WASHINGTON -- The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on the founder of Georgia’s ruling political party, which has steered the country away from a pro-Western stance and towards Russia, U.S. officials said Friday. The State and Treasury departments said they hit Georgian Dream party founder and honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili with penalties “for undermining the democratic and Euro-Atlantic future of Georgia for the benefit of the Russian Federation," according to a statement. The designation of Ivanishvili is the latest in a series of sanctions the U.S. has slapped on Georgian politicians, lawmakers and others this year. Those sanctions include freezes on assets and properties those targeted may have in U.S. jurisdictions or that might enter U.S. jurisdictions as well as travel bans on the targets and members of their families. “We strongly condemn Georgian Dream’s actions under Ivanishvili’s leadership, including its ongoing and violent repression of Georgian citizens, protestors, members of the media, human rights activists, and opposition figures,” the State Department said in a statement. “The United States is committed to promoting accountability for those undermining democracy and human rights in Georgia." Ivanishvili is a shadowy billionaire who made his fortune in Russia and served briefly as Georgia’s prime minister. In 2012, he founded Georgian Dream, Georgia’s longtime ruling party. Critics have accused Georgian Dream of becoming increasingly authoritarian and tilted toward Moscow. The party recently pushed through laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to crack down on freedom of speech and LGBTQ+ rights, prompting the European Union to suspend Georgia’s membership application process indefinitely. In October, Georgian Dream won another term in a divisive parliamentary election that has led to more mass protests. Last month, the country’s prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze , announced a four-year suspension of talks on Georgia's bid to join the European Union, fueling further public outrage.

Bell Textron Inc. is ready to take off in north Fort Worth with an investment of $632 million in a new factory for a next-generation aircraft. Gov. Greg Abbott, Mayor Mattie Parker, Bell CEO Lisa Atherton and other area leaders joined together on Dec. 17 at the Bell Manufacturing Technology Center in north Fort Worth to announce final plans to open a new manufacturing plant in the Alliance area to build the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft, or FLRAA. “This project is obviously transformational for Tarrant County ... as well as in Denton County,” said Abbott. “But also it’s transformative for the future of the state of Texas, our workforce, but maybe most importantly, it’s transformative for our United States military.” The project is expected to create 520 full-time jobs with an average annual salary of $85,000 by the end of 2039. Bell won the FLRAA contract in 2022. At the time, military officials said the contract was worth $1.3 billion but could end up being worth in the range of $70 billion over the long term. “It’s kind of a big deal when you have an opportunity of that size come around,” Atherton said. Get essential daily news for the Fort Worth area. Sign up for insightful, in-depth stories — completely free. The future facility will be located in a 448,000-square-foot site at 15100 N. Beach St., near AllianceTexas. In an application for state incentives filed in February, Bell said it planned to expand the building by 5,400 square feet. The Fort Worth City Council approved over $47 million in incentives on Dec. 10. Bell applied for tax breaks through the state via the Jobs, Energy, Technology and Innovation Act program, or JETI, the program that replaced a previous state incentive program. The Bell announcement was the first use of the new JETI program. Parker said the announcement is key to the city’s future as a leader in aerospace manufacturing and defense. “We need to continue to strive to do this,” she said. “It takes programs like this to continue to push forward.” The Bell plan also had to be approved by Denton County Commissioners Court and the Northwest Independent School District. Representatives from both parties were also on hand for the announcement. “This is monumental for us,” said Steve Montgomery, president and CEO of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. “Just think of the employment and the long-term investment this represents for generations to come. Monumental is probably the only word that fits.” Bell, headquartered in Fort Worth, currently employs more than 4,000 people. In March, the company opened a $20 million test lab in Arlington dedicated to testing parts for its future helicopters. Bob Francis is business editor for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at bob.francis@fortworthreport.org. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here . Related Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative for adhering to standards for ethical journalism . Republish This Story Republishing is free for noncommercial entities. Commercial entities are prohibited without a licensing agreement. Contact us for details. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License . Look for the "Republish This Story" button underneath each story. To republish online, simply click the button, copy the html code and paste into your Content Management System (CMS). Do not copy stories straight from the front-end of our web-site. You are required to follow the guidelines and use the republication tool when you share our content. The republication tool generates the appropriate html code. You can’t edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style. You can’t sell or syndicate our stories. Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization. If you use our stories in any other medium — for example, newsletters or other email campaigns — you must make it clear that the stories are from the Fort Worth Report. In all emails, link directly to the story at fortworthreport.org and not to your website. If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @FortWorthReport on Facebook and @FortWorthReport on Twitter. You have to credit Fort Worth Report. Please use “Author Name, Fort Worth Report” in the byline. If you’re not able to add the byline, please include a line at the top of the story that reads: “This story was originally published by Fort Worth Report” and include our website, fortworthreport.org . You can’t edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style. Our stories may appear on pages with ads, but not ads specifically sold against our stories. You can’t sell or syndicate our stories. You can only publish select stories individually — not as a collection. Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization. If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @FortWorthReport on Facebook and @FortWorthReport on Twitter. by Bob Francis, Fort Worth Report December 17, 2024By Jason Gale | Bloomberg As COVID swept across California in early 2020, pediatric infectious diseases physician Karin Nielsen grew alarmed by the crisis erupting in maternity wards. Pregnant women were placed on life support, undergoing emergency C-sections as the virus triggered severe complications. Some died. Nielsen had just finished a research project on how the emerging infectious disease Zika was causing severe birth defects. Concerned the new coronavirus might have a similar impact, she began recruiting expectant mothers who tested positive for a new study. Soon after the study’s participants began giving birth, Nielsen’s colleagues at UCLA’s Mattel Children’s Hospital noticed an unusual number of their newborns requiring intensive care. Nielsen recalls another doctor stopping her to ask, “What’s wrong with the babies in your study?” NEXT PANDEMIC? How America lost control of the bird flu Sure enough, when researchers analyzed videos of the children lying on their backs in what’s called the General Movement Assessment, 14% of the infants showed signs of developmental problems. The test evaluates early motor functions and is often used to assess the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders including cerebral palsy. Later, during in-clinic assessments, the findings proved equally troubling. At 6-8 months old, 13 of 109 infants born to infected mothers — almost 12% — had failed to reach developmental milestones. In stark contrast, all infants in a control group born before the pandemic showed normal development. As additional participants from LA and Rio were enrolled, more unsettling results emerged. Around 11.6% of toddlers born to mothers with lab-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy showed cognitive, motor, or language problems indicative of neurodevelopmental delays. By comparison, only two of 128 unexposed controls — 1.6% — showed such issues. When the eldest of the Covid-exposed babies reached 28 months, the study found another concerning pattern: 23 of 211 children — almost 11% — screened positive for autism spectrum disorder. The finding, presented in May at a medical conference in Copenhagen, compared with an expected prevalence of 1-2% at that age, when some children begin showing signs of the condition. Around one in 36 or under 3% of children are eventually diagnosed with autism, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “There’s something really going on,” Nielsen says. “We don’t want to alarm the world, but that’s what our data are showing.” The later findings, currently undergoing peer review ahead of publication, are a reminder that Covid’s long-term consequences, including higher risks for dementia and heart disease, continue to unravel almost five years after the pandemic began. While the virus is generally known to cause more severe symptoms in adults than in children, emerging research suggests that babies exposed to Covid in utero face elevated risks for preterm birth, congenital heart abnormalities and rare conditions, such as organs developing on the opposite side of the body. Greater odds of autism from in utero exposure to Covid would add another piece to the puzzle. The connection between the virus and autism remains inconclusive: some studies align with Nielsen’s findings, while others report little to no increased risk of developmental or behavioral issues. A limitation of Nielsen’s study is its relatively small sample size, with fewer than 250 mother-baby pairs. A robust understanding of the virus’ impact would likely require research involving more than 10,000 children, says Andrea Edlow, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital. Such large-scale research has been difficult, particularly during the most deadly waves of the pandemic when clinic restrictions and medical emergencies obstructed consistent testing. Nielsen herself is wary of raising unnecessary fears. Autism remains something of a mystery, with its exact triggers still unclear. Scientists suspect an intersection of genetic and environmental factors, but the condition comes in many forms: some children have intellectual disabilities, while others don’t but still struggle with significant behavioral problems, complicating diagnoses. Many individuals with autism also experience co-occurring health issues such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, seizures, or chronic gastrointestinal problems. In much of the world, an awareness of autism is only starting to catch on. Global autism prevalence was estimated at 1 in 127 as of 2021 in a study published last week, more than double the 1-in-271 ratio reported in 2019, and researchers say this is likely driven by increased awareness and better diagnostic practices. The lack of clear explanations has provided fertile ground for myths, including the debunked belief that vaccines cause autism.Still, scientists say Nielsen’s study warrants serious attention due to the consistency of its findings. It also stands out for its rigor: trained physicians used standardized assessment tools at multiple points in time to evaluate developmental progress rather than relying on electronic health records or parent-completed questionnaires. Children born during the Covid era are now reaching the average age for autism diagnoses. Identifying developmental issues early can open the door to speech and behavioral therapies, which are proven to support a child’s development. This makes it a critical moment to study the pandemic’s impact. Nielsen, born to a Danish father and Brazilian mother in Rio de Janeiro, where she attended medical school, has dedicated much of her career to studying how maternal infections, such as HIV and Zika, affect child health. The mosquito-borne Zika virus is known for causing cerebral palsy and microcephaly, a severe congenital brain malformation that often leads to profound intellectual and developmental disabilities. Other maternal infections such as rubella and certain herpesviruses, particularly during the first trimester, are also known to harm the fetus directly, resulting in issues such as hearing loss, cerebral palsy, and autism. From the pandemic’s onset, Nielsen sensed that Covid, too, would leave its mark. “We saw this as a new pathogen and an opportunity to investigate its impact on these babies,” Nielsen says. She soon saw parallels. In 2021, the WHO confirmed that the coronavirus could cross the placental barrier via the maternal bloodstream, placing it in the same category as viruses like rubella and Zika. Some researchers believe the damage stems from inflammation triggered by the virus or viral components crossing the placenta. But Covid also appeared to affect fetuses in a unique way. One of the earliest signs emerged in early 2021 in County Cork, Ireland, during a surge of the alpha variant. A cluster of stillbirths in the first three months of that year prompted doctors to investigate. They discovered that the placentas linked to the fetal deaths were infected with the coronavirus, describing them as riddled with lesions likely caused by viral transmission through the maternal bloodstream. Similar cases began to surface in the US and at least 10 other countries, prompting David Schwartz, an Atlanta-based epidemiologist and perinatal pathologist, to lead an investigation. The findings were startling: on average, more than three-quarters of the tissue in infected placentas had been damaged, cutting off oxygen and nutrients essential for fetal survival. Alarmingly, this damage could occur silently, even in mothers without acute Covid symptoms, offering no warning signs. “We’ve never seen anything like this with an infectious disease,” said Schwartz, a medical anthropologist and pathologist with 45 years of experience studying placentas affected by pathogens such as HIV, Ebola, yellow fever, and Zika. “So far, I feel very confident in saying this is unique to this virus.” Studies by Schwartz and Nielsen highlighted that vaccination protects mothers against Covid’s obstetric complications, particularly during waves driven by variants more likely to cause severe disease. One possible clue to explaining the higher risks of neurodevelopmental issues seen in Nielsen’s study is that Covid, particularly in unvaccinated mothers, increases the risk of preterm delivery. In the US in 2021, the rate of preterm births rose by 4% to 10.5%, the highest since at least 2007. The likelihood of stillbirths nearly doubled for American mothers with Covid compared to those who avoided infection during the pandemic’s first year and a half. Similarly, a study in England found that mothers infected with SARS-CoV-2 at delivery were more than twice as likely to experience fetal death or preterm birth. Another explanation is that prolonged fevers triggered by illnesses like the flu can impair neural development indirectly by activating the maternal immune system. This creates an inflammatory environment in the uterus that can disrupt fetal brain development. Nielsen suspects that maternal immune activation might explain the high rates of neurodevelopmental delays observed among the infants in her study. Among at least four toddlers with severe delays, blood tests taken at birth revealed biomarkers of activated microglia – the brain’s immune cells – attacking neurons. “When you see microglial activation and neuronal signaling pathways traditionally associated with autism showing up in this cohort, it suggests there’s something behind it,” she says. Scientists say the full consequences of in utero exposure to the coronavirus may take decades to uncover and understand. Even if a link is established, genetics are likely to play a crucial role, according to Mady Hornig, a physician-scientist in New York. She is also an investigator on the Autism Birth Cohort project, a collaboration between the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and Columbia University studying the development of the condition for more than 20 years. Understanding the interplay of genetics with immune activity, inflammation, and stress might help unravel why some infants may face developmental challenges, she said. Identifying the various risks “requires additional rigorous study,” Hornig said. If Nielsen’s findings do reflect broader population trends the implications could be profound. “Early neurodevelopmental disturbances have potential implications for disability throughout a lifetime,” she said.Even small increases in risk could substantially add to the global burden of chronic disease, given the sheer number of pregnancies affected. Nielsen continues to analyze stored blood and other specimens from the babies in her study. “It’s a new pathogen. We don’t know how it behaves,” she said. “Things might appear down the road that we were not expecting.”

The secret to making successful financial New Year’s resolutions

With his second AL MVP now in the books, outfielder was able to reflect on the season he and his team had in 2024. And while it was a successful season, despite ending in heartbreak in the World Series, instead of looking back, Judge is already looking forward to the future -- a future that he hopes contains . Overshadowing Judge's MVP award -- essentially a foregone conclusion by the middle of the season -- is where his teammate Soto will end up this offseason. Unlike the slugger's unanimous MVP, the question of which team's uniform Soto will don next season is much hazier. For what it's worth, New York is considered one of the favorites to land the free agent after he spent a full season in pinstripes and had one of the best seasons of his career all the way to a World Series appearance. However, so is New York -- the Mets, that is -- and owner 's incredibly deep pockets. But the race to sign Soto is not a two horse one as many other teams have met with the 26-year-old this offseason. And while both New York teams appear to have a good shot at his services, it's also entirely possible he lands elsewhere. With so much to think about, Judge is giving Soto his space to come to the decision on his own as opposed to trying to convince him to stay in the Bronx. After all, Judge knows about as well as anybody what Soto must be experiencing after his own sweepstakes captivated the baseball world following the 2022 season. "I haven’t talked to him at all," Judge said. "I think the best thing is to really give those guys space. You know I talked to him all season and he knows how we feel about him and I think the most important thing is now letting him do his thing with his family, pray about it, talk with people and come to the right decision for him and his family." If Soto were to re-sign with the Yankees, they would retain their 1-2 punch in Soto and Judge that made them so difficult to pitch to last season. However, it would also mean shelling out around $100 million annually to just two players, assuming Soto nets the type of deal that has been projected. After signing Judge to a nine-year, $360 million contract, not to mention four more years of 's nine-year, $324 million contract on the books, would it be wise of the Bombers to invest more in Soto? Whether they do or don't, though, will have nothing to do with Judge wanting to be the highest-paid player on the team. "Honestly, it ain’t my money. I really don’t care as long as we get the best players, we get the most that we can I’m happy with whatever," Judge said. "That’s never been something on my mind about who gets paid the most, it’s just whatever we can do to get the best players I’ll take it. I think that’s what it kinda comes down to." That's exactly the kind of response one would think an MVP award winner would say and it's been Judge's attitude ever since he got the big leagues. As for which MVP season he likes better, this one or 2022 when he broke the AL single-season home run record (as if there's a wrong answer)? "I would say I like '24 a little better I think," he said with a laugh.

KINGSTON, Jamaica- Two of the longest serving members of parliament, Mike Henry and Karl Samuda, will not be contesting the next general election, while a selection process will be held after the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP’s) annual conference on Sunday, to replace Audley Shaw in Manchester North Eastern. This was revealed by JLP general secretary Dr Horace Chang at the party’s Belmont Road office in Kingston on Thursday morning during a press briefing to outline plans for its annual conference. Eight-two-year- old Samuda, a former Minister of Labour and Social Security, has represented St Andrew North Central as its Member of Parliament for over 40 years, and repeatedly won the seat despite crossing the floor. Similarly, 89-year-old Henry has also been in representational politics since 1980, holding tight to his Clarendon Central seat. However, their exit won’t affect the labour party’s chances at winning the next general election, Chang said. “Both constituencies are strong, both are stable and have effective organisation so we don’t have a challenge in identifying a flag-bearer at any point in time,” he assured. Reflecting on the ongoing race in Manchester for Shaw’s seat, Chang said it reflected the ‘energy’ in the constituency.

( MENAFN - EIN Presswire) Automotive Digital Cockpit Global market Report 2024 - Market Size, Trends, And Global Forecast 2024-2033 The Business Research Company's Early Year-End Sale! Get up to 30% off detailed market research reports-for a limited time only! LONDON, GREATER LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, December 17, 2024 /EINPresswire / -- The Business Research Company's Early Year-End Sale! Get up to 30% off detailed market research reports-limited time only! The global automotive digital cockpit market is experiencing a period of rapid expansion. From $23.82 billion in 2023, the market is projected to grow to $26.52 billion in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate CAGR of 11.3%. This upwards trajectory can be traced, in part, to consumer demand for connectivity, the pleasure of in-car entertainment, the enforcement of government regulations, competitive differentiation, and the globalization of automotive markets. The automotive digital cockpit market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $39.85 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to cybersecurity concerns, health and wellness monitoring, rise of mobility-as-a-service (MaaS), sustainable mobility, smart city integration. Major trends in the forecast period include advanced driver-assistance systems, augmented reality (AR) head-up displays (HUDs), customization and personalization, digital assistants and voice recognition, integration of biometric sensors, haptic feedback and touch controls. What are the major driving forces behind the vast expansion of the automotive digital cockpit market? One driver is the rising proliferation of connected vehicles. As cars become more akin to 'computers on wheels,' owing to onboard connectivity systems that enable internet access and wireless connections to other devices, the role of the digital cockpit intensifies. The digital cockpit is becoming a fundamental feature as it assists connected vehicles in unlocking future connected car experiences. Scania, a Sweden-based manufacturing company, reported in March 2022 that around 560,000 of its vehicles equivalent to 64% of its 10-year rolling fleet were connected, with the number increasing rapidly. This rise in connected vehicles looks set to fuel the further expansion of the automotive digital cockpit market. Perceive Comprehensive Insights Into The Automotive Digital Cockpit Market With A Detailed Sample Report: Which are the key industry players shaping the future of the automotive digital cockpit market? A slew of major companies are operating in the automotive digital cockpit market, including Volkswagen Group, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Daimler AG, Robert Bosch GmbH, Pioneer Corporation, LG Electronics Inc., and Panasonic Corporation, among others. These companies are constantly striving to maintain their competitive edge, often through innovation and the development of advanced technologies. What is the projected value of the automotive digital cockpit market in the coming years? The automotive digital cockpit market is projected to continue its rapid growth trajectory, reaching an estimated $39.85 billion in 2028, with a CAGR of 10.7%. This forecasted growth is attributed to emerging trends such as cybersecurity concerns, the incorporation of health and wellness monitoring, the rise of Mobility-as-a-Service MaaS, the drive towards sustainable mobility, and integration with smart cities. Prep your early strategies with the full report: Which digital trends are poised to redefine the future of the automotive digital cockpit? Emerging technologies are significantly influencing the automotive digital cockpit market. Here, industry players are training their focus on technological innovations such as 5G low latency technologies, to maintain their industry dominance. Canalys, a technology market analyst firm headquartered in Singapore, recently rolled out the Digital Cockpit Analysis service, which envisions future cars as autonomous, connected, electric, and heavily reliant on software. The in-car experience is being reimagined around a digital cockpit and an automotive OS, integrating elements like instrument clusters, infotainment, navigation, and proactive AI, among others, using multi-modal interfaces on a single platform. How is the global automotive digital cockpit market segmented? The automotive digital cockpit market report segments the market in several ways: 1 By Vehicle Type: These include Passenger Vehicles and Commercial Vehicles 2 By Equipment: This encompasses the Digital Instrument Cluster, Driving Monitoring System, and Heads-Up Display 3 By Display: This includes LCD, TFT-LCD, OLED An Insight into Regional Perspective of the Automotive Digital cockpit Market: Asia-Pacific was the most prominent region in the automotive digital cockpit market in 2023. However, the market findings also extend to other regions such as Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, and Africa. Browse Through More Similar Reports By The Business Research Company: Monitor Global Market Report 2024 Digital Signage Global Market Report 2024 Battlefield Management System Global Market Report 2024 About The Business Research Company Learn More About The Business Research Company. With over 15000+ reports from 27 industries covering 60+ geographies, The Business Research Company has built a reputation for offering comprehensive, data-rich research and insights. Armed with 1,500,000 datasets, the optimistic contribution of in-depth secondary research, and unique insights from industry leaders, you can get the information you need to stay ahead in the game. For more information, please contact us at: The Business Research Company: Americas +1 3156230293 Asia +44 2071930708 Europe +44 2071930708 Email: ... Follow us on: LinkedIn: YouTube: Global Market Model: global-market-model Experience the power of truly comprehensive market intelligence with The Business Research Company. Oliver Guirdham The Business Research Company +44 20 7193 0708 email us here Visit us on social media: Facebook X LinkedIn Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "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 author above. MENAFN17122024003118003196ID1109005251 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.

Will Indiana beat Ohio State? Can Oregon State upset Washington State? Our Week 13 CFB picksArsenal up to second after Kai Havertz goal sees off struggling Ipswich

‘No deal is better than a bad deal’: Cop29 deadlocked over climate fundNone

PARLIAMENT has reshuffled the chairpersons of various committees, with Murehwa West Member of Parliament Farai Jere and Clement Chiduwa being reassigned. Jere, who was serving on the Sports, Arts, and Recreation Committee, has replaced Chamu Chiwanza as its chairperson. The committee has been holding the Ministry of Sports, Arts, and Recreation accountable for the improvement of sports facilities in the country. Interestingly, Clement Chiduwa, who was previously chairing the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Budget and Finance, has been reassigned to the Industry and Commerce Committee, and he has been succeeded by Energy Mutodi. Former Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Supa Mandiwanzira, has been appointed to chair the Primary and Secondary Education Committee, moving from the Local Government and Public Works Committee. Hon. Dr. T. Khupe – Committee on Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology. Hon. I. Ndudzo – Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. Hon. J. Tshuma – Committee on Local Government, Public Works and National Housing. Hon. D. Malinganiso – Committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare; Hon. E. Mutodi – Committee on Budget, Finance and Economic Development. Hon. E. Maoneke – Committee on Defence, Home Affairs.Security Services and War Veterans. Hon. T. Karikoga – Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development. Hon. S. Mandiwanzira – Committee on Primary and Secondary Education Hon. F. Jere – Committee on Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture; Hon. C. Chiduwa – Committee on Industry and Commerce. Hon. J. Samkange – Parliamentary Legal Committee.Mac Jones threw two touchdown passes Sunday and the Jacksonville Jaguars earned a season sweep of the visiting Tennessee Titans with a 20-13 victory. Jones connected on 15 of 22 passes for 174 yards, finding Parker Washington and rookie Bryan Thomas Jr. for scores, as Jacksonville (4-12) left Tennessee (3-13) behind in the AFC South cellar. Cam Little booted field goals of 48 and 44 yards. Mason Rudolph hit 19 of 31 attempts for 193 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Titans, which dropped their fifth consecutive game. Tyjae Spears rushed for 95 yards on 20 carries, playing in place of Tony Pollard (flu/ankle). Jones' 11-yard scoring strike to Thomas with 7:05 left in the game gave the Jaguars a 20-10 lead but Tennessee responded with Matthew Wright's 28-yard field goal at the 2:02 mark. After getting a three-and-out, the Titans had a chance to force overtime and reached the Jacksonville 26. But Rudolph's fourth-down pass intended for Nick Westbrook-Ikhine was knocked down at the goal line with nine seconds left. The pregame storyline concerned which team could benefit most from a loss. Both entered a game behind the New York Giants for the potential No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL Draft. Jacksonville initiated scoring on the game's opening drive, needing to drive only 38 yards on nine plays to set up Little for his first field goal at the 10:46 mark. The Jaguars got into the end zone for the first time with 8:59 left in the half on Jones' 2-yard touchdown pass to Washington, coming five plays after Rudolph tossed a tipped-ball interception. Little's second field goal upped the margin to 13-0 with 2:02 remaining before Tennessee pieced together a two-minute drive that set up Wright for a 39-yard field goal as time expired, making it 13-3 at halftime. The Titans started the second half with their best drive of the game, chewing up 85 yards and eight minutes before Rudolph hit Nick Vannett with an 8-yard strike to cut the margin to 13-10. --Field Level Media

IISR Celebrates 38th Foundation Day: Soybean Innovations & Achievements HighlightedDuring the just-concluded campaign for attorney general, Republican Will Lathrop dodged a question about whether he supported his party’s presidential candidate by saying he was “laser focused” on public safety issues in Oregon and not on national politics. National issues, he suggested, were not a major part of the job for an Oregon attorney general. He was wrong. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

If you’re worried about your dog’s noise levels causing a nuisance, there are ways to prevent them from barking excessively. Dr. Mary Burch, an animal behaviorist and family dog director at the American Kennel Club, offers suggestions for calming them down. Burch said the prevention trick you use depends on what type of barking they’re doing. The four most common reasons a dog barks: To alert: To communicate: Excitement: Separation: When they are left alone. Burch said some dogs use barking as a way to react to moving objects such as cars, vacuum cleaners or even other dogs. She said this barking can be controlled by using treats to teach your dog how to do the following. Bark on cue: When you notice your dog barking at an object, wait for them to stop. After they are quiet, say the command “quiet” out loud and reward them a treat. But “whatever you do, don’t give the dog the food reward when it is barking,” Burch said. It’s important not to do this, because you are trying to associate an activity that is incompatible with barking (like sitting quietly) with the reward. Sit and watch: This tip is particularly useful if your dog is barking at a household object like a vacuum cleaner. When you start vacuuming, sit your dog on the other side of the room. After your dog stops barking, go over to them and say a command like “good boy, quiet” and give them a treat. Over time, Burch said your dog should be able to get closer to the vacuum cleaner or other items without constantly barking. It’s unavoidable. You have to go to work, buy groceries or a number of other situations where you have to leave your dog home by themselves. In response, your dog barks awaiting your return, possibly disturbing your neighbors. Dr. Burch said a common suggestion for separation barking is to turn on the television or radio to help them calm down. “If you try this and it works, you are lucky,” she said. “It is an easy solution (but), unfortunately the television and radio solutions don’t often work.” What does work is finding out why your dog is barking, and shaping your prevention strategies around that. Excitement: Boredom: Separation anxiety: And if you don’t know exactly why your dog is barking, Burch said setting up a camera might help you find out. Overall, Burch said the best solution to help prevent your dog from barking excessively is a combination of training and involving them in activities for their mental well-being. This includes regular exercise and enrolling them in programs where they can socialize with other dogs and people. “There is a saying that a tired dog is a happy dog,” she said. “Your dog might be more likely to relax and rest peacefully (minus barking) if it is provided with training that results in mental stimulation and exercise. A skilled trainer or animal behaviorist can help you if you are not having success on your own.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!

OTTAWA — Two senior members of the federal cabinet were in Florida Friday pushing Canada's new border plan with Donald Trump's transition team, a day after Trudeau himself appeared to finally push back at the president-elect over his social media posts about turning Canada into the 51st state. Both Trudeau and former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, who Trudeau has been courting to become Canada's next finance minister, shared posts on X Thursday, a day after Trump's latest jab at Canada in his Christmas Day message. It isn't clear if Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who has repeatedly insisted Trump's 51st state references are a joke, will raise the issue with Trump's team when he and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly meet with them in Palm Beach. The two are there to discuss Canada's new $1.3 billion border plan with just under four weeks left before Trump is sworn in again as president. He has threatened to impose a new 25 per cent import tariff on Canada and Mexico the same day over concerns about a trade imbalance, as well as illegal drugs and migration issues at the borders. The broad strokes of Canada's plan were made public Dec. 17, including a new aerial intelligence task force to provide round-the-clock surveillance of the border, and improved efforts using technology and canine teams to seek out drugs in shipments leaving Canada LeBlanc's spokesman, Jean-Sébastien Comeau, said the ministers will also emphasize the negative impacts of Trump's threatened tariffs on both Canada and the U.S. Comeau said the ministers will build on the discussions that took place last month when Trudeau and LeBlanc met Trump at Mar-a-Lago just days after Trump first made his tariff threat. It was at that dinner on Nov. 29 when Trump first raised the notion of Canada becoming the 51st state, a comment LeBlanc has repeatedly since insisted was just a joke. But Trump has continued the quip repeatedly in various social media posts, including in his Christmas Day message when he said Canadians would pay lower taxes and have better military protection if they became Americans. He has taken to calling Trudeau "governor" instead of prime minister. Trudeau had not directly responded to any of the jabs, but on Thursday posted a link to a six-minute long video on YouTube from 2010 in which American journalist Tom Brokaw "explains Canada to Americans." The video, which originally aired during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, explains similarities between the two countries, including their founding based on immigration, their trading relationship and the actions of the Canadian Army in World War 2 and other modern conflicts. "In the long history of sovereign neighbours there has never been a relationship as close, productive and peaceful as the U.S. and Canada," Brokaw says in the video. Trudeau did not expand about why he posted a link to the video, posting it only with the words "some information about Canada for Americans." Carney, who is at the centre of some of Trudeau's recent domestic political troubles, also called out Trump's antics on X Thursday, calling it "casual disrespect" and "carrying the 'joke' too far." "Time to call it out, stand up for Canada, and build a true North American partnership," said Carney, who Trudeau was courting to join his cabinet before Chrystia Freeland resigned as finance minister last week. Freeland's sudden departure, three days after Trudeau informed her he would be firing her as finance minister in favour of Carney, left Trudeau's leadership even more bruised than it already was. Despite the expectation Carney would assume the role, he did not and has not made any statements about it. LeBlanc was sworn in as finance minister instead the same day Freeland quit. More than two dozen Liberal MPs have publicly called on Trudeau to resign as leader, and Trudeau is said to be taking the holidays to think about his next steps. He is currently vacationing in British Columbia. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 27, 2024. Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian PressFive things to know about QB Brandon Allen, the 49ers’ starter against the Packers this weekend