lucky 9 card game Adele receives the award for Artist of the Year during the Brit Awards 2022 (Ian West/PA) Adele has said she will miss her residency shows “terribly” but needs to “move on” after playing her 100th and final show in Las Vegas on Saturday night. The British singer-songwriter, 36, launched Weekends With Adele, located at The Colosseum theatre in Caesars Palace in November 2022. In July, she announced she would be taking a “big break” from music after her run of of sell-out shows at the venue, which seats around 4,000 people. In a social media post on Monday, she said: “Well what an adventure! Las Vegas you’ve been so good to me. A post shared by Adele (@adele) “This residency went on to mirror what 30 was about, lost and broken to healed and thriving! “Seems so fitting in the end. The only thing left to do in this case is move on.” The Easy On Me star made a return to the spotlight in 2021 when she released her fourth album, 30. Adele said: “These 100 shows have been so easy to love. “They were all completely different because I got to really be with every single person in the room every night. “I’ve loved every single second of it and I am so proud of it! I will miss it terribly, and I will miss you all terribly too. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! See you next time.” Videos posted online from her concert on Saturday show the singer getting tearful as she bid farewell to Vegas. “It’s been wonderful and I will miss it terribly and I will miss you terribly,” she said. “I don’t know when I next want to perform again.” The singer, full name Adele Adkins, shared an emotional embrace with Celine Dion after she spotted the music artist in the audience during her Las Vegas show last month. In August, Adele played shows in a purpose-built outdoor arena in Munich, with capacity for 80,000 people per night, and told fans on the last night that they would not be seeing her for a “long time”.PHILADELPHIA -- running back on Sunday became just the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. The accomplishment came in the fourth quarter of a over the that clinched the NFC East Division title for the Eagles. "Being a fan of the game and the running back position, to reach a milestone and put myself up there with eight other backs that I respect, and some I grew up watching, definitely means a lot," Barkley said, donning an NFC East champion hat for the first time in his career. "But at the same time, I wouldn't be able to do that without this team. You can't be great without the greatness of others." The coaching staff kept Barkley in the game in the fourth quarter despite Philadelphia holding a big lead. He was handed the ball on five straight plays, the last of which was a 23-yard scamper down the left side that put him over 2,000 yards. Barkley trotted to the sideline and received a pat on the head from lineman and a hug from offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Coach Nick Sirianni then called a timeout, allowing the rest of his teammates to swarm Barkley and offer their congratulations while the fans broke into "MVP" chants. "It's a testament to him, coming to another team, first year, a lot of expectations. He's truly a super-talented football player, a great teammate," right tackle said. "I was happy for him." Barkley was replaced in the lineup by after surpassing the 2,000-yard mark. Barkley finished with 167 yards on 31 carries. He is now just 101 yards from breaking Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record (2,105 yards). Now the question becomes: With the division wrapped up and the chances slim of capturing the No. 1 seed in the NFC, will he have a chance to chase Dickerson in the regular-season finale against the ? Sirianni will have to weigh allowing Barkley the chance to capture the rarest of records versus ensuring his health heading into the postseason. "I always have to do what's right for the football team to reach our goals of what we need to do," Sirianni said. "I've got a lot to think about." Johnson's stance was that the group had accomplished its goal of surpassing 2,000 yards and suggested the starters should rest Week 18 under the philosophy that it's "better to be safe than sorry." Left tackle , meanwhile, said he will "push for" the starters to play against New York even if the game has no meaning in terms of playoff seeding, though he sounded unsure whether Sirianni would go for it. "It's an opportunity to make history," Mailata said. "We never really spoke about the Giants next week, but we just had the feeling that if we don't go for it today, we might sit out. We don't know. Coach hasn't really said anything yet. We'll see." Barkley said he'll be fine with whatever Sirianni decides. "Whatever his decision is, I'm all for it," Barkley said. "If his mindset is, we'll go out there and try it, I'll go out there and try it. If his mindset is, let's rest and get ready for this run, I'm all for that, too ... I came here to do something special. Breaking a record is special but I want a banner up there. I think we all do." With the win, the Eagles completed their first season sweep of the Cowboys since 2011. This is the 20th straight season the NFC East does not have a repeat champion, which is the longest streak in NFL history. Philadelphia accomplished the feat while operating with its No. 2 and No. 3 quarterbacks at the controls. got the start for , who suffered a concussion against the last week. Pickett, a New Jersey native who grew up cheering for the Eagles, had a strong performance (10 of 15, 143 yards, 2 total touchdowns) but was playing through injured ribs and had to exit the game after a couple of hard hits during the opening series of the second half. "I'm good. I'll be all right," Pickett said. "Came in with a little bit of an injury. We'll do some more tests to see how it looks, but I'll be OK." , the 2023 sixth-round pick out of Stanford, received the bulk of the first-team reps Friday so Pickett could rest, Johnson said. McKee made the most of his opportunity, going 3-of-4 for 54 yards with 2 touchdown tosses. The Eagles (13-3) reached 13 wins for just the fourth time in franchise history. The other three times (2004, 2017, 2022) they went to the Super Bowl. There is one game left before the playoffs. Should Barkley sit out that game against his former team, it would be just fine with Dickerson, who made it clear to the Los Angeles Times he does not want Barkley to break his long-standing record. "If you had a record, would you want me to break your record?" Barkley said when asked to respond to Dickerson's comments. "It's an honor to ... have your name attached to that record and having guys chase it. Guys have been chasing that record for 40 years. I don't see it as a shot, I don't see it as throwing shade. You shouldn't want me to break that record. That's how I look at it."

Timeline: Jimmy Carter, 1924-2024

A Find Out Now survey of 1774 Scottish adults predicted that the SNP would make up the bulk of a pro- independence majority after the next Holyrood election – as the only party with more than 20 MSPs. A Westminster poll which was run concurrently suggested a major reversal of fortunes in the London parliament as well. Should a new General Election be run, the SNP would return 41 Scottish MPs while Labour would drop to eight, seat projections from polling expert Professor John Curtice predicted. The new Find Out Now poll showed a fracturing Unionist vote due to the emergence of Reform UK, with only the SNP garnering more than 20% of the constituency or regional list vote. With those who responded “don’t know” removed, the survey projected a 35% vote share for the SNP in the constituency vote. This compared to 19% for Labour, 15% for the Tories , 11% for Reform UK, 9% for the LibDems, 7% for the Greens , and 2% for Alba. READ MORE: As polls point to Yes, Anas Sarwar's road to Bute House just got a lot rougher On the regional lists, the SNP were also ahead but by a narrower margin. They were predicted to win 26% of the vote compared to Labour’s 17%, the Tories’ 14%, the Greens’ 13%, Reform UK’s 11%, the LibDems’ 10%, and Alba’s 6%. Professor Curtice projected that those vote shares would lead to 54 SNP MSPs, 15 Green MSPs, and three Alba MSPs in a breakthrough for that party. That would mean a total of 72 pro-independence MSPs, a clear majority of 15 in a parliament with 129 seats. On the Unionist side, Labour would be the largest group – but would return just 19 MSPs. This would represent a drop of three from their current total and a historic low for Scottish Labour. Under Curtice’s modelling, the Conservatives were projected to return 16 MSPs, the LibDems 12, and Reform UK 10. The Find Out Now poll also asked Scots how they would vote in a General Election, and found a 14-point lead for the SNP over Labour. In the July General Election, Labour won 37 Scottish seats with 35% of the vote, while the SNP returned nine MPs with 30% of the vote. If the vote were to be re-run today, the new poll suggested the SNP would win 34% of the vote, while Labour would drop to 20%. The Tories fell behind Reform UK in the Westminster voting question, polling at 14% to Reform UK’s 15%. However, this was not projected to transfer into a Scottish seat. The LibDems polled at 9%, the Greens on 6%, and 2% said they would back another party. Professor Curtice’s modelling, using uniform movement since the 2024 election, projected that the SNP would win 41 of Scotland’s 57 constituencies. Labour would win eight, the LibDems five, and the Tories three. Alba welcomed the poll as a sign that they may make a major breakthrough in 2026 and have their first politicians elected. The party does have one MSP and several councillors, but they have all defected while in office rather than being elected on the Alba ticket. Chris McEleny, the party’s general secretary, said the poll “shows we are winning public support and would win seats at the Scottish Parliament”. “It is now our aim to return a significant vote for independence at the Holyrood elections so that we can become part of a pro-independence coalition to advance the cause of Scotland,” he added. READ MORE: Yes leads in new independence poll – and would surge if Reform UK win power The poll also had good news for the Greens, predicting a record result of 15 MSPs for the party. The party’s co-leader Lorna Slater MSP said: “2026 will be a crucial election, it is our last real chance to tackle the climate emergency, and it's vital that we maintain Holyrood's pro-independence majority. “Last time the Scottish Greens had our greatest ever election and since then we have been delivering for the people of Scotland ... The next election will be pivotal for our common future. The only way to deliver progressive independence voices is to vote Scottish Greens.” SNP MSP Stuart McMillan said the polling showed that “under John Swinney’s leadership, the SNP is offering hope and delivering real progress on the people of Scotland’s priorities”. “The First Minister's first Budget delivers on people's priorities – with record investment in the NHS and decisive action to eradicate child poverty – like scrapping Labour's two child cap. The SNP has also reversed Labour's cut to the Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners in Scotland,” he said. “The SNP will continue to listen to voters, deliver on their priorities and always put the interests of Scotland first.” Scottish Labour issued a boilerplate response to the poll, with a spokesperson saying: “This year Labour got rid of one failing government by removing the Tories from office – but the job is only half done. “Scotland is still being let down by a tired and incompetent SNP Government that has let NHS waiting lists soar and homelessness hit record levels. “Scottish Labour will work tirelessly to earn voters’ trust and demonstrate that we can deliver the change in direction our country so badly needs.” Find Out Now polled 1774 Scottish adults aged 18+ between December 17 and 24.

Minister for Sugar Charan Jeath Singh and Opposition Member of Parliament Ketan Lal, who were both at the COP 29 meeting in Baku have exchanged harsh words on social media. Mr Lal stated despite pushing his way into the delegation at the last minute, after it had already been finalized, Mr Charan’s presence in Azerbaijan added little value to Fiji’s efforts. “He traveled in business class, with stopovers in Sydney and Dubai, all at the expense of taxpayers, yet only managed to attend two side events during the entire trip in Baku Azerbaijan,” said Mr Lal. “Even more troubling is that his speeches at these events were written by the same hardworking staff who were tirelessly negotiating on Fiji’s behalf until the early hours of the morning.” Mr Lal claimed Mr Singh was “lost and found” during the whole conference. “This is a blatant misuse of government funds and resources. Minister Charan not only wasted taxpayers’ money but also collected a hefty allowance for what amounted to a ceremonial appearance.” Mr Singh also posted a rebuttal on social media, stating “I am not like you here as a lapdog of another political party wasting Fiji’s taxpayers fund.” “By the way I didn’t even hear you on any side events at this COP29.” “You should be ashamed of traveling on the strength of Peoples Alliance majority led Government.’ “Please refund all your air ticket and per diem claims to the state if you walk your talk.”9to5Mac Security Bite is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Making Apple devices work-ready and enterprise-safe is all we do. Our unique integrated approach to management and security combines state-of-the-art Apple-specific security solutions for fully automated Hardening & Compliance, Next Generation EDR, AI-powered Zero Trust, and exclusive Privilege Management with the most powerful and modern Apple MDM on the market. The result is a totally automated Apple Unified Platform currently trusted by over 45,000 organizations to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple. I've been a CleanMyMac subscriber for nearly a decade, and I've been truly impressed by the app's recent focus on providing Mac users with simple yet effective malware detection and prevention features. So, when MacPaw offered to fly me out to Kyiv, Ukraine, to meet and interview the folks leading Moonlock, its cybersecurity division, I jumped at the opportunity. This interview is divided into three parts: About Moonlock, the technology behind the Moonlock Engine, and what's planned for the future. Disclosure: Ukraine is a country at war. Many members of the Moonlock team also aid in the defense of their country, so false names may be used below to protect their identity. Some parts of the transcript were edited for clarity. You're reading Security Bite, a security-focused column on 9to5Mac. Each week, Arin Waichulis delivers insights and interviews on the latest in data privacy, the current malware landscape, and emerging threats within Apple's vast ecosystem of over 2 billion active devices. At the time of writing, MacPaw's HQ, the very place where this interview was conducted weeks prior, was just severely damaged in a ballistic missile attack. My heart goes out to the team. Thankfully, no one was harmed. Please... Arin Waichulis

Jaylon Johnson isn't interested in bright spots with the Bears' skid at 5 games

Pandemic business loan program lacked 'value for money': auditor general

Revvity Inc. stock underperforms Monday when compared to competitors despite daily gainsNew Delhi, Dec 29: As many as 28,818 applications for initiation of the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP), having an underlying default of Rs. 10.22 lakh crore, were resolved before their admission till March 2024 due to the behavioural change in debtor-creditor relationship effectuated by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), according to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs’ year-end review Till September 2024, 1,068 CIRPs have culminated in resolution plans, achieving on average 86.13 per cent of the fair value of the Corporate Debtor (CD). Creditors have realised Rs. 3.55 lakh crore under the said resolution plans. By June 2024, the IBC successfully navigated 3,409 CDs through the insolvency process, with 1,068 achieving resolutions through plans and the remainder through appeals, reviews, settlements, or withdrawals. The resolution of these CDs has led to a realisation rate of over 161 per cent against liquidation value. The average expense incurred in the resolution processes is remarkably low, standing at only 1.37 per cent of the liquidation value and 0.83 per cent of the resolution value, the review states. The IBC has introduced a new era of transparency and fairness in insolvency resolutions. It ensures equitable treatment of all stakeholders, with a clear and predictable resolution process, the review further stated. The Government is also considering setting up an Integrated Technology Platform under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. This would lead to more transparency, minimisation of delays, effective decision making and better oversight of the processes by the authorities. Meanwhile, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has received 1,289 antitrust matters since its inception and has disposed of 1,157 (90 per cent approx.) cases till September this year, the review further stated. Further, from January 2024 to September 2024, the Commission received 30 new cases and disposed of 30 cases (including carry-forward cases from the previous year). The Commission considered and approved mergers and acquisitions relating to various sectors of the economy such as financial markets, power & power generation, pharmaceuticals & healthcare, and digital markets. The CCI also initiated a study on “Competition Issues in the Renewable Energy Sector across BRICS Nations”. The study report is being prepared based on inputs received from the competition authorities of BRICS nations. Over the past two years, the Ministry has also significantly improved compliance with Section 148 of the Companies Act, 2013. This progress is evident from a substantial increase in the filings of e-Form CRA-2 (Intimation of Appointment of Cost Auditor) and e-Form CRA-4 (Filing of Cost Audit Report). Specifically, there has been a 35 per cent increase in e-Form CRA-2 filings and a 36 per cent rise in e-Form CRA-4 filings in the fiscal year 2023-24 compared to 2021-22, the review added.LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Jaylon Johnson wasn't all that interested in discussing any bright spots or reasons to have hope for the Chicago Bears. The star cornerback made his feelings clear. “I’ve been in slumps four, five years in a row now,” Johnson said Monday. "So, I mean at the end of the day, I don’t look for, ‘OK, what is going to be better in the future?’ ... It will be better when it’s better. So, right now, it’s not better. That’s all I can go off of.” The Bears (4-7) are last in the NFC North and have five straight losses after falling 30-27 to Minnesota in overtime. They wiped out an 11-point deficit in the final 22 seconds of regulation, only to come up short again when the Vikings' Parker Romo kicked a 29-yard field goal. It was the third game during this skid that came down to the final play. The Bears also lost on a Hail Mary at Washington in Week 8 and had a game-ending field goal attempt by Cairo Santos blocked by Green Bay in Week 11. Players have openly questioned some of the coaching decisions in recent weeks. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron got fired before the game against Green Bay. And coach Matt Eberflus' game management came under more scrutiny against Minnesota. With the Bears trailing 17-10 in the third quarter, there was some confusion on a fourth-and-4 at the Vikings 27. Eberflus said he didn't do a good enough job communicating on the previous play that they would go for it on fourth down. That led to a chaotic sequence in which Santos and long snapper Scott Daly ran onto the field, only to get waved off by a lineman. Quarterback Caleb Williams had to rush to get everyone lined up properly in order to avoid a delay of game. He wound up barking out the wrong play because he misheard the call from offensive coordinator Thomas Brown and threw an incomplete pass. Receiver DJ Moore said Eberflus had not addressed that play with the team. The Bears were scheduled to meet later Monday. “That moment was just like, like a ‘what is going on’ moment that we could have avoided,” he said. The passing game. Williams has clearly looked more comfortable in the two games since Brown replaced the fired Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator. The No. 1 draft pick followed up a solid performance against Green Bay by throwing for 340 yards and two touchdowns. It was his fourth straight turnover-free game and fifth in a row without an interception. Field goal protection. One week after his game-ending 46-yard field goal attempt against Green Bay got blocked, Santos had a 48-yarder rejected on his first try against Minnesota. It happened from the same area, in the middle of the line, when the Vikings' Jerry Tillery knocked down the kick. “I just think it’s technique," Eberflus said. "It’s getting your foot down, bracing up there, staying lower. ... We just have to do a better job there with that.” It was the third blocked field goal for Santos this year, the most for Chicago in a single season since it also had three blocked in 2012. He had a 43-yard try blocked in a win over Jacksonville on Oct. 13. Moore. The Bears have done a better job getting Moore involved under Brown. Moore caught seven passes for a season-high 106 yards and a touchdown against Minnesota. That gave him 14 receptions for 168 yards the past two games, compared to 13 for 104 yards over the previous four. Johnson's 27-yard catch down the middle set up Santos' tying field goal at the end of regulation. But it's not just deep shots. The Bears are finding ways to get the ball in his hands, allowing him to turn short passes into bigger gains. He also had a 13-yard run. RB D’Andre Swift. After a string of solid outings, Swift had just 30 yards on 13 carries. To be fair, he has been dealing with a groin issue, and he was going against the NFL's No. 1 run defense. The Bears reported no injuries during the game. 5-18 — The Bears' record in one-possession games in nearly three seasons under Eberflus, including a 2-5 mark this year. They are 14-31 overall during Eberflus' tenure. The schedule doesn't get any easier, with a Thanksgiving matchup at NFC North leader Detroit. The Lions (10-1) have won nine straight since losing to Tampa Bay in Week 2. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLDEAN McCullough celebrated his best ever Bushtucker Trial result amid backlash from I'm A Celebrity fans. It was the sixth time the public had voted for the Radio One presenter - despite accusations he's faking his fears. 5 Radio One presenter Danni Diston Credit: Instagram/@dannidiston 5 Dean climbing up to the top of the beanstalk Credit: ITV 5 It was a heights-based challenge Credit: ITV 5 Dean celebrated his record number of stars Credit: ITV Host Ant McPartlin moaned on Unpacked: "Who's still voting for Dean? I don't get it" as frustrated campmates voiced they desperately want the public to stop voting for him to do trials. "I've got no fears left to face," insisted Dean as he embarked on Jack and the Scream Stalk during Monday night's episode. He went on to achieve his personal best score of 10 out of 12 stars. Now his BBC Radio One pal Danni Diston has defended Dean against allegations he was previously acting up for the cameras with his terrified screams. READ MORE ON I'M A CELEB LOOSE LIPS Danny Jones' weird sleep routine revealed by his wife - and what he'll miss jungle buddy Helen Flanagan reveals who she's rooting for in I'm A Celeb & it's NOT Alan Explaining why Dean is performing better than when he twice called out I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Danni exclusively told The Sun: "He's probably dealing with the fact that he's hungry himself. "Maybe that's giving him more adrenaline to get it done. "I think when you've done one trial, it's hard, then when you do two you get used to it and three and four and so on. "I think it helps when he's got someone there to really cheer him on. Most read in I’m A Celebrity 2024 team jane Jane Moore’s Loose Women co-stars reveal real reason for her I'm A Celeb outburst VARDY VERDICT Coleen Rooney smashed her first trial says Rebekah Vardy in I’m a Celeb diary camp exit? I’m A Celeb fans fear star has ‘gone missing’ as they ‘forget’ he’s on the show trouble brewing Shock moment I’m A Celeb feud is revealed as star ‘side eyes’ Dean "He's done so well when he's been with Coleen and when he was with Danny. "I think having an extra person with him clearly boosted his confidence. "He's getting better. He's definitely getting better. Him and Ant even had a handshake. "As Dean likes to say they're besties. He loves it." The heights trial included a large beanstalk and a castle with 12 stars up for grabs in 12 minutes. He started by climbing up the beanstalk, collecting stars as he went. I'm A Celebrity 2024 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." When he got to the top of the beanstalk, and to the highest point in the Trial, he had to collect and assemble the golden egg, before moving to the castle to collect the rest of the stars. Dean moaned: "I'm knackered lads. I hate heights. I'm so tired." As he made his way up the beanstalk, Dean had to put his hand in various hell holes containing the likes of green ants, cockroaches, giant mealworms and spiders to collect each star. Next up, he had to piece together the golden egg which constituted star number 5. Finally, he had to conquer the castle, where the remaining seven stars were up for grabs, with Dean needing to climb the castle wall to reach each of the hell holes. But as Dean grew higher up the castle wall and it began to tip, he grew tired and ran out of strength to hold on, meaning he let go of the hand hold - dramatically falling and losing out on the final two stars. However, it was still his highest number of stars so far - without rallying support from another campmate. Ant and Dec gave Dean a round of applause and the elated radio personality made his way back to camp to let them know the good news. Asked if Dean now deserves a break from doing more Bushtucker Trials, Danni said: "I think he he deserves a break, but also it is fun to watch him. "He's funny, he screams, and we love it so I'm kind of up for both. He probably wouldn't want me to say that, he'd probably say 'stop voting', but it's great telly." Read more on the Scottish Sun 'DISAPPOINTED' Harry Potter steam train blasted by passengers who 'dreaded' return journey COLD BEERS SPFL side spotted going for a PINT after their bus got stuck in the snow From January, Danni is moving to a new slot on BBC Radio One with her co-host Sam MacGregor. Sam and Danni, who previously held the Weekend Breakfast slot, will now host an afternoon show that runs from Friday to Sunday, 1-4pm. 5 Danni with her co-host Sam MacGregor Credit: BBC

Tweet Facebook Mail A police officer who unlawfully killed an aged-care resident with dementia by shooting her with a Taser could be thrown behind bars a day after a jury found him guilty of manslaughter. Senior Constable Kristian James Samuel White discharged his stun gun at Clare Nowland in a treatment room at Yallambee Lodge aged-care home in the southern NSW town of Cooma during the early hours of May 17, 2023. In video footage played at his NSW Supreme Court trial, White was heard saying "nah, bugger it" before shooting the great-grandmother in the torso. READ MORE: Convicted murderer granted leave from Victorian jail to undergo IVF Senior Constable Kristian White leaves court after he was found guilty of manslaughter. (Nine) Nowland, who was holding a steak knife at the time, fell backwards and hit her head before dying a week later in hospital. White is still working for the police force which is undergoing a review of his employment. As the jury delivered its guilty verdict on Wednesday, he stood silent, closing his eyes and bowing his head. Crown prosecutors immediately made an application to detain the 34-year-old in custody but Justice Ian Harrison postponed the hearing until today. READ MORE: Driver pleads guilty after killing five  Clare Nowland, 95, died after White Tasered her. (A Current Affair) He said he would need evidence about the conditions that White would face in prison given he was a police officer. Officers are typically housed away from other inmates as they can be targets for criminals who have also been locked away behind bars, On Wednesday, defence barrister Troy Edwards SC argued that a jail sentence was not inevitable for White given the wide range of possible punishments for manslaughter. The charge carries a maximum jail term of 25 years. DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP : Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play .With an important regular-season finale ending a short week, Mississippi has watched its dreams shift from national success to perhaps something it certainly did not want on Thanksgiving weekend: An Egg Bowl that holds only regional significance and statewide bragging rights. After their third and disappointing defeat, the No. 14 Rebels will play Friday afternoon in their annual Egg Bowl matchup against rival Mississippi State in the intrastate series in Oxford, Miss. It will not be easy putting aside the catastrophic 24-17 loss at Florida last Saturday, a soul-crushing setback that all but ended any College Football Playoff aspirations for the most talented Rebels team assembled in a long time. Coach Lane Kiffin's team slid five spots to 14th in the latest CFP rankings. The offseason outlook was rosy when Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3 SEC) shelled out big NIL money and added the top portal class to fill a roster that won 11 games in 2023. But the Rebels repeatedly shot themselves in the foot Saturday against the Gators. Ole Miss' high-powered offense turned the ball over three times, went 3 of 14 on third down, failed on two fourth-down attempts, dropped five passes and missed a field goal. Before the game, ABC's broadcast noted that the Rebels had an 84 percent chance to make the CFP. Following the loss, that number dwindled to four percent. The only way the Oxford school gets in is if there is the repeated chaos of Week 13, one that talk show host Paul Finebaum called "the most SEC carnage" he had ever seen. The Egg Bowl has been played on Thanksgiving Day 23 times, including 2017 to last season, but Kiffin feels the afternoon start on Friday is an advantage. "It helps them to know that playoffs are still alive and they get kind of the first shot to show everybody on a national stage," Kiffin said Monday, "as opposed to a Saturday game where these people that make the decisions don't necessarily see all the games because so many are going on." For the second time this month, Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby will lead his last-place Bulldogs (2-9, 0-7) against a former boss. The 40-year-old head coach faced Tennessee and coach Josh Heupel, who had Lebby on his staff at UCF in 2018 and 2019, in a 33-14 loss on Nov. 9. Now he will face Kiffin, whom he was paired with in 2020 and 2021 in their first two seasons at Ole Miss when the school led the SEC in total offense. A frequent social media user who enjoys trolling others, Kiffin took a jab at Lebby and Mississippi State when the first-year coach was hired. "We've traded texts throughout the season and had communication," Lebby said Monday. "But no, not this week. He'll continue to find ways to have fun on social. That's who he's always been and who he'll always be." Ole Miss owns a 65-46-6 series advantage and has claimed five of the past seven matches, including a 35-3 "Egg Brawl" victory by the Bulldogs in 2018 that was later vacated. Another loss to the Rebels would give MSU its first winless SEC season since 2002. --Field Level Media

A case study on how leading pharma companies in hematology turned to DelveInsight for long-term KOL profiling support. DelveInsight facilitated strategic engagement with respected KOLs, bolstering the client's reputation as an industry leader. Positive endorsements and advocacy from KOLs enhanced the client's credibility, differentiated their brand, and ultimately led to increased market share and a stronger competitive advantage. LAS VEGAS , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight, a leader in healthcare competitive intelligence and consulting, released a case study on KOL Profiling in the Pharmaceutical Industry . A prominent client in the pharmaceutical sector approached DelveInsight to address challenges in identifying Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) within specific therapeutic areas, including Oncology and Immunology. Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) are essential in shaping healthcare strategies by offering insights that influence clinical decisions and treatment adoption. Engaging with KOLs early helps align therapies with patient needs and market trends. KOL profiling combines quantitative metrics like publications and clinical trial involvement with qualitative assessments to ensure companies engage the right experts. These efforts foster meaningful partnerships, driving clinical adoption and advocacy. Immuno-oncology has transformed cancer treatment by harnessing the immune system to target cancers. Recent advancements are leading to the development of next-generation therapies that could have a greater impact across all cancer stages, improving patient outcomes. With a deeper understanding of the immune system, these breakthroughs are set to revolutionize cancer care. Our client approached us at DelveInsight, struggling to navigate a rapidly shifting landscape of experts, researchers, and influencers. They faced significant challenges in identifying the most influential Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) essential for advisory boards, clinical trials, and promotional activities. This lack of precise KOL profiling hindered their ability to align effectively with market dynamics, limiting progress in research, market access, and brand positioning. At DelveInsight, we leveraged our expertise in comprehensive KOL identification and profiling to address the client's needs. Using advanced methodologies, we analyzed both digital and traditional KOLs, assessing their influence, insights, and strategic importance in areas like drug development, marketing, and patient advocacy. We synthesized this analysis into actionable insights and strategic recommendations, equipping the client with a clear understanding of stakeholder perceptions and market dynamics. This enabled them to enhance their engagement strategies and solidify their position in the disease landscape. DelveInsight's Methodology for KOL Profiling , designed for targeted engagement and market leadership, helped the client by: Comprehensive Research : DelveInsight conducted thorough research to identify key players in the pharmaceutical industry, including researchers, clinicians, academicians, and policymakers. Data Collection from Reliable Sources : Leveraged data from scientific publications, conference proceedings, clinical trial registries, patent databases, and industry reports to gather in-depth information. Segmentation by Therapeutic Areas : Organized collected data according to therapeutic areas to match the client's specific focus and interests within the pharmaceutical sector. Rigorous KOL Identification : Analyzed each therapeutic area to identify the most relevant Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) based on contributions, expertise, publications, and clinical trial involvement. Validation Process : Ensured accuracy by validating KOLs with internal experts and external advisors, confirming each KOL's influence, expertise, and suitability for collaboration. Scoring and Ranking of KOLs : Scored and ranked KOLs using criteria like publication impact, citation count, trial involvement, academic affiliations, speaking engagements, and social media presence. Tailored Reporting and Insights : Delivered customized reports with actionable recommendations for effective KOL engagement aligned with the client's objectives. Request a proposal to see how DelveInsight's KOL Profiling can support your long-term strategic insights. Outcomes of KOL Profiling and Its Impact on Strategic Success: Enhanced Engagement Strategies : By accurately identifying and profiling KOLs, the client customized their communication and collaboration, fostering more effective and meaningful partnerships aligned with each KOL's expertise. Streamlined Clinical Trial Recruitment : Precise KOL identification allowed the client to partner with influential leaders who contributed to efficient patient recruitment and retention, accelerating clinical development. Formation of Strategic Advisory Boards : Insights from KOL profiling enabled the client to create advisory boards with experts from diverse backgrounds, providing guidance that aligned product development with market demands and regulatory standards. Boosted Thought Leadership Initiatives : Leveraging KOL expertise, the client enhanced their industry presence by co-authoring scientific publications, organizing educational events, and participating in conferences, strengthening their reputation as industry leaders. Why Choose DelveInsight for KOL Profiling? DelveInsight provides expert KOL profiling to help you build impactful, targeted relationships with thought leaders in your therapeutic area. With deep expertise across various specialties, we enable you to make strategic connections that support every stage of your product's lifecycle. What Sets Us Apart: Precision Profiling : We identify and validate the top KOLs based on key factors like publication impact, clinical trial involvement, and influence, ensuring that you engage with leaders who are aligned with your strategic goals. Actionable Insights : Our profiling doesn't just list experts; it offers a nuanced understanding of each KOL's focus areas, influence, and potential impact on your brand. Enhanced Strategy : By providing recommendations on engagement tactics and collaborative opportunities, we help you develop strong partnerships and effective advisory boards that drive clinical development and thought leadership. Choosing DelveInsight for KOL profiling means gaining a partner that transforms expert insights into strategic advantages for your product's journey. Transform your business with our case study. Schedule a call with our DelveInsight Business Development expert today! Portfolio Management Services : DelveInsight's Portfolio Management services help pharmaceutical companies navigate challenges such as shrinking pipelines, regulatory pressures, and high therapy development costs. By aligning product development with your core competencies and strategic goals, we enable better decision-making, resource optimization, and future growth. Our expert team assesses existing and potential assets to ensure they fit with your vision, maximize value, and address market needs. With DelveInsight's support, companies can strategically manage their portfolios, foster innovation, and build a strong foundation for long-term success. Pipeline Assessment : Our pipeline evaluation offers a comprehensive overview of treatment options, clinical trials, and key areas within all of the fields, all summarized in an accessible report format. Whether it's oncology, immunology, cardiology, neurology, or any other therapeutic area, our reports—available in the Report Store—provide in-depth insights into treatment strategies, mechanisms of action (MoAs), drug components, and launch plans for therapies in the late stages of development. These reports offer a comprehensive view of the evolving therapeutic landscape, helping companies stay informed about the latest advancements and make strategic decisions based on the most up-to-date information. Competitive Intelligence Services: DelveInsight's competitive intelligence services provide real-time, accurate insights across the pharmaceutical, life sciences, and medical diagnostics sectors, helping clients stay ahead in a dynamic market. With over 100 years of combined experience, our experts deliver actionable strategic insights backed by robust research methodologies to support critical business decisions and create a competitive advantage for our clients. R&D Analysis : Our skilled research and development analyst specializes in the complexities of several indications, offering essential insights and advice to clients aiming to advance in research and development. They utilize a methodical assessment approach, aligned with industry norms, to track the progress of each drug in both pre-clinical and clinical stages. DelveInsight's comprehensive reports are crafted to reduce uncertainties and highlight overlooked areas, providing organizations with timely and strategic intelligence. About DelveInsight DelveInsight is a leading Business Consultant and Market Research firm focused exclusively on life sciences. It supports pharma companies by providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions to improve their performance. Get hassle-free access to all the healthcare and pharma market research reports through our subscription-based platform PharmDelve . Contact Us Shruti Thakur info@delveinsight.com +14699457679 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082265/3528414/DelveInsight_Logo.jpgThe ruling by U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews in Denver will allow the player, who has played all season, to compete in the Mountain West Conference women's championship opening this week in Las Vegas. The ruling comes in a lawsuit filed by nine current players against the Mountain West Conference challenging the league's policies for allowing transgender players to participate. The players argued that letting her compete was a safety risk and unfair. While some media have reported those and other details, neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans woman volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player's name because she has not commented publicly on her gender identity. School officials also have declined an interview request with the player. Crews' ruling referred to the athlete as an "alleged transgender" player and noted that no defendant disputed that the San Jose State roster includes a transgender woman player. San Jose State will "continue to support its student-athletes and reject discrimination in all forms," the university said in a statement, confirming that all its student-athletes are eligible to participate under NCAA and conference rules. "We are gratified that the Court rejected an eleventh-hour attempt to change those rules. Our team looks forward to competing in the Mountain West volleyball tournament this week." The conference did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The players filed a notice for emergency appeal with the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Crews said the players who filed the complaint could have sought relief much earlier, noting the individual universities had acknowledged that not playing their games against San Jose State this season would result in a loss in league standings. He also refused a request to re-seed the tournament without the forfeited losses. The judge said injunctions are meant to preserve the status quo. The conference policy regarding forfeiting for refusing to play against a team with a transgender player had been in effect since 2022 and the San Jose State player has been on the roster since 2022 — making that the status quo. The player competed at the college level three previous seasons, including two for San Jose State, drawing little attention. This season's awareness of her reported identity led to an uproar among some players, pundits, parents and politicians in a major election year. Crews' ruling also said injunctions are meant to prevent harm, but in this case, he argued, the harm has already occurred. The games have been forfeited, the tournament has been seeded, the teams have made travel plans and the participants have confirmed they're playing. The tournament starts Wednesday and continues Friday and Saturday. Colorado State is seeded first and San Jose State, second. The teams split their regular-season matches and both get byes into Friday's semifinals. San Jose State will play the winner of Wednesday's match between Utah State and Boise State — teams that both forfeited matches to SJSU during the regular season. The conference tournament winner gets an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. San Jose State coach Todd Kress, whose team has not competed in the national tournament since 2001, has said his team has been getting "messages of hate" and that has taken a toll on his players. Several teams refused to play against San Jose State during the season, earning losses in the official conference standings. Boise State and Wyoming each had two forfeits while Utah State and Nevada both had one. Southern Utah, a member of the Western Athletic Conference, was first to cancel against San Jose State this year. Nevada's players stated they "refuse to participate in any match that advances injustice against female athletes," without elaborating. Nevada did not qualify for the conference tournament. The nine current players and others now suing the Mountain West Conference, the California State University Board of Trustees and others include San Jose State senior setter and co-captain Brooke Slusser. The teammate Slusser says is transgender hits the volleyball with more force than others on the team, raising fear during practices of suffering concussions from a head hit, the complaint says. The Independent Council on Women's Sports is funding a separate lawsuit against the NCAA for allowing transgender women to compete in women's sports. Both lawsuits claim the landmark 1972 federal antidiscrimination law known as Title IX prohibits transgender women in women's sports. Title IX prohibits sexual discrimination in federally funded education; Slusser is a plaintiff in both lawsuits. Several circuit courts have used a U.S. Supreme Court ruling to conclude that discriminating against someone based on their transgender status or sexual orientation is sex-based discrimination, Crews wrote. That means case law does not prove the "likelihood of success" needed to grant an injunction. An NCAA policy that subjects transgender participation to the rules of sports governing bodies took effect this academic year. USA Volleyball says a trans woman must suppress testosterone for 12 months before competing. The NCAA has not flagged any issues with San Jose State. The Republican governors of Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming have made public statements in support of the team cancellations, citing fairness in women's sports. President-elect Donald Trump likewise has spoken out against allowing transgender women to compete in women's sports. Crews was a magistrate judge in Colorado's U.S. District Court for more than five years before President Joe Biden appointed him as a federal judge in January.

NoneRobert Skoglund hams it up for the camera as he leaves a board meeting at Maine Public offices in Lewiston in 2007. Photo by Doug Jones Two Maine humorists sat on a porch, talking about a show they just gave at the library on Chebeague Island. Gary Crocker was asking his friend Robert Skoglund – known to Mainers as “The humble Farmer” – about the rather mild laughter that Skoglund’s stories seemed to elicit. He didn’t get one raucous belly laugh the whole night. “He thought that was great. He didn’t want those kind of laughs. He said the difference between a comedian and a humorist is that a comedian makes you laugh, and it’s over,” said Crocker, 76, remembering that show some years ago. “But a humorist makes you laugh and makes you think about what he said and maybe even change some things you’re doing in your life. He said, ‘Believe me, those people are probably laughing right now, thinking about what I said.’ ” Skoglund died Saturday at the age of 88 at his home in St. George, after nearly 50 years of entertaining people around the state with his understated Maine musings and humor. He was best known for his music and storytelling radio show “The humble Farmer,” which ran on Maine Public radio for 29 years, until 2007. He wrote a weekly column for many newspapers, including for the Portland Press Herald over the last decade. He also made local access TV shows and podcasts, published two books and performed all around Maine and the country. On Monday, he was still making people chuckle because of an obituary video that he made about a month ago and that Crocker posted online after Skoglund’s death. Skoglund had called Crocker on the phone and said, “I want you to film my demise,” then explained he didn’t actually want his death filmed; he just wanted to be filmed talking about it. The minute-and-a-half video begins with Skoglund sitting in a chair, a breathing tube across his face, speaking into the camera: “Hi there, I’m Robert Skoglund, the humble Farmer, and I just died.” He then puts a makeshift kerchief on his head, picks up a phone and uses a high-pitched voice to talk to someone on the other end of the line, in his strong Maine accent. “Hi there, Sophie, did you hear that the humble Farmer just died? It’s just as well. Anyone who looked like he did weren’t hardly fit to be seen out on the street,” Skoglund said. “No cremation. I heard they’re gonna smoke him. Yeah, he always was a ham. No, no, t’weren’t cancer that killed him, t’was public opinion.” Fans and friends praised Skoglund on Monday as an authentic example of Maine wit and wisdom, in all its understated and self-mocking glory. He was born and raised in St. George, a fishing and farming town on a peninsula south of Thomaston, had a master’s degree in linguistics from the University of Rochester in New York, and started telling and writing stories for public consumption in the 1970s. He was teaching school in Maine when he started doing his weekly show, “The humble Farmer,” on Maine Public Radio in 1978. Skoglund said he didn’t want the “h” in humble capitalized when referring to him or his radio show, because it was “more humble” without it. The popular radio show combined Skoglund’s passion for jazz from the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s with his stories, thoughts and commentary. It was his blending of wit and politics that eventually got his show canceled by Maine Public Radio managers, who said he was violating the network’s standards for political neutrality. Skoglund’s conflict with management began in 2003, during the Iraq War and the presidency of George W. Bush. Not referring to Bush by name, Skoglund talked on air about “flag-wavin’ folks” showing their support for a “weasely faced war monger from way down South who didn’t even get most of the popular vote.” His show was canceled in 2007 after he read a letter on air critical of a government spending cap in Maryland similar to one being voted on in Maine. “I will always remember how he took a stand then, and I admired him for that,” said John Brooking, 58, a longtime fan from Westbrook. “And I’ll always remember how welcoming he was to people.” Brooking, along with his wife and two young children, were among the many fans of Skoglund’s radio show who took him up on his offer to come by anytime for a spaghetti supper. Though he was in demand as a speaker and entertainer around the country, he seemed to always find time to squeeze in more time with Mainers. John Harris, a longtime volunteer at the Owls Head Transportation Museum, remembers seeing Skoglund at an antique car event in Rockland and asking him, spur of the moment, if he’d speak at the event’s banquet that evening. He told Harris he had done a recent engagement for $1,800, but Harris said he couldn’t give him more that $50. Skoglund replied, “I’ll be there.” The humble Farmer, Robert Skoglund, left, attends his 70th high school reunion with next-door neighbor Jerry Hall. Courtesy of Robert Skoglund Skoglund’s radio shows and his columns were largely about people and everyday life. He referred often to his wife as “Marsha, the almost perfect woman,” in a way that was endearing but also relatable. Who among us is perfect? He wrote his last column for the Press Herald in June, and it was about Marsha and other strong women, mostly. Skoglund’s Maine sensibility came through to both native Mainers and people who came to adopt the state as their own, said Nick Mills, a longtime radio journalist who worked in Boston and New York but who grew up in Thomaston. While some performers from away have become famous for doing Maine humor – notably Marshall Dodge and Bob Bryan with their “Bert and I” recordings in the late 1950s and early 1960s – Skoglund was the genuine article. “He had that dry Maine wit and gentle sense of humor; he embodied it,” said Mills, 82, of Rockland. “He made people smile and chuckle, he didn’t get side-splitting laughs. But he was so much fun to listen to.” ‘The humble Farmer’ humorist Robert Skoglund dies at 88 We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use . More information is found on our FAQs . You can modify your screen name here . 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The Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has promised to make the country peaceful if confirmed by the National Assembly. The Army Chief, who was appointed in an acting capacity following the recent death of Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, made the pledge when he appeared on Wednesday before the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Defence and Army at the National Assembly Complex. He called for partnerships and cooperation with neighbouring countries to address insecurity and make the countries safer for habitation. He said, “I am honoured this evening (Wednesday) to be considered worthy to play a part in these efforts, and I look forward to contributing my utmost best by working with the National Assembly and other stakeholders in bringing lasting peace to the length and breadth of our dear country, Nigeria. “I humbly appear before you today to be confirmed as the 24th Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army simply because tragedy befell our Army and Armed Force when the 23rd Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, passed after a brief illness. “Although before his passing, I had been appointed by Mr President, His Excellency Bola Tinubu to act in his place pending his expected full recovery and resumption of duty as the Chief of Army Staff then. “After Lieutenant General Lagbaja’s demise and state funeral on November 15, 2024, Mr President, in his wisdom, found me worthy to fully continue the excellent job the Army has been doing here and get confirmed by the National Assembly.” Taking a trip down memory lane, the army boss recalled his journey in the military profession. “I have served this great nation as an officer of the Nigerian Army for over 30 years. My exposure to national security issues at the junior, middle, and senior cadres of the military profession has prepared me adequately for the assignment I am being screened for here today. “In the past five years or thereabout, I have operated at the senior operational and management levels of the Nigerian Army, and I have been somewhat involved in running the service in its entirety. Related News Senate screens acting COAS behind closed doors Reps summon CBN gov, banks’ CEOs over unverified POS operators Reps pass 2025-2027 MTEF/FSP ahead of 2025 budget presentation “Thus, I cannot completely distance myself from the successes or setbacks of our great army in the past couple of years. However, I see my nomination as the Chief of Army Staff as a privileged opportunity to be in the driver’s seat and bring about more positive changes to the Nigerian Army to enable it to fulfil its constitutional responsibilities. “Thus, if confirmed by this joint committee and given the common mandate to lead the Nigerian Army during this period, I promise to do my best to justify the confidence imposed in me by the appointing authority, which is His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the confirming authority which is you members of the National Assembly and the generality of Nigerians.” To combat the challenges of insecurity, the Nigerian Army, he said, requires aircraft for its operations. The Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, said Nigeria has what it takes to address her sundry security challenges. “The current dynamics of global security demand innovative and adaptive strategies. Threats are no longer confined to traditional battlefields; they now extend to cyberspace, economic domains and even the socio-political fabric of nations. “In light of this, we must prioritise a forward-looking approach to national defence, ensuring that our military is well-equipped and adequately trained to address both conventional and emerging threats,” he said. Benson said the House will continue to provide the necessary legal frameworks and champion adequate funding of the armed forces to enhance its operations. He charged Oluyede to make professionalism his watchword, stressing that his assignment carries a deep and heavy responsibility. “If confirmed, you will be expected to foster synergy among security agencies, prioritise the welfare of troops and uphold the trust of Nigerians. This committee will ask questions that reflect the concerns of our constituents and the nation as a whole,” he added.High-ranking members of the organised crime group received sentences earlier this year - the ECHO has looked back at the gang's plot The presence of two local men charged alongside leading Kinahan Cartel gang members was the latest indication that Merseyside's underworld has connections with Ireland's. Key figures of the Kinahan Cartel - a major Irish organised crime syndicate synonymous with the supply of global drug shipments - were sentenced this year after their elaborate plot was foiled by the National Crime Agency (NCA) . The plot saw Thomas "Bomber" Kavanagh and Liam Byrne - high-ranking members of the syndicate, originally forged in Dublin but now with links around the world - plot to create a fake arms cache to weaken a sentence the former was already serving . The men, who worked in partnership with Liverpool man Shaun Kent , looked to lead the NCA to the fake weapons caches across Northern Ireland. But the plot was rumbled and Kent was arrested in Liverpool, while Byrne, who is Kavanagh's brother-in-law, was extradited from Spain. The men all admitted the offences put before them on the eve of the trial in September this year. Another Liverpool man, Daniel McLoughlin, was accused of supplying firearms to the Kinahan members but had the charges dropped against him . Kavanagh's son Jack was also charged and appeared before the courts at a later date, but was released following his sentencing due to time served on remand. Merseyside and Dublin underworlds The plot was the latest that tied together Merseyside's and Dublin's underworlds. The Kinahan Cartel is led by Christy Kinahan and his sons Daniel and Christopher Jr. The men are currently at large and are believed to be in Dubai. In April 2022, the United States State Department announced $5m rewards under the Narcotics Rewards Programme for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Kinahan family members. However, it's believed the crime syndicate for decades have been involved in significant drug trafficking, bringing huge consignments into Europe before distributing to their various partners. One of these partners is believed to have been the Huyton Firm - a leading Merseyside gang led by Vincent Coggins that was finally toppled in 2020. It's previously been reported that the Huyton Firm, based out of Stockbridge Village but who also controlled the surrounding territories of West Derby , Croxteth and Dovecot, forged links with their Irish counterparts to flood the streets of Merseyside with drugs. Much of the two organisations' work was conducted in secret, very rarely being dragged into the light. However, there have been other times when violent, bloody events involving Liverpool-born criminals have been carried out in the public's eye. Liverpool-born David Hunter was one of two men who stormed Dublin bar Sunset House and shot dead Michael Barr . Hunter, dressed in a boiler suit and wearing a Freddie Krueger-type mask, murdered Mr Barr inside the busy bar in April 2016. He was linked to the murder after police found his DNA on a mask in the back seat of the killers' getaway car. Irish media suggested that the cold-blooded murder was part of an ongoing feud between the Kinahan Cartel and their rivals the Hutch gang . The Dublin-based crime groups fell out several years ago and since then several people have been murdered in the turf war. The role played by Liverpool-born Hunter in the gangland shooting has highlighted the links between Liverpool and Irish crime gangs. In 2020 the ECHO revealed how Liverpool drug boss Liam Cornett was heavily linked to the Irish drug gang, who are also known simply as 'The Cartel'. In December 2019 Cornett was jailed for 26 years for heading up a wholesale drugs operation , flooding the UK with cocaine, heroin and amphetamines. The ECHO was told that the well-known north Liverpool criminal struck up a successful relationship with the Irish gang while in Spain, who agreed to supply him with Class A drugs. Sources previously told the ECHO 'The Cartel' supplies many of Liverpool's gangs with class A drugs due to the attractive business proposals. It was previously claimed the Irish offer a share of the profits but penalise Liverpool bosses if the drugs are seized by authorities. One of the more recent pieces of technology that would have connected criminals both in Merseyside and Ireland was the encrypted messaging platform EncroChat . However, the technology would also prove many to be their downfall after European law enforcement hacked the platform in the early months of 2020. The Huyton Firm's boss Coggins was one of dozens of Merseyside criminals entrapped by the investigations into the technology, which was used by thousands of criminals worldwide to traffic drugs and weapons. Some of those criminals included the Kavanaghs, Byrne and Kent - and like many of their counterparts, the encrypted messaging platform proved to be their downfall. Fake gun caches for a lesser sentence Kavanagh Sr is described by the NCA as a high-ranking member of the Irish network involved in drug supply, firearms and money laundering, and acted as the figurehead of the organisation in the UK. He lived with his family in a fortified mansion, complete with reinforced doors and bulletproof glass, in Tamworth in Staffordshire from where he ran his criminal empire. But in 2020 he was in custody facing a lengthy jail term for trafficking cocaine and cannabis into the UK . It was at this point he hatched a plot to fool the NCA and secure a reduced sentence so called in those loyal to him. The NCA said while on remand Kavanagh Sr "set in motion a series of events that he hoped would result in a significant discount to any sentence he was likely to get at the end of his trial". He sought the assistance of “trusted associates” Kent and Byrne , who used the EncroChat names "Gargler" and "ThaiLive", directing them via a fellow inmate in prison to purchase firearms and ammunition and bury them, so he could reveal their whereabouts to NCA investigators. Over 18 months, Kent and Byrne began contacting associates to acquire weapons and ammunition. The group amassed a haul of 11 firearms, including three Skorpion submachine guns, three Heckler and Koch, and a Uzi submachine gun and ammunition from the UK, the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland . Messages recovered by the NCA revealed the nicknames they had for each other - such as "liquid Byrne" and "Gargle", while others showed the pair discussing at length how to get hold of the weapons and where to bury them. One message from Kent to Byrne showed the desperation of Kavanagh, with him saying "Try get as many of them as you can...only chance he's got on getting good result out of this case mate" . An “increasingly frustrated” Kavanagh was also pressuring associates to secure weapons by whatever method possible - and Kent had even warned Byrne that their boss would “start cracking heads” if they didn’t find them. Kavanagh had hoped the ruse would lead the NCA to commend him for helping them and look favourable to the court. Kavanagh had first approached the NCA in December 2020. He went on to claim in an interview in April 2021 that he had intelligence about an arms cache of between 10 and 20 weapons, said to have come from Holland . Through his solicitor, he provided a map with instructions and an X marking the spot in Newry, Northern Ireland. The Police Service of Northern Ireland, assisting the NCA operation, went to a farmer’s field where they found buried, just beneath the surface, two holdalls containing the guns and ammunition. At the time, the NCA said the guns were in good condition and ready for use. Having reviewed the EncroChat data in greater detail , the NCA concluded Kavanagh’s tip-off was a put-up job and withdrew its cooperation. The plot draws striking similarities to that of Liverpool gangster John Haase , who in 1995 was believed to be an informant of the highest quality to police and customs officials when he drip-fed information to his handlers about an "awesome array" of weapons while awaiting sentence for heroin charges. The weapons, which had in fact been planted by Haase and an associate, were used as a bargaining tool to have their sentences slashed for the heroin plot. The very judge who sent Haase down for 18 years for the heroin plot wrote a letter to the then-Tory Home Secretary recommending a royal pardon. However, Kavanagh and his associates weren't so lucky. The NCA swoop in Shaun Kent was the first man to be arrested in March 2021 - and officers at the time recovered £5,000 in cash . Kavanagh was then arrested at HMP Norwich in August 2021 and he and Kent were charged with firearms offences and perverting the course of justice in August 2023. In March 2022, Kavanagh was sentenced to 21 years in prison at Ipswich Crown Court. NCA investigators had linked Kavanagh and others to large-scale drug shipments worth around £30m at UK street value, as well as movements of cash and firearms. The NCA also pursued Byrne - but the mobster fled and a major effort was then launched to arrest him in the Alcudia area of Mallorca in June 2023 . He spent six months in prison there fighting his extradition - before being sent back to the UK and escorted by officers straight to court. After appearing before court for sentencing, Kavanagh Sr was sentenced to a further six years in prison, Byrne received five years in prison and Kent received six years in prison when they appeared in court in October. No evidence was offered against Liverpool man McLoughlin, who was arrested and charged with two counts of conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon . He however is already serving an extensive sentence for other EncroChat offences. NCA branch commander Ty Surgeon said: "At the instruction of their leader Thomas Kavanagh, Shaun Kent and Liam Byrne orchestrated a cynical and dangerous plot to plant a cache of weapons so Kavanagh could direct the NCA to them and reduce his time in prison. "These weapons were viable and deadly weapons that were in the hands of a criminal gang, loaded and ready for use in criminality. What this group didn't know is their Encrochat messages had been unveiled for law enforcement to see, showing every detail of their plan. The NCA's mission is to protect the public from serious and organised crime, and as this case shows, we will pursue every avenue, including overseas, to ensure criminals are brought to justice." The ECHO also reported that Kavanagh's on Jack - a trainee accountant - was also involved in the plot to engineer a lighter sentence for his dad . Jack Kavanagh was arrested in May 2023 at Malaga Airport by officers from the Spanish National Police while he was travelling from Dubai to Turkey. He was extradited to the UK where he pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess firearms and ammunition. He was described by Judge Philip Katz KC, who presided over all of the sentencings, as more of an “enthusiastic messenger” than an “organiser” as he sentenced him to three years and one month in prison. He appeared in the dock alongside serving inmate Peter Keating, who was jailed for four years and eight months for the same offences as well as a count of plotting to pervert the course of justice . He is expected to be returned to Ireland where he is already serving 12 years for directing a criminal organisation. He was said to have been acting under direction and was put under pressure by those higher up the chain than him. Although the sentences handed down to the conspirators demonstrate some of the most definitive action taken against members of the Kinahan Cartel, they also represent some of the lowest given to criminals convicted of an EncroChat offence. Once the time spent on remand is factored in, as well as the fact only half of the sentence will be served in prison, Byrne will only be inside a matter of months. Perhaps more worryingly for the organisation, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau confirmed earlier this year that the Kinahans are “no longer the primary organised crime group in this jurisdiction".SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 25, 2024-- Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), the #1 AI CRM, today announced it has granted equity awards under its 2014 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan") to new employees who joined Salesforce in connection with the acquisitions of Tenyx, PredictSpring, and Zoomin. The Plan was adopted by the Salesforce Board of Directors in July 2014, in accordance with New York Stock Exchange Rule 303A.08. Through the Plan, Salesforce granted a total of 90,643 restricted stock units ("RSUs") to 36 employees at PredictSpring, 17 employees at Tenyx, and two employees at Zoomin. The RSUs vest over four years with 25 percent of the RSUs vesting on the first anniversary of the grant date and the balance vesting quarterly thereafter in 12 equal installments, subject to continued service through each applicable vesting date. Each of the employees who received an equity award is a non-executive officer. About Salesforce Salesforce helps organizations of any size reimagine their business for the world of AI. With Agentforce, Salesforce’s trusted platform, organizations can bring humans together with agents to drive customer success—powered by AI, data, and action. Visit www.salesforce.com for more information. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125837368/en/ pr@salesforce.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: INTERNET DATA MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SOFTWARE SOURCE: Salesforce Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/25/2024 04:01 PM/DISC: 11/25/2024 04:01 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241125837368/en