the Democratic Senate majority both see the same problem and have competing but not irreconcilable proposals to address it, why wasn't there some kind of compromise? What major issue divided the two parties? It was a matter of funding. The Democrats wanted to pay for universal health coverage through the U.S. Treasury's general fund, acknowledging that Congress would have to raise taxes to pay for it. The Republicans wanted it to pay for itself by charging participants insurance premiums, which would be, in effect, a new tax. The next significant legislation came from President Reagan, who signed the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA, in 1985. COBRA enabled laid-off workers to hold onto their health insurance—providing that they pay 100% of the premium, which had been wholly or at least in part subsidized by their erstwhile employer. While COBRA offers continued coverage, its high expense doesn't offer much relief for the unemployed. A 2006 Commonwealth Fund survey found that only 9% of people eligible for COBRA coverage actually signed up for it. The COBRA law had a section, though, that was only tangentially related. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, or EMTALA, which was incorporated into COBRA, required all emergency medical facilities that take Medicare—that is, all of them—to treat patients irrespective of their insurance status or ability to pay. As Forbes staff writer Avik Roy wrote during the Obamacare debate, EMTALA has come to overshadow the rest of the COBRA law in its influence on American health care policy. More on that soon. It wasn't until the 1990s that Washington saw another serious attempt at healthcare reform. Bill Clinton's first order of business as president was to establish a new health care plan. For the first time, the First Lady took on the role of heavy-lifting policy advisor to the president and became the White House point person on universal health care. Hillary Clinton's proposal mandated : The Clintons' plan centralized decision-making in Washington, with a "National Health Board" overseeing quality assurance, training physicians, guaranteeing abortion coverage, and running both long-term care facilities and rural health systems. The insurance lobbyists had a field day with that. The famous "Harry and Louise" ads portrayed a generic American couple having tense conversations in their breakfast nook about how the federal government would come between them and their doctor. By the 1994 midterms, any chance of universal health care in America had died. In this case, it wasn't funding but the debate between big and small governments that killed the Clinton reform. It would be another generation before the U.S. saw universal health care take the stage. Fast-forward to 2010. It was clear that employer-sponsored plans were vestiges of another time. They made sense when people stayed with the same company for their entire careers, but as job-hopping and layoffs became more prevalent, plans tied to the job became obsolete. Thus the Affordable Care Act, or ACA, was proposed by Barack Obama's White House and squeaked by Congress and the Supreme Court with the narrowest of margins. The ACA introduced an individual mandate requiring everyone to have health insurance regardless of job status. It set up an array of government-sponsored online exchanges where individuals could buy coverage . It also provided advance premium tax credits to defray the cost to consumers. But it didn't ignore hat most people were already getting health insurance through work, and a significant proportion didn't want to change . So the ACA also required employers with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees to provide health coverage to at least 95% of them. The law, nicknamed Obamacare by supporters and detractors, set a minimum baseline of coverage and affordability. The penalty for an employer that offers inadequate or unaffordable coverage can never be greater than the penalty for not offering coverage at all. The model for Obamacare was the health care reform package that went into effect in Massachusetts in 2006. The initial proposal was made by then-Governor Mitt Romney, a Republican who now serves as a senator from Utah. Despite an onslaught of court challenges, Obamacare remains the law of the land. For a while, Republican congressional candidates ran on a "repeal-and-replace" platform plank, but even when they were in the majority, there was little legislative action to do either. Still, Obamacare is not the last word in American health care reform. Since then, there have been two important improvements to Health Reimbursement Arrangements, through which companies pay employees back for out-of-pocket medical-related expenses. HRAs had been evolving informally since at least the 1960s but were first addressed by the Internal Revenue Service in 2002. Not much more happened on that front until Obama's lame-duck period. In December 2016, he signed the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act, which was mainly a funding bill supporting the National Institutes of Health as it addressed the opioid crisis. But, just like the right to free emergency room treatment was nested in the larger COBRA law, the legal framework of Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangements was tucked away in a corner of the Cures Act. QSEHRAs, offered only by companies with fewer than 50 full-time employees, allow firms to let their employees pick their insurance coverage off the Obamacare exchanges. The firms pay the employees back for some or all of the cost of those premiums. The employees then become ineligible for the premium tax credit provided by the ACA, but a well-constructed QSEHRA will meet or exceed the value of that subsidy. That brings this timeline to one last innovation, which expands QSEHRA-like treatment to companies with more than 50 employees or aspiring to have them. Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements , or ICHRAs, were established by a 2019 IRS rule . ICHRAs allow firms of any size to offer employees tax-free contributions to cover up to 100% of their individual health insurance premiums as well as other eligible medical expenses. Instead of offering insurance policies directly, companies advise employees to shop on a government-sponsored exchange and select the best plan that suits their needs. Employer reimbursement rather than an advance premium tax credit reduces premiums. And because these plans are already ACA-compliant, there's no risk to the employer that they won't meet coverage or affordability standards. The U.S. is never going back to the mid-20th century model of lifetime employment at one company. Now, with remote employees and gig workers characterizing the workforce, the portability of an ICHRA provides some consistency for those who expect to be independent contractors for their entire careers. Simultaneously, allows bootstrap-phase startups to offer the dignity of health coverage to their Day One associates. The U.S. health care system can feel clunky and confusing to navigate. It is also regressive and penalizes startups and small businesses. For a country founded by entrepreneurs, it's sad that corporations like Google pay less for health care per employee than a small coffee shop in Florida. In many ways, ICHRA democratizes procuring health care coverage. In the same way that large employers enjoy the benefits of better rates, ICHRA plan quality and prices improve as the ICHRA risk pool grows. Moving away from the traditional employer model will change the incentive structure of the healthcare industry. Insurers will be able to compete and differentiate on the merits of their product. They will be incentivized to build products for people, not one-size-fits-all solutions for employers. This story was produced by Thatch and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.NEW YORK — The masked gunman who stalked and killed the leader of one of the largest U.S. health insurance companies outside a Manhattan hotel used ammunition emblazoned with the words "deny," "defend" and "depose," two law enforcement officials said Thursday. The words were written in permanent marker, according to one of the officials, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. With the gunman still at large, police also released photos of a person they said was wanted for questioning in connection with the shooting. UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, died in a dawn ambush Wednesday as he walked to the company's annual investor conference at a Hilton hotel in Midtown. The reason behind the killing remained unknown, but investigators believe it was a targeted attack. This image shows a man wanted for questioning in connection to the investigation of the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel. The message left on the ammunition echoes the phrase "delay, deny, defend," which is commonly used by attorneys and insurance industry critics to describe tactics used to avoid paying claims. It refers to insurers delaying payment, denying a claim and then defending their actions. Health insurers like UnitedHealthcare have become frequent targets of criticism from doctors and patients for complicating access to care. Investigators recovered several 9 mm shell casings from outside the hotel and a cellphone from the alleyway through which the shooter fled. Inside a nearby trash can, they found a water bottle and protein bar wrapper that they say the gunman purchased from a nearby Starbucks minutes before the shooting. The city's medical examiner was looking for fingerprints. The killing and the shooter's movements in the minutes before and after were captured on some of the multitudes of security cameras present in that part of the city. The shooter fled on a bike and was last seen riding into Central Park. Bullets lie on the sidewalk Wednesday outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan where Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot and killed in New York. The hunt for the shooter brought New York City police to at least two hostels on Manhattan's Upper West Side on Thursday morning, based on a tip that the suspected shooter might have stayed at one of the residences, according to one of the law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation. The photos police released Thursday of a man wanted for questioning were taken in the lobby of the HI New York City hostel. "We are fully cooperating with the NYPD and, as this is an active investigation, can not comment at this time," said Danielle Brumfitt, a spokesperson for the hostel. Police received a flood of tips from members of the public, many of them unfounded. On Wednesday evening, police searched a Long Island Rail Road train after a commuter claimed to have spotted the shooter, but found no sign of the gunman. "We're following up on every single tip that comes in," said Carlos Nieves, a police spokesperson. "That little piece of information could be the missing piece of the puzzle that ties everything together." Investigators believe, judging from surveillance video and evidence collected from the scene, that the shooter had at least some prior firearms training and experience with guns and the weapon was equipped with a silencer, said one of the law enforcement officials who spoke with the AP. This still image from surveillance video shows the suspect, left, sought in the the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, center, Wednesday outside a Manhattan hotel. Security camera video showed the killer approach Thompson from behind, level his pistol and fire several shots, barely pausing to clear a gun jam while the health executive tumbled to the pavement. Cameras showed him fleeing the block across a pedestrian plaza before getting on the bicycle. Police issued several surveillance images of the man wearing a hooded jacket and a mask that concealed most of his face, which wouldn't have attracted attention on a frigid day. Authorities also used drones, helicopters and dogs in an intensive search, but the killer's whereabouts remained unknown. Thompson, a father of two sons who lived in suburban Minneapolis, was with UnitedHealthcare since 2004 and served as CEO for more than three years. The insurer's Minnetonka, Minnesota-based parent company, UnitedHealth Group Inc., was holding its annual meeting with investors in New York to update Wall Street on the company's direction and expectations for the coming year. The company ended the conference early in the wake of Thompson's death. UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state and federally funded Medicaid programs. In the U.S. healthcare system, even the simplest act, like booking an appointment with your primary care physician, may feel intimidating. As you wade through intake forms and insurance statements, and research out-of-network coverage , you might wonder, "When did U.S. health care get so confusing?" Short answer? It's complicated. The history of modern U.S. health care spans nearly a century, with social movements, legislation, and politics driving change. Take a trip back in time as Thatch highlights some of the most impactful legislation and policies that gave us the existing healthcare system, particularly how and when things got complicated. In the beginning, a common perception of American doctors was that they were kindly old men stepping right out of a Saturday Evening Post cover illustration to make house calls. If their patients couldn't afford their fee, they'd accept payment in chicken or goats. Health care was relatively affordable and accessible. Then it all fell apart during the Great Depression of the 1930s. That's when hospital administrators started looking for ways to guarantee payment. According to the American College of Healthcare Executives, this is when the earliest form of health insurance was born. Interestingly, doctors would have none of it at first. The earliest health plans covered hospitalization only. A new set of challenges from the Second World War required a new set of responses. During the Depression, there were far too many people and too few jobs. The war economy had the opposite effect. Suddenly, all able-bodied men were in the military, but somebody still had to build the weapons and provision the troops. Even with women entering the workforce in unprecedented numbers, there was simply too much to get done. The competition for skilled labor was brutal. A wage freeze starting in 1942 forced employers to find other means of recruiting and retaining workers. Building on the recently mandated workers' compensation plans, employers or their union counterparts started offering insurance to cover hospital and doctor visits. Of course, the wage freeze ended soon after the war. However, the tax code and the courts soon clarified that employer-sponsored health insurance was non-taxable. Medicare, a government-sponsored health plan for retirees 65 and older, debuted in 1965. Nowadays, Medicare is offered in Parts A, B, C, and D; each offering a different layer of coverage for older Americans. As of 2023, over a quarter of all U.S. adults are enrolled in Medicare. The structure of Medicare is not dissimilar to universal health care offered in other countries, although the policy covers everyone, not just people over a certain age. Medicaid was also signed into law with Medicare. Medicaid provides health care coverage for Americans with low incomes. Over 74 million Americans are enrolled in Medicaid today. The Obama administration was neither the first nor the last to champion new ways to provide health care coverage to a wider swath of Americans. The first attempts to harmonize U.S. healthcare delivery systems with those of other developed economies came just five years after Medicare and Medicaid. Two separate bills were introduced in 1970 alone. Both bills aimed to widen affordable health benefits for Americans, either by making people Medicare-eligible or providing free health benefits for all Americans. As is the case with many bills, both these died, even though there was bipartisan support. But the chairman of the relevant Senate panel had his own bill in mind, which got through the committee. It effectively said that all Americans were entitled to the kind of health benefits enjoyed by the United Auto Workers Union or AFL-CIO—for free. But shortly after Sen. Edward Kennedy began hearings on his bill in early 1971 , a competing proposal came from an unexpected source: Richard Nixon's White House. President Nixon's approach , in retrospect, had some commonalities with what Obamacare turned out to be. There was the employer mandate, for example, and an expansion of Medicaid. It favored healthcare delivery via health maintenance organizations, or HMOs, which was a novel idea at the time. HMOs, which offer managed care within a tight network of health care providers, descended from the prepaid health plans that flourished briefly in the 1910s and 1920s. They were first conceived in their current form around 1970 by Dr. Paul M. Ellwood, Jr. In 1973, a law was passed to require large companies to give their employees an HMO option as well as a traditional health insurance option. But that was always intended to be ancillary to Nixon's more ambitious proposal, which got even closer to what exists now after it wallowed in the swamp for a while. When Nixon reintroduced the proposal in 1974, it featured state-run health insurance plans as a substitute for Medicaid—not a far cry from the tax credit-fueled state-run exchanges of today. Of course, Nixon had other things to worry about in 1974: inflation, recession, a nation just beginning to heal from its first lost war—and his looming impeachment. His successor, Gerald Ford, tried to keep the proposal moving forward, but to no avail. But this raises a good question: If the Republican president and the Democratic Senate majority both see the same problem and have competing but not irreconcilable proposals to address it, why wasn't there some kind of compromise? What major issue divided the two parties? It was a matter of funding. The Democrats wanted to pay for universal health coverage through the U.S. Treasury's general fund, acknowledging that Congress would have to raise taxes to pay for it. The Republicans wanted it to pay for itself by charging participants insurance premiums, which would be, in effect, a new tax. The next significant legislation came from President Reagan, who signed the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA, in 1985. COBRA enabled laid-off workers to hold onto their health insurance—providing that they pay 100% of the premium, which had been wholly or at least in part subsidized by their erstwhile employer. While COBRA offers continued coverage, its high expense doesn't offer much relief for the unemployed. A 2006 Commonwealth Fund survey found that only 9% of people eligible for COBRA coverage actually signed up for it. The COBRA law had a section, though, that was only tangentially related. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, or EMTALA, which was incorporated into COBRA, required all emergency medical facilities that take Medicare—that is, all of them—to treat patients irrespective of their insurance status or ability to pay. As Forbes staff writer Avik Roy wrote during the Obamacare debate, EMTALA has come to overshadow the rest of the COBRA law in its influence on American health care policy. More on that soon. It wasn't until the 1990s that Washington saw another serious attempt at healthcare reform. Bill Clinton's first order of business as president was to establish a new health care plan. For the first time, the First Lady took on the role of heavy-lifting policy advisor to the president and became the White House point person on universal health care. Hillary Clinton's proposal mandated : The Clintons' plan centralized decision-making in Washington, with a "National Health Board" overseeing quality assurance, training physicians, guaranteeing abortion coverage, and running both long-term care facilities and rural health systems. The insurance lobbyists had a field day with that. The famous "Harry and Louise" ads portrayed a generic American couple having tense conversations in their breakfast nook about how the federal government would come between them and their doctor. By the 1994 midterms, any chance of universal health care in America had died. In this case, it wasn't funding but the debate between big and small governments that killed the Clinton reform. It would be another generation before the U.S. saw universal health care take the stage. Fast-forward to 2010. It was clear that employer-sponsored plans were vestiges of another time. They made sense when people stayed with the same company for their entire careers, but as job-hopping and layoffs became more prevalent, plans tied to the job became obsolete. Thus the Affordable Care Act, or ACA, was proposed by Barack Obama's White House and squeaked by Congress and the Supreme Court with the narrowest of margins. The ACA introduced an individual mandate requiring everyone to have health insurance regardless of job status. It set up an array of government-sponsored online exchanges where individuals could buy coverage . It also provided advance premium tax credits to defray the cost to consumers. But it didn't ignore hat most people were already getting health insurance through work, and a significant proportion didn't want to change . So the ACA also required employers with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees to provide health coverage to at least 95% of them. The law, nicknamed Obamacare by supporters and detractors, set a minimum baseline of coverage and affordability. The penalty for an employer that offers inadequate or unaffordable coverage can never be greater than the penalty for not offering coverage at all. The model for Obamacare was the health care reform package that went into effect in Massachusetts in 2006. The initial proposal was made by then-Governor Mitt Romney, a Republican who now serves as a senator from Utah. Despite an onslaught of court challenges, Obamacare remains the law of the land. For a while, Republican congressional candidates ran on a "repeal-and-replace" platform plank, but even when they were in the majority, there was little legislative action to do either. Still, Obamacare is not the last word in American health care reform. Since then, there have been two important improvements to Health Reimbursement Arrangements, through which companies pay employees back for out-of-pocket medical-related expenses. HRAs had been evolving informally since at least the 1960s but were first addressed by the Internal Revenue Service in 2002. Not much more happened on that front until Obama's lame-duck period. In December 2016, he signed the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act, which was mainly a funding bill supporting the National Institutes of Health as it addressed the opioid crisis. But, just like the right to free emergency room treatment was nested in the larger COBRA law, the legal framework of Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangements was tucked away in a corner of the Cures Act. QSEHRAs, offered only by companies with fewer than 50 full-time employees, allow firms to let their employees pick their insurance coverage off the Obamacare exchanges. The firms pay the employees back for some or all of the cost of those premiums. The employees then become ineligible for the premium tax credit provided by the ACA, but a well-constructed QSEHRA will meet or exceed the value of that subsidy. That brings this timeline to one last innovation, which expands QSEHRA-like treatment to companies with more than 50 employees or aspiring to have them. Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements , or ICHRAs, were established by a 2019 IRS rule . ICHRAs allow firms of any size to offer employees tax-free contributions to cover up to 100% of their individual health insurance premiums as well as other eligible medical expenses. Instead of offering insurance policies directly, companies advise employees to shop on a government-sponsored exchange and select the best plan that suits their needs. Employer reimbursement rather than an advance premium tax credit reduces premiums. And because these plans are already ACA-compliant, there's no risk to the employer that they won't meet coverage or affordability standards. The U.S. is never going back to the mid-20th century model of lifetime employment at one company. Now, with remote employees and gig workers characterizing the workforce, the portability of an ICHRA provides some consistency for those who expect to be independent contractors for their entire careers. Simultaneously, allows bootstrap-phase startups to offer the dignity of health coverage to their Day One associates. The U.S. health care system can feel clunky and confusing to navigate. It is also regressive and penalizes startups and small businesses. For a country founded by entrepreneurs, it's sad that corporations like Google pay less for health care per employee than a small coffee shop in Florida. In many ways, ICHRA democratizes procuring health care coverage. In the same way that large employers enjoy the benefits of better rates, ICHRA plan quality and prices improve as the ICHRA risk pool grows. Moving away from the traditional employer model will change the incentive structure of the healthcare industry. Insurers will be able to compete and differentiate on the merits of their product. They will be incentivized to build products for people, not one-size-fits-all solutions for employers. This story was produced by Thatch and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The plan for the Minnesota Vikings was to bring in Sam Darnold as the bridge between Kirk Cousins and J.J. McCarthy, confident his strong arm and starting experience would sufficiently run a high-caliber offense until the rookie was deemed ready to play. Darnold's performance to date has been much closer to superstar than mere stopgap. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a weekI'm A Celebrity fans threaten to 'boycott' show after first celebrity revealAt the heart of Skeetchestn territory is the Deadman Watershed, a living landscape of roughly 900 sq. km of forest and grassland northwest of Kamloops (Tk’emlups). Industrial logging and the roads it requires has been a major stressor on this area, and the 2017 Elephant Hill wildfire and the 2021 Sparks Lake wildfire consumed much of the remaining forest. “The Deadman Watershed has been absolutely devastated,” says Shaun Freeman, senior wildlife and habitat biologist with Skeetchestn Natural Resource corp. “What we ended up with is a lot of hydrological issues.” In the early spring, the snowpack melts all at once, with little water retained in the upper watershed due to vegetation loss, he explains. This has knock-on effects for the entire ecosystem Tsecmenúl̓ecwem-kt (We Repair the Land ) is a project led by Skeetchestn Indian Band to remedy this situation. Since launching this year, their goal is to restore the watershed and enhance its resilience in the face of worsening climate change, while simultaneously studying how mitigation measures following severe wildfires can help protect landscapes. They have many partners including Thompson Rivers University, the province and the Secwépemc Fisheries Commission. But the arguably most hardworking collaborator is one you may not expect — an ancient ally in ecological stewardship known in Secwepemctsín as sqlew’uwi and in English as the North American Beaver. To help the land, Skeetchestn’s Tsecmenúl̓ecwem-kt project has successfully populated the upper watershed with one beaver, known as Doug, with the goal to re-introduce more over coming years. Beavers like Doug have a natural instinct to build dams across flowing water, creating ponds to evade predators. These ponds influence local hydrology, enhancing the habitat for countless other species, including plants, waterfowl, amphibians, invertebrates and of course salmon. “Having ponds and wetlands keeps moisture in the soil and keeps that deciduous component healthy,” which Freeman says is important because those tree species don’t burn to the extent of evergreens. This creates natural fire breaks which can stall or potentially stop a wildfire from moving across the valley. What’s even more important is slowing down the flow rate to maintain downstream flow into the heat of summer, when low flows block fish passage and can even be fatal. “We are trying to make sure that the streams are not just a pile of rocks when it comes to August and September because everything, including us, needs water,” Freeman says. “Healthy ecosystems require water which is why we are trying to have the beavers help us do that recovery.” “In terms of relocating beavers, it’s a little bit more complex than just grabbing them, putting them in the truck and dropping them off,” he says. They must be set up for success. Since the 2021 Sparks Lake wildfire, there has been good regrowth of deciduous species, including aspen and willow which are important to beavers as food and building material. Three sites with good conditions were selected for possible reintroduction. But the timing of the beaver capture and release is critical. “We don’t want to be in a position where we’re capturing beavers that have kits in the lodge,” he says. Which means capturing needs to happen in the late winter or early spring. They also need time to prepare their infrastructure — the lodge, feed pile and any dams they need to control the water level — in their new habitat. If you put them in too late, the chance of successful colonization is reduced. So, the first step was to prepare the holding facility where the beavers will stay between capture and release: the beaver hotel. In creating a good habitat for Doug the beaver, the Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society was very helpful, and the team visited the Summerland beaver hotel to learn how it works and design their own. The first guest of the Skeetchestn beaver hotel, a female the team named Willow, was not quite what they expected. “Unfortunately, Willow decided to climb the seven foot chain link fence, as evidenced by the muddy footprints she left behind,” says Freeman, something they didn’t know a beaver could do. In contrast the second beaver they caught, a male they named Doug, was more than satisfied with his accommodations. “He knew the gravy train was coming to him.” There were a couple of times he was so deeply asleep the team thought, “Oh geez, Doug’s dead!” And they would have to wiggle his cage and tip him out. Skeetchestn is not the only community interested in the positive effect beavers and their dams have on ecosystems. Elsewhere in the province the 10,000 Watersheds Project is building Beaver Dam Analogs, an alternative to natural beaver dams which seek to mimic their effect on hydrology. While these are an exciting technology, Freeman says they have drawbacks. Humans have to build them and, unless the analog is adopted by beavers, humans are responsible for maintaining them too. “They are also liable if something goes wrong,” says Freeman. “But you can’t sue a beaver.” While the busy beavers are the charismatic stars of the Tsecmenúl̓ecwem-kt project, the human partners are hard at work, too. Despite interest in beavers as a partner in ecosystem restoration, there isn’t much in the scientific literature evaluating a habitat before and after beaver reintroduction. “This is where the Western science monitoring comes into place,” says Freeman. “The province and our fisheries team are involved with measuring the hydrology, downstream flow, water temperature and such so that we have that baseline.” They will be monitoring over time to establish what influence the beavers have on the watershed. The team has conducted drone surveys of the habitat, mapping the water and vegetation distribution, while also ensuring no beavers have moved into a separate area that will be monitored as an experimental ‘no beaver’ control — the standard for comparison in a scientific study. They are also doing an inventory with respect to the species at risk that call this watershed home, including both terrestrial species like Western rattlesnake, Great Basin Spadefoot toad and Louis’ woodpecker to name just a few, and aquatic ones especially salmonids like Chinook, Coho and Steelhead. Don Ignace and the Secwepemc Fisheries Commission are doing a lot of the aquatic restoration work. There are also researchers from multiple B.C. universities and government agencies working on other aspects of restoration, like planting and road deactivation. The federally and provincially co-funded BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund is providing $4 million dollars. This first year has been mostly successful, Freeman says. The team wants to focus on introducing beavers in pairs so that they can establish a colony, but unfortunately Willow’s escape was not the only hurdle the team faced on that front. The beaver colonies in the lower watershed that had been the targets for relocation suffered deaths over the winter. The team was not keen on taking any additional beavers from them at their current population level. So, Doug was introduced alone to the upper watershed and he seemed to like the location the team selected, suggesting their assumptions about the habitat’s suitability for supporting beaver are very likely correct. “He went right at it, barely leaving the site we released him from and just started building,” he says. Doug actually built two lodges. “I think he decided the first one wasn’t up to his specifications, whatever those may be,” he says, but Doug seems much happier with the second. Next year the team will be sourcing beavers from some of the areas where they are overly abundant. “Because we do have the ability to host beavers for as long as necessary, we’re able to really start sourcing and looking at some of these other areas which have similar problems in future to and basically become the beaver hub, so to speak, for Secwepemc territory.” They have already had offers from staff in Tk’emlúps that have some issues with beavers in high numbers. If beavers overpopulate a watershed, they can do damage, he explains. “So, we have a job for them. It may not be in the low part of the drainage, but we definitely have a job for them in the top,” Freeman says. “It’s just a case of shifting from where we have an over abundance, putting them where we don’t have any, then letting them work their magic to help us recreate the hydrology into something that’s going to sustain the whole water table.”D ame Amanda Blanc enjoyed a moment of reflection. As she sat down for her Christmas lunch with her family, the chief executive of the FTSE 100 insurance company Aviva knew she had pulled off one of the biggest takeovers of 2024. Barely 48 hours before the stock market shut down for the festive season, Aviva had announced a £3.6 billion acquisition of its smaller rival Direct Line to bolster its position in car and home insurance. It was not the only transaction squeezed into the small trading window before the two-and-a-half day closure of the stock market, which reopened on Friday. On Christmas Eve, a deal at the other end of the size spectrum was pulled off when the maritime analysis business chaired by the

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Karen Jantzen knows what the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness does well. Dozens of people are in the coalition’s resource center daily – waiting to take a shower, do laundry, check their mail or connect with a case manager. The beginning of December marks the opening of the coalition’s emergency winter shelter, where 20 sets of bunk beds will be lined up side by side each night, providing a reprieve from the cold from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. It’s the only low-barrier shelter in the area, meaning anyone can spend the night regardless of substance use or felony convictions. Jantzen hopes that space will soon look different. The coalition is looking to build a new resource center as a part of its revised strategic plan. “We’re going to work on continuing to deepen the services that we provide here at the Resource Center, just to make them more robust and look to really develop out our work with other providers in the community,” said Jantzen. “Being very intentional about our Resource Center and the services we provide.” Jantzen envisions a one-stop shop where other providers would use the coalition’s resource center to host office hours. The coalition’s strategic planning process lays the road map for the organization’s work over the next few years. Staff conducted interviews with dozens of city leaders and stakeholders – from the police and fire departments to elected officials and housing developers – they looked at statistics from the national and city levels on homelessness and poverty and assessed the state of housing developments. Article continues after... Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess The first clear trend is obvious to most – the state, and nation, are in a housing shortage. The second trend leaned into the strength of the coalition’s work – it serves as a central organization to advocate for people who are experiencing homelessness and engage different agencies to provide services. “If you think about our name, we’re a coalition and that’s what coalitions are about,” said Jantzen. Helping people access mental health and substance recovery resources – from treatment services to stable housing continues to be an ongoing challenge, and focus of the coalition’s work. The coalition’s services aim to be twofold – first, helping people who are currently experiencing homelessness with immediate needs: nighttime shelter during winter months, getting on apartment waitlists and accessing benefits like Social Security. The second part is transitioning those living outside into housing: when an apartment is available, the coalition helps to make sure the person is ready to be a tenant, has all the paperwork completed to sign a lease and is able to access the unit as soon as possible. “There are things that we can do in our services that we’re providing so that when an apartment does come up, people are ready to get into it,” she said. “Helping them to make that transition and be prepared to make that transition as best as they possibly can.” The work goes hand in hand with an overarching goal to continue to challenge, and change, the public perception of homelessness in the area. Jantzen often sees a consensus on homelessness – it’s solvable and people want to and are willing to work towards this goal. Putting that into practice, though, is trickier. “Everybody wants to solve the problem but no one wants to have it in their neighborhood,” she said. “It’s like, ‘yeah we should end this. Where are you going to do it?’” To Jantzen, tackling the public perception piece is like launching a public health campaign – a multi-step approach rooted in education about homelessness and minimizing the stigma of those who are currently unhoused. To some degree, solving homelessness in Concord is within the coalition’s purview. However, the other part recognizes that the issue falls within a larger context that is out of the organization’s immediate control: the state’s housing crisis. A shortage of units creates a domino effect. Potential first-time homeowners aren’t moving out of apartments because market prices are too high. In turn, the cost of rent is inflated. Current zoning practices are restrictive, with large lot sizes and parking mandates deterring against the small start home model that was available in the 1960s and 1970s. “How are we going to solve this housing shortage and get units built so we have a place for everybody that is safe, decent and affordable?” she said. “We don’t have a homelessness issue, we have a housing crisis.” The Concord Coalition to End Homelessness needs volunteers for both evening and morning shifts at the emergency winter shelter. To sign up, visit this link: https://pointapp.org/orgs/5016 Michaela Towfighi can be reached at mtowfighi@cmonitor.com.(CME) - Analyzing CME Gr's Short InterestFalcons visit Vikings as a struggling Cousins returns to old home to find a thriving Darnold

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Gamers and tech enthusiasts eyeing RTX 50 series for their next computer upgrade might want to brace their wallets. While these graphics cards promise cutting-edge performance and technology, early leaks suggest a hefty price tag that could surprise even seasoned PC builders. RTX 5080 price leaks spark discussions Ahead of the CES 2025 unveiling in January, leaks from insider “Vex” have given a glimpse into the RTX 50 series pricing. Vex’s YouTube video revealed a leaked listing from an Australian retailer, pricing the variant of the RTX 5080 at 2,799 Australian dollars — equivalent to around $1,740. This figure, while unofficial, highlights the potential costliness of the new series. It’s important to note that final prices could vary due to regional taxes and retail markups. The RTX 5080 is rumoured to feature 16 GB of DDR7 VRAM, a specification consistent with previous leaks. This advanced memory type, along with expected performance improvements, likely contributes to the card’s steep price. Analysts at suggest that the RTX 5080 will deliver significant performance gains over the RTX 40 series, making it a strong contender for demanding gamers and content creators. Nvidia’s Founders Edition could offer a slightly more affordable alternative for those hesitant about premium third-party cards. According to , this base model might be priced between $1,200 and $1,500 before taxes and fees. While still expensive, this option provides a potential entry point for enthusiasts. The rollout of the RTX 50 series is expected to begin in February 2025, starting with the RTX 5080. Vex’s insights suggest that dealers are already placing orders, with the flagship RTX 5090 model likely to follow. However, the full lineup’s price-performance ratio will be key in determining its reception among gamers. Beyond the cards, the RTX 50 line is set to bring a new form of DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) tech. Speculations about this AI-driven “magical” rendering tool hint at revolutionary advancements in-game graphics processing and display. While the hype grows, we must wait for Nvidia to share specific news on these cards. The RTX 50 cards aim to change the gaming industry but the steep price may stop some from buying. Fans will need to weigh the perks of top-tier play against the high cost of these new GPUs.Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen has targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said Thursday's bombardment took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military later said it wasn’t aware that the WHO chief was at the location in Yemen. At least three people were reported killed and dozens injured in the Sanaa airport strike. An uneasy calm settles over Syrian city of Homs after outbreak of sectarian violence HOMS, Syria (AP) — Syria’s new security forces checked IDs and searched cars in the central city of Homs a day after protests by members of the Alawite minority erupted in gunfire and stirred fears that the country’s fragile peace could break down. A tense calm prevailed Thursday after checkpoints were set up throughout the country’s third-largest city, which has a mixed population of Sunni and Shia Muslims, Alawites and Christians. The security forces are controlled by the former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which led the charge that unseated former President Bashar Assad. The US says it pushed retraction of a famine warning for north Gaza. Aid groups express concern. WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say they asked for — and got — the retraction of an independent monitor's warning of imminent famine in north Gaza. The internationally Famine Early Warning System Network issued the warning this week. The new report had warned that starvation deaths in north Gaza could reach famine levels as soon as next month. It cited what it called Israel's “near-total blockade” of food and water. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, criticized the finding as inaccurate and irresponsible. The U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the famine-monitoring group, told the AP it had asked for and gotten the report's retraction. USAID officials tell The Associated Press that it had asked the group for greater review of discrepancies in some of the data. Powerful thunderstorms rumble across Texas, delaying holiday travel DALLAS (AP) — Severe thunderstorms are firing up in parts of Texas and could trigger high winds, hail and potential tornadoes. More than 100 flights were delayed and dozens more were canceled Thursday at airports in Dallas and Houston. The National Weather Service says the greatest weather risk stretched from just east of Dallas, and between Houston and portions of southern Arkansas and western Louisiana. The risk includes the possibility of tornadoes, wind gusts between 60 and 80 miles per hour and large hail. The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for several counties in southeast Texas, including the Houston area. Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen ATLANTA (AP) — Republicans in Congress plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nation’s voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. They want to push through long-sought changes such as voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. They say the measures are needed to restore public confidence in elections. That's after an erosion of trust that Democrats note has been fueled by false claims from Donald Trump and his allies of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Democrats say they are willing to work with the GOP but want any changes to make it easier, not harder, to vote. Americans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they're tuning out NEW YORK (AP) — A lot of Americans, after an intense presidential election campaign, are looking for a break in political news. That's evident in cable television news ratings and a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll found nearly two-thirds of Americans saying they've found the need recently to cut down on their consumption of political and government news. That's particularly true among Democrats following President-elect Donald Trump's victory, although a significant number of Republicans and independents feel the same way. Cable networks MSNBC and CNN are really seeing a slump. That's also happened in years past for networks that particularly appeal to supporters of one candidate. Aviation experts say Russia's air defense fire likely caused Azerbaijan plane crash as nation mourns Aviation experts say that Russian air defense fire was likely responsible for the Azerbaijani plane crash the day before that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured. Azerbaijan is observing a nationwide day of mourning on Thursday for the victims of the crash. Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 was en route from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus on Wednesday when it was diverted for reasons yet unclear and crashed while making an attempt to land in Aktau in Kazakhstan. Cellphone footage circulating online appeared to show the aircraft making a steep descent before smashing into the ground in a fireball. Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy battlefield losses KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy losses in Russia's Kursk region and face logistical difficulties as a result of Ukrainian attacks. The intelligence agency said Thursday that Ukrainian strikes near Novoivanovka inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean units. Ukraine's president said earlier this week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in the Kursk region. It marked the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties several weeks after Kyiv announced that North Korea had sent 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia to help it in the almost 3-year war. Ex-Sen. Bob Menendez, citing 'emotional toll,' seeks sentencing delay in wake of wife's trial NEW YORK (AP) — Former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez is asking a federal judge to delay his end-of-January sentencing on bribery charges, saying his family would suffer a “tremendous emotional toll” if the New Jersey Democrat was sentenced during his wife's trial. His lawyers told Judge Sidney H. Stein in a letter that Nadine Menendez would face a jury that might find it impossible not to hear about her husband's sentencing if it occurred eight days into her trial. The 70-year-old Menendez was convicted in July of 16 charges, including bribery. His wife, whose trial was postponed when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, faces much of the same evidence as her husband. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze.

Global Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software Market Size, Share and Forecast By Key Players-Microsoft, Delphix, OpenText, Micro Focus, Quest 12-26-2024 08:23 PM CET | Advertising, Media Consulting, Marketing Research Press release from: Market Research Intellect Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software Market USA, New Jersey- According to the Market Research Intellect, the global Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software market is projected to grow at a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.48% from 2024 to 2031. Starting with a valuation of 6.13 Billion in 2024, the market is expected to reach approximately 15.31 Billion by 2031, driven by factors such as Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software and Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software. This significant growth underscores the expanding demand for Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software across various sectors. The structured data archiving and application retirement software market is experiencing robust growth as organizations increasingly focus on managing legacy systems and optimizing data storage. With the rapid expansion of data, businesses face challenges related to data retention, compliance, and operational efficiency. This software enables organizations to archive important data while decommissioning outdated applications, reducing costs, and improving overall system performance. The increasing need to comply with regulatory standards and the growing volume of data being generated across industries are driving the demand for structured data archiving solutions. Additionally, the rise of cloud-based storage solutions is further propelling the market growth by offering scalable and cost-effective options for data management. As businesses continue to modernize IT infrastructures, the demand for application retirement software and structured data archiving is expected to rise significantly. The structured data archiving and application retirement software market is shaped by several key dynamics, including the increasing complexity of data management and the growing importance of compliance with data retention regulations. As companies move towards digital transformation, the need to efficiently retire legacy applications and archive structured data to more secure environments is becoming critical. The adoption of cloud storage solutions is transforming the market by offering businesses flexible, scalable, and cost-effective options. Furthermore, organizations are turning to automation to streamline archiving processes and reduce manual intervention. The ongoing pressure to lower operational costs while ensuring data accessibility and security is another factor driving the demand for archiving and retirement software. These factors are pushing market growth as businesses seek solutions to modernize and optimize their data management strategies. Request PDF Sample Copy of Report: (Including Full TOC, List of Tables & Figures, Chart) @ https://www.marketresearchintellect.com/download-sample/?rid=1996010&utm_source=OpenPr&utm_medium=049 Key Drivers: The growth of the Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software market is driven by several key factors. Technological advancements in Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software have enabled greater efficiency and enhanced capabilities, spurring adoption across industries. Additionally, the rising demand for sustainable and eco-friendly solutions is pushing companies to innovate and adopt greener practices. 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Get a Discount On The Purchase Of This Report @ https://www.marketresearchintellect.com/ask-for-discount/?rid=1996010&utm_source=OpenPr&utm_medium=049 The following Key Segments Are Covered in Our Report By Type Cloud-based Web-based By Application Large Enterprises SMEs Major companies in Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software Market are: Microsoft, Delphix, OpenText, Micro Focus, Quest, Data Migration, SAP, IBM, Gimmal Content Governanace Suite for SharePoint, Informatica, NetMass Global Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software Market -Regional Analysis North America: North America is expected to hold a significant share of the Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software market due to advanced technological infrastructure and the presence of major market players. High demand across sectors like Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software and Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software is driving growth, with the U.S. being a key contributor. Additionally, ongoing investments in R&D and innovation reinforce the region's strong market position. Europe: Europe is projected to experience steady growth, driven by stringent regulatory standards and a rising focus on sustainability in Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software practices. Countries like Germany, France, and the UK are leading due to their advanced industrial base and supportive government policies. The demand for eco-friendly and efficient Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software solutions is expected to continue fostering market expansion. Asia-Pacific: Asia-Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest-growing region, fueled by rapid industrialization and urbanization. Countries such as China, India, and Japan are driving demand due to expanding consumer bases and increasing investments in infrastructure. The region's robust manufacturing sector and favorable economic policies further enhance growth opportunities in the Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software market. Latin America: Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are expected to show moderate growth in the Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software market. In Latin America, growth is supported by rising industrial activities in countries like Brazil and Mexico. Meanwhile, in the Middle East & Africa, infrastructure development and an increasing focus on innovation in sectors like Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software are key drivers of market expansion. Middle East and Africa: The Middle East and Africa represent emerging markets in the global Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software market, with countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Nigeria showing promising growth potential. Economic diversification efforts, urbanization, and a young population are driving demand for Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software products and services in the region. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 1. What is the current size of the Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software market? Answer: The Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software market was valued at approximately 6.13 Billion in 2024, with projections suggesting it will reach 15.31 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 16.48%. 2. What factors are driving the growth of the Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software market? Answer: The market's expansion is attributed to several factors, including increased demand for Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software, advancements in Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software technology, and the adoption of Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software across various sectors. 3. Which regions are expected to dominate the Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software market? Answer: Regions such as North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific are anticipated to lead due to the presence of major industry players and growing investments in Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software. 4. Who are the key players in the Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software market? Answer: Prominent companies in the Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software market include Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software, Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software, and Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software, each contributing to market growth through innovations and strategic partnerships. 5. What challenges does the Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software market face? Answer: The market faces challenges such as Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software, regulatory compliance, and competition from alternative solutions. However, ongoing advancements aim to address these issues. 6. What are the future trends in the Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software market? Emerging trends include the integration of Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software technology, sustainability practices, and digital transformation in processes, all expected to shape the market's future. 7. How can businesses benefit from the Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software market? Answer: Businesses can leverage growth opportunities in the Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software market by adopting new solutions, enhancing operational efficiency, and expanding their offerings to meet evolving consumer demands. 8. Why invest in a Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software market report from MRI? Answer: MRI's report provides in-depth analysis, future projections, and key insights to support strategic decision-making, enabling businesses to stay competitive and capitalize on growth trends in the Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement Software market. For More Information or Query, Visit @ https://www.marketresearchintellect.com/product/global-structured-data-archiving-and-application-retirement-software-market-size-and-forecast/?utm_source=OpenPr&utm_medium=049 About Us: Market Research Intellect Market Research Intellect is a leading Global Research and Consulting firm servicing over 5000+ global clients. We provide advanced analytical research solutions while offering information-enriched research studies. We also offer insights into strategic and growth analyses and data necessary to achieve corporate goals and critical revenue decisions. Our 250 Analysts and SMEs offer a high level of expertise in data collection and governance using industrial techniques to collect and analyze data on more than 25,000 high-impact and niche markets. Our analysts are trained to combine modern data collection techniques, superior research methodology, expertise, and years of collective experience to produce informative and accurate research. Our research spans a multitude of industries including Energy, Technology, Manufacturing and Construction, Chemicals and Materials, Food and Beverages, etc. Having serviced many Fortune For inquiries, Contact Us at: Mr. Edwyne Fernandes Market Research Intellect APAC: +61 485 860 968 EU: +44 788 886 6344 US: +1 743 222 5439 This release was published on openPR.

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Video game ends ‘collaboration’ with Conor McGregorNearly 13 months after his beloved wife Rosalynn died in November 2023, former President Jimmy Carter passed away at the age of 100, the Carter Center confirmed on Sunday. The former president made a rare public appearance at her memorial service. He sat in a wheelchair with a blanket that had a picture of him and Rosalynn together. He would also make a rare public appearance on October 1 as his hometown celebrated his 100th birthday. “Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” President Carter said after his wife passed away. “She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me.” The couple was married for 77 years. They met as children, both growing up in Plains, Georgia. Their storied romance started when Jimmy was 17 years old. After their first date, he reportedly told his mom, “She’s the girl I want to marry.” The pair would marry not long after — in 1946. The couple moved to Norfolk, Virginia, where Jimmy was stationed after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy. Like many military families, the Carters moved from city to city. Their three sons were born in three different states: Virginia, Hawaii and Connecticut. Their only daughter was born in their home state of Georgia. Jimmy left the military in 1953 and began a career in politics about 10 years later. RELATED STORY | Former President Jimmy Carter dies at age 100 Rosalynn was reportedly an important member of Jimmy’s campaign team when he ran for governor of Georgia, a race he won in 1970. After serving four years as governor, Jimmy decided to run for president. During the campaign, Rosalynn traveled the country independently, proving to be a strong advocate for her husband’s vision for the country. Jimmy Carter would go on to defeat President Gerald Ford and become the 39th president of the United States. Rosalynn was an active first lady. She attended cabinet meetings and frequently represented her husband at ceremonial events. Rosalynn shared in her husband’s efforts to work to make the U.S. government more “competent and compassionate,” the White House said. After leaving the White House in 1981, the couple returned to Georgia. They would go on to become some of the most notable philanthropists in the world. They founded The Carter Center, which is committed to protecting human rights around the world.Vikings thrive under coach of year favorite O'Connell, a relatable state for Packers with LaFleur

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38jili British-Canadian computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton and co-laureate John Hopfield are set to receive the Nobel Prize for physics on Tuesday in Stockholm. The pair landed the accolade because they used physics to develop artificial neural networks, which help computers learn without having to program them. These networks form the foundation of machine learning, a computer science that relies on data and algorithms to help artificial intelligence mimic the human brain. Hinton and Hopfield's path to the Nobel began when Hopfield, who is now a professor emeritus at Princeton University, invented a network in 1982 that could store and reconstruct images in data. The Hopfield network uses associate memory, which humans use to remember what something looks like when it's not in front of them or to conjure up a word they know but seldom use. The network can mirror this process because it stores patterns and has a method for recreating them. When the network is given an incomplete or slightly distorted pattern, the method then searches for the stored pattern that is most similar to recreate data. This means if a computer was shown, for example, a photo of dog where only part of the animal was visible, it could use the network to piece together the missing part of the image and recognize it was depicting a dog. Hinton, who was working at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh in 1985, used the Hopfield network as the foundation for a new network he called the Boltzmann machine. Its name came from the nineteenth-century physicist Ludwig Boltzmann. The Boltzmann machine learns from examples, rather than instructions, and when trained, can recognize familiar characteristics in information, even if it has not seen that data before. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which gives out the Nobel, likens this to how humans may be able to identify someone as a relative of one of their friends, even if they've never met this person before, because of they share similar traits. The Boltzmann machine works in a similar way, classifying images or creating new examples based on the patterns it was trained on. This kind of technology can help suggest films or television shows based on a user's preferences and past viewing history The Hopfield network and Boltzmann machine are considered to have laid the groundwork for modern AI. Hinton, a professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, went on to win the A.M. Turing Award, known as the Nobel Prize of computing, with fellow Canadian Yoshua Bengio and American Yan LeCun in 2018. He is often called the godfather of AI. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2024. Tara Deschamps, The Canadian PressUS chipmaker AMD poised to step up investment in IndiaConfident-looking AAP promises development-oritented campaign

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The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) lurched into the high side on Monday, kicking the new trading week off with a fresh record high just a hair below the 44,800 handle. Investors bid up prices on rumors that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon may have a ceasefire deal on the table. Closer to home, investors turned further bullish after pending president-elect Donald Trump tapped Scott Bessent as his future Treasury secretary when he returns to the White House in January. Investors hit the gas pedal on news that former President Donald Trump will pick Scott Bessent as his Treasury secretary. Scott Bessent is the founder of Key Square Group and a former partner at Soros Fund Management, making Bessent an odd choice for an incoming president who has routinely courted corners of the voting public laden with anti-Soros conspiracy theories.Investors hit the gas pedal on news that former President Donald Trump will pick Scott Bessent as his Treasury secretary. Scott Bessent is the founder of Key Square Group and a former partner at Soros Fund Management, making Bessent an odd choice for an incoming president who has routinely courted corners of the voting public laden with anti-Soros conspiracy theories. Despite equity markets rallying hard on the prospect of incoming President Donald Trump tapping a hedge fund manager for a federal oversight position, a notably bullish appointment for the equity field in general, former President Donald Trump’s track record of making dubious staff picks remains unchallenged: the Key Square Group’s fund performance has a notably volatile history. According to reporting from Reuters, institutional investors have fled Key Square Group in recent years, with the macro-focused hedge fund peaking over $5 billion in AUM in late 2017 and tumbling to a 2024 low of barely over $500 million. Despite Key Square Group opening its doors with seed funding from Soros Capital, Soros has reportedly withdrawn all funding from Bennet’s fund and now has no exposure to the investment vehicle. Although US officials dampening expectations and noting that a ceasefire deal hasn't been officially reached, markets are still optimistic that the geopolitical situation in the Middle East might stabilize later . According to an X (née Twitter) post from an AXIOS reporter, A US-proposed truce between Israel and Lebanon that would see Israeli troops withdraw from South Lebanon is set to be voted on, and presumably approved, by both sides in the coming days. Despite an overall uptick in investor sentiment on the prospect of cooling Middle East instability, Crude markets took a hard hit on the news, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) US Crude Oil backsliding nearly 3% on Monday to $69/barrel. Dow Jones news Despite an early-week bid pin into a new record high, the Dow Jones is settling into a more reasonable stance for Monday, still trading on the high side but easing back from a record high near 44,800. Two-thirds of the major equity index are finding gains on the day, with the remaining third stuck on the red side of the day’s opening line. Nvidia (NVDA) missed out on Monday’s bullish push, falling another 3.3% and backsliding into $137 per share as investors continue to rebalance their sky-high expectations of the chipmaker. Despite reporting annual revenue growth figures north of 90% last week, bidders in the amorphous AI-tech rally expected more, and are balking at the prospect of Nvidia’s future revenue growth easing from 2025’s 112% forecast to a comparatively sluggish 49% in 2026. Dow Jones price forecast The Dow Jones’ Monday bid into a fresh record high near 44,800 has left the blue-chip index back on the high side of a near-term bull run, shrugging off a recent dip into the low well before any bearish technical could form. The Dow Jones is up nearly 19% bottom-to-top in 2024, and up an eye-watering 32% since daily candlesticks last touched the 200-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) way back in November of 2023 near the 33,800 region. Dow Jones daily chart Risk sentiment FAQs In the world of financial jargon the two widely used terms “risk-on” and “risk off'' refer to the level of risk that investors are willing to stomach during the period referenced. In a “risk-on” market, investors are optimistic about the future and more willing to buy risky assets. In a “risk-off” market investors start to ‘play it safe’ because they are worried about the future, and therefore buy less risky assets that are more certain of bringing a return, even if it is relatively modest. Typically, during periods of “risk-on”, stock markets will rise, most commodities – except Gold – will also gain in value, since they benefit from a positive growth outlook. The currencies of nations that are heavy commodity exporters strengthen because of increased demand, and Cryptocurrencies rise. In a “risk-off” market, Bonds go up – especially major government Bonds – Gold shines, and safe-haven currencies such as the Japanese Yen, Swiss Franc and US Dollar all benefit. The Australian Dollar (AUD), the Canadian Dollar (CAD), the New Zealand Dollar (NZD) and minor FX like the Ruble (RUB) and the South African Rand (ZAR), all tend to rise in markets that are “risk-on”. This is because the economies of these currencies are heavily reliant on commodity exports for growth, and commodities tend to rise in price during risk-on periods. This is because investors foresee greater demand for raw materials in the future due to heightened economic activity. The major currencies that tend to rise during periods of “risk-off” are the US Dollar (USD), the Japanese Yen (JPY) and the Swiss Franc (CHF). The US Dollar, because it is the world’s reserve currency, and because in times of crisis investors buy US government debt, which is seen as safe because the largest economy in the world is unlikely to default. The Yen, from increased demand for Japanese government bonds, because a high proportion are held by domestic investors who are unlikely to dump them – even in a crisis. The Swiss Franc, because strict Swiss banking laws offer investors enhanced capital protection.

Cutting in line? American Airlines’ new boarding tech might stop you at now over 100 airportsFILE – Charging bays are seen at the new Electrify America indoor electric vehicle charging station in San Francisco, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File) FILE – California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer, File) FILE – Charging bays are seen at the new Electrify America indoor electric vehicle charging station in San Francisco, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California could offer rebates for electric vehicle purchases if the incoming Trump administration eliminates a federal tax credit for people who buy electric cars, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday. Newsom, a Democrat, will propose creating a new version of the state’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Program , which was phased out in 2023 after funding 594,000 cars and saving 456 million gallons of fuel, Newsom’s office said. “Consumers continue to prove the skeptics wrong – zero-emission vehicles are here to stay,” Newsom said in a statement. “We’re not turning back on a clean transportation future — we’re going to make it more affordable for people to drive vehicles that don’t pollute.” Newsom’s proposal is part of his plan to protect California’s progressive policies ahead of Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s second term. He called the state Legislature to convene in a special session to help “Trump-proof” state laws by giving the attorney general’s office more funding to fight federal challenges. But a budget shortfall could complicate California’s resistance efforts. Early budget projections show the state could face a $2 billion deficit next year, according to a report released last week by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office. That’s an improvement from an estimated $46.8 billion deficit the state faced last year, but the shortfall could still curtail the state’s ability to expand new programs and fight federal legal challenges. Legislative leaders in both chambers have said the state needs to stay prudent in anticipation of future budget deficits. Money for the new rebate system could come from the state’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which is funded by polluters under the state’s cap-and-trade program, the governor’s office said. Officials didn’t say how much the program would cost or how the rebates would work. Newsom is expected to offer more details of the possible rebate program during an appearance in Kern County later Monday. California has surpassed 2 million zero-emission vehicles sold, according to Newsom’s office. The state has passed policies in recent years to transition away from fossil fuel-powered, cars , trucks , trains and lawn mowers . Related Articles Business | The rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump’s promises on growth and inflation Business | ‘Busiest Thanksgiving ever’: How the TSA plans to handle record air travel Business | Starting a small business is hard. Exiting can be even harder, but planning early is the key Business | How to get started with Bluesky Business | When is Cyber Monday? Everything you need to know Trump previously vowed to end federal electric vehicle tax credits , which are worth up to $7,500 for new zero-emission vehicles. There’s also a $4,000 credit for used ones. But Trump later softened his stance as Tesla CEO Elon Musk became a supporter and adviser. Newsom said at a news conference last week that he called Trump after the election and the incoming president hasn’t returned his call. California’s defunct Clean Vehicle Rebate Program offered rebates on electric cars as high as $2,500. Any new rebate program “would include changes to promote innovation and competition” in the zero-emission vehicles market, the statement said.

Hurts completed 14-of-21 passes for 108 yards and ran eight times for 59 yards to hold off stubborn Carolina, which fell to 3-10. He scored on a 1-yard plunge early in the second quarter, connected with DeVonta Smith on a 4-yard touchdown pass 14 seconds before half-time for a 14-10 lead. After the Panthers grabbed the lead on Chuba Hubbard's 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, the Eagles answered with 75 seconds elapsed in the fourth quarter on a 4-yard Hurts touchdown pass to Grant Calcaterra and a 2-point conversion run by Saquon Barkley, who ran 20 times for 124 yards. At Minneapolis, Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold completed 22-of-28 passes for 347 yards and five touchdown to power Minnesota over the Atlanta Falcons 42-21. The Vikings spoiled the return of ex-Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins, who threw for 344 yards but was intercepted twice. Minnesota needs losses by the Arizona Cardinals to Seattle and the Los Angeles Rams to Buffalo in later games to clinch a playoff berth. The Eagles need only an Arizona loss to secure their spot in the post-season. Later games also include the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs (11-1) entertaining the Los Angeles Chargers (8-4). Tua Tagovailoa threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jonnu Smith in overtime to give the Miami Dolphins a 32-26 home triumph over the New York Jets. The Pittsburgh Steelers improved to 10-3 as Russell Wilson threw for two touchdowns and Najee Harris ran for another in a 27-14 home victory over Cleveland. Baker Mayfield threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns to spark the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over visiting Las Vegas 28-13. Derek Carr threw for 219 yards and a touchdown as the New Orleans Saints edged the host New York Giants 14-11 while Tank Bigsby's 8-yard touchdown run with 6:46 remaining gave Jacksonville a 10-6 victory at Tennessee. js/bspInvestment to establish over 3,000 charging stations and a manufacturing plant, supporting Pakistan’s green energy transition Chinese enterprise ADM Group has announced a $350 million investment in Pakistan’s electric vehicle (EV) sector, backed by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), according to Radio Pakistan. The initiative aims to develop the EV ecosystem, reduce carbon emissions, and decrease reliance on traditional fuels. As part of this investment, 3,000 EV charging stations will be established nationwide. The deployment will see 1,000 stations in Sindh, 1,500 in Punjab, and 750 across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Additionally, ADM Group has allocated $250 million to set up an EV manufacturing plant, while another $90 million will be invested in building charging infrastructure. The new EVs will feature a range of up to 300 kilometers per charge, marking a significant step toward affordable and sustainable transportation. This move aligns with Pakistan’s policy goal of achieving 30% eco-friendly car sales by 2030, as part of its broader green energy transition. The initiative builds upon ADM Group’s earlier announcement of a $250 million EV investment, with plans to integrate global resources and manufacturing technologies for locally produced vehicles. ADM also envisions exporting EVs to Middle Eastern and Asian markets, with potential annual revenue of $900 million. ADM Group CEO Yasir Bhambhani previously highlighted the two-phase approach: establishing a nationwide EV charging network, followed by the manufacturing of vehicles. The plant is expected to produce 72,000 units annually, ranging from economical hatchbacks to luxury sedans and commercial vans. This latest investment underscores ADM’s commitment to Pakistan’s EV sector, supporting government initiatives to cut carbon emissions and promote green energy solutions. While the EV market continues to grow globally—with sales exceeding 10 million units in 2022—Pakistan’s proactive approach could position it as a competitive player in the region. ADM’s strategic efforts complement Pakistan’s broader push for sustainability, enhancing connectivity through EV charging networks and fostering economic growth in the renewable energy sector. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );Peter Dutton takes the lead, but is he defying gravity? Resolve Political Monitor - The Age

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There are just six spots in this NIDA course. Beau scored one of themJohn Neasham's Ford Zephyr visits the Severn Valley Railway near where it now lives John Neasham was Mr Darlington in the middle of the 20th Century. He was mayor at a time of royal visits; he was chairman of the football club when the Quakers scored perhaps the greatest win in their history, over Chelsea. He lived in one of the town’s largest mansions, he was involved in every good cause going, and he owned Ford dealerships in Darlington, Northallerton and Richmond. The Duke of Edinburgh with Cllr John Neasham, mayor of Darlington, at the High School in 1955 Because Cllr Neasham was such an influential figure in the area, Ford gave him one of the first of their new model, a Zephyr Mk2, which he registered as NVN 254 on March 16, 1956 – a month before it went on sale to the general public. The “VN” is the area code for North Yorkshire, whereas Darlington was “HN”. The Zephyr had a hyper-fashionable American look while also employing the latest technology, including the first modern suspension system. And it had a top speed of 88mph. John Neasham's Ford Zephyr This, though, was not enough for Cllr Neasham. As soon as the Zephyr arrived in Darlington, his head mechanic, John Soulsby, used a Raymond Mays conversion kit to make it motor racing standard with a top speed of 101mph. It would have been a moving, head-turning advert for his garage and for Ford cars as it motored – as it roared – around the streets of south Durham and North Yorkshire, often with star Quakers footballers sitting in it. However, by October 1956, Ford was looking to plug a new model, so Cllr Neasham was sent a new car. Mechanic Soulsby took the conversion kit out of the Zephyr and plumbed it into the new vehicle, and off it roared. “After that, the Mk2 just vanishes,” says Colin Hanwell in Kidderminster whose fiancée, Sarah Perkins, has just bought NVN 254. With just 4,500 miles on the clock, it was taken off the road in 1974 as frost had badly damaged its engine and put into storage in Birmingham. It reappeared in 1998 after which it underwent a high class restoration, and most recently, it has been with a collector near Evenwood who had worked with Mr Soulsby. Now Sarah has bought it as a 50th birthday present, and Colin is researching its story. “They were very advanced for their time, and then there’s the styling – can you imagine the effect in the 1950s when the streets were full of the old sit-up-and-back cars and Ford brought out this look from America?” says Colin, who, perhaps, is a little biased as he is the Midlands Area Coordinator for the Consul Zephyr Zodiac Mk2 Owners Club. “It has broken down twice in the six weeks since we’ve had it, but it is now running well,” he says. “There are still a few things to do on it, but we’d really like to thank its previous owners, Robert Foster and John Deverall, for their help with it. “Now we want to take it to shows. It should be for everybody to appreciate.” To make the car complete, Colin wants to know as much about its story as possible: about Cllr Neasham, about his garages, about the mechanics, about the people who might have seen his specimen vehicles around town... We can help with John Neasham. John Neasham, Mayor of Darlington, 1955-56. He was born in Norton-on-Tees in 1901. He went to school in Richmond and Middleton St George, and began as an apprentice mechanic at WE Dove's garage in Bondgate (Dove's splendid building with its over-the-pavement petrol canopy is now an Indian restaurant in Bondgate). In 1926, he started his own business near St Hilda's Church, in Parkgate. By 1938, he had a smart showroom on the site, a filling station in Yarm Road and a huge workshop in Borough Road. He had a finger in every pie that was baking in town. He was a councillor, a magistrate, a freemason, an alderman, a mayor; he was chairman of the aero club at Croft Circuit; he was a leading member of the Rotary Club, cricket club, motor club, St John Ambulance Brigade, and the chrysanthemum society; from 1944, he lived in the huge Blackwell Hill mansion which had been built in 1870 for the Backhouse family of bankers. Blackwell Hill, John Neasham's mansion, shortly before it was sold to developers in 1972, for £140,000, and subsequently demolished He was probably best known as a director of Darlington Football Club from 1936 to 1964, and as chairman from 1951. It is true that for all his reign, the Quakers flirted outrageously with the bottom of Division Three. It is also true that it was during his reign that they enjoyed possibly their greatest moment of the 20th Century, drubbing Chelsea 4-1 in an FA Cup replay. They had drawn 3-3 at Stamford Bridge and so brought the Londoners back to Feethams on January 29, 1958. A crowd of 15,150 crammed in to see the replay – although at least double that number claim to have been there – which ended 1-1 after 90 minutes but then the Quakers joyfully scored three in extra time. Goal line action from Feethams as the Quakers knock Chelsea out of the FA Cup Darlo fans cheer as the Quakers knock Chelsea out of the FA Cup Darlington's players celebrate with booze and fags in the bath after knocking Chelsea out of the FA Cup Mr Neasham's other great claim to fame was that his new garage was the first building to open on Darlington's new inner ring-road. Lady Starmer opened the £135,000 steel and concrete construction on May 20, 1966. John Neasham's garage in 1966 John Neasham and Lady Starmer in the new garage's reception area on opening day in the company's Model T Ford The garage's general sales manager was the wonderfully-named Baron Gabriel H Calcagni de Tande. "Gaby", as he was known throughout the town, had come to Britain from Italy in 1941 to fly Spitfires with the Free French Airforce. He married a Darlington girl, and in 1948 Mr Neasham had spotted him selling surplus war aircraft and persuaded him to start selling cars. But the move on to the ringroad did not benefit the business, for it struggled in the late-1960s. Mr Neasham's health also declined, and he died on October 6, 1969 – the day that Skipper of Burnley completed the takeover of the garage. Mr Neasham's son, Brian, put Blackwell Hill up for auction. It went for £140,000 to a developer who pulled it down and built Farrholme on its site. Then Brian left town, emigrating to Portugal, after he sold Sheraton Park, the property his father had built for him in 1956 behind the large stone wall that once protected Blackwell Hill's vegetable garden. The final piece of the Neasham jigsaw to go was the garage: in 1994, Skipper sold it to Sanderson Ford who sold it to CD Bramall in 2000, who closed in 2008 and it was pulled down in 2009. Now its site is called “Brunswick” and is to be the home of the Treasury offices. John Neasham's Ford Zephyr Mk 2 But, of course, his Zephyr Mk 2 survives. Can you tell us anything more about it, the garage or the mechanics? Either contact Colin via email colinjohnhanwell@gmail.com or phone 07729-558339 or email Memories at chris.lloyd@nnec.co.uk

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Syrians poured into streets in celebration on Sunday after a stunning rebel advance reached the capital, ending the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule . Russian state news agencies were reporting that President Bashar Assad and his family had arrived in Moscow and were given asylum. Russia said Assad left the country after negotiations with rebel groups and that he had given instructions to transfer power peacefully. Joyful crowds gathered in central squares in Damascus, waving the Syrian revolutionary flag. Others ransacked the presidential palace and residence. Abu Mohammed al-Golani , a former al-Qaida commander who cut ties with the group years ago leads the biggest rebel faction in Syria and is poised to chart the country’s future. He made his first public appearance since fighters entered the Damascus suburbs Saturday, at the capital’s sprawling Umayyad Mosque, and called himself by his given name, Ahmad al-Sharaa. He said Assad’s fall was “a victory to the Islamic nation.” The rapidly developing events have shaken the region. Lebanon said it was closing all its land border crossings with Syria except for one that links Beirut with Damascus. Jordan closed a border crossing with Syria, too. Israel has issued warnings to villages in southern Syria and its forces seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights. Here's the Latest: Israel releases images of work on a new barrier with Syria The Israeli military said on Sunday it was reinforcing a barrier along its border with Syria as part of its “enhanced preparedness” in the area following the fall of the Assad regime. Israel released images of the construction, which showed bulldozers digging what appeared to be a trench. The army said in a statement that the barrier was named “New East.” Satellite images analyzed by The Associated Press show that as early as September, Israel began building what could be a new road right along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria . The United Nations confirmed that Israeli troops entered the demilitarized zone during the work. Over the weekend, the Israeli military sent additional troops to the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights to bolster Israel’s presence along the border with Syria. Russian news agency reporting that Assad has arrived in Moscow Russian state news agencies reported that ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad has arrived in Moscow with his family and been given asylum. The agencies, Tass and RIA, cited an unidentified Kremlin source. The Associated Press was not immediately able to verify the reports but had contacted the Kremlin for comment. Arab League condemns Israel for seizing territory in Golan Heights CAIRO — The Arab League on Sunday condemned Israel for taking advantage of Syrian President Bashar Assad's downfall by moving into more Syrian territory. Hours after Assad’s overthrow, Israel announced it had seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights that was established by a cease-fire agreement with Syria in 1974. In a statement, the Arab League said Israel illegally sought to occupy more territories. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the 50-year-old agreement regarding Syrian territory had collapsed and that Syrian troops had abandoned their positions, necessitating Israel taking over as a “temporary defensive position.” United Nations secretary-general marks the ‘fall of the dictatorial regime’ in Syria UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations secretary-general is marking the “fall of the dictatorial regime” in Syria and says the future of the country is “is a matter for the Syrians to determine.” A statement by Antonio Guterres also called for calm and the protection of the rights of all Syrians as well as of diplomatic and consular facilities in Syria. He said there is much work ahead to ensure an “orderly political transition to renewed institutions,” and he called on the international community to ensure that “any political transition is inclusive and comprehensive and that it meets the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria, in all their diversity.” Top Ukraine diplomat says Assad is a ‘dictator’ who relied on Russia to prop up his rule KYIV, Ukraine - Ukraine’s top diplomat on Sunday responded to Assad’s ouster by describing him as a “dictator” who relied on Russia to prop up his rule - a reference to the military campaign Moscow has waged in Syria since September 2015, teaming up with Iran to allow Assad’s government to fight armed opposition groups and reclaim control over most of the country. "Assad has fallen. This has always been and will be the case with all dictators who bet on Putin. He always betrays those who rely on him,” foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X. In a separate update on the social network, Sybiha said Kyiv was ready to take steps towards restoring relations with Syria, severed months into Russia’s full-scale invasion of the neighboring state. Kyiv broke off diplomatic ties after Damascus in June 2022 recognized Kremlin-occupied parts of eastern Ukraine as independent territories, in a move welcomed by Moscow and decried by the West as a clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. Israeli military issues warning to residents of five villages in southern Syria JERUSALEM — The Israeli military has issued a warning to residents of five villages and towns in southern Syria to stay inside their homes for their safety. “The fighting in your area is forcing the IDF to act,” the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman said on X. The military didn’t respond to questions. Earlier, Israel said its troops had seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established in 1974, saying it was to protect Israeli residents after Syrian troops abandoned their positions. Defense Minister Israel Katz said on X that the IDF has been instructed to “seize the buffer zone and control points to ensure the protection of all Israeli communities in the Golan Heights – Jewish and Druze – so that they are not exposed to threats from the other side.” 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. Head of Syria’s biggest rebel faction in first appearance since Assad’s fall calls it “a victory to the Islamic nation.” BEIRUT - The leader of the largest insurgent group in Syria visited the Syrian capital’s sprawling Umayyad Mosque and declared that the victory against President Bashar Assad “is a victory to the Islamic nation.” Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, made his first public appearance and remarks since fighters entered Damascus. He told hundreds of people at the historic mosque that Assad had made Syria “a farm for Iran’s greed.” He added that Assad made Syria a base for the illegal amphetamine Captagon that brought cash to Assad’s circles. Al-Sharaa, the leader of the jihadi Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, said Sunday that the victory was achieved because of “God and the blood of martyrs.” He said that he left Syria 20 years ago and since then his heart has longed for this movement. Many Jordanian people welcome the fall of Assad's regime AMMAN, Jordan — The vast majority of the Jordanian people are welcoming the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the success of the Syrian revolution. “There is no doubt that I felt overwhelming joy at the fall of the Assad regime," said Badi Al-Rafaia, Engineer, union activist and member of the Islamic Action Front. "There is no doubt that we are happy with what happened in Syria, happy with the success of the revolution, happy with the Syrian people getting rid of an oppressor and criminal who treated the Syrian people and made the Syrian state a failed state.” Al-Rafaia said that Jordan is benefiting from what happened in Syria, and "we hope that Jordan will help the revolution succeed and not work against it.” Amman resident Muhab al-Majali said the fall of the Assad regime is “The end of every unjust and tyrannical rule, and more than that, it mortgaged the country and its people to the Iranians, who abandoned it in minutes... I believe that the future is beautiful and prosperous for the Syrians.” The International Committee of the Red Cross calls for safe humanitarian access and protection of civilians in Syria BERLIN — The International Committee of the Red Cross is calling for safe humanitarian access and protection of civilians in Syria after the fall of Bashir Assad’s government. “Our teams in Syria, including in Damascus, have been closely monitoring the fast-evolving security and humanitarian situation in coordination with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent,” the ICRC’s head of delegation in Syria, Stephan Sakalian, said in a written statement Sunday. The ICRC is “responding wherever possible, with further efforts underway, as hundreds of thousands of people need care and humanitarian assistance,” he said. Sakalian called “on all parties to urgently enable safe and unhindered access for medical and humanitarian workers to reach those in need, to protect civilians, and to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law.” Iraqi government supports efforts seeking to open a dialogue for Syria's future BAGHDAD — The Iraqi government said in a statement Sunday that it “supports all international and regional efforts seeking to open a dialogue” for Syria “leading to the adoption of a pluralistic constitution that preserves the human and civil rights of Syrians, and supports cultural, ethnic and religious diversity.” The statement from government spokesperson Bassem al-Awadi, said that Iraq understands “the necessity of respecting the free will of all Syrians, and stresses that the security of Syria, the unity of its territories, and the preservation of its independence are of utmost importance, not only for Iraq but also for its connection to the security and stability of the region.” It cautioned against “interfering in Syria’s internal affairs, or supporting one party for the benefit of another.” Iraq, which has a close relationship with Iran - once a strong ally of former Syrian President Bashar Assad - has taken in some 2,000 Syrian army soldiers who fled the country amid the advance of armed opposition groups. Yemen's leader welcomes the fall of Syria's government CAIRO — The head of Yemen’s internationally recognized government welcomed the fall of the government of President Bashar Assad of Syria. “It’s a historic moment,” Rashad al-Alimi, who chairs the ruling presidential council, wrote on X platform of Assad’s downfall. “It’s time for the Iranian regime to stop meddling in Yemen, respect its sovereignty and identity.” Al-Alimi, who is backed by Saudi Arabia, was referring to Iran’s support of Houthi rebels who are at war with Yemen’s internationally recognized government for a decade. Families wander through the presidential palace in Damascus, taking pictures DAMASCUS — Families wandered through the high-ceilinged halls of the presidential palace in Damascus on Sunday, along with some armed men. Some paused to take family portraits or selfies on the few remaining couches against the backdrop of mosaiced walls, while others walked out with chairs and other items under their arms. On the massive parking lot out front, cars drove in circles honking ecstatically. In central Damascus’ Umayyad Square, drivers passing by also honked jubilantly, while young men piled onto a tank abandoned in the square. But for some the celebration was bittersweet. “I am very happy, but this happiness will not be completed until I can see my son out of the prison and know where is he is,” said Damascus resident Bassam Masr. “I have been searching for him for two hours - he has been detained for 13 years.” Netanyahu says Israeli forces have seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights after Syrian unrest TEL AVIV, Israel – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israeli forces have seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established by a 1974 ceasefire agreement with Syria. He spoke from an overlook near the border between Syria and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, after Syrian rebels tore through the country and dramatically ended Assad’s rule on Sunday morning. Netanyahu said the 50-year-old agreement had collapsed and that Syrian troops had abandoned their positions, necessitating the Israeli takeover as a “temporary defensive position.” Israel captured the Golan Heights in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it. The international community, except for the United States, views it as occupied Syrian territory. Satellite images analyzed by the Associated Press show that as early as September, Israel began construction of what could possibly be a new road right along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria . The United Nations confirmed that Israeli troops entered the demilitarized zone during the work. The United Nations maintains a peacekeeping force in the demilitarized zone called the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, or UNDOF, with around 1,100 peacekeepers from Fiji, India, Kazakhstan, Nepal, and Uruguay. After the 1973 Mideast war, the U.N. Secretary Council voted to create UNDOF to patrol a roughly 400 square kilometer (155 square mile) demilitarized zone and maintain the peace there. Airstrikes reported in the area of the Mezzeh military airport DAMASCUS, Syria — An Associated Press journalist in Damascus reported airstrikes in the area of the Mezzeh military airport, southwest of the capital Sunday. The airport has previously been targeted in Israeli airstrikes, but it was not immediately clear who launched Sunday's strike. The Israeli military refused to comment on the airport strike. Israel often does not publicly claim responsibility for attacks in Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, reported that Israeli warplanes also targeted warehouses belonging to the Syrian army’s Fourth Division and another former military site outside of Damascus Sunday. On Saturday and Sunday, the Israeli military sent additional troops to the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights to bolster Israel’s presence along the border between Israel and Syria. Agricultural areas along the border were declared closed military zones and some schools shifted to online classes in anticipation of unrest.

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Published 23:17 IST, December 21st 2024 PM Modi said that India's StartUps, from FinTech, smart technology to green technology, can develop cutting-edge solutions for Kuwait's needs. Kuwait: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that India in future is going to move towards such innovations which will show directions to the world. The Prime made the comment at the ‘Hala Modi’ diaspora event in Kuwait during his 2-day visit to the country. It's after a gap of 43 years that an Indian Prime Minister is visiting Kuwait. “India is going to be the growth engine of global development in future. The time is not far when India will be the global hub for green energy, pharma, electronics, automobile, semiconductors, legal insurance, contacting commercial,” PM Modi told the Indian diaspora at Shaikh Saad Al Abdullah Indoor Sports Complex, in Sabah Al Salem, Kuwait. “Bharat will be the hub of world’s biggest economy centres in the future,” Prime Minister told the Indian community. Noting that Kuwait wants to become a dynamic economy and India aims to be a developed country by 2047, PM Modi said that India has the skill, technology, innovation and manpower that 'New' Kuwait needs. Addressing the community program 'Hala Modi' in Kuwait, PM Modi said the relationship that was built by culture and commerce is scaling new heights today. "People from North, West, East and South, who speak different languages are here - 'lekin sab ke dil me ek hi goonj hai - Bhatrat Mata Ki Jai'...This is a special moment for me. After 43 years, more than four decades, an Indian Prime Minister has come to Kuwait. It takes four hours to reach Kuwait from India but it took four decades for the Prime Minister," he said. "I have reached Kuwait just two and a half hours ago, since the time I have stepped here, I am feeling a different sense of belonging, a different warmth all around. You all have come from different states of India, but seeing all of you, it seems as if a mini Hindustan has come in front of me," he added. The Prime Minister said India and Kuwait will become partners in prosperity. "In the decades to come, we will become partners in our prosperity. Our goals aren't different! The people of Kuwait are building New Kuwait. The people of Bharat are working to build India into a developed nation by 2047. Through trade and innovation, Kuwait wants to become a dynamic economy. India is focussing on innovation and strengthening its economy. Both goals support each other," he said. "In the past, the relationship that was built by culture and commerce is scaling new heights today. Today, Kuwait is an important energy and trade partner of India. For the Kuwaiti companies too, India is a huge investment destination. His Highness Crown Prince of Kuwait, during our meeting in New York, said, 'When you are in need, India is your destination.' The citizens of India and Kuwait have always helped each other in times of distress," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kuwait to a warm welcome on Saturday. He is on a two-day visit to the Gulf nation. On his arrival, PM Modi was received by Kuwait's first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Interior, Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, along with the country's Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, and several other dignitaries. In his departure statement, PM Modi said he looks forward to his meetings with the Amir of Kuwait, the Crown Prince and the country's Prime Minister. He said the meetings will provide an opportunity to chalk out a roadmap for a futuristic partnership for the benefit of the people of the two countries and the region. PM Modi said he eagerly looks forward to meeting the Indian diaspora in Kuwait who have immensely contributed to strengthening of bonds of friendship between the two nations. Get Current Updates on India News , Entertainment News along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world. Updated 23:21 IST, December 21st 2024Stock futures edged higher in overnight trading Monday, after the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at a new record . Futures tied to the Dow added 30 points, or 0.1%, while S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively. Philadelphia news 24/7: Watch NBC10 free wherever you are Kohl's dropped 4% in overnight trading after announcing its CEO would be stepping down in January. Stocks are coming off an action-packed session fueled by President-elect Donald Trump's new Treasury secretary pick. The gains helped refuel the belief that the post-Trump election rally is back in full gear following a brief breather. The 30-stock Dow popped more than 440 points, or about 1%, to a new record close during regular trading. The S&P 500 gained 0.3% to notch a new all-time intraday high, while Nasdaq Composite edged up about 0.3%. The Russell 2000 hit a new intraday high — its first record since 2021 — as investors piled into small caps. Meanwhile, Treasury yields fell as investors lauded the choice of Key Square Group founder Scott Bessent to lead the Treasury department. Many investors view the hedge fund manager as a champion of financial markets and the economy given his background, and as someone who could potentially counteract some of Trump's aggressive trade aspirations. "These policies may take more time to play through into the market actually get enacted," NewEdge’s Cameron Dawson told CNBC's " Closing Bell " on Monday of potential new policies from the Treasury pick. "It's definitely a question mark of how much impact he can have in the short run as we round the year." The U.S. market is closed Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday and set to close early Friday, with volume expected to remain light. Ahead of the holiday, investors are looking ahead to October's personal consumption expenditure price index. Stocks on the move during overnight trading Here are the stocks on the move in extended trading: Read the full list here. — Samantha Subin Stock futures open slightly higher Stock futures opened slightly higher Monday. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 45 points, or 0.1%, while S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures each rose about 0.15%. — Samantha SubinISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) National Issues Committee held a virtual meeting on Sunday under the chairmanship of party leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, where it was decided to contact the government’s committee on Monday to address key coalition issues. The meeting was attended by prominent PPP leaders, including Raja Pervez Ashraf, Sherry Rehman, Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood, Naveed Qamar, Syed Murad Ali Shah, Sardar Saleem Haider, Faisal Karim Kundi, Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, and Ali Haider Gillani. The decision follows the establishment of the government’s committee on November 22 by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, aimed at resolving coalition disputes. This development comes amidst PPP’s dissatisfaction over what it describes as the federal government’s lack of consultation on policy matters and unmet commitments to the party. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari recently expressed his dissatisfaction with the government’s approach to coalition governance, specifically citing instances such as the recent imposition of internet restrictions and the passage of the canals agreement without PPP’s input. “The federal government does not understand the basics of VPNs,” Bilawal said during an earlier meeting. He argued that the restrictions negatively impacted privacy and digital accessibility across the country. He also criticized the canals agreement, claiming it was approved while he was engaged in discussions on the 26th Constitutional Amendment. “This bypassing of the PPP on matters of provincial water rights is unacceptable,” he added. Bilawal has also called out the government for failing to allocate resources fairly among provinces, a key issue negotiated during constitutional amendment discussions. In response to the PPP’s concerns, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s 11-member committee, comprising senior ministers such as Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif, Azam Nazeer Tarar, and Ahad Khan Cheema, was tasked with facilitating political cooperation and addressing disputes with coalition partners. The government’s committee is expected to engage in discussions with the PPP’s nine-member delegation, which includes senior figures such as former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, federal ministers Naveed Qamar and Sherry Rehman, and chief ministers of Sindh and Balochistan. The PPP has intensified its efforts to foster political consensus, not only within the coalition but also with opposition parties. Last week, Bilawal directed the party’s Rabta Committee to engage with other political entities and explore areas of agreement on key national issues, such as security, the digital economy, and agriculture. PPP leaders have voiced their commitment to addressing coalition disputes while highlighting the need for better consultation mechanisms. The National Issues Committee’s decision to initiate contact with the government’s panel is seen as a significant step toward mending strained ties within the coalition. The outcome of these discussions will be closely monitored as both sides work toward addressing grievances and strengthening coalition governance. PPP’s Central Executive Committee is expected to review the progress made during these engagements in the coming month. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );Former NFL draft bust shades Eagles Jalen Hurts: QB ‘doesn’t do anything crazy or special’ | Sporting News

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Olivia Hussey, star of the 1968 film 'Romeo and Juliet,' dies at 73

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Homebound seniors living alone often slip through health system’s cracksFILE PHOTO: Jul 13, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers manager Chris Woodward (8) walks off the field during the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Globe Life Field. Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo The Los Angeles Dodgers named former Texas Rangers manager Chris Woodward as their first-base coach. Woodward replaces Clayton McCullough, who was named the Miami Marlins manager earlier this month. A native of the Los Angeles area, Woodward was the Rangers' manager from 2019 into the 2022 season before he was dismissed after compiling a 211-287 record. He was an adviser to the Dodgers' player-development staff last season and was the Los Angeles third-base coach from 2016-18. The 48-year-old played 12 seasons in the major leagues, batting .239 with 33 home runs and 191 RBIs over 659 games for five teams, including his first six seasons (1999-2004) with the Toronto Blue Jays before returning to Toronto in 2011. --Field Level Media REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now

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LONDON — Olivia Hussey, the actor who starred as a teenage Juliet in the 1968 film "Romeo and Juliet," died, her family said on social media Saturday. She was 73. Hussey died Friday "peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones," a statement posted to her Instagram account said. Hussey was 15 when director Franco Zeffirelli cast her in his adaptation of the William Shakespeare tragedy after spotting her onstage in the play "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie," which also starred Vanessa Redgrave. "Romeo and Juliet" won two Oscars and Hussey won a Golden Globe for best new actress for her part as Juliet, opposite British actor Leonard Whiting, who was 16 at the time. "Romeo and Juliet" movie director Franco Zeffirelli, left, and actors Olivia Hussey, center, and Leonard Whiting are seen Sept. 25, 1968, in Paris after the Parisian premiere of the film. Decades later Hussey and Whiting brought a lawsuit against Paramount Pictures alleging sexual abuse, sexual harassment and fraud over nude scenes in the film. They alleged they were initially told they would wear flesh-colored undergarments in a bedroom scene, but on the day of the shoot Zeffirelli told the pair they would wear only body makeup and the camera would be positioned in a way that would not show nudity. They alleged they were filmed in the nude without their knowledge. The case was dismissed by a Los Angeles County judge in 2023, who found their depiction could not be considered child pornography and the pair filed their claim too late. Leonard Whiting, left, and Olivia Hussey arrive April 26, 2018, at the screening of "The Producers" at the 2018 TCM Classic Film Festival Opening Night at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. Whiting was among those who paid tribute to Hussey on Saturday. "Rest now my beautiful Juliet no injustices can hurt you now," he wrote. "And the world will remember your beauty inside and out forever." Hussey was born April 17, 1951, in Bueno Aires, Argentina, and moved to London as a child. She studied at the Italia Conti Academy drama school. She also starred as Mary, the mother of Jesus, in the 1977 television series "Jesus of Nazareth," as well as the 1978 adaptation of Agatha Christie's "Death on the Nile" and horror movies "Black Christmas" and "Psycho IV: The Beginning." She is survived by her husband, David Glen Eisley, her three children and a grandson. Photos: Notable deaths in 2024 Glynis Johns Glynis Johns, a Tony Award-winning stage and screen star who played the mother opposite Julie Andrews in the classic movie “Mary Poppins” and introduced the world to the bittersweet standard-to-be “Send in the Clowns” by Stephen Sondheim, died, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2023. She was 100. Adan Canto Adan Canto, the Mexican singer and actor best known for his roles in “X-Men: Days of Future Past” and “Agent Game” as well as the TV series “The Cleaning Lady,” “Narcos,” and “Designated Survivor,” died Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, after a private battle with appendiceal cancer. He was 42. Bud Harrelson Bud Harrelson, the scrappy and sure-handed shortstop who fought Pete Rose on the field during a playoff game and helped the New York Mets win an astonishing championship, died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. He was 79. The Mets said that Harrelson died at a hospice house in East Northport, New York after a long battle with Alzheimer's. Dejan Milojevic Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević, a mentor to two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and a former star player in his native Serbia, died Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, after suffering a heart attack, the team announced. He was 46. Jack Burke Jack Burke Jr., the oldest living Masters champion who staged the greatest comeback ever at Augusta National for one of his two majors, died Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, in Houston. He was 100. Mary Weiss Mary Weiss, the lead singer of the 1960s pop group the Shangri-Las, whose hits included “The Leader of the Pack,” died Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, in Palm Springs, Calif. She was 75. Norman Jewison Norman Jewison, a three-time Oscar nominee who in 1999 received an Academy Award for lifetime achievement, died “peacefully” Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, according to publicist Jeff Sanderson. He was 97. Charles Osgood Charles Osgood, who anchored “CBS Sunday Morning” for more than two decades, hosted the long-running radio program “The Osgood File” and was referred to as CBS News’ poet-in-residence, died Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. He was 91. Melanie Safka Melanie, a singer-songwriter behind 1970s hits including “Brand New Key,” died Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. She was 76. Born Melanie Safka, the singer rose through the New York folk scene and was one of only three solo women to perform at Woodstock. Her hits included “Lay Down” and “Look What They've Done to My Song Ma.” Chita Rivera Chita Rivera, the dynamic dancer, singer and actress who garnered 10 Tony nominations, winning twice, in a long Broadway career that forged a path for Latina artists, died Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. She was 91. Carl Weathers Carl Weathers, a former NFL linebacker who became a Hollywood action movie and comedy star, playing nemesis-turned-ally Apollo Creed in the “Rocky” movies, facing-off against Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Predator” and teaching golf in “Happy Gilmore,” died Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. He was 76. Wayne Kramer Wayne Kramer, the co-founder of the protopunk Detroit band the MC5 that thrashed out such hardcore anthems as “Kick Out the Jams” and influenced everyone from the Clash to Rage Against the Machine, died Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles, according to Jason Heath, a close friend and executive director of Kramer's charity, Jail Guitar Doors. Heath said the cause of death was pancreatic cancer. He was 75. Ian Lavender Actor Ian Lavender, who played a hapless Home Guard soldier in the classic British sitcom “Dad’s Army,” died Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. He was 77. Toby Keith Country music singer-songwriter Toby Keith, whose pro-American anthems were both beloved and criticized, died Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. He was 62. Henry Fambrough Henry Fambrough, the last surviving original member of the iconic R&B group The Spinners, whose hits included “It’s a Shame,” “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love,” and “The Rubberband Man,” died Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, of natural causes, according to a statement from his spokeswoman. He was 85. Bob Edwards Bob Edwards, right, the news anchor many Americans woke up to as founding host of National Public Radio's “Morning Edition” for nearly a quarter-century, died Saturday, Feb. 10, 20243. He was 76. He's shown here with sports announcer Red Barber. Don Gullett Don Gullett, a former major league pitcher and coach who played for four consecutive World Series champions in the 1970s, died Feb. 14. He was 73. He finished his playing career with a 109-50 record playing for the Cincinnati Reds and New York Yankees. Lefty Driesell Lefty Driesell, the coach whose folksy drawl belied a fiery on-court demeanor that put Maryland on the college basketball map and enabled him to rebuild several struggling programs, died Feb. 17, 2024, at age 92. Andreas Brehme Germany players celebrate after Andreas Brehme, left on ground, scores the winning goal in the World Cup soccer final match against Argentina, in the Olympic Stadium, in Rome, July 8, 1990. Andreas Brehme, who scored the only goal as West Germany beat Argentina to win the 1990 World Cup final, died Feb. 20, 2024. He was 63. Golden Richards Despite the effort of Denver Broncos defensive back Steve Foley (43), Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Golden Richards hauls in a touchdown pass during NFL football's Super Bowl 12 in New Orleans on Jan 15, 1978. Richards died Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, of congestive heart failure at his home in Murray, Utah. He was 73. Richards' nephew Lance Richards confirmed his death in a post on his Facebook page. Richard Lewis Comedian Richard Lewis attends an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles on Dec. 25, 2012. Lewis, an acclaimed comedian known for exploring his neuroses in frantic, stream-of-consciousness diatribes while dressed in all-black, leading to his nickname “The Prince of Pain,” died Feb. 27, 2024. He was 76. He died at his home in Los Angeles on Tuesday night after suffering a heart attack, according to his publicist Jeff Abraham. Nikolai Ryzhkov Former Soviet Prime Minister Nikolai Ryzhkov attends a session of the Federation Council, Russian parliament's upper house, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, June 25, 2014. Ryzhkov, former Soviet prime minister who presided over failed efforts to shore up the crumbling economy in the final years before the collapse of the USSR, died Feb. 28, 2024, at age 94. Brian Mulroney Brian Mulroney, the former prime minister of Canada, listens during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the Canada-U.S.-Mexico relationship, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Mulroney died at the age of 84 on Feb. 29, 2024. Akira Toriyama Akira Toriyama is pictured in 1982. Toriyama, the creator of one of Japan's best-selling “Dragon Ball” and other popular anime who influenced Japanese comics, died March 1, 2024. He was 68. Iris Apfel Iris Apfel, a textile expert, interior designer and fashion celebrity known for her eccentric style, died March 1, 2024, at 102. Andy Russell Andy Russell, the standout linebacker who was an integral part of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ evolution from perennial losers to champions, died Feb. 29, 2024. He was 82. Russell won two Super Bowls during a 12-year NFL career between 1963-76 that was briefly interrupted by a stint in the military. Russell played in 168 consecutive games and spent 10 years as a team captain. He was named to the Pro Bowl seven times. Russell remained active in the Pittsburgh community after retiring, writing several books and launching the Andy Russell Charitable Foundation. Ed Ott Pittsburgh Pirates' Ed Ott slides across home late out of reach of Orioles catcher Rick Dempsey to score the winning run in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the World Series at Baltimore, Oct. 11, 1979. Ott, a former major league catcher and coach who helped the Pittsburgh Pirates win the 1979 World Series, died March 3, 2024. He was 72. He batted .259 with 33 homers and 195 RBIs in 567 major league games. Ott and Steve Nicosia were the main catchers when the Pirates won it all in 1979. Chris Mortensen In a photo supplied by ESPN, Chris Mortensen appears on the set of Sunday NFL Countdown at ESPN's studios in Bristol, Conn., on Sept. 22, 2019. Mortensen, the award-winning journalist who covered the NFL for close to four decades, including 32 as a senior analyst at ESPN, died March 3, 2024. He was 72. Mortensen announced in 2016 that he he had been diagnosed with throat cancer. Even while undergoing treatment, he was the first to confirm the retirement of Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning. Mortensen announced his retirement after the NFL draft last year so that he could “focus on my health, family and faith.” Steve Lawrence Singer Steve Lawrence, left, and his wife Eydie Gorme arrive at a black-tie gala called honoring Frank Sinatra in Las Vegas on May 30, 1998. Lawrence, a singer and top stage act who as a solo performer and in tandem with his wife Gorme kept Tin Pan Alley alive during the rock era, died Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at age 88. Gorme died on Aug. 10, 2013. Naomi Barber King Martin Luther King III, right, the son of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., walks with his daughter Yolanda, and Naomi Barber King, left, the wife of Rev. King's brother, A.D., through an exhibition devoted to the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to King at the Martin Luther King Jr. Historical Site, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014, in Atlanta. Civil rights activist Naomi Barber King died Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Atlanta, according to family members. She was 92. Paul Alexander A Texas man who spent decades using an iron lung after contracting polio as a child died March 11, 2024, at the age of 78. Paul Alexander's longtime friend Daniel Spinks says Alexander died Monday at a Dallas hospital. Spinks called his friend one of the "bright stars of the world.” Friends of Alexander, who graduated from law school and had a career as an attorney, say he was a man who had a great joy for life. Alexander was a child when he began using an iron lung, a cylinder that encased his body as the air pressure in the chamber forced air in and out of his lungs. Thomas P. Stafford Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford stands near the NASA Motor Vessel Retriever during training Aug. 23, 1965, in the Gulf of Mexico. Stafford, who commanded a dress rehearsal flight for the 1969 moon landing and the first U.S.-Soviet space linkup, died March 18, 2024, at 93. Chris Simon New York Rangers' Chris Simon celebrates his second-period goal against the New York Islanders, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2004, at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y. Former NHL enforcer Chris Simon has died. He was 52. Simon died March 18, 2024, according to a spokesperson for the NHL Players' Association. M. Emmet Walsh M. Emmet Walsh arrives at the 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards, March 1, 2014, in Santa Monica, Calif. Walsh, the character actor who brought his unmistakable face and unsettling presence to films including “Blood Simple” and “Blade Runner,” died March 19, 2024, at age 88, his manager said Wednesday. Laurent de Brunhoff "Babar" author Laurent de Brunhoff, who revived his father's popular picture book series about an elephant-king, has died at 98 after being in hospice care for two weeks. De Brunhoff was a Paris native who moved to the U.S. in the 1980s. He died March 22, 2024, at his home in Key West, Florida. Just 12 years old when his father, Jean de Brunhoff, died of tuberculosis, Laurent drew upon his own gifts as a painter and storyteller and as an adult released dozens of books about the elephant who reigns over Celesteville, among them "Babar at the Circus" and "Babar's Yoga for Elephants." Obit Angelos Baseball Longtime Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos has died at the age of 94. His family announced in a statement that Angelos, who had been ill for several years, died March 23, 2024. Angelos was owner of an Orioles team that endured long losing stretches and shrewd proprietor of a law firm that won high-profile cases against industry titans such as tobacco giant Philip Morris. Angelos’ death came as his son, John, was in the process of selling the Orioles to a group headed by Carlyle Group Inc. co-founder David Rubenstein. Peter Angelos purchased the team for $173 million in 1993, at the time the highest for a sports franchise. His public role diminished significantly in his final years. Joe Lieberman Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore, left, and his running mate, vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, wave to supporters Oct. 25, 2000, at a campaign rally in Jackson, Tenn. Lieberman died March 27, 2024. He was 82 and died Wednesday of complications from a fall. Lieberman nearly won the vice presidency on Democrat Al Gore's ticket in the disputed 2000 White House race. Eight years later, he came close to joining the GOP ticket as John McCain’s running mate. The Democrat-turned-independent stepped down from the Senate in January 2013 after 24 years. His independent streak often irked Senate Democrats he aligned with. Yet his support for gay rights, civil rights, abortion rights and environmental causes at times won him the praise of many liberals over the years. Louis Gossett Jr. Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries “Roots,” died March 28, 2024. He was 87. Gossett always thought of his early career as a reverse Cinderella story, with success finding him from an early age and propelling him forward, toward his Academy Award for “An Officer and a Gentleman.” He also was a star on Broadway, replacing Billy Daniels in “Golden Boy” with Sammy Davis Jr. in 1964 and recently played an obstinate patriarch in the 2023 remake of “The Color Purple.” Joe Flaherty Former cast members of SCTV, from left, Dave Thomas, Joe Flaherty, Catherine O'Hara, Andrea Martin, foreground, Harold Ramis, Eugene Levy and Martin Short, pose at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival on March 6, 1999, in Aspen, Colo. Flaherty, a founding member of the Canadian sketch series “SCTV,” died Monday, April 1, 2024 at age 82. John Sinclair John Sinclair talks at the John Sinclair Foundation Café and Coffeeshop, Dec. 26, 2018, in Detroit. Sinclair, a poet, music producer and counterculture figure whose lengthy prison sentence after a series of small-time pot busts inspired a John Lennon song and a star-studded 1971 concert to free him, has died at age 82. Sinclair died Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at Detroit Receiving Hospital of congestive heart failure following an illness, his publicist Matt Lee said. Larry Lucchino Boston Red Sox president Larry Lucchino, right, tips his cap to fans as majority owner John Henry holds the 2013 World Series championship trophy during a parade in celebration of the baseball team's win, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013, in Boston. Larry Lucchino, the force behind baseball’s retro ballpark revolution and the transformation of the Boston Red Sox from cursed losers to World Series champions, has died. He was 78. Lucchino had suffered from cancer. The Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, his last project in a career that also included three major league baseball franchises and one in the NFL, confirmed his death on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Christopher Durang Playwright Christopher Durang appears on stage with producers to accept the award for best play for "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike" at the 67th Annual Tony Awards, on June 9, 2013 in New York. Also on stage are actors, background from left, Shalita Grant, Kristine Nielsen and Billy Magnussen. Durang died Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at his home in Pipersville, Pennsylvania, of complications from logopenic primary progressive aphasia. He was 75. Jerry Grote In this Oct. 16, 1969 file photo, New York Mets catcher Jerry Grote, right, embraces pitcher Jerry Koosman as Ed Charles, left, joins the celebration after the Mets defeated the Baltimore Orioles in the Game 5 to win the baseball World Series at New York's Shea Stadium. Grote, the catcher who helped transform the New York Mets from a perennial loser into the 1969 World Series champion, died Sunday, April 7, 2024. He was 81. Schappell Twins In this July 8, 2003 photo, Lori, left, and George Schappell, conjoined twins, are photographed in their Reading, Pa., apartment. Lori and George Schappell, who pursued separate careers, interests and relationships during lives that defied medical expectations, died April 7, 2024, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. They were 62. Peter Higgs The University of Edinburgh says Nobel prize-winning physicist Peter Higgs, who proposed the existence of a sub-atomic particle that came to be known as the Higgs boson, died April 8, 2024, at 94. Higgs predicted the existence of the particle in 1964. But it would be almost 50 years before the its existence could be confirmed at a particle collider in Switzerland called the Large Hadron Collider. Higgs’ work helps scientists understand of the most fundamental riddles of the universe: how the Big Bang created something out of nothing 13.7 billion years ago. Higgs won the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work, alongside Francois Englert of Belgium. Ralph Puckett Jr. A retired U.S. Army colonel who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Korean War died April 8, 2024, at age 97. A funeral home says that Ralph Puckett Jr. died Monday at his home in Columbus, Georgia. President Joe Biden presented Puckett with the Medal of Honor in 2021, more than seven decades after Puckett was seriously wounded leading an outnumbered company of Army Rangers in battle. Puckett refused a medical discharge and served as an Army officer for another 20 years before retiring in 1971. Puckett received the U.S. military's highest honor from President Joe Biden on May 21, 2021, following a policy change that lifted a requirement for medals to be given within five years of a valorous act. O.J. Simpson O.J. Simpson, left, grimaces June 15, 1995, in a Los Angeles courtroom as he famously tries on one of the leather gloves prosecutors say he wore the night his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were murdered. Simpson, t he decorated football star who was acquitted of charges he killed his former wife and her friend but wound up in prison years later in an unrelated case, died April 10, 2024. He was 76. His family made an announcement Thursday in a statement on Simpson's X account. Simpson said last year that he was battling prostate cancer. Simpson’s gridiron legacy was forever overshadowed by the 1994 knife slayings of Brown Simpson and Goldman. A criminal court jury found him not guilty of murder, but a separate civil trial jury found him liable. Simpson's nine-year prison stint in Nevada was for the armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers. Eleanor Coppola Francis Coppola and wife, Eleanor, pose July 16, 1991, in Los Angeles. Eleanor Coppola, who documented the making of some of her husband Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic films, including the infamously tortured production of “Apocalypse Now,” and who raised a family of filmmakers, has died. She was 87. Coppola died April 12, 2024, at home in Rutherford, California, her family announced in a statement. Eleanor, who grew in Orange County, California, met Francis while working as an assistant art director on his directorial debut, the Roger Corman-produced 1963 horror film “Dementia 13.” Their first-born, Gian-Carlo, quickly became a regular presence in his father’s films, as did their subsequent children, Roman, and Sofia. After acting in their father’s films and growing up on sets, all would go into the movies. Robert MacNeil Robert MacNeil, seen in February 1978, who created the even-handed, no-frills PBS newscast “The MacNeil-Lehrer NewsHour” in the 1970s and co-anchored the show for with his late partner, Jim Lehrer, for two decades, died April 12, 2024, at age 93. Faith Ringgold Artist Faith Ringgold poses for a portrait in front of a painted self-portrait during a press preview of her exhibition, "American People, Black Light: Faith Ringgold's Paintings of the 1960s" at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, June 19, 2013. Ringgold, an award-winning author and artist who broke down barriers for Black female artists and became famous for her richly colored and detailed quilts combining painting, textiles and storytelling, died Friday, April 12, 2024, at her home in Englewood, N.J. She was 93. Steve Sloan Alabama coach Bear Bryant, left, talks with his former star quarterback Steve Sloan, right, after practice in Miami for the Orange Bowl game New Years' night against Nebraska, Dec. 29, 1968. Former college coach and administrator Sloan, who played quarterback and served as athletic director at Alabama. has passed away. He was 79. Sloan died Sunday, April 14, 2024, after three months of memory care at Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital, according to an obituary from former Alabama sports information director Wayne Atcheson. Ken Holtzman Oakland A's pitcher Ken Holtzman poses for a photo in March 1975. Holtzman, who pitched two no-hitters for the Chicago Cubs and helped the Oakland Athletics win three straight World Series championships in the 1970s, died April 14, 2024. He finished with a career record of 174-150 over 15 season with four teams and was the winningest Jewish pitcher in baseball history. Carl Erskine Carl Erskine, center, pictured with teammate Duke Snider, left, and manager Charley Dressen in 1952, after beating the Yankees 6-5 in Game 5 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium in New York, Oct. 5, 1952. Erskine, who pitched two no-hitters for the Brooklyn Dodgers and was a 20-game winner in 1953 when he struck out a then-record 14 in the World Series, has died. Among the last survivors from the celebrated Brooklyn teams of the 1950s, Erskine spent his entire major league career with the Dodgers. He helped them win five National League pennants from 1948-59. Erskine won Game 3 of the 1953 World Series, beating the Yankees 3-2. He appeared in five World Series, with the Dodgers beating the Yankees in 1955 for their only championship in Brooklyn. Erksine died April 16 in his hometown of Anderson, Indiana, according to a hospital official. He was 97. Whitey Herzog St. Louis Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog lets umpire John Shulock, right, know how he feels about Shulock's call on the tag attempt on Kansas City Royals Jim Sundberg by Cardinals catcher Tom Nieto, second from left, in the second inning of Game 5 of the 1985 World Series in St. Louis. Herzog, the gruff and ingenious Hall of Fame manager who guided the St. Louis Cardinals to three pennants and a World Series title and perfected an intricate, nail-biting strategy known as “Whiteyball,” has died. Herzog, affectionately nicknamed “The White Rat,” was a manager for 18 seasons, compiling an overall record of 1,281 wins and 1,125 losses. He was named Manager of the Year in 1985. Under Herzog, the Cardinals won pennants in 1982, 1985 and 1987 and won the World Series in 1982, when they edged the Milwaukee Brewers in seven games. He died April 15, 2024, and was 92. Bob Graham Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., gestures as he answers questions regarding the ongoing security hearing on Capitol Hill, June 18, 2002, in Washington. Graham, who chaired the Intelligence Committee following the 2001 terrorist attacks and opposed the Iraq invasion, died April 16, 2024. He was 87. His family announced the death Tuesday in a statement posted on X by his daughter Gwen Graham. Graham served three terms in the Senate and two terms as Florida's governor. He made an unsuccessful bid for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination, emphasizing his opposition to the Iraq invasion. But that bid was delayed by heart surgery in January 2003, and he was never able to gain enough traction with voters to catch up. He didn’t seek re-election in 2004 and was replaced by Republican Mel Martinez. Dickey Betts Guitar legend and Allman Brothers Band co-founder Dickey Betts died April 18, 2024, at age 80. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer wrote the band's biggest hit, “Ramblin’ Man.” Manager David Spero told The Associated Press that Betts died early Thursday at his home in Osprey, Florida. He says Betts had been battling cancer for more than a year and had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Betts shared lead guitar duties with Duane Allman in the original Allman Brothers Band to help give the group its distinctive sound and create a new genre: Southern rock. Acts ranging from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Kid Rock were influenced by the Allmans’ music, which combined blues, country, R&B and jazz with ’60s rock. Mandisa Contemporary Christian singer Mandisa, who appeared on “American Idol” and won a Grammy for her 2013 album “Overcomer,” died April 18, 2024. She was 47. Mandisa gained stardom after finishing ninth on “American Idol” in 2006. In 2014, she won a Grammy for best contemporary Christian music album for “Overcomer,” her fifth album. She spoke openly about her struggles with depression, releasing a memoir that detailed her experiences with severe depression, weight-related challenges, the coronavirus pandemic and her faith. David Pryor David Pryor, a former Arkansas governor and U.S. senator who was one of the state’s most beloved and active political figures, died April 20, 2024, at the age of 89. His son, former two-term Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, says the Democrat died Saturday of natural causes in Little Rock surrounded by family. David Pryor was considered one of the Democratic party’s giants in Arkansas and remained active in public life after he left office, including serving on the University of Arkansas’s Board of Trustees. Roman Gabriel Roman Gabriel was known for his big size and big arm. He was the first Filipino-American quarterback in the NFL. And he still holds the Los Angeles Rams record for touchdown passes. Gabriel died April 20, 2024, at age 83. His son posted the news on social media. He says Gabriel died at home of natural causes. Gabriel starred at North Carolina State and was the No. 2 pick by the Rams in the 1962 draft. The Oakland Raider of the rival AFL made him the No. 1 pick. Gabriel signed with the Rams and later played with the Philadelphia Eagles. Andrew Davis Andrew Davis, an acclaimed British conductor who was music director of the Lyric Opera of Chicago and orchestras on three continents, died April 20, 2024. He was 80. Davis died Saturday at Rusk Institute in Chicago from leukemia. That is according to his manager, Jonathan Brill of Opus 3 Artists. Davis had been managing the disease for 1 1/2 to 2 years but it became acute shortly after his 80th birthday on Feb. 2. Davis was music director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra from 1975-88, Britain’s Glyndebourne Festival from 1988-2000, chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra from 1989-2000, then was music director of the Lyric Opera from 2000-21. Terry Anderson Former hostage Terry Anderson waves to the crowd as he rides in a parade in Lorain, Ohio, June 22, 1992. Anderson, the globe-trotting Associated Press correspondent who became one of America’s longest-held hostages, died April 21, 2024. Anderson was snatched from a street in war-torn Lebanon in 1985 and held for nearly seven years. Anderson, who was tortured and chained to a wall, wrote about his experiences in the best-selling memoir, “Den of Lions.” After returning to the United States in 1991, Anderson gave public speeches, taught journalism and, at various times, operated a blues bar, Cajun restaurant, horse ranch and gourmet restaurant. He also struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder. Bill Gladden British army veteran Bill Gladden, who survived a glider landing on D-Day and a bullet that tore through his ankle a few days later, wanted to return to France for the 80th anniversary of the invasion so he could honor the men who didn’t come home. It was not to be. Gladden, one of the dwindling number of veterans who took part in the landings that kicked off the campaign to liberate Western Europe from the Nazis during World War II, died April 24, his family said. He was 100. With fewer and fewer veterans taking part each year, the ceremony may be one of the last big events marking the assault that began on June 6, 1944. Duane Eddy Duane Eddy, a pioneering guitar hero whose reverberating electric sound on instrumentals such as “Rebel Rouser,” “Forty Miles of Bad Road" and “Cannonball” helped put the twang in early rock ‘n’ roll and influenced George Harrison, Bruce Springsteen and countless other musicians, died April 30 at age 86. With his raucous rhythms, and backing hollers and hand claps, Eddy sold more than 100 million records worldwide, and mastered a distinctive sound based on the premise that a guitar’s bass strings sounded better on tape than the high ones. Paul Auster Author Paul Auster has died at age 77. Auster was a prolific, prize-winning man of letters and filmmaker known for such inventive narratives and meta-narratives as “The New York Trilogy” and “4 3 2 1." Auster’s death on April 30 was confirmed by his literary representatives. Auster completed more than 30 books, translated into dozens of languages. He never achieved major commercial success in the U.S., but he was widely admired overseas for his cosmopolitan worldview and erudite and introspective style. Auster’s novels were a mix of history, politics, genre experiments, existential quests and self-conscious references to writers and writing. Dick Rutan Co-pilots Dick Rutan, right, and Jeana Yeager, no relationship to test pilot Chuck Yeager, pose for a photo after a test flight over the Mojave Desert, Dec. 19, 1985. Rutan, a decorated Vietnam War pilot, who along with copilot Yeager completed one of the greatest milestones in aviation history: the first round-the-world flight with no stops or refueling, died late Friday, May 3, 2024. He was 85. Steve Albini Music producer Steve Albini, seen in his Chicago studio in 2014, produced albums by Nirvana, the Pixies and PJ Harvey. Albini died at 61. Brian Fox, an engineer at Albini’s studio, Electrical Audio, says Albini died after a heart attack May 7. In addition to his work on canonized rock albums such as Nirvana‘s “In Utero,” the Pixies’ breakthrough “Surfer Rosa,” and PJ Harvey’s “Rid of Me,” Albini was the frontman of the underground bands Big Black and Shellac. He dismissed the term “producer” and requested he be credited with “Recorded by Steve Albini." Jimmy Johnson San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame football player Jimmy Johnson, left, is honored by owner Jed York before a 2011 game between against the St. Louis Rams in San Francisco. Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back Jimmy Johnson, a three-time All-Pro and member of the All-Decade Team of the 1970s, has died. He was 86. Johnson's family told the Pro Football Hall of Fame that he died May 8. Johnson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994. He played his entire 16-year pro career with San Francisco. He played in 213 games, more than any other 49ers player at the time of his retirement. Sean Burroughs San Diego Padres third baseman Sean Burroughs fires a throw to first from his knees but is unable to get Los Angeles Dodgers' D. J. Houlton at first during the third inning of a baseball game June 22, 2005, in San Diego. Burroughs, a two-time Little League World Series champion who won an Olympic gold medal and went on to a major league career that was interrupted by substance abuse, has died. He was 43. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s online records said Burroughs died Thursday, May 9, 2024, with the cause of death deferred. Roger Corman Producer Roger Corman poses in his Los Angeles office, May 8, 2013. Corman, the Oscar-winning “King of the Bs” who helped turn out such low-budget classics as “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Attack of the Crab Monsters” and gave many of Hollywood's most famous actors and directors an early break, died Thursday, May 9, 2024. He was 98. A.J. Smith A.J. Smith, a longtime NFL executive who was the winningest general manager in Chargers history, has died. He was 75. His son, Atlanta assistant general manager Kyle Smith, announced in a statement released by the Falcons that his father died May 12. Kyle Smith said his father had been battling prostate cancer for seven years. The Chargers won five division titles during Smith’s 10 seasons as GM. The franchise’s 98 wins, including the playoffs, were the sixth most in the league from 2003-12. David Sanborn Saxophone player David Sanborn performs during his concert at the Stravinski hall at the "Colours of Music night" during the 34th Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland on July 10, 2000. Sanborn, the Grammy-winning saxophonist who played lively solos on such hits as David Bowie's “Young Americans” and James Taylor's “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” and enjoyed his own highly successful recording career as a leading performer of contemporary jazz, died Sunday, May 12, 2024, at age 78. Alice Munro Nobel laureate Alice Munro has died. The Canadian literary giant who became one of the world’s most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history’s most honored short story writers was 92. Munro achieved stature rare for an art form traditionally placed beneath the novel. She was the first lifelong Canadian to win the Nobel and the first recipient cited exclusively for short fiction. Munro was little known beyond Canada until her late 30s but became one of the few short story writers to enjoy ongoing commercial success. A spokesperson for publisher Penguin Random House Canada said Munro died May 13 at home in Port Hope, Ontario. Dabney Coleman Dabney Coleman, the mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in “9 to 5” and the nasty TV director in “Tootsie,” died May 16. He was 92. For two decades Coleman labored in movies and TV shows as a talented but largely unnoticed performer. That changed abruptly in 1976 when he was cast as the incorrigibly corrupt mayor of the hamlet of Fernwood in “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” a satirical soap opera. He won a Golden Globe for “The Slap Maxwell Story” and an Emmy Award for best supporting actor in Peter Levin’s 1987 small screen legal drama “Sworn to Silence.” Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi listens to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, not in photo, during a joint news conference following their meeting at the Presidential palace in Ankara, Turkey, Jan. 24, 2024. Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi, foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and others were found dead at the site of a helicopter crash site, state media reported Monday, May 20, 2024. Jim Otto Jim Otto, the Hall of Fame center known as Mr. Raider for his durability through a litany of injuries, died May 19. He was 86. The cause of death was not immediately known. Otto joined the Raiders for their inaugural season in the American Football League in 1960 and was a fixture on the team for the next 15 years. He never missed a game because of injuries and competed in 210 consecutive regular-season games and 308 straight total contests despite undergoing nine operations on his knees during his playing career. His right leg was amputated in 2007. Ivan Boesky Ivan F. Boesky, the flamboyant stock trader whose cooperation with the government cracked open one of the largest insider trading scandals on Wall Street, has died at the age of 87. A representative at the Marianne Boesky Gallery, owned by his daughter, confirmed his death. The son of a Detroit delicatessen owner, Boesky was once considered one of the richest and most influential risk-takers on Wall Street. He had parlayed $700,000 from his late mother-in-law’s estate into a fortune estimated at more than $200 million. Once implicated in insider trading, Boesky cooperated with a brash young U.S. attorney named Rudolph Giuliani, uncovering a scandal that blemished some of the most respected U.S. investment brokerages. Boesky died May 20. Jan. A.P. Kaczmarek Jan. A.P. Kaczmarek poses with the Oscar for best original score for his work on "Finding Neverland" during the 77th Academy Awards, Feb. 27, 2005, in Los Angeles. Polish composer Kaczmarek, who won a 2005 Oscar for the movie “Finding Neverland,” has died on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at age 71. Kaczmarek’s death was announced by Poland’s Music Foundation. Carlie Colin Train bassist and founding member Charlie Colin has died at 58. Colin’s sister confirmed the musician's death Wednesday to The Associated Press. Variety reported Colin slipped and fell in the shower while house-sitting for a friend in Brussels. Train formed in San Francisco in the early ’90s. Colin played on Train's first three records, 1998’s self-titled album, 2001’s “Drops of Jupiter” and 2003’s “My Private Nation.” The track “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)” hit No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also earned two Grammys. Colin left the band in 2003. He also worked with the Newport Beach Film Festival. Colin died May 22. Morgan Spurlock Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, an Oscar nominee whose most famous works skewered America’s food industry and who notably ate only at McDonald’s for a month to illustrate the dangers of a fast-food diet, has died of cancer. He was 53. Spurlock made a splash in 2004 with his groundbreaking film “Super Size Me,” and returned in 2019 with “Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!” — a sober look at an industry that processes 9 billion animals a year in America. Spurlock was a gonzo-like filmmaker who leaned into the bizarre and ridiculous. His stylistic touches included zippy graphics and amusing music. Spurlock died May 23. Richard M. Sherman Richard M. Sherman, one half of the prolific, award-winning pair of brothers who helped form millions of childhoods by penning classic Disney tunes, has died. He was 95. Sherman, along with his late brother Robert, wrote hundreds of songs together, including songs for “Mary Poppins,” “The Jungle Book” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” — as well as the most-played tune on Earth, “It’s a Small World (After All).” The Walt Disney Co. announced that Sherman died Saturday due to age-related illness. The brothers won two Academy Awards for Walt Disney’s 1964 smash “Mary Poppins.” Robert Sherman died May 25 in London in 2012. Bill Walton Basketball Hall of Fame legend Bill Walton laughs during a practice session for the NBA All-Star basketball game in Cleveland, Feb. 19, 2022. Walton, who starred for John Wooden's UCLA Bruins before becoming a Basketball Hall of Famer and one of the biggest stars of basketball broadcasting, died Monday, May 27, 2024, the league announced on behalf of his family. He was 71. Albert Ruddy “The Godfather” producer Albert S. Ruddy died May 25 at 94. The Canadian-born producer and writer won Oscars for “The Godfather” and “Million Dollar Baby,” developed the raucous prison-sports comedy “The Longest Yard” and helped create the hit sitcom “Hogan’s Heroes." A spokesperson says Ruddy died Saturday at the UCLA Medical Center. Ruddy produced more than 30 movies and was on hand for the very top and the very bottom. “The Godfather” and “Million Dollar Baby” were box office hits and winners of best picture Oscars. But Ruddy also helped give us “Cannonball Run II” and “Megaforce,” nominees for Golden Raspberry awards for worst movie of the year. Larry Allen Larry Allen, one of the most dominant offensive linemen in the NFL during a 12-year career spent mostly with the Dallas Cowboys, died June 2. He was 52. The Cowboys say Allen died suddenly on Sunday while on vacation with his family in Mexico. Allen was named an All-Pro six consecutive years from 1996-2001 and was inducted into the Pro Football of Hall of Fame in 2013. He said few words but let his blocking do the talking. Allen once bench-pressed 700 pounds and had the speed to chase down opposing running backs. Janis Paige Bob Hope and Janis Paige hug during the annual Christmas show in Saigon, Vietnam, Dec. 25, 1964. Paige, a popular actor in Hollywood and in Broadway musicals and comedies who danced with Fred Astaire, toured with Bob Hope and continued to perform into her 80s, died Sunday, June 2, 2024, of natural causes at her Los Angeles home, longtime friend Stuart Lampert said Monday, June 3. Parnelli Jones Parnelli Jones, the 1963 Indianapolis 500 winner, died June 4 at Torrance Memorial Medical Center after a battle with Parkinson’s disease, his son said. Jones was 90. At the time of his death, Jones was the oldest living winner of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Rufus Parnell Jones was born in Texarkana, Arkansas, in 1933 but moved to Torrance as a young child and never left. It was there that he became “Parnelli” because his given name of Rufus was too well known for him to compete without locals knowing that he wasn’t old enough to race. Chet Walker Boston Celtics' John Havlicek (17) is defended by Philadelphia 76ers' Chet Walker (25) during the first half of an NBA basketball playoff game April 14, 1968, in Boston. Walker, a seven-time All-Star forward who helped Wilt Chamberlain and the 76ers win the 1967 NBA title, died June 8. He was 84. The National Basketball Players Association confirmed Walker's death, according to NBA.com . The 76ers, Chicago Bulls and National Basketball Retired Players Association also extended their condolences on social media on Saturday, June 8, 2024. The Rev. James Lawson Jr. The Rev. James Lawson Jr. speaks Sept. 17, 2015, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Lawson Jr., an apostle of nonviolent protest who schooled activists to withstand brutal reactions from white authorities as the Civil Rights Movement gained traction, has died, his family said Monday. He was 95. His family said Lawson died on Sunday after a short illness in Los Angeles, where he spent decades working as a pastor, labor movement organizer and university professor. Lawson was a close adviser to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who called him “the leading theorist and strategist of nonviolence in the world.” Lawson met King in 1957, after spending three years in India soaking up knowledge about Mohandas K. Gandhi’s independence movement. King would travel to India himself two years later, but at the time, he had only read about Gandhi in books. Jerry West Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Jerry West, representing the 1960 USA Olympic Team, is seen Aug. 13, 2010, during the enshrinement news conference at the Hall of Fame Museum in Springfield, Mass. Jerry West, who was selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame three times in a storied career as a player and executive, and whose silhouette is considered to be the basis of the NBA logo, died June 12, the Los Angeles Clippers announced. He was 86. West, nicknamed “Mr. Clutch” for his late-game exploits as a player, was an NBA champion who went into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1980 and again as a member of the gold medal-winning 1960 U.S. Olympic Team in 2010. He will be enshrined for a third time later this year as a contributor, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called West “one of the greatest executives in sports history.” Ron Simons Actor and director Ron Simons, seen Jan. 23, 2011, during the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, died June 12. Simons turned into a formidable screen and stage producer, winning four Tony Awards and having several films selected at the Sundance Film Festival. He won Tonys for producing “Porgy and Bess,” “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” and “Jitney.” He also co-produced “Hughie,” with Forest Whitaker, “The Gin Game,” starring Cicely Tyson and James Earl Jones, “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations,” an all-Black production of “A Streetcar Named Desire,” the revival of "for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf" and the original work “Thoughts of a Colored Man.” He was in the films “27 Dresses” and “Mystery Team,” as well as on the small screen in “The Resident,” “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and “Law & Order: SVU.” Bob Schul Bob Schul of West Milton, Ohio, hits the tape Oct. 18, 1964, to win the 5,000 meter run at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Schul, the only American distance runner to win the 5,000 meters at the Olympics, died June 16. He was 86. His death was announced by Miami University in Ohio , where Schul shined on the track and was inducted into the school’s hall of fame in 1973. Schul predicted gold leading into the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and followed through with his promise. On a rainy day in Japan, he finished the final lap in a blistering 54.8 seconds to sprint to the win. His white shorts were covered in mud at the finish. He was inducted into the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1991. He also helped write a book called “In the Long Run.” Willie Mays San Francisco Giants superstar Willie Mays poses for a photo during baseball spring training in 1972. Mays, the electrifying “Say Hey Kid” whose singular combination of talent, drive and exuberance made him one of baseball’s greatest and most beloved players, died June 18. He was 93. The center fielder, who began his professional career in the Negro Leagues in 1948, had been baseball’s oldest living Hall of Famer. He was voted into the Hall in 1979, his first year of eligibility, and in 1999 followed only Babe Ruth on The Sporting News’ list of the game’s top stars. The Giants retired his uniform number, 24, and set their AT&T Park in San Francisco on Willie Mays Plaza. Mays died two days before a game between the Giants and St. Louis Cardinals to honor the Negro Leagues at Rickwood Field in Birmingham , Alabama. Over 23 major league seasons, virtually all with the New York/San Francisco Giants but also including one in the Negro Leagues, Mays batted .301, hit 660 home runs, totaled 3,293 hits, scored more than 2,000 runs and won 12 Gold Gloves. He was Rookie of the Year in 1951, twice was named the Most Valuable Player and finished in the top 10 for the MVP 10 other times. His lightning sprint and over-the-shoulder grab of an apparent extra base hit in the 1954 World Series remains the most celebrated defensive play in baseball history. For millions in the 1950s and ’60s and after, the smiling ballplayer with the friendly, high-pitched voice was a signature athlete and showman during an era when baseball was still the signature pastime. Awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2015, Mays left his fans with countless memories. But a single feat served to capture his magic — one so untoppable it was simply called “The Catch.” Donald Sutherland Actor Donald Sutherland appears Oct. 13, 2017, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, Calif. Sutherland, the Canadian actor whose wry, arrestingly off-kilter screen presence spanned more than half a century of films from “M.A.S.H.” to “The Hunger Games,” died June 20. He was 88. Kiefer Sutherland said on X he believed his father was one of the most important actors in the history of film: “Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that.” The tall and gaunt Sutherland, who flashed a grin that could be sweet or diabolical, was known for offbeat characters like Hawkeye Pierce in Robert Altman's "M.A.S.H.," the hippie tank commander in "Kelly's Heroes" and the stoned professor in "Animal House." Before transitioning into a long career as a respected character actor, Sutherland epitomized the unpredictable, antiestablishment cinema of the 1970s. He never stopped working, appearing in nearly 200 films and series. Over the decades, Sutherland showed his range in more buttoned-down — but still eccentric — roles in Robert Redford's "Ordinary People" and Oliver Stone's "JFK." More, recently, he starred in the “Hunger Games” films. A memoir, “Made Up, But Still True,” is due out in November. Bill Cobbs Actor Bill Cobbs, a cast member in "Get Low," arrives July 27, 2010, at the premiere of the film in Beverly Hills, Calif. Cobbs, the veteran character actor who became a ubiquitous and sage screen presence as an older man, died June 25. He was 90. A Cleveland native, Cobbs acted in such films as “The Hudsucker Proxy,” “The Bodyguard” and “Night at the Museum.” He made his first big-screen appearance in a fleeting role in 1974's “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three." He became a lifelong actor with some 200 film and TV credits. The lion share of those came in his 50s, 60s, and 70s, as filmmakers and TV producers turned to him again and again to imbue small but pivotal parts with a wizened and worn soulfulness. Cobbs appeared on television shows including “The Sopranos," “The West Wing,” “Sesame Street” and “Good Times.” He was Whitney Houston's manager in “The Bodyguard” (1992), the mystical clock man of the Coen brothers' “The Hudsucker Proxy” (1994) and the doctor of John Sayles' “Sunshine State” (2002). He played the coach in “Air Bud” (1997), the security guard in “Night at the Museum” (2006) and the father on “The Gregory Hines Show." Cobbs rarely got the kinds of major parts that stand out and win awards. Instead, Cobbs was a familiar and memorable everyman who left an impression on audiences, regardless of screen time. He won a Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding limited performance in a daytime program for the series “Dino Dana” in 2020. Kinky Friedman Independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman speaks with the media Nov. 7, 2009, at his campaign headquarters in Austin, Texas. The singer, songwriter, satirist and novelist, who led the alt-country band Texas Jewboys, toured with Bob Dylan, sang with Willie Nelson, and dabbled in politics with campaigns for Texas governor and other statewide offices, died June 27. He was 79 and had suffered from Parkinson's disease. Often called “The Kinkster" and sporting sideburns, a thick mustache and cowboy hat, Friedman earned a cult following and reputation as a provocateur throughout his career across musical and literary genres. In the 1970s, his satirical country band Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys wrote songs with titles such as “They Ain't Makin' Jews Like Jesus Anymore” and “Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in Bed.” Friedman joined part of Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue tour in 1976. By the 1980s, Friedman was writing crime novels that often included a version of himself, and he wrote a column for Texas Monthly magazine in the 2000s. Friedman's run at politics brought his brand of irreverence to the serious world of public policy. In 2006, Friedman ran for governor as an independent in a five-way race that included incumbent Republican Rick Perry. Friedman launched his campaign against the backdrop of the Alamo. Martin Mull Martin Mull participates in "The Cool Kids" panel during the Fox Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour on Aug. 2, 2018, at The Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. Mull, whose droll, esoteric comedy and acting made him a hip sensation in the 1970s and later a beloved guest star on sitcoms including “Roseanne” and “Arrested Development,” died June 28. He was 80. Mull, who was also a guitarist and painter, came to national fame with a recurring role on the Norman Lear-created satirical soap opera “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” and the starring role in its spinoff, “Fernwood Tonight." His first foray into show business was as a songwriter, penning the 1970 semi-hit “A Girl Named Johnny Cash” for singer Jane Morgan. He would combine music and comedy in an act that he brought to hip Hollywood clubs in the 1970s. Mull often played slightly sleazy, somewhat slimy and often smarmy characters as he did as Teri Garr's boss and Michael Keaton's foe in 1983's “Mr. Mom.” He played Colonel Mustard in the 1985 movie adaptation of the board game “Clue,” which, like many things Mull appeared in, has become a cult classic. The 1980s also brought what many thought was his best work, “A History of White People in America,” a mockumentary that first aired on Cinemax. Mull co-created the show and starred as a “60 Minutes” style investigative reporter investigating all things milquetoast and mundane. Willard was again a co-star. In the 1990s he was best known for his recurring role on several seasons on “Roseanne,” in which he played a warmer, less sleazy boss to the title character, an openly gay man whose partner was played by Willard, who died in 2020 . Mull would later play private eye Gene Parmesan on “Arrested Development,” a cult-classic character on a cult-classic show, and would be nominated for an Emmy, his first, in 2016 for a guest run on “Veep.” Robert Towne Screenwriter Robert Towne poses at The Regency Hotel, March 7, 2006, in New York. Towne, the Oscar-winning screenplay writer of "Shampoo," "The Last Detail" and other acclaimed films whose work on "Chinatown" became a model of the art form and helped define the jaded allure of his native Los Angeles, died Monday, July 1, 2024, surrounded by family at his home in Los Angeles, said publicist Carri McClure. She declined to comment on any cause of death. Vic Seixas Vic Seixas of the United States backhands a volley from Denmark's Jurgen Ulrich in the first round of men's singles match at Wimbledon, England, June 27, 1967. Vic Seixas, a Wimbledon winner and tennis Hall of Famer who was the oldest living Grand Slam champion, has died July 5 at the age of 100. The International Tennis Hall of Fame announced Seixas’ death on Saturday July 6, 2024, based on confirmation from his daughter Tori. James Inhofe In this June 30, 2020, file photo, Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., speaks to reporters following a GOP policy meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington. Former Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma died July 9. He was 89. The family says in a statement that the Republican had a stroke during the July Fourth holiday and died Tuesday morning. Inhofe was a powerful fixture in state politics for decades. He doubted that climate change was caused by human activity, calling the theory “the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.” As Oklahoma’s senior U.S. senator, he was a staunch supporter of the state’s military installations. He was elected to a fifth Senate term in 2020 and stepped down in early 2023. Joe Bonsall The Oak Ridge Boys, from left, Joe Bonsall, Richard Sterban, Duane Allen and William Lee Golden hold their awards for Top Vocal Group and Best Album of the Year for "Ya'll Come Back Saloon", during the 14th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Los Angeles, Calif., May 3, 1979. Bonsall died on July 9, 2024, from complications of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Hendersonville, Tenn. He was 76. A Philadelphia native and resident of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Bonsall joined the Oak Ridge Boys in 1973, which originally formed in the 1940s. He saw the band through its golden period in the '80s and beyond, which included their signature 1981 song “Elvira.” The hit marked a massive crossover moment for the group, reaching No. 1 on the country chart and No. 5 on Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100. The group is also known for such hits as 1982’s “Bobbie Sue." Shelley Duvall Shelley Duvall poses for photographers at the 30th Cannes Film Festival in France, May 27, 1977. Duvall, whose wide-eyed, winsome presence was a mainstay in the films of Robert Altman and who co-starred in Stanley Kubrick's “The Shining,” died July 11. She was 75. Dr. Ruth Westheimer Dr. Ruth Westheimer holds a copy of her book "Sex for Dummies" at the International Frankfurt Book Fair 'Frankfurter Buchmesse' in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2007. Westheimer, the sex therapist who became a pop icon, media star and best-selling author through her frank talk about once-taboo bedroom topics, died on July 12, 2024. She was 96. Richard Simmons Richard Simmons sits for a portrait in Los Angeles, June 23, 1982. Simmons, a fitness guru who urged the overweight to exercise and eat better, died July 13 at the age of 76. Simmons was a court jester of physical fitness who built a mini-empire in his trademark tank tops and short shorts by urging the overweight to exercise and eat better. Simmons was a former 268-pound teen who shared his hard-won weight loss tips as the host of the Emmy-winning daytime “Richard Simmons Show" and the “Sweatin' to the Oldies” line of exercise videos, which became a cultural phenomenon. Jacoby Jones Former NFL receiver Jacoby Jones died July 14 at age 40. Jones' 108-yard kickoff return in 2013 remains the longest touchdown in Super Bowl history. The Houston Texans were Jones’ team for the first five seasons of his career. They announced his death on Sunday. In a statement released by the NFL Players Association, his family said he died at his home in New Orleans. A cause of death was not given. Jones played from 2007-15 for the Texans, Baltimore Ravens, San Diego Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers. He made several huge plays for the Ravens during their most recent Super Bowl title season, including that kick return. Shannen Doherty The "Beverly Hills, 90210" star whose life and career were roiled by tabloid stories, Shannen Doherty died July 13 at 53. Doherty's publicist said the actor died Saturday following years with breast cancer. Catapulted to fame as Brenda in “Beverly Hills, 90210,” she worked in big-screen films including "Mallrats" and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" and in TV movies including "A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story," in which she played the "Gone with the Wind" author. Doherty co-starred with Holly Marie Combs and Alyssa Milano in the series “Charmed” from 1998-2001; appeared in the “90210” sequel series seven years later and competed on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2010. James Sikking Actor James Sikking poses for a photograph at the Los Angeles gala celebrating the 20th anniversary of the National Organization for Women, Dec. 1, 1986. Sikking, who starred as a hardened police lieutenant on “Hill Street Blues” and as the titular character's kindhearted dad on “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” died July 13 of complications from dementia, his publicist Cynthia Snyder said in a statement. He was 90. Pat Williams Pat Williams chats with media before the 2004 NBA draft in Orlando, Fla. Williams, a co-founder of the Orlando Magic and someone who spent more than a half-century working within the NBA, died July 17 from complications related to viral pneumonia. The team announced the death Wednesday. Williams was 84. He started his NBA career as business manager of the Philadelphia 76ers in 1968, then had stints as general manager of the Chicago Bulls, the Atlanta Hawks and the 76ers — helping that franchise win a title in 1983. Williams was later involved in starting the process of bringing an NBA team to Orlando. The league’s board of governors granted an expansion franchise in 1987, and the team began play in 1989. Lou Dobbs Lou Dobbs speaks Feb. 24, 2017, at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Oxon Hill, Md. Dobbs, the conservative political pundit and veteran cable TV host who was a founding anchor for CNN and later was a nightly presence on Fox Business Network for more than a decade, died July 18. He was 78. His death was announced in a post on his official X account, which called him a “fighter till the very end – fighting for what mattered to him the most, God, his family and the country.” He hosted “Lou Dobbs Tonight” on Fox from 2011 to 2021, following two separate stints at CNN. No cause of death was given. Bob Newhart Bob Newhart, center, poses with members of the cast and crew of the "Bob Newhart Show," from top left, Marcia Wallace, Bill Daily, Jack Riley, and, Suzanne Pleshette, foreground left, and Dick Martin at TV Land's 35th anniversary tribute to "The Bob Newhart Show" on Sept. 5, 2007, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Newhart has died at age 94. Jerry Digney, Newhart’s publicist, says the actor died July 18 in Los Angeles after a series of short illnesses. The accountant-turned-comedian gained fame with a smash album and became one of the most popular TV stars of his time. Newhart was a Chicago psychologist in “The Bob Newhart Show” in the 1970s and a Vermont innkeeper on “Newhart” in the 1980s. Both shows featured a low-key Newhart surrounded by eccentric characters. The second had a twist ending in its final show — the whole series was revealed to have been a dream by the psychologist he played in the other show. Cheng Pei-Pei Cheng Pei-pei, a Chinese-born martial arts film actor who starred in Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” died July 17 at age 78. Her family says Cheng, who had been diagnosed with a rare illness with symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease, passed away Wednesday at home surrounded by her loved ones. The Shanghai-born film star became a household name in Hong Kong, once dubbed the Hollywood of the Far East, for her performances in martial arts movies in the 1960s. She played Jade Fox, who uses poisoned needles, in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” which was released in 2000, grossed $128 million in North America and won four Oscars. Abdul 'Duke' Fakir Abdul “Duke” Fakir holds his life time achievement award backstage at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 8, 2009, in Los Angeles. The last surviving original member of the Four Tops died July 22. Abdul “Duke” Fakir was 88. He was a charter member of the Motown group along with lead singer Levi Stubbs, Renaldo “Obie" Benson and Lawrence Payton. Between 1964 and 1967, the Tops had 11 top 20 hits and two No. 1′s: “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” and the operatic classic “Reach Out I’ll Be There.” Other songs, often stories of romantic pain and longing, included “Baby I Need Your Loving,” “Standing in the Shadows of Love,” “Bernadette” and “Just Ask the Lonely.” Bernice Johnson Reagon Sculptress Elizabeth Catlett, left, then-Washington D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt Dixon, center, and then-curator, division of community life, Smithsonian institution Bernice Johnson Reagon chat during the reception at the Candace awards on June 25, 1991 in New York. Reagon, a musician and scholar who used her rich, powerful contralto voice in the service of the American Civil Rights Movement and human rights struggles around the world, died on July 16, 2024, according to her daughter's social media post. She was 81. John Mayall John Mayall, the British blues musician whose influential band the Bluesbreakers was a training ground for Eric Clapton, Mick Fleetwood and many other superstars, died July 22. He was 90. He is credited with helping develop the English take on urban, Chicago-style rhythm and blues that played an important role in the blues revival of the late 1960s. A statement on Mayall's official Instagram page says he died Monday at his home in California. Though Mayall never approached the fame of some of his illustrious alumni, he was still performing in his late 80s, pounding out his version of Chicago blues. Erica Ash Erica Ash, an actor and comedian skilled in sketch comedy who starred in the parody series “Mad TV” and “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” has died. She was 46. Her publicist and a statement by her mother, Diann, says Ash died July 28 in Los Angeles of cancer. Ash impersonated Michelle Obama and Condoleeza Rice on “Mad TV,” a Fox sketch series, and was a key performer on the Rosie O’Donnell-created series “The Big Gay Sketch Show.” Her other credits included “Scary Movie V,” “Uncle Drew” and the LeBron James-produced basketball dramedy “Survivor’s Remorse.” On the BET series “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” Ash played the ex-wife of Kevin Hart’s character. Jack Russell Jack Russell, the lead singer of the bluesy '80s metal band Great White whose hits included “Once Bitten Twice Shy” and “Rock Me” and was fronting his band the night 100 people died in a 2003 nightclub fire in Rhode Island, died Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. He was 63. Chi Chi Rodriguez Juan “Chi Chi” Rodriguez, a Hall of Fame golfer whose antics on the greens and inspiring life story made him among the sport’s most popular players during a long professional career, died Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. Susan Wojcicki Susan Wojcicki, the former YouTube chief executive officer and longtime Google executive, died Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, after suffering with non small cell lung cancer for the past two years. She was 56. Frank Selvy Frank Selvy, an All-America guard at Furman who scored an NCAA Division I-record 100 points in a game and later played nine NBA seasons, died Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. He was 91. Wally Amos Wallace “Wally” Amos, the creator of the cookie empire that took his name and made it famous and who went on to become a children’s literacy advocate, died Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, from complications with dementia. He was 88. Gena Rowlands Gena Rowlands, hailed as one of the greatest actors to ever practice the craft and a guiding light in independent cinema as a star in groundbreaking movies by her director husband, John Cassavetes, and who later charmed audiences in her son's tear-jerker “The Notebook,” died Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. She was 94. Peter Marshall Peter Marshall, the actor and singer turned game show host who played straight man to the stars for 16 years on “The Hollywood Squares,” died. Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024 He was 98. Alain Delon Alain Delon, the internationally acclaimed French actor who embodied both the bad guy and the policeman and made hearts throb around the world, died Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. He was 88. Phil Donahue Phil Donahue, whose pioneering daytime talk show launched an indelible television genre that brought success to Oprah Winfrey, Montel Williams, Ellen DeGeneres and many others, died Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, after a long illness. He was 88. Al Attles Al Attles, a Hall of Famer who coached the 1975 NBA champion Warriors and spent more than six decades with the organization as a player, general manager and most recently team ambassador, died Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. He was 87. John Amos John Amos, who starred as the family patriarch on the hit 1970s sitcom “Good Times” and earned an Emmy nomination for his role in the seminal 1977 miniseries “Roots,” died Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. He was 84. James Darren James Darren, a teen idol who helped ignite the 1960s surfing craze as a charismatic beach boy paired off with Sandra Dee in the hit film “Gidget,” died Monday, Sept. 2, 2024. He was 88. James Earl Jones James Earl Jones, who overcame racial prejudice and a severe stutter to become a celebrated icon of stage and screen has died. He was 93. His agent, Barry McPherson, confirmed Jones died Sept. 9 at home. Jones was a pioneering actor who eventually lent his deep, commanding voice to CNN, “The Lion King” and Darth Vader. Working deep into his 80s, he won two Emmys, a Golden Globe, two Tony Awards, a Grammy, the National Medal of Arts, the Kennedy Center Honors and was given an honorary Oscar and a special Tony for lifetime achievement. In 2022, a Broadway theater was renamed in his honor. Frankie Beverly Frankie Beverly, who with his band Maze inspired generations of fans with his smooth, soulful voice and lasting anthems including “Before I Let Go,” has died. He was 77. His family said in a post on the band’s website and social media accounts that Beverly died Sept. 10. In the post, which asked for privacy, the family said “he lived his life with a pure soul, as one would say, and for us, no one did it better.” The post did not say his cause of death or where he died. Beverly, whose songs include “Joy and Pain,” “Love is the Key,” and “Southern Girl,” finished his farewell “I Wanna Thank You Tour” in his hometown of Philadelphia in July. Joe Schmidt Joe Schmidt, the Hall of Fame linebacker who helped the Detroit Lions win NFL championships in 1953 and 1957 and later coached the team, has died. He was 92. The Lions said family informed the team Schmidt died Sept. 11. A cause of death was not provided. One of pro football’s first great middle linebackers, Schmidt played his entire NFL career with the Lions from 1953-65. An eight-time All-Pro, he was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973 and the college football version in 2000. Born in Pittsburgh, Schmidt played college football in his hometown at Pitt. Chad McQueen Chad McQueen, an actor known for his performances in the “Karate Kid” movies and the son of the late actor and racer Steve McQueen, died Sep. 11. His lawyer confirmed his death at age 63. McQueen's family shared a statement on social media saying he lived a life “filled with love and dedication.” McQueen was a professional race car driver, like his father, and competed in the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona races. He is survived by his wife Jeanie and three children, Chase, Madison and Steven, who is an actor best known for “The Vampire Diaries.” Tito Jackson Tito Jackson, one of the brothers who made up the beloved pop group the Jackson 5, died at age 70 on Sept. 15. Jackson was the third of nine children, including global superstars Michael and Janet. The Jackson 5 included brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael. They signed with Berry Gordy’s Motown empire in the 1960s. The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 and produced several No. 1 hits in the 1970s, including “ABC,” “I Want You Back” and “I’ll Be There.” JD Souther John David “JD” Souther has died. He was a prolific songwriter and musician whose collaborations with the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt helped shape the country-rock sound that took root in Southern California in the 1970s. Souther joined in on some of the Eagles’ biggest hits, such as “Best of My Love,” “New Kid in Town,” and “Heartache Tonight." The Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee also collaborated with James Taylor, Bob Seger, Bonnie Raitt and many more. His biggest hit as a solo artist was “You’re Only Lonely.” He was about to tour with Karla Bonoff. Souther died Sept. 17 at his home in New Mexico, at 78. In this photo, JD Souther and Alison Krauss attend the Songwriters Hall of Fame 44th annual induction and awards gala on Thursday, June 13, 2013 in New York. Dan Evans Sen. Dan Evans stands with his three sons, from left, Mark, Bruce and Dan Jr., after he won the election for Washington's senate seat in Seattle, Nov. 8, 1983. Evans, a former Washington state governor and a U.S. Senator, died Sept. 20. The popular Republican was 98. He served as governor from 1965 to 1977, and he was the keynote speaker at the 1968 National Republican Convention. In 1983, Evans was appointed to served out the term of Democratic Sen. Henry “Scoop” Jackson after he died in office. Evans opted not to stand for election in 1988, citing the “tediousness" of the Senate. He later served as a regent at the University of Washington, where the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance bears his name. Mercury Morris Eugene “Mercury” Morris, who starred for the unbeaten 1972 Miami Dolphins as part of a star-studded backfield and helped the team win two Super Bowl titles, died Sept. 21. He was 77. The team on Sunday confirmed the death of Morris, a three-time Pro Bowl selection. In a statement, his family said his “talent and passion left an indelible mark on the sport.” Morris was the starting halfback and one of three go-to runners that Dolphins coach Don Shula utilized in Miami’s back-to-back title seasons of 1972 and 1973, alongside Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick. Morris led the Dolphins in rushing touchdowns in both of those seasons. John Ashton John Ashton, the veteran character actor who memorably played the gruff but lovable police detective John Taggart in the “Beverly Hills Cop” films, died Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. He was 76. Maggie Smith Maggie Smith, who won an Oscar for 1969 film “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” and won new fans in the 21st century as the dowager Countess of Grantham in “Downton Abbey” and Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films, died Sept. 27 at 89. Smith's publicist announced the news Friday. She was frequently rated the preeminent British female performer of a generation that included Vanessa Redgrave and Judi Dench. “Jean Brodie” brought her the Academy Award for best actress in 1969. Smith added a supporting actress Oscar for “California Suite” in 1978. Kris Kristofferson Kris Kristofferson, a Rhodes scholar with a deft writing style and rough charisma who became a country music superstar and an A-list Hollywood actor, died Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. He was 88. Drake Hogestyn Drake Hogestyn, the “Days of Our Lives” star who appeared on the show for 38 years, died Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. He was 70. Ron Ely Ron Ely, the tall, musclebound actor who played the title character in the 1960s NBC series “Tarzan,” died Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, at age 86. Dikembe Mutombo Dikembe Mutombo, a Basketball Hall of Famer who was one of the best defensive players in NBA history and a longtime global ambassador for the game, died Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, from brain cancer, the league announced. He was 58. Frank Fritz Frank Fritz, left, part of a two-man team who drove around the U.S. looking for antiques and collectibles to buy and resell on the reality show “American Pickers,” died Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. He was 60. He's shown here with co-host Mike Wolfe at the A+E Networks 2015 Upfront in New York on April 30, 2015. Pete Rose Pete Rose, baseball’s career hits leader and fallen idol who undermined his historic achievements and Hall of Fame dreams by gambling on the game he loved and once embodied, died Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. He was 83. Cissy Houston Cissy Houston, the mother of Whitney Houston and a two-time Grammy winner who performed alongside superstar musicians like Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin, died Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in her New Jersey home. She was 91. Ethel Kennedy Ethel Kennedy, the wife of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, who raised their 11 children after he was assassinated and remained dedicated to social causes and the family’s legacy for decades thereafter, died on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, her family said. She was 96. Liam Payne Former One Direction singer Liam Payne, 31, whose chart-topping British boy band generated a global following of swooning fans, was found dead Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, local officials said. He was 31. Mitzi Gaynor Mitzi Gaynor, among the last survivors of the so-called golden age of the Hollywood musical, died of natural causes in Los Angeles on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. She was 93. Fernando Valenzuela Fernando Valenzuela, the Mexican-born phenom for the Los Angeles Dodgers who inspired “Fernandomania” while winning the NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in 1981, died Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. He was 63. Jack Jones Jack Jones, a Grammy-winning crooner known for “The Love Boat” television show theme song, died, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. He was 86. Phil Lesh Phil Lesh, a founding member of the Grateful Dead, died Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, at age 84. Teri Garr Teri Garr, the quirky comedy actor who rose from background dancer in Elvis Presley movies to co-star of such favorites as "Young Frankenstein" and "Tootsie," died Tuesday, Oct 29, 2024. She was 79. Quincy Jones Quincy Jones, the multitalented music titan whose vast legacy ranged from producing Michael Jackson’s historic “Thriller” album to writing prize-winning film and television scores and collaborating with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and hundreds of other recording artists, died Sunday, Nov 3, 2024. He was 91 Bobby Allison Bobby Allison, founder of racing’s “Alabama Gang” and a NASCAR Hall of Famer, died Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. He was 86. Song Jae-lim Song Jae-lim, a South Korean actor known for his roles in K-dramas “Moon Embracing the Sun” and “Queen Woo,” was found dead at his home in capital Seoul, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. He was 39. Timothy West British actor Timothy West, who played the classic Shakespeare roles of King Lear and Macbeth and who in recent years along with his wife, Prunella Scales, enchanted millions of people with their boating exploits on Britain's waterways, died Tuesday, Nov 12, 2024. He was 90. Bela Karolyi Bela Karolyi, the charismatic if polarizing gymnastics coach who turned young women into champions and the United States into an international power in the sport, died Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. He was 82. Arthur Frommer Arthur Frommer, whose "Europe on 5 Dollars a Day" guidebooks revolutionized leisure travel by convincing average Americans to take budget vacations abroad, died Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. He was 95. Bob Love Former Chicago Bulls forward Bob Love, a three-time All-Star who spent 11 years in the NBA, died Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. He was 81. Chuck Woolery Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19, died Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. He was 83. Barbara Taylor Bradford Barbara Taylor Bradford, a British journalist who became a publishing sensation in her 40s with the saga "A Woman of Substance" and wrote more than a dozen other novels that sold tens of millions of copies, died Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. She was 91. Rickey Henderson Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, the brash speedster who shattered stolen base records and redefined baseball's leadoff position, died Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. He was 65. Greg Gumbel Greg Gumbel, left, watches as then-Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun talks to Butler head coach Brad Stevens, right, prior to taping a television interview April 3, 2011, for that year's men's NCAA Final Four college basketball championship game in Houston. Gumbel's family announced Dec. 27 that the longtime CBS sportscaster died from cancer at the age of 78. Will these predictions come true in 2025? | The Ethical Life podcast Obituaries Newsletter Sign up to get the most recent local obituaries delivered to your inbox.Ituka scores 18 off the bench, Jacksonville State downs East Carolina 86-78

Explained: How Perth pitch changed its colours on Day 2 - The Times of India“I carry a knife or a sickle, an earthen pot, a waist belt and a harness before wrapping my feet around the tree trunk and climbing it,” explains Katikam Bhiksham, a toddy-tapper from Penumaka village in Tadepalli mandal of Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh. “Even at the age of 59, he can climb swiftly carrying tools and the toddy collecting pot with a remarkable balance that comes only with years of experience,” says his wife, Ms. Narasamma, her eyes glowing in pride. The couple was interacting with a team of officials and staff from the AP State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) and Penumaka Grama Sachivalayam (village secretariat), a government-established office that provides public services at the grassroots level. The team members go door to door for the household survey as part of the Andhra Pradesh government’s ambitious plan to enumerate skill census, the first of its kind in India. “First, I inspect the tree and the inflorescence to ensure it is healthy and is ready for tapping,” Mr. Bhiksham continues, unmindful of his conversation overlapping with a query tossed at him by one of the Sachivalayam staff. “Do you want to switch to some other occupation, or do you desire to continue what you are doing,” asked Sadupati Jyotirmayi, Welfare and Education Assistant at the Sachivalayam. Sachivalayam staff interacting with Katikam Bhiksham and his wife Narayanamma, locals of Penumaka village. | Photo Credit: G.N. Rao Mr. Bhiksham took a few minutes as if to organise his thoughts. Rubbing his chin, he said that toddy-tapping demanded exceptional strength and endurance. “It is also a high-risk job because sometimes it involves climbing trees taller than 50 feet,” he said, breaking eye contact. Given a choice, the 59-year-old is willing to take up agriculture work. However, even while promptly answering the queries, Mr. Bhiksham wonders about the purpose of the inquiry. APSSDC has almost completed the pilot census conducted in five mandals of Tadepalli, Duggirala, Mangalagiri Urban, Mangalagiri Rural and Thulluru in Mangalagiri Assembly Constituency. “This initiative will help bridge the gap between talent and opportunity, aligning better with the demands of the modern workforce” D. Nagamalleswara Rao Engineering student, KLEF (Deemed to be University) A total of 775 enumerators, drawn from APSSDC, village and ward secretariats, Society for Employment Generation and Enterprise Development in Andhra Pradesh (SEEDAP), and the National Academy of Construction (NAC), surveyed 1,12,251 households categorised into 2,029 clusters across 100 Sachivalayams by reaching out to the 2,77,207 residents. A new hope Pathan Shameela, a 34-year-old homemaker, once worked as a computer operator at a surgical shop in Vijayawada. The native of Bhimadole in Eluru district is a B. Com (Computer Applications) graduate who lives in Penumaka. The purpose of the visit of the officials to the village rekindled her hope of finding a job and utilising her skills to supplement her husband’s income. At Kothuru Centre in Tadepalli mandal, the enumerators approached a group of villagers, most of them unlettered and a mix of curiosity, confusion and apprehensions writ large on their faces. Soon, others gathered cautiously to observe what was happening. Whispers spread as people speculated about the purpose of the officials’ visit. “Is it a government aid programme?” asked an excited Ms. Venkayamma, a local resident. However, questions about skills, education and vocational experiences puzzled them, and some hesitated to answer, unsure of how their responses would be interpreted. When asked, Ms. Venkayamma laughed nervously, dismissing her skills as unimportant. It took a patient explanation of the purpose of the survey to people in the villages so that they could open up. Some of them came forward to describe their expertise in weaving, farming or animal husbandry. The staff recorded details meticulously, asking questions about traditional crafts, farming methods, educational and technical skills, and aspirations for future training. They captured inputs from all demographic groups, including women, youth, and elders in the 15-59 years age group, to build a comprehensive profile of their skill potential. “Besides the challenge of the migrated persons, whose names are officially registered here but have moved elsewhere, many residents have apprehensions about sharing the one-time password (OTP) they receive on their phones to approve the survey. Some others say they are unwilling to participate in the survey for various reasons,” says Mr. Venkata Srikanth, a digital assistant from Penumaka Sachivalayam. Some of the surveyors involved in the enumeration process say that the Sachivalayam staff attending other government priorities and surveys in addition to the skill census is yet another shortcoming. Skill gap study This sample assessment and data collection exercise aims to understand the skills and competencies of the local population and the skills in demand for improving the State economy. In other words, it is a skill gap study, which will be replicated at the State level, tentatively from the first week of January 2025. The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (2022-23), says that Andhra Pradesh has the highest unemployment rate of 24% among graduates aged 15 years and above in India. The Skill Census exercise aims to address this issue. According to key information accessed by those at the helm of the census project, which is only indicative in nature, the Labour Force Participation Rate is lowest among those with higher secondary education, while unemployment rate in the 15-29 years age group is 15.7% against the national average of 10%, indicating that Andhra Pradesh needs to skill up its youth more to bring down the unemployment rate. Regarding the gender-based worker population ratio among the 15-29 years age group in the State, it has been found that fewer young women are participating in the workforce, and more programmes could be designed to uplift them. As far as wages among salaried employees (15 to 29 years age group) are concerned, the State is performing above the national average, but there is scope for improvement. Unlocking talent “Our youngsters are skilled not just in the emerging areas of cyber security and cloud technology but also in the manufacturing and construction sectors. Unfortunately, their talent is locked up in their resumes. They need a platform to prove their mettle,” says A. Srinath, dean of Skill Development and Students’ Progression wing in K.L.E.F. Deemed to be University. Mr. Srinath feels that the skill census should not be prolonged, and it should be completed in the next six months “as we have the 2024 graduating batch readily available with high potential and equipped with skill sets.” “Through this very special project, the government is trying to identify what skills people have across different jobs and fields, spot the gap between the skills people have and what employers need” G. Ganesh Kumar Managing Director and CEO, APSSDC People, especially the youth, see the skill census as a boon in disguise. “This initiative will help bridge the gap between talent and opportunity, aligning better with the demands of the modern workforce,” says D. Nagamalleswara Rao, a final year Mechanical Engineering student from K.L.E.F. Deemed to be University. The APSSDC office at Tadepalli is buzzing with activity where a constant hum of energy and purpose fills the space. The Managing Director and CEO of APSSDC, G. Ganesh Kumar, is engaged in back-to-back meetings and is working closely with various agencies and NGOs to ensure the success of the skill census. A large conference room, converted into a tech command centre, is occupied by representatives of KPMG International Limited, the knowledge partners of the APSSDC. Long tables are laid with high-power laptops and monitors, and a mix of tangled cables are spread across the room. A couple of techies are immersed in typing codes, while others are scanning spreadsheets filled with survey questions and demographic data. “Through this very special project, the government is trying to identify what skills people have across different jobs and fields, spot the gap between the skills people have and what employers need,” says Mr. Ganesh Kumar, explaining that the outcome of the census will benefit both, the government and the people. He says it will equip the government with useful data to create better training and job-oriented programmes and help people choose careers, find suitable training, and improve their job chances. “Job creation in the State is the need of the hour, and this project will help the government achieve the same. Selected State-run and private institutions should be engaged in the process of identifying skill gaps, building competency levels among students and promoting internships, which subsequently would lead to their job placements,” says A.V. Ratna Prasad, pro-vice-chancellor of V.R. Siddhartha Engineering College, Deemed to be University. Students are happy that the skill census would guide them in focusing on skills that align with the demands of the industry. “As mere academic qualifications are no longer enough to land jobs, we need to target specific skills that will make us more competitive and employable in the job market,” says Pranuthi Pollipogu, a final year (ECE) student from V.R. Siddhartha Engineering College. Her friend Tribhuvana Sree Sappa, who is pursuing computer science engineering at the same institution, sees the initiative as a transformative step towards addressing critical challenges like employment and skill gaps. “It will give a sense of direction and confidence to young jobseekers like me,” she says. “The outcome of the census will be a powerful tool that will help the government systematically classify and organise the skills possessed by people, like a well-organised library of the State’s workforce capabilities, providing a clear picture of what skills an individual has and where there might be gaps” K. Raghu Executive Director, APSSDC Mammoth task Gearing up for the State-wide survey, which would require meticulous planning and execution to ensure accuracy and reliability, officials at the helm of the project are making swift and elaborate arrangements, including multiple rounds of workshops and training sessions on a massive scale at the village, mandal, district, and State levels. Armed with credible information, the officials are progressing with the project. The population in the State is said to be experiencing a demographic dividend, and this is expected to last till 2040 if their numbers are any indication. Every year, about 3 lakh people are entering the labour force now, compared to 2.3 lakh in the previous decade. Though the State economy is anticipated to grow, more than 1 lakh youth in the 15-16 age group here drop out of mainstream education every year, which is a matter of grave concern. The information also indicates that 33% of the youth in the State need skilling as of 2021-22. The census will cover 3.5 crore working-age people (15-59 years) in 1.8 crore households in Andhra Pradesh. The project involves two key elements: a household census and an industry census. The State has 33 lakh micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), among other major industries, and all of them will be covered. Skill ID To overcome the language barrier, the enumerators will conduct the survey in a bilingual format. After the enumeration, the participants will receive a Skill ID derived from their Aadhaar number, which will give them access to a skill profile, assessments and lifelong skilling opportunities in virtual and physical modes. Around 50,000 enumerators and 8,000 supervisors would be trained to carry out the project. “The outcome of the census will be a powerful tool that will help the government systematically classify and organise the skills possessed by people, like a well-organised library of the State’s workforce capabilities, providing a clear picture of what skills an individual has and where there might be gaps,” says K. Raghu, Executive Director, APSSDC. Published - December 13, 2024 12:48 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Andhra Pradesh / Vijayawada / employment / unemployment / labour / population and census / advanced training / Visakhapatnam / SpotlightUnder fire from congressional Republicans about one of the darkest moments of Joe Biden’s presidency, Secretary of State Antony Blinken defended the administration’s handling of the disastrous U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, saying Democrats struggled to make the best of a bad pullout deal struck by Donald Trump. Blinken testified Wednesday before the Republican-led House Foreign Affairs Committee, facing questions and angry criticism from lawmakers for the final time in office. The top U.S. diplomat was expected to leave for the Middle East in the afternoon, but the back-and-forth with members, specifically Republicans who admonished the chaotic withdrawal as his defining legacy, delayed his departure. RELATED STORY | House GOP report blames Biden-Harris for chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan Blinken said much of the blame for the sudden collapse of Afghanistan's U.S.-allied government and the chaotic August 2021 evacuation of Americans that followed rested with a withdrawal deal President Trump had reached with the Taliban in 2020 before leaving office. “To the extent President Biden faced a choice, it was between ending the war or escalating it,” Blinken told lawmakers. “Had he not followed through on his predecessor’s commitment, attacks on our forces and allies would have resumed and the Taliban’s assault on the country’s major cities would have commenced.” But McCaul and other Republican lawmakers portrayed Blinken and the Biden administration as ill-prepared and disengaged as the disaster grew, and intent on minimizing mounting evidence that the Taliban would complete a takeover of the country before the last U.S. troops departed. “This catastrophic event was the beginning of a failed foreign policy that lit the world on fire,” McCaul, a Texas Republican, said. He urged Blinken to take “accountability for the disastrous withdrawal.” It was clear “it was going to be a disaster,” said Florida Republican Rep. Brian Mast, who will take over as chairman of the committee in the next Congress. RELATED STORY | Where asylum seekers stand, 2 years after the war in Afghanistan The hearing came at the end of Blinken's diplomatic service under Biden, with six weeks left before Trump takes office, and at the end of McCaul's time leading the Foreign Affairs committee. It served as a capstone to nearly four years of animosity between the two over the end of America's longest war. “For my part, I’ve been determined to learn the lessons from this experience, not only to learn them, but to act on them,” Blinken said. He added, “We’ve made the State Department stronger and better able to respond to crises than it was when we found it, or it was during the Afghan evacuation.” There was little new ground broken on the U.S. withdrawal, after years of blame-trading between Republicans and Democrats. Blinken pointed Wednesday to the planned 2026 release of a government-appointed Afghanistan war commission's review as the best prospect of an independent full report on the disastrous events of the summer of 2021. The 20-year U.S. military occupation of Afghanistan succeeded in routing the al-Qaida militants responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, whom Afghanistan's fundamentalist Taliban militants had allowed a home. But as the U.S. began its pullout, as set by Trump's deal and carried out by Biden, Taliban fighters routed the U.S.-allied government and military, capturing control of the country within months. An extremist group's bombing at the Kabul airport killed 13 U.S. service members and nearly 200 Afghans as Americans, Afghan allies and others thronged the airport in hopes of seats on the last U.S. military-run flights out. Blinken testified Wednesday that all of the “hundreds” of Americans and dual citizens stranded by the sudden scramble from Afghanistan have now been able to leave, if they have chosen. RELATED STORY | Biden review of chaotic Afghan withdrawal blames Trump He opened his appearance before the committee by turning to families of U.S. forces killed in the withdrawal and expressing condolences. Protesters repeatedly interrupted his comments, crying out “scum” and “genocide,” before security cleared the room of them. Blinken denied Republican charges that he and others ignored warnings from lower-ranking administration officials that the U.S. withdrawal would go badly wrong, and that the U.S. had to move faster on getting out Americans and the Afghans who had worked for and allied with them. “We anticipated that Kabul would remain in the hands of the Afghan government” through the end of the year, Blinken said. “This unfolded more quickly than we anticipated including in the intelligence community.” “Waiting until the last minute is not executing a plan,” McCaul said. Blinken's testimony came months after House Republicans issued a scathing report on their investigation into the withdrawal, blaming the disastrous end on Biden’s administration. They played down Trump's role in the failures even though he had signed the withdrawal deal with the Taliban. Previous investigations and analyses by a government-appointed special investigator for Afghanistan and some private policy groups have pointed to a systemic failure spanning the last four presidential administrations and concluded that Biden and Trump share the heaviest blame.

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