Billionaire Elon Musk called Canada’s prime minister an “insufferable tool” on his social media platform today. Musk’s comments were in response to Justin Trudeau likening Kamala Harris’s defeat in the U.S. presidential election to an attack on women’s rights and progress. This afternoon, Trudeau met with provincial and territorial premiers to discuss Canada’s approach to negotiations with the U.S. Canada is facing a threat of a 25 per cent tariff hike from incoming president Donald Trump, who defeated Harris in the November election. Earlier this week, Trump taunted Trudeau on social media, referring to the prime minister as the governor of what he called the “Great State of Canada.” The post was an apparent reference to a joke Trump cracked at his dinner with Trudeau at his Mar-a-Lago estate nearly two weeks ago, where the president-elect teased that Canada could join the U.S. as its 51st state. Speaking on Tuesday night at an event hosted by the Equal Voice Foundation — an organization dedicated to improving gender representation in Canadian politics — Trudeau said there are regressive forces fighting against women’s progress. “It shouldn’t be that way. It wasn’t supposed to be that way. We were supposed to be on a steady, if difficult sometimes, march towards progress,” Trudeau said, adding he is a proud feminist and will always be an ally. “And yet, just a few weeks ago, the United States voted for a second time to not elect its first woman president. Everywhere, women’s rights and women’s progress is under attack. Overtly, and subtly.” In a post on X on Wednesday, Musk responded to a clip of Trudeau’s remarks, saying, “He’s such an insufferable tool. Won’t be in power for much longer.”None9 pa 。

The North Carolina State Board of Elections voted Wednesday to deny a GOP challenge that attempted to throw out 60,000 ballots in a state Supreme Court race. The Democratic incumbent in the race leads by just over 700 votes. Two recounts have been performed, but neither revealed enough votes for Republican Jefferson Griffin to surpass Democrat Allison Riggs. The elections board, which is led 3-2 by Democrats, could now move to certify the results of the race. Griffin's campaign had filed hundreds of legal challenges across the state in their allegations that nearly 60,000 people voted illegally. Their main contention was that these people didn't have a Social Security number or driver's license number in their voter registration records. “These voters were not eligible to cast a ballot without first lawfully registering,” attorneys for Griffin’s campaign wrote in the first brief to North Carolina's election board. There were three categories of votes at issue. The first involved voter registration applications processed two decades ago that were supposed to require people to note their driver’s license or Social Security numbers, but the form didn't list that requirement. Thousands of voters didn't include the requirement as a result. The other two categories involve overseas voters who haven't lived in North Carolina and those who failed to provide photo identification with their ballot. All three categories were put to a vote, with the first two falling along party lines. The final measure was rejected unanimously. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Griffin or the North Carolina Republican Party will likely appeal the decision. In a statement, North Carolina GOP Chairman Jason Simmons criticized the ruling and said the party would "review the board’s decision and reserve the right to any future actions to protect the integrity of our elections."

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Ethan Taylor's 21 points helped Air Force defeat Mercyhurst 82-48 on Sunday night. Taylor added 10 rebounds for the Falcons (2-4). Wesley Celichowski scored 14 points, going 6 of 11 and 2 of 3 from the free-throw line. Luke Kearney had 12 points and shot 4 for 5 from beyond the arc. The Lakers (4-3) were led by Aidan Reichert, who posted 11 points. Jeff Planutis added 10 points for Mercyhurst. Mykolas Ivanauskas also had seven points, six rebounds and three blocks. Air Force took the lead with 15:21 left in the first half and never looked back. The score was 31-24 at halftime, with Taylor racking up nine points. Air Force extended its lead to 45-26 during the second half, fueled by a 14-0 scoring run. Taylor scored a team-high 12 points in the second half as Air Force closed out the win. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .NiSource Inc. stock underperforms Friday when compared to competitorsLate kickoff return TDs by Turpin and Thomas spark the Cowboys as they end their 5-game skidBudimir extends La Liga scoring streak but Osasuna held

US telecoms carriers would be required to implement minimum cyber security standards and ensure their systems are not susceptible to hacks by nation-state attackers – like Salt Typhoon – under legislation proposed by senator Ron Wyden (D-OR). The Secure American Communications Act [PDF], if signed into law, would require the Federal Communications Commission to issue binding rules for telecom systems, following what Wyden calls the FCC's "failure" to implement security standards already required by federal law. He's referring to the CALEA of 1994 – aka the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act – which required telecom providers to design their systems to comply with wiretapping requests from law enforcement. The law also requires providers to secure their own systems against unauthorized interception – such as Chinese spies , who we recently learned did access these systems to steal communications and other sensitive information. While the feds haven't disclosed whose calls and texts were accessed by Salt Typhoon, the victims reportedly included president-elect Donald Trump and his VP pick JD Vance, people working for current VP Kamala Harris's presidential campaign, and other high-ranking political figures . "It was inevitable that foreign hackers would burrow deep into the American communications system the moment the FCC decided to let phone companies write their own cyber security rules," Wyden asserted in a statement. "Telecom companies and federal regulators were asleep on the job and as a result, Americans' calls, messages, and phone records have been accessed by foreign spies intent on undermining our national security," he continued. "Congress needs to step up and pass mandatory security rules to finally secure our telecom system against an infestation of hackers and spies." Wyden's proposal gives the FCC one year to design specific security requirements in consultation with the head of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Director of National Intelligence. The legislation doesn't specify what these safety measures should include, other than they must "prevent the interception of communications or access to call-identifying information without lawful authorization by any person or entity, including by an advanced persistent threat." It would also require the carriers to conduct annual testing to evaluate whether these systems are working as intended. If they're not, then the carriers must fix the issues. Further, telcos would need to hire an independent auditor to conduct an annual assessment of compliance with FCC cyber security rules, and submit the results of the audits to the commission. Outgoing FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel has also proposed rules that would require the nation's carriers to safeguard their infrastructure against illicit access or interception of communications. Wyden's proposal follows legislation the senator introduced earlier this year that would require the government to adopt secure communications software. He also proposed a bipartisan bill in 2023, which would have blocked the export of US citizens' personal information to unfriendly nations, making it more difficult for foreign spies to target Americans for hacking and spying. That proposal never made it out of committee. ®NEWARK — Maryland men’s basketball coach Kevin Willard was back in the building that’s the backdrop for many fond memories from his previous job. Sunday afternoon’s rousing comeback win against Villanova, fueled by Terrapins freshman standout Derik Queen, produced the latest bit of exhilaration for Willard at Prudential Center. Queen’s two free throws with 19 seconds to play were the decisive points in a 76-75 win in the Empire Classic. The Terps, who were playing away from College Park for the first time, trailed by 13 early in the second half before the 6-foot-10 center took over; he finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.

Revolutionary Single-Layer Film Eliminates Helmet Changes, Enhancing Driver Safety and Performance LAS VEGAS , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Racing Optics®, the global leader in high-performance tearoff visor film technology, proudly unveils its latest innovation: the Twilight Tearoff . This groundbreaking single-layer tearoff is engineered to elevate driver visibility during late-afternoon and early-evening races, providing superior glare reduction and contrast enhancement. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.THE HAGUE (AP) — The world’s top war-crimes court issued arrest warrants Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas’ military chief, accusing them of crimes against humanity in connection with the 13-month war in Gaza. The warrants said there was reason to believe Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have used “starvation as a method of warfare” by restricting humanitarian aid and have intentionally targeted civilians in Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza — charges Israeli officials deny. The action by the International Criminal Court came as the death toll from Israel’s campaign in Gaza passed 44,000 people, according to local health authorities, who say more than half of those killed were women and children. Their count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. Experts say hunger has become widespread across Gaza and may have reached famine levels in the north of the territory, which is under siege by Israeli troops. Israel says it has been working hard to improve entry of aid, though the trickle of supplies into Gaza remains near the lowest levels of the war. Netanyahu condemned the warrant against him, saying Israel “rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions” by the court. In a statement released by his office, he said: “There is nothing more just than the war that Israel has been waging in Gaza.” Gallant, in a statement, said the decision "sets a dangerous precedent against the right to self-defense and moral warfare and encourages murderous terrorism.” The warrant marked the first time that a sitting leader of a major Western ally has been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity by a global court of justice. The decision turns Netanyahu and the others into internationally wanted suspects, putting them at risk of arrest when they travel abroad and potentially further isolating them . Israel and its top ally, the United States, are not members of the court. But others of Israel's allies, including some of its close European friends, are put in an awkward position. Several, including France, welcomed the court's decision and signaled they might arrest Netanyahu if he visited. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Joe Biden's administration was “deeply concerned by the prosecutor’s rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision.” The warrants represent "the most dramatic step yet in the court’s involvement in the conflict between Israel and Hamas," said Anthony Dworkin, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Israeli leaders, politicians and officials across the spectrum denounced the warrants and the ICC. The new defense minister, Israel Katz, who replaced Gallant earlier this month, said Thursday’s decision is “a moral disgrace, entirely tainted by antisemitism, and drags the international judicial system to an unprecedented low.” Human rights groups applauded the move. The warrants against both sides “break through the perception that certain individuals are beyond the reach of the law,” the associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch, Balkees Jarrah, said in a statement. The decision came six months after ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan requested the warrants. The court issued a warrant for Mohammed Deif, head of Hamas’ armed wing, over the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks that triggered Israel’s offensive in Gaza. It said it found reasonable grounds to believe Deif was involved in murder, rape, torture and the taking of hostages amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity. In the Hamas-led attack, militants stormed into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and taking some 250 others hostage. Around 100 Israelis remain captive in Gaza, around a third of them believed to be dead. Khan withdrew requests for warrants for two other senior Hamas figures, Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh , who have both since been killed. Israel says it also killed Deif in an airstrike, but Hamas has never confirmed his death. The warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant were issued by a three-judge panel in a unanimous decision. The panel said there were reasonable grounds to believe that both men bear responsibility for the war crime of starvation and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts. The judges said the lack of food, water, electricity, fuel and specific medical supplies created conditions “calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza,” including the deaths of children due to malnutrition and dehydration. They also found that by preventing hospital supplies and medicine from getting into Gaza, doctors were forced to operate, including performing amputations, without anesthesia or with unsafe means of sedation that led to “great suffering.” Israeli diplomatic officials said the government is lobbying the international community to speak out against the warrants and is considering an appeal to the court. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal decision on how the government will proceed. Despite the warrants, none of the suspects is likely to face judges in The Hague anytime soon. Member countries are required to detain suspects facing a warrant if they set foot on their soil, but the court has no way to enforce that. For example, Russian President Vladimir Putin, wanted on an ICC warrant for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, recently visited Mongolia, a member state in the court but also a Russian ally. He was not arrested. Still, the threat of arrest now complicates any travel abroad by Netanyahu and Gallant. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the warrants are binding on all 27 members countries of the European Union. France signaled it could arrest Netanyahu if he came to its territory. Foreign Ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine called it a “complex legal issue” but said France supports the court’s actions. “Combating impunity is our priority,” he said. “Our response will align with these principles.” Hamas in a statement welcomed the warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant but made no mention of the one against Deif. Israel’s opposition leaders fiercely criticized the ICC’s move. Benny Gantz, a retired general and political rival to Netanyahu, said it showed “moral blindness” and was a “shameful stain of historic proportion that will never be forgotten.” Israel’s campaign has caused heavy destruction across Gaza and driven almost the entire population of 2.3 million people from their homes, leaving most dependent on aid to survive. Two days after Hamas’ attack on southern Israel, Gallant announced a total seal on Gaza, vowing not to let in food, fuel or other supplies. Under U.S. pressure, Israel began allowing a trickle of humanitarian aid to enter a few weeks later. Israel now says it puts no limit on the supplies permitted into Gaza, and it blames the U.N. distribution system. But Israel's official figures show the amount of aid it has let in has plunged since the beginning of October. The U.N has blamed Israeli military restrictions, along with widespread lawlessness that has led to theft of aid shipments. The case at the ICC is separate from another legal battle Israel is waging at the top U.N. court, the International Court of Justice, in which South Africa accuses Israel of genocide , an allegation Israeli leaders staunchly deny. Lawyers for Israel argued in court that the war in Gaza was a legitimate defense of its people and that it was Hamas militants who were guilty of genocide. ___ Associated Press journalists Raf Casert in Brussels, Mike Corder in The Hague and Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report. Molly Quell, The Associated Press

We Have Complained To NSA About Harassment Of Nigerians At Airports – KeyamoSchieffelin has 18 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists as Clemson hands Penn State first loss 75-67cs8683 。

NoneExtreme weather has created treacherous driving conditions over the past 48 hours. According to police between 7:00 a.m. Thursday and 9:00 a.m. Friday they responded to 162 collisions. Police posted images of a serious pileup near Putnam Road which shuttered the 401 for several hours. They say one person had serious but non-life threatening injuries. The westbound lanes were closed for more than 7-hours while crews cleaned up the wreckage. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. Editor's Picks Our Guide To The Most Giftable Toys In 2024 17 Sweet Treats And Snacks That Make Great Stocking Stuffers The Best Gift Ideas From Canadian Brands For Everyone On Your List Home Our Guide To The Best Sectional Sofas You Can Get In Canada Our Guide To The Best Electric Snow Shovels In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) Our Guide To The Best Hydroponic Gardens In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) Gifts 20 Of The Best Gifts Worth Splurging On In 2024 Mary Berg's Favourite Kitchen Products To Gift This Holiday Season The Best Gifts to Give Your Dad in 2024 Beauty Our Guide To The Best Self Tanners You Can Get In Canada 20 Anti-Aging Skincare Products That Reviewers Can’t Stop Talking About 12 Budget-Friendly Makeup Brushes And Tools Worth Adding To Your Kit Deals Black Friday May Be Over, But You Can Still Take Advantage Of These Amazing Sales On Amazon Canada It's Officially Travel Tuesday: Here Are The Best Deals On Flights, Hotels, And Vacations The Waterpik Advanced Water Flosser Will Make Cleaning Your Teeth So Much Easier — And It's 40% Off For Cyber Monday London Top Stories OPP say they responded to 162 collisions in a snowy 26 hours Threatening text messages seen by jury at bush bash shooting trial Although the snow is tapering off, some roads are still closed or not cleaned yet Police seek help identifying suspects in break-and-enter and shooting investigation Tow truck driver injured after helping stuck vehicle Human remains found at Hanover construction site Community angst over surprise changes to Durham hospital Salmonella cucumber recalls include products that may not be labelled: CFIA CTVNews.ca Top Stories A police photographer recounts the harrowing day of the Polytechnique massacre Montreal crime scene photographer Harold Rosenberg witnessed a lot of horror over his thirty years on the job, though nothing of the magnitude of what he captured with his lens at the Polytechnique on December 6, 1989. He described the day of the Montreal massacre to CTV Quebec Bureau Chief Genevieve Beauchemin. NDP's Singh forces debate on $250 cheques for more Canadians; Conservatives cut it short With the fate of the federal government's promised $250 cheques for 18.7 million workers hanging in the balance, the NDP forced a debate Friday on a motion pushing for the prime minister to expand eligibility. The conversation was cut short, though, by Conservative MPs' interventions. DEVELOPING | Police believe gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO has left New York City The gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer may have fled the city on a bus, New York City police officials told CNN on Friday. Purolator, UPS pause shipments from couriers amid Canada Post strike Purolator and UPS have paused shipments from some courier companies as they try to work through a deluge of deliveries brought on by the Canada Post strike. Northern Ontario man sentenced for killing his dog WARNING: This article contains graphic details of animal abuse which may be upsetting to some readers. A 40-year-old northern Ontario man is avoiding prison after pleading guilty to killing his dog earlier this year. Sask. father who kept daughter from mom to prevent COVID-19 vaccine free from additional prison time Michael Gordon Jackson, the Saskatchewan father who withheld his then seven-year-old daughter from her mom for nearly 100 days to prevent the girl from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, was handed a 12-month prison sentence and 200 days probation on Friday, but credited with time served. Health Canada says daily cannabis use hasn't changed much since legalization Health Canada says daily cannabis use has remained stable since it was legalized in 2018. Ticketmaster hidden fees settlement credits expected in 2025 following class-action lawsuit by Regina lawyer A longstanding lawsuit against Ticketmaster is nearing its end, with a judge expected to approve the more than $6 million dollar settlement before the end of the year. What is still being delivered? What to know about the Canada Post strike With Canada Post workers on strike, many individuals and businesses are facing the challenge of sending and receiving mail. Here are the answers to some of Canadians’ most-asked questions. Kitchener Threat that caused school lockdowns in Guelph came from the United States Guelph Police Service is releasing more information about a call that caused two schools to go into lockdown and a third to implement hold-and-secure measures earlier this week. Pedestrian airlifted to hospital after she was hit by driver in Guelph A pedestrian with non-life-threatening injuries has been airlifted to a Hamilton hospital after she was hit by a driver. Home extensively damaged, school evacuated, after Kitchener fire No injuries have been reported after a fire in Kitchener Friday morning. Barrie Driver charged after passing snow plow in front of oncoming OPP vehicle A driver was pulled over and charged after passing a snow plow in front of an oncoming OPP vehicle. Multi-vehicle crash on Highway 400 snarled traffic A three-vehicle crash on Highway 400 snarled Friday afternoon traffic. Messy road conditions result in several collisions Emergency crews were kept busy in the early morning hours on Friday as the wintry weather created slippery conditions on the roads, and according to weather experts, we’re not in the clear just yet. Windsor Suspects sought after two hardware store break-ins Essex County OPP are investigating two overnight break-ins at hardware stores. Homeless encampment returns to the chagrin of residents Ashley Harrington's problem was solved for a short time, but then a homeless encampment returned behind her property. Annual Holiday Toy and Collectors show raising funds for Adopt-A-Vet: 'We've got to give back' The holiday season is a time for joy, but for many Canadian veterans who are alone, it can be increasingly sad. Northern Ontario Northern Ontario man sentenced for killing his dog WARNING: This article contains graphic details of animal abuse which may be upsetting to some readers. A 40-year-old northern Ontario man is avoiding prison after pleading guilty to killing his dog earlier this year. Purolator, UPS pause shipments from couriers amid Canada Post strike Purolator and UPS have paused shipments from some courier companies as they try to work through a deluge of deliveries brought on by the Canada Post strike. Four transport truck drivers charged in northern Ont. collisions on Hwy. 11 Bad weather and bad driving contributed to multiple collisions on Highway 11 on Wednesday, leading to charges for several commercial motor vehicle drivers. Sault Ste. Marie Northern Ontario man sentenced for killing his dog WARNING: This article contains graphic details of animal abuse which may be upsetting to some readers. A 40-year-old northern Ontario man is avoiding prison after pleading guilty to killing his dog earlier this year. Sault College health students showcase their work Sault College students from three different health-care programs had the opportunity to present their work to local industry leaders at the institute’s second Health Care Research Showcase. Northern Ont. police catch liquor store thief, getaway driver Two people from southern Ontario have been charged in connection with a liquor store robbery Wednesday in the Town of Thessalon. The suspects were caught after trying to flee on Highway 17 and hiding the booze in a snowbank. Ottawa OC Transpo to open Trillium Line in three stages starting Jan. 6 OC Transpo general manager Renee Amilcar announced the Lines 2 and 4 will open in three phases, starting with five-day service Monday to Friday beginning Jan. 6. Another blast of snow coming to Ottawa this weekend It’s cold this Friday in Ottawa, as it feels like minus 17 in the morning and minus 10 in the afternoon with windchill. Ottawa police seeking suspect in Mooney's Bay area shooting Ottawa police are asking for the public's help in locating a 23-year-old man wanted in connection with a shooting in the Mooney's Bay area this week that critically injured a woman. Toronto Woman facing 96 animal welfare charges in connection with unlicensed kennel in Hamilton A woman is facing 96 animal welfare charges in connection with an unlicensed kennel in Hamilton, where two pet owners claimed their dogs died while in her care. Hamilton police shut down ‘open air drug market’ they say was 'run like a business' Hamilton Police say that they have shut down an "open air drug market" in the vicinity of a downtown laneway that appeared to be "run like a business." 1 dead, 2 in hospital after collision in Etobicoke One person is dead after a two-vehicle collision in Etobicoke Friday morning. Montreal WATCH LIVE | 'Duty to learn': Vigils mark 35th anniversary of Polytechnique anti-feminist killings Braving a biting winter wind, dignitaries gathered in front of Polytechnique Montréal's main campus on Friday to pay tribute to the 14 women killed at the Montreal institution in an anti-feminist attack 35 years ago. Quebec premier wants to ban praying in public Premier François Legault took advantage of the last day of the parliamentary session on Friday to announce to 'Islamists' that he will 'fight' for Quebec values and possibly use the notwithstanding clause to ban prayer in public places such as parks. Third public art theft in a month: Westmount bronze statue stolen A bronze statue was recently stolen from Prince Albert Square in Westmount, marking the third public art piece to go missing in just over a month. Atlantic Maritime weekend weather: Cold start and snowy finish Colder temperatures lie ahead for the weekend in the Maritimes with another swipe of snow and rain expected Sunday. N.S. RCMP search for Prospect Bay man wanted on provincewide warrant The RCMP is searching for a Nova Scotia man wanted on a provincewide warrant. 'It's been terrible': N.S. parents frustrated with constant school bus cancellations School bus cancellations are leaving some Nova Scotia students with unexpected days off. Winnipeg Manitoba premier hints at change of location for supervised drug consumption site The Manitoba government signalled Friday it is open to changing the location of a proposed supervised drug consumption site that had been revealed two days earlier and met with criticism. 'A well-loved piece': Historic carousel display from Hudson’s Bay Company store lands at Winnipeg shop When a carousel setup from the Hudson’s Bay Company became available during an auction, a Winnipeg business owner had to have it. Manitoba RCMP looking to identify vehicle possibly connected to double homicide The Manitoba RCMP is looking for help to identify a vehicle potentially connected to a double homicide in Portage la Prairie on Sunday. Calgary Calgary's Fueling Brains Academy targeted by 'possible data breach' Calgary police say a strange email addressed to parents of students at Fueling Brains Academy did not come from the business. Unemployment in Alberta remains steady, population growth continues to drive up Calgary’s unemployment New data shows Calgary’s unemployment rate ranks amongst the highest in the country as its growth in population continues to outpace the availability of job opportunities. Tubafest YYC moves the tuba players from back row to up front The Holiday TubaFest YYC is a celebration of all things tuba and is a gathering of players from 12 years old an up, of all abilities, for an afternoon of Christmas music. Edmonton Security guard killed at Edmonton apartment building Homicide detectives are investigating the death of a security guard in central Edmonton on Friday morning. Jasper hockey goalie pays tribute to fire-ravaged town Among the things Jasper resident Reid Jackson lost when his family's home was destroyed by the summer fire was his hockey goalie equipment. Video posted to social media shows fireball, black smoke from manufacturing plant incident An issue at a chemical manufacturing plant in Edmonton caused a fireball on Friday morning. Regina Bernadette McIntyre named Saskatchewan's 24th Lieutenant Governor Saskatchewan’s 24th Lieutenant Governor will be Bernadette McIntyre after being appointed to the position by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. Sask. father who kept daughter from mom to prevent COVID-19 vaccine free from additional prison time Michael Gordon Jackson, the Saskatchewan father who withheld his then seven-year-old daughter from her mom for nearly 100 days to prevent the girl from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, was handed a 12-month prison sentence and 200 days probation on Friday, but credited with time served. Ticketmaster hidden fees settlement credits expected in 2025 following class-action lawsuit by Regina lawyer A longstanding lawsuit against Ticketmaster is nearing its end, with a judge expected to approve the more than $6 million dollar settlement before the end of the year. Saskatoon Bernadette McIntyre named Saskatchewan's 24th Lieutenant Governor Saskatchewan’s 24th Lieutenant Governor will be Bernadette McIntyre after being appointed to the position by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. Saskatoon-based dog rescue operator ordered to pay $27K for defamatory Facebook posts A Saskatoon-based dog rescue operator has been ordered to pay over $27,000 in damages to five women after a judge ruled she defamed them in several Facebook posts. Are other cities better at clearing snow than Saskatoon? One of the noticeable changes during Saskatoon’s 2025 budget deliberations at city hall this past week was an increase to the snow and ice budget. Vancouver Soggy night for Swifties? Umbrellas not allowed at Taylor Swift concert venue in Vancouver There's heavy rain in the forecast for the first night of Taylor Swift's sold-out Eras Tour in downtown Vancouver – and umbrellas are prohibited at the concert venue. B.C. minister wants new safety plan for Victoria schools, threatens board removal British Columbia Education Minister Lisa Beare has appointed a special adviser to help the Victoria school board "revise and improve" its safety plan after it barred police from schools except in emergencies. SPCA recommending cruelty charges after seizing 59 dogs, 14 birds from B.C. breeder The BC SPCA says it recently rescued 59 suffering dogs and puppies as well as 14 birds from an irresponsible breeder in Quesnel. Vancouver Island B.C. minister wants new safety plan for Victoria schools, threatens board removal British Columbia Education Minister Lisa Beare has appointed a special adviser to help the Victoria school board "revise and improve" its safety plan after it barred police from schools except in emergencies. Victoria man sentenced for sexually assaulting teen after supplying her drugs A Victoria man has been sentenced to five years in prison for twice sexually assaulting a teenage girl – one of four minors he was convicted of targeting over an eight-month period in 2018. All-star Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko returns to lineup as backup All-star goalie Thatcher Demko will return to the Vancouver Canucks lineup Friday. Stay ConnectedQNA DOHA: Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi has affirmed that the stances of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, leaders and peoples, on the Palestinian cause are firm and stemming from the belief in the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state on all their national soil. Addressing the opening session of the 11th Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies Forum, organized by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies on Saturday, he explained that the relationship between the GCC countries and the Palestinian cause is not a recent development, but rather an extension of a long history of support and solidarity that began with the establishment of these countries and still continues. The Stances of the Gulf States, leadership and peoples, have always remained firm and steadfast, stemming from the belief in the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state on their entire national soil, he said. Since the beginning of this relationship, the Gulf States have opened their doors giving Palestinians a safe haven and opportunities to work and contribute to their development, he said adding that the deep human ties between the Palestinian people and the Gulf peoples have contributed to supporting various areas of development, and they have left indelible marks in building institutions and infrastructure. Such ties have also formed humanitarian and cultural bridges that have strengthened the ties between the Gulf peoples and the Palestinian people and made them brothers who share with us the journey of growth and prosperity. Dr Al Khulaifi pointed out that the Palestinian cause will always remain the focus of attention of Arab and Islamic countries, expressing his certainty that the Arab nation carries this cause in its conscience and is doing everything in its power to enhance the steadfastness of the brotherly Palestinian people. GCC countries will spare no effort in harnessing all capabilities to support the Palestinian people and their steadfastness in the face of the Israeli occupation that threatens their existence and rights. He also noted that the Arab and Islamic peoples are fully aware that the stability and security of the region are closely linked to a just and comprehensive settlement to the Palestinian cause, so their support for this just cause is not just a religious or national duty, but rather a humanitarian and moral commitment. He touched on the developments in the Palestinian issue and the displacement, genocide and settlement projects, saying that the Israeli settlement project in Palestine has been going against the course of history since its birth, and the campaigns of genocide and displacement of the Palestinian people for more than half a century have only strengthened their determination to hold to their land. The steadfastness of the Palestinian people and the growing human awareness have consolidated the rights of this oppressed people on their land, he stressed. Against the backdrop of the developments in the conflict, there is only one solution left for everyone, which is to enable the establishment of a fully sovereign Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967, he continued. He also spoke about the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, saying that it has gone too far in its brutality and recklessness, taking the form of collective punishment and a war of extermination that has resulted in a terrifying toll of innocent victims, severe destruction, and an unprecedented humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip and then the West Bank. This aggression has exceeded all warnings issued by international platforms that the worsening of the crisis could lead to dangerous violence, he said noting that these warnings reflected deep concern about the repercussions of this ongoing conflict. He also stressed the need to mobilize international and regional efforts to push for peace and stability in the region and guarantee the rights of the Palestinian people to live in dignity and security. He stressed that the continuation of this aggression requires the international community to take a firm stance to stop these gross violations of human rights, adding that the international community must assume its moral and legal responsibilities in protecting the Palestinian people. He the Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on all international parties to work seriously to achieve this well-known goal and avoid further escalation and violence that only brings more suffering and destruction. He referred to what the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip have been witnessing in the past months of a genocidal war, the number of victims of which has reached more than 43 thousand martyrs and more than 100 thousand wounded, in addition to thousands missing and under the rubble, in addition to the forced displacement of more than two million Palestinians from their homes many times in search of safety. After more than a year since the beginning of the war, the number of dead, wounded and missing people is constantly increasing, he said expressing concern that this scene will become familiar. "However, no matter how much the international community tries to justify these crimes without real condemnation, this will not blind us from seeing the painful reality experienced by the brotherly Palestinian people," he continued. He also stressed that the continuation of this tragic situation in Gaza imposes on everyone a moral and humanitarian responsibility to raise their voices against these violations and work tirelessly to remind the world that the Palestinian people deserve to live in dignity and security, away from violence and oppression. Dr Al Khulaifi spoke about the role of the State of Qatar in resolving conflicts and supporting stability and peace efforts in the region and the world. "The State of Qatar has been a living model of an effective role in mediation between the conflicting parties, based on established principles of justice, fairness and respect for international law," he said. He continued, "These efforts aim to build trust between the conflicting parties, encourage them to engage in constructive dialogue and facilitate the process of achieving peace. They also include exerting the necessary care to ensure reaching a specific result and creating the appropriate conditions for achieving a peaceful and sustainable solution." Hereiterated the State of Qatar's firm position in supporting the right of the Palestinian people to exist, remain on their land and determine their fate. He stressed that Qatar will not hesitate to make every effort to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue. In this context, he referred to the efforts made by the State of Qatar in cooperation with its partners in November of last year, which resulted in achieving a temporary humanitarian pause in Gaza, leading to the release of 240 Palestinian prisoners, including women and children, and 109 detainees in Gaza, in addition to increasing the flow of relief shipments to the Strip. In the same context, he pointed out the State of Qatar's contribution to evacuating the wounded and sick and its support for humanitarian initiatives to deliver aid through all available means, stressing that it will continue to make efforts until a permanent ceasefire is reached and a just solution is achieved in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, ensuring that the Palestinian people obtain all their legitimate rights, most notably their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital and full membership in the United Nations. "To achieve this, the occupation and illegal settlement on the occupied Arab territories must be ended and illegal practices that undermine the two-state solution must be stopped," he said. He went on saying that Qatar's mediation efforts stem from Islamic and Arab values and the principles of justice and fairness, which are the foundation on which the State of Qatar's foreign policy has been based for many years. These efforts seek to achieve a just peace that protects the rights of the weak and ensures a better future for future generations, he added. Dr Al Khulaifi stressed that this critical moment requires all governments and peoples to reconsider the tools and mechanisms for supporting the Palestinian cause. "From this standpoint come the efforts made by the Ministerial Committee assigned by the Extraordinary Joint Arab-Islamic Summit to create a clear path for the Palestinian cause," he said. He pointed out that this committee has made several visits to relevant capitals and the United Nations to work to stop this Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people and to move at the international level to support efforts to gain recognition of Palestine. He also explained that these efforts include enhancing cooperation with international and regional organizations and intensifying diplomatic campaigns to raise global awareness about the suffering of the Palestinian people. He pointed out that the war of extermination launched by Israel on Gaza after October 7 of last year revealed the intentions and actions of the occupation, adding that the world is now facing a major legal and moral challenge between standing with the values of justice, fairness and international law, and watching the demolition of what humanity has built under the pretext of political realism. He said: "What increased the embarrassment of standing as spectators to the war of extermination on Gaza is the increasing pressure from peoples and human rights organizations, and after a difficult period that extended for many months, the world chose to gradually move away from double standards. He continued: "Countries and regional and international organizations have moved to defend human values, and international treaties and covenants have been activated to stop the crime of genocide against Gaza and hold its perpetrators accountable under international judicial platforms. A unique international consensus has been reached based on the fact that there is no political solution that will restore peace and stability to the Middle East other than ending the occupation and allowing the Palestinian people to enjoy their right to self-determination." He also pointed out that the war of genocide on Gaza has clearly demonstrated that the power and will of peoples is the decisive factor in modern conflicts, as peoples, with their awareness and determination to achieve justice, are capable of changing the course of history and reshaping international relations. "This war has proven that popular solidarity can be stronger than any army and that the collective voice of peoples can impose a new will on the international scene," he added. He pointed out that this growing awareness among peoples would lead to a radical change in the rules of international relations, where the power of right becomes the basic criterion instead of the right of power, and countries realize that respect for human rights and social justice are the only way to achieve peace and stability. He stressed that supporting the Palestinian cause should not be a temporary response to moments of crisis, but rather a sustainable commitment based on a clear vision and a long-term strategy. This integrated approach reflects a genuine commitment to empowering the Palestinian people to establish their independent state. To achieve this, efforts must be combined at various levels, starting with political and diplomatic support in international forums, and extending to providing economic and development support to enhance the Palestinian infrastructure, he stressed. Dr Al Khulaifi stressed that the State of Qatar will remain at the forefront of supporters of efforts aimed at achieving peace and justice, and will continue to work tirelessly to prevent the outbreak of conflicts and resolve them through peaceful means to ensure that all peoples enjoy a dignified and secure life. "Qatar's commitment to peace and justice is a permanent commitment that reflects our established values and principles to promote stability and prosperity for all," he stressed. Copy 30/11/2024 10

Aleksandr Darchiyev is slated soon to be appointed as Russia's ambassador to Washington, the Kommersant newspaper reported on November 24, citing three unidentified sources. Darchiyev, head of the Russian Foreign Ministry's North American section, was ambassador to Canada from October 2014 to January 2021. He would succeed Anatoly Antonov, who concluded his term in October. The move would come at a time of high tensions between Washington and Moscow and just ahead of the return of Donald Trump to the presidency on January 20. The United States, under President Joe Biden, has been the top foreign supporter of Ukraine in its battle against Russia's full-scale invasion, while Trump has suggested aid could be curtailed. The Financial Times reports that Russia has recruited hundreds of Yemeni men to fight in Ukraine, lured by the promise of high salaries and potential Russian citizenship. The November 23 report said they were helped by a Huthi-linked company to travel to Russia, then forcibly inducted into the Russian Army and sent to the front lines in Ukraine. The report said the action illustrates how the Kremlin is desperately trying to avoid a full mobilization of its society by using foreign fighters following reports that North Korea has sent thousands of soldiers to train and fight alongside Russian forces. Iran on November 24 confirmed it will hold talks regarding its disputed nuclear program with officials from Britain, France, and Germany on November 30, saying they will also focus on “bilateral, regional, and international issues.” In a news conference, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei spokesman did not specific the location of the talks. Earlier, Japan's Kyodo news agency reported that Iran was arranging nuclear talks with Britain and the European Union starting on November 30 in Geneva. Kyodo quoted several diplomatic sources as saying the Iranian administration is seeking a solution to Iran's nuclear impasse ahead of the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on January 20. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, click here . The Pakistani government on November 24 said its mediation team had reached agreement on a seven-day cease-fire among warring sectarian groups in the northwest of the country, looking to end clashes that have killed more than 80 people. Mohammad Ali Saif, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa information minister and government spokesman, told news agencies that Shi'ite and Sunni leaders had agreed to halt attacks for at least a seven-day period as a longer-lasting solution was sought. The violence between Sunni and Shi'ite groups in the Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province began on November 21 after gunmen opened fire on a convoy of vehicles carrying Shi'ite Muslims, killing at least 38 people. No group claimed responsibility for the attack, the latest in a series of deadly confrontations in Kurram. Police said armed men torched shops, houses, and government property before a government delegation arrived in the area seeking to defuse the crisis. "The clashes and convoy attacks on November 21, 22, and 23 have resulted in 82 fatalities and 156 injuries," a local administration official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. He added that among the dead were 16 were Sunni and 66 Shi’ite members of the community. Prior to announcement of the truce agreement, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Law Minister Aftab Alam Afridi said that "our priority today is to broker a cease-fire between both sides. Once that is achieved, we can begin addressing the underlying issues." The delegation arrived on November 23 and met with Shi’ite leaders, then held talks with Sunni leaders on November 24, an official said. Sunnis and Shi'a living in Kurram have clashed over land, forests, and other property as well as religion over the years, despite government and law enforcement efforts to build peace. Minority Shi'ite Muslims have long complained of discrimination and violence in Sunni-majority Pakistan. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on November 24 his country "needs more air-defense systems" to protect its people as Russia continues to target Ukraine with aerial bombs, combat drones, and missiles. "Strengthening the protection of our skies is absolutely critical," Zelenskiy wrote on social media, adding that Kyiv was "actively working" with its partners on improving the country’s air defenses. Russia has launched more than 800 guided aerial bombs, around 460 strike drones, and over 20 missiles of various types against Ukraine over the past week, according to Zelenskiy. Both Ukraine and Russia on November 24 reported repelling dozens of drones from the other side overnight. Ukrainian military said early in the morning that its air defenses shot down 50 of 73 Russian drones, with more than 10 of the intercepted drones targeting the capital, Kyiv. The Ukrainian Air Force added that it lost track of 19 drones and four more were still in the air. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said the air-raid alert lasted for more than three hours as the drones "were flying from different directions" toward the city. Russia's Defense Ministry reported its air-defense systems destroyed 34 drones overnight, including 27 over the Kursk region bordering Ukraine. The ministry did not provide information about any damage or casualties caused by the strikes. Ukrainian forces swept into the Kursk region in a surprise offensive in August, seizing nearly 1,400 square kilometers of Russian territory. But Kyiv has since lost about 40 percent of the territory it captured in Kursk, according to a source in Ukraine’s General Staff. "At most, we controlled about 1,376 square kilometers, now of course this territory is smaller. The enemy is increasing its counterattacks," the source was quoted by news agencies as saying. The source said Kyiv now controls approximately 800 square kilometer in Kursk and "will hold this territory for as long as is militarily appropriate." The United States and the United Kingdom reportedly gave permission to Ukraine recently to strike inside Russia with ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles, respectively. The missiles are precision tactical weapons designed to hit command-and-control centers, logistics, and arms depots near the front. Ukraine has already used the missiles to strike in Kursk and the neighboring region of Belgorod. France also joined the United States and Britain in signaling to Ukraine that it is allowed use long-range weapons against targets on Russian territory. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in an interview with the BBC that Ukraine could fire French long-range missiles into Russia "in the logics of self-defense.” But he would not confirm if French weapons had already been used. Pakistani authorities have locked down Islamabad and partially suspended mobile phone and Internet services as supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan geared up for a protest in the capital, calling for his release. The government announced late on November 23 that Internet and cellphone services would be temporarily unavailable "in areas with security concerns" while "continuing to operate as usual in the rest of the country." It did not specify the areas, nor did it explain when the suspension would be lifted. The announcement was posted on X, which is banned in Pakistan. Highways leading to Islamabad through which the protesters are expected to enter the city and gather near the parliament have been blocked by the government. Most major roads in the city have also been sealed off with shipping containers, while large contingents of police and paramilitary personnel could be seen deployed in riot gear. Islamabad police issued a statement, saying gatherings of any sort have been banned under legal provisions. Khan has been in prison since August 2023 and has over 150 criminal cases against him, ranging from corruption to inciting violence. Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf or PTI, deny all the charges as politically motivated. Khan’s supporters rely heavily on social media to demand his release and use messaging platforms like WhatsApp to share information, including details of protest rallies. Ali Amin Gandapur, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and a key Khan ally, called on protesters to gather near the entrance of Islamabad's red zone, known as D Chowk. The red zone houses the country's parliament building and important government offices, as well as embassies and foreign institutions' offices. "Khan has called on us to remain there till all our demands are met," Gandapur said in a video message on November 23. He is expected to lead the largest convoy into Islamabad. Last month, a PTI protest in Islamabad turned violent with one policeman killed, dozens of security personnel injured, and protesters arrested. Both protesters and authorities accused one another of instigating the clashes. The shutdown of Internet and cellphone services during that protest disrupted communications and affected everyday services such as banking, ride-hailing, and food delivery. BUCHAREST -- Romanians are voting on November 24 in the likely first of two rounds in a presidential election that will have a key impact on foreign policy, particularly on Bucharest's current support for embattled Ukraine, with which it shares a 613-kilometer border. Romanian Prime Minister and Social Democratic Party leader Marcel Ciolacu is favored to receive the most votes among the 13 candidates, but if no one garners more than 50 percent, a second round will be held on December 8 featuring the two leaders. According to pre-vote polls, five candidates have a shot at advancing to the runoff to succeed the outgoing center-right incumbent, Klaus Iohannis, who is ending his second term and a decade in office. A possible second-round challenger for Ciolacu is George Simion , leader of the far-right, ultranationalist Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR). Fourteen candidates are officially registered in the race, but Ludovic Orban announced he was withdrawing from the contest. Romania also has parliamentary elections set for December 1. As of 3 p.m., Romanian election officials said turnout was 32 percent, up from 29.2 percent at the same time in the 2019 vote, with long lines at polling stations reported in the capital, Bucharest. At three polling stations, turnout was reported at more than 150 percent. It was not immediately clear if the figure was the result of irregularities or due to supplemental lists holding more names than the permanent lists. Romania has become a key ally of Ukraine , not only providing training and military equipment but playing a key role in transporting Ukrainian grain and other agricultural goods to global markets. Much of the credit for Bucharest's pro-Ukraine stance goes to the incumbent, Iohannis. Romania's president has significant decision-making powers , including on matters of national security and foreign policy. Elected for a five-year term, the president can also reject party nominees for prime minister and government nominees for judicial appointments. Diaspora voting began on November 23, with initial figures indicating a lower turnout than in 2019 among those abroad, with about 222,000 of such votes cast by the morning of November 24. Oana Popescu-Zamfir, director of the Bucharest-based think tank GlobalFocus Center, told RFE/RL that this is a high-stakes election for the NATO and EU nation of 19 million people. "Romania is faced with two important realities next year: the threat of further instability and conflict in the region and globally, especially in the context of a [President-elect Donald] Trump White House," she said. Also, "the risks of deepening economic and financial crisis, given that [Romania is] currently running one of the highest twin budget deficits and inflation rates in the EU and the cost of commodities has continued to increase while government expenditure has stayed high (largely because of the bloated state apparatus)," she added. Foreign policy is also of concern to voters, namely Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine and how that conflict could change with a switch in Washington from U.S. President Joe Biden, who has steadily backed Kyiv, to Trump, who has suggested support could be curtailed. "The threat of regional instability and war is also a source of concern. Voters care about candidates' positions on Ukraine, Russia, Trump, the extent of their Euro-Atlantic orientation," Popescu-Zamfir said, adding that voters were also focused on the presidential candidates' "ability to lead the country in case of escalating tensions with Russia." In an interesting sidelight, election officials say that at least 50 Romanians over the age of 100 are expected to vote in the presidential election. The oldest is a man aged 113, while the oldest woman is aged 108, officials said. Developing nations staged a walkout at the United Nations climate talks in Baku, demanding wealthy emitter nations step up financial aid to combat the effects of global warming. Host nation Azerbaijan urged delegates to seek consensus as COP29, already extended into an extra day, verged on the brink of failure. “I know that none of us wants to leave Baku without a good outcome,” COP President Mukhtar Babayev told climate officials from around the world on November 23, urging them to “bridge the remaining divide.” Small island states and the least developed nations walked out of negotiations on a funding package for poor countries to curb and adapt to climate change, saying their climate finance interests were being ignored. “[The] current deal is unacceptable for us. We need to speak to other developing countries and decide what to do,” said Evans Njewa, chair of the Least Developed Countries group. Developing countries have been pushing rich countries for years to finance their attempts to battle the impact of climate change, saying that the extreme weather and rising seas hurting them is the result of greenhouse gas emitted by the wealthy nations decades ago. In 2009, rich countries pledged $100 billion a year in annual climate aid by the early 2020s but some have been struggling to meet their commitments. The last official draft on November 22 pledged $250 billion annually by 2035, more than double the previous goal, but far short of the annual $1 trillion-plus that experts say is needed. Experts said that rich countries like the United States and Europe are facing budget constraints due to the coronavirus pandemic and now wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. The United States has allocated $174 billion to Ukraine and billions more to Israel to help bolster their defenses. European nations have also allocated well north of $100 billion for Ukraine. In a bid to save COP29, representatives from the European Union, the United States, and other wealthy countries met directly with those of developing nations to work out an agreement. “If we don’t get a deal I think it will be a fatal wound to this process, to the planet, to people,” Panama’s special representative for climate change, Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez said. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev has fired several top officials in the State Security Service (SSS) and Interior Ministry in a sweeping reshuffle following an assassination attempt last month on a close ally of his eldest daughter. Abdusalom Azizov, the head of the State Security Service (SSS) and Alijon Ashurov, the head of the Presidential Personal Security Department, were among those dismissed by Mirziyoev on November 22, several law enforcement sources told RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service. Meanwhile, Otabek Umarov, the deputy head of the SSS and the husband of Mirziyoev’s youngest daughter, left the country on November 23, the sources said. It is unclear whether he fled or intends to come back, they added said. The upheaval is the biggest in the security services since the authoritarian Mirziyoev took office eight years ago. It comes amid a back-door power struggle among Uzbekistan's political elite that was thrust into the spotlight following an assassination attempt on Komiljon Allamjonov, a former high-ranking official in the presidential administration. Alisher Ilkhamov, an analyst at U.K.-based political risk firm Central Asia Due Diligence, said Mirziyoev needed to take action to show that no one was above the law and demonstrate his control over the country. "Impunity for such actions is a sign that the group that committed this is given carte blanche. And this will create a certain mood in society - an atmosphere of fear," he said. Allamjonov was traveling in a car on October 26, one day before parliamentary elections, when it was sprayed with bullets. Allamjonov survived, but the incident -- the first assassination attempt on a current or former member of Mirziyoev’s administration -- sent shockwaves through the country. Earlier this month, South Korean authorities detained Uzbek citizen Javlon Yunusov on suspicion of involvement in the attempted murder of Allamjonov. An RFE/RL investigation also linked another man, Shokhrukh Ahmedov, along with Yunusov and other suspects to organized crime, prior assassination attempts in Turkey, and high-level officials within Uzbekistan’s administration, including Umarov. The 40-year-old Allamjonov left his government post in September allegedly to focus on a private business venture. Meanwhile, Umarov had been accused of allegedly establishing a "deep state," controlling the country's security services and major businesses through his proxies. Sources close to the investigation have suggested that the organizers of the attack may have sought to curb Allamjonov’s growing influence and connections within the administration. Prior to the assassination attempt, Allamjonov received the personal backing of 39-year-old Saida Mirziyoeva, the president’s eldest daughter who is widely seen as his potential successor. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Russia is seeking to drive his forces out of the Kursk region before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office next year but added that the military situation in the Donetsk region is the most critical for his country. “I am certain that [Russian President Vladimir Putin] wants to push us out before January 20,” Zelenskiy told reporters, referring to the day of Trump’s inauguration. “It is very important for him to show that he controls the situation” in Kursk. Ukraine stunned the Kremlin by sweeping into the Kursk region in August, seizing nearly 1,400 square kilometers of Russian territory. With Trump promising to end the war upon entering office, Moscow could be forced to exchange land it seized in Ukraine for Kursk territory should it fail to push Ukrainian forces out in time. Putin has sent tens of thousands of Russian troops to Kursk who are mounting wave after wave of counterattacks, a source on Ukraine's General Staff said. Russia has regained about 800 square kilometers in Kursk or about 40 percent of the territory Ukraine seized, the source said. Zelenskiy said that Ukrainian troops are inflicting large-scale losses on Russian forces in Kursk. Russia has recently been losing as many as 1,500 troops a day to injury and death across the entire theater of the war, the most since the invasion began in February 2022, Ukrainian and Western officials said. “Russia hasn’t suffered such losses as it is now suffering in Kursk,” Zelenskiy said. Russia has recruited more than 11,000 North Korean troops to help it take back Kursk territory. The North Korean troops reportedly arrived last month though it is unclear if they have taken part in fighting yet. The United States and the United Kingdom reportedly gave permission this week to Ukraine to strike inside Russia with ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles respectively. The missiles are precision, tactical weapons designed to hit command-and-control centers, logistics and arms depots near the front. Ukraine has already used the missiles to strike in Kursk and the neighboring region of Belgorod. Russian Advances Meanwhile, Russian ground forces continue to make incremental advances in eastern Ukraine, including near the town of Velyka Novosilka, according to Deep State, an open-source organization with ties to the Ukrainian Army, and confirmed by other analysts. Ukraine has been struggling to hold back the Russian advances due to a lack of manpower, raising concern about a possible breakthrough. While Russia is losing forces at a greater rate, the Kremlin is able to quickly replace them thanks to lucrative wages and incentives. Putin on November 23 widened those incentives, signing a law permitting the cancellation of debt for new army recruits volunteering to fight in Ukraine. The new law allows the state to forgive up to 10 million rubles ($95,835) of debt for those signing contracts with the Defense Ministry to fight in Ukraine for at least a year, beginning on December 1. The law applies to all potential recruits who have had debt collection proceedings opened against them before December 1. The maximum debt forgiveness is several times the average annual salary in Russia’s provinces. Valeriy Zaluzhniy, the former commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces, said in an interview published on November 23 that new technological advances will prevent a “serious breakthrough” at the front. Ukraine and Russia have been rapidly developing reconnaissance and strike drones as well as electronic warfare weapons. The technology advancements have helped Ukraine partially compensate for its lack of manpower. In the interview, Zaluzhniy said that Russia will struggle to expand the front line and break through because it would require huge resources "which the Russians no longer have." Trump Presidency U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet his counterparts from the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrialized nations outside Rome on November 25-26 to discuss the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. It will be the last G7 meeting for the Biden administration, which is seeking to ensure that support for Ukraine is sustained when Trump enters office in January. Trump has criticized aid to Ukraine, raising questions whether he will continue support should a peace deal not be reached. The president-elect met with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Florida on November 22 to discuss Ukraine and other issues facing the alliance. Meanwhile, Trump is reportedly considering Richard Grenell, his former intelligence chief, for the new post of special envoy for the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Zelenskiy told reporters that the war could end next year if Ukraine continues to get strong Western support. Zelenskiy spoke with media following the Grain From Ukraine Summit in Kyiv. Ukraine is one of the largest exporters of grains to world markets. Prior to the conference, Zelenskiy visited a memorial to the victims of the Holodomor, the man-made famine orchestrated by the Soviet government in the 1930s that led to the deaths of millions of Ukrainians. In a clear reference to Putin’s war against Ukraine, Zelenskiy said: "There is something we know for certain. They wanted to destroy us. To kill us. To subjugate us. They failed." The violent detentions of brawling foreign university students, including from Iran, in Tatarstan has led to a protest by Iran’s consul general to the Russian region. “Iranian citizens studying abroad have the right to respect and fair treatment,” Consul General Davud Mirzakhani said on November 23. “We will ensure that the rights of our students are fully protected." "The Russian police confuse the Iranian people with those of other nations," Mirzakhani added. "We will never allow anyone to treat our people abroad inhumanely and illegally." The comments came after a brawl broke out among foreign students at Kazan Federal University on the morning of November 22 as they stood in line for documentation needed to renew their student visas. Video of the incident can be seen here: According to the Russian news agency TASS, two students who instigated the brawl were detained. Iranian students involved in the incident were later released. However, Tatarstan’s Investigative Committee announced that it has opened a criminal case against one student who “used violence against a police officer.” It is not clear if the student being investigated was among those released. Local media reported that the brawl may have started when someone cut into a large line of students who had been waiting to register their documents for hours. Foreign students were reportedly transferred from their dormitories at the university to make room for attendees of the BRICS summit held in Kazan on October 22-24. Students affected by the move launched a petition to protest the decision at the time, and were reportedly among those attempting to get their documentation in order on November 22. Local media reported that the foreign students lining up for documents were there trying to extend their student visas needed to study in Kazan. Following the brawl, the university reportedly opened additional service stations for the foreign students to submit their documents. Local authorities have reported that at least 25 people, most of them Shi’a, were killed on November 22 in fresh sectarian violence in a tribal region of northwest Pakistan long known as a hotspot of Shi’ite-Sunni conflict. The deaths in the Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province came just two days after dozens of people were killed when gunmen opened fire on a convoy of vehicles in the Sunni-majority district. Speaking to RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal on November 23, Kurram district administrative head Javedullah Mehsud said the renewed clashes erupted unexpectedly and the authorities could not respond in sufficient numbers to control them. Other news agencies, citing local officials, reported that at least 32 people had died and 47 were wounded in the violence on November 22. Locals in the Bagan area of the district told Radio Mashaal that an angry mob of hundreds of Shi’a set several shops and homes on fire. Locals in the predominantly Sunni area claimed that some inhabitants were unaccounted for. Local Shi'ite leader Malik Dildar Hussain told Radio Mashaal that Shi’a have frequently come under attack in the area. On November 21, at least 50 people, including several women and children, were killed and more than 40 wounded when gunmen opened fire on November 21 on a police-escorted convoy of 200 vehicles carrying Shi'ite Muslims. The convoy was traveling from the provincial capital, Peshawar, to Parachinar, the capital city of the Kurram district. The threat of additional violence led local authorities to impose a curfew on November 22 and to suspend mobile telecommunications services in the remote mountainous district. Local leaders told RFE/RL that most of those killed in the renewed violence on November 22 were Shi'a, but at least four Sunnis were also among the dead. No group has taken responsibility for the attack. RFE/RL correspondents on the ground reported on November 22 that heavily armed people set fire to a military checkpoint in the area overnight. In Parachinar, witnesses reported seeing dozens of angry people armed with automatic weapons gathering amid reports that several other facilities of the Pakistani Army and the paramilitary Frontier Constabulary had been attacked and destroyed. RFE/RL correspondents reported hearing heavy gunfire. Jamshed Shirazi, a social activist in Parachinar, told RFE/RL that several government installations were damaged by the mob. "People are expressing their anger by attacking government offices," Shirazi said. Jalal Hussain Bangash, a local Shi'ite leader, voiced dismay at the violence during a Friday Prayers sermon on November 22 and said that Shi'a had nothing to do with the ensuing violence, RFE/RL correspondents on the ground reported. Hamid Hussain, a lawmaker from Kurram in the national parliament, was adamant that the violence was the work of provocateurs. "We are helpless. Neither Shi'a nor Sunnis are involved in this. This is [the result of] some other invisible forces who do not want to see peace in the area," Hussain told RFE/RL. Sectarian tensions have risen over the past several months in the Kurram district, which was formerly semiautonomous. Seventeen people were killed in an attack on a convoy on October 12, and there have been a handful of deadly attacks since then. Sunnis and Shi'a living in Kurram have clashed over land, forests, and other property as well as religion over the years, despite government and law enforcement efforts to build peace. Minority Shi'ite Muslims have long suffered discrimination and violence in Sunni-majority Pakistan. Russia has included the territories it occupies in Ukraine in its recent greenhouse gas inventory report to the United Nations, drawing protests from Ukrainian officials and activists at the COP29 climate summit in Baku. The move by Moscow comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin eyes potential peace deal negotiations with incoming U.S. President Donald Trump that could decide the fate of vast swaths of territory. "We see that Russia is using international platforms to legalize their actions, to legalize their occupation of our territory," Ukraine's Deputy Environmental Minister Olha Yukhymchuk told Reuters. She said Ukraine is in touch with officials from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the UN's main climate body, to ask it to resolve the dispute. Russia had already included emissions from Ukraine's Crimea region, annexed in 2014, in its last few reporting submissions to the UNFCCC. The Moscow-friendly Georgian Dream party, fresh off a contested victory in parliamentary elections last month that ignited calls for fresh polls and pro-EU demonstrations in Tbilisi, is preparing to hold its first parliamentary session on November 25. In comments to RFE/RL, Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said that foreign diplomats would not be invited to attend the opening session, saying it “should only be celebrated by the Georgian people." EU and other Western officials have expressed serious doubts about the October 26 elections in which Georgian Dream officially won 53.9 percent of the vote. Opposition leaders this week called on foreign diplomats not to legitimize the new parliament by attending the first session of parliament. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has refused to recognize the result validated by the country’s Central Election Committee (CEC), and protests demanding new elections continue to be held in the country’s capital. Protesters have alleged that there was widespread fraud during the campaign and vote, and that Russia heavily influenced the outcome favoring Georgian Dream, which has been in power since 2012. In recent days, Georgian police have shut down the demonstrations, including through the use of violence on November 19. Video footage by RFE/RL correspondents in Tbilisi showed police dragging people to the ground, including women, and beating them before taking them away. The same day, Zurabishvili filed a lawsuit in the Constitutional Court "requesting annulment of the election results as unconstitutional.” The first item on the agenda for the opening session, which will be attended by the head of the CEC, will be recognizing the authority of all 150 parliament members. Georgia has been a candidate for EU membership since last year, but a "foreign influence" law and anti-LGBT measures enacted under Georgian Dream’s leadership have stalled that effort. The United States in July announced that it would pause more than $95 million in assistance to the Georgian government, warning it that it was backsliding on democracy. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is considering tapping Richard Grenell, his former intelligence chief, to be a special envoy for the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to four sources familiar with the transition plans. Grenell, who served as Trump's ambassador to Germany, as special envoy to Serbia-Kosovo talks, and was acting director of national intelligence during Trump's 2017-2021 term, would play a key role in Trump's efforts to halt the war if he is ultimately selected for the post. While there is currently no special envoy dedicated solely to resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Trump is considering creating the role, according to the four sources. Grenell has advocated for the creation of "autonomous zones" as a means of settling the conflict. He also suggested he would not be in favor of Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in the immediate future. EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola supports the use of long-range missiles by Ukraine in its defense against Russia's full-scale invasion and said Germany should quickly deliver its long-range Taurus system to the embattled country. Metsola, in an interview published on November 23 by the Funke Mediengruppe newspapers, said "yes," when asked whether countries providing long-range missiles to Ukraine should allow it to use them against targets in Russia -- and whether Germany should deliver its Taurus weapons system to Ukraine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a Social Democrat, has been staunchly opposed to sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine. His coalition partners, the pro-business Free Democrats and the Greens, however, are in favor of sending Kyiv the missiles. Austria has dropped its long-standing veto to Bulgaria and Romania joining the passport free Schengen zone, opening the door to their accession next year. The breakthrough development was announced on November 22 by the Hungarian presidency of the EU Council, which hosted a meeting in Budapest with the interior ministers of Romania, Bulgaria, and Austria. The EU will meet with the two candidate countries to finalize a joint security package at a meeting on December 11-12. The two countries could become Schengen members in January. “Bulgaria and Romania belong fully to the Schengen area. I welcome the positive outcome of informal discussions in Budapest today.” Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said in a tweet following the announcement. The addition of Bulgaria and Romania will expand the Schengen zone to 28 states, including 24 EU members. Ireland and Cyprus will remain the only EU members not part of the Schengen Area. Bulgarians and Romanians currently are not permitted to travel freely into other Schengen member states over land borders. Early this year, they received the right to travel freely by air and sea in the first concession by Vienna. After the meeting in Budapest, Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter told media that the agreement to be signed next month includes the establishment of a special contingent of at least 100 border police officers on the Turkish-Bulgarian border. Hungary will contribute to the full deployment of the officers and provide the necessary technical equipment to ensure effective protection of the border, he said. Pinter expressed confidence that the issue could be resolved by December 31. EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said a January accession date is a realistic goal. Yekaterina Neroznikova, a journalist and member of the Marem human rights group, is facing administrative charges in Russia for her alleged involvement with an "undesirable organization." The charges stem from Neroznikova's participation in an interview with RFE/RL earlier this year, where she discussed the high-profile abduction of Seda Suleimanova, a native of Chechnya. The administrative protocol was filed with the Zhukovsky City Court in Moscow Oblast on November 15, with a hearing scheduled for November 26. Neroznikova, who left Russia following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, disclosed the development to the OVD-Info human rights group, a prominent watchdog monitoring political persecution in Russia. The case against Neroznikova is linked to her April 2024 appearance on RFE/RL’s program Human Rights Are A Right. During the program, she discussed the abduction of Suleimanova, who was forcibly taken from St. Petersburg in August 2023 by local police and Chechen operatives. Suleimanova, who fled Chechnya in 2022 because of pressure being put on her to agree to a forced marriage, has been missing since September last year. The charges against Neroznikova are seen as part of Russia’s broader crackdown on dissent and press freedom. Suleimanova's case has prompted global protests and solidarity campaigns highlighting ongoing human rights concerns in Chechnya and Russia in general. According to Neroznikova, a man identifying himself as an officer of the Interior Ministry contacted her relatives last week before reaching out to her directly. He informed her of the administrative charges, citing her commentary on RFE/RL as the reason. RFE/RL's Russian Service and its multiple projects in the Russian language were designated as "undesirable organizations" in Russia in February 2024, making any association with them punishable under Russian law. Participation in the activities of an “undesirable organization” in Russia can result in fines of up to 15,000 rubles for individuals. Repeat offenses within a year can escalate to criminal charges, carrying penalties of up to four years in prison. Suleimanova's case has drawn international attention. In 2022, she fled her family in Chechnya to avoid an arranged marriage and persistent conflicts. In August 2023, she was abducted in St. Petersburg by individuals including local police and plainclothes Chechen security officers. She was taken to her family in Chechnya, and no information about her whereabouts has been available since September 2023. An investigation into Suleimanova’s disappearance was launched in March 2024 following thousands of public appeals. Despite the family's claims that she left home again in February, observers remain skeptical, citing conflicting statements made by her relatives. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the country's new intermediate-range ballistic missile, a nuclear-capable weapon, will continue to be tested, including in combat conditions, as Moscow struck several Ukrainian regions with other, less powerful weapons. "We will continue these tests, including in combat conditions, depending on the situation and the nature of the security threats that are created for Russia," Putin said on November 22 at a meeting with Defense Ministry officials and military-industrial complex officials. The Kremlin leader also called for serial production of the large missile to begin. Russia launched the so-called Oreshnik ballistic missile against Ukraine on November 21 in a strike targeting the city of Dnipro. Putin said at the time it was part of Moscow's response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian soil with U.S.-supplied ATACMS and British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles. The use of the Oreshnik "is first and foremost a messaging and saber rattling kind of weapon. This is the sort of delivery system that's not cheap. It's not a battlefield sort of weapon," Tom Karako, a missile defense expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, told RFE/RL. Putin added on November 22 that the Oreshnik is new and not an upgrade of previous Soviet-designed weaponry. The United States said the new missile is “experimental” and based on Russia’s RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Ukraine initially accused Russia of having used an ICBM in the Dnipro attack. An ICBM has never been used in a war. Strategic Weapons Russia has been striking Ukraine with Iskanders, ground-launched, short-range ballistic missiles, and Kinzhals, air-launched, intermediate-range ballistic missiles, as well as various cruise missiles. Russia probably only has several units of the Oreshnik in stock, a U.S. official told media following the November 21 strike. Ukraine's military intelligence put the figure at up to 10 units. If Russia were to move forward with serial production of the Oreshnik, it would be for its nuclear force posture and not for use in a conventional war like the one with Ukraine, Karako said. "This is not an alternative to a cruise missile. It's probably designed for strategic weapons," he said. Zelenskiy's Response In his November 21 address to the nation announcing the use of the Oreshnik, Putin said that the missile traveled at a speed of Mach 10, or 2.5-3 kilometers per second, claiming that "there are currently no ways of counteracting this weapon." Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on November 22 that Ukraine was working on developing new types of air defenses to counter "new risks," a reference to missiles like the Oreshnik. In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said testing a new weapon for the purposes of terror in another country was an "international crime" and called for a worldwide "serious response" to keep Russia from expanding the war. "When someone starts using other countries not only for terror, but also for testing their new missiles through acts of terror, then this is clearly an international crime." A lack of air defenses has been one of Ukraine's major weak spots in the 33-month war with Ukraine. Zelenskiy has called on the West to deliver more air defense systems since the first days of the invasion. He had also called on the West to ease restrictions preventing Ukraine from striking inside Russia with powerful long-range weapons. Zelenskiy said the deep strikes were necessary to target airfields critical for Russia's daily aerial attacks. The United States and the United Kingdom reportedly lifted the restrictions on November 17 with Ukraine using their long-range weapons -- ATACMS and Storm Shadow respectively -- to hit targets in Russia's regions of Belgorod and Kursk. Putin launched the Oreshnik into Ukraine to warn the West against arming Ukraine. Parliament Session Canceled Russia did not use the Oreshnik to strike Ukraine during another deadly air attack on November 22. Two people were killed and 12 wounded in Russian strikes on Sumy, Artem Kobzar, the mayor of the northeastern Ukrainian city, reported in a video statement on Telegram. The Ukrainian Air Force said Russian drone attacks were under way in four regions -- Sumy, Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Zhytomyr. In the capital, which has been on edge for several days amid intense Russian attacks on Ukraine, lawmakers were advised to avoid the government district on November 22 and parliament canceled a scheduled session due to warnings of a potential missile strike. "We were informed about the risk of a missile strike on the Verkhovna Rada in Kyiv in the coming days. Putin has significantly raised the stakes . Tomorrow's parliamentary session is canceled," lawmaker Taras Batenko said. Oleksiy Honcharenko, another lawmaker, said on Telegram that the next session was now planned for December, although parliament leaders have not officially commented on the warnings. Zelenskiy's office assured the public that the presidential administration would continue operating "as usual" on November 22. The Russian Supreme Court has declared the international organization Post-Russia Free Nations Forum a terrorist group, the latest move in the Kremlin's clampdown on any sign of dissent. The organization, founded in Poland in 2022, has been accused of promoting separatism and aiming to disband the Russian Federation into independent states under foreign influence. Russia is a multiethnic state comprised of more than 80 regions, many of which have large indigenous populations, such as Chechnya and Tatarstan. Since coming to power in 1999, Russian President Vladimir Putin has centralized authority, curtailing the autonomy that some ethnic regions enjoyed. Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its attempt to wipe out Ukrainian identity has shone a bright light on the Kremlin's historical mistreatment of its own indigenous populations and triggered a "decolonization" movement that seeks to give more prominence to ethnic groups within Russian historical and cultural studies. The case against the Post-Russia Free Nations Forum was launched in late October by the Prosecutor-General’s Office, which cited its activities as a threat to Russia’s territorial integrity and national security. In its statement, the Prosecutor General’s Office alleged that the forum operates through 172 regional and national entities, including the Baltic Republican Party, the Ingria Movement, the Congress of Peoples of the North Caucasus, the Free Yakutia Foundation, and the Far Eastern Confederation. The office claims these groups are directed by exiled leaders of separatist movements. “These leaders aim to divide the Russian Federation into independent states that would fall under the influence of hostile foreign countries,” the Prosecutor-General’s Office stated on its official website. The Post-Russia Free Nations Forum is registered in Poland and describes itself as a civic movement advocating for greater regional autonomy within Russia, with some members supporting full independence for regions. On its website and social media platforms, the organization also uses variations of its name, such as the Post-Russia Free States Forum. Ukrainian businessman Oleh Mahaletskiy positions himself as one of the founders of the group and is believed to be a major sponsor. The group’s activities have included discussions on decentralization and independence, with notable speakers such as the noted Tatar activist Nafis Kashapov, Bashkir activist Ruslan Gabbasov, Russian opposition politician Ilya Ponomaryov, U.S. political analyst Janusz Bugajski, and others. Following the November 22 terrorist designation by the Supreme Court, all activities of the Post-Russia Free Nations Forum are now banned in Russia. Membership or association with the group is subject to criminal prosecution under Russian anti-terrorism laws. Critics of the ruling argue that the designation reflects a broader crackdown on dissent and regional autonomy movements in Russia. They note that the Forum primarily operates abroad and online, raising questions about the ruling’s effectiveness outside Russian borders. The Forum has not yet responded to the court’s decision. Observers suggest that this ruling may escalate tensions between Russia and countries hosting members of the organization, particularly Poland, where it is registered. The authoritarian ruler of Belarus, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, has threatened to shut down the Internet in the event of mass protests during or after the upcoming presidential election, after the previous vote in 2020 erupted in unprecedented unrest amid opposition allegations it was rigged. Speaking to students at Minsk State Linguistic University on November 22, Lukashenka defended past Internet restrictions and warned of future measures to throttle dissent. "If this happens again, we will shut it down entirely. Do you think I will sit idly and pray you don't send a message when the fate of the country is at stake?" state news agency BelTA quoted him as saying. Lukashenka admitted that Internet disruptions during the 2020 protests were conducted with his approval, citing the need to "protect the country." Following the August 9, 2020, election, which many Western governments have said was not free and fair, Internet access across Belarus was disrupted for several days and intermittently blocked. The disputed election that extended Lukashenka's decades of rule -- he has held power since 1994 -- for another term was widely condemned as fraudulent by the United States, the European Union, and other international actors. The protests, which demanded Lukashenka’s resignation, were met with mass arrests, alleged torture, and violent crackdowns that left several people dead. Many opposition leaders remain imprisoned or in exile, while Lukashenka refuses dialogue with his critics. The next presidential election in Belarus is scheduled for January 26. Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist for RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service, was honored with the International Press Freedom Award by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in a ceremony held in New York on November 21. Kurmasheva, who was recently released from detention in Russia after spending 288 days in custody, thanked the CPJ for its efforts toward gaining her freedom. "Journalism is not a crime," she said , noting that more than 20 journalists are currently imprisoned in Russia. Kurmasheva added that she was dedicating the award to her colleagues still imprisoned , including RFE/RL journalists Ihar Losik and Andrey Kuznechyk in Belarus, Vladislav Yesypenko in Crimea, and Farid Mehralizada in Azerbaijan. "My colleagues are not just statistics; like me they are real human beings with families who miss and love them. There are dozens of other journalists in Russian prisons. They should be released at once," Kurmasheva stressed . Other recipients of the award this year included Palestinian journalist Shorouq al-Aila, Guatemalan journalist Kimi de Leon, and Nigerien investigative journalist Samira Sabou, all recognized for their courage in the face of persecution. Detained by authorities in June 2023 as she was visiting relatives in the central Russian city of Kazan, Kurmasheva was initially charged with not declaring her U.S. passport. She was released but barred from leaving the country. That October, however, she was arrested, jailed, and charged with being an undeclared "foreign agent" -- under a draconian law targeting journalists, civil society activists, and others. She was later hit with an additional charge: distributing what the government claims is false information about the Russian military, a charge stemming from her work editing a book about Russians opposed to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. RFE/RL, as well as the U.S. government, called the charges absurd. The prisoner exchange that came to fruition on August 1 included 24 people in all -- including Kurmasheva, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gerskovich, and Russian political activist Vladimir Kara-Murza -- in a complex, seven-country deal. Religious tensions are on the rise in northwestern Pakistan following a deadly attack on a police-escorted convoy of Shi'ite Muslims that threatened to reignite sectarian violence in a strife-plagued region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. In the aftermath of the attack on the 200-vehicle convoy traveling from Peshawar to Parachinar, the capital city of the Kurram district, authorities on November 22 imposed a curfew and suspended mobile service in the remote mountainous district. RFE/RL correspondents on the ground reported on November 22 that heavily armed people set fire to a military checkpoint in the area overnight. In Parachinar, dozens of angry people carrying automatic weapons were gathering, amid reports that several other facilities of the Pakistani Army and the paramilitary Frontier Constabulary were attacked and destroyed, with RFE/RL correspondents reporting sounds of constant heavy gunfire. Jamshed Shirazi, a social activist in Parachinar, told RFE/RL that several government installations had been damaged by the angry protesters. "People are expressing their anger by attacking the government offices," Shirazi said. But Jalal Hussain Bangash, a local Shi'ite leader, voiced dismay at the violence during a Friday Prayer sermon on November 22 and said that Shi'a had nothing to do with the ensuing violence, RFE/RL correspondents on the ground report . Hamid Hussain, a lawmaker from Kurram in the national parliament, was adamant that the violence was the work of provocateurs. "We are helpless. Neither Shi'a nor Sunnis are involved in this. This is some other invisible forces who do not want to see peace in the area," Hussain told RFE/RL. At least 48 people, including several women and children, were killed and more than 40 wounded when gunmen opened fire on November 21 on the convoy of vehicles in the Kurram district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province near the Afghan border. Local leaders told RFE/RL that most of those killed were Shi'a, but at least four Sunnis were also among the dead. No one has taken responsibility for the attack, the latest in a series of deadly confrontations in Kurram, long known as a hotspot of Shi'ite-Sunni sectarian conflict. Local tribal leader Malik Dildar Hussain told RFE/RL that there were about 700 people in the convoy. Tensions in Kurram began to heat up in the past several months, where clashes again erupted between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslim tribes in the area, which was formerly semiautonomous. On October 12, 17 people were killed in an attack on a convoy, and there have been a handful of deadly attacks since then. Sunnis and Shi'a live together in Kurram and have clashed violently over land, forests, and other property as well as religion over the years, despite government and law enforcement efforts to build peace. Minority Shi'ite Muslims have long suffered discrimination and violence in Sunni-majority Pakistan. Moscow launched another deadly attack on Ukraine on November 22, a day after firing what it said was a new intermediate-range missile that the Kremlin boasted was a " warning " for the West, after Kyiv reportedly obtained permission from President Joe Biden to strike into Russia with U.S. long-range missiles. Two people were killed and 12 wounded in Russian strikes on Sumy, Artem Kobzar, the mayor of the northeastern Ukrainian city, reported in a video statement on Telegram. Ukraine's air force said Russian drone attacks were under way in four regions -- Sumy, Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Zhytomyr. In the capital, which has been on edge for several days amid intense Russian attacks on Ukraine, lawmakers were advised to avoid the government district on November 22 and parliament canceled a scheduled session due to warnings of a potential missile strike. "We were informed about the risk of a missile strike on the Verkhovna Rada in Kyiv in the coming days. Putin has significantly raised the stakes . Tomorrow's parliamentary session is canceled," lawmaker Taras Batenko said, while lawmaker Oleksiy Honcharenko said on Telegram that the next session was now planned for December, although parliament leaders have not officially commented on the warnings. The office of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy assured the public that it would continue operating "as usual" on November 22. On November 20, the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine warned of a significant Russian air attack, prompting the temporary closure of its operations. The embassies of Spain, Italy, and Greece also suspended services for the day. On November 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the "successful combat testing" of a new Oreshnik (Hazel Tree) intermediate-range ballistic missile amid the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Putin claimed the missile was used in a strike on Ukraine's eastern city of Dnipro, asserting it was a response to NATO’s "aggressive actions" and Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied missiles to target Russian territory. On November 22, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that the test was a message to the West that Moscow will respond harshly to any "reckless" Western moves in support of Ukraine. "The main message is that the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries that produce missiles, supply them to Ukraine, and subsequently participate in strikes on Russian territory cannot remain without a reaction from the Russian side," Peskov told reporters. "The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, and the contours of further retaliatory actions in the event that our concerns are not taken into account have been quite clearly outlined," he said. Ukraine's military intelligence said on November 22 that Russia may have up to 10 units of the new missile. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has invited his Israeli counterpart to visit Hungary, defying an arrest warrant for issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Benjamin Netanyahu that other European states say they will honor. Orban, speaking during his regular weekly interview with Hungarian state radio, said on November 22 that the ICC's decision a day earlier to issue the warrant accusing Netanyahu of "crimes against humanity and war crimes" committed during the war in Gaza was "outrageously brazen" and "cynical." The ICC issued similar arrest warrants for former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and a Hamas military leader who Israel claims to have killed but whose death the U.S.- and EU-designated terrorist group has not officially acknowledged. The ICC said Netanyahu and Gallant were suspected of using "starvation as a method of warfare" by restricting humanitarian aid while targeting civilians in Israel's war in Gaza -- charges Israeli officials deny. Orban said the ICC move against Netanyahu "intervenes in an ongoing conflict...dressed up as a legal decision, but in fact for political purposes." "Later today, I will invite the Israeli prime minister, Mr. Netanyahu, to visit Hungary, where I will guarantee him, if he comes, that the judgment of the ICC will have no effect in Hungary, and that we will not follow its terms," he added. "There is no choice here, we have to defy this decision," Orban said. Shortly after the ICC decision was announced, the European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said ICC decisions "are binding on all states party to the Rome Statute, which includes all EU member states." However, the EU's most powerful members, Germany and France, on November 22 reacted with restraint to the ICC warrants. A spokesman said the German government will refrain from any moves until a visit to Germany by Netanyahu is planned. "I find it hard to imagine that we would make arrests on this basis," Steffen Hebestreit said on November 22, adding that legal questions had to be clarified about the warrant. In Paris, Foreign Ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine only said that France acknowledged the ICC's move and voiced its support for the ICC's independence. "France takes note of this decision. True to its long-standing commitment to supporting international justice, it reiterates its attachment to the independent work of the court, in accordance with the Rome Statute," Lemoine said. Hungary, a NATO and European Union member state, has signed and ratified the 1999 document. However, it has not published the statute's associated convention and therefore argues that it is not bound to comply with ICC decisions. Netanyahu on November 22 thanked Orban for his show of "moral clarity." "Faced with the shameful weakness of those who stood by the outrageous decision against the right of the State of Israel to defend itself, Hungary" is "standing by the side of justice and truth," Netanyahu said in a statement. A right-wing nationalist in power since 2010, Orban has maintained close relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and has voiced opposition to the EU's sanctions imposed on Moscow after its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Orban has previously said that Hungary would not arrest Putin either, despite the ICC arrest warrant issued on the Russian leader's name for war crimes for his role in deporting Ukrainian children. Furthermore, he flew to Moscow in July immediately after Hungary took over the EU's rotating six-month presidency to meet with Putin, in defiance of the fellow members of the bloc.HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Trey Fort had 27 points in Samford's 97-90 win against Alabama A&M on Saturday night. Fort added five rebounds for the Bulldogs (10-3). Collin Holloway shot 4 of 5 from the field and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line to add 16 points. Julian Brown shot 4 for 5 (3 for 4 from 3-point range) and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line to finish with 14 points. The Bulldogs (4-8) were led by Anthony Bryant, who recorded 22 points. Alabama A&M also got 21 points and 10 assists from Bilal Abdur-Rahman. Quincy McGriff also had 13 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

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Lea Miller-Tooley hopped off a call to welcome the Baylor women’s basketball team to the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas, where 80-degree temperatures made it easy for the Bears to settle in on Paradise Island a week before Thanksgiving. About 5,000 miles west of the Caribbean nation, similar climes awaited Maui Invitational men's teams in Hawaii. They’ve often been greeted with leis, the traditional Hawaiian welcome of friendship. College basketball teams and fans look forward to this time of the year. The holiday week tournaments feature buzzworthy matchups and all-day TV coverage, sure, but there is a familiarity about them as they help ward off the November chill. For four decades, these sandy-beach getaways filled with basketball have become a beloved mainstay of the sport itself. “When you see (ESPN’s) ‘Feast Week’ of college basketball on TV, when you see the Battle 4 Atlantis on TV, you know college basketball is back,” said Miller-Tooley, the founder and organizer of the Battle 4 Atlantis men's and women's tournaments. “Because it’s a saturated time of the year with the NFL, college football and the NBA. But when you see these gorgeous events in these beautiful places, you realize, ‘Wow, hoops are back, let’s get excited.’” The Great Alaska Shootout was the trend-setting multiple-team event (MTE) nearly five decades ago. The brainchild of late Alaska-Anchorage coach Bob Rachal sought to raise his program’s profile by bringing in national-power programs, which could take advantage of NCAA rules allowing them to exceed the maximum allotment of regular-season games if they played the three-game tournament outside the contiguous 48 states. The first edition, named the Sea Wolf Classic, saw N.C. State beat Louisville 72-66 for the title on Nov. 26, 1978. The Maui Invitational followed in November 1984, borne from the buzz of NAIA program Chaminade’s shocking upset of top-ranked Virginia and 7-foot-4 star Ralph Sampson in Hawaii two years earlier. Events kept coming, with warm-weather locales getting in on the action. The Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Cancun Challenge in Mexico. The Cayman Islands Classic. The Jamaica Classic. The Myrtle Beach Invitational joining the Charleston Classic in South Carolina. Numerous tournaments in Florida. Some events have faded away like the Puerto Rico Tipoff and the Great Alaska Shootout, the latter in 2017 amid event competition and schools opting for warm-weather locales. Notre Dame takes on Chaminade during the first half of a 2017 game in Lahaina, Hawaii. Miller-Tooley’s push to build an MTE for Atlantis began as a December 2010 doubleheader with Georgia Tech beating Richmond and Virginia Tech beating Mississippi State in a prove-it moment for a tournament’s viability. It also required changing NCAA legislation to permit MTEs in the Bahamas. Approval came in March 2011; the first eight-team Atlantis men’s tournament followed in November. That tournament quickly earned marquee status with big-name fields, with Atlantis champions Villanova (2017) and Virginia (2018) later winning that season’s NCAA title. Games run in a ballroom-turned-arena at the resort, where players also check out massive swimming pools, water slides and inner-tube rapids surrounded by palm trees and the Atlantic Ocean. “It’s just the value of getting your passport stamped, that will never get old,” Miller-Tooley said. “Watching some of these kids, this may be their first and last time – and staff and families – that they ever travel outside the United States. ... You can see through these kids’ eyes that it’s really an unbelievable experience.” ACC Network analyst Luke Hancock knows that firsthand. His Louisville team finished second at Atlantis in 2012 and won that year’s later-vacated NCAA title, with Hancock as the Final Four's most outstanding player. “I remember (then-coach Rick Pitino) saying something to the effect of: ‘Some of you guys might never get this opportunity again. We’re staying in this unbelievable place, you’re doing it with people you love,’” Hancock said. “It was a business trip for us there at Thanksgiving, but he definitely had a tone of ‘We’ve got to enjoy this as well.’” Maui offers similar vibes, though 2024 could be a little different as Lahaina recovers from deadly 2023 wildfires that forced the event's relocation last year. North Carolina assistant coach Sean May played for the Tar Heels’ Maui winner in 2004 and was part of UNC’s staff for the 2016 champion, with both teams later winning the NCAA title. May said “you just feel the peacefulness” of the area — even while focusing on games — and savors memories of the team taking a boat out on the Pacific Ocean after title runs under now-retired Hall of Famer Roy Williams. “Teams like us, Dukes, UConns – you want to go to places that are very well-run,” May said. “Maui, Lea Miller with her group at the Battle 4 Atlantis, that’s what drives teams to come back because you know you’re going to get standard A-quality of not only the preparation but the tournament with the way it’s run. Everything is top-notch. And I think that brings guys back year after year.” That’s why Colorado coach Tad Boyle is so excited for the Buffaloes’ first Maui appearance since 2009. “We’ve been trying to get in the tournament since I got here,” said Boyle, now in his 15th season. And of course, that warm-weather setting sure doesn’t hurt. “If you talk about the Marquettes of the world, St. John’s, Providence – they don’t want that cold weather,” said NBA and college TV analyst Terrence Oglesby, who played for Clemson in the 2007 San Juan Invitational in Puerto Rico. “They’re going to have to deal with that all January and February. You might as well get a taste of what the sun feels like.” Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo argues a call during the first half of a Nov. 16 game against Bowling Green in East Lansing, Michigan. Mi zzo is making his fourth trip to Maui. The men’s Baha Mar Championship in Nassau, Bahamas, got things rolling last week with No. 11 Tennessee routing No. 13 Baylor for the title. The week ahead could boast matchups befitting the Final Four, with teams having two weeks of action since any opening-night hiccups. “It’s a special kickoff to the college basketball season,” Oglesby said. “It’s just without the rust.” On the women’s side, Atlantis began its fourth eight-team women’s tournament Saturday with No. 16 North Carolina and No. 18 Baylor, while the nearby Baha Mar resort follows with two four-team women’s brackets that include No. 2 UConn, No. 7 LSU, No. 17 Mississippi and No. 20 N.C. State. Then come the men’s headliners. The Maui Invitational turns 40 as it opens Monday back in Lahaina. It features second-ranked and two-time reigning national champion UConn, No. 4 Auburn, No. 5 Iowa State and No. 10 North Carolina. The Battle 4 Atlantis opens its 13th men’s tournament Wednesday, topped by No. 3 Gonzaga, No. 16 Indiana and No. 17 Arizona. Michigan State Hall of Famer Tom Izzo is making his fourth trip to Maui, where he debuted as Jud Heathcote’s successor at the 1995 tournament. Izzo's Spartans have twice competed at Atlantis, last in 2021. “They’re important because they give you something in November or December that is exciting,” Izzo said. Any drawbacks? “It’s a 10-hour flight,” he said of Hawaii. Mike Tyson, left, slaps Jake Paul during a weigh-in ahead of their heavyweight bout, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Irving, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) In this image taken with a slow shutter speed, Spain's tennis player Rafael Nadal serves during a training session at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall, in Malaga, southern Spain, on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) A fan takes a picture of the moon prior to a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 between Uruguay and Colombia in Montevideo, Uruguay, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Santiago Mazzarovich) Rasmus Højgaard of Denmark reacts after missing a shot on the 18th hole in the final round of World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri) Taylor Fritz of the United States reacts during the final match of the ATP World Tour Finals against Italy's Jannik Sinner at the Inalpi Arena, in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (1) fails to pull in a pass against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford (20) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/ Brynn Anderson) Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, top right, scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) India's Tilak Varma jumps in the air as he celebrates after scoring a century during the third T20 International cricket match between South Africa and India, at Centurion Park in Centurion, South Africa, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski warms up before facing the Seattle Kraken in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Kansas State players run onto the field before an NCAA college football game against Arizona State Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) A fan rapped in an Uruguay flag arrives to the stands for a qualifying soccer match against Colombia for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Montevideo, Uruguay, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico) People practice folding a giant United States flag before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Brazil's Marquinhos attempts to stop the sprinklers that were turned on during a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match against Venezuela at Monumental stadium in Maturin, Venezuela, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) Georgia's Georges Mikautadze celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the UEFA Nations League, group B1 soccer match between Georgia and Ukraine at the AdjaraBet Arena in Batumi, Georgia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Tamuna Kulumbegashvili) Dallas Stars center Mavrik Bourque, right, attempts to score while Minnesota Wild right wing Ryan Hartman (38) and Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) keep the puck out of the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt) Mike Tyson, left, fights Jake Paul during their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Italy goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario misses the third goal during the Nations League soccer match between Italy and France, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki (88) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) President-elect Donald Trump attends UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Fans argue in stands during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between France and Israel at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Thursday Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova hits a return against Danielle Collins, of the United States, during a tennis match at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Malaga, southern Spain. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) St. John's guard RJ Luis Jr. (12) falls after driving to the basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against New Mexico, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith) England's Anthony Gordon celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between England and the Republic of Ireland at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) Katie Taylor, left, lands a right to Amanda Serrano during their undisputed super lightweight title bout, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Turner, right, tackles Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington, left, on a punt return during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) UConn's Paige Bueckers (5) battles North Carolina's Laila Hull, right, for a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Greensboro, N.C., Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown) Get local news delivered to your inbox!None

On November 26, Seoul solidified its standing as a global powerhouse, earning 37th in the Brand Finance Global City Index 2024, surpassing metropolises like Beijing, Montreal, and Prague. This recognition reflects Seoul's increasing influence as a dynamic city characterized by innovation, a skilled workforce, and a rich cultural tapestry. The index, derived from insights from over 15,000 respondents across 20 nations, evaluates cities based on key metrics like Familiarity, Reputation, and Consideration. Respondents assessed 100 cities on various attributes such as culture, heritage, business potential, and investment prospects. A standout in the Business & Investment category, Seoul ranks 11th for 'future growth potential,' showcasing its promise in economic expansion. Its business allure is further enhanced by a significant improvement in 'corporate tax attractiveness,' leaping to 22nd place and enticing global investors. Seoul also advances as an innovation hub, securing the 7th spot in 'great for start-ups and innovations,’ reflecting a dynamic ecosystem primed for entrepreneurial success. As a magnet for global talent, Seoul ranks 7th worldwide for 'access to a skilled workforce,' underscoring its status as an ideal locale for professionals and industry leaders. The city also excels in the Culture & Heritage arena, ranking 9th for its vibrant shopping, dining, and nightlife, and 24th for its rich cultural festivals. In education and science, Seoul shines as the 21st 'global leader in science and technology,’ bolstered by its private schools, which rank 27th, reinforcing its academic and research appeal. Seoul's liveability has seen remarkable improvement, ascending 30 ranks to become the 30th most 'affordable city,' taking into account housing and education. The city is noted for its 'reliable and accessible internet connectivity' (18th) and 'good-quality healthcare' (31st). In sustainability, Seoul ranks 33rd as a 'clean city that cares for the environment' and jumps 31 places to 14th for 'ease of cycling,' demonstrating its commitment to eco-friendly planning and sustainable transport. "Seoul's climb to 37th in the Brand Finance Global City Index 2024 underscores its appeal as a global business and cultural hub. From its robust start-up culture to its affordability, Seoul is increasingly becoming a top choice for investors, talent, and travelers," remarked Alex Haigh, Managing Director Asia Pacific, Brand Finance. Global Landscape London retains its status as the world's top city brand, excelling in Familiarity and Reputation. Despite this, the city faces challenges in Consideration due to affordability concerns. New York and Paris take the 2nd and 3rd spots, with Paris leading in Culture & Heritage and New York in Education & Science. Tokyo rises to 4th, noted for its leadership in science and technology, while Dubai, now 5th, boasts a strong reputation and ranks high in future growth potential and investment appeal. "The 2024 study reveals the nuanced impact of familiarity on city perceptions. London's overall brand strength is strong, yet its desirability in some areas has waned, providing valuable insights for city strategists worldwide," commented David Haigh, Chairman and CEO of Brand Finance. This extensive study, now featuring regional insights like the US City Index, equips city leaders globally with vital understanding of the top city brands, guiding effective growth strategies.None

About 5,000 miles west of the Caribbean nation, similar climes awaited Maui Invitational men's teams in Hawaii. They’ve often been greeted with leis, the traditional Hawaiian welcome of friendship. College basketball teams and fans look forward to this time of the year. The holiday week tournaments feature buzzworthy matchups and all-day TV coverage, sure, but there is a familiarity about them as they help ward off the November chill. For four decades, these sandy-beach getaways filled with basketball have become a beloved mainstay of the sport itself. “When you see (ESPN’s) ‘Feast Week’ of college basketball on TV, when you see the Battle 4 Atlantis on TV, you know college basketball is back,” said Miller-Tooley, the founder and organizer of the Battle 4 Atlantis men's and women's tournaments. “Because it’s a saturated time of the year with the NFL, college football and the NBA. But when you see these gorgeous events in these beautiful places, you realize, ‘Wow, hoops are back, let’s get excited.’” MTE Madness The Great Alaska Shootout was the trend-setting multiple-team event (MTE) nearly five decades ago. The brainchild of late Alaska-Anchorage coach Bob Rachal sought to raise his program’s profile by bringing in national-power programs, which could take advantage of NCAA rules allowing them to exceed the maximum allotment of regular-season games if they played the three-game tournament outside the contiguous 48 states. The first edition, named the Sea Wolf Classic, saw N.C. State beat Louisville 72-66 for the title on Nov. 26, 1978. The Maui Invitational followed in November 1984, borne from the buzz of NAIA program Chaminade’s shocking upset of top-ranked Virginia and 7-foot-4 star Ralph Sampson in Hawaii two years earlier. Events kept coming, with warm-weather locales getting in on the action. The Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Cancun Challenge in Mexico. The Cayman Islands Classic. The Jamaica Classic. The Myrtle Beach Invitational joining the Charleston Classic in South Carolina. Numerous tournaments in Florida. Some events have faded away like the Puerto Rico Tipoff and the Great Alaska Shootout, the latter in 2017 amid event competition and schools opting for warm-weather locales. Atlantis rising Miller-Tooley’s push to build an MTE for Atlantis began as a December 2010 doubleheader with Georgia Tech beating Richmond and Virginia Tech beating Mississippi State in a prove-it moment for a tournament’s viability. It also required changing NCAA legislation to permit MTEs in the Bahamas. Approval came in March 2011; the first eight-team Atlantis men’s tournament followed in November. That tournament quickly earned marquee status with big-name fields, with Atlantis champions Villanova (2017) and Virginia (2018) later winning that season’s NCAA title. Games run in a ballroom-turned-arena at the resort, where players also check out massive swimming pools, water slides and inner-tube rapids surrounded by palm trees and the Atlantic Ocean. “It’s just the value of getting your passport stamped, that will never get old,” Miller-Tooley said. “Watching some of these kids, this may be their first and last time – and staff and families – that they ever travel outside the United States. ... You can see through these kids’ eyes that it’s really an unbelievable experience.” ACC Network analyst Luke Hancock knows that firsthand. His Louisville team finished second at Atlantis in 2012 and won that year’s later-vacated NCAA title, with Hancock as the Final Four's most outstanding player. “I remember (then-coach Rick Pitino) saying something to the effect of: ‘Some of you guys might never get this opportunity again. We’re staying in this unbelievable place, you’re doing it with people you love,’” Hancock said. “It was a business trip for us there at Thanksgiving, but he definitely had a tone of ‘We’ve got to enjoy this as well.’” Popular demand Maui offers similar vibes, though 2024 could be a little different as Lahaina recovers from deadly 2023 wildfires that forced the event's relocation last year. North Carolina assistant coach Sean May played for the Tar Heels’ Maui winner in 2004 and was part of UNC’s staff for the 2016 champion, with both teams later winning the NCAA title. May said “you just feel the peacefulness” of the area — even while focusing on games — and savors memories of the team taking a boat out on the Pacific Ocean after title runs under now-retired Hall of Famer Roy Williams. “Teams like us, Dukes, UConns – you want to go to places that are very well-run,” May said. “Maui, Lea Miller with her group at the Battle 4 Atlantis, that’s what drives teams to come back because you know you’re going to get standard A-quality of not only the preparation but the tournament with the way it’s run. Everything is top-notch. And I think that brings guys back year after year.” That’s why Colorado coach Tad Boyle is so excited for the Buffaloes’ first Maui appearance since 2009. “We’ve been trying to get in the tournament since I got here,” said Boyle, now in his 15th season. And of course, that warm-weather setting sure doesn’t hurt. “If you talk about the Marquettes of the world, St. John’s, Providence – they don’t want that cold weather,” said NBA and college TV analyst Terrence Oglesby, who played for Clemson in the 2007 San Juan Invitational in Puerto Rico. “They’re going to have to deal with that all January and February. You might as well get a taste of what the sun feels like.” Packed schedule The men’s Baha Mar Championship in Nassau, Bahamas, got things rolling last week with No. 11 Tennessee routing No. 13 Baylor for the title. The week ahead could boast matchups befitting the Final Four, with teams having two weeks of action since any opening-night hiccups. “It’s a special kickoff to the college basketball season,” Oglesby said. “It’s just without the rust.” On the women’s side, Atlantis began its fourth eight-team women’s tournament Saturday with No. 16 North Carolina and No. 18 Baylor, while the nearby Baha Mar resort follows with two four-team women’s brackets that include No. 2 UConn, No. 7 LSU, No. 17 Mississippi and No. 20 N.C. State. Then come the men’s headliners. The Maui Invitational turns 40 as it opens Monday back in Lahaina. It features second-ranked and two-time reigning national champion UConn, No. 4 Auburn, No. 5 Iowa State and No. 10 North Carolina. The Battle 4 Atlantis opens its 13th men’s tournament Wednesday, topped by No. 3 Gonzaga, No. 16 Indiana and No. 17 Arizona. Michigan State Hall of Famer Tom Izzo is making his fourth trip to Maui, where he debuted as Jud Heathcote’s successor at the 1995 tournament. Izzo's Spartans have twice competed at Atlantis, last in 2021. “They’re important because they give you something in November or December that is exciting,” Izzo said. Any drawbacks? “It’s a 10-hour flight,” he said of Hawaii.The Biden administration last week announced that it granted Ukraine permission to use American weapons to hit Russian military targets inside Russia. Great. But a less risk-averse administration committed to enabling its ally to repel Russia and end the war quickly would’ve done that from the start. And the move follows a frustrating pattern of delays and denials, helping Ukraine just enough so it doesn’t collapse but bringing us no closer to the war’s end. All of which has only fueled Russian (and Chinese) aggression. Predictably, Team Biden’s announcement elicited a Kremlin condemnation — and a warning that Vladimir Putin lowered the country’s threshold for deploying a nuclear weapon. Russia also fired an intermediate-range missile at a Ukrainian city and warned it could fire one at any country that helped Ukraine strike Russia. By making a public announcement of the new policy, the Biden team permitted Russia to blame the United States, its NATO allies and Ukraine for prolonging the war and ratcheting up the aggression. But that blame goes to Russia, with the notable help of China. On Tuesday, something cut two undersea fiber-optic data cables — one between Lithuania and Sweden’s Gotland Island, the other between Finland and Germany. Officials in the affected countries are suspecting Russia. The Danish navy detained a Chinese-registered container ship, which may have cut the Finland-Germany cable as it attempted to leave the Baltic Sea. This is not the first such incident: In 2023, the Chinese container ship Newnew Polar Bear dragged its anchor across the seabed, breaking a key undersea gas pipeline and two cables connecting Finland and Estonia. China insists it was an accident, and there has been no official statement by other nations contradicting China’s claim. But privately, Central and Eastern European officials believe it could’ve only occurred intentionally. Worryingly, a Russian cargo ship was in the area at the same time the Chinese ship cut the cable, signaling possible complicity in or endorsement of the act. Although the Europeans are unwilling to name China publicly as a potential culprit, they’ve broadly blamed Russian hybrid warfare. The foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Britain issued a statement: “Moscow’s escalating hybrid activities against NATO and EU countries are also unprecedented in their variety and scale, creating significant security risks.” In June, Russian saboteurs tried to disrupt shipments of weapons to Ukraine by setting fire to a German metal factory. July reportedly saw a foiled attempt by the Russian government to assassinate the CEO of a German arms manufacturer. In October, Poland closed a Russian consulate , accusing Russia of arson. The attacks also send a troubling message to the Europeans: You’re on your own. America’s failure to respond to these incidents signals that the world’s superpower and Europe’s greatest ally is unwilling to help. Indeed, Roderich Kiesewetter, a member of the German Bundestag, told reporters, “Russia is testing the limits of Article 5” of the NATO treaty — which obligates members to come to each other’s aid if any is attacked — “to stir up uncertainty.” For all of the recriminations about how President-elect Donald Trump will abandon allies and surrender US global leadership, the Biden administration’s reluctance to even publicly attribute such acts of aggression to their likely culprits, let alone respond to them, has catalyzed more aggression and volatility. Of course, Europe needn’t wait for the United States. But the US has clear national interests in leading and collaborating with European allies to keep the peace. Allies must do more to carry the burden of European security, but a coherent strategy works much better with US leadership. The key is for Washington to both lead and delegate: The collective economic and military strength of the United States and Europe must be marshaled to resist authoritarian revanchism. Alas, there’s little evidence the Biden administration is even trying to compel its adversaries to cease its hybrid warfare aggression, apparently believing instead any response in this hybrid zone would make things worse. Yet again and again, we’ve seen this logic proven wrong. China and Russia take US inaction to mean permission to escalate to further their military and political aims. The Biden team’s tendency to disclose in advance what it will and won’t do to support allies, and its silence in the face of aggression, has exacerbated the mess. Perhaps Trump’s unpredictability, along with a willingness to use all tools of American power, will jolt our adversaries into believing their best interests are served by backing down. Rebeccah L. Heinrichs is the director of the Hudson Institute’s Keystone Defense Initiative.

NoneCommunity First Housing is the name chosen by a group of interested Southgate residents. So, it’s no surprise that member Nola Marion told a regional housing forum that “the fix” for the housing crisis will work best by taking an approach specific to each community. At the same time, she is herself a member of the Institute of South Georgian Bay. The forum aimed to share approaches to making progress on housing, and see the place of residents in making a change. SOUTHGATE SPEAKER Housing staff from Simcoe, Bruce and Grey county were on the call and also three community speakers, including Ms Marion. “Housing for everyone is vital to rural economics,” Ms Marion said, adding that across the region, almost 40 percent of working residents live in unaffordable housing. She said that reality has changed a lot, and most people’s picture of who needs affordable housing hasn’t changed. But the average maximum affordable housing payment is $1,575, she said, and the average rent is $1,866. “So, the numbers simply don’t work.” Under that pressure, housing costs can “quickly translate to housing precarity and increased food bank use”. Affordable housing is often considered to be a maximum of 30 percent of your income, not including utilities. The online forum on Nov. 13 was attended by about 70 people, including staff, municipal councillors, institute members and other members of the public. Ms Marion encouraged going to the community to address the shortfall of housing. “Consider the cost of doing nothing,” she said. Chair of the local residents group, Community First Housing, Gerry McNalty said later that it was heartening to hear about the work being done at the County level and the collaborative efforts of the Institute of South Georgian Bay. “Locally, there are glimmers of hope,” he said. “Nola Marion’s message was clear. It’s about the community we would like to have and we will all have to work together to solve this complex housing crisis.” Mr. McNalty said, “I have faith that when the right time comes, those who need to make the right decisions will do just that.” LUTHERAN HOUSING A representative from Lutheran not-for-profit housing spoke about their builds. The first, St. Francis Place, was done in the 1980s, when there was federal and provincial money available, she said. It’s almost 80 units are offered at different rates: 70 percent of units are rent geared to income, and 30 percent are at market rents, which is $1,700 for a two bedroom and $1,450 for a one bedroom. (Rent geared to income means that the rent is set at 30 percent of the person or household’s income.) The average income of someone in the rent geared to income apartments is $23,000, she said. Another larger project was 10 years ago, Corbet Place, which uses the “life lease” approach. It has 24 units and is self-funding. The next project of the Lutheran housing group has been taking a lot of work and patience. That’s St. Clare place, to have about 40 units, where the split will be 50/50 between market rents and rent geared to income. The project received some funding that Grey County had set aside for affordable housing in 2021. Still, presenter Sylvia Statham, the executive director, encouraged people to step up and get involved with trying to provide affordable housing for people. “It’s a lot of fun,” she said. An Owen Sound city councillor, Carol Merton, said that it was important to ask whose voices are missing from the conversation. How will those people be offered the opportunity to contribute, she asked. GREY COUNTY Liz Buckton of Grey County spoke on “non-market” (not privately built) rentals with a mix of market and affordable units is being tried and working. It’s even more viable with access to municipal surplus lands, she said. Another approach to the financial challenges is to use social financing, and for municipalities to support such builds with their Community Improvement Fund grants and incentives. To talk about the co-operation needed, she used the image of drops of water flowing together in the same direction, “they really have the power to shape the landscape,” she said. She mentioned three upcoming projects in Grey that are related to housing. In 2025 Grey County will update its growth management strategy, she said, looking at the amount of growth. As well there will be a county-wide housing needs study and a housing strategy. That strategy will include other approaches such as groups like the Institute of Georgian Bay, and build co-ordination. It will look at when and how government and community groups will work together, and make sure information is shared. The Simcoe County spokesperson looked to changes on the administrative side to make builds easier, mentioning pre-approved housing design catalogues that the province and the federal government are developing, and combining zoning changes, site plans and other applications into one in a new planning permit system.Poland's prime minister visits beefed up border with RussiaSchieffelin has 18 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists as Clemson hands Penn State first loss 75-67

BEIJING , Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Baijiayun Group Ltd ("Baijiayun" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: RTC), a one-stop AI video solution provider, today announced that it has entered into a Standby Equity Purchase Agreement (the "SEPA"), with YA II PN, Ltd. ("YA"), a fund managed by Yorkville Advisors Global, LP. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the the SEPA, YA is committed to purchase up to $50 million (the "Commitment Amount") of the Company's Class A Ordinary Shares (the "Shares") at any time during the two-year period following the execution date of the SEPA, by delivering written notice to YA (an "Advance Notice"). Pursuant to the SEPA, YA will advance to the Company, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions as set forth therein, the principal amount of up to $15 million (the "Pre-Paid Advance"), which will be evidenced by convertible promissory notes (the "Promissory Notes", together with the "SEPA", the "Offering") in four tranches. The first Pre-Advance, in the principal amount of $3,000,000 , was advanced December 6, 2024 in connection with the execution of the SEPA, and is subject to a 10% discount to the principal amount of such Promissory Note. If there is no balance outstanding under the Promissory Notes, the Company will have sole discretion to sell the Shares to YA from time to time by issuing Advance Notices to YA following the effectiveness of a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission registering the Shares issuable pursuant to the SEPA and the satisfaction of other customary conditions. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the offering of the Shares pursuant to the SEPA for working capital and other general corporate purposes. The Company and the Investor have entered into a registration rights agreement on the date hereof (the "Registration Rights Agreement"), pursuant to which the Company shall register the resale of the Shares issuable pursuant to the SEPA. The foregoing does not purport to be a complete description of the rights and obligations of the parties to the SEPA, the Promissory Notes, the Registration Rights Agreement, or of the transactions contemplated thereby and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such documents, the copies of which have been filed as exhibits to the Company's Current Report on Form 6-K on December 6, 2024 . D. Boral Capital LLC acted as the exclusive placement agent for the Offering. About Baijiayun Group Ltd Baijiayun is a one-stop AI video solution provider with core expertise in SaaS/PaaS solutions. Baijiayun is committed to delivering reliable, high-quality video experiences across devices and localities and has grown rapidly since its inception in 2017. Premised on its industry-leading video-centric technologies, Baijiayun offers a wealth of video-centric technology solutions, including Video SaaS/PaaS, Video Cloud and Software, and Video AI and System Solutions. Baijiayun caters to the evolving communications and collaboration needs of enterprises of all sizes and industries. For more information, please visit ir.baijiayun.com . Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements." These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the parties' perspectives and expectations, are forward-looking statements. The words "will," "expect," "believe," "estimate," "intend," and "plan" and similar expressions indicate forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and shareholders and other potential investors must recognize that actual results may differ materially from the expectations as a result of a variety of factors. Such forward-looking statements are based upon management's current expectations and include known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are hard to predict or control, that may cause the actual results, performance, or plans to differ materially from any future results, performance or plans expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information provided herein represents the Company's estimates as of the date of this press release, and subsequent events and developments may cause the Company's estimates to change. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking information in the future. Therefore, this forward-looking information should not be relied upon as representing the Company's estimates of its future financial performance as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. A further list and description of risks and uncertainties can be found in the documents the Company has filed or furnished or may file or furnish with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which you are encouraged to read. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate only to the date they were made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made except as required by law or applicable regulation. For investor and media enquiries, please contact: Company Contact: Ms. Fangfei Liu Chief Financial Officer, Baijiayun Group Ltd Phone: +86 25 8222 1596 Email: ir@baijiayun.com View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/baijiayun-announces-up-to-15-million-convertible-promissory-notes-and-50-million-standby-equity-purchase-agreement-302325234.html SOURCE Baijiayun Group Ltd

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But alongside his stark warning of the threats facing Britain and its allies, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said there would be only a “remote chance” Russia would directly attack or invade the UK if the two countries were at war. The Chief of the Defence Staff laid out the landscape of British defence in a wide-ranging speech, after a minister warned the Army would be wiped out in as little as six months if forced to fight a war on the scale of the Ukraine conflict. The admiral cast doubt on the possibility as he gave a speech at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) defence think tank in London. He told the audience Britain needed to be “clear-eyed in our assessment” of the threats it faces, adding: “That includes recognising that there is only a remote chance of a significant direct attack or invasion by Russia on the United Kingdom, and that’s the same for the whole of Nato.” Moscow “knows the response will be overwhelming”, he added, but warned the nuclear deterrent needed to be “kept strong and strengthened”. Sir Tony added: “We are at the dawn of a third nuclear age, which is altogether more complex. It is defined by multiple and concurrent dilemmas, proliferating nuclear and disruptive technologies and the almost total absence of the security architectures that went before.” He listed the “wild threats of tactical nuclear use” by Russia, China building up its weapon stocks, Iran’s failure to co-operate with a nuclear deal, and North Korea’s “erratic behaviour” among the threats faced by the West. But Sir Tony said the UK’s nuclear arsenal is “the one part of our inventory of which Russia is most aware and has more impact on (President Vladimir) Putin than anything else”. Successive British governments had invested “substantial sums of money” in renewing nuclear submarines and warheads because of this, he added. The admiral described the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers on Ukraine’s border alongside Russian forces as the year’s “most extraordinary development”. He also signalled further deployments were possible, speaking of “tens of thousands more to follow as part of a new security pact with Russia”. Defence minister Alistair Carns earlier said a rate of casualties similar to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would lead to the army being “expended” within six to 12 months. He said it illustrated the need to “generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis”. In comments reported by Sky News, Mr Carns, a former Royal Marines colonel, said Russia was suffering losses of around 1,500 soldiers killed or injured a day. “In a war of scale – not a limited intervention, but one similar to Ukraine – our Army for example, on the current casualty rates, would be expended – as part of a broader multinational coalition – in six months to a year,” Mr Carns said in a speech at Rusi. He added: “That doesn’t mean we need a bigger Army, but it does mean you need to generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis.” Official figures show the Army had 109,245 personnel on October 1, including 25,814 volunteer reservists. Mr Carns, the minister for veterans and people, said the UK needed to “catch up with Nato allies” to place greater emphasis on the reserves. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Defence Secretary John Healey had previously spoken about “the state of the armed forces that were inherited from the previous government”. The spokesman said: “It’s why the Budget invested billions of pounds into defence, it’s why we’re undertaking a strategic defence review to ensure that we have the capabilities and the investment needed to defend this country.”US special counsel Jack Smith is dropping the federal election subversion and the mishandling of classified documents cases against President-elect Donald Trump, seeking the cases' dismissal in court filings Monday. Trump has said he would fire Smith once he retook the office, shattering previous norms around special counsel investigations. "The (Justice) Department's position is that the Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated," Smith wrote in a six-page filing with the US District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington, DC, regarding the election subversion case. "This outcome is not based on the merits or strength of the case against the defendant." Smith's criminal pursuit of Trump over the last two years for trying to subvert the 2020 presidential election and his mishandling of classified documents represented an extraordinarily unique chapter in American history: Never before has a former occupant of the White House faced federal criminal charges. Though the election subversion case culminated in a landmark Supreme Court ruling this summer that said Trump enjoyed some presidential immunity from criminal prosecution, Trump's strategy of delay in the case ensured that a trial never got underway before the November election. In the election case Trump faced in Washington, DC, Smith charged the then-former president over his efforts to overturn his election loss in 2020. "The Government's position on the merits of the defendant's prosecution has not changed," Smith said in the filing. Chutkan had been deciding how much of Trump's conduct at the center of the case is shielded by immunity after prosecutors last month laid out their arguments for why the Supreme Court's ruling should have no impact on the case. After Trump won reelection earlier this month, prosecutors asked Chutkan to pause a series of post-election deadlines in the case as they weighed their next steps. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges in both cases. Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung in a statement called the move "a major victory for the rule of law." "The American People and President Trump want an immediate end to the political weaponisation of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country," Cheung added. State cases will continue As president, Trump will not have the power to interfere with the prosecutions brought against him by state authorities in Georgia and New York. However, the courts in those cases will still have to work out immunity questions and issues raised by his return to the White House. Last week, the judge overseeing Trump's criminal hush money case in New York postponed his sentencing indefinitely. A jury in the state convicted Trump earlier this year on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment made during the 2016 campaign to adult-film star Stormy Daniels, who alleged a prior affair with the president-elect. (Trump denies the affair.) And Trump is still working to stave off prosecution in Georgia, where he is a defendant in a sprawling RICO case that accuses him and several allies of trying to overturn his 2020 election loss in the Peach State. - CNN

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De'Aaron Fox Breaks His Silence On The Firing Of Mike BrownAteios Systems CEO, Rajan Kumar, PhD Ateios Systems CEO Rajan Kumar, PhD pitches in ChargeUp Showcase Ateios Systems was identified as a potential high-impact company while participating in the U.S. National Science Foundation-funded New Energy New York's ChargeUp Accelerator at Binghamton University Ateios's breakthrough technology, developed in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, aims to disrupt the $85 billion lithium-ion battery market by eliminating toxic solvents, harmful chemicals and CO 2 emissions from production. At the same time, it enhances battery performance and reduces production costs. The proprietary RaiCureTM technology enables the creation of "forever-chemical-free" battery electrodes, making the manufacturing process cleaner, more efficient and more sustainable. In July 2024, Ateios Systems released its first rechargeable electrode product, RaiCoreTM High Voltage Lithium Cobalt Oxide (HV LCO), as the dominant chemistry that makes up 33% of the battery market for consumer electronics. Highlights: The SuperBoost grant will help Ateios Systems scale its technology by supporting the fabrication of production-grade battery cells. These cells, produced using a 1+ km electrode run generated at Kodak, will undergo qualification testing before being shipped to multiple customers for further adoption. With this support, Ateios is set to accelerate its timeline, bringing the product to market at least a year ahead of schedule. "This SuperBoost grant is propelling our efforts to advance the maturity of our RaiCore electrodes while expanding into new chemistries vital for mobility and grid storage. I'm proud to play a role in strengthening the U.S. edge in battery manufacturing, and it's significant to do so in Upstate New York, where I grew up,” Kumar said. "From chipping flint to etching silicon wafers and now pioneering battery-coated films, manufacturing innovations have always been the key to unlocking scalable performance improvements that benefit everyone. Our team is thrilled to be at the forefront of disrupting the battery manufacturing industry and driving a more sustainable, efficient future for energy storage." The Ateios R&D project aims to leapfrog current battery manufacturing with thick electrode processing, significantly lowering energy use and production costs. The project will also emphasize working with domestic suppliers and production capabilities to ensure that performance claims (energy density, power and cycle life) are backed with production data (speed, yield and costs). The SuperBoost grant will help Ateios Systems accelerate getting RaiCore LCO to more prospective customers and expand its other chemistries, such as Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) and Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC), which mobility and grid storage manufacturers have inquired. The SuperBoost grant will fund multiple 1km+ production runs of RaiCore electrodes for various battery chemistries that apply to consumer devices, mobility and grid storage at Kodak's toll manufacturing facility in Rochester, N.Y. With this support, Ateios is set to accelerate its timeline, bringing the product to market at least a year ahead of schedule, especially for chemistries LFP and NMC, which have received multiple inquiries from leading auto OEMs across the globe. Fernando Gómez-Baquero, who directs the translation pillar for the Upstate New York Engine, said both Ateios and the region will benefit by combining the efforts of several federal initiatives. "This SuperBoost award shows our Upstate New York Engine commitment to accelerate the commercial success of promising energy storage companies, supporting faster regional economic growth and national security by bringing battery manufacturing back to the United States,” he said. "We're going to ensure that this region becomes America's battery capital.” Ateios has demonstrated that its solution would enable a 44% price reduction compared to buying electrodes directly from Chinese suppliers. "We're excited to help develop a technology that eliminates the use of toxic solvents and forever chemicals,” said M. Stanley Whittingham, Nobel laureate in chemistry and director of the R&D pillar of the Upstate New York Engine. "This is a good step toward our goal of a sustainable, domestically produced battery supply chain that will support a renewable energy economy.” Ateios was one of four companies that participated in the first cohort of ChargeUp, a six-month accelerator program that supports battery-related startups by advancing their technology commercialization and investor readiness. During the program, startups went through a rigorous, competitive review and pitching process, evaluated by a panel of technical and business experts. "ChargeUp, which is now recruiting its second cohort, will propel domestic battery industry innovation while fostering economic growth upstate,” said Bandhana Katoch, assistant vice president for entrepreneurship and innovation partnerships at Binghamton University and leader of the ChargeUp program. "Our goal for ChargeUp is to create a pipeline of companies, many of which could benefit down the road from Engine funding and support.” Katoch noted that ChargeUp draws on lessons from two proven accelerators: Luminate, the world's largest accelerator for startups developing technologies enabled by optics, photonics and imaging; and the Manufacturing Accelerator, which helps early-stage companies reduce the risk, waste and cost associated with getting hardware from prototype to mass production. Both programs leverage university, community and industrial involvement to guide the development of emerging technologies. Meera Sampath, CEO of the Upstate New York Engine, said Ateios exemplifies a core strategy of the Engine: to leverage complementary investments and amplify their impact. "The combined support from the Engine and the ChargeUp program, both of which are from the NSF's Technology Innovation and Partnerships directorate, enables Ateios to significantly accelerate its technology and market readiness and ultimately its commercial success,” Sampath said. She has invited Ateios' leaders to participate in this week's Roadmap Summit in Washington hosted by the NSF and the Economic Development Administration. "The event is an opportunity to connect the country's innovation ecosystems with policymakers and investors,” Sampath said, "and I'm excited to see the company on the national stage.” About Ateios Systems Ateios Systems pioneers advancements in battery technology with its groundbreaking RaiCureTM platform. This innovative technology produces battery components with enhanced performance, cost reduction, and minimizing environmental impact. With its incubation at the Battery Innovation Center, Koffman Incubator, Ateios has access to over $50M in battery production equipment to support its customers throughout the entire battery development cycle from inception to production to produce large-scale, high-quality battery components. For more information, visit www.ateios.com . Contact: Rajan Kumar, Ph.D. CEO & Founder, Ateios Systems Forbes Next 100 & DOE LEEP Fellow [email protected] About the Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine The NSF Engines: Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine, led by Binghamton University, is a U.S. National Science Foundation-funded, place-based innovation program. The coalition of 40+ academic, industry, nonprofit, state, and community organizations includes Cornell University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Syracuse University, Launch-NY and NY-BEST as core partners. The Engine advances next-gen battery technology development and manufacturing to drive economic growth and bolster national security. Its vision is to transform upstate New York into America's Battery Capital. For more information on the Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine, visit https://upstatenyengine.org/ . Contact: Fernando Gómez-Baquero Ph.D. Translation Pillar Director NSF Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine [email protected] About New Energy New York (NENY) NENY is building a nation-leading ecosystem in upstate New York to support infrastructure, innovation, technology translation and workforce development to advance the domestic battery and energy storage industry. Led by Binghamton University, NENY has assembled a cross-sector coalition of partners to aid in the development and execution of programs supporting academia, industry and regional communities, including the ChargeUp Accelerator program. For more information about NENY, visit: neny.org . A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d33e4ba3-4b4a-41f1-a2cd-92e6bebe2529

OTTAWA — Peter Anholt tried to keep things light as he emerged from one of the elevators at Canada's hotel. The temperature had been turned way up on the veteran hockey executive and the country's under-20 program after a stunning upset some 12 hours earlier. "You only want to talk to me when things are bad, eh?" Anholt joked to reporters Saturday morning. "Is that how this works?" That is indeed what happens when a powerhouse with a record 20 gold medals expected to roll over an opponent suffers one of its worst all-time defeats at the tournament. Canada was embarrassed on home soil 3-2 by Latvia — a country it had thumped by a combined 41-4 score across four previous meetings — in a shocking shootout Friday. Coming off a disastrous fifth-place finish last year in Sweden and having talked a lot about upping their compete level and preparation, the Canadians looked disjointed for long stretches against the plucky, hard-working Latvians. The power play finally clicked late in the third period, but stands at 1-for-7 through two games, while the top line of Easton Cowan, Calum Ritchie and Bradly Nadeau has yet to translate its pre-tournament chemistry into success in the spotlight. "We're certainly trying to problem solve, but not throw the baby out with the bath water," said Anholt, who heads the world junior setup. "We've got to be really careful." Canada, which picked up a solid 4-0 victory over Finland to open its tournament Thursday, had plenty of offensive zone time and directed 57 shots at Latvian goaltender Linards Feldbergs. Included in that total, however, were far too many one-and-done efforts from the perimeter with little traffic in front. There were, of course, desperate spurts — especially late in regulation and in 3-on-3 overtime — but not nearly enough for a roster peppered with first-round NHL draft picks and top prospects. "We played really, really hard," Anholt said in defending his players. "We controlled the puck lots. We created some chances. Their goalie was really good and they defended really good ... 99 times out of 100 we win that game." Hoping for a big response Sunday against Germany before meeting the United States on New Year's Eve to tie a bow on round-robin action in Group A, Canada will have to push ahead minus one of its best players. Star defenceman Matthew Schaefer was injured Friday and is done for the tournament after he slammed into Latvia's net and skated off favouring his left shoulder area. "Tough blow for the kid," Anholt said. "The way he plays the game, he plays it at such a high speed." Cowan, a Toronto Maple Leafs first-round selection, said Canada remains confident despite Friday's ugly result in the nation's capital. "We're good," said the 19-year-old from Mount Brydges, Ont. "Everyone's lost a hockey game before." But not like that — or to that opponent on that stage. "Bit of a (crappy) feeling," said Nadeau, a Carolina Hurricanes prospect from St-Francois-de-Madawaska, N.B. "We all know what this group is capable of. Losing that game is not our standard. "We'll bounce back." Some corners of social media exploded following the Latvian debacle, with heavy criticism directed at head coach Dave Cameron and the team's overall roster construction. "We're not really worried about it," defenceman and Ottawa native Oliver Book, who like Cowan is back from last year's team, said of the outside noise. "We know we didn't play well." Canada appears poised to mix things up against the Germans. Vancouver Canucks prospect Sawyer Mynio of Kamloops, B.C., is set draw in for Schaefer, while Anholt indicated there's a good chance forward Carson Rehkopf will get his first crack at the 2025 tournament as a returnee. The 19-year-old Seattle Kraken second-round pick from Vaughan, Ont., has scored a combined 78 goals over his last 97 regular-season and playoff games in the Ontario Hockey League. "Great player," Cowan said. "He finds ways." Anholt said taking a big-picture approach is key in challenging moments. "Let's not panic," he said. "The world hasn't fallen in. It's hard, but we'll learn from it." It's something Canada will have to do under intense scrutiny. "People are gonna love you and people are gonna hate you," said Cowan, who has a goal an assist through two games. "Gotta keep doing you." Anholt, who was also at the helm 12 months ago when Canada never got in gear, isn't getting 2024 vibes from this year's group. "Not even in any way, shape or form," he said. "We've just got to take care of business." They get a first shot at redemption Sunday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 28, 2024. Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian PressJohn McEntee emerged as a key player in shaping the Republican Party through his influence in the Trump White House, where he served as Director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office. As the U.S. looks to a second Trump administration in 2025, McEntee is aptly positioned to make an even bigger impact on the conservative movement. Yet McEntee has found resonance beyond the West Wing on TikTok , an unexpected strategy for the 34-year-old, whose fellow Republicans have fought to ban the platform. But, as McEntee argues, social media is exactly where he, and other emerging voices in right-wing politics, should be. Social media influence shapes public sentiment and action – an adage clearly proven by Trump’s win over Vice President Kamala Harris, thanks to an ingenious social media campaign executed by a scrappy team of young strategists. Through Tiktok, McEntee has a distinct vantage point on the growing Republican voter base, which the election showed is growing formidably as American culture tilts right. He has leveraged the ByteDance-owned app to build a disruptive cultural presence, attracting 3.3 million followers on the platform – and counting. On his @daterightstuff account, McEntee merges humor and political commentary in bite-sized meme jargon to create highly viral content. While the typical conservative might be averse to engaging in the world of TikTok, McEntee has unlocked a golden opportunity to share his vision for the conservative movement, while also receiving real-time feedback from the public. This position gives him unique insight and direct access to the people who will define the next half-century of American politics. With a background in political strategy and media, John McEntee understands the importance of engaging diverse audiences and harnessing the power of media to shift sentiment and drive policy wins. As a passionate advocate for an “America First” agenda, McEntee is committed to addressing pressing issues like immigration, trade, and foreign policy, all while fostering unity within the party. His forward-thinking approach has positioned him as a leader in right-wing politics, ready to guide the Republican party into a new era of conservatism . “We win a lot of elections but don’t actually follow through on the policy piece, and that’s because working in government is hard and bureaucracy is so entrenched,” McEntee said in a recent interview. “We are on a good course, but we need to actually have policy victories when we get in power.” The mood of the country is shifting and voting toward conservatism, McEntee said, attributing the shift to a variety of factors, including dissatisfaction with progressive government, backlash against decades of left-wing dominance in culture and academia, and the ensuing activist movements that exploded on college campuses in 2024. So how does he see Republicans capitalizing on these sentiments to notch more, bigger wins? “When you get a certain politician in a role in the executive branch, you say, ‘Oh, well, this congressman’s really good on this issue, so he should be the head of this agency.’ But when they get into the role, they’re actually not that effective because they don’t really know how to wield power,” McEntee said. “[Policy victories] come down to finding people that can be effective, not just as media surrogates, but as sources of influence and changes. But if the Republican Party can do that, we’ll have tremendous success.” McEntee identifies the immigration crisis, cultural backlash, and political polarization as key policy priorities, or political battlegrounds, for the conservative movement. This chaos, McEntee argues, is what prompted even moderate voters to elect Trump and modify their stance on border security and immigration reform. Then there’s “woke culture.” McEntee believes that progressive media agendas have alienated many Americans, he said, pointing out that excessive political correctness can push people toward conservative viewpoints, as they seek common sense amidst what they perceive as absurdity. “Look at what’s happening on college campuses,” he said. “People that might be a little left-leaning are being pushed to the right.” Such crises and cultural retaliations have led to greater engagement among voters, while simultaneously increasing political polarization. McEntee sees polarization as an opportunity for conservatives to articulate their values more clearly and connect with those who feel disillusioned by mainstream liberal narratives. “The increase in engagement in politics is helpful; when I was growing up, people just didn’t talk about politics this much, but it’s inescapable – which is good,” McEntee said “The more people talk, the more people learn. Then, the truth prevails.” The heart of McEntee’s vision includes three core objectives for the conservative movement during Trump’s second term. The three, which stem from the former President’s 2016 platform, are trade policy, immigration reform, and foreign policy. Advocating for protectionist measures that prioritize American industries and workers, McEntee emphasizes that trade should benefit the Americans, rather than serving global interests. “Republicans for a long time were hard liners on trade. They believed in protecting industry. They weren’t necessarily just free traders. And I think we created the most amazing middle class that’s ever existed through that policy and other policies,” McEntee said. He also calls for a comprehensive examination of both illegal and legal immigration policies, stressing that these should prioritize American citizens’ needs and welfare. Lastly, McEntee champions an “America First” approach, advocating for restraint in international interventions while focusing on protecting American interests abroad. “Republicans were very hawkish in the 2000s, and I think having more restraint actually is a Trumpian view that has been well received,” he said. McEntee’s optimism about recent accomplishments for the conservative party, particularly in media engagement, are a testament to Trump’s 2024 comeback. He notes that conservative voices have gained significant traction across various platforms—television, podcasts, and online news outlets—allowing for more robust discussions around conservative values. “Conservative media is as good as ever. We’re doing great. We have Fox, yes, but we also have the Daily Wire; we have conservative influencers – it’s on a good course,” McEntee said. This media presence not only amplifies conservative messages but also fosters community engagement around shared values . McEntee explains how podcasters and media spokespeople wield considerable influence, even surpassing that of elected officials, when shaping public opinion. Despite the media victories, McEntee is emphatic that cultural victories must translate into tangible policy outcomes – an insight that underscores the need for conservative leaders who not only understand policy but can effectively navigate the intricacies of government to implement change. This translation has come into view recently with Trump’s return to power. “Trump is in a league of his own when it comes to party influence,” McEntee states. “He serves as a rallying point for many Republicans.” This shared loyalty creates a sense of purpose within the party, even amid differing opinions on specific policies, McEntee adds. “Even if you don’t like him, or even if you don’t agree with this or that, we have this thing and this person that’s constantly being attacked, seen as the symbol for our team.” With Trump’s re-election, McEntee’s vision for the conservative movement gains new momentum. His approach, evidenced by his broad appeal among young audiences – long a challenge for the political establishment – symbolizes a new generation of conservatism; one that seeks to unite and engage existing Republicans as well as newcomers. As the political landscape continues to evolve, McEntee’s influence and strategies may play a significant role in shaping the future of the Republican Party and conservative politics in America.

Trump’s Defense secretary nominee has close ties to Idaho Christian nationalists

ATLANTA, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oxford Industries, Inc. (NYSE:OXM) today announced financial results for its third quarter of fiscal 2024 ended November 2, 2024. Consolidated net sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 were $308 million compared to $327 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Loss per share on a GAAP basis was $0.25 compared to net earnings per share of $0.68 in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. On an adjusted basis, loss per share was $0.11 compared to net earnings per share of $1.01 in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Tom Chubb, Chairman and CEO, commented, “Following a difficult third quarter, we are pleased with the beginning of the holiday season now that some recent headwinds have started to abate. The cumulative effects of several years of high inflation combined with distractions from the U.S. elections and other world events, led to less frequent and more tentative consumer spending behavior during the third quarter which is traditionally our smallest volume quarter of the year. Additionally, our most significant and important market, the Southeastern United States, was impacted by two major hurricanes in quick succession that resulted in estimated lost sales of $4 million and an estimated impact of $0.14 per share. When combined with a highly competitive and promotional environment, these headwinds led to financial performance that was weaker than expected.” Mr. Chubb concluded, “Encouragingly, consumers have responded favorably to our recent product introductions and marketing campaigns, driving a nice improvement in comp store trends once the holiday season got underway. However, due to the weaker than expected consumer environment before the election and the fourth quarter impact of the hurricanes, which we project will include an additional $3 million of lost revenue and $0.11 per share, we have lowered our fiscal 2024 sales and EPS guidance. We are confident that our business model will drive profitable growth and long-term shareholder value well into the future. We could not do this without our exceptional team of people, to whom we extend our sincere gratitude.” Third Quarter of Fiscal 2024 versus Fiscal 2023 Consolidated net sales of $308 million decreased compared to sales of $327 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Full-price direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales decreased 8% to $200 million versus the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Full-price retail sales of $99 million were 6% lower than prior-year period. E-commerce sales of $101 million were 11% lower than prior-year period. Outlet sales of $17 million were 3% higher than prior-year period. Food and beverage sales were $24 million, a 4% increase versus prior-year period. Wholesale sales of $67 million were 2% lower than the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Gross margin was 63.1% on a GAAP basis, compared to 62.9% in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. The increase in gross margin was primarily due to a $4 million lower LIFO accounting charge and lower discounts at Lilly Pulitzer. This was partially offset due to full-price retail and e-commerce sales representing a lower proportion of net sales at Tommy Bahama, Lilly Pulitzer and Johnny Was with more sales occurring during promotional and clearance events. Adjusted gross margin, which excludes the effect of LIFO accounting, decreased to 63.0% compared to 64.0% on an adjusted basis in the prior-year period. SG&A was $205 million compared to $195 million last year. On an adjusted basis, SG&A was $201 million compared to $191 million in the prior-year period. The increase in SG&A was primarily driven by: Expenses related to 33 new store openings since the third quarter of fiscal 2023, including four Tommy Bahama Marlin Bars. Pre-opening expenses related to approximately five additional stores planned to open in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, including two additional Tommy Bahama Marlin Bars that are expected to open in the next few months. The addition of Jack Rogers. Royalties and other operating income of $4 million were comparable to the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Operating loss was $6 million, or (2.0%) of net sales, compared to operating income of $14 million, or 4.4% of net sales, in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. On an adjusted basis, operating income decreased to an operating loss of $3 million, or (1.1%) of net sales, compared to operating income of $21 million, or 6.6% of net sales, in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. The decreased operating income includes the impact of decreased net sales and increased SG&A as the Company continues to invest in the business. Interest expense decreased from $1 million in the prior year period. The decreased interest expense was primarily due to a lower average outstanding debt balance during the third quarter of fiscal 2024 than the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Due to lower earnings during the third quarter as compared to our other fiscal quarters, certain discrete or other items have a more pronounced impact on the effective tax rate. Our effective income tax rate of 42.5% for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 included the impact of discrete, favorable US federal return-to-provision adjustments primarily related to an increase in the research and development tax credit and certain adjustments to the US taxation on foreign earnings. For the third quarter of fiscal 2023, our effective income tax rate of 18.6% included the favorable utilization of the research and development tax credit and adjustments to the US taxation on foreign earnings which reduced the effective tax rate. Balance Sheet and Liquidity Inventory decreased $3 million, or 2%, on a LIFO basis and increased $2 million, or 1%, on a FIFO basis compared to the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Inventory balances were comparable in all operating groups. During the first nine months of fiscal 2024, cash flow from operations was $104 million compared to $169 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2023. The cash flow from operations in the first nine months of fiscal 2024, along with borrowings of $29 million, provided sufficient cash to fund $92 million of capital expenditures and $33 million of dividends. During the third quarter of fiscal 2024, long-term debt decreased to $58 million compared to $66 million of borrowings outstanding at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2023 as cash flow from operations exceeded increased capital expenditures primarily associated with the project to build a new distribution center in Lyons, Georgia, payments of dividends and working capital requirements. The Company had $7 million of cash and cash equivalents versus $8 million of cash and cash equivalents at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Dividend The Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.67 per share. The dividend is payable on January 31, 2025 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on January 17, 2025. The Company has paid dividends every quarter since it became publicly owned in 1960. Outlook For fiscal 2024 ending on February 1, 2025, the Company revised its sales and EPS guidance. The Company now expects net sales in a range of $1.50 billion to $1.52 billion as compared to net sales of $1.57 billion in fiscal 2023. In fiscal 2024, GAAP EPS is expected to be between $5.78 and $5.98 compared to fiscal 2023 GAAP EPS of $3.82. Adjusted EPS is expected to be between $6.50 and $6.70, compared to fiscal 2023 adjusted EPS of $10.15. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company expects net sales to be between $375 million and $395 million compared to net sales of $404 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. GAAP EPS is expected to be between $1.02 and $1.22 in the fourth quarter compared to a GAAP loss per share of $3.85 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 that included noncash impairment charges totaling $114 million, or $5.31 per share. Adjusted EPS is expected to be between $1.18 and $1.38 compared to adjusted EPS of $1.90 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. The Company anticipates interest expense of $3 million in fiscal 2024, with interest expense expected to be $1 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024. The Company’s effective tax rate is expected to be approximately 23% for the full year of fiscal 2024. Capital expenditures in fiscal 2024, including the $92 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2024, are expected to be approximately $150 million compared to $74 million in fiscal 2023. The planned year-over-year increase in capital expenditures includes approximately $75 million now budgeted in fiscal 2024 for the distribution center project in Lyons, Georgia. Additionally, we have been investing in new brick and mortar locations, relocations and remodels of existing locations resulting in a year-over-year net increase of full price stores of approximately 30 by the end of fiscal 2024, which includes approximately five planned to open in the fourth quarter of the year. We will also continue with our investments in our various technology systems initiatives, including e-commerce and omnichannel capabilities, data management and analytics, customer data and insights, cybersecurity, automation, including artificial intelligence, and infrastructure. Conference Call The Company will hold a conference call with senior management to discuss its financial results at 4:30 p.m. ET today. A live web cast of the conference call will be available on the Company’s website at www.oxfordinc.com. A replay of the call will be available through December 25, 2024 by dialing (412) 317-6671 access code 13750235. About Oxford Oxford Industries, Inc., a leader in the apparel industry, owns and markets the distinctive Tommy Bahama ® , Lilly Pulitzer ® , Johnny Was®, Southern Tide ® , The Beaufort Bonnet Company ® , Duck Head ® and Jack Rogers ® lifestyle brands. Oxford's stock has traded on the New York Stock Exchange since 1964 under the symbol OXM. For more information, please visit Oxford's website at www.oxfordinc.com. Basis of Presentation All per share information is presented on a diluted basis. Non-GAAP Financial Information The Company reports its consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). To supplement these consolidated financial results, management believes that a presentation and discussion of certain financial measures on an adjusted basis, which exclude certain non-operating or discrete gains, charges or other items, may provide a more meaningful basis on which investors may compare the Company’s ongoing results of operations between periods. These measures include adjusted earnings, adjusted earnings per share, adjusted gross profit, adjusted gross margin, adjusted SG&A, and adjusted operating income, among others. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in making financial, operational, and planning decisions to evaluate the Company’s ongoing performance. Management also uses these adjusted financial measures to discuss its business with investment and other financial institutions, its board of directors and others. Reconciliations of these adjusted measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP are presented in tables included at the end of this release. Safe Harbor This press release includes statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Generally, the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "project," "will" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. We intend for all forward-looking statements contained herein, in our press releases or on our website, and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf, to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (which Sections were adopted as part of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Such statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions including, without limitation, demand for our products, which may be impacted by macroeconomic factors that may impact consumer discretionary spending and pricing levels for apparel and related products, many of which may be impacted by inflationary pressures, elevated interest rates, concerns about the stability of the banking industry or general economic uncertainty, and the effectiveness of measures to mitigate the impact of these factors; possible changes in governmental monetary and fiscal policies, including, but not limited to, Federal Reserve policies in connection with continued inflationary pressures and the impact of the recent elections in the United States; competitive conditions and/or evolving consumer shopping patterns, particularly in a highly promotional retail environment; acquisition activities (such as the acquisition of Johnny Was), including our ability to integrate key functions, recognize anticipated synergies and minimize related disruptions or distractions to our business as a result of these activities; supply chain disruptions; changes in trade policies and regulations, including the potential for increases or changes in duties, current and potentially new tariffs or quotas; costs and availability of labor and freight deliveries, including our ability to appropriately staff our retail stores and food & beverage locations; costs of products as well as the raw materials used in those products, as well as our ability to pass along price increases to consumers; energy costs; our ability to respond to rapidly changing consumer expectations; unseasonal or extreme weather conditions or natural disasters, such as the September and October 2024 hurricanes impacting the Southeastern United States; lack of or insufficient insurance coverage; the ability of business partners, including suppliers, vendors, wholesale customers, licensees, logistics providers and landlords, to meet their obligations to us and/or continue our business relationship to the same degree as they have historically; retention of and disciplined execution by key management and other critical personnel; cybersecurity breaches and ransomware attacks, as well as our and our third party vendors’ ability to properly collect, use, manage and secure business, consumer and employee data and maintain continuity of our information technology systems; the effectiveness of our advertising initiatives in defining, launching and communicating brand-relevant customer experiences; the level of our indebtedness, including the risks associated with heightened interest rates on the debt and the potential impact on our ability to operate and expand our business; the timing of shipments requested by our wholesale customers; fluctuations and volatility in global financial and/or real estate markets; our ability to identify and secure suitable locations for new retail store and food & beverage openings; the timing and cost of retail store and food & beverage location openings and remodels, technology implementations and other capital expenditures; the timing, cost and successful implementation of changes to our distribution network; the effectiveness of recent, focused efforts to reassess and realign our operating costs in light of revenue trends, including potential disruptions to our operations as a result of these efforts; pandemics or other public health crises; expected outcomes of pending or potential litigation and regulatory actions; the increased consumer, employee and regulatory focus on sustainability issues and practices, including failures by our suppliers to adhere to our vendor code of conduct; the regulation or prohibition of goods sourced, or containing raw materials or components, from certain regions and our ability to evidence compliance; access to capital and/or credit markets; factors that could affect our consolidated effective tax rate; the risk of impairment to goodwill and other intangible assets such as the recent impairment charges incurred in our Johnny Was segment; and geopolitical risks, including ongoing challenges between the United States and China and those related to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas war and the conflict in the Red Sea region. Forward-looking statements reflect our expectations at the time such forward-looking statements are made, based on information available at such time, and are not guarantees of performance. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, these expectations could prove inaccurate as such statements involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our ability to control or predict. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties, or other risks or uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial, materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or projected. Important factors relating to these risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors contained in our Fiscal 2023 Form 10-K, and those described from time to time in our future reports filed with the SEC. We caution that one should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. We disclaim any intention, obligation or duty to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.Replica enables Fortune 100 financial, business and healthcare institutions and Federal agencies such as the US Army and Defense Innovation Unit to securely engage in high risk cyber activities without compromising productivity. FALLS CHURCH, Va. , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Grey Market Labs (dba Replica Cyber ), a pioneering leader in cybersecurity solutions, proudly announces it has secured $8M in Series A funding led by Capri Ventures, with participation from Blu Ventures and AFG to accelerate adoption of its groundbreaking platform - Replica. This strategic investment will enable the company to advance its mission of delivering Secure Environments-as-a-Service, bringing unparalleled privacy and security in an increasingly vulnerable digital landscape. With this round, Andy Brown , CEO of SandHill East , former CTO of UBS, and current board member of ZScaler and PureStorage, will be joining the Board of Directors as will Dennis Shaya , Partner at Capri Ventures. In addition, Don Duet , Former Head of Technology at Goldman Sachs, and Tim Estes , founder of Angel Kids AI and former CEO at Digital Reasoning, will be joining the advisory board, complementing an already strong team including: Christopher Caine (CEO – Mercator XXI), Gary Cubbage (fmr. EVP – Booz Allen Hamilton ), Nick Donofrio (fmr. EVP Innovation – IBM), Todd Helfrich (VP Federal – Censys). The Replica platform offers Secure Environments-as-a-Service, revolutionizing how organizations protect and enable high risk activities. This includes targeting Russian misinformation campaigns in Ukraine , safe testing of new tech with proprietary data, disrupting financial scams and fraud aimed at seniors, and identifying and mitigating insider threats within organizations, among other scenarios. By integrating patented technology, intelligence tradecraft, and Zero Trust architecture, Replica quickly creates realistic IT environments that encompass hardware, operating systems, applications, networks, and data layers. This innovative solution not only protects user and organizational privacy but also delivers the data, tools and workflows needed for users to be productive in their most sensitive work. Kristopher Schroeder , CEO of Grey Market Labs, emphasized the significance of this funding round: "Replica is the culmination of over 20 years of experience in embedded tradecraft, intelligence operations, and cutting edge software. Our engineering team, with extensive backgrounds in offensive and defensive cyber warfare, has developed a product that is comprehensive with the protection and efficiency needed for today's enterprises and their users." Schroeder goes on to say, "This funding will allow Grey Marketing Labs to accelerate our vision to deliver even more impactful solutions for our customers." Capri Ventures, the lead investor in this funding round, expressed their excitement about partnering with Replica. "We are thrilled to support Grey Market Labs in their mission to redefine cybersecurity with the Replica platform," said Dennis Shaya , Partner with Capri Ventures. "Their innovative approach and deep expertise position them as a frontrunner in the industry, especially financial services, and we believe this partnership will drive significant advancements in digital privacy and security." Available as both a SaaS product and a hosted service, Replica enables secure work even in a global ecosystem, while reducing burden on the IT organization. The platform's flexible architecture supports rapid deployments (noted as some of the fastest in Financial Services), continuous updates, and seamless integration with existing enterprise services, including single-sign-on, proxies, and data governance. Additionally, Replica offers rich audit and reporting functionalities to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and provide the critical observability needed for leadership. Replica has solved critical problems for major Banks, Health Systems, Global Consulting, and Governments with use cases like: Protected Research (deep/dark web, social, automated collects, OSINT), Isolating Acquired (M&A) tech and activities, Advanced Sandboxing for Malware/ Unknown Files , Complex Training Environments, Enabling Fraud /Cyber Investigations, Secure DevOps with Data Controls, Intellectual Property Sharing and Protection, and more. With this new round of funding, Replica is poised to expand its value to customers, enhance its offerings, and further solidify its position as a leader redefining how to protect and enable high-risk activities. For more information about Replica, please visit ReplicaCyber.com . About Grey Market Labs Founded as Grey Market Labs® (dba Replica Cyber ), a Certified B-Corp with the mission to protect life online. Our work protecting the United States from foreign intelligence evolved to the creation of ReplicaTM, the world's first Secure Environments-as-a-Service platform. This patented SaaS platform simplifies creation of comprehensive hybrid-computing systems, delivering privacy and security while giving control to business users and reducing the burden on IT by 99.73%. We have solved critical problems for major Banks, Health Systems, Global Consulting, and Governments with use cases like: Protected Research (deep/dark web, social, automated collects, OSINT), Isolating Acquired (M&A) tech and activities, Advanced Sandboxing for Malware/ Unknown Files , Complex Training Environments, Enabling Fraud /Cyber Investigations, Secure DevOps with Data Controls, and more. For anyone that has tried to build complex, secure systems and platforms - Replica replaces this expensive work with the automation of secure environments. About Capri Ventures Capri Ventures is an early stage venture capital firm focused on Enterprise Technology. The team is composed of former software executives and leaders from Fortune 500 enterprises, bringing significant resources early in a company's lifecycle to help drive commercialization and market adoption. About AFG Partners AFG Partners < https://www.afgvc.com/ > is an Asian-based VC fund investing in B2B fintech and enabling tech startups addressing the critical needs of financial institutions and corporates globally, particularly in Asia . A core part of the strategy is to invest and help companies in Europe and the US who are interested in expanding across Asia via our network of LPs and ecosystem partners. Previous investments of the principals include N26, Unit, Blockdaemon, Airbnb, Transferwise, Gocardless and Wefox amongst others. About Blu Ventures Blu Ventures, a venture capital firmed based in Washington, DC , provides strategic funding and expert guidance in Seed to Series A companies in cybersecurity, healthtech, and B2B software startups. Blu leverages the deep domain expertise of its partners—all former operators with extensive industry experience—to empower visionary entrepreneurs. Learn more at www.bluventureinvestors.com SOURCE Grey Market Labs

'I used to work at Tesco and these are 11 things I wish I could tell customers'

Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save With the holidays taking up much of your time, you may not be concentrating on retirement moves to make before 2025. But if you’re the type of person who does everything to the max, investing in your future retirement now could be a game changer. In 2024, you can invest up to $23,000 into your 401(k) retirement plan as per IRS contribution limits. If you’re over 50 and need to play catch-up, you can invest an extra $7,500. That means your total possible contribution for 2024 is $30,500. If that seems like a lot, it is. But you don’t have to max out your contributions if you can’t afford it. Employer matching can help. In 2025, you can invest $23,500, bringing your possible contribution up to $31,500. If you’re over 50, the catch-up contribution remains at $7,500 for 2025. But a huge change was made in SECURE 2.0 for employees aged 60 to 63 who participate in workplace retirement plans. Starting in 2025, this super catch-up contribution limit is $11,250 instead of $7,500. People are also reading... Albany school support staff call for schools to close Jan. 6 As I See It: Why I really resigned from the Corvallis Planning Commission Unsafe left turn on Highway 20 in Linn County leads to fatal crash Samaritan Health Services CEO resigns Two Albany residents killed in Linn County crash Group wants to make Corvallis downtown more sophisticated Group wants to make Corvallis downtown more sophisticated Albany shelter faces federal lawsuit as whistleblower faces homelessness Family of hit-and-run victim seeks closure, clues that will lead to driver As I See It: The people of Benton County deserve leadership that promotes dialogue Christmas Eve hit-and-run causes domino effect in Albany Has a hard nonconference schedule prepared the Oregon State women's basketball team for the WCC? Corvallis high schoolers: We don't trust district to handle bias reports Albany man indicted in attempted murder case Oregon State celebrates Murphy's arrival while Washington State loses coach, quarterback 1. Figure out how much you contributed. If you’ve contributed as much as possible for the year, you’re in good shape going into 2025. If you’re not sure, you changed jobs or haven’t contributed consistently in 2024, you still have time to make adjustments to max out your 401(k) contributions for the year. 2. Check your employer’s match. Employer matching is a job benefit not to be overlooked. After all, for every dollar you save in your 401(k), your employer matches your contributions dollar-for-dollar or offers a partial match up to a certain percentage of your wages. Knowing where you stand can help you make the most of this opportunity. For example, let’s say you earn $50,000 per year and contribute $3,000 to your 401(k), or 6% of your salary. If your employer offers to match 50 cents of each dollar you contribute up to 6% of your pay, they would add $1,500 each year to your 401(k) account, boosting your total annual contributions to $4,500. 3. Look at your budget. Maxing out your 401(k) is always a good move. However, retirement planning can be a balancing act; sometimes, your budget is downright against it. If you have high debt or no money set aside for emergencies, you may want to hold off a bit. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t contribute to your retirement plan at all. Maintaining contributions is important, even if it means not maxing it out. Still, if you wait too long to save, you’ll have to play catch-up. If you save too much, you may have to tap into your account early, which can mean early withdrawal penalties if you are under age 591⁄2. 4. Boost your contributions. If you have enough cash stashed away to cover a large lump sum contribution to your 401(k), you could max out your 401(k) contributions before the end of the year. You can do this by increasing the percentage you contribute monthly from your paycheck. You’ll want to speak with your employer or HR department to see if this is possible and fill out the necessary paperwork. Keep in mind that how often you increase it or even if you can will depend on your plan rules. You may also want to check to be sure your contributions are still automatic. Since it’s usually easier to save money if it’s automatically deducted from your paycheck, it may be worth reviewing your budget to see if you can boost your contribution amount to max out your 401(k). If you haven’t set up automatic payroll contributions, now is a good time to do so. 1 in 4 people say they’ll go into debt for the holidays. Is social media to blame? Katie Kelton, Bankrate.com Maxing out your 401(k) has some clear benefits. This is especially true if you’ve fallen behind on your savings goals or you simply want to grow your retirement nest egg faster. The main advantage is that you’ll have more money saved for retirement. According to Northwestern Mutual’s 2024 Planning & Progress Study, most retired Americans believe they will need nearly $1.5 million in the bank to retire comfortably. That’s a 15% increase — which far outpaces the 3% to 5% inflation rate — over 2023 and is up 53% from 2020. The money you put into your 401(k) lowers how much you’ll pay in taxes for the year, which may put you in a lower tax bracket. Also, 401(k) investments grow tax-deferred, so you won't pay taxes on the money until you withdraw the funds in retirement. If you have a Roth 401(k), you don't get a tax break on contributions because you fund your account with after-tax dollars. But the money you contribute grows tax-free and you won’t pay any taxes on your withdrawals in retirement. Maxing out your 410(k) each year may not be enough to retire comfortably, but it is a great start. That’s why enlisting the help of a financial adviser in 2024 can help you get a head start on 2025 and a happy retirement down the road. 4 tips to help you experience exceptional cruise dining | PennyWise podcast Nat CardonaLee Media Studio You need to make $108,000 to afford a home in America Samantha DelouyaCNN Americans who bought homes in 2024 were older and richer than ever Samantha DelouyaCNN Why you shouldn't store your money in payment apps By CORA LEWISAssociated Press Kathryn Pomroy is a contributing writer at Kiplinger.com . For more on money topics, visit Kiplinger.com . Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Nebraska's Nate Boerkircher and Luke Lindenmeyer earn Dana Holgorsen's trust — and snapsDominant defense leads UConn to 27-14 win over North Carolina in Fenway BowlA former election commissioner has pointed out that the second phase of the 10,000-baht cash handout scheme risks violating the law as the government is due to distribute the money to 4 million elderly Thais during Chinese New Year, which is a few days before the elections of the chiefs of provincial administrative organisations (PAOs). Somchai Srisutthiyakorn posted on his Facebook account yesterday that the government is trying to claim that all people aged 60 years should be considered vulnerable because they have no income and need to be taken care of. He said it is using this generalised claim as a pretext to distribute the money without risking being accused of using the 40 billion baht budget to sway public opinion ahead of the local elections. The handout is scheduled to be made by Jan 29 while the elections will take place on on Feb 1. Mr Somchai said he was certain someone would file a petition to impeach the government for violating Section 9 of the State Fiscal and Financial Disciplines Act BE 2561 (2018), specifically the paragraph that states: "The Council of Ministers must not carry out the administration of state affairs in a manner concentrating upon the creation of political popularity likely to prejudice the national economic system and the public at large over the long term." Niphon Bunyamanee, a former deputy leader of the Democrat Party and a former PAO chief, said the cash handouts would be unlikely to stimulate the economy as claimed. "The scheme is just an advertisement for the government to gain more popularity," he said. "Candidates from the government party [Pheu Thai] or those close to the government will benefit from this. At the same time, competitors do not have the same level of resources to create such an advantage," he said, referring to the proximity of the planned handout to the elections. He said the government should focus on sustainable economic policies, promoting investment to create productivity, employment, and income for the people, especially investment in skills tied to digital technology and AI. Former senator Somchai Sawangkarn said the upcoming handout would likely be in violation of the State Fiscal and Financial Disciplines Act BE 2561 and other laws.

Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has shed light on his retirement plans, acknowledging that his illustrious fighting career may soon be coming to an end. ‘The Last Stylebender,’ now 35, last competed at UFC 305 in August, where he suffered a fourth-round submission loss to South African middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis. The bout marked Adesanya’s first since losing his title in a shock decision defeat to Sean Strickland a year earlier. Speaking on the FLAGRANT Podcast, Adesanya reflected on his achievements in the sport and hinted at a possible timeline for his retirement. “I’ve said this already, with what I’ve already done in this game, a lot of people don’t even get to the belt, get to the UFC,” he stated. “I’ve done it twice. Still the only two-time UFC middleweight champion.” Related News Adesanya to headline UFC event in Saudi Usman warns young prospect who called out Adesanya UFC: Adesanya ‘insulted’ by Magomedov challenge Adesanya admitted he remains unbooked for a return to the Octagon but has been linked to a potential clash with Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Saudi Arabia next year. While he still has ambitions to achieve more in the sport, he is also realistic about the toll it takes. “You’ve got to break up with fighting before fighting breaks up with you,” Adesanya explained. “When will I? I don’t know... I’m 35 now. I know I’m over the halfway point and I’m definitely a few years away, maybe three years away. But who knows? I know I don’t want to be fighting at 40.” Despite the uncertainty, Adesanya remains proud of his journey, having captured the middleweight belt twice—an accomplishment that cements his legacy as one of the sport’s greats. “If what I’ve already done won’t make me happy, what will? I’m happy but I’m not content,” he said, hinting at a few more goals he wishes to achieve before stepping away from the cage.By FARNOUSH AMIRI, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Rep. Matt Gaetz said Friday that he will not be returning to Congress after withdrawing his name from consideration to be attorney general under President-elect Donald Trump amid growing allegations of sexual misconduct. “I’m still going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch. I do not intend to join the 119th Congress,” Gaetz told conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, adding that he has “some other goals in life that I’m eager to pursue with my wife and my family.” The announcement comes a day after Gaetz, a Florida Republican, stepped aside from the Cabinet nomination process amid growing fallout from federal and House Ethics investigations that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation’s chief federal law enforcement officer. The 42-year-old has vehemently denied the allegations against him. Gaetz’s nomination as attorney general had stunned many career lawyers inside the Justice Department, but reflected Trump’s desire to place a loyalist in a department he has marked for retribution following the criminal cases against him. Hours after Gaetz withdrew, Trump nominated Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general, who would come to the job with years of legal work under her belt and that other trait Trump prizes above all: loyalty. It’s unclear what’s next for Gaetz, who is no longer a member of the House. He surprised colleagues by resigning from Congress the same day that Trump nominated him for attorney general. Some speculated he could still be sworn into office for another two-year term on Jan. 3, given that he had just won reelection earlier this month. But Gaetz, who has been in state and national politics for 14 years, said he’s done with Congress. “I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress,” he said.Jimmy Carter: Many evolutions for a centenarian ‘citizen of the world’ps gameguard 。

Anderson's 14 lead Furman over Charleston Southern 67-46

Optimization technology offers TikTok Shop Live sellers viewer insights to boost sales NEW YORK , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Stickler today announced its launch as the first – and only – Live Selling Analytics Platform in the TikTok Shop App Store. With TikTok Shop rapidly expanding its global footprint in live commerce, Stickler's app sets a new standard for data-driven optimization, enabling brands, agencies and sellers to scale their live selling with ease and at very low cost. Stickler's solution also supports every local language where TikTok Shop operates to empower sellers worldwide by providing unparalleled insights into their live stream performance. "We've tracked over 100,000 hours of Live Commerce and understand the best practices of live selling and what makes it work. We're very happy to partner with TikTok Shop to release our technology through the App Store to help merchants in the U.S. when going live on TikTok Shop," said Stickler founder and CEO Fionn Hyndman . TikTok Shop guards its total retail sales closely, but Hyndman said he expects TikTok Shop will be delivering over $3 billion a month in GMV in the U.S. over November and December, and the number of live streams and session length should increase 30-60%, month-on-month. "We think it's safe to say that clients who go live are seeing it generate a return," Hyndman said. "Very few sellers are optimizing their live selling for TikTok's algorithm or the consumer. They need a tool like Stickler to give them the insight they lack. Insights drive effectiveness. Effectiveness drives results. And results drive spend. It has always been that way." TikTok Shop's Product Lead noted Stickler's app is the "best-in-class product that I've seen so far on the market when it comes to serving a global market and the challenges and nuances that come with Eastern and Western markets." Hyndman and team have been offering Stickler's custom app to brands in Southeast Asia since 2023, working with some of the region's leading traditional and direct-to-consumer brands. The Stickler live-selling app is now available now in the U.S. TikTok Shop App Store and across all TikTok Shop markets globally through custom application. For further information about the company and its services, visit http://www.stickler.live/ or please contact; Fionn Hyndman hello@stickler.live STICKLER FACT SHEET Founded in 2022, Stickler is a software-as-a-service platform focused on live commerce optimization. Stickler combines cutting-edge analytics with scalable optimization tools. Its three flagship products –Stickler, LiveScope, and LiveStage – empower brands to maximize their live selling results efficiently and effectively. Key Features of Stickler's TikTok Shop Integration Why Live Commerce Analytics & Optimization Matter As live commerce emerges as a ascendent form of online retail, TikTok Shop continues to lead with its innovative approach to engaging consumers and selling through a marketplace that is more similar to Amazon than Meta. Stickler amplifies this success by equipping sellers with the tools to: Stickler's Unique Selling Points Stickler was built to address the complexities of live commerce at scale. Its integration with TikTok Shop's App Store means brands and sellers can – for the first time – access real-time, actionable insights to optimize their live streams across markets. No more guesswork – just data-driven decisions to drive engagement, sales, and ROI. Many companies, brands and prominent sellers have told Stickler they don't understand this new way of going live via TikTok. Looking at available data, most successful brands go live for many more hours on TikTok Live than on other platforms. Stickler has cracked the best, most-effective way to optimize customer engagements and is making it globally available for sellers in every local language where TikTok Shop operates across 10 countries and markets. About Stickler Pte Ltd Stickler is a Live Commerce (Live Selling) enablement platform. We work with brands, creators, agencies and ecommerce companies to help them scale Live Commerce. We help manage the work flow and optimisation and help sellers do more with less resource. We don't believe in multi-streaming, we believe in being as effective as possible when you do stream. We are a multi-platform tool, designed with sellers at heart, aiming to make their Life, and their Lives easier Press Contact: Fionn Hyndman 16462432994 http://www.stickler.live View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stickler-first-with-live-commerce-analytics-app-in-tiktok-shop-app-store-302315529.html SOURCE Stickler Pte Ltd

Rourke 2.0: Nathan’s brother Kurtis named NCAA’s top CanadianBy CLAIRE RUSH President-elect Donald Trump has once again suggested he wants to revert the name of North America’s tallest mountain — Alaska’s Denali — to Mount McKinley, wading into a sensitive and decades-old conflict about what the peak should be called. Related Articles National Politics | Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug use National Politics | An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump National Politics | Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal National Politics | House Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of ‘regularly’ paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl National Politics | Trump wants mass deportations. For the agents removing immigrants, it’s a painstaking process Former President Barack Obama changed the official name to Denali in 2015 to reflect the traditions of Alaska Natives as well as the preference of many Alaska residents. The federal government in recent years has endeavored to change place-names considered disrespectful to Native people. “Denali” is an Athabascan word meaning “the high one” or “the great one.” A prospector in 1896 dubbed the peak “Mount McKinley” after President William McKinley, who had never been to Alaska. That name was formally recognized by the U.S. government until Obama changed it over opposition from lawmakers in McKinley’s home state of Ohio. Trump suggested in 2016 that he might undo Obama’s action, but he dropped that notion after Alaska’s senators objected. He raised it again during a rally in Phoenix on Sunday. “McKinley was a very good, maybe a great president,” Trump said Sunday. “They took his name off Mount McKinley, right? That’s what they do to people.” Once again, Trump’s suggestion drew quick opposition within Alaska. “Uh. Nope. It’s Denali,” Democratic state Sen. Scott Kawasaki posted on the social platform X Sunday night. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski , who for years pushed for legislation to change the name to Denali, conveyed a similar sentiment in a post of her own. “There is only one name worthy of North America’s tallest mountain: Denali — the Great One,” Murkowski wrote on X. Various tribes of Athabascan people have lived in the shadow of the 20,310-foot (6,190-meter) mountain for thousands of years. McKinley, a Republican native of Ohio who served as the 25th president, was assassinated early in his second term in 1901 in Buffalo, New York. Alaska and Ohio have been at odds over the name since at least the 1970s. Alaska had a standing request to change the name since 1975, when the legislature passed a resolution and then-Gov. Jay Hammond appealed to the federal government. Known for its majestic views, the mountain is dotted with glaciers and covered at the top with snow year-round, with powerful winds that make it difficult for the adventurous few who seek to climb it. Rush reported from Portland, Oregon.

‘Tenants not tourists’: Debate rages over NYC bill to change short-term rental legislation, expand Airbnb offerings

. NEW DELHI: With incidents of sexual harassment of women workers/members of political parties often hushed up, SC on Monday asked the Election Commission to examine whether registered political parties could be brought under the ambit of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. Appearing for advocate-petitioner Yogamaya G, senior advocate Shobha Gupta told a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Manmohan that though many women are active members of political parties, only CPM has set up an internal complaint committee with external members. AAP lacks transparency about its committee, while BJP and Congress have admitted not having an adequate ICC structure mandated under law, the petitioner alleged, while demanding the law must apply in equal rigour to parties which owe allegiance to the Constitution that mandates protection of dignity of women. The bench said the petitioner's analogy to equate political parties as employers and workers/members as employees may not be apt, but agreed that this is an important issue that should be adjudicated by EC. SC told the petitioner that if she does not receive any satisfactory response from EC on the issue raised by her, she is free to approach court again. The PIL quoted a 2014 NDTV article titled 'Congress seeks security for Nagma, winks at party leader who kissed her', which narrated an incident of a Congress member publicly kissing the actress who was seen walking off without addressing a rally. Quoting a report from Ranjana Kumar's organisation, Centre for Social Research, published in Economic Times, it said, "Nearly 50% respondents said they faced verbal abuse and 45% said physical violence and threats were common, particularly true during election campaigns. Sixty-seven per cent of women politicians said perpetrators were male contestants and 58% party colleagues. Violence and harassment at the hands of colleagues is a reason why we see only women from political families in politics." Interestingly, in March 2022, Kerala HC ruled that political parties are under no compulsion to establish internal complaints committees, as mandated by the 2013 law, since parties lack the employee-employer relationships. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .Trump taps Rollins as agriculture chief, completing proposed slate of Cabinet secretaries

VALENCIA, Calif., Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AVITA Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCEL, ASX: AVH), a commercial-stage regenerative medicine company focused on first-in-class devices for wound care management and skin restoration, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its premarket approval (PMA) supplement for RECELL GO® mini. As a line extension of the RECELL GO system, the RECELL GO mini disposable cartridge is designed specifically to treat smaller wounds up to 480 square centimeters, compared to the standard RECELL GO disposable cartridge, which treats an area of 1,920 square centimeters. RECELL GO mini addresses a critical need in the full-thickness skin defect market, which includes a high volume of smaller wounds. As part of the RECELL GO platform, RECELL GO mini uses the same multi-use processing device as the standard disposable cartridge but features a modified cartridge optimized for smaller skin samples that reduces resource use and minimizes waste. This design provides an entry point for clinicians who may not have previously used the RECELL GO platform for smaller wounds, enabling broader accessibility and use in trauma and burn centers. “The FDA approval of RECELL GO mini strengthens our ability to provide clinicians with fit-for-purpose solutions that meet the diverse needs of patients with full-thickness wounds,” said Jim Corbett, Chief Executive Officer of AVITA Medical. “By introducing a treatment option specifically for smaller wounds, we are expanding the accessibility of RECELL to a wider range of patients. We believe this addition will drive greater adoption across trauma centers, where smaller wounds are common, and support our broader growth strategy.” The company expects RECELL GO mini to serve as a growth driver within the broader RECELL GO platform, further advancing AVITA Medical’s strategy to expand its impact on patient care. Rollout will begin with trauma and burn centers that currently treat smaller wounds during the first quarter of 2025. The PMA supplement follows the original PMA of RECELL Autologous Cell Harvesting Device and subsequent PMA supplements. About AVITA Medical, Inc. AVITA Medical is a commercial-stage regenerative medicine company transforming the standard of care in wound care management and skin restoration with innovative devices. At the forefront of our platform is the RECELL System, approved by the FDA for the treatment of thermal burn wounds and full-thickness skin defects, and for repigmentation of stable depigmented vitiligo lesions. RECELL harnesses the regenerative properties of a patient’s own skin to create Spray-On SkinTM Cells, delivering a transformative solution at the point-of-care. This breakthrough technology serves as the catalyst for a new treatment paradigm enabling improved clinical outcomes. In the United States, AVITA Medical also holds the exclusive rights to market, sell, and distribute PermeaDerm®, a biosynthetic wound matrix, and Cohealyx, an AVITA Medical-branded collagen-based dermal matrix. In international markets, the RECELL System is approved to promote skin healing in a wide range of applications including burns, full-thickness skin defects, and vitiligo. The RECELL System, excluding RECELL GOTM, is TGA-registered in Australia, has received CE mark approval in Europe, and has PMDA approval in Japan. To learn more, visit www.avitamedical.com . Forward-Looking Statements Th is press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Forward-looking statements generally may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “could,” “would,” “may,” “will,” “believe,” “continue,” “estimate,” “look forward,” “forecast,” “goal,” “target,” “project,” “outlook,” “guidance,” “future,” and similar words or expressions, and the use of future dates. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the timing and realization of regulatory approvals of our products; physician acceptance, endorsement, and use of our products; anticipated market share growth and revenue generation from certain products; failure to achieve the anticipated benefits from approval of our products; the effect of regulatory actions; product liability claims; risks associated with international operations and expansion; and other business effects, including the effects of industry, as well as other economic or political conditions outside of the Company’s control. These statements are made as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these statements, except as required by law. For additional information and other important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements, please see the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and other publicly available filings for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. Authorized for release by the Chief Financial Officer of AVITA Medical, Inc. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b6b7df71-e67c-4a6e-847c-bdcca54fad27 Investor & Media Contact: Jessica Ekeberg Phone +1-661-904-9269 investor@avitamedical.com media@avitamedical.com

Day 1 of Rajya Sabha & Lok Sabha: Obits, brief, and daylong adjournments

BEIRUT (AP) — Israel’s military launched airstrikes across Lebanon on Monday, unleashing explosions throughout the country and killing at least 31 while Israeli leaders appeared to be closing in on a negotiated ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group. Israeli strikes hit commercial and residential buildings in Beirut as well as in the port city of Tyre. Military officials said they targeted areas known as Hezbollah strongholds. They issued evacuation orders for Beirut’s southern suburbs, and strikes landed across the city, including meters from a Lebanese police base and the city’s largest public park. The barrage came as officials indicated they were nearing agreement on a ceasefire, while Israeli Prime Minister ‘s Security Cabinet prepared to discuss an offer on the table. Airstrikes kill at least 31 Massive explosions lit up Lebanon’s skies with flashes of orange, sending towering plumes of smoke into the air as Israeli airstrikes pounded Beirut’s southern suburbs Monday. The blasts damaged buildings and left shattered glass and debris scattered across nearby streets. No casualties were reported after many residents fled the targeted sites. Some of the strikes landed close to central Beirut and near Christian neighborhoods and other targets where Israel had issued evacuation warnings, including in Tyre and Nabatiyeh province. Israeli airstrikes also hit the northeast Baalbek-Hermel region without warning. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Monday that 26 people were killed in southern Lebanon, four in the eastern Baalbek-Hermel province and one in Choueifat, a neighborhood in Beirut’s southern suburbs that was not subjected to evacuation warnings on Monday. The deaths brought the total toll to 3,768 killed in Lebanon throughout 13 months of war between Israel and Hezbollah and nearly two months since Israel launched its ground invasion. Many of those killed since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah have been , and health officials said some of the recovered bodies were so severely damaged that DNA testing would be required to confirm their identities. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Lebanon’s Health Ministry says the war has displaced 1.2 million people. Israeli ground forces invaded southern Lebanon in early October, meeting heavy resistance in a narrow strip of land along the border. The military had previously exchanged attacks across the border with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group that began firing rockets into Israel the day after the war in Gaza began last year. Lebanese politicians have decried the ongoing airstrikes and said they are impeding U.S.-led ceasefire negotiations. The country’s deputy parliament speaker accused Israel of ramping up its bombardment in order to pressure Lebanon to make concessions in indirect ceasefire negotiations with Hezbollah. Elias Bousaab, an ally of the militant group, said Monday that the pressure has increased because “we are close to the hour that is decisive regarding reaching a ceasefire.” Hopes grow for a ceasefire Israeli officials voiced similar optimism Monday about prospects for a ceasefire. Mike Herzog, the country’s ambassador to Washington, earlier in the day told Israeli Army Radio that several points had yet to be finalized. Though any deal would require agreement from the government, Herzog said Israel and Hezbollah were “close to a deal.” “It can happen within days,” he said. Israeli officials have said the sides are close to an agreement that would include withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and a pullback of Hezbollah fighters from the Israeli border. But several sticking points remain. Two Israeli officials told The Associated Press that Netanyahu’s security Cabinet had scheduled a meeting for Tuesday, but they said it remained unclear whether the Cabinet would vote to approve the deal. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing internal deliberations. Danny Danon, Israel’s U.N. ambassador, told reporters Monday that he expected a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah to have stages and to be discussed by leaders Monday or Tuesday. Still, he warned, “it’s not going to happen overnight.” After previous hopes for a ceasefire were dashed, U.S. officials cautioned that negotiations were not yet complete and noted that there could be last-minute hitches that either delay or destroy an agreement. “Nothing is done until everything is done,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Monday. The proposal under discussion to end the fighting calls for an initial two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. The withdrawals would be accompanied by an influx of thousands more Lebanese army troops, who have been in the war, to patrol the border area along with an existing . Western diplomats and Israeli officials said Israel is in Lebanon if it believes Hezbollah is violating the terms. The Lebanese government has said that such an arrangement would authorize violations of the country’s sovereignty. A ceasefire could mark a step toward ending the regionwide war that ballooned after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, . The lack of a ceasefire has emerged as a political liability for Israeli leaders including Netanyahu, particularly while 60,000 Israelis in the country’s north after more than a year of cross-border violence. Hezbollah have reached as far south into Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers died fighting in the ground offensive in Lebanon. The Israeli military said about 250 projectiles were fired Sunday, with some intercepted. A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, the strongest of , is expected to significantly calm regional tensions that have led to fears of a direct, all-out war between Israel and Iran. It’s not clear how the ceasefire will affect the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Hezbollah had long insisted that it would not agree to a ceasefire until the war in Gaza ends, but it dropped that condition. A top Hamas official in Lebanon said the Palestinian militant group would support a ceasefire between its Lebanese ally Hezbollah and Israel, despite Hezbollah’s previous promises to stop the fighting in Lebanon only if the war in Gaza ends. “Any announcement of a ceasefire is welcome. Hezbollah has stood by our people and made significant sacrifices,” Osama Hamdan of Hamas’ political wing told the Lebanese broadcaster Al-Mayadeen, which is seen as politically allied with Hezbollah. While the ceasefire proposal is expected to be approved if Netanyahu brings it to a vote in his security Cabinet, one hard-line member, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, said he would oppose it. He said on X that a deal with Lebanon would be a “big mistake” and a “missed historic opportunity to eradicate Hezbollah.” If the ceasefire talks fail, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said, “it will mean more destruction and more and more animosity and more dehumanization and more hatred and more bitterness.” Speaking at a G7 meeting in Fiuggi, Italy, the last summit of its kind before U.S. President Joe Biden leaves office, Safadi said such a failure “will doom the future of the region to more conflict and more killing and more destruction.” ___ Federman reported from Jerusalem and Metz from Rabat, Morocco. Associated Press writers Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Nicole Winfield in Fiuggi, Italy, and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Find more of AP’s war coverage atNORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Nick Anderson's 14 points helped Furman defeat Charleston Southern 67-46 on Saturday. Anderson shot 6 for 9, including 2 for 4 from beyond the arc for the Paladins (6-0). Pjay Smith Jr. scored 13 points while going 6 of 12 (1 for 5 from 3-point range) and added five assists. Garrett Hien finished 5 of 9 from the field to finish with 10 points, while adding six rebounds. The Paladins picked up their sixth straight win. The Buccaneers (1-6) were led in scoring by Daylen Berry, who finished with 16 points. Charleston Southern also got nine points and four assists from RJ Johnson. Jaylon Gibson finished with eight points, eight rebounds and three blocks. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Luke Kromenhoek throws 3 TD passes as Florida St. ends six-game skid vs. Charleston Southern

Viad Corp Announces Mandatory Conversion Date for 5.5% Convertible Series A Preferred Stock

Advanced Navigation will be working with NILEQ to develop a new advanced navigation system that will enable drone and airborne vehicles to navigation great distances over mining sites, without the aid of GPS. NILEQ’s technology is similar to fingerprint scanners, which uses neuromorphic sensors to scan the changing terrain as a drone flies across it, and matches it to an existing database of the earth’s surface. Once a match is locked, it will feed updates of absolute positioning to the navigational system - removing drift errors and the need for GPS. NILEQ says this technology will enable systems such as uncrewed air systems to secure an absolute position fix over land with a solution that is passive and resistant to interference. The technology will enhance the safety of beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, as the solution overcomes many of the conventional limitations of airborne image-based navigation technologies. Both companies have said the innovation will enable faster and easily repeatable mining surveys on low-cost drones, which is suited for large-scale projects such as site-mapping, infrastructure inspection and stockpile measurement. They also indicated it enhances the safety of BVLOS operations, allowing drones to navigate dangerous or inaccessible areas, such as unstable terrains, high walls, or underground tunnels where GPS is not available. Advanced Navigation CEO Chris Shaw said, “In an increasingly uncertain world where interference is becoming ubiquitous, commercial sectors can no longer rely purely on GPS for flight operations. There is an urgent need for additional navigation aiding to supplement platform inertial navigation and GPS receiver systems.” More information is posted on www.AdvancedNavigation.com.

Jimmy Carter’s life was marked by his devotion to his family, public service and humanitarian efforts. The former president first emerged into the political scene in the early 1960s and spent the rest of his life working to ensure people in the US and around the world received fair treatment and a better quality of life. From an early age his desire to make a difference in people’s life was evident. He continued his public service through time spent in the military, elected office and volunteer work after leaving Washington, D.C. Here is a look at the life of “The Peanut President:”Dec. 29—LOS ANGELES — The timing of Gonzaga's game against UCLA on Saturday allowed Zags coach Mark Few a chance to meet with Golden State coach Steve Kerr and the Los Angeles Clippers' counterpart Tyronn Lue. Few attended the Clippers' 102-92 victory over the Warriors on Friday at Intuit Dome, the Clippers' impressive new arena. Few, Lue and Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra were Kerr's assistants on Team USA's gold -medal squad at the Paris Olympics in August. Stephen Curry hit four of his eight 3-pointers in the final three minutes as the U.S. held off France 98-87 in the final. "It's spectacular," Few said of the Intuit Dome. "I was here (Friday night), I came to see Ty and Steve and it was great to catch up with them. But then to walk around here and really see the facilities, the practice court and weight room, everything. It's beautiful." Minutes for Emmanuel GU's Emmanuel Innocenti has seen meaningful minutes for defensive purposes in a few previous games but the sophomore wing had a longer stint vs. UCLA and produced at both ends of the court. The Tarleton State transfer nailed his first 3-pointer of the season — he only had four attempts in 11 previous games — to extend Gonzaga's lead to 49-44 with 9 minutes, 9 seconds remaining. The 6-foot-5 native of France then contributed to a defensive stand that ended with a UCLA shot-clock violation. Innocenti played six minutes as GU tweaked the rotation after guard Khalif Battle was ejected for a flagrant 2 foul with 4:13 remaining in the opening half. Innocenti took an elbow to the face while being called for a blocking foul on Sebastian Mack's three-point play in the final minute. Innocenti has logged 61 minutes this season with just two double-digit stints — 14 vs. UMass Lowell and 13 against Long Beach State. "We have tons of confidence in him, that's why we subbed him there defensively (late), him and Mike (Ajayi) in there (is) our best defensive lineup," Few said. "Unfortunately, Graham (Ike) and everybody was talking about no and-ones and no 3s, just a tough break." Nembhard heats up after dustup Senior point guard Ryan Nembhard was held in check for most of the first 24 minutes. He had just two points — on a last-second jumper before the first-half buzzer — and three assists in the first half. That changed after Nembhard and Eric Dailey Jr. locked up trying to secure a loose ball with 15:38 left in the second half. After review, both were assessed technical fouls, but the Zags kept the ball with the possession arrow in their favor. Nembhard assisted on Ike's basket seven seconds later and again a few possessions later. Nembhard then hit a 3-pointer and fed Nolan Hickman for another 3 that gave GU its first lead of the second half, 45-43, with 12:22 remaining. Nembhard went on to score 14 of his 16 points and added five of his eight assists in the closing half. He had two field goals in the final minute, but the 86.7% free-throw shooter also missed a potential game-tying free throw, and his 50-footer in the closing seconds ricocheted off the backboard. "That defense has been turning people over like crazy," Few said. "They stung us for 11 in the first half, we only had four in the second half. They've been physically taking the ball from guards. So (Nembhard's) eight assists, two turnovers in 40 minutes was spectacular, along with what Graham (24 points) was able to do." (c)2024 The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Wash.) Visit The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Wash.) at www.spokesman.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Ellington Credit Prepares for Special Meeting and Issues Mirror Preferred StockFormer hockey executive/player Monte Miron dies

Summary Bombardier canceled the Learjet 85 project after receiving orders due to high costs. The cancelation was attributed to market weakness in the business jet segment. Bombardier shifted focus to larger jets due to market demands, ending all Learjet production by 2021. Learjet is one of the most important and iconic private jet brands. In 1964, the company launched the first truly popular private jet, the Learjet 23. It continued producing over 3,000 aircraft until production ended under its new owner, Bombardier. The Learjet 85 was the last of the planned Learjet series. It was announced in 2007, with a prototype aircraft flying in 2014. However, Bombardier canceled the project in 2015, and despite orders, no Learjet 85 aircraft were ever delivered. Quick Links Bombardier and the new Learjet 85 Learjet 85 planned specifications Orders and then cancelation of the Learjet 85 Why was the Learjet 85 dropped Bombardier and the new Learjet 85 Learjet produced a wide range of popular private jets from 1964 until its takeover by Bombardier in 1990. The Bombardier Learjet Family was marketed from then on, with several aircraft launches. Learjet has been synonymous with luxury business jets for generations. The mid-size Learjet 60 (a larger upgrade from the Learjet 55) entered service in 1993, The Learjet 45 (a new clean-sheet design) entered service in 1995. The Learjet 40 and 45 were later developed into the Learjet 70 and 75, which entered service in 2013. These were Bombardier's last production models. The Learjet 75 is pictured below. Alongside these programs, Bombardier also planned the launch of a further new clean-sheet jet. The Learjet 85 was a larger private jet (moving into the super mid-size category). The program was announced in 2007. Interested in finding out more about private aviation? Find more articles like this here. Learjet 85 planned specifications The Learjet 85 was a departure from previous Learjet models, with several design changes. It was the first Bombardier aircraft to have a composite structure. The wing technology was taken from the Bombardier CSeries. It was powered by two Pratt and Whitney Canada PW3078 turbofan engines. It was priced at $17 million. It was set to be the largest and fastest aircraft of the Learjet series. It would take up to eight passengers, with a length of 20.76 m (68 ft 1 in). It would offer a more spacious cabin than other jets in the same category. According to Bombardier, it would offer the following specifications (but as it never entered service, the performance was never tested). Max takeoff weight: 15,195 kg (33,500 lb) Maximum speed: 871 km/h (541 mph, 470 kn) Cruise speed: 829 km/h (515 mph, 448 kn) Range: 4,800 km (3,000 mi, 2,600 NM) Service ceiling: 15,000 m (49,000 ft) The Learjet 85 also features advanced avionics, with Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics. Features included a Synthetic Vision System (SVS), a Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS), a Dual Flight Management System (FMS), a Surface Awareness System, a Weather Radar System, and an autothrottle. Orders and then cancelation of the Learjet 85 A number of orders were received for the Learjet 85. During development, Bombardier reported as many as 60 orders, with Flexjet confirmed as the launch customer. Unfortunately, despite its impressive design and specifications and these orders, the Learjet 85 was canceled before it entered service. By the time of its cancelation, two aircraft had been built, and flight testing had commenced (in April 2014). Bombardier, though, reported just over 70 hours of test flights. Certification was never received, and no orders were ever fulfilled. Bombardier canceled the Learjet 85 project in October 2015. Along with this, around 1000 jobs were lost (mainly in production facilities in Wichita and in Queretaro, Mexico). The company went on, of course, to close the whole Learjet program in 2021. Want answers to more key questions in aviation? Check out the rest of our guides here . Why was the Learjet 85 dropped There were several reasons for the Learjet 85 cancelation in 2015: According to Bombardier, the program was not commercially viable. Even though orders had been received, it was costing Bombardier too much. The clean sheet design and new technology undoubtedly contributed to this increased cost. Development had been paused some months before the project was canceled. Bombardier cited market weakness in the midsize segment for business jets at the time. In 2015, the manufacturer had losses of $4.9 billion (including the Learjet 85 program). Bombardier also wanted to concentrate on the CSeries and the Global 7000/8000. Alain Bellemare, CEO of Bombardier Aerospace, explained the company's motivations to Aviation International News . He said: "t’s a really challenging segment and the program still needed money injected...You find yourself in that situation when you have too many initiatives. You want to focus on what are the top priorities of the organization and then you look at the market challenge...for the Lear 85. That’s the reason we came to the conclusion that the market was not supporting further investment.” The business jet manufacturer ceased operations in February 2021. These same reasons likely contributed to the decision to end production of all Learjets in February 2021. Only the Learjet 75 was being produced then, with the last aircraft delivered in March 2022. Bombardier explained that it would shift its focus towards its larger jets, including the Challengers and Globals, which had a larger market share at the time. The Learjet, though, remains popular in the private jet market and will likely be well-used for many years to come. Get the latest aviation news straight to your inbox: Sign up for our newsletters today.ps qc 。

UI Movie Leaked Online: Sci-Fi Thriller Surfaces On TamilRockers, Movierulez & Other Piracy Websites Hours After ReleaseThe India Conference at Harvard (ICH) announced today that Nita Ambani , a trailblazer in philanthropy, education, and culture, will take centre stage at the highly anticipated India Conference at Harvard, scheduled for February 15-16, 2025 in Boston. As one of India’s most influential voices, Nita Ambani has profoundly impacted over 80 million lives through her social equity initiatives and continues to advocate for India’s global potential. Hosted by students from across graduate and undergraduate schools at Harvard University, the India Conference at Harvard is one of the largest and most influential student-led India-focused conferences in the US. This year's edition will feature distinguished speakers from diverse fields, exploring how Indian ideas and innovations are reshaping global narratives. Ambani's recent achievements, including hosting the International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in India after four decades and championing India’s bid for the 2036 Olympics, symbolise the nation’s growing influence on the global stage. Her keynote aligns perfectly with this year’s conference theme, "From India to the World," which celebrates India's emergence as a global leader shaping pathways for peace, prosperity, and innovation. Also read: Nita Ambani says this century belongs to India and its women Ayush Shukla, one of the Conference Co-Chairs, commented: "The India Conference has always strived to push the boundaries of dialogue around India’s growth story. This year’s theme ‘From India to the World’ captures the essence of India's transformative journey—where local ingenuity meets global impact. This theme celebrates not only the success stories of our technological prowess and development growth that have emerged from India, but also showcases the lessons Indians offer about collaborative communities, vibrant culture, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit.” Also read: Nita Ambani awarded for Outstanding Contribution to Brand India Key highlights of the Conference include: A fireside chat with Nita Ambani, showcasing her vision for India’s role on the world stage. A policy Hackathon, in collaboration with the Indian School of Business and GDi Partners, addressing climate challenges in rural India. Startup Pitch Competition, providing a platform for Indian and Indian-origin entrepreneurs to present scalable solutions to India’s unique challenges. Other speakers at the event will include: Pramath Raj Sinha: Founding Dean of the Indian School of Business and Ashoka University. Ashish Chauhan: CEO and MD of the National Stock Exchange of India, Anjali Bansal: Founding Partner of Avaana Climate and Sustainability Fund. Sabyasachi Mukherjee: Iconic fashion designer and founder of Sabyasachi. Harvard’s association with India has grown stronger over the years, reflecting India's ascent as a global thought leader. This is exemplified by the increasing representation of Indian-origin leaders within the university. Notably, Srikant Datar, Dean of Harvard Business School, and Rakesh Khurana, the former Dean of Harvard College, have played pivotal roles in shaping Harvard’s leadership and academic culture. Moreover, this year, former Twitter India head and AI entrepreneur, Manish Maheshwari was selected for the prestigious Mason Fellowship at Harvard Kennedy School, adding to the university's vibrant community of Indian thought leaders. The conference exemplifies this deep connection, serving as a platform for meaningful discussions on India’s transformative journey.

The field of cell and gene therapy has seen a wave of exciting advances in the past 12 months. Following the landmark approval of the first CRISPR-based cell therapy in late 2023, investigators have reported further success in clinical trials for liver diseases and various forms of cancer. New gene editing platforms offering longer DNA inserts promise to expand the toolbox of CRISPR-, base and prime editing. But reports of adverse events in several trials, whether caused by the choice of delivery vector or conditioning regimen, emphasize the work that still needs to be done. Following the success of the inaugural event in 2024, is proud to host virtual summit, on January 29, 2025. has gathered a fantastic group of presenters from academia and industry to discuss the latest clinical advances and trends. Through a series of keynote presentations, panel discussions and fireside chats, our speakers will discuss progress and challenges around new technologies, delivery vehicles, and clinical applications. Highlights of the summit include: Registration is entirely free.

EAGLE-EYED fans spotted Ruben Amorim's ice cold reaction to Marcus Rashford's goal against Ipswich Town. The Manchester United forward netted 81 seconds into Amorim's reign as manager . Rashford , 27, tapped home after he was found by Amad Diallo 's cross to give the Red Devils a dream start under their new manager. While the players were overjoyed in celebrations of the goal, Amorim had a different reaction. The manager was caught on camera having a very muted reaction to taking the early lead. And fans have hailed the former Sporting boss' ice-cold demeanour on social media. READ MORE ON MAN UTD One posted: "No celebration from Amorim, so cold." A second commented: "Amorim’s reaction to the goal omg he’s so cold." A third wrote: "Ice cold Amorim." A fourth said: "No reaction from Amorim. My manager is cold as ice." Most read in Football CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS A fifth declared: "Amorim doesn’t celebrate goals - man is too cold!" Another added: "Amorim is so cold, man didn’t even celebrate." Despite the early positivity from Man United the match was not a total dream start. Ipswich town grew into the game and looked the better side after the first 45 minutes. Liam Delap was denied an equaliser by a brilliant save from Andre Onana in the 40th minute. Omari Hutchinson then fired the Tractor Boys level with a curling effort into the top corner after a deflection. The officials were also disrupted during the game as VAR went down due to a fire alarm at Stockley Park . RUBEN AMORIM has ruled out poaching any of his Sporting Lisbon players in the January transfer window. But the Portuguese side's chiefs expect Amorim will come calling in the summer - with his cheque book wide open. Here's are three Sporting starts United could swoop for... but they won't come cheap: VIKTOR GYOKERES Age: 26 Position: Striker Cost: £84million Swede has shone since joining Sporting last summer from Coventry — catching the eye of all Europe’s top clubs. Hit 43 goals in 50 games last season and boasts 18 strikes already this term. GONCALO INACIO Age: 23 Position: Defender Cost: £50million Ball-playing centre-back was handed his debut by Amorim and has since become a key figure in Sporting’s recent title successes. Can also slot in at left-back if required and has 12 caps for Portugal. MORTEN HJULMAND Age: 25 Position: Midfield Cost: £40million Dane is one of the top holding midfielders in Portugal — and made skipper by Amorim. He could be the man to replace Casemiro.

Planetarium Labs Elevates Web3 Gaming with Season 2 of Immortal Rising 2: Path of Ascension CampaignFox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy blatantly misgendered Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-Del.) while interviewing anti-transgender crusader Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) during Sunday’s episode of “Fox & Friends Weekend.” Campos-Duffy casually referred to McBride, a trans woman who will be the first openly trans member of Congress, as “he,” while Mace appeared on the show to promote her campaign to ban McBride and other trans women from using female restrooms on Capitol Hill. When Mace called her mission to block trans women from using the bathrooms a “winning” political message, Campos-Duffy noted that “that trans member of Congress” has said she “will actually abide by the rules and not use the women’s restroom in Congress.” Doubling down on the bigotry moments later, Campos-Duffy took aim at Rachel Levine , President Joe Biden’s assistant secretary of health. Levine, also a trans woman, is the first openly trans federal official in the United States’ history. “I’ve seen Rachel Levine. I know that’s not a woman, so I don’t understand this idea,” the Fox News anchor proclaimed as Mace nodded in agreement. "I know that's not a woman" -- Nancy Mace is on Fox & Friends and the person interviewing her is referring to Sarah McBride and other trans women as "he." Mace agrees. These people do not think trans people exist. pic.twitter.com/cEhZpRKLIe — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 24, 2024 This past Monday, Mace introduced a resolution to prohibit any lawmakers and House employees from “using single-sex facilities other than those corresponding to their biological sex.” Asked if she was specifically targeting McBride with the proposed rule while speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the South Carolina congresswoman said, “Yes and absolutely, and then some.” “I’m absolutely 100% going to stand in the way of any man who wants to be in a women’s restroom, in our locker rooms, in our changing rooms,” she added. “I will be there fighting you every step of the way.” Since Mace began her battle to exclude trans women from Congress’ women’s bathrooms, McBride has tried to stay above the fray. In a Monday night post on X , formerly called Twitter, she said, “Every day Americans go to work with people who have life journeys different than their own and engage with them respectfully, I hope members of Congress can muster that same kindness.” McBride called the controversy an “attempt to distract” Americans from real issues during a Sunday appearance on “Face the Nation.” “Every single time we hear them say the word ‘trans,’ look what they’re doing with their right hand,” she said. “Look at what they’re doing to pick the pocket of American workers, to fleece seniors by privatizing Social Security and Medicare.” Nancy Mace Fumes Over Journalist's 'Insulting' Challenge To Her Anti-Trans Fixation 'Daily Show' Spots 4 Major Flaws In Nancy Mace's 'Performative' Anti-Trans 'Bulls**t' Nancy Mace’s Former Aide Rips Her Anti-Trans Bill As Thirsty ‘Ploy To Get On Fox News’

The five-part series will debut globally on December 10, following elite global players on and off the field as they compete in the US Open Polo Championship in Wellington, Florida. A trailer for the series titled Polo, executive produced by Harry and Meghan, was released on Thursday, giving a behind-the-scenes look at the “fast-paced and glamorous world of polo”. In a statement, Harry said: “This series offers audiences an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes look into the passion and determination driving some of the world’s elite polo players, revealing the grit behind the glamour. “We’re proud to showcase the true depth and spirit of the sport — and the intensity of its high-stakes moments.” It has been produced by the Sussexes’ Archewell Productions, having previously released three documentaries with Netflix as part of a multimillion-pound deal with the streaming giant. Heart Of Invictus, which aired last August, followed a group of service members on their road to the Invictus Games, the Paralympic-style sporting competition set up by Harry in 2014 for injured and sick military personnel and veterans. Netflix also released the documentary series Live To Lead and the controversial six-part Harry & Meghan documentary in December 2022. Harry and Meghan moved to the US in 2020 after stepping down from royal duties.Key climate takeaways from a dramatic Fall Economic StatementNEW YORK, Dec. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mesoblast Limited (Nasdaq:MESO; ASX:MSB), global leader in allogeneic cellular medicines for inflammatory diseases, today announced the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Ryoncil® (remestemcel-L) as the first mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy in the United States. RYONCIL is the only MSC therapy approved in the U.S. for any indication, and the only approved therapy for steroid-refractory acute graft versus host disease (SR-aGvHD) in children 2 months and older, including adolescents and teenagers. Transplant physician Dr Joanne Kurtzberg, the Jerome Harris Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics and Professor of Pathology, and Director, Marcus Center for Cellular Cures at Duke University Medical Center (DUMC), said:“Steroid-refractory acute graft versus host disease is a devastating condition with an extremely poor prognosis. From today we are able to offer RYONCIL, the first FDA-approved treatment which will be life saving for so many children and will have a great impact on their families.” Annually in the United States approximately 10,000 patients undergo an allogeneic bone marrow transplant, 1,500 of whom are children. Approximately 50% develop aGvHD and almost half of those do not respond to steroids, the recognized first-line treatment.1-5 In a single-arm multi-center Phase 3 trial of children with SR-aGvHD, 89% of whom had high severity Grade C or Grade D disease, 70% achieved an overall response by Day 28 of treatment with RYONCIL, a measure that predicts survival in aGVHD. RYONCIL treatment was not discontinued or interrupted in any patient for any laboratory abnormality, and the full course was completed without interruption in more than 85% of patients. The full Phase 3 clinical study results are available in Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation.6 “We are very pleased that the FDA has granted approval of RYONCIL® and are proud of the company's commitment to the GVHD community in bringing this important new treatment to children and families with no other acceptable options,” said Dr. Silviu Itescu, Chief Executive of Mesoblast.“With RYONCIL approval by FDA, Mesoblast has demonstrated the ability to bring the first MSC product to market. We will continue to work closely with FDA to obtain approval of our other late-stage products, including REVASCOR® for cardiovascular diseases and rexlemestrocel-L for inflammatory pain indications, as well as expanding the indications for RYONCIL in both children and adults with inflammatory conditions.” RYONCIL will be available in the United States at transplant centers and other treating hospitals. Please see the full Prescribing Information at . The FDA's approval press release is available here . What is RYONCIL (remestemcel-L) RYONCIL is an allogeneic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy indicated for the treatment of steroid-refractory acute graft versus host disease (SR-aGvHD) in pediatric patients 2 months of age and older. The recommended dosage of RYONCIL is 2 × 106 MSC /kg body weight per intravenous infusion given twice per week for 4 consecutive weeks. Response is assessed 28 ± 2 days after the first dose and further treatment administered as appropriate. Important Safety Information Contraindications: Known hypersensitivity to dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or porcine and bovine proteins. Adverse reactions: Serious adverse reactions included pyrexia (9%), respiratory failure (9%), pneumatosis intestinalis (7%) and staphylococcal bacteremia infection (

Former BBC News journalist Rory Cellan-Jones said the Parkinson’s community “felt absolutely left out in the cold”, after being honoured at Buckingham Palace. The broadcaster’s former technology correspondent, 66, was formally made an OBE by the Princess Royal for his services to journalism on Wednesday. Cellan-Jones announced in 2019 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and he has since contributed to a podcast, Movers And Shakers, discussing life with the disease. Discussing the success of the podcast, which also features Jeremy Paxman, Cellan-Jones told the PA news agency: “It’s been an absolute scream. “We’ve had the most extraordinary reaction from the Parkinson’s community. “There is a community which felt absolutely left out in the cold and this award was for services to journalism, but I can’t help but think that maybe that played some part too.” Cellan-Jones said he talked to Anne about fundraising for Parkinson’s and how technology could possibly be used to monitor the disease. The journalist added: “She showed real interest in it. “Mike Tindall, whose father’s got it, is very active in fundraising – so we talked about that.” Cellan-Jones said the OBE was “very unexpected when it came”, adding that he felt “very privileged”. He said his rescue dog from Romania, named Sophie, was “making slow progress” after becoming a social media sensation with thousands of people following her recovery online. Speaking at Buckingham Palace, Cellan-Jones said several courtiers had asked after Sophie, adding: “She’s still incredibly nervous. She’s waiting at home, she wouldn’t have liked it here – a bit too busy. “She’s making slow progress, but she’s wonderful, and she’s been very important to us.” Earlier on Wednesday, broadcaster Alan Yentob, 77, was formally made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by the King for services to the arts and media. The retired television executive, who was born in Stepney, London, joined the BBC as a trainee in 1968. Alan Yentob after being made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire at an investiture ceremony (Aaron Chown/PA) Yentob stepped down from the role in the wake of the collapse of the charity Kids Company, where he was chairman. The broadcaster said Charles had been “incredibly supportive” of him. Discussing Charles, Yentob told the PA news agency: “He’s been incredibly supportive, as I said to him, on many fronts, including the fact that I was the chairman of Kids Company, and he was incredibly supportive of that in the most difficult times. “And I think the way he’s come out about his illness, and the way the Princess of Wales has too, has been admirable.” Yentob said it would be “reckless” to not support the BBC, adding “it’s a place which embraces everyone”. The broadcaster added: “If you look at the figures, it’s still doing well, even though a very substantial part of its income has been removed.” Phil Manzanera after being made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace (Aaron Chown/PA) His most well-known band, featuring singer Bryan Ferry, is famed for hits such as Love Is The Drug and More Than This – topping the singles charts once with a cover of John Lennon’s Jealous Guy. Discussing the honour, Manzanera told the PA news agency: “It’s very moving and humbling to be amongst all these people who do absolutely incredible things. “But, obviously, I am very happy to get it for services to music and music production, because I think music helps us all in our lives in terms of improving the fabric of our lives, and it’s a great support for so many people.” The musician said he discussed his upbringing in South America and central America with Anne, having grown up in Colombia, Venezuela and Cuba. Manzanera said Anne told him that her father, Prince Philip, “once flew a Viscount plane to Caracas airport”. He said his upbringing was central to his musicianship, adding: “It’s in my DNA, the rhythms of South America. “And the musicians that we’ve all come to know through the Buena Vista Social Club were the kind of music that I started playing guitar with. “It wasn’t Bert Weedon’s Play in a Day for me, it was the music of Cuba.” Actress Shobna Gulati, 58, was formally made an MBE for services to the cultural industries, Scottish professional golfer Stephen Gallacher, 50, was made an MBE and former Arup deputy chairwoman Dervilla Mitchell, 66, received a damehood for services to engineering.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is a world leader when it comes to extracting energy sources from the ground, but it is the Kingdom’s drive to harness a power supply in the sky that is attracting attention. Favorable government policies, a shift to meeting energy demands through renewable power, and a reduced dependence on fossil fuels are all factors pushing forward the Kingdom’s solar industry. The ambitious target of Saudi Arabia’s National Renewable Energy Program sees the Kingdom aiming for a solar energy capacity of 40 gigawatts by 2030, promising significant opportunities for the market in the years to come. According to market research firm Mordor Intelligence, the Kingdom’s solar market is projected to achieve a compound annual growth rate of 51 percent between 2024 and 2029 as a host of facilities come online. However, challenges lie ahead with the rise of alternative clean energy sources like wind and the continued availability of fossil fuels potentially hindering solar energy market growth. According to Christopher Decker, partner in energy and natural resources at Oliver Wyman, India, Middle East and Africa, Saudi Arabia is at the forefront of innovative solar technologies aimed at maximizing energy efficiency and sustainability in the region. “One notable advancement is the Dumat Al-Jandal Concentrated Solar Power plant, which harnesses solar energy to heat liquid for thermal energy storage, enabling energy availability even when sunlight is not present,” he said. “Additionally, the Sakaka Solar Plant employs bifacial solar panels that take advantage of the reflectivity of the surrounding sand, significantly enhancing solar efficiency. To maintain optimal performance, projects like the Noor Energy 1 plant in NEOM have implemented waterless robotic cleaning technologies, which not only ensure high efficiency but also reduce operational costs,” Decker added. The Oliver Whyman official went on to note that the integration of smart grids and artificial intelligence technologies allows for the optimization of solar energy generation by predicting energy demand and forecasting weather patterns, thereby minimizing waste. “Lastly, the NEOM Green Hydrogen initiative exemplifies the use of solar power to produce green hydrogen and subsequently green ammonia, showcasing a commitment to sustainable energy solutions. Together, these technologies position Saudi Arabia as a leader in solar innovation, driving the transition toward a more sustainable energy future,” Decker said. Solar technologies globally have reached a high degree of maturity and the cost reductions are driven by the growing efficiency of solar cells as well as economies of scale. According to Adnan Merhaba, partner and energy and utilities practice lead at Arthur D. Little Middle East, these incremental innovations have also made their way into Saudi Arabia and some developers have proposed additional developments, such as bifacial solar cells, that can further enhance yields. “Saudi Arabia, a leader in water desalination technology, is also pioneering solar desalination to enhance sustainability. Furthermore, research institutes in KSA are investing in the next generation of higher efficiency solar cells such as tandem perovskite cells that can achieve a step change for efficiency gains,” Merhaba said. The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology is a prime example of the growing solar industry in Saudi Arabia. According to Stefaan De Wolf, professor of material science and engineering at the Physical Science and Engineering Division in the university, the institution is pioneering research and development in emerging photovoltaic technologies aimed at maximizing energy efficiency and sustainability. “One of the key innovations we are advancing is the combination of perovskite and silicon PV, which significantly enhances solar power efficiency beyond traditional technologies. This hybrid approach has the potential to achieve ultra-high efficiency solar cells for even harsh environmental conditions of Saudi Arabia – high temperatures and dust,” De Wolf said. “Additionally, we are exploring the development of bifacial solar panels, which can generate electricity from both sides, further improving energy yield. These innovations are designed to help Saudi Arabia not only maximize its solar energy potential but also contribute to the global advancement of sustainable energy solutions,” the professor added. From his side, Qiaoqiang Gan, professor of material science and engineering at the same division, shed light on the fact that industry players are actively seeking advanced thermal management technologies to reduce the operational temperatures of PV systems installed in the Kingdom. “This challenge is pressing for Middle Eastern countries due to the region’s high temperatures. Addressing this issue requires more reliable materials and devices on a microscopic level, as well as advanced thermal management strategies on an operational level,” Gan said. Shihab El-Borai, partner with Strategy& Middle East, noted that projects like the Sudair Solar PV exemplify Saudi Arabia’s commitment to cutting-edge technologies, incorporating bifacial panels and sun-tracking systems to maximize efficiency. “Saudi Arabia is leveraging world-class innovations in solar energy to not only produce electricity but to create a sustainable model for the entire region,” El-Borai said. “Companies like Mirai Solar are also making strides with multifunctional solar panels that harness diffused sunlight while providing variable shading. These innovations demonstrate Saudi Arabia’s ability to leverage cutting-edge technologies to reduce its carbon footprint and position itself as a global leader in solar energy,” he added. The growth of Saudi Arabia’s solar energy industry is vital for the nation’s economic diversification and is in line with the goals of Vision 2030. Through the enhancement of solar power infrastructure, Saudi Arabia is catalyzing the emergence of fresh sectors, enticing international investments, and cultivating a culture of innovation. “This growth not only supports local manufacturing and supply chains but also generates employment opportunities and enhances human capital development, positioning the Kingdom as a regional leader in renewable energy,” Decker from Oliver Wyman said. “In terms of energy security, solar power contributes to a resilient and diversified energy mix. By incorporating advanced solar technologies, energy storage, and smart grids, Saudi Arabia can enhance the flexibility and stability of its electricity grid,” he added. The Oliver Wyman partner continued to highlight that solar-powered initiatives, like green hydrogen production, ensure that the Kingdom adds an additional stream of energy exportation, tapping into new revenue streams while promoting environmental sustainability. “This strategic expansion strengthens Saudi Arabia’s energy capabilities for the future,” Decker concluded in that regard. Demand for power is ever increasing in the Kingdom, largely driven by economic and population growth as well as giga-scale developments across the country. “The wide deployment of solar projects can also prop up adjacent sectors such as battery storage, smart grid technologies and green hydrogen production. From an energy security perspective, burning less hydrocarbons for domestic use frees up more oil for export, enhancing revenues for investment in economic diversification and also supports the Kingdom achieve its sustainability goals,” he added. On KAUST’s behalf, De Wolf explained that by investing in renewable energy, particularly solar power, the Kingdom is reducing its dependence on fossil fuels and building a more sustainable and resilient economy. As for Gan, he indicated that given its geographical location, Saudi Arabia has an abundance of solar energy, surpassing that of many developed countries – an evident advantage in terms of available sunlight as an energy source. “However, high temperatures present a significant challenge, leading to overheating in semiconductor solar cells. To effectively implement PV systems in Saudi Arabia, it is essential to develop specialized solutions that fully account for the unique local weather and environmental conditions. Such solutions must aim to maximize the utilization of abundant solar energy while mitigating the adverse impacts on PV performance,” the professor said. He further noted that developing these specialized solutions will require further research and development, presenting both opportunities and challenges in advancing energy security goals. El-Borai from PwC noted that by shifting toward renewables, the Kingdom is securing a more stable and sustainable energy supply, which supports broader economic growth. “The localization of renewable energy manufacturing is another critical component. Saudi Arabia is focusing on producing renewable energy components domestically, reducing import dependency and positioning itself as a hub for clean energy technologies. By localizing renewable energy production, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a hub for clean energy technology in the region, enhancing both economic growth and energy security,” he said. “By 2030, Saudi Arabia aims to produce 1.2 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually, with solar energy powering the electrolysis process. This dual focus on solar and hydrogen is expected to drive further economic diversification and solidify the Kingdom’s leadership in green energy,” El-Borai added. The deployment of solar energy in Saudi Arabia faces significant challenges, particularly around localizing the value chain and addressing environmental factors such as high temperatures and dust. From Decker’s perspective, Saudi Arabia faces several challenges in scaling up its solar energy capacity, two of which are infrastructure limitations and regulatory complexities. “To address these challenges, Saudi Arabia is investing in modernizing its grid infrastructure through smart grid technologies and energy storage solutions, enabling better management of intermittent solar power. The government is working on streamlined regulatory processes and introducing incentive schemes, such as public-private partnerships and favorable tariffs, to encourage private sector investment, but there is still much to do in this area,” he added. From Arthur D. Little Middle East’s side, Merhaba said that in order to meet its highly ambitious objectives by 2030, the Kingdom will have to overcome technical challenges, global supply chain issues due to increasing demands for solar cells, and supply concentrated largely in China. There are also concerns around the disruptions in global trade, the localization and human capital needed to ensure development of a robust and competitive solar value chain industry in the Kingdom, and adequate supply of engineers and technicians to meet the growing demand in the sector. The country has strong strategies and policies, including national industrial and localization plans, along with other initiatives, that are poised to help them tackle these obstacles effectively. By 2030, Saudi Arabia aims to produce approximately 58.7 GW of renewable energy, with solar energy contributing 40 GW to this total. On behalf of Oliver Wyman, Decker explained that in terms of establishing a regulatory framework to facilitate the development of renewable energy, Vision 2030 outlines the need for a supportive environment. This involves creating policies that incentivize private sector participation through Power Purchase Agreements that guarantee long-term revenue for investors, subsidies and tariff reforms to make renewable energy more competitive, and streamlined licensing processes to reduce bureaucratic hurdles for solar projects. With regards to promoting private sector investment, Decker highlighted that the Saudi government is actively encouraging public-private partnerships and foreign direct investment to drive the growth of solar power projects. “The National Renewable Energy Program, launched under Vision 2030, is a key initiative that seeks to attract $30-$50 billion in investments for renewable energy projects,” he said. In terms of maintaining a strong traditional energy sector while investing in diversification, Decker added: “While Vision 2030 emphasizes the transition to renewable energy, it also acknowledges the importance of maintaining a robust traditional energy sector, particularly oil and gas, which remain critical to the Kingdom’s economy.” This comes as Saudi Arabia aims to optimize its oil and gas production through technological advancements and efficiency improvements to ensure the sector continues to generate revenue. On behalf of Arthur D. Little Middle East, Merhaba highlighted that the Kingdom has undergone a pivotal shift in its economic and energy landscape in recent years. “It ushered in the era of renewables and accelerated the deployment of solar. With a highly ambitious target to achieve 50 percent renewable adoption by 2030, which are under consideration for an upward revision, it has not only led to development of mega solar projects at record low prices, but also to build momentum in developing national champions across the solar value chain,” he said. KAUST representative De Wolf reiterated the fact that the Vision has created a favorable climate for investment and development, with ambitious renewable energy targets shaping the future of the Kingdom’s energy mix. Similarly, Gan emphasized that the Vision 2030 has created fertile ground for solar energy development, with policies that incentivize public-private partnerships and invest heavily in renewable energy infrastructure. “This initiative aims to diversify the Kingdom’s energy mix by transitioning toward cleaner, more sustainable energy sources,” he said. From PwC’s side, El-Borai explained that the National Renewable Energy Program is central to this. “By 2060, Saudi Arabia aims to reach Net Zero status, supported by significant financial commitments, such as the planned $266 billion investment in cleaner energy sources, including solar,” he said. “The Kingdom is actively developing projects with a capacity of 20 GW annually to meet its target of 100 GW to 130 GW of clean energy by 2030. This strategic framework also emphasizes localizing renewable energy manufacturing, with collaborations like the Public Investment Fund’s partnership with Chinese solar manufacturers to establish 30 GW of solar PV production capacity. The NREP is not just about generating clean energy — it’s about securing the Kingdom’s energy future and reducing its reliance on fossil fuels,” the PwC partner said.Pressure is on the Albanese government to make headway on its long list of stalled legislation before the federal election. Housing will be back in spotlight during the final sitting week of 2024, with the Help to Buy government equity scheme and incentives for build-to-rent to be brought to a final vote in the Senate. The two housing bills have struggled to attract the support of the opposition or the Greens, with Labor knocking back fresh demands from the latter. Central to the Greens' updated position is funding for 25,000 "shovel-ready" homes not given the go-ahead under the first round of the Housing Australia Future Fund. Labor insists the demand is unlawful and would result in the construction of million-dollar homes that are not value for money. Greens housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather said his party had designed "a compromise offer that is popular, achievable and easy to accept, it requires no new legislation and sits broadly within government policy". With 30 or so bills still before the parliament, the government has been ramping up pressure on the Greens and the coalition to co-operate. "This is a week where we will see the colour of the eyes of Peter Dutton and the Greens party," Employment Minister Murray Watt told reporters on Sunday. A friendless crackdown on misinformation and disinformation has been shelved and gambling reforms have been pushed into next year. Though the government is expecting wins on its aged care reforms and its social media age limit, with the former expected to attract opposition support. Under world-first legislation, Australians younger than 16 will be banned from social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit and X (formerly Twitter). Labor will also be spruiking its Future Made in Australia plan, with its hydrogen and critical minerals production tax incentives to be introduced to parliament on Monday. Economic management will likely get some airtime after monthly inflation figures are released on Wednesday, with headline inflation expected to once again land within the Reserve Bank of Australia's target band. But with the central bank's preferred underlying gauge - stripped of the volatility inflicting the headline number - likely to remain above the two-three per cent band, keenly-anticipated interest rate cuts are likely to stay on ice. The federal election is due to be held by May 17.

Arthur Gourounlian and Brian Dowling enjoy ‘incredible’ night at Strictly Come Dancing during London getawayPublished 18:06 IST, December 21st 2024 A US judge has ruled in favor of WhatsApp in a lawsuit accusing Israel's NSO Group of exploiting a bug in the messaging app to install spy software allowing unauthorized surveillance. Meta vs NSO Group: A US judge has ruled in favor of Meta Platforms' WhatsApp in a lawsuit accusing Israel's NSO Group of exploiting a bug in the messaging app to install spy software allowing unauthorized surveillance. US District Judge Phyllis Hamilton in Oakland, California, granted a motion by WhatsApp and found NSO liable for hacking and breach of contract. The case will now proceed to a trial only on the issue of damages, Hamilton said. NSO Group did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Will Cathcart, the head of WhatsApp , said the ruling is a win for privacy. "We spent five years presenting our case because we firmly believe that spyware companies could not hide behind immunity or avoid accountability for their unlawful actions," Cathcart said in a social media post. “Surveillance companies should be on notice that illegal spying will not be tolerated.” Cybersecurity experts welcomed the judgment. John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher with Canadian internet watchdog Citizen Lab — which first brought to light NSO’s Pegasus spyware in 2016 — called the judgment a landmark ruling with “huge implications for the spyware industry.” “The entire industry has hidden behind the claim that whatever their customers do with their hacking tools, it's not their responsibility,” he said in an instant message. “Today's ruling makes it clear that NSO Group is in fact responsible for breaking numerous laws.” WhatsApp in 2019 sued NSO seeking an injunction and damages, accusing it of accessing WhatsApp servers without permission six months earlier to install the Pegasus software on victims' mobile devices. The lawsuit alleged the intrusion allowed the surveillance of 1,400 people, including journalists, human rights activists and dissidents. NSO had argued that Pegasus helps law enforcement and intelligence agencies fight crime and protect national security and that its technology is intended to help catch terrorists, pedophiles and hardened criminals. NSO appealed a trial judge's 2020 refusal to award it "conduct-based immunity," a common law doctrine protecting foreign officials acting in their official capacity. Upholding that ruling in 2021, the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals called it an "easy case" because NSO's mere licensing of Pegasus and offering technical support did not shield it from liability under a federal law called the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, which took precedence over common law. The U.S. Supreme Court last year turned away NSO's appeal of the lower court's decision, allowing the lawsuit to proceed. Updated 18:06 IST, December 21st 2024

ps rpm Artist explores the human cost of conservation

Avior Wealth Management LLC Boosts Stock Position in Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ITCI)IU INDY 88, ALABAMA A&M 83

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Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EST, NBC/Peacock BetMGM NFL odds: Eagles by 3. Against the spread: Eagles 6-4; Rams 4-6. Series record: Eagles lead 23-20-1. Last meeting: Eagles beat Rams 23-14 in Inglewood, Calif. on Oct. 8, 2023. Last week: Eagles beat Washington 26-18; Rams beat New England 28-22. Eagles offense: overall (5), rush (1), pass (22), scoring (7). Eagles defense: overall (1), rush (7), pass (2), scoring (6). Rams offense: overall (17), rush (26), pass (T-7), scoring (21). Rams defense: overall (23), rush (18), pass (22), scoring (22). Turnover differential: Eagles plus-2; Rams plus-4. RB Saquon Barkley. Barkley combined for 198 scrimmage yards and two scores, rushing 26 times for 146 yards (5.6 average) while adding two receptions for 52 yards against Washington. With 1,137 rushing yards through 10 games, Barkley only trails Baltimore’s Derrick Henry for the NFL lead. He had his sixth 100-plus yard rushing game this season, which is the most in the NFL. S Kam Kinchens. The rookie third-round pick from Miami had eight tackles, one tackle for loss, an interception and a forced fumble against the Patriots as he continues to come on strong. Kinchens has three picks in the past three games. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts vs. Rams’ defensive line. Hurts shredded Los Angeles for 303 yards passing and 72 yards rushing last season despite the presence of superstar DT Aaron Donald. After Donald retired, the Rams turned to a committee approach to get after the passer, and it has worked with rookie OLB Jared Verse and DT Braden Fiske fitting in well next to second-year OLB Byron Young and DT Kobie Turner. But they can only unleash their excellent pass rush skills by limiting Philadelphia on early downs. Hurts has been at his dual-threat best over the past five games, accounting for 15 total touchdowns (six passing, nine rushing) against two turnovers. Eagles defensive end Bryce Huff had surgery on his left wrist on Thursday, a move that could allow him to return toward the end of the season. ... WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and DT Milton Williams (foot) each missed practice this week. ... Rams RT Rob Havenstein (ankle) looks to be trending toward a return this week. Havenstein sat out the previous two games because of the ailment. The Eagles have won all three games in Los Angeles since the Rams moved back in 2016. ... Overall, Philadelphia has won seven of the past eight. The only setback came in Week 2 of the 2020 pandemic season. Barkley has passed 100-plus scrimmage yards in eight of 10 games. That is tied with LeSean McCoy (2011) and Brian Westbrook (2007) for the most by an Eagle through 10 games. His 198 yards were his second most as an Eagle (199 in Week 9). ... The Eagles have allowed two passing touchdowns during their winning streak. Only one opponent has topped 200 passing yards against them in this stretch, with Cincinnati throwing for 222 in Week 8. ... Hurts leads all NFL quarterbacks with 11 touchdown runs and is second only to Henry's 13 scores for the Ravens. ... WR A.J. Brown leads the league in receptions of 30 yards or longer. He is averaging 18.7 yards per catch, the best mark of any player with at least 30 grabs. ... Even before he hurt his wrist, Huff struggled in his first season in Philadelphia with just 2 1/2 sacks and four quarterback hits. His snap count has dipped since he was injured ahead of a game earlier this month against Jacksonville. Huff had 17 1/2 sacks in four seasons with the Jets before he signed a three-year, $51 million free-agent deal with the Eagles. ... Philadelphia has run for at least 150 yards and two touchdowns in five straight games, something it hadn't accomplished since 1949. ... Rams WR Puka Nacua caught his first touchdown of the season in New England. He has at least seven receptions and 98 yards in three of his past four games, with only a second-quarter ejection in Seattle having limited Nacua since he returned from a knee injury. ... WR Cooper Kupp has 614 receptions through his first 98 games, which is fourth most in NFL history through 100 games. Julio Jones (619) is third. ... RB Kyren Williams averaged a season-high 5.7 yards per carry, finishing with 86 yards on 15 attempts versus the Patriots. ... Verse has 11 tackles for loss and 4 1/2 sacks through his first 10 games. Verse is pressuring the quarterback on 20.2% of pass rush snaps, which ranks second in the league overall. ... The Rams were 2 of 8 (25%) on third down against New England, their third straight game converting 25% or worse. ... QB Matthew Stafford has not been sacked in each of Los Angeles’ past three wins. Don’t be discouraged using Stafford, Kupp and Nacua against Philadelphia's pass defense. All three put up solid fantasy numbers in last season’s meeting, even as the Eagles sat on the ball for nearly 38 minutes. Stafford had 222 yards and two scores, finding Kupp eight times for 118 yards and Nacua seven times for 71 yards and a touchdown, so they'll find ways to produce. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

NoneLiverpool crush sorry Real Madrid as Conor Bradley puts Mbappe in his pocket and Mac Allister shines - Football365

99-yard kick-off return stuns NFL

Don’t show me porn, no religion talk no fat-shaming... how Blake Lively’s 30 demands on toxic behaviour rocked HollywoodStubblefield accounts for 4 TDs, South Carolina State runs past Norfolk State 53-21SMITHFIELD, R.I. (AP) — Malik Grant rushed for 204 yards and three touchdowns and Rhode Island beat Bryant 35-21 on Saturday to capture its first league title in 39 years. Rhode Island (10-2, 7-1 Coastal Athletic Association) secured the program's seventh title, with each of the previous six coming in the Yankee Conference. The Rams tied a program record for total wins in a season with 10, first set in 1984 and matched in 1985. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Japan Commits $5.1 Million to Support Climate-Affected Farmers in ZimbabweTuesday, December 24, 2024 LATAM Airlines Group has achieved a remarkable milestone by being recognized as the most sustainable airline in the Americas and the fifth worldwide, according to the 2024 Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) by S&P Global. This achievement highlights LATAM’s unwavering commitment to sustainability, emphasizing its leadership in social, environmental, and economic performance. With a score of 67, a three-point improvement from the previous year, LATAM surpassed numerous global airlines, trailing only those in Asia. In a significant development, LATAM Airlines Group has returned to the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability Index after a five-year hiatus due to reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. The airline has re-entered both the Chilean list and the MILA Pacific Alliance list, which covers prominent companies in Chile, Colombia, and Peru. This reentry underscores LATAM’s commitment to financial and operational resilience. Roberto Alvo, CEO of LATAM Airlines Group, expressed pride in this achievement, emphasizing the airline’s broad and inclusive approach to sustainability. Alvo stated, “LATAM is pleased to see the fruits of its strategic roadmap toward sustainability. The group remains committed to advancing its initiatives, including achieving net-zero emissions, fostering a circular economic model, and creating value for the communities it serves.” LATAM’s sustainability roadmap is grounded in three focal points: Climate Change, Circular Economy, and Shared Value. These pillars define the airline’s ambitious goals and the progress made toward achieving them. LATAM’s “Solidarity Plane” initiative exemplifies its commitment to shared value. Since 2021, the program has: LATAM’s sustainability achievements come amid a period of sustained financial and operational growth. As of the third quarter of 2024, the group has: Looking ahead, LATAM projects an adjusted EBITDAR of $3.25 billion to $3.6 billion for 2025, alongside a 7-9% growth in consolidated passenger operations, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK). LATAM’s strategy for the coming years prioritizes efforts to: To meet its zero landfill waste target by 2027, LATAM is investing in: LATAM plans to broaden its “Solidarity Plane” initiative, reaching more communities and expanding its support for educational and health-related projects. LATAM Airlines continues to set benchmarks in sustainable aviation, becoming a model for the global airline industry. The group’s efforts align with international standards and contribute to a greener, more resilient aviation sector. LATAM has forged alliances with environmental and humanitarian organizations to amplify its impact. By working with conservationists and local communities, the airline supports ecological preservation while enhancing socio-economic development in the regions it serves. LATAM’s focus on operational efficiency extends to reducing fuel consumption and optimizing flight paths to lower emissions. These initiatives, coupled with modern fleet management, ensure that LATAM remains competitive and environmentally responsible. While LATAM has made significant strides, challenges such as fluctuating fuel prices, regulatory changes, and evolving passenger expectations remain. However, the airline’s adaptability and commitment to sustainability position it to navigate these hurdles effectively. LATAM Airlines Group’s recognition as the most sustainable airline in the Americas and its reentry into the Dow Jones Sustainability Index underscore its commitment to environmental, social, and economic progress. Through its ambitious roadmap, the airline not only addresses global challenges but also sets new standards for sustainability in the aviation industry. As LATAM continues to innovate and grow, it solidifies its position as a leader in sustainable aviation, driving value for its passengers, communities, and the planet.

Prospera Financial Services Inc Decreases Stake in Northrop Grumman Co. (NYSE:NOC)

Stubblefield accounts for 4 TDs, South Carolina State runs past Norfolk State 53-21Emi Martinez began the night by walking onto the field with his children and parading a pair of trophies for being the world’s best goalkeeper for the last two years. He finished it by producing an astonishing save that vindicated those awards. The Argentina international illuminated a 0-0 draw between his Aston Villa team and Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday by and scooping it off the goal line to deny Francisco Conceição what could have been the winner. Replays showed the ball was almost entirely over the line before Martinez hooked it clear, and the goalkeeper was quickly congratulated by his teammates. No save by Martinez will ever beat the one he pulled off for Argentina in the last seconds of extra time in the , denying France striker Randal Kolo Muani and keeping teammate Lionel Messi’s dream alive of finally winning soccer’s biggest prize. He might just have run it close. It was fitting he produced his wonder save against Juve on the night the two Yashin Trophies he claimed at the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony in each of the past two years. The most recent one came last month. As for Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, he finished the game relieved that what appeared to be a mistake in the final seconds of stoppage time didn't cost his team. Di Gregorio spilled a cross under pressure from Villa defender Diego Carlos and Morgan Rogers was there to poke the ball into the net. A goal was awarded by the on-field referee but after a two-minute check, it was ruled out for a foul on Di Gregorio by Carlos. ___ AP soccer: Steve Douglas, The Associated PressIs the world more dangerous than ever for travelers? A global risk expert weighs in

Kashmir, endowed with rich natural resources and breathtaking landscapes, is uniquely positioned to harness renewable energy. With abundant sunlight, flowing rivers, and favorable wind conditions, the region holds vast potential for renewable energy production. Strategic investments in these resources could transform Kashmir into a hub of sustainable economic growth, providing employment opportunities and resilience for its people. My vision for Kashmir centers on seizing this opportunity to foster economic prosperity, environmental sustainability, and social progress. Government Policies: Laying the Foundation for Renewable Growth Renewable energy has been identified as a cornerstone of India’s broader energy strategy, and Jammu & Kashmir stands to benefit immensely from this focus. The National Solar Mission aims to capitalize on the region’s abundant sunshine, while the Hydro Energy Policy emphasizes harnessing the power of Kashmir’s rivers for clean electricity. At the state level, initiatives such as subsidies for solar installations and public-private partnerships reflect a commitment to fostering renewable growth and making sustainable energy accessible to all. Despite these policies, there remain challenges in bringing renewable projects to fruition, primarily due to logistical issues and implementation delays. These obstacles, however, are not insurmountable, and with increased focus on localized execution, the potential for renewable energy adoption in Kashmir is boundless. Solar and Hydropower: Pillars of Sustainability in Kashmir The Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) has recently taken significant strides towards solarisation by issuing e-tenders for installing 344 MW of solar rooftop plants across the Union Territory. This includes 70 MW for 8,548 government buildings under Capex mode and 238 MW for 9,877 buildings under RESCO mode. To date, 36 MW of solar capacity has already been installed, marking meaningful progress in the region’s renewable energy journey. These developments underscore the region’s potential to lead in solar power production and serve as a model for renewable energy adoption. Hydropower continues to be a cornerstone of Kashmir’s renewable energy potential. The Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy announced that the energy deficit in Jammu & Kashmir has dropped from 17.8% in 2018-19 to just 1.5% in 2023-24, thanks to ongoing renewable energy projects. Four major hydroelectric projects—Kiru (624 MW), Ratle (850 MW), Kwar (540 MW), and Karnah (12 MW)—have been launched since 2019, with a combined capacity of 2,026 MW. Over the next 8 to 10 years, an additional 7,000 MW of hydropower capacity is expected to be added, significantly boosting the region’s energy security and economic prospects. The Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Limited (JKSPDC) has also generated over 48,808 million units of energy since 2014-15 from 13 hydropower projects. This focus on hydropower is not only transforming the local energy landscape but also creating jobs in economically underdeveloped areas, contributing to the socio-economic development of the region. While existing hydroelectric plants contribute to the local grid, there remains vast potential for expansion. A focus on micro-hydel projects could provide reliable electricity to remote villages, ensuring energy access even in the most isolated areas. Public-private partnerships and investments will be pivotal in scaling these solar and hydro initiatives to meet both local and regional energy needs. E-Rickshaws: Green Mobility and Economic Empowerment One of the initiatives I have spearheaded through KYARI (Kashmir’s Yumberzal Applied Research Institute) is the introduction of e-rickshaws in Srinagar, in collaboration with Stairs – Empowering Youth. This project promotes sustainable transportation while uplifting economically disadvantaged communities. E-rickshaws, powered by renewable energy, provide an eco-friendly alternative to conventional vehicles, significantly reducing emissions and contributing to a cleaner, healthier urban environment. Beyond transportation, the e-rickshaw initiative is a powerful tool for social empowerment, providing livelihoods to economically marginalized individuals. Many young people have seized this opportunity, securing stable incomes while contributing to a greener Kashmir. This initiative is a testament to the dual impact of renewable energy—addressing environmental concerns while driving economic empowerment—and highlights the transformative potential of community-driven green solutions. Empowering Women and Youth: The Heart of Renewable Growth For renewable energy to truly benefit the people of Kashmir, it must be inclusive. At KYARI, we have focused on ensuring that women and youth are at the center of these renewable projects. Empowering women through initiatives like community solar installations is crucial to transforming their economic status and enabling them to participate in the decision-making process within their households. In the past year, we have seen women leading solar initiatives, training others in maintenance, and forming cooperatives to sustain these projects. Similarly, the youth of Kashmir hold immense potential, and renewable energy projects present them with the opportunity to develop skills, engage in meaningful work, and build a sustainable future. From training in solar panel installations to participating in micro-hydel projects, young people have taken charge of their economic destiny, showcasing resilience and creativity. Challenges on the Path to Renewable Energy Adoption While the opportunities are vast, implementing renewable energy projects in Kashmir is not without its challenges. Logistical challenges pose a significant hurdle. The mountainous terrain and difficulty in accessing remote areas make transporting materials and building infrastructure a complex task. Connectivity issues further hinder the implementation of large-scale projects in the valley, particularly in villages that are not easily accessible. Financial challenges are also a key concern. Funding renewable projects requires a concerted effort from both public and private sectors. Limited access to financing options and high upfront costs are significant barriers for smaller players who wish to contribute to the renewable energy landscape. Addressing these financial barriers with subsidies, incentives, and favorable loan schemes is essential to driving growth in this sector. Policy implementation gaps also present a challenge. Although there are several policies aimed at fostering renewable energy, the gap between policy formulation and on-ground implementation often results in stalled projects. Streamlined, effective execution is necessary for these policies to bring about tangible change in the region. Opportunities Ahead: Charting the Course for Renewable Growth The future of renewable energy in Kashmir is filled with opportunities, and the roadmap to realizing this potential will require coordinated efforts. Increased collaboration between the government and private sectors can catalyze the growth of renewable energy, providing the needed capital and technological expertise. Moreover, emerging technologies such as advanced solar panels, efficient battery storage, and smart grid systems hold promise for making renewable energy projects more viable and scalable. Cross-border renewable energy trade could also be a future possibility for Kashmir. Sharing renewable energy resources with neighboring regions would not only bolster local economies but also foster a spirit of cooperation and mutual growth. By investing in research and development, the region can innovate and find unique solutions to the challenges faced in implementing renewable energy. Realizing a Sustainable Future for Kashmir Harnessing renewable energy is an opportunity to transform Kashmir’s economy, environment, and society. It is a path to sustainability, resilience, and inclusive growth. By focusing on solar, hydroelectric, and green transportation initiatives such as e-rickshaws, we can pave the way for a future where Kashmir thrives not only as a beautiful tourist destination but also as a beacon of sustainable development. Together, by working across sectors and embracing innovative approaches, we can make renewable energy the foundation of a prosperous and self-sufficient Kashmir—a place where opportunities are limitless, and progress is shared by all. About the Author Arhan Bagati is a distinguished Kashmiri Pandit and a prominent figure in social work and public policy, focusing on the development of Jammu & Kashmir. He has a notable academic background, with studies at Pomona College, the University of Cambridge, and currently at Harvard, pursuing a Master’s in Public Policy. Arhan’s leadership extends beyond academia, particularly through his role as the Awareness and Impact Ambassador for the Paralympic Committee of India, and as the founder of KYARI, which addresses critical issues in Kashmir, from education to sustainable development.

ps88 ph Chinese conglomerate Xiamen C&D and Russia's Nornickel are in talks to create a joint venture in China to process Nornickel's copper raw material into metal, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Nornickel has struggled to import equipment to sanctions-hit Russia, where it produces copper used in the power and construction industries. It said in April it would close its Arctic facility and build a copper plant in China by mid-2027, but it has since been looking at buying a stake in an existing smelter rather than the original idea of building from scratch, one of the sources said. "Nornickel is negotiating for possible organisation of production in China. If agreements are reached, we will disclose them," Nornickel said in response to a request for comment. It declined to provide any detail. The smelter in question is Shandong-based Yanggu Xiangguang Copper in which Xiamen C&D holds a majority stake, the sources said. They asked not to be identified because they were not authorised to speak on the issue. Nornickel and Xiamen C&D have yet to reach a final agreement, finalise the size of the investment or stakes in the potential joint venture, they added. "It's an opportunity for the Xiangguang (facility) as low processing fees have added pressure on smelters to generate profit especially next year," the second source said. Xiamen C&D did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment. Xiangguang declined to comment. Xiangguang has annual production capacity of 400,000 metric tons of copper cathode. This roughly matches Nornickel's need to move its copper smelting base from the Arctic facility to China, the world's largest consumer of the metal. Nornickel produced 425,000 tons of refined copper last year, nearly 2% of global mined output. Xiangguang smelter relies on concentrate from third parties for processing. The sector's profitability and smelting activity have been hit by low processing fees following an expansion of capacity in China. According to analysts, the smelter is operating at 60-80% of capacity and needs a guaranteed feed supply. The sources said securing a supply was the incentive on the Chinese side for a deal. They also said a consequence of processing Nornickel's feed would mean Xiangguang's metal would no longer be deliverable against the copper contract on the London Metal Exchange (LME), a market of last resort. The LME banned from its system metal produced in Russia on or after April 13. Nornickel is not under Western sanctions imposed on many other Russian firms after Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022. But many Western consumers have self-sanctioned, declining to renew contracts with the company since then and Nornickel has diverted its metal to China. Both sources also said that, if the deal is agreed, technology would need to be modernised at Xiangguang smelter so that it can process the nickel and platinum group metals that Nornickel's copper concentrates contain.

The self-discipline challenge, a trending phenomenon in recent years, typically involves individuals setting specific goals for themselves and committing to a set of rules and routines designed to enhance their self-control and productivity. Participants often document their progress and share updates with a community of like-minded individuals for support and accountability. In this particular case, the man in question had opted to take on the challenge with the added incentive of a lucrative prize awaiting him upon successful completion.Referee David Coote will not appeal against termination of contract

Ohio State Coach Ryan Day Called Out For Decision During Postgame Brawl

He Miao's downfall came after a thorough investigation into his activities, which uncovered a series of grave violations. It was found that He Miao had abused his position for personal gain, engaged in corrupt practices, and violated party discipline and state laws. His actions not only tarnished the reputation of the Party and the banking industry but also undermined the public's trust in the system.The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, with some speculating that the suspect may have had a personal vendetta against the CEO or the company he represented. Others believe that the suspect may have been influenced by extremist ideologies or driven by a desire for attention and notoriety. Whatever the reason, the brazen nature of the attack has sent shockwaves through the business community and raised concerns about the safety of high-profile executives.NCAA holds end-of-year consumer awareness programme in Port Harcourt

World does not comply with GDPR, says German regulator

3i Launches Black Friday Savings: Up to 20% Off The World’s First Robot Vacuum with WaterRecycleTM SystemAdditionally, many individuals report improvements in digestion after quitting coffee. Caffeine can stimulate the digestive system, leading to issues such as acid reflux, indigestion, and stomach upset. By removing caffeine from their diet, individuals may experience reduced gastrointestinal discomfort and improved overall digestive health.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should have resigned at least a year ago, says Niagara political pundit David Siegel. As it is, the retired Brock University political science professor said Niagara’s incumbent Liberal MPs should be worried about their jobs with a September federal election on the horizon. “The real problem is, (Trudeau) should have stepped down a year or two ago, because it’s getting to be too late now,” Siegel said. “You need a kind of run-up to the (Liberal) convention where people like (Finance Minister) Dominic LeBlanc and (his predecessor) Chrystia Freeland and maybe (former housing minister) Sean Frazer and (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister) Marc Miller can showcase what they can do. “There’s very little runway left to do that.” Siegel expects Trudeau’s plans will be known by early January. Retired Brock University professor and political pundit David Siegel. If the prime minister had resigned a year ago, the Liberal party “would be in a different position today.” A change of leadership might have given the Liberals a stronger chance in the next election. “Personally, I don’t think I’ve spoken to anyone who is excited about (Conservative Leader) Pierre Poilievre. When I hear people mention Pierre Poilievre, they say ‘we can’t vote for the Liberals’ — which is not exactly a ringing endorsement.” “If we were having this conversation a year ago, I would have said ‘Oh yeah, Poilievre is not really that popular and the Liberals have a lot of runway to build something.’” Now, however, he said while Poilievre is still not that popular, the Liberals no longer have time to rebuild voter confidence in their party. And if there’s enough opposition to Trudeau, Siegel said Niagara Centre MP Vance Badawey and St. Catharines MP Chris Bittle could lose their seats. Badawey’s in a better position, he said, because of his years representing Port Colborne as mayor and as a regional councillor, “but even very popular local candidates can get swept up in a wave.” Niagara Centre MP Vance Badawey. Neither of Niagara’s Conservative MPs, Niagara Falls’ MP Tony Baldinelli and Niagara West’s Dean Allison responded to interview requests for this story. Nor did Bittle and Badawey when approached by the Toronto Star. During an hourlong Zoom call of Ontario Liberal MPs on Saturday, none of the participants argued that Trudeau should remain Liberal leader for the next election. In a poll of all Liberal MPs published Friday, 102, including Bittle and Badawey, offered no comment, while 22 said Trudeau should resign. Eighteen said he should remain party leader and 10 did not take a definitive stance. Siegel said he’s not surprised by the silence among local MPs. “Honestly, they’re being wise in the sense that nobody knows what’s going to happen,” he said. “Academics can spout off anytime they want because nobody cares, but for politicians who are accountable for what they say they’re being quite wise because they don’t know what’s happening.” Although a vote of non-confidence in Trudeau is possible when the federal legislature resumes in January, Siegel said it might not be enough to force an election earlier than the fall. “September 2025 sounds a long way off, but in truth we’re close enough maybe there’s a way for the parties to stick this thing out,” he said. With files by Toronto StarTitle: Messi's Revenge: Dembélé's Determined Stance Heightens Conflict with Barcelona

Wall Street rises at the start of a holiday-shortened week( MENAFN - IANS) London, Dec 1 (IANS) Bukayo Saka scored once and provided two assists as Arsenal thrashed West Ham United 5-2 to moved up to second in the Premier League table. All of the goals came in a remarkable opening period at London Stadium, where Gabriel Magalhaes, Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz put Arsenal 4-0 up inside 36 minutes. But quickfire strikes from Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson gave West Ham hope, though their chances of a comeback were quashed when Saka, who also provided two assists, added Arsenal's fifth on the stroke of half-time. It is only the fourth time in Premier League history that there have been seven goals scored in a single half, but the Gunners put in a more measured display after the interval to ensure there was no hint of further drama. Arsenal now sit six points behind leaders Liverpool, who face a heavyweight clash with Manchester City on Sunday, while West Ham remain in 14th. Saka created Arsenal's first two goals, with his 10th-minute corner headed home by Gabriel, before the England winger laid it on a plate for Trossard to tuck in a second before the half-hour. In so doing, Saka became the first player to reach double, Premier League reports. Arsenal seemed to seal the win with two quick goals. Odegaard converted a penalty after Lucas Paqueta fouled Saka, and Havertz capitalized on poor defending to score past Lukasz Fabianski. In stoppage time of the first half, Gabriel was punched by Fabianski, and after a VAR review, the penalty was confirmed. Saka stepped up and fired the ball past Fabianski to restore Arsenal's three-goal lead in the stoppage time of the first half. Michail Antonio almost cut the deficit again after the break, though his effort deflected narrowly wide, while West Ham substitute Danny Ings could only drill wide after rounding David Raya late on as Arsenal held out for an emphatic triumph. "We made it crazy. We played so well at the start of the game. We scored three early goals and then they score one immediately after kick-off and then another one - then it was game on. We have to manage the game - we did that really well. The last two games were tricky and to score goals is a big one," Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said after the win. MENAFN30112024000231011071ID1108942191 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.

Who’s the boss? Chicago School Board members attend teachers contract negotiations as CPS-City Hall conflict persists

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Will Riley scored his 19 points in the second half and No. 25 Illinois beat Maryland Eastern Shore 87-40 on Saturday. Kylan Boswell added 13 points, Tomislav Ivisic had 11 and Morez Johnson Jr. finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds for the Illini (4-1), who shot 25% (10 for 40) from 3-point range but committed just nine turnovers. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

In conclusion, the rumors about Tianjin launching a "Free Education Assistance Program" have been debunked by the City Education Commission. While the city has various programs in place to support students in need, the specific program mentioned in the false reports does not exist. It serves as a reminder to be cautious when consuming information online and to rely on credible sources for accurate and reliable information.Manchester United has been making headlines recently for their management decisions, particularly regarding the recruitment of Danish football director John Murtough and the potential departure of Ralf Rangnick as interim manager. The club's latest move to part ways with recruitment consultant John Ashworth after just five months has raised eyebrows, especially considering the reported spending of £8 million on his services.

As always, investors should conduct their own research and consult with financial advisors before making any investment decisions. Stay tuned for further updates from Guotai Junan on the evolving market conditions and investment opportunities.

After-hours movers: Marvell Technology, Salesforce, Okta and moreNonePHILADELPHIA , Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC) announced today it will release its fourth quarter 2024 earnings on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 , after the stock market close via PR Newswire and the company's website https://investors.fmc.com . The company will host a webcast conference call on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 , at 5:00 p.m. ET that is open to the public via internet broadcast and telephone. At this time, management will provide commentary on the results from the fourth quarter and full year 2024, guidance for the first quarter and full year 2025, as well as an update on the three-year outlook and the company's strategy. The call time has been extended to 90 minutes from the usual 60 minutes to accommodate the number of topics and Q&A adequately. Conference Call Details: Internet broadcast: https://investors.fmc.com United States (Local): +1 404 975 4839 United States ( Toll-Free ): +1 833 470 1428 Global Dial-In Numbers: Global Dial-in Number Access Code: 338624 Pre-Registration Link: https://www.netroadshow.com/events/login?show=2f7e0221&confId=75596 A replay of the call will be available via the internet and telephone from 6:30 p.m. ET on February 4, 2025 , until February 24, 2025 . Internet replay: https://investors.fmc.com United States (Local): 1 929 458 6194 United States ( Toll-Free ): 1 866 813 9403 Access Code: 793208 About FMC FMC Corporation is a global agricultural sciences company dedicated to helping growers produce food, feed, fiber and fuel for an expanding world population while adapting to a changing environment. FMC's innovative crop protection solutions – including biologicals, crop nutrition, digital and precision agriculture – enable growers and crop advisers to address their toughest challenges economically while protecting the environment. With approximately 5,800 employees at more than 100 sites worldwide, FMC is committed to discovering new herbicide, insecticide and fungicide active ingredients, product formulations and pioneering technologies that are consistently better for the planet. Visit fmc.com to learn more and follow us on LinkedIn ® . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fmc-corporation-announces-date-for-fourth-quarter-2024-earnings-release-and-webcast-conference-call-302336288.html SOURCE FMC Corporation

In conclusion, the call for Pony to host a discussion on the recent controversy is a reflection of the community's deep-seated desire for justice, transparency, and ethical conduct. By seeking her intervention, users are not just looking for a resolution to a specific issue but advocating for a broader cultural shift towards accountability and integrity. Pony's potential involvement signifies a commitment to upholding fairness, truth, and ethical standards, setting a precedent for how online communities can navigate through challenges and emerge stronger and more united.

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Australia's House of Representatives passes bill that would ban young children from social mediaMalik Nabers says calling the Giants 'soft' was wrong but he doesn't regret speaking out

NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart's sweeping rollback of its diversity policies is the strongest indication yet of a profound shift taking hold at U.S. companies that are re-evaluating the legal and political risks associated with bold programs to bolster historically underrepresented groups. The changes announced by the world's biggest retailer on Monday followed a string of legal victories by conservative groups that have filed an onslaught of lawsuits challenging corporate and federal programs aimed at elevating minority and women-owned businesses and employees. The retreat from such programs crystalized with the election of former President Donald Trump, whose administration is certain to make dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs a priority. Trump's incoming deputy chief of policy will be his former adviser Stephen Miller , who leads a group called America First Legal that has aggressively challenged corporate DEI policies. “There has been a lot of reassessment of risk looking at programs that could be deemed to constitute reverse discrimination,” said Allan Schweyer, principal researcher at the Human Capital Center at the Conference Board. “This is another domino to fall and it is a rather large domino,” he added. Among other changes, Walmart said it will no longer give priority treatment to suppliers owned by women or minorities. The company also will not renew a five-year commitment for a racial equity center set up in 2020 after the police killing of George Floyd. And it pulled out of a prominent gay rights index . Schweyer said the biggest trigger for companies making such changes is simply a reassessment of their legal risk exposure, which began after U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June 2023 that ended affirmative action in college admissions. Since then, conservative groups using similar arguments have secured court victories against various diversity programs, especially those that steer contracts to minority or women-owned businesses. Most recently, the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty won a victory in a case against the U.S. Department of Transportation over its use of a program that gives priority to minority-owned businesses when it awards contracts. Companies are seeing a big legal risk in continuing with DEI efforts, said Dan Lennington, a deputy counsel at the institute. His organization says it has identified more than 60 programs in the federal government that it considers discriminatory, he said. “We have a legal landscape within the entire federal government, all three branches -- the U.S. Supreme Court, the Congress and the President -- are all now firmly pointed in the direction towards equality of individuals and individualized treatment of all Americans, instead of diversity, equity and inclusion treating people as members of racial groups,” Lennington said. The Trump administration is also likely to take direct aim at DEI initiatives through executive orders and other policies that affect private companies, especially federal contractors. “The impact of the election on DEI policies is huge. It can’t be overstated,” said Jason Schwartz, co-chair of the Labor & Employment Practice Group at law firm Gibson Dunn. With Miller returning to the White House, rolling back DEI initiatives is likely to be a priority, Schwartz said. “Companies are trying to strike the right balance to make clear they’ve got an inclusive workplace where everyone is welcome, and they want to get the best talent, while at the same time trying not to alienate various parts of their employees and customer base who might feel one way or the other. It’s a virtually impossible dilemma,” Schwartz said. A recent survey by Pew Research Center showed that workers are divided on the merits of DEI policies. While still broadly popular, the share of workers who said focusing on workplace diversity was mostly a good thing fell to 52% in the October survey, compared to 56% in a similar survey in February 2023. Rachel Minkin, a research associate at Pew, called it a small but significant shift in short amount of time. There will be more companies pulling back from their DEI policies, but it likely won’t be a retreat across the board, said David Glasgow, executive director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at New York University. “There are vastly more companies that are sticking with DEI," Glasgow said. "The only reason you don’t hear about it is most of them are doing it by stealth. They’re putting their heads down and doing DEI work and hoping not to attract attention.” Glasgow advises organizations to stick to their own core values, because attitudes toward the topic can change quickly in the span of four years. “It’s going to leave them looking a little bit weak if there’s a kind of flip-flopping, depending on whichever direction the political winds are blowing,” he said. One reason DEI programs exist is because without those programs, companies may be vulnerable to lawsuits for traditional discrimination. “Really think carefully about the risks in all directions on this topic,” Glasgow said. Walmart confirmed will no longer consider race and gender as a litmus test to improve diversity when it offers supplier contracts. Walmart says its U.S. businesses sourced more than $13 billion in goods and services from diverse suppliers in fiscal year 2024, including businesses owned by minorities, women and veterans. It was unclear how its relationships with such business would change going forward. Organizations that have partnered with Walmart on its diversity initiatives offered a cautious response. The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, a non-profit that last year named Walmart one of America's top corporation for women-owned enterprises, said it was still evaluating the impact of Walmart's announcement. Pamela Prince-Eason, the president and CEO of the organization, said she hoped Walmart's need to cater to its diverse customer base will continue to drive contracts to women-owned suppliers even if the company has no explicit dollar goals. “I suspect Walmart will continue to have one of the most inclusive supply chains in the World,” Prince-Eason wrote. “Any retailer's ability to serve the communities they operate in will continue to value understanding their customers, (many of which are women), in order to better provide products and services desired and no one understands customers better than Walmart." Walmart's announcement came after the company spoke directly with conservative political commentator and activist Robby Starbuck, who has been going after corporate DEI policies, calling out individual companies on the social media platform X. Several of those companies have subsequently announced that they are pulling back their initiatives, including Ford , Harley-Davidson, Lowe’s and Tractor Supply . Walmart confirmed to The Associated Press that it will better monitor its third-party marketplace items to make sure they don’t feature sexual and transgender products aimed at minors. The company also will stop participating in the Human Rights Campaign’s annual benchmark index that measures workplace inclusion for LGBTQ+ employees. A Walmart spokesperson added that some of the changes were already in progress and not as a result of conversations that it had with Starbuck. RaShawn “Shawnie” Hawkins, senior director of the HRC Foundation’s Workplace Equality Program, said companies that “abandon” their commitments workplace inclusion policies “are shirking their responsibility to their employees, consumers, and shareholders.” She said the buying power of LGBTQ customers is powerful and noted that the index will have record participation of more than 1,400 companies in 2025.

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Russia’s rouble plummeted to its lowest rate against the dollar since its invasion of Ukraine. This comes after the United States issued sanctions against private-owned bank Gazprombank, more than 50 internationally connected Russian banks, more than 40 Russian securities registrars, and 15 Russian finance officials. On Tuesday, the currency hit 107 against the dollar. “Today’s sanctions targeting Russia’s largest remaining non-designated bank, as well as dozens of other financial institutions and officials in Russia, will further diminish and degrade Russia’s war machine. This sweeping action will make it harder for the Kremlin to evade U.S. sanctions and fund and equip its military,” Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen had announced. “We will continue to take decisive steps against any financial channels Russia uses to support its illegal and unprovoked war in Ukraine.” Read More: NATO Planning Preemptive Strikes Against Russia? What We Know Responding to the rouble fall, finance minister Anton Siluanov indicated that the President Putin-led government was not trying to prop up the currency. “I’m not saying whether the rate is good or bad. I’m just saying that today the exchange rate . . . is very, very conducive to exports,” Siluanov said. Read More: Putin Signs Law Prohibiting Adoption of Russian Children by Citizens of Countries Allowing Gender Transitions Meanwhile 'Russia bank collapse' started trending on X, platform formerly known as Twitter. "Russian banks are collapsing after the sweeping new sanctions that the US rolled out on Wednesday," an economics professor said on social media. "Not going to lie... watching the russian Ruble collapse is making my day 😂" another person added on the Elon Musk-led platform. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Europe, World and around the world.American Canyon’s Mason Harris is the Times-Herald Athlete of the Week

Malik Nabers says calling the Giants 'soft' was wrong but he doesn't regret speaking outEvery industry has its visionaries, or those that refuse to settle for the status quo and instead pave the way for their success. In the field of digital marketing, Jack Zuckowsky , CEO of Fuel Media Agency, stands out as a transformative figure. His innovative strategies, unwavering focus on authentic growth, and ability to inspire a new generation of marketers are shaping the landscape of the industry. Breaking Through the Noise The digital space has been identified as an area where brands battle for their share of visibility and relevance. It's a space that rewards creativity and innovation, yet penalizes redundancy. Zuckowsky's philosophy centers on cutting through the noise with campaigns that engage as much as they inspire. He understands that marketing is not just about selling; it's about creating an experience that leaves a lasting impression. Fuel Media Agency operates by this very ethos. The agency strives innovatively toward creating striking campaign highlights for its clients, living by a single line of giving priority to unique and personalized approaches. Under the hands-on leadership of Jack, this commitment toward excellence follows in every campaign undertaken to date. Mentoring The Next Generation Building Fuel Media Agency for Jack was about leaving a mark rather than scaling a business. The best thing he has done, however, is investing in mentorship for many young, fresh marketers. Jack believes in letting the next generation develop the proper mindset to work within an ever-changing industry. From sharing critical insight into authenticity to teaching young marketers how to adapt to the changing nature of technology, he molded into a mentor and a thought leader. Already, scores of professionals have taken his counsel to carve out successful careers in digital marketing. Fuel Media Agency's Impact Under his stewardship, the Fuel Media Agency grew from a promising startup to a great name within the industry. It is a marketing service for which a client seeking to partner with will actually do much more than just engaging a marketing service; they are finding a partner invested in their very success. Be it creating campaigns to speak to an audience or delivering transparency and clarity to the clients, Fuel Media Agency is indeed all that any modern, forward-looking agency should be. A Long-Term Goal Meanwhile, Jack had bigger visions other than the everyday running of Fuel Media. He would want marketing someday to be a force for good: to connect people with brands that actually suit their values. Innovation and authenticity now became his driving forces of constant refinement of strategy, staying one step ahead of the trends which would emerge. With each project, it's clear that Jack Zuckowsky is not growing merely an excellent agency but is building a legacy founded on principles like integrity, creativity, and collaboration. In an age when most industries would want it all yesterday, the long vision of Jack is rather refreshing: relationships and impact, merely real growth.Pep Guardiola admitted the Manchester City fans are entitled to boo after seeing their team blow a three-goal lead in the last 15 minutes. Feyenoord’s David Hancko scored an 89th-minute equaliser and City have conceded at least two goals in six successive games for the first time since 1963. “People come here not to remember the success of the past,” said the City boss. “They come here to see the team win and perform well, and we have to do so. “They support us all the time. When we go away, our fans are amazing. Of course, they are completely right to express what they feel, absolutely.” City have slipped to 15th in the Champions League and Guardiola insisted Josko Gvardiol will learn after he was at fault again to spark Feyenoord’s incredible comeback. “He’s so young, he will learn,” said Guardiola. "I would be so wrong if I point at any specific player. The game was fine at 3-0, we were playing good, but then we conceded a lot goals because we were not stable. We gave them the first and then the other one, that’s why it was difficult. “We lost a lot of games lately. We’re fragile and, of course, we needed a victory. I don’t know if it’s mental. The first goal cannot happen and the second as well.” Guardiola must somehow pick up his side for Sunday’s showdown with Liverpool at Anfield and they will fall 11 points behind the Reds if they lose. I have to, it’s my job,” he said. Feyenoord boss Brian Priske was delighted to draw for former boss and Reds head coach Arne Slot . “I’m sure he’s proud,” said Priske. “He’s following us, I know that. We’ve definitely done everything we could to help him.” Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. 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.

NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto appears on a timetable to decide on where to sign either before or during baseball's winter meetings in Dallas, which run from Dec. 8-12. Soto met with the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, a person familiar with the negotiations said last week, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details were not announced. Soto's agent, Scott Boras, asked teams to submit initial offers by Thanksgiving, a second person familiar with the talks said, also on condition of anonymity because it was not announced. Soto is the top player available among this year's free agents . A four-time All-Star, Soto finished third in AL MVP voting after hitting .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks. He has a .285 career average with 201 homers, 592 RBIs and 769 walks over seven major league seasons. Soto turned down a $440 million, 15-year offer from Washington in 2022, prompting the Nationals to trade him to San Diego, which then dealt him to the Yankees last December. Soto then combined with Aaron Judge to lead New York to the World Series, where the Yankees lost to the Dodgers . In his pitch to teams, Boras highlighted that Soto joined Mickey Mantle as the only players with seven RBIs in a World Series at age 21 or younger when he was with Washington, and at 20 became the youngest player with five postseason homers. Soto's .906 postseason OPS through age 25 topped Mantle (.900) and Derek Jeter (.852). Soto is likely to seek a record contract, topping Shohei Ohtani's $700 million, 10-year agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. That might not mean Soto gets more than $700 million, though. Because Ohtani's deal included $680 million in deferred money payable through 2043, it can be valued by different methods. For instance, Ohtani's contract is valued at $46.1 million per season ($461 million total) under MLB's luxury tax system, which used a 4.43% discount rate. The players' association uses a 5% rate, which puts Ohtani's contract at $43.8 million per year. For MLB's regular payroll calculations, a 10% discount rates values Ohtani's deal at just $28.2 million. Which means if Soto gets even $462 million without deferred payments, there's an argument that his deal is the most valuable in MLB history. By average annual value, pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are tied for second in baseball history at $43.33 million as part of contracts they signed with the New York Mets, deals that expired at the end of the 2024 season. In terms of total value, Ohtani surpassed outfielder Mike Trout’s $426.5 million, 12-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels through 2030. MLB’s longest contract is outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr.’s 14-year deal with the San Diego Padres through 2034. The Mets, Yankees, Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies all are likely to enter 2025 having paid luxury tax for three straight years, putting them at the highest rate: a 50% surcharge on payroll between $241 million and $261 million, 62% from $261 million to $281 million, 95% from $281 million to $301 million and 110% for each dollar above $301 million. Toronto may have dropped below the initial tax threshold this year, pending final figures next month. If the Blue Jays did fall under, their rates next year would reset to 20%, 32%, 62.5% and 80% for the four thresholds. If Soto reaches or announces an agreement at the winter meetings in Dallas' Hilton Anatole, it would be a familiar location for a big Boras deal. Alex Rodriguez's record $252 million, 10-year contract with the Texas Rangers was announced in December 2000 at what then was called the Wyndham Anatole Hotel. A-Rod's deal more than doubled MLB's previous high, a $121 million, eight-year contract between pitcher Mike Hampton and Colorado that was announced just two days earlier. “In two days, we’ve doubled a new highest salary,′′ said Sandy Alderson, then an executive vice president in the commissioner’s office. ”I don’t like the exponentiality of that." Rodriguez was 25 at the time of the agreement with Texas, a free agent before entering his likely prime, like Soto. Third baseman Alex Bregman, first basemen Pete Alonso and Christian Walker, and outfielders Anthony Santander and Teoscar Hernández are among the significant bats available to pursue and likely would interest some of the teams who fail to sign Soto. Bregman and Alonso, like Soto, are represented by Boras. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB