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As the word of the Rolls-Royce owner's generosity continued to circulate, donations poured in from individuals inspired by his compassion and desire to help those less fortunate. The ripple effect of his actions created a wave of kindness that extended far beyond the initial donation, demonstrating the profound impact that acts of generosity can have on building a more compassionate and caring society.None

Overall, the launch of Sora represents a significant advancement in the field of AI-driven video creation, offering users a versatile and intuitive tool for producing high-quality videos with ease. By harnessing the power of machine learning and neural networks, Sora enables users to unlock new creative possibilities and elevate their video content to new heights. As OpenAI continues to push the boundaries of artificial intelligence technology, we can expect to see even more exciting developments in the future, shaping the way we create and consume video content in the digital age.Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart declared for the 2025 NFL draft in a pair of social media posts on Friday. Dart confirmed that he still plans on suiting up during the Rebels' upcoming clash with Duke in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 2. The 21-year-old was ranked as the No. 6 quarterback and No. 55 overall player in the 2025 draft class on the latest big board from Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department. Mississippi wasn't able to clinch a spot in the College Football Playoff due to a Nov. 23 loss to Florida, but Dart still played a major role on the team that led the SEC in scoring with an average of 37.5 points per game. In 12 appearances, he completed 68.6 percent of his throws for a conference-leading 3,875 yards to go along with 25 touchdowns compared to just six interceptions. Dart also made plays with his legs, rushing for 452 yards and three more scores. In his three seasons with the Rebels, he became the school's new all-time leader in career passing yards. B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson highlighted the signal-caller's pocket presence as well as his variety of arm angles while throwing in his scouting report. "Dart uses multiple arm angles/slots to fit passes based on defender location," Parson wrote. "He throws with a quick, sound, and snappy release when kept clean in the pocket. If there is no pass rush or pressure threat, Dart is patient in the pocket to survey the field and go through his reads." In the final contest of Dart's college career, he'll look to overcome a Blue Devils' secondary that allowed just 194.8 passing yards per game in 2024.

Jimmy Butler's having fun with his hair — again . After wearing dreadlock extensions at Media Day in 2022 and opting for an "emo" look at Media Day in 2023, Butler couldn't troll on Media Day this season. He has, however, made up for it by dyeing his braids different colors during the early stages of the 2024-25 season. While Butler's choices of yellow, red, blue and orange hair dye may seem random at first, NBA fans are convinced there's a deeper meaning behind them. Here's why fans have theorized that Butler's color choices are a message to the Heat — and a few teams around the league. SN's NBA HQ: Live NBA scores | Updated NBA standings | Full NBA schedule Jimmy Butler's hair, explained With Butler's name in trade rumors, fans believe his hair color choices directly correlate to the teams he would reportedly welcome a trade to: Golden State , Houston , Dallas and Phoenix . On Nov. 4, Butler went blond (yellow), which fans now believe is a signal that he is open to joining the Warriors. After a few games in blond, Butler debuted the red two weeks later on Nov. 18. And while it matches Miami's "blood red" uniforms, the red also matches Butler's hometown team, the Houston Rockets. Butler kept the red in for a few games before switching things up again, debuting his royal blue look on Dec. 1 in Toronto. The shade of blue is awfully similar to the color of the Mavericks' " Icon Edition " uniforms. Ahead of a Dec. 12 meeting with the Raptors, Butler took to Instagram to provide a hair update: He's gone orange. Amid reporting that Butler has an interest in the Suns, this is a significant update. Appears that Jimmy Butler will be going with orange hair tonight. pic.twitter.com/Zw4rZBrmLq MORE: Why the Warriors are a real threat to acquire Jimmy Butler Jimmy Butler trade rumors Butler has a player option for the 2025-26 season, meaning he could elect to enter free agency at the end of the season. He and his representation have reportedly been unable to gain traction on a contract extension with Miami, resulting in rumors of Butler seeking a new home. ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Butler's agent, Bernie Lee, has indicated that Butler "is open" to a trade to Dallas, Golden State or Houston. Lee later refuted the report but Charania doubled down on Butler's openness to move on to those teams. Charania followed up his original report of the three aforementioned teams to mention the Suns as a fourth destination Butler would be open to joining. The Phoenix Suns are another team that Jimmy Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, has indicated in league circles that the six-time All-Star is open to as a destination while Miami listens to trade offers, sources tell ESPN, joining Dallas, Houston and Golden State. pic.twitter.com/QCXA2uEMXt If nothing else, Butler has proven to be a world-class troll over the past few years. If the hair colors aren't coincidental, Butler has found a way to have fun with his name being mentioned in trade rumors to very specific teams. Should Butler change his hair color again, perhaps another potential trade destination should be added to his list. MORE NBA NEWS: Jimmy Butler's agent rips Shams Charania over trade rumors Why Steve Kerr ripped officials following Warriors' NBA Cup loss to Rockets Why LeBron James continues to be linked to Warriors in trade rumors How much time will Kevin Durant miss with latest injury?AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:38 p.m. ESTDerrick DePledge, the editor of The Astorian, plans to retire from the newspaper in January. DePledge has worked as an editor and reporter at The Astorian for the past decade, including the last five years as editor. Over his 36-year career in journalism, he spent more than a decade as a state government and politics reporter in Hawaii and a decade as a Washington, D.C., correspondent. He also served for four years as the top elected leader in Hawaii for the Pacific Media Workers Guild, a labor union that represents journalists. As editor of The Astorian, DePledge emphasized coverage of housing, homelessness, mental health and substance abuse treatment, crisis response and emergency management. The Astorian was recognized for general excellence for its work in 2020 by the Oregon Newspapers Publishers Association, the first time in more than a decade that the newspaper won the top honor in its class. "I consider it a privilege to have had the opportunity to work for The Astorian," DePledge said. "Our newspaper is in a unique position to serve as a watchdog for institutions on the North Coast. My hope is that we continue to fully embrace that responsibility long into the future."

It looked like a recipe for disaster. So, when his country's swimmers were being accused of doping earlier this year, one Chinese official cooked up something fast. He blamed it on contaminated noodles. In fact, he argued, it could have been a culinary conspiracy concocted by criminals, whose actions led to the cooking wine used to prepare the noodles being laced with a banned heart drug that found its way into an athlete's system. This theory was spelled out to international anti-doping officials during a meeting and, after weeks of wrangling, finally made it into the thousands of pages of data handed over to the lawyer who investigated the case involving 23 Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for that same drug. The attorney, appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, refused to consider that scenario as he sifted through the evidence. In spelling out his reasoning, lawyer Eric Cottier paid heed to the half-baked nature of the theory. "The Investigator considers this scenario, which he has described in the conditional tense, to be possible, no less, no more," Cottier wrote. Even without the contaminated-noodles theory, Cottier found problems with the way WADA and the Chinese handled the case but ultimately determined WADA had acted reasonably in not appealing China's conclusion that its athletes had been inadvertently contaminated. Critics of the way the China case was handled can't help but wonder if a wider exploration of the noodle theory, details of which were discovered by The Associated Press via notes and emails from after the meeting where it was delivered, might have lent a different flavor to Cottier's conclusions. "There are more story twists to the ways the Chinese explain the TMZ case than a James Bond movie," said Rob Koehler, the director general of the advocacy group Global Athlete. "And all of it is complete fiction." In April, reporting from the New York Times and the German broadcaster ARD revealed that the 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine, also known as TMZ. China's anti-doping agency determined the athletes had been contaminated, and so, did not sanction them. WADA accepted that explanation, did not press the case further, and China was never made to deliver a public notice about the "no-fault findings," as is often seen in similar cases. The stock explanation for the contamination was that traces of TMZ were found in the kitchen of a hotel where the swimmers were staying. In his 58-page report, Cottier relayed some suspicions about the feasibility of that chain of events — noting that WADA's chief scientist "saw no other solution than to accept it, even if he continued to have doubts about the reality of contamination as described by the Chinese authorities." But without evidence to support pursuing the case, and with the chance of winning an appeal at almost nil, Cottier determined WADA's "decision not to appeal appears indisputably reasonable." A mystery remained: How did those traces of TMZ get into the kitchen? Shortly after the doping positives were revealed, the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations held a meeting on April 30 where it heard from the leader of China's agency, Li Zhiquan. Li's presentation was mostly filled with the same talking points that have been delivered throughout the saga — that the positive tests resulted from contamination from the kitchen. But he expanded on one way the kitchen might have become contaminated, harkening to another case in China involving a low-level TMZ positive. A pharmaceutical factory, he explained, had used industrial alcohol in the distillation process for producing TMZ. The industrial alcohol laced with the drug "then entered the market through illegal channels," he said. The alcohol "was re-used by the perpetrators to process and produce cooking wine, which is an important seasoning used locally to make beef noodles," Li said. "The contaminated beef noodles were consumed by that athlete, resulting in an extremely low concentration of TMZ in the positive sample. "The wrongdoers involved have been brought to justice." This new information raised eyebrows among the anti-doping leaders listening to Li's report. So much so that over the next month, several emails ensued to make sure the details about the noodles and wine made their way to WADA lawyers, who could then pass it onto Cottier. Eventually, Li did pass on the information to WADA general counsel Ross Wenzel and, just to be sure, one of the anti-doping leaders forwarded it, as well, according to the emails seen by the AP. All this came with Li's request that the noodles story be kept confidential. Turns out, it made it into Cottier's report, though he took the information with a grain of salt. "Indeed, giving it more attention would have required it to be documented, then scientifically verified and validated," he wrote. Neither Wenzel nor officials at the Chinese anti-doping agency returned messages from AP asking about the noodles conspiracy and the other athlete who Li suggested had been contaminated by them. Meanwhile, 11 of the swimmers who originally tested positive competed at the Paris Games earlier this year in a meet held under the cloud of the Chinese doping case. Though WADA considers the case closed, Koehler and others point to situations like this as one of many reasons that an investigation by someone other than Cottier, who was hired by WADA, is still needed. "It gives the appearance that people are just making things up as they go along on this, and hoping the story just goes away," Koehler said. "Which clearly it has not." Get local news delivered to your inbox!The Senate is pushing toward a vote on legislation that would provide full Social Security benefits to millions of people, setting up potential passage in the final days of the lame-duck Congress . Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Thursday he would begin the process for a final vote on the bill, known as the Social Security Fairness Act, which would eliminate policies that currently limit Social Security payouts for roughly 2.8 million people. Schumer said the bill would “ensure Americans are not erroneously denied their well-earned Social Security benefits simply because they chose at some point to work in their careers in public service.” The legislation passed the House on a bipartisan vote, and a Senate version of the bill introduced last year gained 62 cosponsors. But the bill still needs support from at least 60 senators to pass Congress. It would then head to President Biden . At least one GOP senator who signed onto similar legislation last year, Sen. Mike Braun of Indiana, said he was still “weighing” whether to vote for the bill next week. “Nothing ever gets paid for, so if it's further indebtedness, I don't know,” he said. Decades in the making, the bill would repeal two federal policies — the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset — that broadly reduce payments to two groups of Social Security recipients: people who also receive a pension from a job that is not covered by Social Security and surviving spouses of Social Security recipients who receive a government pension of their own. The bill would add more strain on the Social Security Trust funds, which were already estimated to be unable to pay out full benefits beginning in 2035. It would add an estimated $195 billion to federal deficits over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget also estimates that if passed, the policy would hasten the Social Security program's insolvency date by about half a year as well as reduce lifetime Social Security benefits by an additional $25,000 for a typical dual-income couple retiring in 2033. Sen. John Thune, the no. 2 Republican in leadership, acknowledged that the policy has strong bipartisan support, but said some Republicans also want to see it “fixed in the context of a broader Social Security reform effort.” Conservatives have opposed the bill, decrying its cost. “Even for something that people consider to be a good cause, it shows a lack of concern for the future of the country, so I think it would be a big mistake,” said Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky. Still, other Republicans have pushed Schumer to bring it up for a vote. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said last month that the current federal limitations “penalize families across the country who worked a public service job for part of their career with a separate pension. We’re talking about police officers, firefighters, teachers, and other public employees who are punished for serving their communities.” He predicted the bill would pass.

For James Tonkin, success isn't just measured in milestones or profits - it's about creating a positive impact. or signup to continue reading That philosophy is at the heart of his business, Raised in Albury, Mr Tonkin loves his community. He attended Lavington Public and Murray High schools, where he credits great teachers with shaping his early years. After finishing year 12, he took a gap year in England, sparking a love for travel. Mr Tonkin said no matter where life had taken him, the Border has always held a special place. "We all talk about 'Small-bury," he said with a smile. "But it's because we all know each other, even if just by association. It's a tight-knit community, but we support each other and have pride, and everyone has the chance to make an impact if they want to." For Mr Tonkin, outside of work, family and friends are paramount. "I'm a dad to two sons, and it's important to set the values and grow resilience," he said. "I also want to show them what it means to live with integrity and have a fulfilled life. "I love spending time with the kids and family and being active." He said he tries to have a good work-life balance, so finding "purpose and taking on challenges" are important to him. "While I might not be happy every day, I can find joy in little things and, in the process, become a better person, husband, dad, and CEO," he said. for his work in the community and with the Movember fundraiser for men's mental health. "For this year's fundraiser, we raised more than $26,000, which is great," he said. "At Tonkin, by fostering an environment where they feel respected, appreciated, and valued by colleagues and clients every day," he said. "We have a commitment to making a tangible impact on men's health." Mr Tonkin said he was "blessed" to have a great network of people around him. "People close to me would likely say I'm reliable, loyal, and respectful," he said. "I am a little headstrong though, a quality that can be both an advantage and a challenge." He chooses to live by his company's core values. "They are more than work values for me but more a way of life - professional, passionate and proud". He never expected to be where he is today, but "my motivation is intrinsic." "I'm very determined and persistent," he said. "My stubbornness is probably my greatest asset... although my colleagues may disagree." He said the trade industry was " ." "I was just filling in some time before I started university after school and I've never really looked back," he said. He said the industry didn't come without its setbacks. "I am sure most successful people would all say they experience imposter syndrome on a frequent basis throughout their careers," he said. "I have learned to overcome feelings of inadequacy by focusing on continually growing and improving and making progress." When in doubt, Mr Tonkin suggests finding a supportive mentor, coach, or network. "Celebrate wins together and try not to focus too much on self-validation," he said. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement Advertisement2. Surprise:

Sportscaster Greg Gumbel dies from cancer at age 78Title: Henderson: Believing in Victory against Man City, Gaining Confidence from the Draw

lodibet legit or not DENVER — So you're the most valuable player of that annual Thanksgiving Day backyard flag football game. Or played tackle football on any level. Or ran track. Or dabbled in basketball. Or toyed with any sport, really. Well, this may be just for you: USA Football is holding talent identification camps all over the country to find that next flag football star. It's "America's Got Talent" meets "American Idol," with the stage being the field and the grand prize a chance to compete for a spot on a national team. Because it's never too early to start planning for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its Summer Games debut. Know this, though — it's not an easy team to make. The men's and women's national team rosters are at "Dream Team" status given the men's side has captured six of the last seven world championships and the women three in a row. To remain on top, the sport's national governing body is scouring every football field, park, track, basketball court and gym to find hidden talent to cultivate. USA Football has organized camps and tryouts from coast to coast for anyone ages 11 to 23. There are more than a dozen sites set up so far, ranging from Dallas (Sunday) to Chicago (Dec. 14) to Tampa (March 29) to Los Angeles (TBD) and the Boston area (April 27), where it will be held at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. The organization has already partnered with the NFL on flag football initiatives and programs. The numbers have been through the roof, with engagement on social media platforms increasing by 86% since flag football was announced as an Olympic invitational sport in October 2023. The participation of boys and girls ages 6 to 17 in flag football last year peaked at more than 1.6 million, according to USA Football research. "We pride ourselves on elevating the gold standard across the sport," said Eric Mayes, the managing director of the high performance and national teams for USA Football. "We want to be the best in the world — and stay the best in the world." Flag football was one of five new sports added to the LA28 program. The already soaring profile of American football only figures to be enhanced by an Olympic appearance. Imagine, say, a few familiar faces take the field, too. Perhaps even NFL stars such as Tyreek Hill or Patrick Mahomes, maybe even past pro football greats donning a flag belt for a country to which they may have ties. Soon after flag football's inclusion, there was chatter of NFL players possibly joining in on the fun. Of course, there are logistical issues to tackle before their inclusion at the LA Olympics, which open July 14, 2028. Among them, training camp, because the Olympics will be right in the middle of it. The big question is this: Will owners permit high-priced players to duck out for a gold-medal pursuit? No decisions have yet been made on the status of NFL players for the Olympics. For now, it's simply about growing the game. There are currently 13 states that sanction girls flag football as a high school varsity sport. Just recently, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles helped pave the way to get it adopted in Pennsylvania. Around the world, it's catching on, too. The women's team from Japan took third at the recent word championships, while one of the best players on the planet is Mexico quarterback Diana Flores. "Could flag football globally become the new soccer? That's something to aspire to," said Stephanie Kwok, the NFL's vice president of flag football. This type of flag football though, isn't your Thanksgiving Day game with family and friends. There's a learning curve. And given the small roster sizes, versatility is essential. Most national team members need to be a version of Colorado's two-way standout and Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter. Forget bump-and-run coverage, too, because there's no contact. None. That took some adjusting for Mike Daniels, a defensive back out of West Virginia who earned a rookie minicamp invitation with the Cleveland Browns in 2017. "If a receiver is running around, I'm thinking, 'OK, I can kind of bump him here and there and nudge him,'" Daniels explained. "They're like, 'No, you can't.' I'm just like, 'So I'm supposed to let this guy just run?!' I really rebelled at the idea at first. But you learn." The competition for an Olympic roster spot is going to be fierce because only 10 players are expected to make a squad. The best 10 will earn it, too, as credentials such as college All-American or NFL All-Pro take a backseat. "I would actually love" seeing NFL players try out, said Daniels, who's also a personal trainer in Miami. "I'm not going to let you just waltz in here, thinking, 'I played NFL football for five years. I'm popular. I have a huge name.' I'm still better than you and I'm going to prove it — until you prove otherwise." Around the house, Bruce Mapp constantly swivels his hips when turning a hallway corner or if his daughter tries to reach for a hug. It's his way of working on avoiding a "defender" trying to snare the flag. That approach has earned the receiver out of Coastal Carolina four gold medals with USA Football. The 31-year-old fully plans on going for more gold in Los Angeles. "You grow up watching Usain Bolt (win gold) and the 'Redeem Team' led by Kobe Bryant win a gold medal, you're always thinking, 'That's insane.' Obviously, you couldn't do it in your sport, because I played football," said Mapp, who owns a food truck in the Dallas area. "With the Olympics approaching, that (gold medal) is what my mind is set on." It's a common thought, which is why everything — including talent camps — starts now. "Everybody thinks, 'Yeah, the U.S. just wins,'" Daniels said. "But we work hard all the time. We don't just walk in. We don't just get off the bus thinking, 'We're going to beat people.'" Get local news delivered to your inbox!THE use of cash has grown for the second year in a row, amid worries that more businesses are refusing to accept notes and coins. Cash was used in 19.9 per cent of all UK transactions in 2023 — up from 18.8 per cent the previous year, according to British Retail Consortium figures. 3 Use of cash is growing - amid concerns businesses are refusing to accept notes and coins Credit: Getty The increase is a shift from a long-running trend of people switching to digital payments and debit cards. The BRC credited the rise to the cost-of-living crisis — with many people finding it easier to budget their outgoings in physical cash. The Treasury Select Committee is examining if there should be rules to force businesses to accept cash, amid a rise in the number of outlets that have already switched to contactless only. There are growing concerns they exclude many vulnerable people. A submission to the inquiry by VISA found that in 2019 over 15 per cent of people with an income under £10,000 a year relied completely on cash to pay for goods and services, compared with less than 2.5 per cent of all higher income groups READ MORE BUSINESS NEWS NO MORR COSTS Morrisons boss blasts Budget 'avalanche' amid warnings of higher prices BUDGET FALLOUT 'I wouldn't trust govt to do my shopping', fumes AO World boss on tax raid But there are also warnings that cash-only businesses such as nail bars and car washes are fuelling modern slavery and illegal immigration. Bas Javid, director general of immigration enforcement at the Home Office, said at the weekend some businesses rejected card payments to disguise illegal working. The Select Committee yesterday heard that physical cash is essential for victims and survivors of economic and domestic abuse. Deidre Cartwright, of Surviving Economic Abuse, told MPs: “It’s a means for them to escape an abuser — especially when that abuser can track them through a bank account.” Most read in Business NO MORR COSTS Morrisons boss blasts Budget 'avalanche' amid warnings of higher prices REYNOLD'S VOW Food will not be on table in any trade deal talks with US, says Business Sec FAST FOOD Tesco ramps up speedy deliveries so customers can get orders in just 20 minutes REEVES SLAMMED Chancellor’s business tax raid will 'add up to 15p to price of a pint' Concerns have also been raised about a growing number of council car parks that only accept payments made using unreliable phone apps . Ron Delnevo, of the Payment Choice Alliance, told the hearing: “I know older friends who’ve stopped going to places because they couldn’t park without an app.” Millions on low-incomes to get cost of living payments as Rachel Reeves reveals £1billion Autumn Budget boost Cash debate By Dame Meg Hillier SHOULD there be rules to force certain businesses and services to always accept physical cash? My committee heard from a carer to a wife with MS, who relies on cash to put money aside for bills. A supermarket worker told of the difficulty partially sighted customers have paying digitally at checkouts. Charity Mencap stressed how people with learning disabilities often use cash to guard from card scams. But corner shops have argued they should make their own decisions, and stress the cost of handling cash. The previous Government said no to rules for cash. We are yet to hear if this Government feels the same. NUKE KID ON THE BLOCK 3 First nuclear reactor for a generation is fitted to British power station, Hinkley Point A 500-ton steel reactor was fitted into Britain’s first nuclear power station in 30 years yesterday. The 42ft reactor pressure vessel was installed at Hinkley Point C in Somerset, which EDF says will generate power for three million homes . The project, which is due to start generating power in 2029, has been hampered by political wrangling, Covid and supply chain problems. The delayed start has caused concerns about Britain’s energy security. EDF and Centrica yesterday said they will keep four ageing nuclear power stations running to ensure there is a low blackout risk. Chris O’Shea, chief executive of Centrica, said: “Power generation that doesn’t depend on the sun shining and the wind blowing is essential to keeping the lights on.” B&M SICK AS A DOG BURBERRY has launched legal action against B&M in a trademark dispute. B&M had sold “Furberry” branded pet items, including dog bowls, toys, blankets, mats and beds this year. The items featured a print with red, white and black checks on a beige background, strikingly similar to Burberry’s famous check print. It says the discount chain was falsely representing its goods as Burberry, Sky News reported. OZ CALL FOR MINE GIANT RIO 3 Rio Tinto has come under fresh attack from an activist investor Credit: Getty MINING giant Rio Tinto has come under fresh attack from an activist investor pushing it to scrap its main London listing and focus on Australia instead. Palliser Capital yesterday published an open letter to Rio Tinto’s board arguing the dual-listed structure has been a “failure for shareholders”. The UK hedge fund, which has a £197million stake in the miner, urged it to follow BHP and drop its dual listing. The loss of Rio Tinto would be a big blow to the London Stock Exchange and many pension tracker funds would be forced to sell stock if it was no longer in the FTSE 100. The Exchange is in crisis after facing the worst exodus of firms in 14 years, with 45 companies removed from the market in takeovers, according to Bloomberg. The value of the UK PLC market is shrinking because there have not been any big listings to replace the losses. PETROL 'AT PEAK' BRITAIN has hit “peak petrol” and the number of cars needing to be filled up at the pumps will almost halve over the next decade, says a report. Auto Trader estimates there were 18.7million petrol cars this year, but that will slump to 11.1million by 2034. It predicts a “seismic shift” towards electric vehicles as they become cheaper, from 1.25million EVs to 13.7million in the next decade. It expects the share of EVs to rise to 23 per cent next year, below the Government’s eco-mandate of 28 per cent. Budget gloom THE services industry has almost ground to a halt since the Budget, with firms hiking prices and freezing hiring and investment to cover costs, a survey found. Read more on the Scottish Sun DECEMBER MISERY Scots face blizzards and travel chaos as weather map reveals 75mph storm CHOC OFF Mums fume at Poundland’s ‘rotten’ advent calendar they thought was ‘for dogs’ Business confidence has slumped to its lowest in two years, the influential S&P UK services purchasing managers index revealed yesterday. S&P Global's Tim Moore said: “Worries about the impact of policies in the Budget were widely reported as leading to a gloomier assessment of investment prospects and the broader UK economic outlook.”

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BOARDWALKTECH REPORTS SECOND QUARTER FISCAL 2025 FINANCIAL RESULTSNew York: At the fruit stand where he works on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Shah Alam sells dozens of bananas a day at 35 cents apiece, or four for $US1. He does a brisk business in cheap fruit outside Sotheby’s auction house; inside, art can sell for millions. But last Wednesday, Alam sold a banana that a short time later would be auctioned as part of a work of absurdist art, won by a cryptocurrency entrepreneur for $US5.2 million plus more than $US1 million in auction house fees ($9.5 million in total). A fruit stand in front of Sotheby’s in Manhattan, where a banana that became part of a $US5.2 million piece of art was sold. Credit: Amir Hamja/The New York Times A few days after the sale, as Alam stood in the rain on York Avenue and East 72nd Street, snapping bananas free of their bunches, he learned from a reporter what had become of the fruit: It had been duct-taped to a wall as part of a work by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, and sold to Justin Sun, the Chinese founder of a cryptocurrency platform. And when he was told the sale price, he began to cry. “I am a poor man,” Alam, 74, said, his voice breaking. “I have never had this kind of money; I have never seen this kind of money.” The infamous ‘Comedian’ by Maurizio Cattelan will be displayed at the 2023 Triennial. Credit: Eddie Jim The banana’s journey from fruit stand to artwork began in 2019, when Cattelan first exhibited the work at Art Basel Miami Beach, an international art fair. The conceptual piece of three editions, titled Comedian , is an implicit send-up of the absurdity of the art world, in keeping with Cattelan’s puckish oeuvre. It came with a detailed owner’s manual on just how to affix the banana with the tape, and permission to refresh it when it rots. (Cattelan bought the original bananas at a Miami grocery store, he has said in interviews.) Each edition sold in Miami for $US120,000 to $US150,000 and spurred unruly crowds: A performance artist at the exhibition ripped one off the wall, peeled the banana and ate it. Cattelan was delighted by the ensuing debate over what exactly constitutes art, and how it is valued. By last Wednesday, those questions of five years ago seemed quaint: Bidding for Lot No. 10 — Alam’s banana affixed to a wall with a slash of silver tape — started at $US800,000. Within five minutes, seven bidders drove its price above $US5 million. The artist was not compensated for the Sotheby’s sale, which was on behalf of a collector who has not been named, but he said in an email that he was nonetheless thrilled by the price it commanded. “Honestly, I feel fantastic,” Cattelan wrote. “The auction has turned what began as a statement in Basel into an even more absurd global spectacle.” He added: “In that way, the work becomes self-reflexive: The higher the price, the more it reinforces its original concept.” On social platform X, Sun crowed about his new art acquisition, and announced he now plans to eat it Friday. He was honoured, he wrote, to be the banana’s “proud owner”: “I believe this piece will inspire more thought and discussion in the future and will become a part of history.” Nowhere in that history is Alam. (Karina Sokolovsky, a spokesperson for Sotheby’s, confirmed that the banana was purchased from the cart where Alam works the day of the sale. The vendor himself has no specific recollection of selling an extra-special fruit.) A widower from Dhaka, Bangladesh, Alam was a civil servant before he moved to the United States in 2007 to be closer to one of his two children, a married daughter who lives on Long Island. He said his home is a basement apartment with five other men in Parkchester, in the Bronx. For his room he pays $US500 a month in rent, he said, speaking in Bengali. His fruit stand shifts are 12 hours long, four days a week; for each hour on his feet, in all weather, the owner pays him $US12. His English is limited mostly to the prices and names of his wares — apples, three for $US2; small pears, $US1 each. He has never stepped inside the auction house. He wouldn’t be able to see the art clearly anyway: His vision is deeply impaired, he said, because he needs cataract surgery, which he has scheduled for January. To Alam, the joke of Comedian feels at his expense. As a blur of people rushed by his corner a few days after the sale, shock and distress washed over him as he considered who profited — and who did not. “Those who bought it, what kind of people are they?” he asked. “Do they not know what a banana is?” In his email, Cattelan said he was affected by Alam’s reaction to his artwork, but stopped short of joining in his criticism. “The reaction of the banana vendor moves me deeply, underscoring how art can resonate in unexpected and profound ways,” he wrote. “However, art, by its nature, does not solve problems — if it did, it would be politics.” For Alam, not much has changed since his banana sold. At the fruit stand, it’s still four bananas for $US1, or 24.8 million bananas for $US6.2 million. This article originally appeared in The New York Times .

Zach Kittley finalizing agreement to take over as Florida Atlantic coach, AP source saysStock market today: Tech stocks and AI pull Wall Street to more records

Trump transition says Cabinet picks, appointees were targeted by bomb threats, swatting attacksAuto industry's shift toward EVs is expected to go on despite Trump threat to kill tax creditsEL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K Dobbins is unlikely to play against the Atlanta Falcons this week because of a knee injury. Dobbins was hurt in the first half of the Chargers’ 30-23 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night. He had six carries for 40 yards and three catches for 19 yards before leaving the game. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

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Tahj Brooks shines in final home game as Texas Tech routs West Virginia 52-15Jack Alban is a freelance journalist for the Daily Dot covering trending human interest/social media stories and the reactions real people have to them. He always seeks to incorporate evidence-based studies, current events, and facts pertinent to these stories to create your not-so-average viral post.

Drone sightings sparking questions nationwideWe've finally gotten our first proper look at The Witcher 4 , and while Ciri's place as the RPG's protagonist answered a lot of prayers among series fans, there are an equal number wondering how established lore will allow her to be a Witcher. Luckily, it turns out that The Witcher 4 itself will answer that very question. "Dear, if you're wondering how Ciri may be on the path as a witcher, well, there's the story of the Witcher IV to tell that tale," CD Projekt boss Adam Badowski says on Twitter . "A huge thank you for the respect and love for the lore created by Andrzej Sapkowski. Hugs!" There are, indeed, a number of lore questions that need to be answered about Ciri taking on the mantle of a Witcher, not the least of which is whether we're getting a specific Witcher 3 ending canonized . While a tiny detail in the new trailer certainly suggests one ending stands above the others, lore master Cian Maher tells IGN that the new game won't "break any canon or even offend any canon." In that same interview, CDPR also confirms that Ciri has undergone the Trial of the Grasses - something that typically only young boys are able to survive. Given the timeline of The Witcher 3, Ciri would have to be an adult woman by the time she undergoes the trial, making for a doubly low survival rate - or so the arguments from those annoyed about her role in the new game go. But honestly, her Elder Blood powers are probably reason enough to handwave any issue on that front. "For good and for bad, she wants to become a Witcher," game director Sebastian Kalemba explains in a video breaking down the new trailer. "And the word 'become'... There is a journey, and I want people to experience this journey." Geralt will return in The Witcher 4, confirms CD Projekt Red - and yes, that's his voice you hear at the end of the RPG's new trailer.

Police hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's masked killer after 'brazen, targeted' attack on NYC street

Lawmakers call for progress on marijuana law before end of Biden administrationThere are growing reports that Venezia will start to consider sacking coach Eusebio Di Francesco after a fourth consecutive defeat left them rock bottom of the table. The Lagunari were at the Stadio Dall’Ara this evening, albeit by two soft penalties and a Dan Ndoye tap-in. It was their fourth loss on the bounce, during which they scored one goal and conceded seven. According to , the situation is increasingly tense and coach Di Francesco is now at risk of the sack. They managed two victories all season, 2-0 against Genoa on September 21 and 3-2 with Udinese on October 30, along with two draws and Venezia also crashed out of the Coppa Italia in the first round with a 3-1 loss to Brescia back in August. The team was promoted from Serie B via the play-offs under coach Paolo Vanoli, who walked away over the summer to take the job at Torino.

Published 3:36 pm Saturday, November 30, 2024 By Data Skrive A win by the Los Angeles Rams over the New Orleans Saints is our computer model prediction for these teams’ upcoming matchup, on Sunday, Dec. 1 at 4:05 p.m. ET (at Caesars Superdome). For more information, including the spread, over/under and final score, see below. Looking for NFL tickets? Head to StubHub today and see your team live. The Rams are averaging 21.2 points per game on offense this season (20th in NFL), and they are surrendering 25.1 points per game (26th) on defense. The Saints’ defense has been a bottom-five unit in total defense this season, surrendering 390.8 total yards per game, which ranks second-worst. On offense, they rank 11th with 347.4 total yards per contest. BetMGM is one of the most trusted Sportsbooks in the nation. Start with as little as $1 and place your bets today . Ready to make your pick? Head to BetMGM using our link and start betting today. Watch this game on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply) Rep your favorite NFL players with officially licensed gear. Head to Fanatics to find jerseys, shirts, hats, and much more. Catch every NFL touchdown with NFL RedZone on Fubo. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .Central Bank of Brazil Approves PayRetailers’ Acquisition of Transfeera

COVINGTON, KY — Sara and Brandon Bray, in collaboration with Horizon Community Funds, have founded the Bray Foundation with a mission to strengthen communities by recognizing and supporting the skilled trades. The Bray Foundation will provide grants dedicated to raising awareness, enhancing education, and advocating for the skilled trades. The goal of the fund is to ensure that the community understands the critical role these dedicated men and women play in shaping our future. Bray Topsoil & Gravel will match the first $25,000 donated to the fund and will grant these funds to five different organizations: •Allied Construction Industries: ACI offers courses taught by industry experts on a wide variety of topics, from certifications to soft skills, project management, and safety. •Brighton Center: Brighton Center’s Trades to Success is a pre-apprenticeship program that provides trainees with career assessments, in-depth adult education, job readiness instruction, and intensive coaching to help trainees overcome barriers to employment. •Gateway Community and Technical College: The Gateway Diesel Technology Program is designed to produce highly skilled technicians who can diagnose, repair, and maintain diesel engines and heavy equipment. •NaviGo College and Career Prep Services: NaviGo empowers and prepares students for post-secondary success and workforce readiness through collaboration with community partners. •Trades NKY: Trades NKY offers programs and services for all ages. For young children, their programs facilitate the discovery and exploration of the skilled trades. For teenagers and young adults, they provide a clear path to career readiness and success or advancement within the skilled trades. “Our foundation is committed to uplifting the skilled trades by promoting the value of their work and investing in the next generation of craftsmen and craftswomen,” said Brandon Bray of Bray Topsoil & Gravel. “By supporting education and advocacy, we aim to build a brighter, more resilient future for all.” The Bray Foundation invites the community to join in recognizing and celebrating the hard work, expertise, and pride of those who have dedicated their lives to their craft. For more information about The Bray Foundation and how you can support its mission, please visit horizonfunds.org/fund/Bray-Foundation. About Horizon Community Funds Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky is a qualified public charitable 501(c)3 organization established as a community foundation in 2017 by Northern Kentucky leaders. Its mission is to unite resources to raise the quality of life for all people in the Northern Kentucky community. Learn more at www.horizonfunds.org. ###Cosmetic Surgery Market Growth in Future Scope 2024-2031 12-21-2024 05:13 PM CET | Health & Medicine Press release from: Coherent Market Insights Cosmetic Surgery Market Trends Overview 2024-2031: A new Report by Coherent Market Insights, titled "Cosmetic Surgery Market: Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2024-2031," offers a comprehensive analysis of the industry, which comprises insights on the Cosmetic Surgery market analysis. The report also includes competitor and regional analysis, and contemporary advancements in the market. 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FAQ's Q.1 What are the main factors influencing the Cosmetic Surgery market? Q.2 Which companies are the major sources in this industry? Q.3 What are the market's opportunities, risks, and general structure? Q.4 Which of the top Cosmetic Surgery Market companies compare in terms of sales, revenue, and prices? Q.5 Which businesses serve as the Cosmetic Surgery market's distributors, traders, and dealers? Q.6 How are market types and applications and deals, revenue, and value explored? Q.7 What does a business area's assessment of agreements, income, and value implicate? Author of this marketing PR: Alice Mutum is a seasoned senior content editor at Coherent Market Insights, leveraging extensive expertise gained from her previous role as a content writer. With seven years in content development, Alice masterfully employs SEO best practices and cutting-edge digital marketing strategies to craft high-ranking, impactful content. As an editor, she meticulously ensures flawless grammar and punctuation, precise data accuracy, and perfect alignment with audience needs in every research report. Alice's dedication to excellence and her strategic approach to content make her an invaluable asset in the world of market insights. 📌Contact Us: Mr. Shah Coherent Market Insights Pvt. Ltd, 📞U.S.: +1-206-701-6702 📞U.K.: +44-020-8133-4027 📞AUS: +61-2-4786-0457 📞INDIA: +91-848-285-0837 ✉ Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com About Us: Coherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization focused on assisting our plethora of clients achieve transformational growth by helping them make critical business decisions. We are headquartered in India, having sales office at global financial capital in the U.S. and sales consultants in United Kingdom and Japan. Our client base includes players from across various business verticals in over 57 countries worldwide. We create value for clients through our highly reliable and accurate reports. We are also committed in playing a leading role in offering insights in various sectors post-COVID-19 and continue to deliver measurable, sustainable results for our clients. This release was published on openPR.Leading the way in delivering exceptional mobile and 5G experiences for every Filipino . In this season of love and thanksgiving, DITO Telecommunity, the fastest-growing telco provider in the country, sends its heartfelt gratitude as DITO ends the year with another significant milestone. During the recently concluded DITO year-end thanksgiving, DITO Chief Executive Officer Eric Alberto announced that the young telco is now the Philippines’ Fastest Mobile Network* as awarded by independent mobile analytics company Opensignal, dominating in 14 categories and outranking the two telco giants in the speed race. “I’m honored to share with all of you that independent mobile analytics Opensignal awarded DITO as the Fastest Mobile Network in the Philippines, where we excelled in the speed race. These milestones are not just accomplishments nor mere awards; they are reflections of DITO’s dedication and affirm the strength and reliability of our network,” Alberto said. Based on Opensignal’s October 2024 Mobile Network Experience report , DITO stood out in the awards, earning recognition across numerous categories. This achievement highlights the young telco as the country’s most awarded and fastest in 5G speeds and overall experience. In terms of speed, DITO sweeps all four speed awards across overall and 5G. DITO confirms its superiority in 5G download speed, boasting a speed of 287.2 Mbps, nearly double Smart’s figure trailing with 147.5 Mbps and easily surpassing Globe’s 95.2 Mbps. Users also see the fastest overall download speeds on DITO’s network at 34.6 Mbps with the two telco giants Smart and Globe behind at 28.6 Mbps and 20.9 Mbps, respectively. 2024 is indeed a break-out year for DITO. Alberto also shared the other significant milestones of DITO this year including the successful fifth and final technical audit with 86.3 percent coverage, capping off the year with 14 million subscribers, and winning back-to-back Ookla wins as the Rated # 1 Mobile Network in the country (Q3-Q4 2023 and Q1-Q2 2024) to now the Fastest Mobile Network* — DITO is indeed making strides in the Philippine telco landscape and its presence is highly felt and recognized. As this year ends, Alberto remains steadfast in saying that DITO will continue to innovate and improve its technology because DITO’s mission remains clear — to bridge the digital divide and uplift Filipino communities. Eric Alberto, Chief Executive Officer of DITO Telecommunity “While our recent milestones validate the meaningful progress we’ve achieved so far, we understand that progress is not a one-time achievement—it is a continuous journey of building and improving. We at DITO remain committed to bridging the digital divide and contributing meaningfully to nation-building,” Alberto said. GALING DITO SA PUSO KO This year, DITO also launched two of its biggest campaigns — Galing DITO, which champions Filipino talent and excellence, headlined by Pinoy pop boy group Alamat, and DITO sa Puso Ko, featuring power couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, a campaign that celebrates the love and trust of DITO subscribers nationwide. DITO Executives with Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera, and Alamat Fittingly for the holiday season, DITO unifies these two campaigns into a powerful message that underscores DITO’s heartfelt service to the Filipino people. DITO Executives with Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera, and Alamat L-R: Atty. Adel Tamano, Chief Revenue Officer for Enterprise, Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes, Evelyn Jimenez, Chief Revenue Officer for Consumer Business “GALING DITO SA PUSO KO speaks volumes about who we are and what we stand for. Every campaign, every product, and every service we offer comes straight from the heart—ours to yours,” said Evelyn Jimenez, DITO Chief Revenue Officer for Consumer Business. Evelyn Jimenez, Chief Revenue Officer for Consumer Business Jimenez also said the company remains committed to building on this momentum as DITO moves forward into the new year. “Our work to expand and innovate our infrastructure is far from done. Together, we will continue to connect underserved communities, inspire dreams, and make a difference in the lives of Filipinos.” Jimenez concluded. Evelyn Jimenez, Chief Revenue Officer for Consumer Business To learn more about DITO’s value-for-money products and services, from mobile prepaid to postpaid and home, visit https://dito.ph/ . Interested customers can also shop directly via the DITO App and online stores in Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok.Ola Electric launches limited edition of S1 Pro Sona in real 24-karat pure gold elementslodibet real casino games 。

Man United coach Amorim says argument between Hojlund and Diallo a 'very good sign'

Biden says the US believes journalist Austin Tice is alive after disappearing in Syria in 2012

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Vance takes on a more visible transition role, working to boost Trump's most contentious picksAnd manager Ruben Amorin has no problem with it. “For me, it’s a very, very good sign,” Amorin said after his team beat Viktoria Plzen to stay unbeaten in the Europa League. Hojlund scored two goals and hoped for a centering pass from Diallo to go for a hat trick in the final minutes. The Denmark striker didn't get the pass, though. Viktoria had been pushing forward looking for an equalizer, which created space for United counters. On another break shortly afterward, Hojlund opted to keep the ball. The pair then had a heated post-game exchange. “We need to feel something,” Amorin said. “If we need to fight each other, it's like a family. When you don't care, you don't do nothing. When you care — you fight with your brother, with your mother, your father.” AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

lodibet slot app ​For the past 14 years, Alex Vynokur, the co-founder of Betashares, has quietly built his company into one of the largest local providers of exchange-traded funds and one of the country’s fastest growing asset managers. In 2024, Betashares attracted inflows of $16 billion, lifting its total funds under management to $46 billion. “The focus for the past decade has very much been about building out the core ETF capability,” explains Vynokur. “We are now a steward of significant capital on behalf of more than 1 million Australian investors and over two-thirds of financial advisors.” Betashares now accounts for one-third of every dollar that goes into the Australian ETF industry, according to Vynokur, and is eyeing growth in Asia. Alex Vynokur, the chief executive of Betashares. Credit: Louie Douvis An ETF is a basket of securities that are pooled into one fund, which is traded on a stock exchange. An investor in an ETF doesn’t own the securities, instead owning units in the ETF, while the ETF provider owns the shares or assets. ETFs have grown in popularity with investors because they are cost-effective and offer exposure to thousands of diversified assets, such as a group of defence stocks, or the ASX200 index, or a variety of bonds. Globally, ETFs have had a banner year with more than $1 trillion invested into the sector, which is now worth an estimated $14 trillion. Vynokur and his family arrived in Australia from Ukraine more than three decades ago, at the time when ETFs launched. He was a teenager, and his family came with just a few hundred dollars in their pockets. Vynokur became a lawyer, then moved into venture capital, before co-founding Betashares with David Nathanson, also a former lawyer and investment banker, who had worked at Goldman Sachs and Macquarie. We’re definitely, very cautiously, studying opportunities outside of Australia. Alex Vynokur, Betashares co-founder As with any start-up, Vynokur and Nathanson put in enormous hours to build the company to where it is today, as Australia’s second-largest ETF provider behind market leader Vanguard. Both are now multi-millionaires, though there has been a physical cost, says 46-year-old Vynokur: “I didn’t have any grey hair 14 years ago.”

No. 2 Ohio State takes control in the 2nd half and runs over No. 5 Indiana 38-15NEW YORK: Oil futures fell nearly 2% on Wednesday as investors awaited an imminent Opec+ decision on production cuts, while a larger-than-expected draw in US crude stockpiles last week lent some support to prices. Brent crude futures fell US$1.31, or 1.78%, to settle at US$72.31 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell US$1.40, or 2%, to US$68.54. On Tuesday, Brent posted its biggest gain in two weeks, rising by 2.5%. The market was on tenterhooks, with investors focused on the upcoming Opec+ meeting, analysts said. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies in Opec+ meet on Thursday, and are likely extend output cuts until the end of the first quarter of next year, industry sources told Reuters. "While a delay to unwinding production cuts is expected, the rhetoric out of the meeting is going to have the biggest sway," said Matt Smith, Kpler lead Americas oil analyst. Opec+ has been looking to phase out supply cuts through next year. A single bank sold a large volume of US oil futures contracts in early afternoon trading on Wednesday, a source told Reuters, pushing prices down more than 1% within minutes and causing traders to scramble to decipher the reason. US crude stocks fell more than expected last week as refiners ramped up operations, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said. Gasoline and distillate stockpiles rose by more than expected during the week. "A pop in refining activity with runs climbing to a high not seen since the summer has resulted in a see-saw of crude inventories drawing and products building," Smith said. The bullish momentum only lent some support to prices. A shaky ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, South Korea's curtailed declaration of martial law and a rebel offensive in Syria that threatens to draw in forces from several oil-producing countries all lent support to oil prices, said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova. In the Middle East, Israel said on Tuesday it would return to war with Hezbollah if their truce collapses and that its attacks would go deeper into Lebanon and target the state itself. In South Korea, lawmakers have submitted a bill to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol after his declaration of martial law on Tuesday, which was reversed within hours, sparking a political crisis in Asia's fourth-largest economy. — Reuters

bkparashar@htlive.com After a setback in the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP is now basking in euphoria following its resounding victory in the Uttar Pradesh assembly bypolls, effectively halting the momentum the Samajwadi Party-led Opposition gained just over five months ago on the road to the 2027 assembly elections. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won seven of the nine assembly seats for which the bypolls were held on November 20. The NDA not only improved its tally over 2022, but also snatched seats like Kundarki and Katehari from the SP, besides increasing the winning margins on some and narrowing down the defeat gap on some others. The NDA won only four of these seats in 2022. The Ghaziabad, Khair and Phulpur seats went to the BJP and Majhawan to its alliance partner, the NISHAD party, then. In the 2024 bypolls, the BJP has retained all these four seats and brought three additional seats into its kitty. The BJP won the Ghaziabad, Khair, Kundarki, Phulpur, Majhawan, and Katehari seats while its ally the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) retained the Meerapur seat. The RLD was the SP’s ally in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls. The SP that emerged as the dominant force in the Lok Sabha elections in UP had to remain satisfied with just two seats, Sisamau and Karhal, which is its pocketborough. The BJP’s landslide win in the assembly bypolls comes as a powerful morale booster after party’s tally fell from 62 out of 80 Lok Sabha seatsin 2019 to just 33 in June 2024 whereas the SP emerged as the single largest party from the state with 37 Lok Sabha seats. The bypoll results, it is believed, will inject the much-needed confidence into the party as it gears up for the crucial 2027 battle. In fact, the bypolls were a critical test for the BJP, given the high stakes involved and the political capital invested. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath himself spearheaded the campaign. Both deputy chief ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, state BJP chief Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary and general secretary (organisation) Dharampal were also assigned the seats with a view to ensuring the party’s victory. All this reflected the BJP’s desperation as well as determination to reverse setbacks it suffered in the Lok Sabha polls. Hence, the party pulled out all stops to win the battle of perception. Otherwise, the bypolls had no other significance. The results have not only saved the party from potential embarrassment, but also reaffirmed its grassroots strength and ability to mobilise its cadre effectively. Analysts view these victories as a testament to the BJP’s organisational machinery and its continued appeal. The results, according to them, have come a big relief to Yogi Adityanath personally and the BJP in general. “The outcome of the bypolls will consolidate the Yogi Adityanath’s leadership in the BJP and the government and put brakes to many rumours that gained currency after the Lok Sabha polls, within and outside the party,” political scientist Shashi Kant Pandey said. Welcoming the results, UP BJP chief Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary said, “It is the victory of the work of the double-engine government in the state and defeat of the SP’s negative politics and lies that now stand exposed.” Pandey, however, said despite its resounding victory in the by-polls, the BJP would continue to face challenges ahead. “The party’s leadership will need to address the factors that led to its Lok Sabha debacle and sustain the momentum gained through these bypolls,” he said. An indication about this already has already come from SP chief Akhilesh Yadav who, after the results, wrote on X, “The tricks of those who have made ‘election’ synonymous with ‘corruption’ have been captured in photographs and exposed before the world. The world, the country and Uttar Pradesh saw the most distorted form of electoral politics in this by-election. There may be a time of falsehood but not an era. Now the real struggle has begun... clench your fist, tighten your fist and make the PDA’s proclamation ‘Judenge to Jeetenge!” The bypoll results may have provided a much-needed lifeline to the BJP, but the road to reclaiming the dominance it lost in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha elections may still remain long and challenging.

LAHORE: A delegation from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Pakistan, comprising Syed Arslan Malik and Fatima Raza, along with Shahid Rehmat, Executive Director of the Youth Development Foundation, held a meeting with Ramesh Singh Arora, Minister for Minorities Affairs, and Ali Bahadur Qazi, Secretary of Human Rights and Minority Affairs, Government of Punjab. The meeting was held to discuss UNODC ongoing projects in Punjab and explore opportunities for collaboration with the provincial minority department to further strengthen initiatives for the welfare and development of minority communities. The meeting primarily focused on UNODC efforts in the region, especially those aimed at promoting minority rights, social inclusion, and sustainable development. The delegation emphasized the need for aligning the ongoing projects with the Punjab government's long-term strategies for supporting marginalized and minority communities. One of the key proposals discussed was the launch of a pilot project for the upgradation of the Misaaq Center, a community-based initiative aimed at empowering minorities. The delegation proposed that this centre be developed into a model of excellence for minority education, skill development, and social services. Minister Ramesh Singh Arora praised the UNODC delegation efforts and commitment to enhancing the welfare of minorities in Punjab. He acknowledged the significance of such collaborations in strengthening the rights and opportunities available to minority communities. Minister Arora also recommended that the proposed pilot project for the Misaaq Centre be launched in one of Punjab districts to serve as a starting point for scaling similar projects across the region. The minister further stated that hopefully UNODC partnership with the provincial government of Punjab and reaffirms the shared commitment to promoting human rights, social justice, and sustainable development for all citizens while the discussion also included the need for further joint initiatives focusing on the social, educational, and economic upliftment of minority communities, in line with both provincial and national priorities. Both parties agreed that strengthening such partnerships is essential for creating an inclusive environment and ensuring equal opportunities for all citizens, regardless of their background. Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

People voted in favour of development, rejected negative politics: CM Shinde

Just like Us , Fazit founders Aliett Buttelman and Nina LaBruna are still not over Taylor Swift wearing their glitter freckles at a recent Kansas City Chiefs game. After Swift, 34, donned the sparkly flecks while cheering on boyfriend Travis Kelce last month, Swifties have been going wild for the temporary tattoos — with no drop in sales in sight. “Sales haven’t slowed down at all,” Buttelman, 28, exclusively told Us Weekly on Thursday, November 21. “It’s been incredible to see the continued demand.” LaBruna, 28, added that their team was prepared for the boom, “so we never ran out of stock on our website.” To keep up with the demand in sales — thanks to Swift — our team has grown significantly, and we’re gearing up to launch in major retailers within the next month or two. It’s been a whirlwind!” On top of their sales increasing, Buttelman and LaBruna have seen more celebrities and fans sporting their product while out and about. “We got to attend the Eras Tour , and honestly, it felt like one in four people there was wearing our glitter freckles,” LaBruna gushed to Us , noting they’re still “freaking out” about Swift herself sporting the specks. “Seeing so many people rocking something we created — it’s surreal and so emotional.” LaBruna added that stars including Rita Ora and K-Pop star Lisa from BlackPink have also been spotted sporting the glistening makeup. If the co-founders could pick the next celebrity to wear the flecks, Simone Biles would be their “hands down” be their choice. “Whether she’s tumbling in them or wearing our orange patches to support her husband from the sidelines, that would be such a dream moment,” Buttelman told Us . While the LaBruna and Buttelman have seen the freckles at concerts and football games , they also gave Us major inspiration on how to style the accessory for the holidays. You have successfully subscribed. By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Check our latest news in Google News Check our latest news in Apple News “The silver, gold or red patches are perfect for instantly elevating a holiday look,” Buttelman explained, suggesting fans “pair them with a bold red lip and a sharp winged eyeliner for a super festive vibe!” Us Weekly ’s Senior Editor Crista Lacqua yours truly had the opportunity to try out the glitter freckles and even thought they were subtle enough for everyday use! Fans can shop the freckles at fazitbeauty.com .Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has fired back at the former governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili, saying that “an elder statesman should not be a trader and a sycophant all the time.” A statement signed by the FCT Minister’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, on Sunday, said Wike spoke at the Special Thanksgiving Service organised by the factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, at the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Oro-Igwe/Eliogbolo Archdeaconry Church of the Holy Spirit, Eliozu Parish, Port Harcourt, on Sunday. Olayinka quoted Wike as saying that it was unfortunate that somebody who is supposed to be seen as an elder statesman and called a father can reduce himself to a sycophant and a trader. He asked; “Must you be a trader all the time? As governor for eight years, what else are you looking for?” The Minister said; “You know, I didn’t want to say anything. But somebody called me last night, and told me what someone said in the social media. I said until I read it myself. This morning, I read in the newspapers what our former governor, Sir Dr Peter Odili, said. “What did he say? He said that the present governor has been able to stop one man who wanted to convert Rivers State to his personal estate. “Between him and myself, who has turned Rivers State to his personal estate? His wife is a chairman of Governing Council, his daughter is a Commissioner, his other daughter is a Judge, and he is the general overseer. Who has now turned Rivers State to his private estate? I am sure if care is not taken, if there is a chance, he can even arrange a marriage for the governor. “It was his nephew, his late senior brother’s son that was recommended for Commissioner. He took the slot and gave it to his own daughter. Someone who didn’t remember to stand for the son of his late elder brother, is that an elder statesman?” Speaking further, the FCT Minister said it was painful that Dr Odili, out of political sycophancy, has forgotten all that he said in the past, adding that; “All of you here remember when I was governor, this same Odili praised me to high heaven. In fact, he said then that all past governors in Rivers State combined did not do better than me. “In 2007, after he left office, he couldn’t come near power in the State because Amaechi was the governor then. He was gone! “Like somebody said that God will use someone to lift up someone. When I came in as governor in 2015, I won’t use the word resurrected, but I brought him back to life. “All of us know about Pamo University. But for us, there wouldn’t have been anything called Pamo University. Rivers State was sponsoring 100 students per session and for every semester, each of the students was paying nothing less than N5m. Then, Rivers people were attacking me up and down. “I personally called Julius Berger to build a mansion for him to live. He was calling everyone to the house then, telling them, come and see what Wike has done for me. Wike has shown me love. He was taking them round the house. “Now, because you have organised a Christmas Carol for the governor, I didn’t say you should not do your Christmas Carol. But why reduce yourself to such a laughing stock. People will still see it on television how he was telling the whole world then how God used me to bring him back to life politically. “Why not do your Christmas Carol, collect what you can collect and leave me alone? “The governor that all of us made has not spent one year in office and the same Odili was already saying that the governor has beaten the records of all the past governors of Rivers State. “When I was there, he said I had surpassed the records of all the past governors, including himself. What can he even show that he did in his eight years as governor? But a governor has not spent one year, you are saying he has done more than all the past governors. “You spent eight years as governor and someone who hasn’t spent one year has surpassed your records, what manner of elder talk like that? Is that what an elder statesman should be known for? “When I was governor, my pictures were everywhere in his house. Sitting room, bedroom, kitchen, even in the toilet, my picture was everywhere. But today, all the pictures have been removed.” Asking what can be learned from such a sycophantic elder statesman, Wike said; “What can I learn from this kind of elder? What kind of advice can one get from him. This moment you are saying something, the next moment you are saying something else. “You see, if your children begin to ask you, is this not the same man you were praising before? What would you tell them?” On the state’s governorship issue, the Minister asked; “When I was plotting who will be governor after me, was he (Odili) there? Then, he was complaining about this governor, saying that he couldn’t stand before the public to talk. But today, he is organising Christmas Carol for the same governor he was against then. “He has forgotten all that he said in the past. I named this after you, I named that after your wife. What have I not done? “You said we should not be part of the government, we have left. We are managing, you have taken assembly money, they are not dying of hunger and they will not die of hunger. We are okay. I’m focusing on my job in Abuja and all these sycophancy won’t take him to the level I have attained. “This is a man who wanted to run for president then, he didn’t have the balls, he chickened out. Simply because Obasanjo said no, he will not contest, he ran away. Because of him, I never invited Obasanjo to Rivers State to commission projects. I felt it will humiliate him.”

Randolph’s Mekhi White (183 yards) rushes by Nashoba TechCharles attended the show at the Royal Albert Hall in London for the first time as patron of the Royal Variety charity, following in the footsteps of his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. In a statement from Buckingham Palace, he said: “The charity’s crucial work in assisting those who have fallen ill, had an accident or hit hard times is as essential now as it ever has been. “I would like to thank all of those who have worked so hard to stage this year’s production and wish everyone a very enjoyable evening.” The performance saw political comic Forde reference the unfounded claims Mr Trump repeated during his presidential debate against Democrat candidate Kamala Harris earlier this year, that illegal immigrants from Haiti were eating locals’ pets in the small Ohio city of Springfield. Forde exclaimed in the president-elect’s voice: “They’re eating the cats, they’re eating the dogs!” He then turned to address Charles from the stage, saying in Mr Trump’s voice: “Your Majesty King Charles, you’re named after a spaniel – be very careful, they’ll eat you alive.” The King was seen laughing in response to the joke from the royal box. Charles appeared at the event without the Queen, who insisted the “show must go on” after pulling out of attending the performance on Friday evening as doctors advised that she should prioritise rest. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “Following a recent chest infection, the Queen continues to experience some lingering post-viral symptoms, as a result of which doctors have advised that, after a busy week of engagements, Her Majesty should prioritise sufficient rest. “With great regret, she has therefore withdrawn from attendance at tonight’s Royal Variety Performance. His Majesty will attend as planned.” A royal source said the Queen was “naturally disappointed to miss the evening’s entertainments and sends her sincere apologies to all those involved, but is a great believer that ‘the show must go on'”. “She hopes to be back to full strength and regular public duties very soon,” the source added. The Royal Variety Performance will air on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player in December. Money raised from the show will go to help people from the world of entertainment in need of care and assistance, with the Royal Variety Charity launching an initiative to help those with mental health issues this year.

Villa had not won any of their last eight matches. Unai Emery felt his Aston Villa side restored confidence by returning to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Brentford in the Premier League. Morgan Rogers’ fourth goal of the season, an Ollie Watkins penalty and Matty Cash’s finish put Villa 3-0 up after 34 minutes. Mikkel Damsgaard pulled one back for Brentford in the second half but the damage had been done as Villa ended their eight-match winless run in all competitions. Emery was relieved to end the unwanted streak but quickly turned his attention to the next fixture against Southampton on Saturday. “We broke a spell of bad results we were having,” the Villa boss said. “We started the first five or 10 minutes not in control of the game but then progressively we controlled. “Today we achieved those three points and it has given us confidence again but even like that it’s not enough. We have to keep going and think about the next match against Southampton on Saturday. “The message was try to focus on each match, try to forget the table. How we can recover confidence and feel comfortable at home. Today was a fantastic match.” Tyrone Mings returned to the starting line-up in the Premier League for the first time since August 2023. Emery admitted it has been a long road back for the 31-year-old and is pleased to have him back. He added: “Mings played in the Champions league but it’s the first time in the league for a year and three months. “I think he played fantastic – he might be tired tomorrow but will be ready for Saturday again. “It was very, very long, the injury he had. His comeback is fantastic for him and everybody, for the doctor and physio and now he’s training everyday.” Brentford fell to a sixth away defeat from seven games and have picked up only a solitary point on the road this season. They have the best home record in the league, with 19 points from seven matches, but they have the joint worst away record. Bees boss Thomas Frank is confident form will improve on the road. He said: “On numbers we can’t argue we are better at home than away, but on numbers it’s a coincidence. I think two of the seven away games have been bad. “The other games we performed well in big spells. I’m confident at the end of the season we will have some wins away from home.” Frank felt Villa should not have been given a penalty when Ethan Pinnock brought Watkins down. He added: “I want to argue the penalty. I don’t think it is (one). I think Ollie kicked back and hit Ethan, yes there is an arm on the shoulder but threshold and all that – but that’s not the reason we lost.”

Under-fire SNP minister Neil Gray under MORE pressure over trip to glitzy film premiereWhat happens to Niagarans released from jail and how do they avoid falling into what’s known as the reoffending cycle, and ending up back behind bars? “The transition from jail to community has been extremely challenging for people,” said Dr. Karl Stobbe, REACH Niagara’s medical director. In many cases, Stobbe said, people have told him they were dropped off at a homeless shelter after being released from jail, “with no supports, no follow up.” “And then everybody wonders why they get in trouble again.” Announced at a news conference in St. Catharines Friday, a new program aimed at helping people reintegrate after being released from prison is getting $3.5 million in federal funding. Regional Essential Access to Connected Healthcare (REACH) Niagara announced the program, while also announcing a new partnership with Start Me Up Niagara that will move REACH Niagara’s administrative offices into the St. Catharines workspace it shares with Start Me Up. The funding from Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program allows REACH Niagara to launch the Transitions into Comprehensive Care program to provide support to help people reintegrate into the community after being released from prison, and people at risk of becoming involved with the justice system in Niagara. Stobbe said he didn’t know how much funding to expect before the announcement, and was shocked to learn it was $3.5 million. “We’ve been cash-starved for so long,” he said. Carolyn Dyer, REACH Niagara’s executive director, said the Health Canada funding is essential to the organization’s “ability to operate and grow and to meet this rising demand for service,” while it also signals a new level of commitment needed to fight the opioid epidemic. Carolyn Dyer, executive director of REACH Niagara, speaks at a ceremony to announce $3.5 million in funding from Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program that allows REACH Niagara and Start Me Up Niagara to launch a program helping people exiting the justice system and those at risk of involvement in it. Stobbe said the program will have a significant impact. It follows a coroner’s inquest into recent overdose deaths at Niagara Detention Centre. Some of the recommendations from its jury related to people being released from jail, he said. “I’m really happy about those recommendations. I think it will really help push ahead with the work this initiative is going to do,” he said. “I think the funding will go a lot further because, hopefully, Niagara Detention Centre already has on their radar some of the things that they can do from their end, and we’ll be getting ready on the community side to make those things much more effective.” While Positive Living Niagara has led much of Niagara’s response to the opioid crisis, Talia Storm — director of the organization’s Street Works Services — welcomed the new REACH Niagara program. “We are elated about this program. It is absolutely filling a gap in our community,” she said. “At Positive Living, we often see folks who come out of the detention centre and end up right back in.” She said the risk of overdose deaths is also incredibly high when people are being released from prison, and this will, hopefully, fill that gap and ensure that people are supported as the reintegrate into the community. While announcing the funding, St. Catharines MP Chris Bittle said there’s growing frustration, anger and a loss of empathy related to the challenges communities are facing. “I’ve been hearing a lot more from politicians who are ignoring public health solutions, who would close supervised injection sites, will step away from harm reduction to reflect that anger, to reflect the lack of empathy,” he said. “But it’s not going away. We can recriminalize, we can throw people in jail, we can close down supervised injection sites and we can let people die. Unfortunately, that’s the talk of many politicians locally, provincially and federally.” Bittle said too many Canadians have lost their lives “because of this tragic public health crisis, and it is a public health crisis.” “The impacts are felt by family, friends, neighbours and communities. “Despite the overwhelming nature of this crisis, you are still standing here — you’re still fighting for this and I want to be behind you to help fight,” Bittle said. REACH was also excited about finally having a home base after operating for some seven years without one. The organization has been operating clinics at partner organizations throughout the region, providing outreach services at homeless encampments and operating a mobile health clinicfrom a converted Mercedes Sprinter van, Stobbe said. The shared office at 211 Church St. is the first real home the organization has had, he said. After regularly holding meetings in coffee shops, Stobbe said it “will be really nice” to have a building from which to base operations. Considering the work Stobbe and the team of medical professionals do, he said starting out without a permanent address made sense. “If our first thing was to try to get an office, it just would have been really uncomfortable if that was our priority,” he said. Start Me Up executive director Laura Dumas said the partnership between the two organizations makes sense because they both serve the same marginalized groups. Laura Dumas, executive director with Start Me Up Niagara. “I believe the partnership can only make us stronger,” she said. “We complement each other.” Both organizations, she said, are striving to provide services to people with dignity and compassion. “What’s lacking is dignity. It’s that empathy. We’re hoping together that we can bring that back to the community,” Dumas said. Dyer said the organization has grown to offer 22 clinics in seven municipalities since its inception. But the need for those services is continuing to grow “at a rate that really is hard to fathom.” “There is a growing societal divide between the population at large and the equity deserving community that is widening,” Dyer said. “This division is social, economic, political and sadly, at times, found in what services that are available to each and every community member. This cannot stand or it will only get worse.”Under fire health secretary Neil Gray told to 'come clean' after it emerged he took an official limo to movie bash He has already faced scrutiny over his use of the limo to attend football games Click here to visit the Scotland home page for the latest news and sport By TOM GORDON DEPUTY SCOTTISH POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 14:51 EST, 26 November 2024 | Updated: 14:51 EST, 26 November 2024 e-mail View comments Neil Gray has been told to ‘come clean’ about why he took an official limo to and from a film premiere after it emerged the SNP’s Culture Secretary attended the glitzy bash as well. The Scottish Tories have said the Health Secretary’s claim that he went to the star-studded event on ‘ministerial duties’ beggared belief given Angus Robertson - who holds the culture brief - was already there. Deputy Tory leader Rachael Hamilton said it appeared Mr Gray was simply ‘on a jolly’. The Mail previously revealed that Mr Gray - also under fire for taking ministerial cars to football games - was chauffeured to the opening night of the Edinburgh Film Festival. He and wife Karlie posed for photographs at the Cameo cinema on August 15 when it staged the UK premiere of The Outrun, which Mr Gray previously said he ‘cannot wait to see’. Neil Gray and his wife Karlie attended the opening gala world premiere of "The Outrun" during the Edinburgh International Festival in August Mr Gray attended the glitzy bash despite the fact culture secretary Angus Robertson was already at the premiere, with critics saying Mr Gray appeared to have simply been 'on a jolly' Official records state Mr Gray met representatives of film quango Screen Scotland at a ‘reception’ and discussed ‘culture’, even though it is not part of his health brief. They also say that Mr Gray was chauffeured from his office at St Andrews House to a ‘personal address’ and from there to the cinema. The Government last night refused to say if Mr Gray was driven home to pick up his wife before they attended the premiere together. The Tories said he appeared to have been acting more like a film fan - again at taxpayers’ expense. Ms Hamilton said: ‘Neil Gray needs to come clean on why he thought it was appropriate for him to attend this event. ‘Given Angus Robertson as Culture Secretary was already at the premiere, the Health Secretary appears to have simply been on a jolly. ‘His continued defence of using the ministerial limo to enjoy his favourite hobbies beggars belief. ‘Neil Gray has taken the taxpayer for a ride far too often. He must be upfront about these trips - including whether a family member was driven to and from the film premiere - otherwise the scandal engulfing him rightly won’t go away.’ The Airdrie and Shotts MSP took family members and a guest to five of the eight football matches he was recently criticised for attending. The Government said Mr Gray was undertaking ‘ministerial duties’ and it was not unusual for ministers to attend sporting and cultural events. But Mr Robertson’s presence at the premiere arguably made Mr Gray superfluous. The Culture Secretary met the film’s star, Saoirse Ronan, as well as the Film Festival’s director Paul Ridd and its chair Andrew McDonald. Mr Gray has faced intense scrutiny for being driven to football matches in an official limo Unlike Mr Gray, he was driven directly from St Andrews House to the cinema, not via any personal address. Mr Gray was accused earlier this month of using taxpayer-funded cars to indulge his love of football after being driven to eight games, half involving his favourite team, Aberdeen. He apologised to parliament for having ‘given the impression of acting more as a fan and less as a minister’. In December, Mr Gray took to social media to promote The Outrun - which is set in Orkney, where he grew up - saying ‘Cannot wait to see this!’ and ‘Cannot wait!’ The Government refused to say if Mr Gray’s wife also used the limo to and from the premiere or why Mr Gray needed to attend when Mr Robertson was already there. A spokeswoman said: ‘Ministers attend sporting and cultural events as part of their Ministerial duties.’ The Film Festival declined to comment. SNP Share or comment on this article: Under fire health secretary Neil Gray told to 'come clean' after it emerged he took an official limo to movie bash e-mail Add comment

VANCOUVER - A Federal Court judge has dismissed an appeal by a "deeply religious" British Columbia health executive who said he was wrongfully denied employment insurance after being fired three years ago for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Read this article for free: Already have an account? As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support. Starting at $14.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website. or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527. Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! VANCOUVER - A Federal Court judge has dismissed an appeal by a "deeply religious" British Columbia health executive who said he was wrongfully denied employment insurance after being fired three years ago for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? VANCOUVER – A Federal Court judge has dismissed an appeal by a “deeply religious” British Columbia health executive who said he was wrongfully denied employment insurance after being fired three years ago for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Darold Sturgeon was fired as executive director of medical affairs for Interior Health in November 2021 after refusing to get the vaccine based on his Christian beliefs. He applied for employment insurance benefits but was denied due to being fired for “misconduct,” with appeals to two levels of the Social Security Tribunal also failing, leading him to seek a judicial review in Federal Court in August 2023. The ruling says Sturgeon believed the tribunal should have examined his assertion under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that the term “misconduct” did not apply to his case “because he was exercising his freedom of religion.” Justice William Pentney says “recent, abundant and unanimous case law” defined a specific and narrow role for the tribunal’s appeal divisions, focusing on an employee’s conduct, and not justification for and employer’s policies or compliance with the Charter. The ruling says Sturgeon’s appeal fell “outside the mandate” of the tribunal and he could have challenged Interior Health’s mandatory vaccine police “through other avenues.” These included advancing a Charter claim, lodging a wrongful dismissal suit or labour grievance, or complaining to the British Columbia Human Rights Commission. “The point is, there were other avenues available to pursue the Charter question; this decision does not cut off the only avenue of relief,” the ruling says. It added of Sturgeon, who represented himself, that “no one has doubted that he acted based on his understanding of his religious obligations,” and that he had “ably advanced his arguments.” “However, despite his sincere and thoughtful arguments, the binding jurisprudence requires that I find against him,” the ruling says. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2024. Advertisement

Nov 23 (Reuters) - Girona's rediscovered form is thanks to the return of players from injury which has given the side new energy, coach Michel said after they thrashed Espanyol 4-1 in La Liga on Saturday. Michel's side had endured a shaky start to the season but moved up to fifth in the standings on 21 points after a superb home victory featuring a Bojan Miovski brace and goals by Bryan Gil and Ladislav Krejci. "Today's victory, which is our third (in a row), it's due to the fact we got people back, because we've rested, because we've had a very good week of training and because that energy today was noticeable," Michel told a press conference. "The only thing I hope is that we continue to recover people, that we continue to have the necessary minutes for everyone and that, as we have very tough games coming up every three days, we need everyone to be at one hundred percent; we'll see if we can achieve this without any problems." Yaser Asprilla and Krejci, back from injury, combined for the fourth goal but it was the pairing of Miovski and Gil who made the night with lethal attacks for the second and third goals. "I am very happy for Miovski, he is a player who gives everything in training," Michel added. "I was worried because he wasn't scoring goals. He always tries to do his best for the team, he needs time. I am happy for him. "Bryan is a very important player for everyone, his best version is yet to come. Right now the process with him is what we all expect," the manager said. Last season's surprise package Girona face Austrian side Sturm Graz in the Champions League on Wednesday and the manager hopes they can repeat Saturday's performance in the European game. "This is the Girona I want, one hundred per cent. We started the game very well, that's the reality. The first half hour was spectacular, with and without the ball... We had a presence up front. The first half hour is what we want to do this season," Michel said. Sign up here. Reporting by Angelica Medina in Mexico City; editing by Clare Fallon Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab

AP Business SummaryBrief at 1:08 p.m. EST

lodibet vip ph Laser Peening System Market Forecasted for Strong Growth from 2024 to 2032 12-13-2024 07:50 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Prudent Markets Laser Peening System Market The Laser Peening System Market 2024-2023 report provides a comprehensive analysis of Types (Stationary Laser Peening System, Mobile Laser Peening System), Application (Aerospace, Manufacturing, Automotive, Energy, Medical, Others), Analysis of Industry Trends, Growth, and Opportunities, R&D landscape, Data security and privacy concerns Risk Analysis, Pipeline Products, Assumptions, Research Timelines, Secondary Research and Primary Research, Key Insights from Industry Experts, Regional Outlook and Forecast, 2024-2032. 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Segmentation of Laser Peening System Market- By Type Stationary Laser Peening System, Mobile Laser Peening System By Application Aerospace, Manufacturing, Automotive, Energy, Medical, Others Geographic Segmentation -North America (USA, Canada, Mexico) -Europe (Germany, UK, France, Russia, Italy, Rest of Europe) -Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, South Korea, India, Southeast Asia, Rest of Asia-Pacific) -South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Rest of South America) -The Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Rest of MEA) Prudent Markets provides attractive discounts that fit your needs. Customization of the reports as per your requirement is also offered. Get in touch with our sales team, who will guarantee you a report that suits your needs. Speak To Our Analyst For A Discussion On The Above Findings, And Ask For A Discount On The Report @ https://www.prudentmarkets.com/discount-request/9165732/ Key Benefits of the Report: This study presents the analytical depiction of the Laser Peening System Industry along with the current trends and future estimations to determine the imminent investment pockets. The report presents information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunities along with detailed analysis of the Laser Peening System Market share. The current market is quantitatively analyzed from to highlight the Global Gardening Pots Market growth scenario. Porter's five forces analysis illustrates the potency of buyers & suppliers in the market. The report provides a detailed Laser Peening System Market analysis based on competitive intensity and how the competition will take shape in coming years. Key poles of the TOC: Chapter 1 Laser Peening System Market Business Overview Chapter 2 Major Breakdown by Type Chapter 3 Major Application Wise Breakdown (Revenue & Volume) Chapter 4 Manufacture Market Breakdown Chapter 5 Sales & Estimates Market Study Chapter 6 Key Manufacturers Production and Sales Market Comparison Breakdown Chapter 8 Manufacturers, Deals and Closings Market Evaluation & Aggressiveness Chapter 9 Key Companies Breakdown by Overall Market Size & Revenue by Type Chapter 11 Business / Industry Chain (Value & Supply Chain Analysis) Chapter 12 Conclusions & Appendix The report covers the competitive analysis of the market. As the demand is driven by a buyer's paying capacity and the rate of item development, the report shows the important regions that will direct growth. This section exclusively shares insight into the budget reports of big-league members of the market helping key players and new entrants understand the potential of investments in the Global Laser Peening System Market. It can be better employed by both traditional and new players in the industry for complete know-how of the market. For In-Depth Competitive Analysis - Purchase this Report now at a Complete Table of Contents (Single User License) @ https://www.prudentmarkets.com/checkout/?id=9165732&license_type=su Free Customization on the basis of client requirements on Immediate purchase: 1- Free country-level breakdown of any 5 countries of your interest. 2- Competitive breakdown of segment revenue by market players. Customization of the Report: This report can be customized to meet the client's requirements. Please connect with our sales team (sales@prudentmarkets.com), who will ensure that you get a report that suits your needs. You can also get in touch with our executives on +91 83560 50278 || USA/Canada(Toll Free): 1800-601-6071 to share your research requirements. In conclusion, the Laser Peening System Market report is a genuine source for accessing the research data which is projected to exponentially grow your business. The report provides information such as economic scenarios, benefits, limits, trends, market growth rates, and figures. SWOT analysis and PESTLE analysis is also incorporated in the report. Contact Us: Allan Carter Andheri, Maharashtra, 400102 USA/Canada(Toll Free): 1800-601-6071 Direct Line: +91 83560 50278 Mail: sales@prudentmarkets.com Web: www.prudentmarkets.com About Us: We are leaders in market analytics, business research, and consulting services for Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, financial & government institutions. Since we understand the criticality of data and insights, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available. To be at our client's disposal whenever they need help on market research and consulting services. We also aim to be their business partners when it comes to making critical business decisions around new market entry, M&A, competitive Intelligence and strategy. This release was published on openPR.NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes got back to climbing on Wednesday after the latest update on inflation appeared to clear the way for more help for the economy from the Federal Reserve . The S&P 500 rose 0.8% to break its first two-day losing streak in nearly a month and finished just short of its all-time high. Big Tech stocks led the way, which drove the Nasdaq composite up 1.8% to top the 20,000 level for the first time. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, meanwhile, lagged the market with a dip of 99 points, or 0.2%. Stocks got a boost as expectations built that Wednesday’s inflation data will allow the Fed to deliver another cut to interest rates at its meeting next week. Traders are betting on a nearly 99% probability of that, according to data from CME Group, up from 89% a day before. If they’re correct, it would be a third straight cut by the Fed after it began lowering rates in September from a two-decade high. It’s hoping to support a slowing job market after getting inflation nearly all the way down to its 2% target. Lower rates would give a boost to the economy and to prices for investments, but they could also provide more fuel for inflation. “The data have given the Fed the ‘all clear’ for next week, and today’s inflation data keep a January cut in active discussion,” according to Ellen Zentner, chief economic strategist for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. Expectations for a series of cuts to rates by the Fed have been one of the main reasons the S&P 500 has set an all-time high 57 times this year , with the latest coming last week. The biggest boosts for the index on Wednesday came from Nvidia and other Big Tech stocks. Their massive growth has made them Wall Street’s biggest stars for years, though other kinds of stocks have recently been catching up somewhat amid hopes for the broader U.S. economy. Tesla jumped 5.9% to finish above $420 at $424.77. It’s a level that Elon Musk made famous in a 2018 tweet when he said he had secured funding to take Tesla private at $420 per share . Stitch Fix soared 44.3% after the company that sends clothes to your door reported a smaller loss for the latest quarter than analysts expected. It also gave financial forecasts for the current quarter that were better than expected, including for revenue. GE Vernova rallied 5% for one of the biggest gains in the S&P 500. The energy company that spun out of General Electric said it would pay a 25 cent dividend every three months, and it approved a plan to send up to another $6 billion to its shareholders by buying back its own stock. On the losing end of Wall Street, Dave & Buster’s Entertainment tumbled 20.1% after reporting a worse loss for the latest quarter than expected. It also said CEO Chris Morris has resigned, and the board has been working with an executive-search firm for the last few months to find its next permanent leader. Albertsons fell 1.5% after filing a lawsuit against Kroger, saying it didn’t do enough for their proposed $24.6 billion merger agreement to win regulatory clearance. Albertsons said it’s seeking billions of dollars in damages from Kroger, whose stock rose 1%. A day earlier, judges in separate cases in Oregon and Washington nixed the supermarket giants’ merger. The grocers contended a combination could have helped them compete with big retailers like Walmart, Costco and Amazon, but critics said it would hurt competition. After terminating the merger agreement with Kroger, Albertsons said it plans to boost its dividend 25% and increased the size of its program to buy back its own stock. Macy’s slipped 0.8% after cutting some of its financial forecasts for the full year of 2024, including for how much profit it expects to make off each $1 of revenue. All told, the S&P 500 rose 49.28 points to 6,084.19. The Dow dipped 99.27 to 44,148.56, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 347.65 to 20,034.89. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.27% from 4.23% late Tuesday. The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks expectations for the Fed, edged up to 4.15% from 4.14%. In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe and Asia. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was an outlier and slipped 0.8% as Chinese leaders convened an annual planning meeting in Beijing that is expected to set economic policies and growth targets for the coming year. South Korea’s Kospi rose 1%, up for a second straight day as it climbs back following last week’s political turmoil where its president briefly declared martial law. AP Writers Matt Ott and Zimo Zhong contributed.Drug Modeling Software Market to Observe Prominent CAGR of 9.2% by 2030, Size, Share, Trends, Demand, Growth, Challenges and Competitive Outlook

By KELVIN CHAN LONDON (AP) — After a sprawling hacking campaign exposed the communications of an unknown number of Americans, U.S. cybersecurity officials are advising people to use encryption in their communications. To safeguard against the risks highlighted by the campaign, which originated in China, federal cybersecurity authorities released an extensive list of security recommendations for U.S. telecom companies — such as Verizon and AT&T — that were targeted. The advice includes one tip we can all put into practice with our phones: “Ensure that traffic is end-to-end encrypted to the maximum extent possible.” End-to-end encryption, also known as E2EE, means that messages are scrambled so that only the sender and recipient can see them. If anyone else intercepts the message, all they will see is a garble that can’t be unscrambled without the key. Law enforcement officials had until now resisted this type of encryption because it means the technology companies themselves won’t be able to look at the messages, nor respond to law enforcement requests to turn the data over. Here’s a look at various ways ordinary consumers can use end-to-end encryption: Texting Officials said the hackers targeted the metadata of a large number of customers, including information on the dates, times and recipients of calls and texts. They also managed to see the content from texts from a much smaller number of victims. If you’re an iPhone user, information in text messages that you send to someone else who also has an iPhone will be encrypted end-to-end. Just look for the blue text bubbles, which indicate that they are encrypted iMessages. The same goes for Android users sending texts through Google Messages. There will be a lock next to the timestamp on each message to indicate the encryption is on. But there’s a weakness. When iPhone and Android users text each other, the messages are encrypted only using Rich Communication Services, an industry standard for instant messaging that replaces the older SMS and MMS standards. Apple has noted that RCS messages “aren’t end-to-end encrypted, which means they’re not protected from a third party reading them while they’re sent between devices.” Samsung, which sells Android smartphones, has also hinted at the issue in a footnote at the bottom of a press release last month on RCS, saying, “Encryption only available for Android to Android communication.” Chat apps To avoid getting caught out when trading texts, experts recommend using encrypted messaging apps. Privacy advocates are big fans of Signal, which applies end-to-end encryption on all messages and voice calls. The independent nonprofit group behind the app promises never to sell, rent, or lease customer data and has made its source code publicly available so that it can be audited by anyone to examine it “for security and correctness.” Signal’s encryption protocol is so reputable that it has been integrated into rival WhatsApp , so users will enjoy the same level of security protection as Signal, which has a much smaller user base. End-to-end encryption is also the default mode for Facebook Messenger , which like WhatsApp is owned by Meta Platforms. What about Telegram? Telegram is an app that can be used for one-on-one conversations, group chats and broadcast “channels” but contrary to popular perception, it doesn’t turn on end-to-end encryption by default. Users have to switch on the option. And it doesn’t work with group chats. Cybersecurity experts have warned people against using Telegram for private communications and pointed out that only its opt-in ‘secret chat’ feature is encrypted from end-to-end. The app also has a reputation for being a haven for scammers and criminal activity, highlighted by founder and CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest in France . Making calls Instead of using your phone to make calls through a wireless cellular network, you can make voice calls with Signal and WhatsApp. Both apps encrypt calls with the same technology that they use to encrypt messages. There are other options. If you have an iPhone you can use Facetime for calls, while Android owners can use the Google Fi service, which are both end-to-end encrypted. The only catch with all these options is that, as with using the chat services to send messages, the person on the other end will also have to have the app installed. WhatsApp and Signal users can customize their privacy preferences in the settings, including hiding IP address during calls to prevent your general location from being guessed. Is there a tech topic that you think needs explaining? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your suggestions for future editions of One Tech Tip.Advancing Care: New Frontiers in Neurodegenerative Disorder Therapeutics 11-23-2024 11:35 AM CET | Advertising, Media Consulting, Marketing Research Press release from: The Business Research Company "The Business Research Company recently released a comprehensive report on the Global Neurodegenerative Disorder Therapeutics Market Size and Trends Analysis with Forecast 2024-2033. This latest market research report offers a wealth of valuable insights and data, including global market size, regional shares, and competitor market share. Additionally, it covers current trends, future opportunities, and essential data for success in the industry. According to The Business Research Company's, The neurodegenerative disorder therapeutics market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $18.53 billion in 2023 to $20.04 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to aging population, rising prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders, increasing life expectancy, rising investments from pharmaceutical companies, awareness and advocacy. The neurodegenerative disorder therapeutics market size is expected to see strongly grown in the next few years. It will grow to $28.33 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.0%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rising demand for personalized medicine, targeted therapy, increasing availability of clinical trials, rising healthcare expenditure. Major trends in the forecast period include disease-modifying therapies, non-pharmacological interventions, telemedicine and remote monitoring, technological innovations, precision therapeutics, digital health solutions, biomarker-driven trials. Get The Complete Scope Of The Report @ https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/neurodegenerative-disorder-therapeutic-global-market-report Market Drivers and Trends: Increased prevalence of neurodegenerative among the global population contributes to the growth of the neurodegenerative disorder therapeutics market. The increase in the geriatric population attributes to the increased prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders. According to World Population Prospects, the number of people above 60 years of age will increase to 2.1 billion in 2050 and it is expected that people aged over 80 years will triple to 425 million in 2050. According to the Alzheimer's Association, around 5.8 million Americans are suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and this number is projected to rise to around 14 million by 2050. The increased prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases among the aging population increases the demand for neurodegenerative disorder therapeutics thereby driving the neurodegenerative disorder therapeutics market. Manufacturers of neurodegenerative disorder therapeutics are undergoing various strategic partnerships with government and non-government organizations to discover and develop therapeutics for a range of neurodegenerative diseases. The companies in the neurodegenerative disorder therapeutics market are also increasing their collaboration with other players in the market to increase their capabilities for research and development activities to develop new and more effective therapeutic solutions to treat neurodegenerative disorders. For instance, in July 2022, NRG Therapeutics, a UK-based drug discovery company focused on therapeutic approaches, partnered with Domainex, a UK-based drug discovery service, to develop neurodegenerative disease treatment. For the treatment of Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease (MND), and other incapacitating chronic neurodegenerative conditions, the firms would work together to develop novel small molecule disease-modifying medications. Key Benefits for Stakeholders: • Comprehensive Market Insights: Stakeholders gain access to detailed market statistics, trends, and analyses that help them understand the current and future landscape of their industry. • Informed Decision-Making: The reports provide crucial data that support strategic decisions, reducing risks and enhancing business planning. • Competitive Advantage: With in-depth competitor analysis and market share information, stakeholders can identify opportunities to outperform their competition. • Tailored Solutions: The Business Research Company offers customized reports that address specific needs, ensuring stakeholders receive relevant and actionable insights. • Global Perspective: The reports cover various regions and markets, providing a broad view that helps stakeholders expand and operate successfully on a global scale. Ready to Dive into Something Exciting? Get Your Free Exclusive Sample of Our Research Report @ https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/sample.aspx?id=2818&type=smp Major Key Players of the Market: Biogen Inc.; Pfizer Inc.; Novartis International AG; Sanofi S.A.; Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.; UCB S.A.; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.; ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.; H. Lundbeck A/S; Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH; Merck Serono S.A.; Orion Corporation; Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America; Allergan PLC; GlaxoSmithKline PLC; AbbVie Inc.; Eli Lilly and Company; Celgene Corporation; Neuro-Hitech Inc.; Bayer Schering Pharma AG; Amarin Corporation PLC; AstraZeneca plc; Alector Inc.; Yumanity Therapeutics Inc.; Yangtze River Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd.; Chongqing Zein Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.; Eisai Co. Ltd.; Bristol Myers Squibb Company; AB Science S.A.; Amylyx Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Genentech Inc.; GenSight Biologics S.A.; AC Immune SA; Annexon Bioscience Inc.; BioArctic Neuroscience AB; Cajal Neuroscience Inc.; Cognito Therapeutics Inc.; Grifols S.A.; New Equilibrium Biosciences Inc.; Prothena Corporation PLC; Tessera Therapeutics Inc.; Vigil Neuroscience Inc. Neurodegenerative Disorder Therapeutics Market 2024 Key Insights: • The neurodegenerative disorder therapeutics market size will grow to $28.33 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.0%. • Growing Prevalence Of Neurodegenerative Disorders Fuels Neurodegenerative Disorder Therapeutics Market • Strategic Collaborations And Partnerships Driving Advancements In Neurodegenerative Disorder Therapeutics • North America was the largest region in the global neurodegenerative disorder therapeutics market in 2023 We Offer Customized Report, Click @ https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/Customise?id=2818&type=smp Contact Us: The Business Research Company Europe: +44 207 1930 708 Asia: +91 88972 63534 Americas: +1 315 623 0293 Email: info@tbrc.info Follow Us On: LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/company/the-business-research-company Twitter: https://twitter.com/tbrc_info YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC24_fI0rV8cR5DxlCpgmyFQ Learn More About The Business Research Company The Business Research Company ( www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com ) is a leading market intelligence firm renowned for its expertise in company, market, and consumer research. With a global presence, TBRC's consultants specialize in diverse industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, chemicals, and technology, providing unparalleled insights and strategic guidance to clients worldwide. This release was published on openPR.

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK. When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in. You're reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool's Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources , and more. Learn More . The easyjet (LSE: EZJ) share price has had a decent year. Shares in the budget airline are up 20% in the past 12 months and trading at £5.89. While that's still down 53% from the pre-pandemic era of five years ago, it does mean investors have been... Ken HallNone

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes got back to climbing on Wednesday after the latest update on inflation appeared to clear the way for more help for the economy from the Federal Reserve . The S&P 500 rose 0.8% to break its first two-day losing streak in nearly a month and finished just short of its all-time high. Big Tech stocks led the way, which drove the Nasdaq composite up 1.8% to top the 20,000 level for the first time. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, meanwhile, lagged the market with a dip of 99 points, or 0.2%. Stocks got a boost as expectations built that Wednesday’s inflation data will allow the Fed to deliver another cut to interest rates at its meeting next week. Traders are betting on a nearly 99% probability of that, according to data from CME Group, up from 89% a day before. If they’re correct, it would be a third straight cut by the Fed after it began lowering rates in September from a two-decade high. It’s hoping to support a slowing job market after getting inflation nearly all the way down to its 2% target. Lower rates would give a boost to the economy and to prices for investments, but they could also provide more fuel for inflation. “The data have given the Fed the ‘all clear’ for next week, and today’s inflation data keep a January cut in active discussion,” according to Ellen Zentner, chief economic strategist for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. Expectations for a series of cuts to rates by the Fed have been one of the main reasons the S&P 500 has set an all-time high 57 times this year , with the latest coming last week. The biggest boosts for the index on Wednesday came from Nvidia and other Big Tech stocks. Their massive growth has made them Wall Street’s biggest stars for years, though other kinds of stocks have recently been catching up somewhat amid hopes for the broader U.S. economy. Tesla jumped 5.9% to finish above $420 at $424.77. It’s a level that Elon Musk made famous in a 2018 tweet when he said he had secured funding to take Tesla private at $420 per share . Stitch Fix soared 44.3% after the company that sends clothes to your door reported a smaller loss for the latest quarter than analysts expected. It also gave financial forecasts for the current quarter that were better than expected, including for revenue. GE Vernova rallied 5% for one of the biggest gains in the S&P 500. The energy company that spun out of General Electric said it would pay a 25 cent dividend every three months, and it approved a plan to send up to another $6 billion to its shareholders by buying back its own stock. On the losing end of Wall Street, Dave & Buster’s Entertainment tumbled 20.1% after reporting a worse loss for the latest quarter than expected. It also said CEO Chris Morris has resigned, and the board has been working with an executive-search firm for the last few months to find its next permanent leader. Albertsons fell 1.5% after filing a lawsuit against Kroger, saying it didn’t do enough for their proposed $24.6 billion merger agreement to win regulatory clearance. Albertsons said it’s seeking billions of dollars in damages from Kroger, whose stock rose 1%. A day earlier, judges in separate cases in Oregon and Washington nixed the supermarket giants’ merger. The grocers contended a combination could have helped them compete with big retailers like Walmart, Costco and Amazon, but critics said it would hurt competition. After terminating the merger agreement with Kroger, Albertsons said it plans to boost its dividend 25% and increased the size of its program to buy back its own stock. Macy’s slipped 0.8% after cutting some of its financial forecasts for the full year of 2024, including for how much profit it expects to make off each $1 of revenue. All told, the S&P 500 rose 49.28 points to 6,084.19. The Dow dipped 99.27 to 44,148.56, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 347.65 to 20,034.89. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.27% from 4.23% late Tuesday. The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks expectations for the Fed, edged up to 4.15% from 4.14%. In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe and Asia. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was an outlier and slipped 0.8% as Chinese leaders convened an annual planning meeting in Beijing that is expected to set economic policies and growth targets for the coming year. South Korea’s Kospi rose 1%, up for a second straight day as it climbs back following last week’s political turmoil where its president briefly declared martial law. AP Writers Matt Ott and Zimo Zhong contributed.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — New York Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein will be activated from injured reserve and will play against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich announced Friday that Zuerlein is returning after missing seven games with a knee injury to his left, non-kicking leg. He had been shaky before the injury, but the Jets have since been unsettled at the position, with Riley Patterson, Spencer Shrader and Anders Carlson all filling in. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

DUNCANNON — Statistically speaking, Chase Miller had just one sack in Danville’s 27-7 state quarterfinal win over Bermudian Springs on Saturday. Caleb Fowler, the Ironmen’s twin wrecking ball on the other side of the defense, didn’t have any. But no two players had a bigger impact on the Ironmen getting back to the state semifinals for the first time since 2020 than the two senior defensive ends. Miller — who moved within a half-sack of Danville’s all-time record with a fourth-quarter sack Saturday — and Fowler set the edge when the Eagles tried to stretch the field horizontally with their Wing-T attack. And when Bermudian quarterback Lane Hubbard dropped back to pass, Miller was hot in pursuit on almost every play. In the end, Danville stopped the Eagles’ 11-game win streak, limiting them to 115 total yards in another dominant defensive effort. “Fowler and Miller, that’s the best they’ve played all season long,” Danville coach Carl Majer said. “They really kept going harder and harder, and made a lot of plays out there.” Miller had several instances where he nearly stepped in front of Eagles screen passes. In the third quarter, with the game still in doubt, Bermudian tried a slip screen with a wide receive. Fowler sniffed it out, dropping from his right end spot to force a high throw incomplete out of bounds. Facing a true Delaware Wing-T, the outside edges spent most of the game diagnosing what was happening in front of them. “We can’t be selfish — coach preaches selflessness,” Miller said. “Trust the guy next to you. Sometimes you make the play by not making the play. Do your job.” “You always have to have your head on a swivel in a run game like that,” Fowler said. “You have to make sure the quarterback doesn’t do anything sneaky. You have to be patient against a team like this. You can’t get too far ahead of yourself and rush too far downfield. Be in the right spot at the right time.” For the fourth consecutive game, Majer called a timeout on the opening drive with his defense on the field. Saturday’s stoppage came a handful of plays into the game, and was used to settle the team and give them a heads-up regarding what everyone was seeing, Majer said. “I said all week long, you have to play your spot; you can’t play someone else’s spot,” Majer said. “Play your spot, play your responsibility. Stay home and do your responsibility, and the defense did an awesome job of that.” “We made adjustments, every timeout, every quarter, at halftime — we adjust as needed,” Miller said. “The first drive we were just feeling it out and we settled in.” Bermudian didn’t move the ball into Danville territory after halftime other than when it recovered an onside kick to start the second half and then on its final possession. Moments after the Eagles recovered the surprise onside to start the third quarter, linebacker Cameron Kiersch got a sack when Miller chased Hubbard from the pocket. Miller stopped another Eagle drive with a sack for a 16-yard loss early in the fourth quarter. After Danville iced the game on Bo Sheptock’s third TD run of the game with 3:16 to play, Miller hit Hubbard just as he threw. Kiersch intercepted the fluttering pass to seal the victory. “It definitely felt good to get one,” Miller said of the sack. “But sometimes you make them throw it away, or force a pick. Just make a play. “It might not show up in the stats, but I just want to see our team win.”

Vande Bharat Metro: Good news! Vande Bharat Metro trains will run on five routes, check route chart and time tableOutgoing Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-NY) appears to be keeping his political options open before he leaves Congress in January. The New York congressman recently posted a farewell video in which he repeatedly noted his love for public service. He's been floated as a candidate for Rep. Elise Stefanik's (R-NY) seat and for another run at the New York governorship in 2026. "While I may not hold public office, know this: public service is in my DNA," he said. "This isn't the end. It's a new chapter. Whether in public office or in another capacity, I will continue to serve." "I will continue to fight for the values we share, to advocate for the communities we love, and to work tirelessly to make our country better, stronger, and more united," he added. The caption to a video posted on Molinaro's personal account says, "Thank you #NY19 and stay tuned ... " Thank you #NY19 and stay tuned... pic.twitter.com/bNhKDb6yGi — Marc Molinaro #NY19 🇺🇸 (@marcmolinaro) When Molinaro leaves public office in January, it could be his first extended absence from service since he took the job as a Tivoli, New York, village trustee in 1994 as an 18-year-old. He then served as the town's mayor, as a member of the Dutchess County legislature, a member of the State Assembly, and as Dutchess County executive before he landed in Congress. He lost to Rep.-elect Josh Riley (D-NY) narrowly in last November's election, 51.1% to 48.9%, after beating him in the 2022 general election. Molinaro was known as one of the most bipartisan members of Congress during his time in the House, ranking second among 436 members of Congress for bipartisanship, according to the Lugar Center and Georgetown University’s McCourt School. Stefanik is President-elect Donald Trump's pick for ambassador to the United Nations, and she is expected to be certified by the Senate. In that case, she would vacate her House seat when she takes office, and a special election would have to be held. While Molinaro has little direct connection to Stefanik's 21st Congressional District, he became very familiar with the state's county Republican chairs when he ran for governor in 2018. He lost that race to Andrew Cuomo, 59.6% to 36.2%. If Molinaro does run in Stefanik's district, he'd likely win if chosen as the GOP nominee. He has statewide recognition, and her district is heavily red. It could be considered a safer move than running for governor against incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY), who isn't overly popular but still benefits from the decisive blue streak of the state. Still, this election cycle may be Molinaro's best shot to be governor. Hochul ran a surprisingly close 2022 race against former GOP Rep. Lee Zeldin, winning 53.2% to 46.8%. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Molinaro could also choose to run against Riley for a third time in 2026. While Molinaro appears to have a decision to make, he'll have to make it fast. Stefanik's seat will come up for a special election in mere months, depending on how long her confirmation takes.

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Nokia Corporation Stock Exchange Release 27 December 2024 at 22:30 EET Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 27.12.2024 Espoo, Finland – On 27 December 2024 Nokia Corporation (LEI: 549300A0JPRWG1KI7U06) has acquired its own shares (ISIN FI0009000681) as follows: * Rounded to two decimals On 22 November 2024, Nokia announced that its Board of Directors is initiating a share buyback program to offset the dilutive effect of new Nokia shares issued to the shareholders of Infinera Corporation and certain Infinera Corporation share-based incentives. The repurchases in compliance with the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (MAR), the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 and under the authorization granted by Nokia’s Annual General Meeting on 3 April 2024 started on 25 November 2024 and end by 31 December 2025 and target to repurchase 150 million shares for a maximum aggregate purchase price of EUR 900 million. Total cost of transactions executed on 27 December 2024 was EUR 3,740,926. After the disclosed transactions, Nokia Corporation holds 220,370,243 treasury shares. Details of transactions are included as an appendix to this announcement. On behalf of Nokia Corporation BofA Securities Europe SA About Nokia At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs. With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future. Inquiries: Nokia Communications Phone: +358 10 448 4900 Email: press.services@nokia.com Maria Vaismaa, Global Head of External Communications Nokia Investor Relations Phone: +358 40 803 4080 Email: investor.relations@nokia.com Attachment Daily Report 2024-12-27

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Pioneering Toxicology Research Takes Center Stage at 2025 ACMT Annual Meeting in Vancouver

Gnani’s Gen AI Solutions Revolutionising BFSINEW YORK (AP) — The Buffalo Sabres can carry the good cheer of ending the longest losing streak in the NHL this season into their holiday break. Buffalo routed the New York Islanders 7-1 on Monday night, scoring twice in the first, three times in the second and twice more in the third to snap a 13-game (0-10-3) month of futility. After the win, there was palpable relief heading into the break as the Sabres are off until Saturday, when they host the Chicago Blackhawks. Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin had four assists, the most by a defenseman this season. He stressed that achieving victory is satisfying for the moment, but only a step in a long process ahead. “We battled for a long time and finally it went our way,’’ said Dahlin, the first Buffalo defenseman with four assists in a game since February 2008. “Now, it’s up to us to keep this thing going.” The Sabres last won at San Jose, 4-2, on Nov. 23. What followed was a vexing run in which they dropped six one-goal games and were outscored 53-28. The low point was a 5-4 loss to Colorado on Dec. 3 in which Buffalo became the 90th team in NHL history to squander a four-or-more goal lead. Buffalo is last in the Eastern Conference with 28 points. Against the Islanders and following a hard-fought 3-1 loss at Boston on Saturday, the Sabres were solid from start to finish in scoring seven goals for the first time this season. They were so dominant, that boos rained down on the host Islanders at UBS Arena. “It was huge to score some goals, and it was good to have a complete game,’’ said forward Jason Zucker, who scored Buffalo’s third goal. “It’s really hard not to overthink when you’ve lost that many in a row, so I give our guys credit. It was fun to get that win going into the break." The Sabres started their season 4-7-1, then won seven of nine games before the skid began. That led to renewed angst in Buffalo because the Sabres haven't reached the playoffs since 2011. Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff, who returned to the team last summer, was supportive during his squad's month of frustration. The 64-year-old Ruff previously coached the Sabres from 1997-2013 and has seen virtually everything in his long coaching career. He was succinct in praising his club after their dedicated road effort. “We denied a lot of plays in our end. It was a determined game,’’ Ruff said. “The bench had a lot of life. It’s a weight off our shoulders.” Tage Thompson, who leads the Sabres with 17 goals, said Monday's win proved that focused hard work is the way forward for his team. "Tonight we said shift after shift we're going to do the right things and let the chips fall when there they may," he said.Westchester Soccer Club Debuts New Home Kit to Kick Off Upcoming Season

Dejounte Murray is rejoining the Pelicans vs. Toronto and drawing inspiration from his motherAs the highly charged battle for Maharashtra assembly elections will be settled on November 23, Saturday, seat Nagpur South West will remain one of the essential battlegroud to look forward to as Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is contesting against Congress' Prafulla Gudadhe. The Nagpur South-West assembly seat in Maharashtra is considered a stronghold of the BJP, but this time its MLA and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is expected to get a good fight from his Congress opponent, according to political observers. While Fadnavis has a strong chance of winning the seat in the November 20 state polls, it could be a close contest between him and his Congress rival Prafulla Gudhade Patil, whom the BJP leader trounced in 2014, they said. Poll and result date: The voting was conducted on November 20 and results will be announced on November 23. What happened in past elections? 2019 elections : Fadnavis secured 109,237 votes, easily defeating Indian National Congress (INC) candidate Dr. Ashish Deshmukh, who garnered 59,893 votes. Fadnavis’s victory margin was a significant 49,344 votes, underscoring his strong political base in the region. 2014 elections: Fadnavis once again claimed victory with 113,918 votes, surpassing INC's Prafulla Vinod Gudadhe (Patil), who secured 54,976 votes. The margin of victory was a large 58,942 votes, solidifying BJP’s influence in Nagpur South West. 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Who are the candidates? In the battleground Nagpur South West, BJP has fielded Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis against Congress' Prafulla Gudhade. Prafulla Gudhade Patil's father Vinod Gudhade Patil was the first BJP MLA from Nagpur district in 1990. The senior Patil was a two-term MLA from Nagpur-West before he left the BJP and joined Congress. He fought as Congress candidate in the 1999 assembly polls and lost to Fadnavis, who was then contesting his first state election. What are key issues of Napur South-West constituency? The flooding in some areas of the constituency after heavy rains last year and inflation are among the most discussed topics among the electorate in the high-profile seat, comprising 4,08,149 voters. The BJP is hoping to blunt the opposition's campaign by highlighting Ladki Bahin Yojana, a financial aid scheme for the poor women, and other welfare measures for different sections of the society, political analysts said. Some prominent establishments like the Multi Modal international Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN), AIIMS, IIM Nagpur are located in the constituency and Fadnavis, who is seeking a sixth term, is expected is to score over his opponent on the development plank, they said. (with agency inputs) (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )

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Analysts suggest a GNU as a solution to Mozambique instabilityPHILADELPHIA — Patients addicted to opioids are arriving at ERs with deep wounds that expose their bones. Some have lost multiple limbs. And many ultimately are leaving hospitals against medical advice, with severe, untreated skin lesions, insisting they can’t bear the withdrawal from tranq — the drug that caused their wounds in the first place. Those were among the stories shared by doctors from Philadelphia’s major health systems as they compared notes for the first time on the medical consequences of tranq — the street term for xylazine, an animal tranquilizer that has exploded across the city’s illicit opioid supply. At a weekend symposium hosted at Thomas Jefferson University by Rothman Orthopedics and the Foundation for Opioid Research and Education, physicians outlined the patient cases they’d seen and the limited research on how xylazine affects the body. “This has really changed the dynamic of the opioid crisis,” said Asif Ilyas, an orthopedic surgeon at Rothman who helped organize the event. “And Philadelphia is the front line.” For the last several years, doctors in Philadelphia have been increasingly treating wounds caused by xylazine. Never approved for human use, it is now present in nearly all of the illicit opioids sold in the city . Health officials believe it was initially added to fentanyl to provide a longer-lasting high . Xylazine also appears to cause severe skin lesions. At Saturday’s symposium, doctors said that it’s believed the drug is toxic to skin cells and may also constrict blood vessels, slowing the circulation of oxygen in the body and making wounds slower to heal. Doctors who spoke stressed the importance of collaboration to help patients requiring care that goes beyond simply treating a serious wound. “Wounds are a symptom of the disease; not the disease itself,” said Jason Wink, a plastic surgeon at Penn Medicine. Doctors working with tranq wounds must also address their patients’ addiction: “It is a disease like any other disease,” Rachel Haroz, head of Cooper University Hospital’s toxicology and addiction medicine division, told her colleagues from other specialties. Of particular concern are patients with wounds who leave against medical advice before their treatment is complete. Sometimes, that’s because doctors haven’t adequately treated their withdrawal symptoms . Avoiding wound treatment can have serious consequences. Katherine Woozley, the head of Cooper’s orthopedic hand and nerve surgery division, spoke about a man who had arrived at Cooper with a wound that covered much of his forearm, and a host of other medical issues, including endocarditis, an infection of the heart valves often seen among people who inject their drugs . The man ultimately left the hospital against medical advice, only to come back a year later with his arm missing below his shoulder, and a section of bone exposed. He told doctors the arm had fallen off on its own about six months before. Woozley didn’t say why that man had originally left the hospital, but stressed that surgeons treating tranq wounds must work closely with addiction specialists and other social support services to give patients a better shot at healing. At Temple University Hospital, doctors are seeing success with synthetic skin coverings that can protect a wound for up to a year, allowing it to heal even if a patient isn’t ready to quit using drugs. Lisa Rae, Temple’s chief of burn surgery, said her goal is to decrease patients’ risk of amputation. She spoke of a patient with a wound that had exposed the joints in their wrist, who kept leaving the hospital and was continuing to inject drugs. Doctors covered the wound with synthetic skin and, earlier this year, the person entered recovery. At a recent follow-up, the wound was almost healed, Rae said. “Don’t give up on wound care ,” Rae said. “People are trying. This gives them time to find their way out.” Other surgeons spoke about navigating treatment for patients with wounds so severe they can no longer use their limb. Wink, the Penn plastic surgeon, recalled a woman who had not used drugs for three months, but still dealt with a serious wound on her forearm. She told doctors she wanted to save the limb, but ultimately felt relief when it had to be amputated. “Amputation can remove the burden of wounds from a patient,” Wink said, urging careful consultations with patients, their families and other doctors before proceeding with a life-changing surgery. Doctors at Saturday’s symposium said they’re beginning to develop comprehensive recommendations for classifying and treating tranq wounds. Earlier this year, Philadelphia health officials also released guidelines on wound treatment. And addiction medicine experts stressed that hospitals must also emphasize follow-up care for patients who use xylazine, ensuring that patients have adequate medication, wound-care supplies, and connections to social services when they leave the hospital. Ilyas said he was pleased that the first-of-its-kind symposium had brought together so many doctors with different perspectives and areas of expertise. “This is not a problem managed by just surgery,” he said. In the early days of the crisis, he said, “we weren’t managing the problem in front of us, which is fundamentally addiction. And this type of wound crosses multiple surgical specialties — orthopedic, burn, plastic, general. Most of us have never trained on these injuries, so it’s important to exchange notes.” ©2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer. Visit inquirer.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina Democratic Party sued on Friday to block the potential removal of tens of thousands of ballots tallied in an extremely close state Supreme Court race, saying state election officials would be violating federal law if they sided with protests initiated by the trailing Republican candidate. The lawsuit filed in Raleigh federal court comes as attorneys for Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin also went to state courts on Friday to attempt to force the State Board of Elections to act more quickly on accusations contained in the protests. The board tentatively planned to hold a public hearing on the protests next Wednesday, according to a board email provided with Griffin's motion. Griffin wants a final decision from the board earlier. Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs leads Griffin by 734 votes following a machine recount of over 5.5 million ballots cast in their Nov. 5 election. A partial hand recount began this week and is nearly complete. People are also reading... But Griffin, joined by three other GOP state legislative candidates, contend that well over 60,000 ballots shouldn't have counted, casting doubt on election results. Among their complaints: voter registration records of some voters casting ballots lack driver’s license or partial Social Security numbers, and overseas voters never living in North Carolina have run afoul of state residency requirements. The Democratic Party's lawsuit said that some of the protests represent “systematic challenges to voter eligibility” that counter a federal law's prohibition of what's essentially removing people from voter registration lists retroactively after an election. The lawsuit wants a judge to declare federal law and the Constitution prevents the votes from being discarded and to order the election board — a majority of its members Democrats — to comply. “No North Carolinian deserves to have their vote thrown out in a callous power grab,” state party Chair Anderson Clayton said in a written statement. According to state law, a board considering an election protest could correct a ballot tally, direct another recount or order a new election. Griffin's attorneys filed requests Friday for judges to demand that the board issue final rulings by late Tuesday afternoon. They were filed in Wake County Superior Court and at the Court of Appeals — the same court where Griffin serves. Usually three members on the 15-judge court — second only to the Supreme Court in state's jurisprudence — hear such motions. “Public trust in our electoral processes depends on both fair and efficient procedures to determine the outcome of our elections. By failing to give a timely decision, the State Board continues to undermine the public interest,” Griffin attorney Troy Shelton wrote. Attorneys for Riggs separately on Friday also responded to Griffin's actual protests before the board, saying they should all be denied. Griffin led Riggs — one of two Democrats on the seven-member court — by about 10,000 votes on election night, but that lead dwindled and flipped to Riggs as tens of thousands of qualifying provisional and absentee ballots were added to the totals through the canvass. Riggs has declared victory. The three Republican legislative candidates joining Griffin's protests all trailed Democratic rivals after the machine recounts. One is GOP Rep. Frank Sossamon, who trails Democratic challenger Bryan Cohn by about 230 votes. Should Cohn win, Republicans would fall one seat short of retaining its current veto-proof majority in both chambers. That would give more leverage to Democratic Gov.-elect Josh Stein in 2025. The Associated Press has not called the Supreme Court race and two of the three legislative races highlighted in the protests. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Aussie star’s epic nine-dart finish triggers massive $365k giveawayWASHINGTON — The brazen shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has prompted an outpouring of dark online humor from health insurance industry haters. Many commenters online have responded to the news of his death with variations of the phrase “thoughts and prayers are out of network,” a reference to the language insurers often use when refusing to reimburse patients for their health care costs. The motives of Thompson’s killer remain unknown, but police said shell casings discovered at the scene had been inscribed with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose,” possibly a reference to health insurance industry practices. A manhunt is underway. In response to photos of the suspect seeking tips, commenters on used insurance jargon to explain why they couldn’t help. “My regular insurance doesn’t cover vision so I can’t really see,” one poster wrote. “We need prior authorization first,” wrote another. Some prominent voices on the left, such as journalist , suggested the morbid comments were a legitimate outpouring of discontent in response to the health insurance industry’s attempts to ration health care for millions of people. Others condemned the killing, but said the industry has escaped criticism that it deserves. “Shooting the UnitedHealthcare CEO is a terrible thing to do. It’s deeply immoral and solves nothing,” Cenk Uygur, a host on The Young Turks, Thursday. “At the same time, 76,000 Americans die every year because of the health insurance industry. I also mourn for them. And I don’t see any press coverage or concern for their deaths.” Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), the first public official to chime in, noted that UnitedHealthcare, which is based in his district, merely follows the laws written by Congress. “Like other insurers, they play by rules allowing the industry to net >$100 billion/year while patients go bankrupt from medical debt,” Phillips . “The real culprit is Congress and money in politics, and it’s time for change.” Onetime Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang tried to remind gleeful followers that political violence is bad. “Guys, defending or justifying shooting a man in the street is a path to hell,” he . “Don’t do it.” Thompson’s death also inspired people to share their own horror stories of having coverage denied, either for , for family members or for . Though a vast majority of insured adults said their coverage was “excellent” or “good” in a last year, 58% said they’d had a problem with their policy in the prior 12 months, such as denied claims, provider network problems or trouble with prior authorization. Of those who had problems, half couldn’t get the matter resolved, with 17% saying they’d missed out on care as a result and 15% saying their health declined. There’s no official repository of information on how often insurers deny health claims. ProPublica that limited government data suggest 10% to 20% of claims are denied, but those numbers are aggregates that don’t account for differences between insurers or plans. Dr. Rachael Piltch-Loeb, an assistant professor at CUNY Graduate School of Public Health in New York City, offered a few reasons why people may feel justified using social media to convey “ ” over the killing of an insurance executive. For starters, she said, so many people in this country share the experience of an insurance company denying their health care coverage. That camaraderie stands in sharp contrast to the relatively small number of people who have ever personally known an insurance executive. “People identify with their own emotive experience,” said Piltch-Loeb. “There is a level of ‘othering’ that is naturally occurring when we’re thinking about the murder of somebody, in contrast to this experience that many people have had.” Beyond that, people tend to want to place blame on something or someone to make sense of a bad experience, she said, rather than try to address systematic reasons for why it happened. She gave the example of people’s very different reactions to a naturally occurring hazard, like a tornado, versus an act of terrorism. “In the case of the health insurance industry, that blame is frankly being placed ... on an insurance executive, to the point where it is seemingly justifying his murder,” said Piltch-Loeb. There’s the added dimension of people feeling justified saying whatever they want online, thanks to their anonymity and freedom of speech. People have experienced so much negative rhetoric on social media, and so often, that our society has accepted this as a normal way to talk to each other on the internet, Piltch-Loeb said. “I would have a hard time believing that these same people offline are going to be saying, ‘Oh I’m so glad that guy was murdered,’” she said. Other observers suggested there’s a bigger problem going on here: the normalization of violence. Laura Lyster-Mensh is a death doula at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C. She helps people navigate their health insurance and finances to cover the high costs that come with death, like hospital care and funerals. “I’m very concerned about the cruelty and depersonalization,” Lyster-Mensh said, noting she’s seen people posting laughing emojis on social media when talking about Thompson’s death. “The health care system is a problem. The insurance system is a problem,” she said. “If their response is to normalize and to laugh, that’s not advocacy. That’s not trying to make the world better. That’s just a mob.” Related...

Tinubu appoints new CEOs for NUC, NERDC, NEPAD, SMDFATLANTA — On Jan. 18 and 19 the AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! will be held at State Farm Arena in advance of the College Football Playoff national championship on Jan. 20. The star-studded lineup was announced Thursday at a news conference at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Performances will include Lil Wayne and GloRilla on Saturday; and Camila Cabello, Myles Smith and Knox on Sunday. On game day, the Allstate Championship Tailgate, taking place just outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the Home Depot Backyard, will feature country acts on the Capital One Music Stage, including global superstar Kane Brown and iHeartCountry “On The Verge” artist Ashley Cooke. The concerts are just two of the festivities visiting fans can enjoy in the days leading up to the big game. The fan experience for both ticket holders and the general public has been a focus for event planners. All weekend long, an estimated 100,000 people from across the country are expected to attend fan events preceding kickoff. People are also reading... “It will be an opportunity for fans of all ages to come together to sample what college football is all about, and you don’t have to have a ticket to the game to be a part of it,” said Bill Hancock, executive director of the CFP in a press release. “We’ve worked closely with the Atlanta Football Host Committee to develop fan-friendly events that thousands will enjoy come January.” On Saturday, Jan. 18, Playoff Fan Central will open at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta. The free, family-friendly experience will include games, clinics, pep rallies, special guest appearances, autograph signings and exhibits celebrating college football and its history. That day, fans can also attend Media Day, presented by Great Clips, which will feature one-hour sessions with student-athletes and coaches from each of the College Football Playoff national championship participating teams. ESPN and social media giants X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will be taping live broadcasts from the event. On Sunday, Jan. 19, the Trophy Trot, both a 5K and 10K race, will wind its way through the streets of downtown Atlanta. Each Trophy Trot participant will receive a T-shirt and finisher’s medal. Participants can register at atlantatrackclub.org . On Sunday evening, the Georgia Aquarium will host the Taste of the Championship dining event, which offers attendees the opportunity to indulge in food and drink prepared by local Atlanta chefs. This premium experience serves as an elevated exploration of local cuisine on the eve of the national championship. Tickets to the Taste of the Championship event are available on etix.com . Atlanta is the first city ever to repeat as host for the CFP national championship. The playoff was previously held in Atlanta in 2018. “We are honored to be the first city to repeat as host for the CFP national championship and look forward to welcoming college football fans from around the country in January,” said Dan Corso, president of the Atlanta Sports Council and Atlanta Football Host Committee. “This event gives us another opportunity to showcase our incredible city.” The College Football Playoff is the event that crowns the national champion in college football. The quarterfinals and semifinals rotate annually among six bowl games — the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential and the Allstate Sugar Bowl. This year’s quarterfinals will take place on Dec. 31, 2024 and Jan. 1, 2025, while the semifinals will be Jan. 9-10, 2025. The CFP national championship will be Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For additional information on the College Football Playoff, visit CollegeFootballPlayoff.com . Be the first to know

MAURA Higgins broke down in tears over facing her fears on I'm A Celebrity. The former Love Island finalist was sent to face the next Bushtucker Trial alongside our very own Jane Moore . Maura , 34, was one of two stars who were chosen by viewers to face 'Fright at the end of the tunnel' . Our Jane , 62, also learned that she received the most votes from the public and would face the challenge alongside the Dancing On Ice competitor. It seemed their fellow campmates had high hoped for the pair to get stars and bring home meals for camp. Fellow Loose Women star GK Barry even claimed that our jungle supremo Jane even 'wanted' to do one of the infamous trials. READ MORE ON I'M A CELEBRITY Her colleague commented: "This woman is going to sleep so peacefully tonight, she’s wanted to do a Trial since she got here and I know she’s gonna absolutely smash it." However, whilst Jane displayed her nerves of steel, former Dancing On Ice star Maura was feeling differently. The nervous star admitted: “I’m petrified, I just don’t want to let everyone down.” Ant and Dec were waiting for the pair at the trial clearing where he reflected on the Fright Bus the night before. Most read in I’m A Celebrity 2024 He observed: "You’re probably the screamiest bunch of celebrities we’ve ever had on this show!" The long-time I'm A Celebrity presenting duo then explained the rules of the trial, telling the celebs about the two tunnels. Secret code words were hidden in the tunnel that was above ground and the chosen celebrity would need to find them and read them out. The campmate swimming underwater would have to use the code words to unlock the stars. Maura chose to crawl above ground whilst our Jane took to the water for a swim below ground. They had just 12 minutes to collect 12 stars after the klaxon sounded, as Maura got to work. i'm A Celebrity is back for its 24th series, with a batch of famous faces living in the Aussie jungle. The Sun's Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars on the show this year.. Coleen Rooney - Arguably the most famous name in the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney , has made a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to be on the show this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever. Tulisa - The popstar and former X Factor judge has made her triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year's I'm A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz , Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal. Alan Halsall - The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street , was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he has become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities. Melvin Odoom - The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. Melvin has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet - the Aussie jungle . GK Barry - The UK's biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women . She has even gone on to endorse popular brands such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers. Dean McCullough - A rising star amongst this year's bunch of celebs , Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live. Oti Mabuse - The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She originally found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV's Dancing On Ice . Danny Jones - The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle , after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he's now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice , along with bandmate Tom Fletcher . Jane Moore - The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist is braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge - having recently split from her husband . It will be Jane's first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past. Barry McGuigan - Former pro boxer Barry is the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan . It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to bowel cancer . He told The Late Late Show in 2021: "She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache." Maura Higgins - The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard . Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year. Rev. Richard Coles - Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is a late arrival on I’m A Celebrity , and he's ready to spill the beans on his former employer. The former Communards and Strictly star , said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year. An insider said: "Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth." She searched through the sand on the floor for each part of the hidden code words. But in each section, she was joined by a series of uninvited guests which included toads, lizards and her biggest fear. She desperately tried to stay strong as she faced her worst nightmare in the form of spiders. Jane's goggles kept steaming up as she valiantly tried to keep her head underwater for the time needed to unlock the stars. I know she’s gonna absolutely smash it. Despite the extremely challenging nature of the trial, the duo still managed to win six out of twelve available stars. The duo also received praise by Ant and Dec who remarked: "That was a very, very tough Trial. "So I think you did remarkably the pair of you, you should both be very proud." READ MORE SUN STORIES On the way back to camp, Maura couldn't hide her emotions as she broke down in tears as Jane comforted her co-star. ITV is logging all votes online at itv.com/vote or you can download the I’m A Celebrity app on your phone. Every time Ant and Dec announce a new trial you can cast five votes. Jane would love you to use all of them to get her another Bushtucker challenge. Later this week, vote to SAVE Jane from eviction. I'm A Celebrity continues on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX .Stellantis lithium-sulfur EV batteries: cheaper, lighter, more range

WASHINGTON (AP) — A ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans, a top White House official said Friday. Biden administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies, as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, told reporters Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks. The update from Neuberger is the latest development in a massive hacking operation that has alarmed national security officials, exposed cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the private sector and laid bare China’s hacking sophistication. The hackers compromised the networks of telecommunications companies to obtain customer call records and gain access to the private communications of “a limited number of individuals.” Though the FBI has not publicly identified any of the victims, officials believe senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures are among those whose whose communications were accessed. Neuberger said officials did not yet have a precise sense how many Americans overall were affected by Salt Typhoon, in part because the Chinese were careful about their techniques, but a “large number” were in the Washington-Virginia area. Officials believe the goal of the hackers was to identify who owned the phones and, if they were “government targets of interest,” spy on their texts and phone calls, she said. The FBI said most of the people targeted by the hackers are “primarily involved in government or political activity.” Neuberger said the episode highlighted the need for required cybersecurity practices in the telecommunications industry, something the Federal Communications Commission is to take up at a meeting next month. “We know that voluntary cyber security practices are inadequate to protect against China, Russia and Iran hacking of our critical infrastructure,” she said. The Chinese government has denied responsibility for the hacking.UN Resolution 1701 is at the heart of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal. What is it?

Israel denounces murder of rabbi as 'heinous antisemitic terrorist act' after his body found in UAElodibet9999 。

Govt urged to scale up education financing to 4pc of GDPKanpur: A 27-year-old student of Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K) has alleged rape by a local assistant commissioner of police (ACP), who was studying cybercrime and criminology at the institute. An FIR was registered on Thursday following her complaint and the ACP was attached to police headquarters in Lucknow. A special investigation team has been set up to probe the case. In her complaint, the student alleged that the ACP, a PPS officer from the 2013 batch, established an intimate relationship with her on the promise of marriage while hiding the fact that he was already married. The ACP enrolled in cybercrime and criminology studies at IIT in July this year. He developed an affair with the student during his time at the institute. According to sources, the situation worsened when she discovered his marriage. Sources said that though he promised to divorce his wife, the scholar remained sceptical and lodged a formal complaint. Commissioner of police Akhil Kumar assigned DCP (south) Ankita Sharma and ADCP (traffic) Archana Singh to investigate the case. Their inquiry confirmed the allegations. DCP (south) Ankita Sharma said, "An FIR under various BNS sections, including 64 (rape), was filed against the ACP at the Kalyanpur police station of the city. An SIT comprising five officials headed by ADCP (traffic) Archana Singh was established to ensure an impartial investigation. The accused officer has since been attached to Lucknow police headquarters." The accused had served in Agra and Aligarh for three years each before being posted in Kanpur. IIT-K director Prof. Manindra Agrawal said, "A girl student of IIT Kanpur has accused a police officer in Kanpur city of sexual exploitation and filed a complaint. The institute is committed to providing all the necessary support to the student in this difficult time. We are also thankful to the city police for their quick action on the complaint. We are cooperating with them in the investigation." Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .

Startup Ecosystem and Technology: Revolutionizing India’s Retail FashionData Journey on Aggressive Growth Track: Announces Purchase of Spartanburg Property from Greenidge Generation for $12.1 MillionThe Atlanta Hawks were fined $100,000 by the NBA on Tuesday after a league investigation into star guard Trae Young missing an NBA Cup game two weeks ago. The NBA found the Hawks violated the league's Player Participation Policy when the 26-year-old American missed a November 12 contest at Boston. The probe, which included a review by an independent physician, determined the Hawks held Young out of a game, in which he could have played, under the medical standard clause of the policy, which is aimed at having top NBA talent play in regular-season contests. The Hawks, who beat Boston 117-116, said Young was unavailable due to tendinitis in his right Achilles tendon. Three-time NBA All-Star Young, who has not missed another game this season, has averaged 21.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and an NBA-best 11.9 assists so far this season. At 7-11, the Hawks are 11th in the Eastern Conference. The NBA also fined Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown $35,000 for aggressively pursuing a referee during his team's 108-103 home loss to Brooklyn on Sunday. The Kings are 8-10, 12th in the Western Conference after dropping four games in a row. js/bsp

Unpacking the Latest Options Trading Trends in AmgenNOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES TORONTO, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Water Ways Technologies Inc. (TSXV: WWT) (FRA: WWT) (" Water Ways " or the " Company "), a global provider of Israeli-based agriculture technology, providing water irrigation solutions to agricultural producers, announces that it will be consolidating all of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company ("Common Shares") on the basis of one (1) post consolidation Common Share for each twenty (20) pre consolidation Common Shares (the "Consolidation"). The Corporation's board of directors set December 23, 2024, as the effective date of the Consolidation. It is expected that trading of the Common Shares on a post-Consolidation basis on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") will commence, subject to TSXV approval, on or about December 23, 2024. The Company's name and trading symbol will remain unchanged. The 148,785,345 Common Shares currently issued and outstanding will be reduced to approximately 7,439,267 Common Shares on a post-Consolidation basis. No fractional shares will be issued. Any fractional interest in Common Shares will be rounded up to the nearest whole Common Share. Letter of transmittals will be mailed to registered Shareholders, and registered Shareholders will be required to deposit their share certificate(s), together with the duly completed letter of transmittal, with Computershare Investor Services Inc., the Company's registrar and transfer agent. Non-registered Shareholders holding Common Shares through an intermediary (a securities broker, dealer, bank or financial institution) should be aware that the intermediary may have different procedures for processing the Consolidation than those that will be put in place by the Company for registered Shareholders. If Shareholders hold their Common Shares through intermediaries and have questions in this regard, they are encouraged to contact their intermediaries. Outstanding stock options and share purchase warrants will also be adjusted by the Consolidation ratio and the respective exercise prices of outstanding options and share purchase warrants will be adjusted accordingly. About Water Ways Technologies Inc. WWT through its subsidiaries, is a global provider of Israeli-based agriculture technology, providing water irrigation solutions to agricultural producers. WWT competes in the global irrigation water systems market with a focus on developing solutions with commercial applications in the micro and precision irrigation segments of the overall market. At present, WWT’s main revenue streams are derived from the following business units: (i) Projects Business Unit; and (ii) Component and Equipment Sales Unit. WWT is capitalizing on the opportunities presented by micro and smart irrigation, while also making a positive mark on society by making these technologies more widely available, especially in developing markets such as Africa and Latin America and developed markets such as China and Canada. WWT’s irrigation projects include vineyards, Cotton fields, Apple and Orange orchards, Blueberry, Medical Cannabis growers, fresh produce cooling rooms and more, in over fifteen countries. For more information, please contact Ronnie Jaegermann Director T: +972-54-4202054 E: ronnie@waterwt.com https://www.water-ways-technologies.com/ https://www.hg-wwt.com/ Twitter: @WaterWaysTechn1 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "potential", "will", "seek", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions as they relate to Water Ways. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect Water Ways' current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to Water Ways, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Material factors or assumptions were applied in providing forward-looking information. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information to vary from those described herein should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize. Should any factor affect Water Ways in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, Water Ways does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this press release is made as of the date of this press release and Water Ways undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law. Water Ways' results and forward-looking information and calculations may be affected by fluctuations in exchange rates and its own share prices. All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.

Watch Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's best throws from his 317-yard, 4-touchdown game vs. the New England Patriots during Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season.With China’s and India’s trade on the table, the Port of Vancouver is under pressure to deliver for Canada Rocked by contract disputes and worker strikes, the port has been working to shed its laggard image and play a key role in Canada’s long-term plan to diversify its trading partners Brent Jang, The Globe and Mail Dec 6, 2024 1:30 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Container ships loading at Port of Vancouver container cargo terminal Rob Kruyt, BIV Listen to this article 00:17:04 At the Port of Vancouver’s operations centre, Sean Baxter likes what he sees on a large screen that displays digital mapping of ships along Burrard Inlet. The waters in the inner harbour near downtown Vancouver are calm on this overcast autumn day, with vessels entering and exiting smoothly. “The waterways in the port are becoming busier,” said Mr. Baxter, acting director of marine operations and harbour master at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, which oversees Canada’s largest port. “Co-ordination is really required to make sure that we can proactively set a schedule.” Scheduling transpacific commerce is becoming increasingly important, especially during a period of trade uncertainty when U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to impose 25-per-cent tariffs on all goods from Canada and Mexico entering the United States. Over the past year, the Port of Vancouver has been stepping up efforts to shed its laggard image and become a world-class operation. The goal is to help fulfill the Canadian government’s Indo-Pacific economic dreams and position Canada as the gateway to greater transpacific trade over the long term, even as political tensions with China and India escalate in the short term. While Canada’s largest trade relationship overall is with the U.S. by far, China is the number one trading partner for goods handled at the Port of Vancouver. From the port’s operations centre, which is open 24/7, an active traffic management project that includes digital monitoring of marine activity is gearing up for what the port forecasts will be record-high shipments across the Pacific Ocean in the years ahead. Along Burrard Inlet, the port has 23 major terminals. Cargo imports and exports also move from areas nearby, including terminals in Delta, B.C., located about 30 kilometres south of Vancouver. The port recently expanded its scheduling system for keeping tabs on marine traffic, part of efforts to prevent the sprawling operations from being mired in inefficiency. The stakes are high, with trade at West Coast ports being a crucial part of the economic health of British Columbia and with the ripple effects felt across Canada. Various types of international trade, including at Canadian ports and along the Windsor-Detroit trucking corridor, represent two-thirds of Canada’s gross domestic product. Exports alone support about one in six Canadian jobs, according to Mary Ng, the federal Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development. Mr. Trump said he would slap U.S. tariffs on all goods imported from Canada and Mexico soon after he takes office in January, warning that the levies would stay in place until the two countries crack down on drugs and illegal immigrants. He telegraphed his intentions during the U.S. election campaign, but trade experts originally thought the tariffs would be closer to 10 per cent instead of his announcement that proposes 25 per cent. “The recent election of Donald Trump, the prospect of substantial new tariffs and an ‘America First’ attitude will bring added risk and headwinds to our economy,” Greater Vancouver Board of Trade president Bridgitte Anderson cautioned in a letter, dated Nov. 7, to federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon. The board of trade’s “port shutdown calculator” displays an electronic tally of the value of trade disrupted on the West Coast, rising each second whenever there is a strike or lockout. The calculator showed that $8-billion of cargo had been affected at B.C. ports during a 10-day lockout in November of about 730 unionized dock supervisors, based on an estimated impact of $800-million a day. During last year’s two-week strike at B.C. ports by 7,400 rank-and-file longshore workers, the calculator showed that $10.7-billion of cargo had been disrupted. “Unfortunately, in recent years, we have been challenged in various ways to live up to that beacon of stability,” Ms. Anderson said. Mr. MacKinnon issued a directive to impose binding arbitration to end the lockout at B.C. ports and at the Port of Montreal. He used the same method to end work stoppages that lasted several days at Canada’s two largest railways in August. The BC Maritime Employers Association represents DP World Canada and 48 other private-sector companies such as ship owners and terminal operators. Union leaders say they are concerned about the lack of consultation over the implementation of semi-automation at DP World Canada’s Centerm container terminal along Burrard Inlet. Earlier this year, the federal government appointed veteran mediator Vince Ready to head an industrial inquiry commission into conflicts at B.C. ports. Mr. Ready is chairing the two-person commission, with the other member being Vancouver lawyer Amanda Rogers. They will be making recommendations in the spring of 2025 for achieving stability at B.C. ports. The Port of Vancouver’s diversification softened the blow of the economic impact of the November lockout, which shut down sites such as container terminals and potash docks. Exports of coal, heavy oil and bulk grain continued. Bulk grain was still exported overseas, in accordance with the Canada Labour Code. Under the code, grain is deemed essential and must be loaded on ships through stevedoring companies at the docks, although the rule doesn’t apply to workers at grain terminals. About 650 unionized employees at Vancouver grain terminals went on strike for four days in September. A coal export facility, operated by Westshore Terminals Investment Corp. in Delta, kept running during the lockout in November because Westshore has its own collective agreement. Other sites that continued operating included the Westridge Marine Terminal, where tankers depart with heavy oil from the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMX). The first shipment of diluted bitumen from the TMX pipeline left Westridge on May 22 for its journey to China. In six months since that first shipment, an average of 22 tankers per month departed Westridge with heavy oil from TMX, compared with an average of two per month in recent years, before the completion of the expanded pipeline. Last year, more than 150 million tonnes of exported and imported cargo went through the Port of Vancouver, equivalent to the next five largest ports in Canada. China, South Korea, the U.S., Japan and Taiwan were the top five countries sending products imported by Canada into the Vancouver region, based on tonnage. On the export side, the top five countries receiving Canadian goods originating from the Vancouver region were China, Japan, South Korea, India and the U.S. “Despite ongoing economic and diplomatic challenges, it is worth noting that bilateral trade flows remain near record levels” between Canada and China, according to the University of Alberta’s China Institute think tank. The Port of Vancouver handles nearly 80 per cent of Canada-China trade value. The value of merchandise from China imported into Canada surged to $89.2-billion last year, or nearly eight times higher than in 2000, according to Statistics Canada. On the export side, the value of exports from Canada to China soared to $29.8-billion last year, or nine times higher than in 2000. “The Asia-Pacific market is potentially the biggest growth market for Canada and its world trade,” said Leo Ryan, editor of trade publication Maritime Magazine. Commodities such as potash, coal and grain fill ships destined for export to Asia, while imports such as consumer electronics and household goods arrive at container terminals. “How we prioritize and protect our critical trade infrastructure – that has an impact on the health of our economy, opportunities for our businesses and ultimately Canadians’ quality of life,” said Pascal Chan, senior director of transportation at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. The federal government established the National Supply Chain Office in late 2023, with a mandate that involves co-ordinating responses to mitigate the impact of disruptions to the transportation system, whether they be work stoppages or natural disasters. Left, St. Lawrence Seaway workers strike outside the St. Lambert Lock in October, 2023; striking workers picket in front of the International Longshoreman’s Association’s office in Montreal in November, 2024. Over the past two years alone, a series of work stoppages have hit Canada’s supply chain. Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press, Andrej Ivanov/The Globe and Mail Nationally, over the past two years alone, a series of work stoppages have hit Canada’s supply chain, including last year at the St. Lawrence Seaway and this year at the Port of Montreal and four B.C. ports: Vancouver region, Prince Rupert, Nanaimo and Port Alberni. Last year, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre claimed that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government has fumbled the port file. “We’ve got to speed up our ports as well, unleash our exports by making our ports easier to deal with – more friendly to the truckers who pick up and drop off our goods, remove the gatekeepers and let’s make Vancouver one of the best ports on planet Earth,” Mr. Poilievre said. With larger vessels calling at terminals, it takes longer to unload imported products and load commodities for export, adding to turnaround times that already have given the Port of Vancouver the dubious distinction of being one of the world’s most inefficient for container shipments. The Container Port Performance Index for 2021 , compiled by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, served as a wake-up call. The administrative index placed Vancouver in 368th spot, or third-last in the rankings, which factor in operating efficiency and turnaround times. Long Beach, Calif., placed second-last and Los Angeles was at the bottom. Vancouver improved in the rankings for 2023, placing 356th out of the expanded list of 405 ports reviewed. In those rankings, Vancouver finished behind Mexico’s Port of Manzanillo’s 331st spot, but ahead of other North American West Coast ports: Seattle, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland, Calif., Prince Rupert, B.C., and Tacoma, Wash. China’s Port of Yangshan, near Shanghai, topped the container index rankings of the most efficient ports last year, followed by Salalah in Oman and Cartagena in Colombia. Vancouver Fraser Port Authority officials say the index is a narrow measure that is flawed because it fixates on container shipments. They emphasize that the Port of Vancouver is a diversified operation that handles cargo such as auto imports and bulk grain exports, while also serving as a popular destination for cruise ships. The port authority is a federal agency that reports to Transport Minister Anita Anand. Daniel-Robert Gooch, president of the 17-member Association of Canadian Port Authorities, said one area that Ottawa needs to revisit is financing. Port authorities across the country want greater financial flexibility so they can make much-needed investments themselves, as well as count on Ottawa to pitch in. “We do think there is still a federal role for infrastructure funding,” Mr. Gooch said. “You need to give the port authorities the tools to be nimbler.” Union leaders have seen how lucrative that the global shipping industry can be, especially for transporting containers. Drewry Shipping Consultants Ltd.’s World Container Index – the freight rate of a 40-foot container – peaked at US$10,377 in September, 2021, during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Freight rates have been volatile since then. With global demand faltering, Drewry’s index fell to less than US$1,500 in December, 2023, but recovered this year to hover around US$3,400 recently. Prices typically floated between US$1,200 and US$2,000 for several years prior to the pandemic. The shipping industry deploys large vessels to carry containers, which are reusable steel boxes measured as 20-foot equivalent units, or TEUs. Nearly 1.8 million TEUs of exports and imports went through the Port of Vancouver in the first half of this year, up 14 per cent from the same period in 2023. Leaders at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority acknowledge the obstacles, including labour strife, but they see opportunities through changes big and small. Peter Xotta, who became the port authority’s president in December, 2023, said incremental improvements will help speed up operations. For example, expanding existing rail yards at the Annacis Auto Terminal will boost the capacity for importing Asian-manufactured vehicles. Road and rail infrastructure changes in the Vancouver suburb of Burnaby are expected to improve trade flows near Burrard Inlet. Mr. Xotta replaced Robin Silvester, who stepped down from the port’s top job in June, 2023, after more than 14 years at the helm. Victor Pang, who is the port authority’s chief financial officer, filled in on an interim basis for five months as president. For imports at the Port of Vancouver, the overwhelming majority of goods in containers from Asia are transported by truck and train eastward and stay in Canada, including shipments to Toronto and Montreal. “Our role is unique in a Canadian context,” Mr. Xotta said. “Vancouver plays a prominent role for containers coming inbound. They’re going to where the major population centres are in Canada.” One of the tenants in Delta is coal exporter Westshore, whose largest shareholder is B.C. billionaire Jim Pattison, with a 47-per-cent stake. Westshore is constructing new facilities to allow the company to start handling potash exports in 2026 from BHP Group Ltd.’s Jansen mine in Saskatchewan. The big bet being placed by Mr. Xotta is the port’s container expansion strategy, which focuses on the $3.5-billion Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project near Delta. The project, which is subject to 370 legally binding conditions to comply with environmental rules, received approval last year from the federal and B.C. governments. Environmentalists warn that the new container terminal would threaten intertidal biofilm, affecting shorebirds such as western sandpipers, and harming feeding conditions for endangered southern resident killer whales. Ecojustice Canada, the country’s largest environmental law charity, is opposing Terminal 2 in Federal Court. Construction of an artificial island near Delta will be required for Terminal 2. The initial phase is slated for completion by the mid-2030s, followed by incremental expansion as required to take advantage of what the port envisages will be robust trade between Canada and Asia. The port authority has reached mutual benefit agreements with 27 Indigenous groups consenting to the new site. Upon completion, the additional container capacity could mean a jump of more than 30 per cent compared with the current combined capacity in B.C. Under Mr. Xotta’s new leadership, the port authority has taken a conciliatory approach as the landlord to tenants such as Global Container Terminals Inc. GCT already operates two container terminals in the Vancouver region, namely the Vanterm site along Burrard Inlet and the Deltaport facility in Delta. Mr. Xotta has opened up the competition for the right to run the new container terminal so that Vancouver-based GCT and DP World Canada, whose parent is based in Dubai, are welcome to bid. The Port of Vancouver, which handles one-third of Canada’s trade value with countries outside of North America, expects to weather the looming storm of U.S. tariffs and position itself to thrive in the long term. “It’s absolutely an aspiration for us to be a world-class port,” Mr. Xotta said. “We have to get away from disruption, back to stability, because that’s what will help us restore our reputation and continue to grow.” See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Transportation Ferry sailings added for Swifties and others Dec 6, 2024 4:01 AM CPKC rail buying more Ballard fuel-cell engines Dec 5, 2024 10:00 AM Fog causing flight delays at YVR Dec 4, 2024 2:09 PM