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PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron’s office announced a new government Monday, after the previous Cabinet collapsed in a historic vote prompted by fighting over the country's budget. The government, put together by newly named Prime Minister Francois Bayrou , includes members of the outgoing conservative-dominated team and new figures from centrist or left-leaning backgrounds. Coming up with a 2025 budget will be the most urgent order of business. The new government enters office after months of political deadlock and crisis and pressure from financial markets to reduce France’s colossal debt. Macron has vowed to remain in office until his term ends in 2027, but has struggled to govern since snap elections in the summer left no single party with a majority in the National Assembly. Since his appointment 10 days ago, Bayrou has held talks with political leaders from various parties in search of the right balance for the new government. Some critics on Monday were angry at Bayrou for consulting with Marine Le Pen’s far-right party, and some argue the government looks too much like the old one to win lawmakers’ trust. Former Prime Minister Michel Barnier resigned this month following a no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes in the National Assembly , leaving France without a functioning government. Le Pen played a key role in Barnier’s downfall by joining her National Rally party’s forces with the left to pass the no-confidence motion. Bayrou will need support from moderate legislators on the right and left to keep his government alive. Banker Eric Lombard will be finance minister, a crucial post when France is working to fulfill its promises to European Union partners to reduce its deficit, estimated to reach 6% of its gross domestic product this year. Lombard briefly worked as an adviser to a Socialist finance minister in the 1990s. Bayrou has said he supports tax hikes championed by his predecessor, but it’s not clear how the new government can find the right calculation for a budget that satisfies a majority of lawmakers angry over spending cuts. Hard-right Bruno Retailleau stays on as interior minister, with responsibility for France’s security and migration policy. Sebastien Lecornu, who has been at the forefront of France’s military support for Ukraine, remains defense minister, while Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who has traveled extensively in the Mideast in recent weeks, also retains his post. Among new faces are two former prime ministers. Manuel Valls will be minister for overseas affairs, and Elisabeth Borne takes the education ministry.Fallout brought ghouls, vault dwellers, and the Brotherhood of Steel to Prime Video to craft one of the best shows of 2024. But just like the video game franchise, its story did not end after just one installment. The hit adaptation is returning for season two. Who is coming back for more post-apocalyptic wasteland fun? And where will we meet up with them this time? Here’s everything we know about Fallout season two so far. Fallout Season 2’s Plot Unlike the video game side of the franchise, which follows new figures with each installment, Fallout season two on Prime Video will be sticking with the same characters and continuing their story . They will be moving to a new place, but it’s one gamers know well. Season two is officially moving to New Vegas . Not only was that the site for one of the series’ best games, it’s where Kyle MacLachlan’s Hank MacLean headed in the season one finale. He flew off to find his unknown boss after his daughter learned the truth about his work for Vault-Tec , the company that destroyed the world. Oh yeah, and we’re definitely getting Deathclaws . Behind-the-Scenes Fallout on Prime Video comes from executive producers Jonathan Nolan, Lisa Joy, Graham Wagner, and Geneva Robertson-Dworet. Wagner and Robertson-Dworet also serve as co-showrunners. Season two began production in December 2024 . Fallout Season 2’s Cast Kyle MacLachlan isn’t the only character who remembered the before times returning to Fallout . The Ghoul (nee Cooper Howard) is getting “back in the saddle,” too, as Walton Goggins is riding in for more wasteland vengeance. Co-star Ella Purnell is also coming back as the no-longer-naive Vault Dweller Lucy MacLean. Moisés Arias is expected to rejoin her as Lucy’s brother Norm. And Aaron Moten will reprise his role as Maximus, new hero of the Brotherhood. Many season one supporting characters are also expected back. (Leslie Uggams and Johnny Pemberton have already made comments all but confirming their returns.) One confirmed newcomer we know is joining the show in a recurring role is Macaulay Culkin . Prime Video has not revealed his character officially. Initial reports only say he’s playing a “crazy genius-type.” In Fallout, that will make him pretty normal. Fallout Season 2’s Release Date Fallout season two does not yet have a release date. But it might be sooner than you think. Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner said they are “going as fast as we possibly can” to get the show back on the air. They also said a lot of the “heavy lifting” is already done because they “have sets, assets, visual effects” from season one already built. “We are hitting the ground running this season,” they said. “We’re going to be pedal to the metal to get season two out as fast as humanly possible.” With that outlook we can’t rule out a late 2025 release, but the first half of 2026 seems more likely. This article first appeared on Nerdist and was syndicated with permission.— Oct. 1, 1924: James Earl Carter Jr. is born in Plains, Georgia, son of James Sr. and Lillian Gordy Carter. — June 1946: Carter graduates from the U.S. Naval Academy. — July 1946: Carter marries Rosalynn Smith, in Plains. They have four children, John William (“Jack”), born 1947; James Earl 3rd (“Chip”), 1950; Donnel Jeffrey (Jeff), 1952; and Amy Lynn, 1967. — 1946-1953: Carter serves in a Navy nuclear submarine program, attaining rank of lieutenant commander. — Summer 1953: Carter resigns from the Navy, returns to Plains after father’s death. — 1953-1971: Carter helps run the family peanut farm and warehouse business. — 1963-1966: Carter serves in the Georgia state Senate. — 1966: Carter tries unsuccessfully for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. — November 1970: Carter is elected governor of Georgia. Serves 1971-75. — Dec. 12, 1974: Carter announces a presidential bid. Atlanta newspaper answers with headline: “Jimmy Who?” — January 1976: Carter leads the Democratic field in Iowa, a huge campaign boost that also helps to establish Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucus. — July 1976: Carter accepts the Democratic nomination and announces Sen. Walter Mondale of Minnesota as running mate. — November 1976: Carter defeats President Gerald R. Ford, winning 51% of the vote and 297 electoral votes to Ford’s 240. — January 1977: Carter is sworn in as the 39th president of the United States. On his first full day in office, he pardons most Vietnam-era draft evaders. —September 1977: U.S. and Panama sign treaties to return the Panama Canal back to Panama in 1999. Senate narrowly ratifies them in 1978. — September 1978: Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Carter sign Camp David accords, which lead to a peace deal between Egypt and Israel the following year. — June 15-18, 1979: Carter attends a summit with Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev in Vienna that leads to the signing of the SALT II treaty. — November 1979: Iranian militants storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 hostages. All survive and are freed minutes after Carter leaves office in January 1981. — April 1980: The Mariel boatlift begins, sending tens of thousands of Cubans to the U.S. Many are criminals and psychiatric patients set free by Cuban leader Fidel Castro, creating a major foreign policy crisis. — April 1980: An attempt by the U.S. to free hostages fails when a helicopter crashes into a transport plane in Iran, killing eight servicemen. — Nov. 4, 1980: Carter is denied a second term by Ronald Reagan, who wins 51.6% of the popular vote to 41.7% for Carter and 6.7% to independent John Anderson. — 1982: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter co-found The Carter Center in Atlanta, whose mission is to resolve conflicts, protect human rights and prevent disease around the world. — September 1984: The Carters spend a week building Habitat for Humanity houses, launching what becomes the annual Carter Work Project. — October 1986: A dedication is held for The Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta. The center includes the Carter Presidential Library and Museum and Carter Center offices. — 1989: Carter leads the Carter Center’s first election monitoring mission, declaring Panamanian Gen. Manuel Noriega’s election fraudulent. — May 1992: Carter meets with Mikhail and Raisa Gorbachev at the Carter Center to discuss forming the Gorbachev Foundation. — June 1994: Carter plays a key role in North Korea nuclear disarmament talks. — September 1994: Carter leads a delegation to Haiti, arranging terms to avoid a U.S. invasion and return President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power. — December 1994: Carter negotiates tentative cease-fire in Bosnia. — March 1995: Carter mediates cease-fire in Sudan’s war with southern rebels. — September 1995: Carter travels to Africa to advance the peace process in more troubled areas. — December 1998: Carter receives U.N. Human Rights Prize on 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. — August 1999: President Bill Clinton awards Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter the Presidential Medal of Freedom. — September 2001: Carter joins former Presidents Ford, Bush and Clinton at a prayer service at the National Cathedral in Washington after Sept. 11 attacks. — April 2002: Carter’s book “An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood” chosen as finalist for Pulitzer Prize in biography. — May 2002: Carter visits Cuba and addresses the communist nation on television. He is the highest-ranking American to visit in decades. — Dec. 10, 2002: Carter is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” — July 2007: Carter joins The Elders, a group of international leaders brought together by Nelson Mandela to focus on global issues. — Spring 2008: Carter remains officially neutral as Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton battle each other for the Democratic presidential nomination. — April 2008: Carter stirs controversy by meeting with the Islamic militant group Hamas. — August 2010: Carter travels to North Korea as the Carter Center negotiates the release of an imprisoned American teacher. — August 2013: Carter joins President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton at the 50th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech and the March on Washington. — Oct. 1, 2014: Carter celebrates his 90th birthday. — December 2014: Carter is nominated for a Grammy in the best spoken word album category, for his book “A Call To Action.” — May 2015: Carter returns early from an election observation visit in Guyana — the Carter Center’s 100th — after feeling unwell. — August 2015: Carter has a small cancerous mass removed from his liver. He plans to receive treatment at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta. — August 2015: Carter announces that his grandson Jason Carter will chair the Carter Center governing board. — March 6, 2016: Carter says an experimental drug has eliminated any sign of his cancer, and that he needs no further treatment. — May 25, 2016: Carter steps back from a “front-line” role with The Elders to become an emeritus member. — July 2016: Carter is treated for dehydration during a Habitat for Humanity build in Canada. — Spring 2018: Carter publishes “Faith: A Journey for All,” the last of 32 books. — March 22, 2019: Carter becomes the longest-lived U.S. president, surpassing President George H.W. Bush, who died in 2018. — September 18, 2019: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter deliver their final in-person annual report at the Carter Center. — October 2019: At 95, still recovering from a fall, Carter joins the Work Project with Habitat for Humanity in Nashville, Tennessee. It’s the last time he works personally on the annual project. — Fall 2019-early 2020: Democratic presidential hopefuls visit, publicly embracing Carter as a party elder, a first for his post-presidency. — November 2020:The Carter Center monitors an audit of presidential election results in the state of Georgia, marking a new era of democracy advocacy within the U.S. — Jan. 20, 2021: The Carters miss President Joe Biden’s swearing-in, the first presidential inauguration they don’t attend since Carter’s own ceremony in 1977. The Bidens later visit the Carters in Plains on April 29. — Feb. 19, 2023: Carter enters home hospice care after a series of short hospital stays. — July 7, 2023: The Carters celebrate their 77th and final wedding anniversary. — Nov. 19, 2023: Rosalynn Carter dies at home, two days after the family announced that she had joined the former president in receiving hospice care. — Oct. 1, 2024 — Carter becomes the first former U.S. president to reach 100 years of age , celebrating at home with extended family and close friends. — Oct. 16, 2024 — Carter casts a Georgia mail ballot for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, having told his family he wanted to live long enough to vote for her. It marks his 21st presidential election as a voter. — Dec. 29, 2024: Carter dies at home.

The people that president-elect Donald Trump has selected to lead federal health agencies in his second administration include a retired congressman, a surgeon and a former talk-show host. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * The people that president-elect Donald Trump has selected to lead federal health agencies in his second administration include a retired congressman, a surgeon and a former talk-show host. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? The people that president-elect Donald Trump has selected to lead federal health agencies in his second administration include a retired congressman, a surgeon and a former talk-show host. All of them could play pivotal roles in fulfilling a new political agenda that could change how the government goes about safeguarding Americans’ health — from health care and medicines to food safety and science research. And if Congress approves, at the helm of the team as Department of Health and Human Services secretary will be prominent environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine organizer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. By and large, the nominees don’t have experience running large bureaucratic agencies, but they know how to talk about health on TV. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid pick Dr. Mehmet Oz hosted a talk show for 13 years and is a well-known wellness and lifestyle influencer. The pick for the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Marty Makary, and for surgeon general, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, are frequent Fox News contributors. Many on the list were critical of COVID-19 measures like masking and booster vaccinations for young people. Some of them have ties to Florida like many of Trump’s other Cabinet nominees: CDC pick Dr. Dave Weldon represented the state in Congress for 14 years and is affiliated with a medical group on the state’s Atlantic coast. Nesheiwat’s brother-in-law is Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., tapped by Trump as national security adviser. Here’s a look at the nominees’ potential role in carrying out what Kennedy says is the task to “reorganize” agencies, which have an overall $1.7 billion budget; employ 80,000 scientists, researchers, doctors and other officials; and affect the lives of all Americans. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The Atlanta-based CDC, with a $9.2 billion core budget, is charged with protecting Americans from disease outbreaks and other public health threats. Kennedy has long attacked vaccines and criticized the CDC, repeatedly alleging corruption at the agency. He said on a 2023 podcast that there is “no vaccine that is safe and effective,” and urged people to resist the CDC’s guidelines on if and when kids should get vaccinated. Decades ago, Kennedy found common ground with Weldon, the 71-year-old nominee to run the CDC who served in the Army and worked as an internal medicine doctor before he represented a central Florida congressional district from 1995 to 2009. Starting in the early 2000s, Weldon had a prominent part in a debate about whether there was a relationship between a vaccine preservative called thimerosal and autism. He was a founding member of the Congressional Autism Caucus and tried to ban thimerosal from all vaccines. Kennedy, then a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, believed there was a tie between thimerosal and autism and also charged that the government hid documents showing the danger. Since 2001, all vaccines manufactured for the U.S. market and routinely recommended for children 6 years or younger have contained no thimerosal or only trace amounts, with the exception of inactivated influenza vaccine. Meanwhile, study after study after study found no evidence that thimerosal caused autism. Weldon’s congressional voting record suggests he may go along with Republican efforts to downsize the CDC, including to eliminate the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, which works on topics like drownings, drug overdoses and shooting deaths. Weldon also voted to ban federal funding for needle-exchange programs as an approach to reduce overdoses, and the National Rifle Association gave him an “A” rating for his pro-gun rights voting record. Food and Drug Administration Kennedy is extremely critical of the FDA, which has 18,000 employees and is responsible for the safety and effectiveness of prescription drugs, vaccines and other medical products — as well as overseeing cosmetics, electronic cigarettes and most foods. Makary, Trump’s pick to run the FDA, is closely aligned with Kennedy on several topics. The professor at Johns Hopkins University who is a trained surgeon and cancer specialist has decried the overprescribing of drugs, the use of pesticides on foods and the undue influence of pharmaceutical and insurance companies over doctors and government regulators. Kennedy has suggested he’ll clear our “entire” FDA departments and also recently threatened to fire FDA employees for “aggressive suppression” of a host of unsubstantiated products and therapies, including stem cells, raw milk, psychedelics and discredited COVID-era treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine. Makary’s contrarian views during the COVID-19 pandemic including the need for masking and giving young kids COVID vaccine boosters. But anything Makary and Kennedy might want to do when it comes to unwinding FDA regulations or revoking long-standing vaccine and drug approvals would be challenging. The agency has lengthy requirements for removing medicines from the market, which are based on federal laws passed by Congress. Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services The agency provides health care coverage for more than 160 million people through Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, and also sets Medicare payment rates for hospitals, doctors and other providers. With a $1.1 trillion budget and more than 6,000 employees, Oz has a massive agency to run if confirmed — and an agency that Kennedy hasn’t talked about much when it comes to his plans. While Trump tried to scrap the Affordable Care Act in his first term, Kennedy has not taken aim at it yet. But he has been critical of Medicaid and Medicare for covering expensive weight-loss drugs — though they’re not widely covered by either. Trump said during his campaign that he would protect Medicare, which provides insurance for older Americans. Oz has endorsed expanding Medicare Advantage — a privately run version of Medicare that is popular but also a source of widespread fraud — in an AARP questionnaire during his failed 2022 bid for a U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania and in a 2020 Forbes op-ed with a former Kaiser Permanente CEO. Oz also said in a Washington Examiner op-ed with three co-writers that aging healthier and living longer could help fix the U.S. budget deficit because people would work longer and add more to the gross domestic product. Neither Trump nor Kennedy have said much about Medicaid, the insurance program for low-income Americans. Trump’s first administration reshaped the program by allowing states to introduce work requirements for recipients. Surgeon general Kennedy doesn’t appear to have said much publicly about what he’d like to see from surgeon general position, which is the nation’s top doctor and oversees 6,000 U.S. Public Health Service Corps members. The surgeon general has little administrative power, but can be an influential government spokesperson on what counts as a public health danger and what to do about it — suggesting things like warning labels for products and issuing advisories. The current surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, declared gun violence as a public health crisis in June. Trump’s pick, Nesheiwat, is employed as a New York City medical director with CityMD, a group of urgent care facilities in the New York and New Jersey area, and has been at City MD for 12 years. She also has appeared on Fox News and other TV shows, authored a book on the “transformative power of prayer” in her medical career and endorses a brand of vitamin supplements. She encouraged COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, calling them “a gift from God” in a February 2021 Fox News op-ed, as well as anti-viral pills like Paxlovid. In a 2019 Q&A with the Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation, Nesheiwat said she is a “firm believer in preventive medicine” and “can give a dissertation on hand-washing alone.” National Institutes of Health As of Saturday, Trump had not yet named his choice to lead the National Institutes of Health, which funds medical research through grants to researchers across the nation and conducts its own research. It has a $48 billion budget. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Kennedy has said he’d pause drug development and infectious disease research to shift the focus to chronic diseases. He’d like to keep NIH funding from researchers with conflicts of interest, and criticized the agency in 2017 for what he said was not doing enough research into the role of vaccines in autism — an idea that has long been debunked. ___ Associated Press writers Amanda Seitz and Matt Perrone and AP editor Erica Hunzinger contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Advertisement AdvertisementNicaragua's President Daniel Ortega and his wife are set to assume absolute power after loyalist lawmakers Friday approved a constitutional amendment elevating her to the position of "co-president" and boosting the pair's joint control over the state. Under sanctions for human rights abuses, Ortega himself had proposed the change, which also increases the Central American country's presidential term from five to six years. Nicaragua's National Assembly is under control of Ortega's ruling FSLN party, and parliament chief Gustavo Porras said Friday the measure was approved "unanimously." It is all but guaranteed to pass a second reading in January. Ortega, 79, has engaged in increasingly authoritarian practices, tightening control of all sectors of the state with the aid of his powerful wife, 73-year-old Vice President Rosario Murillo in what critics describe as a nepotistic dictatorship. The ex-guerrilla had first served as president from 1985 to 1990, returning to power in 2007. Nicaragua has jailed hundreds of opponents, real and perceived, since then. Ortega's government has targeted critics, shutting down more than 5,000 NGOs since 2018 mass protests in which the United Nations estimates more than 300 people died. Thousands of Nicaraguans have fled into exile, and the regime is under US and EU sanctions. Most independent and opposition media now operate from abroad. The constitutional amendment stipulates that "traitors to the homeland" can be stripped of their citizenship, as the Ortega government has already done with hundreds of politicians, journalists, intellectuals and activists, among others perceived as critical. Ortega and Murillo accuse the Church, journalists and NGOs of having supported an attempted coup d'etat, as they describe the 2018 protests. The change also allows for stricter control over the media and the Church, so they are not subject to "foreign interests." And it gives the co-presidents the power to coordinate all "legislative, judicial, electoral, control and supervisory bodies, regional and municipal" -- formerly independent under the constitution. - Guarantees succession - Manuel Orozco, a Nicaraguan analyst for the Inter-American Dialogue, told AFP the reform "guarantees the presidential succession" of Murillo and the pair's son, Laureano Ortega. The Geneva-based UN human rights office (OHCHR) in its annual report on Nicaragua warned in September of a "serious" deterioration in human rights under Ortega. The report cited violations such as arbitrary arrests of opponents, torture, ill-treatment in detention, increased violence against Indigenous people and attacks on religious freedom. The revised constitution will define Nicaragua as a "revolutionary" and socialist state and include the red-and-black flag of the FSLN -- a guerrilla group-turned political party that overthrew a US-backed dictator in 1979 -- among its national symbols. Constitutional law expert Azahalea Solis said this change excludes other political ideologies, while Salvador Marenco, a human rights lawyer exiled in Costa Rica, said it will end political pluralism and the doctrine of separation of powers. "Everything in the reform is what has actually been happening in Nicaragua: a de facto dictatorship," Dora Maria Tellez, a former comrade in arms of Ortega turned critic, told AFP from exile in the United States. When it was proposed by Ortega earlier this week, Organization of American States secretary general Luis Almagro described the amendment as "an aberrant form of institutionalizing the marital dictatorship." He also labeled the initiative an "aggression against the democratic rule of law." mis-mlr/dwTHE House of Representatives has launched an investigation into the non-delivery of 2,000 tractors and 100 combine harvesters promised by President Bola Tinubu in 2023 under the Presidential Food Security Initiative and the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Drive. It is a good development. Lawmakers are alarmed that one year after the government signed a five-year agreement with AFTRADE DMCC to establish a tractor assembly plant to produce 9,022 agricultural implements and 2,000 tractors annually, at an estimated cost of $684.1m for the equipment and N138.6bn for delivery and assembly, not a single piece of equipment has been delivered. It is befuddling that the government is dragging its feet on promises to revamp the agricultural sector despite pervasive hunger. Nigeria’s agriculture sector is paradoxical. It accounts for approximately 25 per cent of GDP and employs over 70 per cent of the rural workforce. Nigeria has an estimated 34 million hectares of arable land, yet the sector is characterised by low productivity, subsistence farming and outdated practices. The Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates Nigeria’s tractor density is less than 0.3 per 1,000 hectares, far below the recommended standard of 1.5 tractors. This scarcity forces farmers to rely on manual labour and rudimentary tools, limiting their ability to scale production or adopt modern farming techniques. The lack of mechanisation has exacerbated challenges such as post-harvest losses, inefficient land use, and low crop yields. Nigeria produces about 1.5 tonnes of cereals per hectare, compared to over 6.0 tonnes in Brazil and China. This has turned a country with abundant farmland into one heavily reliant on food imports, spending over $10bn annually to bridge the deficit. Nigeria’s failure to mechanise agriculture has grave economic and social implications, as low agricultural productivity undermines food security. With a population projected to reach 400 million by 2050, Nigeria faces an impending crisis unless it significantly boosts food production. The reliance on subsistence farming perpetuates poverty. Most farmers operate on less than one hectare of land, earning meagre incomes that cannot sustain their families or invest in better tools. This stagnation exacerbates rural-urban migration, swelling the ranks of unemployed youth in cities and contributing to social unrest. Related News 2025: MAN, ASUU, others demand better economy from Tinubu Don’t allow cabals derail LG autonomy, NULGE begs Tinubu Elderlies expect better economy, affordable food in 2025 Nigeria’s lack of agricultural competitiveness limits its ability to participate in regional and global markets. While Thailand and Vietnam dominate rice exports, Nigeria struggles to meet domestic demand, let alone compete internationally. Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of cassava, yet it imports starch. Nigeria is a major producer of sorghum, palm oil, and cocoa beans. It is unwise for it to import corn to support the poultry industry despite the possibility of planting corn thrice a year. Mechanisation can transform agriculture, as demonstrated in other developing economies. By investing heavily in agricultural research, mechanisation, and infrastructure, Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of soybeans, sugar, and coffee, with its agribusiness sector accounting for over 20 per cent of GDP. India introduced modern farming equipment, high-yield crop varieties, and irrigation systems that not only boosted food production but also lifted millions out of poverty. The Tinubu administration must get serious about transforming agriculture if a major food crisis will not be the stark reality for Nigerians soon. More funds need to be allocated to agriculture for mechanisation programmes. Tinubu claimed to be supporting farmers with funding and inputs to reignite productivity, yet the government allocated N826bn equivalent to 1.66 per cent of the 2025 budget. This is nonsense. The sector needs subsidies for machinery, tax incentives for agribusinesses, and low-interest loans for farmers to purchase equipment. The government can encourage private companies to procure and lease tractors and harvesters to smallholder farmers who cannot afford outright purchases. Mechanisation cannot succeed without adequate infrastructure. The government should invest in rural roads, electricity, and irrigation systems to support mechanised farming.

Rhode Island beats Bryant 35-21 to claim its first Coastal Athletic Association title

In an era of rapid technological advancement, one would assume that losing a mobile phone could be addressed swiftly and efficiently. However, for a close friend of mine, Anura (not his real name), a senior professional and well-connected individual, the ordeal of tracing his lost iPhone 15 exposed a web of systemic inefficiencies, poor communication, and hidden truths. Anura lost his phone on 15 Dec., 2024, while travelling in a Colombo suburb. What followed was a grueling process that highlighted the bureaucratic labyrinth ordinary citizens must navigate. Acting on the advice of two telecommunications veterans, he embarked on a quest to retrieve his phone only to encounter roadblocks at every turn. Ravi, a retired IT engineer with over four decades of experience, outlined a standard procedure: file a police report, present it to the mobile network provider, and let the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) handle the rest. Siri, a board member of a prominent telecom network, confirmed that bypassing the police was not an option due to legal requirements. Despite their expertise, neither expert was aware of a critical fact: the phone-tracking system had been compromised in 2022. Anura’s initial attempts at the police station were equally disheartening. Officers refused to provide him with a copy of his complaint, citing outdated practices, and he spent hours navigating red tape before finally obtaining a certified copy. With the police report in hand, Anura visited the TRC in Narahenpita. The experience was no less frustrating. Initially directed back to the police by security staff, Anura had to argue his way into the premises. Inside, a polite but unhelpful officer informed him that the system for tracing lost phones had not been operational since 2018. The officer defended the TRC’s actions, stating they had informed the Inspector General of Police of the changes, expecting the information to trickle down to individual stations. Anura, however, was unimpressed. “This top-down communication approach is ineffective,” he argued, highlighting the needless time, effort, and money wasted by citizens due to a lack of public awareness. During his discussions, Anura uncovered an unsettling truth: the phone-tracking system was compromised. “Your problem,” Anura told the TRC officer, “is sending people here and there without telling them the truth. If criminals know the system is down, they might exploit it—but hiding it isn’t the solution.” Frustrated but undeterred, Anura vowed to bring the issue to light. He criticised the TRC for its lack of accountability, calling for a more proactive approach to public communication. “If I were the minister or the PM, I would prioritise making citizens’ lives easier and saving public resources,” he said. On his way out, Anura ensured he had proof of his visit by photographing the TRC’s logbook, documenting yet another step in his relentless pursuit of accountability. Anura’s experience serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of poor communication and systemic inefficiencies. It underscores the urgent need for: Transparent Communication: Regulatory bodies like the TRC must ensure critical updates reach all stakeholders, including the public, in a clear and accessible manner. Streamlined Processes: Citizens should not have to endure unnecessary delays and expenses to resolve simple issues. Accountability: Authorities must take responsibility for addressing systemic failures instead of deflecting blame. As citizens, we must demand better. Until then, stories like Anura’s will remain a stark reminder of the work that still needs to be done. The aforesaid incident highlights the need for transparent communication, streamlined processes, and greater accountability from regulatory bodies. Anura’s ordeal is a wake-up call for systemic reform to save citizens from unnecessary inconvenience and wasted resources. Eng. P. N. D. Abeysuriya ColomboJimmy Carter: A brief bio

OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC Acquires 590 Shares of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CNP)

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( MENAFN - GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) KELLOGG, Idaho and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bunker Hill mining Corp. (“ Bunker Hill ” or the“ Company ”) ( TSXV:BNKR | OTCQB:BHLL ) announces certain updates to its news release dated December 20, 2024 in connection with the Company's election to issue an aggregate of up to 8,446,194 shares of common stock of the Company (“ Common Shares ”) in full satisfaction of debenture interest payment obligations and outstanding financing cooperation fees, including: (i) an aggregate of up to 7,392,859 Common Shares (the“ Interest Shares ”) to certain holders of 7.5% convertible debentures (the“ Series 1 Convertible Debentures ”) and 10.5% convertible debentures (the“ Series 2 Convertible Debentures ” and, together with the Series 1 Convertible Debentures, the“ Convertible Debentures ”) in full satisfaction of the interest payable thereunder as of December 31, 2024 in the aggregate amount of USD$517,500.00 (the“ Interest Payment ”); and (ii) an aggregate of up to 1,053,335 Common Shares to a certain service provider of the Company (the“ Service Provider ”) in full satisfaction of the Q3 Cooperation Fee and Q4 Cooperation Fee (each as defined below). Convertible Debentures In accordance with the terms of the Convertible Debentures, the Company will issue the Interest Shares at a price of USD$0.07 per Interest Share based on 90% of the 10-day volume weighted average trading price of the Common Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the“ TSX-V ”) on the trading days beginning on December 9, 2024 and ending on December 20, 2024 (the“ Pricing Period ”). Further to its news release dated December 20, 2024, the Company will issue an aggregate of up to 7,119,049 Interest Shares to certain managed accounts of Sprott Private Resource Streaming and Royalty Corp. (“ Sprott ”) in connection with the Interest Payment, instead of 7,392,859 Interest Shares as previously disclosed. Accordingly, the issuance of such Interest Shares to Sprott will constitute a“related party transaction” within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Shareholder Approval (“ MI 61-101 ”). The Company will rely on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements under MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the Interest Shares to be issued to Sprott, nor the consideration received for such Interest Shares, will exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. Financing Cooperation Fee The Settlement Shares are being issued pursuant to the terms of an agreement re financing cooperation dated September 27, 2022 (the“ Cooperation Agreement ”) entered into by and among the Company, its wholly owned subsidiary Silver Valley Metals Corp. (“ Silver Valley ”), the Service Provider and the Service Provider's affiliates, in consideration for the Service Provider and its affiliates providing certain collateral security in order for the Company and Silver Valley to obtain certain surety bonds with respect to the Bunker Hill Mine (the“ Collateral Security ”). The Company has elected to issue up to 509,480 Common Shares (each, a“ Q3 Share ”) at a deemed issue price of C$0.16 per Q3 Share to the Service Provider in full satisfaction of the aggregate US$60,000 financing cooperation fee owing to the Service Provider for providing the Collateral Security for the three (3) month period ending on September 30, 2024 (the“ Q3 Cooperation Fee ”). T he Company also intends to issue up to 543,855 Common Shares (each, a“ Q2 Share ” and, together with the Q3 Shares, the“ Settlement Shares ”) at a deemed issue price of C$0.15 per Q2 Share in full satisfaction of the US$60,000 financing cooperation fee owing to the Service Provider for providing the Collateral Security for the three (3) month period ending on June 30, 2024. In accordance with the terms of the Cooperation Agreement, the Company elected to issue the Settlement Shares in lieu of paying cash to preserve its cash for the potential restart and ongoing development of the Bunker Hill Mine. The issuance of the Common Shares described above remains subject to the receipt of all regulatory and stock exchange approvals. Once issued, the Interest Shares and the Settlement Shares will each be subject to a four (4) month and one (1) day hold period from the applicable date of issuance in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. The Interest Shares and the Settlement Shares have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the“ U.S. Securities Act ”) or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws or in compliance with the requirements of an applicable exemption therefrom. ABOUT BUNKER HILL MINING CORP. Under Idaho-based leadership, Bunker Hill intends to sustainably restart and develop the Bunker Hill Mine as the first step in consolidating and then optimizing a number of mining assets into a high-value portfolio of operations, centered initially in North America. Information about the Company is available on its website, , or within the SEDAR+ and EDGAR databases. On behalf of Bunker Hill Sam Ash President, Chief Executive Officer and Director For additional information, please contact: Brenda Dayton Vice President, Investor Relations T: 604.417.7952 E: ... Cautionary Statements Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as well as within the meaning of the phrase 'forward-looking information' in the Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations (collectively,“ forward-looking statements ”). Forward-looking statements are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as“believes”,“anticipates”,“expects”,“estimates”,“may”,“could”,“would”,“will”,“plan” or variations of such words and phrases. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the Company's objectives, goals or future plans, including the restart and development of the Bunker Hill Mine; the achievement of future short-term, medium-term and long-term operational strategies; the terms and completion of the share transactions described herein, including the number and deemed pricing of the Interest Shares and the Settlement Shares, respectively, issuable in connection therewith, and the Company receiving all regulatory and stock exchange approvals for the share transactions described herein. Forward-looking statements reflect material expectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, expectations and assumptions relating to: Bunker Hill's ability to complete the share transactions on the terms described herein or at all; Bunker Hill's ability to receive sufficient project financing for the restart and ongoing development of the Bunker Hill Mine on acceptable terms or at all; the future price of metals; and the stability of the financial and capital markets. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those risks and uncertainties identified in public filings made by Bunker Hill with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the“ SEC ”) and with applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities, and the following: the Company's inability to raise additional capital for project activities, including through equity financings, concentrate offtake financings or otherwise; capital market conditions; restrictions on labor and its effects on international travel and supply chains; failure to identify mineral resources; failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; the Company's ability to restart and develop the Bunker Hill Mine and the risks of not basing a production decision on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability, resulting in increased uncertainty due to multiple technical and economic risks of failure which are associated with this production decision including, among others, areas that are analyzed in more detail in a feasibility study, such as applying economic analysis to resources and reserves, more detailed metallurgy and a number of specialized studies in areas such as mining and recovery methods, market analysis, and environmental and community impacts and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit, with no guarantee that production will begin as anticipated or at all or that anticipated production costs will be achieved; failure to commence production would have a material adverse impact on the Company's ability to generate revenue and cash flow to fund operations; failure to achieve the anticipated production costs would have a material adverse impact on the Company's cash flow and future profitability; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals; political risks; changes in equity markets; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; the inability of the Company to budget and manage its liquidity in light of the failure to obtain additional financing, including the ability of the Company to complete the payments pursuant to the terms of the agreement to acquire the Bunker Hill Mine complex; inflation; changes in exchange rates; fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in the development of projects; and capital, operating and reclamation costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such statements or information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all, including as to whether or when the Company will achieve its project finance initiatives, or as to the actual size or terms of those financing initiatives. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing risks and uncertainties are not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other risk factors that could affect the Company's operations or financial results are included in the Company's annual report and may be accessed through the SEDAR+ website ( ) or through EDGAR on the SEC website ( ). MENAFN23122024004107003653ID1109025602 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.

E-commerce Is Slowing Down. Is It Because of Package Theft?The Latest: Former President Jimmy Carter is dead at age 100ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jason Zucker scored a tiebreaking power-play goal with 9:30 remaining and the Buffalo Sabres notched their third straight victory by beating the St. Louis Blues 4-2 on Sunday. Jiri Kulich extended Buffalo’s lead with a breakaway goal that went between Blues goalie Jordan Binnington’s legs with 3:41 to play. Tage Thompson had a goal and an assist against his former team as the Sabres won in St. Louis for just the second time in 12 years to sweep the season series. Zucker had a goal and an assist, and Jack Quinn had two assists for Buffalo. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 35 shots. Brayden Schenn and Nathan Walker scored for the Blues. Binnington had 12 saves. Buffalo scored on two of its first three shots, including its first of the game. Takeaways Buffalo: After a 13-game losing streak (0-10-3), the Sabres have scored 17 goals while winning three straight. St. Louis: The Blues, who are tied for an NHL-low five power-play goals at home, went 0 for 4 with the man advantage. Key moment After Walker pulled the Blues even with 14:04 left in the game, rookie Zack Bolduc took a cross checking penalty midway through the third period that led to the decisive goal. Key stat The Sabres had scored on only six of 43 road power plays (14%) this season before going 2 for 3 on Sunday. Buffalo ranked 27th out of 32 NHL teams. Up next The Blues play Chicago in the Winter Classic on Tuesday at Wrigley Field. Buffalo will play at Dallas on Tuesday night. ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl Jeff Latzke, The Associated Press

Fortinet (NASDAQ:FTNT) Price Target Raised to $85.00Jalen Hurts is in the NFL's concussion protocol, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni confirmed during his Monday video call with the media. The Eagles lost their starting quarterback just over five minutes of game time into Sunday's 36-33 loss to the Washington Commanders on the road. Hurts took off on a second-down run and as he fell forward, he took a hit to the head on the way down to the grass. Officials and sideline spotters noticed symptoms as he stood back up, and pulled him off the field for evaluation while Eagles backup QB Kenny Pickett went in. Hurts was ruled out with a concussion for the remainder of Sunday's game . Pickett was shaky, but did leave the Eagles with a chance to still win until it all fell apart at the end. Now the Eagles will be in a bit of a holding pattern waiting to see who their quarterback might be for Week 17, when they come back home to face the Dallas Cowboys, and with the NFC East still clinchable with just one more win. "We just lean on the doctors to let us know on a daily basis of where he is," Sirianni said of Hurts . Pickett, as the QB2, went 14-for-24 with passing for 143 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in relief of Hurts on Sunday. He got sacked three times in the second half as Washington clawed its way back, and one of the hits appeared to shake him up, even though he stayed in and finished the game. Pickett said postgame that it was his ribs that were hurting, but Sirianni had no update about that on Monday. Tanner McKee is the next man up behind Pickett, though, and did outplay him in the preseason , which led to questions about the third-stringer also. Sirianni vouched for each of them with Hurts' status for this coming Sunday in limbo. "Tanner gives us a lot of confidence. Kenny gives us a lot of confidence," Sirianni said."I think that's just a tribute to [general manager Howie Roseman] and his staff, of the all the pieces that he's given us to work with, and the depth that he's given us to work with." Wide receiver DeVonta Smith, and defensive backs Darius Slay and Reed Blankenship each suffered concussions earlier in the season, and their resulting time in the protocol each led to them missing a game after a week of being unable to practice . A similar timeline for Hurts is a strong likelihood, and a factor the Eagles will brace for in their gameplanning for this week. "You adjust," Sirianni said of whether Hurts or Pickett (or McKee) will be the QB. "There are a lot of similarities. There are little differences, but there are differences. It's just something you adjust to. This is the unfortunate part of the NFL. We've had a lot of experience doing this with different positions, and that includes the quarterback." There is a slight chance that Hurts won't miss the Cowboys game, but that would be a tough prospect. He would have to clear all his tests with the doctors and prove he's not at a major re-injury risk, which would be a process that would likely prevent him from getting in any practice reps before Sunday. Sirianni didn't dismiss the possibility of letting Hurts go back in without any practice if he does get cleared, but he was far from committing to anything either. The Eagles are going to have to wait on a lot. "Each and every week is a different scenario," Sirianni said. "What I've seen is Jalen knows how to prepare, knows how to get himself ready. He is a true pro." Follow Nick on Twitter: @itssnick Follow Nick on Bluesky: @itssnick Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Sports

THE House of Representatives has launched an investigation into the non-delivery of 2,000 tractors and 100 combine harvesters promised by President Bola Tinubu in 2023 under the Presidential Food Security Initiative and the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Drive. It is a good development. Lawmakers are alarmed that one year after the government signed a five-year agreement with AFTRADE DMCC to establish a tractor assembly plant to produce 9,022 agricultural implements and 2,000 tractors annually, at an estimated cost of $684.1m for the equipment and N138.6bn for delivery and assembly, not a single piece of equipment has been delivered. It is befuddling that the government is dragging its feet on promises to revamp the agricultural sector despite pervasive hunger. Nigeria’s agriculture sector is paradoxical. It accounts for approximately 25 per cent of GDP and employs over 70 per cent of the rural workforce. Nigeria has an estimated 34 million hectares of arable land, yet the sector is characterised by low productivity, subsistence farming and outdated practices. The Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates Nigeria’s tractor density is less than 0.3 per 1,000 hectares, far below the recommended standard of 1.5 tractors. This scarcity forces farmers to rely on manual labour and rudimentary tools, limiting their ability to scale production or adopt modern farming techniques. The lack of mechanisation has exacerbated challenges such as post-harvest losses, inefficient land use, and low crop yields. Nigeria produces about 1.5 tonnes of cereals per hectare, compared to over 6.0 tonnes in Brazil and China. This has turned a country with abundant farmland into one heavily reliant on food imports, spending over $10bn annually to bridge the deficit. Nigeria’s failure to mechanise agriculture has grave economic and social implications, as low agricultural productivity undermines food security. With a population projected to reach 400 million by 2050, Nigeria faces an impending crisis unless it significantly boosts food production. The reliance on subsistence farming perpetuates poverty. Most farmers operate on less than one hectare of land, earning meagre incomes that cannot sustain their families or invest in better tools. This stagnation exacerbates rural-urban migration, swelling the ranks of unemployed youth in cities and contributing to social unrest. Related News 2025: MAN, ASUU, others demand better economy from Tinubu Don’t allow cabals derail LG autonomy, NULGE begs Tinubu Elderlies expect better economy, affordable food in 2025 Nigeria’s lack of agricultural competitiveness limits its ability to participate in regional and global markets. While Thailand and Vietnam dominate rice exports, Nigeria struggles to meet domestic demand, let alone compete internationally. Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of cassava, yet it imports starch. Nigeria is a major producer of sorghum, palm oil, and cocoa beans. It is unwise for it to import corn to support the poultry industry despite the possibility of planting corn thrice a year. Mechanisation can transform agriculture, as demonstrated in other developing economies. By investing heavily in agricultural research, mechanisation, and infrastructure, Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of soybeans, sugar, and coffee, with its agribusiness sector accounting for over 20 per cent of GDP. India introduced modern farming equipment, high-yield crop varieties, and irrigation systems that not only boosted food production but also lifted millions out of poverty. The Tinubu administration must get serious about transforming agriculture if a major food crisis will not be the stark reality for Nigerians soon. More funds need to be allocated to agriculture for mechanisation programmes. Tinubu claimed to be supporting farmers with funding and inputs to reignite productivity, yet the government allocated N826bn equivalent to 1.66 per cent of the 2025 budget. This is nonsense. The sector needs subsidies for machinery, tax incentives for agribusinesses, and low-interest loans for farmers to purchase equipment. The government can encourage private companies to procure and lease tractors and harvesters to smallholder farmers who cannot afford outright purchases. Mechanisation cannot succeed without adequate infrastructure. The government should invest in rural roads, electricity, and irrigation systems to support mechanised farming.