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Add another win to Tom Brady’s ledger. The legendary former NFL quarterback played an important role in helping his alma mater Michigan land Bryce Underwood , the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2025. Brady FaceTimed Underwood during the final stages of Michigan’s recruitment and subsequently struck up a relationship with the heralded quarterback prospect, according to CBS Sports . The current Fox Sports analyst told Underwood he would be a resource to him. Underwood had been committed to LSU since January, but Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore made a late, successful push to flip him to the Wolverines. Brady spent two years as a backup at Michigan before earning the starting role in 1998 and 1999. The Patriots famously drafted Brady in the sixth round en route to his iconic NFL career. Beyond Brady’s influence, an eye-popping NIL offer helped sway Underwood from what appeared to be an ironclad commitment to LSU . Champions Circle, Michigan’s officially endorsed NIL collective, offered Underwood $12 million across four years, according to ESPN Baton Rouge . LSU had offered Underwood $1.5 million per year, which would total just $6 million across four years. A Belleville, Michigan native, Underwood announced his decision on social media on Thursday, writing “Hometown. Hero” as the caption. “Those Who Stay (Home)... Welcome Bryce Underwood, the #1 Recruit in the Nation,” Champions Circle said in a statement. “We want to thank our Founding Members and others associated with Champions Circle who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make it possible to continue our work building championship teams at Michigan.” Underwood had a pivotal family discussion last week, per CBS Sports, in which he reevaluated his commitment and weighed the pros and cons of each program. He visited Michigan from Monday to Wednesday, the report added, for an up-close look at the Wolverines. Just one day later, he made his stunning decision official.

Hyderabad: The GHMC , in collaboration with NIT Warangal , is planning to establish a state-of-the-art technology centre to address critical urban challenges such as traffic congestion and drainage management . This initiative aims to deliver modern, practical, and sustainable solutions, incorporating them at the planning stage itself. The traffic and transportation division of the centre will conduct in-depth analyses of the city's traffic patterns and transportation systems. It will develop innovative and up-to-date solutions for traffic management , infrastructure optimisation, and transportation planning to meet Hyderabad's growing urban needs. The drainage information centre will undertake a comprehensive study of Hyderabad's entire drainage network, including nalas and stormwater. Detailed mapping, measurements, and assessments will be conducted, enabling the centre to propose professional and technical solutions to mitigate flooding and enhance drainage efficiency. The proposed centre will operate within the NIT campus, leveraging expertise of it's faculty and students. This initiative builds on NIT Warangal's previous contributions, such as providing project reports on traffic and urban infrastructure issues. TNN Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss the yearly horoscope 2025 and Chinese horoscope 2025 for Rat , Ox , Tiger , Rabbit , Dragon , Snake , Horse , Goat , Monkey , Rooster , Dog , and Pig zodiac signs. Spread love this holiday season with these New Year wishes and messages .Erin Levi Tracing a medieval trade route through the Swiss Alps and valleys, the GoldenPass Express isn’t just one of the world’s most scenic train rides; it’s an engineering marvel. As I sink into the plush, cream-coloured leather recliner, a glass of Champagne in hand and hiking boots raised, I’m ready for a three-hour spectacle where nature takes centre stage. But the stage isn’t just in front of me – it’s all around. I’m not in a theatre; I’m in Switzerland aboard the GoldenPass Express: a state-of-the-art panoramic train where floor-to-ceiling windows reveal stunning views of the Swiss countryside – from turquoise lakes that mirror towering mountain peaks to rolling meadows dotted with storybook chalets – that rival the grandest cinematic experiences. Sitting in the nine-seat Prestige Class carriage in a specially designed heated, swivelling chair feels both private and personal – as if I’ve got the snowcapped Alps, wildflower-laced pastures and bell-adorned cows to myself. Opened in December 2022 and fully relaunched in June 2023 after addressing problems with track wear, The GoldenPass Express (GPX) is one of Europe’s newest (and most luxurious) high-tech trains. Its 115km journey follows a medieval trade route connecting Interlaken’s glaciers to Montreux’s terraced vineyards, and thanks to a technological innovation, the GPX allows travellers to take one of the world’s most scenic train routes without transferring, as passengers did previously. The GPX is one of five premium panoramic trains within the Swiss Travel System. Individual tickets range from 56-145 Swiss francs (roughly £50-130). It’s also included in the Swiss Travel Pass (starting from 244 Swiss francs – roughly £219 – and children under 16 ride free of charge) which offers unlimited access to all public transportation (trains, trams, buses and passenger ferries), 50% off mountain railways and gondolas, and free admission to more than 500 museums. The train’s midnight-blue exterior and classic design evoke the bygone era of the original Orient Express that still connects Paris to Istanbul. Inside, the interior is crisp and cutting-edge, the Prestige Class specially designed chairs are by Ferrari-designer firm Pininfarina and are the only such rail seats in Europe. Need lower back support? There’s a button for that. Tired feet? Elevate your legs. Feeling chilly? Just press the seat warmer. Want a different view? Simply pivot your seat to face the direction of your choice. Just don’t fall asleep! But what truly sets the GPX apart from other luxury trains is something you can’t see: it can seamlessly jump between tracks of different gauges and voltages. Built by Montreux-Oberland-Bernois Railway (MOB) in collaboration with BLS AG (BLS) in Bern, the train winds its way down from the heights of the Bernese Alps, passing the luxurious town of Gstaad, beloved by A-listers for its exclusivity and isolation, and Château d’Oex, famous for its hot air balloon festival (25 January-2 February 2025), before snaking through vineyards as it makes its dramatic descent towards the Vaudois Riviera. Finally, it reaches sun-soaked Montreux, where palms sway on the glistening shores of Lake Geneva. In 1905, when MOB set out to build the GoldenPass line, the aim was to connect Francophone Montreux to German-speaking Interlaken – two big touristic and economic hubs – with a single trainline. But somewhere along the way, MOB noticed the rail wasn’t the same width; the gauges varied. It took 120 years to find a system bridging the gap. The world’s railroads use a patchwork of varying gauges – mainly broad, standard and narrow. Railway development lacked industry standards in the 19th Century, leading to varied gauges to suit terrain, transport purpose and political influences. This is one of the main reasons why we often need to change trains when we’re travelling. As Trains magazine senior editor David Lassen tells the BBC, “countries slow to settle on a single gauge paid the price with operating challenges”. Case in point: Switzerland. The idea of directly connecting Lake Geneva to Lakes Thun and Brienz in Interlaken dates to the late 1800s. Since 1916, the Lucerne-Interlaken-Zweisimmen-Montreux route, known as the GoldenPass line, allowed travel between these destinations, but required two train changes because of the tracks’ differing gauges. In 1928, the concept of adding a third rail was discussed. “That would have required building tunnels,” said MOB product manager Fanny Moix. She explained that this was “technically impossible” because of a combination of bureaucracy and the complexity of building dual-gauge tracks through a busy, complicated junction. Still, as Interlaken Tourism markets manager Celina Finger maintains: “Changing trains is a huge hassle for tourists.” It’s also a reason why the GoldenPass line hasn’t been as popular as its panoramic counterparts, like the Glacier Express. Now, instead of requiring travellers to change trains in the middle of the journey, the GPX can make the three-hour-15-minute journey directly, thanks to the revolutionary “variable gauge bogie”. The technology, developed in 2022 after 15 years of research and costing 89m Swiss francs (£80m), was publicly funded by the cantons of Vaud, Bern, Freiburg and the Swiss Confederation. This innovation facilitates seamless transitions between narrow and standard gauges and voltage changes within seconds, effectively enabling a train to jump tracks while moving. It’s a groundbreaking new standard in rail travel – not just in Switzerland, but globally. “[The GPX] is a link to our past and our future,” said Frédéric Delachaux, MOB marketing director, explaining that it realises the centuries-old dream of linking Switzerland to Europe by rail via the Alps. As I made the historic journey for the first time, approaching Zweisimmen station, I hesitated to leave the comforts of my warm seat where I was nibbling on local cheeses (there is no full-service dining on board but there are local snack options). I stretched my legs and peered out the window as we briefly paused for the locomotive change, which allows the train to adapt to the electrical voltage change. A few minutes later, we were travelling towards Schönried, a ski resort town neighbouring Gstaad, and as the train carried on, I barely felt a thing. Meanwhile, as the train’s elevation shifted ever so slightly (rising about 200 mm) to accommodate the gauge attrition and platform height, an engineering marvel was happening right below my feet – even if only a discerning train aficionado would notice it. “It’s a big frustration for us in marketing because you don’t feel anything!” lamented Delachaux. Perhaps the engineers did too good a job. Because of this, the gauge change is displayed on a screen to passengers as it’s happening. While there are other trains in France and Japan that can move a few centimetres, “this is the only train in the world that moves 43cm”, said Delachaux. It’s perhaps no surprise that the Swiss were able to pull off this engineering feat. Living in a landlocked nation that’s 70% mountainous and filled with some 1,500 lakes, people here have long had to negotiate the obstacles posed by their challenging terrain – and along the way, exemplified a certain determination and ingenuity that is decidedly Swiss. As Clarence Rook wrote in his 1907 book Switzerland and Its People: “There are bigger mountains in the world than may be found in Switzerland. But you will nowhere find in so small a space so many triumphs of engineering. The Swiss roads and railways stand as a monument to the victory of human skill over physical obstacles.” Courtesy: BBC

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best streamers with of NEW YORK (AP) — If you're planning on ringing in the new year quietly at home, you're not alone. A majority of U.S adults intend to celebrate New Year’s Eve at home, according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research . “As I’ve gotten older over the last few years, it’s like if I don’t make it to midnight, it’s not a big deal, you know?” says Carla Woods, 70, from Vinton, Iowa. Nearly 2 in 10 will be celebrating at a friend or family member’s home, and just 5% plan to go out to celebrate at a bar, restaurant or organized event, the poll found. But many U.S. adults will celebrate the new year in a different way — by making a resolution. More than half say they'll make at least one resolution for 2025. There's some optimism about the year ahead, although more than half aren't expecting a positive change. About 4 in 10 say 2025 will be a better year for them personally. About one-third don’t expect much of a difference between 2024 and 2025, and about one-quarter think 2025 will be a worse year than 2024. Kourtney Kershaw, a 32-year-old bartender in Chicago, often fields questions from customers and friends about upcoming events for New Year's Eve. She said this year is trending toward low-key. “A majority of who I’ve spoken to in my age range, they want to go out, but they don’t know what they’re going to do because they haven’t found anything or things are just really expensive,” she said. “Party packages or an entry fee are like a turnoff, especially with the climate of the world and how much things cost.” As expected, younger people are more interested in ringing in the new year at a bar or organized event — about 1 in 10 U.S. adults under 30 say they plan to do that. But about 3 in 10 older adults — 60 and above — say they won’t celebrate the beginning of 2025 at all. Anthony Tremblay, 35, from Pittsburgh, doesn't usually go out to toast the arrival of the new year, but this year he's got something special cooked up: He and his wife will be traveling through Ireland. “I don’t do anything too crazy for New Year’s, usually. So this is definitely a change,” he said. “I wanted to do something unique this year, so I did.” Woods will be working New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. She answers calls on The Iowa Warmline, a confidential, noncrisis listening line for people struggling with mental health or substance use issues. “Holidays are really hard for people, so I don’t mind working,” she said. “I’m passionate about it because I have mental health issues in the family and so being able to help people is rewarding to me.” Every New Year's also triggers the eternal debate about resolutions. A majority of U.S. adults say they intend to make a New Year’s resolution of some type, but millennials and Gen Z are especially likely to be on board — about two-thirds expect to do so, compared to about half of older adults. Women are also more likely than men to say they will set a goal for 2025. Tremblay hopes to lose some weight and focus more on self-care — more sleep, meditation and breathing exercises. “It’s probably a good year to focus on mental health,” he said. Many others agree. About 3 in 10 adults choose resolutions involving exercise or eating healthier. About one-quarter said they'll make a resolution involving losing weight and a similar number said they'll resolve to make changes about priorities of money or mental health. Woods' resolutions are to stay social and active. As a mental health counselor, she knows those are key to a happy 2025 and beyond: “Probably one of my biggest resolutions is trying to make sure I stay social, try to get out at least once a week — get out and either have coffee or do something with a friend. That’s not only for the physical but also for the mental health part.” Kershaw, the bartender, says weight loss and better health are the top resolutions she hears people make. “Mental health is the new one, but I think it’s high up there as well as with regular health,” she said. She prefers more goal-oriented resolutions and, this time, it's to do more traveling and see more of the world: “I don’t know if that’s really a resolution, but that’s a goal that I’m setting.” And how will she welcome the arrival of 2025? Usually, she takes the night off and stays home watching movies with plenty of snacks, but this year Kershaw has a different plan, maybe one of the most Chicago things you can do. This die-hard sports fan will be at Wrigley Field on Tuesday watching the Chicago Blackhawks take on the St. Louis Blues. “Hockey’s my favorite sport. So I will be watching hockey and bringing in the new year,” she said. The AP-NORC poll of 1,251 adults was conducted Dec. 5-9, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. Sanders reported from Washington.AOC speaks out against the bathroom ban, stands with Sarah McBride

US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems? DALLAS (AP) — Delta and United Airlines have become the most profitable U.S. airlines by targeting premium customers while also winning a significant share of budget travelers. That is squeezing smaller low-fare carriers like Spirit Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday. Some travel industry experts think Spirit’s troubles indicate less-wealthy passengers will have fewer choices and higher prices. Other discount airlines are on better financial footing but also are lagging far behind the full-service airlines when it comes to recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Most industry experts think Frontier and other so-called ultra-low-cost carriers will fill the vacuum if Spirit shrinks, and that there's still plenty of competition to prevent prices from spiking. Bitcoin ticks closer to $100,000 in extended surge following US elections NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin is jumping again, setting another new high above $99,000 overnight. The cryptocurrency has been shattering records almost daily since the U.S. presidential election, and has rocketed more than 40% higher in just two weeks. It's now at the doorstep of $100,000. Cryptocurrencies and related investments like crypto exchange-traded funds have rallied because the incoming Trump administration is expected to be more “crypto-friendly.” Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is hard to predict. And while some are bullish, other experts continue to warn of investment risks. Australia rejects Elon Musk's claim that it plans to control access to the internet MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian Cabinet minister has rejected X Corp. owner Elon Musk’s allegation that the government intends to control all Australians' access to the internet through legislation that would ban young children from social media. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Friday that Musk’s criticism was “unsurprising” after the government introduced legislation to Parliament that would fine platforms including X up to $133 million for allowing children under 16 to hold social media accounts. The spat continues months of open hostility between the Australian government and the tech billionaire over regulators’ efforts to reduce public harm from social media. Parliament could pass the legislation as soon as next week. Oil company Phillips 66 faces federal charges related to alleged Clean Water Act violations LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oil company Phillips 66 has been federally indicted in connection with alleged violations of the Clean Water Act in California. The Texas-based company is accused of discharging hundreds of thousands of gallons of industrial wastewater containing excessive amounts of oil and grease. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the indictment on Thursday. Phillips is charged with two counts of negligently violating the Clean Water Act and four counts of knowingly violating the Clean Water Act. An arraignment date has not been set. A spokesperson for the company said it was cooperating with prosecutors. US regulators seek to break up Google, forcing Chrome sale as part of monopoly punishment U.S. regulators want a federal judge to break up Google to prevent the company from continuing to squash competition through its dominant search engine after a court found it had maintained an abusive monopoly over the past decade. The proposed breakup floated in a 23-page document filed late Wednesday by the U.S. Justice Department calls for Google to sell its industry-leading Chrome web browser and impose restrictions designed to prevent Android from favoring its search engine. Regulators also want to ban Google from forging multibillion-dollar deals to lock in its dominant search engine as the default option on Apple’s iPhone and other devices. What you need to know about the proposed measures designed to curb Google's search monopoly U.S. regulators are proposing aggressive measures to restore competition to the online search market after a federal judge ruled that Google maintained an illegal monopoly. The sweeping set of recommendations filed late Wednesday could radically alter Google’s business. Regulators want Google to sell off its industry-leading Chrome web browser. They outlined a range of behavioral measures such as prohibiting Google from using search results to favor its own services such as YouTube, and forcing it to license search index data to its rivals. They're not going as far as to demand Google spin off Android, but are leaving that door open if the remedies don't work. Stock market today: Wall Street edges higher as it heads for a winning week NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks edged higher on Wall Street, keeping the market on track for its fifth gain in a row. The S&P 500 was up 0.1% in midday trading Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 226 points and the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.2%. Gap soared after reporting quarterly results that easily beat analysts' estimates. EchoStar, parent company of the Dish satellite television provider, fell after DirecTV called off its purchase of the company. European markets were mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. Crude oil prices gained ground. Apple and Google face UK investigation into mobile browser dominance LONDON (AP) — A British watchdog says Apple and Google aren't giving consumers a genuine choice of mobile web browsers. The watchdog's report Friday recommends they face an investigation under new U.K. digital rules taking effect next year. The Competition and Markets Authority took aim at Apple, saying the iPhone maker’s tactics hold back innovation by stopping rivals from giving users new features like faster webpage loading. The CMA’s report also found that Apple and Google manipulate the choices given to mobile phone users to make their own browsers “the clearest or easiest option.” Apple said it disagreed with the findings. German auto supplier Bosch to cut 5,500 jobs in further sign of carmakers' woes FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Germany's technology and services company Bosch is cutting its automotive division workforce by as many as 5,500 jobs in the next several years, in another sign of the headwinds hitting the German and global auto industries. The company cited stagnating global auto sales, too much factory capacity in the auto industry compared to sales prospects and a slower than expected transition to electric-powered, software-controlled vehicles. Some 3,500 of the job reductions would come before the end of 2027 and would hit the part of the company that develops driver assistance and automated driving technologies. About half those job reductions would be at locations in Germany. At least 15 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 15 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 160,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat this week after Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, which can cause life-threatening infections. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration.

The Chargers came up as a team that was on the radar to claim Diontae Johnson . Hours after that report, the Texans lost Tank Dell to another season-ending injury. The end zone fall that ended Dell’s second season appears to have affected the Bolts’ receiver plans. Johnson is Houston-bound, having been claimed by the Texans ahead of their Christmas Day matchup against Johnson’s most recent team. As Johnson prepares to potentially face the Ravens, the Chargers saw their chances to land him denied. The Bolts were the only other team to submit a claim, ESPN.com’s Field Yates reports . Although both the Chargers and Texans are 9-6, the latter held the waiver priority. This could be significant for a Chargers team that has depended on second-round rookie Ladd McConkey this season. McConkey has battled injuries, most notably missing the Bolts’ rematch with the Chiefs, but emerged as their clear No. 1 target. Johnson could have given Los Angeles another proven option ahead of a likely playoff berth, albeit a rather volatile option based on how uneven his 2024 has been. Traded twice, Johnson asked out of both situations (Pittsburgh and Carolina) and refused to enter Baltimore’s Week 13 game against Philadelphia. The Ravens suspended the sixth-year vet and then cut him. Known for his separation skills (and drop issues), Johnson caught just one pass in four Ravens games after being acquired in a low-end pick-swap trade at the trade deadline. Jim Harbaugh‘s first offseason in L.A. led the Bolts to trade Keenan Allen and cut Mike Williams , ending a seven-year partnership. The Chargers were connected to potentially reacquiring Williams at the deadline , but the Steelers sent the Jets a fifth-round pick to do so. Los Angeles stayed the course at receiver, keeping the likes of Josh Palmer and Quentin Johnston in place as McConkey complements. Palmer’s 543 yards sit second among Chargers, but McConkey has amassed 960 in his rookie year. He is poised to become the first Charger rookie since Allen (2013) to post a 1,000-yard receiving season. Still, Justin Herbert is short on weapons in an offense that also has not seen much from its tight ends in the passing game. Palmer is due for free agency, and a pre-deadline report pointed to the sides being likely to separate come March . Johnston is also at best a work in progress, having not yet justified his 2023 draft slot while first-round peers Jordan Addison , Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Zay Flowers have been better options for their respective teams. Johnston has totaled 477 yards and eight touchdowns, however, showing more than he did as a rookie. For now, the TCU alum remains in the Chargers’ plans. It would seem Harbaugh’s second offseason will require an addition at receiver and perhaps help at tight end, the coach’s run-game interest notwithstanding. Johnson would have provided an interesting player on that front, as the Bolts would have secured exclusive negotiating rights with him until March 10 had the claim gone through. The Texans now hold those rights, as Johnson will attempt to salvage some free agency value amid his worst NFL season. This article first appeared on Pro Football Rumors and was syndicated with permission.Here's a roundup of five significant proposals that promise to have a lasting impact: 5 developments that could shape County Durham and Darlington 1. Darlington Leisure Complex with Football, Tennis, and Padel Courts (Image: Ward and Sons Holdings Ltd) Plans for a state-of-the-art leisure complex in Darlington have been unveiled, featuring facilities such as football pitches, tennis courts, and padel courts—a first for the area. The development aims to provide a hub for sports and recreation, catering to families, athletes, and enthusiasts alike. With a focus on modern amenities, this facility is set to boost Darlington's profile as a destination for sport and leisure. 2. Hundreds of Homes Planned Next to Seaham Garden Village A further 149 homes could be built next to a major housing scheme in County Durham. (Image: Bellway Homes) In Seaham, a proposal for hundreds of new homes adjacent to the thriving Garden Village has been submitted. The development promises to expand the area's housing stock, with designs that aim to integrate seamlessly with the existing community. With Seaham's reputation as a picturesque coastal town, the project could attract both new residents and further investment. 3. 475 Homes Approved in Darlington’s Coniscliffe Area Despite Concerns Plans for hundreds of new homes in Darlington have taken a step forward after further details about the large-scale scheme were approved. (Image: ELG Planning) Despite reservations about the impact on infrastructure, the approval of 475 new homes in Coniscliffe is set to address Darlington's growing demand for housing. Concerns over road safety and pressure on local services were raised, but the project has been greenlit with promises of measures to mitigate these issues. This development underscores the area's ongoing residential expansion. Recommended reading: Get more content including the stories that matter to your community from The Northern Echo . 4. Rockliffe Hall Reveals Grand Renovation Plans The Rockliffe Hall grounds (Image: ROCKLIFFE HALL) The prestigious Rockliffe Hall near Darlington has announced renovation plans to enhance its luxury offerings. These updates include improvements to guest facilities, bolstering the venue’s reputation as one of the North East's premier destinations for relaxation and leisure. The renovations aim to attract even more visitors to this already iconic location. 5. Phase Two of Bishop Auckland Retail Park in the Works A petrol station and EV chargers are included in the plans. (Image: ELG PLANNING) It is thought the project could bring a further 300 jobs to the County Durham town. Plans for the second phase of Bishop Auckland Retail Park have been unveiled, signalling further growth in the area's shopping and retail opportunities. The expansion is expected to include new stores and amenities, creating additional jobs and boosting the local economy. This development highlights Bishop Auckland's potential as a retail destination for residents and visitors.

Thousands cheer Biden's arrival in Angola for his long-promised sub-Saharan Africa visit

By WILL WEISSERT, JUAN ZAMORANO and GARY FIELDS PANAMA CITY (AP) — Teddy Roosevelt once declared the Panama Canal “one of the feats to which the people of this republic will look back with the highest pride.” More than a century later, Donald Trump is threatening to take back the waterway for the same republic. Related Articles National Politics | President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America’s tallest peak National Politics | Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug use National Politics | An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump National Politics | Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal National Politics | House Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of ‘regularly’ paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl The president-elect is decrying increased fees Panama has imposed to use the waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He says if things don’t change after he takes office next month, “We will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America, in full, quickly and without question.” Trump has long threatened allies with punitive action in hopes of winning concessions. But experts in both countries are clear: Unless he goes to war with Panama, Trump can’t reassert control over a canal the U.S. agreed to cede in the 1970s. Here’s a look at how we got here: It is a man-made waterway that uses a series of locks and reservoirs over 51 miles (82 kilometers) to cut through the middle of Panama and connect the Atlantic and Pacific. It spares ships having to go an additional roughly 7,000 miles (more than 11,000 kilometers) to sail around Cape Horn at South America’s southern tip. The U.S. International Trade Administration says the canal saves American business interests “considerable time and fuel costs” and enables faster delivery of goods, which is “particularly significant for time sensitive cargoes, perishable goods, and industries with just-in-time supply chains.” An effort to establish a canal through Panama led by Ferdinand de Lesseps, who built Egypt’s Suez Canal, began in 1880 but progressed little over nine years before going bankrupt. Malaria, yellow fever and other tropical diseases devastated a workforce already struggling with especially dangerous terrain and harsh working conditions in the jungle, eventually costing more than 20,000 lives, by some estimates. Panama was then a province of Colombia, which refused to ratify a subsequent 1901 treaty licensing U.S. interests to build the canal. Roosevelt responded by dispatching U.S. warships to Panama’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The U.S. also prewrote a constitution that would be ready after Panamanian independence, giving American forces “the right to intervene in any part of Panama, to re-establish public peace and constitutional order.” In part because Colombian troops were unable to traverse harsh jungles, Panama declared an effectively bloodless independence within hours in November 1903. It soon signed a treaty allowing a U.S.-led team to begin construction . Some 5,600 workers died later during the U.S.-led construction project, according to one study. The waterway opened in 1914, but almost immediately some Panamanians began questioning the validity of U.S. control, leading to what became known in the country as the “generational struggle” to take it over. The U.S. abrogated its right to intervene in Panama in the 1930s. By the 1970s, with its administrative costs sharply increasing, Washington spent years negotiating with Panama to cede control of the waterway. The Carter administration worked with the government of Omar Torrijos. The two sides eventually decided that their best chance for ratification was to submit two treaties to the U.S. Senate, the “Permanent Neutrality Treaty” and the “Panama Canal Treaty.” The first, which continues in perpetuity, gives the U.S. the right to act to ensure the canal remains open and secure. The second stated that the U.S. would turn over the canal to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999, and was terminated then. Both were signed in 1977 and ratified the following year. The agreements held even after 1989, when President George H.W. Bush invaded Panama to remove Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega. In the late 1970s, as the handover treaties were being discussed and ratified, polls found that about half of Americans opposed the decision to cede canal control to Panama. However, by the time ownership actually changed in 1999, public opinion had shifted, with about half of Americans in favor. Administration of the canal has been more efficient under Panama than during the U.S. era, with traffic increasing 17% between fiscal years 1999 and 2004 . Panama’s voters approved a 2006 referendum authorizing a major expansion of the canal to accommodate larger modern cargo ships. The expansion took until 2016 and cost more than $5.2 billion. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said in a video Sunday that “every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to.” He added that, while his country’s people are divided on some key issues, “when it comes to our canal, and our sovereignty, we will all unite under our Panamanian flag.” Shipping prices have increased because of droughts last year affecting the canal locks, forcing Panama to drastically cut shipping traffic through the canal and raise rates to use it. Though the rains have mostly returned, Panama says future fee increases might be necessary as it undertakes improvements to accommodate modern shipping needs. Mulino said fees to use the canal are “not set on a whim.” Jorge Luis Quijano, who served as the waterway’s administrator from 2014 to 2019, said all canal users are subject to the same fees, though they vary by ship size and other factors. “I can accept that the canal’s customers may complain about any price increase,” Quijano said. “But that does not give them reason to consider taking it back.” The president-elect says the U.S. is getting “ripped off” and “I’m not going to stand for it.” “It was given to Panama and to the people of Panama, but it has provisions — you’ve got to treat us fairly. And they haven’t treated us fairly,” Trump said of the 1977 treaty that he said “foolishly” gave the canal away. The neutrality treaty does give the U.S. the right to act if the canal’s operation is threatened due to military conflict — but not to reassert control. “There’s no clause of any kind in the neutrality agreement that allows for the taking back of the canal,” Quijano said. “Legally, there’s no way, under normal circumstances, to recover territory that was used previously.” Trump, meanwhile, hasn’t said how he might make good on his threat. “There’s very little wiggle room, absent a second U.S. invasion of Panama, to retake control of the Panama Canal in practical terms,” said Benjamin Gedan, director of the Latin America Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington. Gedan said Trump’s stance is especially baffling given that Mulino is a pro-business conservative who has “made lots of other overtures to show that he would prefer a special relationship with the United States.” He also noted that Panama in recent years has moved closer to China, meaning the U.S. has strategic reasons to keep its relationship with the Central American nation friendly. Panama is also a U.S. partner on stopping illegal immigration from South America — perhaps Trump’s biggest policy priority. “If you’re going to pick a fight with Panama on an issue,” Gedan said, “you could not find a worse one than the canal.” Weissert reported from West Palm Beach, Florida, and Fields from Washington. Amelia Thomson-Deveaux contributed to this report from Washington.

Iran said on Sunday that it would hold nuclear talks in the coming days with the three European countries that initiated a censure resolution against it adopted by the UN’s atomic watchdog. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the meeting of the deputy foreign ministers of Iran, France, Germany and the United Kingdom would take place on Friday, without specifying a venue. “A range of regional and international issues and topics, including the issues of Palestine and Lebanon, as well as the nuclear issue, will be discussed,” the spokesman said in a foreign ministry statement. Baghaei described the upcoming meeting as a continuation of talks held with the countries in September on the sidelines of the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. On Thursday, the 35-nation board of governors of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) adopted a resolution denouncing Iran for what it called a lack of cooperation. The move came as tensions ran high over Iran’s atomic programme, which critics fear is aimed at developing a nuclear weapon — something Tehran has repeatedly denied. In response to the resolution, Iran announced it was launching a “series of new and advanced centrifuges”. Centrifuges enrich uranium transformed into gas by rotating it at very high speed, increasing the proportion of fissile isotope material (U-235). “We will substantially increase the enrichment capacity with the utilisation of different types of advanced machines,” Behrouz Kamalvandi, Iran’s atomic energy organisation spokesman, told state TV. The country, however, also said it planned to continue its “technical and safeguards cooperation with the IAEA”. During a recent visit to Tehran by IAEA head Rafael Grossi, Iran agreed to the agency’s demand to cap its sensitive stock of near weapons-grade uranium enriched up to 60 percent purity. – ‘Doubts and ambiguities’ – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in power since July and a supporter of dialogue with Western countries, has said he wants to remove “doubts and ambiguities” about his country’s nuclear programme. In 2015, Iran and world powers reached an agreement that saw the easing of international sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme. But the United States unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018 under then-president Donald Trump and reimposed biting economic sanctions, which prompted Iran to begin rolling back on its own commitments. On Sunday afternoon, the United Kingdom confirmed the upcoming meeting between Iran and the three European countries. “We remain committed to taking every diplomatic step to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, including through snapback if necessary,” London’s Foreign Office said. The 2015 deal contains a “snapback” mechanism that can be triggered in case of “significant non-performance” of commitments by Iran, allowing many sanctions to be reimposed. Ali Vaez, an Iran expert with the International Crisis Group think tank, told AFP that Friday’s meeting was set to happen earlier, but “those plans were derailed as a result of Iran-Israel tensions” over the Gaza war. Though the parties will be meeting “without knowing what the incoming Trump administration wants to do”, Vaez said that “after a lose-lose cycle of mutual escalation, now both sides are back to realising that engagement might be the least costly option.” Tehran has since 2021 decreased its cooperation with the IAEA by deactivating surveillance devices monitoring the nuclear programme and barring UN inspectors. At the same time, it has increased its stockpiles of enriched uranium and the level of enrichment to 60 percent. That level is close, according to the IAEA, to the 90 percent-plus threshold required for a nuclear warhead, and substantially higher than the 3.67 percent limit it agreed to in 2015. With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.Lindsey is a Seattle area writer interested in all things society, including internet culture, politics, and mental health. Outside of the Daily Dot, her work can be found in publications such as The Mary Sue, Truthout, and YES! Magazine.

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MARKET REPORT: ITV shares surge as it's targeted for takeover By HUGO DUNCAN Updated: 22:01, 25 November 2024 e-mail View comments Shares in ITV jumped on reports it has become a takeover target. The stock rose 8.6 per cent, or 5.65p, to 71.15p though it remains down more than 70 per cent since its peak almost a decade ago. The business, which is home to shows including Coronation Street and Love Island, and whose production arm ITV Studios is behind recent hits such as Rivals for Disney+, is now valued at £2.5billion. Shares have been dragged down in recent years by worries over advertising spend and the profitability of its streaming service ITV X. This has prompted speculation that the company could be sold or broken up, with its Studios production arm split off from the broadcasting division. Over the weekend, Sky News said private equity giant CVC Capital Partners was interested in a deal. The report said CVC was planning to team up with a European broadcaster such as France’s Groupe TF1, and the pair would then split the company with CVC taking on Studios and the broadcasting arm going to TF1. Takeover target: ITV, whose production arm ITV Studios is behind recent hits such as Rivals for Disney+, is now valued at £2.5bn All3Media, owned by RedBird Capital, and Mediawan, backed by the private equity giant KKR, were also said to be interested in ITV Studios. Global stock markets edged higher and US borrowing costs fell as investors welcomed Donald Trump’s decision to pick fund manager Scott Bessent to be US Treasury Secretary when he returns to the White House. Jefferies economist Mohit Kumar described Bessent as ‘pro-growth but also fiscally conservative’, adding: ‘Trump’s pick supports our view that concerns of massive fiscal expansion under Trump are exaggerated.’ The FTSE 100 inched up 0.4 per cent, or 29.6p, to 8291.68 and the FTSE 250 advanced 0.8 per cent, or 167.57 points, to 20749.26. JD Sports shares surged 10 per cent, or 9.34p, to 102.8p after analysts at Deutsche Bank raised their rating on the self-styled ‘King of Trainers’ from ‘sell’ to ‘hold’ – a sign that they believe the stock has fallen far enough. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next The loss of ITV's independence would be a blow to creative... Backlash grows over failure on business rates as Kingfisher... Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to choose the best (and cheapest) stocks and shares Isa and the right DIY investing account JD fell more than 15 per cent in a single session last week as it warned it may not hit the £1billion profit milestone this year due to weaker-than-expected trading. Even after yesterday’s mini-recovery, the shares are down nearly 40 per cent since mid-September. And while the Deutsche upgrade was welcome, UBS analysts cut their price target for the stock to 155p from 178p. Mining giant Anglo American has completed the first stage of its break-up with the £3billion sale of its Australian coal business to American firm Peabody Energy. The deal is part of a major restructuring plan launched after the London-listed firm fought off a £39billion takeover attempt from rival BHP (up 0.4 per cent, or 9p, to 2086p) earlier this year. Anglo shares added 1.4 per cent, or 32p, to 2391p Pest control group Rentokil Initial shares rose 1.5 per cent, or 6.2p, to 412.9p after the appointment former Flutter executive Paul Edgecliffe-Johnson as chief financial officer. Pharma giant AstraZeneca posted upbeat data from a trail of its cancer drug Truqap. Shares were flat at 10474p. Stock Watch - Benchmark Holdings Shares in Benchmark Holdings jumped 6.7 per cent, or 2.35p, to 37.7p after selling its genetics business for £260million. The company, which specialises in the breeding and harvesting of fish and shellfish, said Novo Holdings will pay £230million upfront plus £30million in future depending on performance. Novo Holdings is the controlling shareholder in Ozempic-maker Novo Nordisk. Benchmark plans to focus on its advanced nutrition and health interests. 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We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence. More top storiesA history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his ownTALLAHASSEE — Matt Gaetz’ knack for courting controversy has finally caught up with him. The right-wing firebrand, political prankster, steadfast Trump defender and party animal stepped down as the president-elect’s choice for Attorney General once it was made clear to him he didn’t have the needed support in the U.S. Senate. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get the latest news, sports, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.

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HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some former employees who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. What happened at Enron? Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company's collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered $60 billion in Enron stock worthless. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives , including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling , were eventually convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Key Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. Is Enron coming back? On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release that it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video that was full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” Enron's new website features a company store, where various items featuring the brand's tilted “E” logo are for sale, including a $118 hoodie. In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but that "We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company's website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory that claims all birds are actually surveillance drones for the government. What do former Enron employees think of the company’s return? Peters said that since learning about the “relaunch” of Enron, she has spoken with several other former employees and they are also upset by it. She said the apparent stunt was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, who is 74 years old, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at https://x.com/juanlozano70 Juan A. Lozano, The Associated PressKANSAS CITY, Mo. — Pick your adjective to describe the Kansas City Chiefs this season — charmed, serendipitous, fortunate or just plain lucky — and it probably fits, and not just because they keep winning games that come down to the wire. Every time they need help at a position, they've found someone sitting on the couch, seemingly waiting for their call. First it was wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who returned to the Chiefs just before the season after Marquise Brown was lost to shoulder surgery. Then it was running back Kareem Hunt, who likewise returned to his former team when Isiah Pacheco broke his fibula. Left tackle D.J. Humphries came next when other options at the position were struggling, and this week it was Steven Nelson, who came out of retirement to help a secondary that has struggled for weeks. "Just got an opportunity, got a call. Was very excited about it," said Nelson, who spent his first four seasons in Kansas City before stints in Pittsburgh and Houston, and ultimately calling it quits in June so he could spend more time with his family. People are also reading... "I've got two daughters and been spending a lot of time with him," Nelson said, "but still trying to work out. It was kind of the perfect scenario, getting the call, especially where this team has been and this point in the season. Great opportunity." It's been a perfect opportunity for all of them. Perfect fits for the Chiefs, too. Each could have signed just about anywhere else and been able to contribute, yet they were still sitting around when Chiefs general manager Brett Veach reached out. In the case of Smith-Schuster, Hunt and Humphries, there were some concerns about injuries that had kept some teams away, but the Chiefs were willing to take a risk on them. Smith-Schuster, who has dealt with knee trouble for years, missed some time with a hamstring injury this season. But he still has 202 yards and a touchdown receiving, and has provided some veteran leadership in the locker room. Hunt was coming off a sports hernia surgery, a big reason why the Browns — whom the Chiefs visit Sunday — declined to bring him back after five years spent in a one-two punch with Nick Chubb. But when Pacheco went down, Hunt stepped in and their offense barely missed a beat; he has run for a team-leading 608 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games. Humphries was still rehabbing a torn ACL at the start of the season, but the former Pro Bowl tackle was cleared just before the Chiefs called him. Kingsley Suamataia and Wanya Morris had struggled to protect Patrick Mahomes' blind side, so they brought in Humphries to help out. And while he hurt his hamstring late in his debut last week against the Chargers, the Chiefs still hope he'll be recovered and fully up to speed in time for the stretch run and the playoffs. "I'm in Kansas City, bro. I'm pretty ecstatic. It don't get much better than this," Humphries said. "Everybody is excited for me to be here and that's a really good feeling. You're getting All-Pro guys' arms outstretched, like, 'We're so glad you're here.'" The providential signings don't stop at those four players, either. When the Chiefs lost kicker Harrison Butker to knee surgery, they signed Spencer Shrader off the Jets practice squad, and he promptly kicked a game-winner against Carolina. But then Shrader hurt his hamstring and landed on injured reserve. The 49ers had just waived Matthew Wright, and the Chiefs signed him up. He's gone 8 for 9 on field-goal tries, has been perfect on PATs, and banged the game-winner off the upright and through last week against Los Angeles. Just like Smith-Schuster, Hunt and Nelson, Wright had been with Kansas City a couple of years ago. "It definitely helps, him knowing how we do things, how we practice and what we expect," Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub said. "That all helped, for sure. And he's a veteran. He's been a lot of places. It wasn't like he was a rookie off the street." Or off the couch, for that matter. NOTES: Butker planned to kick again Thursday and could come off IR to face the Browns on Sunday. "He looked good," Toub said. "We have to see how he responds." ... Humphries (hamstring) did not practice Thursday. RT Jawaan Taylor (knee) was limited. ... SS Justin Reid will likely handle kickoffs against Cleveland. He has a stronger leg than Wright and also puts another athletic and adept tackler on the field on special teams. Be the first to know

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HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some former employees who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. What happened at Enron? Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company's collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered $60 billion in Enron stock worthless. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives , including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling , were eventually convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Key Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. Is Enron coming back? On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release that it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video that was full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” Enron's new website features a company store, where various items featuring the brand's tilted “E” logo are for sale, including a $118 hoodie. In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but that "We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company's website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory that claims all birds are actually surveillance drones for the government. What do former Enron employees think of the company’s return? Peters said that since learning about the “relaunch” of Enron, she has spoken with several other former employees and they are also upset by it. She said the apparent stunt was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, who is 74 years old, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at https://x.com/juanlozano70 Juan A. Lozano, The Associated PressGoldman sachs predicts growth for India, cites economic resilience

US stocks tiptoed to more records amid a mixed Tuesday of trading, tacking a touch more onto what's already been a stellar year so far. On the losing end of Wall Street was US Steel, which fell 8%. President-elect Trump reiterated on social media that he would not let Japan's Nippon Steel take over the iconic Pennsylvania steelmaker. Nippon Steel announced plans last December to buy the Pittsburgh-based steel producer for $14.1 billion in cash, raising concerns about what the transaction could mean for unionized workers, supply chains, and US national security. Earlier this year, President Biden also came out against the acquisition. Tesla sank 1.6% after a judge in Delaware that the electric car maker must revoke Elon Musk's multibillion-dollar pay package. Treasury yields held relatively steady after a report showed US employers were advertising slightly more job openings at the end of October than a month earlier, the reports. The value of the South Korean won sank against the dollar after its president declared martial law and then later said he'll lift it. (More stories.)

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Del. Dana Jones, who has represented the greater Annapolis area for more than four years, intends to run for the open Senate seat in January.The exploration include getting rocks and soil from the moon on Earth, the proposed Bharatiya Antariksha Station and landing an astronaut on the lunar surface. “This mission will mark India's entry into the exclusive league of nations capable of mastering space docking,” Union science minister Jitendra Singh said. “The primary objective of the SpaDeX mission is to develop and demonstrate the technology needed for rendezvous, docking, and undocking of two small spacecraft in a low-Earth circular orbit,” an Isro official said. The secondary objective of the mission includes demonstration of the transfer of electric power between the docked spacecraft, which is essential for future applications such as in-space robotics; composite spacecraft control and payload operations after undocking. “This capability is vital for India's lunar and interplanetary missions. Docking technology enables multi-launch missions and supports future human spaceflight,” Singh said. After the demonstration of docking and undocking experiments, the satellites will continue to orbit the Earth for standalone missions for two years. SDX01 is equipped with a high resolution camera (HRC) and SDX02 has two payloads — a miniature multispectral (MMX) payload and radiation monitor (RadMon). These payloads will provide high-resolution images, natural resource monitoring, vegetation studies and on-orbit radiation environment measurements which have numerous applications, Isro said. The PSLV-C60 mission also carries 24 payloads from various Isro labs, private start-ups and educational institutions for carrying out experiments in space. These 24 payloads are mounted on the fourth stage of the PSLV rocket which will remain in orbit for a few weeks before falling back on the Earth. PS4-Orbital Experiment Module (POEM) provides an opportunity for the scientific community to carry out certain in-orbit microgravity experiments for an extended duration of up to three months using the platform, which otherwise would end up as space debris immediately after the mission objective of injecting the primary payloads of the mission.American golfer Brian Harman is opening up about a near-drowning incident that nearly took the life of his six-year-old son and left a family friend in a coma. Harman, 37, revealed that family friend Cathy Dowdy was "injured really badly" after she attempted to rescue his son from "an abnormally bad" riptide as Dowdy and his family vacationed in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, on Oct. 13. Harman was competing at a golf tournament in China at the time of the incident. “My son was involved, he was out boogie boarding with one of his really good friends, got ripped out to sea by just a rip current,” Harman said Tuesday ahead of The RSM Classic in St. Simons Island, Georgia, where he's currently tied for 80th place after shooting par in the first round on Thursday. He continued: "(Cathy Dowdy) went in the water after my son. He's 6. Couldn't get to him... She's been in a coma for going on six weeks now and so obviously our world down here was kind of turned on its head.” Harman said his son was ultimately rescued by a man named Crane Cantrell, who was walking down to the beach at the time. A lifeguard was able to reach Dowdy, pull her to shore and perform CPR on her until emergency crews rushed her to a hospital, according to St. Johns Citizen . Dowdy remains on a ventilator, as of Monday, according to the latest update shared on a GoFundMe fundraiser set up for Dowdy's medical expenses. The 2023 Open Championship winner applauded the bravery of Dowdy and Cantrell for selflessly jumping in the water to save his son, one of three children he shares with wife Kelly Van Slyke. “I wanted to use whatever platform I have to bring awareness to what Cathy did, what Crane did,” Harman said. “They disregarded their selves, went into the water, saved my son and how do you thank people like that? I don't know other than to just say what you think. I think that bravery and doing something like that for people who aren't your blood is just the most beautiful thing you can do in this life. Harman continued: "We call 'em family friends but they're family... We're with 'em till the end, and I appreciate everybody that's helped us out through all this. You know, prayers for Cathy.” The GoFundMe for Dowdy has raised more than $84K as of Thursday afternoon. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast . Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more .

NEW YORK , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Unisys Corporation (NYSE: UIS) resulting from allegations that Unisys may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. SO WHAT: If you purchased Unisys securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=9648 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On October 22, 2024 , the Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it had charged four companies, including Unisys, with "making materially misleading disclosures regarding cybersecurity risks and intrusions." Further, the SEC also charged Unisys with disclosure controls and procedures violations. On this news, Unisys stock fell 8.6% on October 22, 2024 . WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rosen-top-ranked-investor-counsel-encourages-unisys-corporation-investors-to-inquire-about-securities-class-action-investigation--uis-302328062.html SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100 ATLANTA (AP) — Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died. He was 100 years old and had spent more than a year in hospice care. The Georgia peanut farmer served one turbulent term in the White House before building a reputation as a global humanitarian and champion of democracy. He defeated President Gerald Ford in 1976 promising to restore trust in government but lost to Ronald Reagan four years later amid soaring inflation, gas station lines and the Iran hostage crisis. He and his wife Rosalynn then formed The Carter Center, and he earned a Nobel Peace Prize while making himself the most internationally engaged of former presidents. The center said he died peacefully Sunday afternoon in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by his family. Jimmy Carter: Many evolutions for a centenarian ‘citizen of the world’ PLAINS, Ga. (AP) — The 39th and longest-lived U.S. president, James Earl Carter Jr., died Sunday at the age of 100. His life ended where it began, in Plains, Georgia. He left and returned to the tiny town many times as he climbed to the nation’s highest office and lost it after four tumultuous years. Carter spent the next 40 years setting new standards for what a former president can do. Carter wrote nearly a decade ago that he found all the phases of his life challenging but also successful and enjoyable. The Democrat's principled but pragmatic approach defied American political labels, especially the idea that one-term presidents are failures. The Latest: Former President Jimmy Carter is Dead at age 100 Former President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100. The 39th president of the United States was a Georgia peanut farmer who sought to restore trust in government when he assumed the presidency in 1977 and then built a reputation for tireless work as a humanitarian. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia. Carter was sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating President Gerald R. Ford in the 1976 general election. He left office on Jan. 20, 1981, following his 1980 general election loss to Ronald Reagan. Jimmy Carter: A brief bio Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died at his home in Plains, Georgia. His death comes more than a year after the former president entered hospice care. He was 100 years old. Jetliner skids off runway and bursts into flames while landing in South Korea, killing 179 SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A jetliner skidded off a runway, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames in South Korea after its landing gear apparently failed to deploy. Officials said all but two of the 181 people on board were killed Sunday in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters. The 737-800 operated by Jeju Air plane arrived from Bangkok and crashed while attempting to land in the town of Muan, about 290 kilometers (180 miles) south of Seoul. Footage of the crash aired by South Korean television channels showed the plane skidding across the airstrip at high speed, evidently with its landing gear still closed. Tornadoes in Texas and Mississippi kill 2 and injure 6 as severe weather system moves east HOUSTON (AP) — A strong storm system is threatening to whip up tornadoes in parts of the U.S. Southeast, a day after severe weather claimed at least two lives as twisters touched down in Texas and Mississippi. Strong storms moving eastward Sunday are expected to continue producing gusty, damaging winds, hail and tornadoes through Sunday. That is according to National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Pereira. So far, the line of severe weather has led to about 40 tornado reports from southeastern Texas to Alabama, Pereira said, but those reports remain unconfirmed until surveys of damage are completed. Israeli hospital says Netanyahu has undergone successful prostate surgery TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — An Israeli hospital says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has undergone successful prostate surgery. Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center said his prostate was removed late Sunday and that he was recovering. Netanyahu’s office had said Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close ally, would serve as acting prime minister during the procedure. Doctors ordered the operation after detecting an infection last week. Netanyahu is expected to remain hospitalized for several days. With so much at stake, Netanyahu’s health in wartime is a concern for both Israelis and the wider world. Syria's de facto leader says it could take up to 4 years to hold elections BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s de facto leader has said it could take up to four years to hold elections in Syria, and that he plans on dissolving his Islamist group that led the country’s insurgency at an anticipated national dialogue summit for the country. Ahmad al-Sharaa, who leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group leading the new authority in Syria, made the remarks in an interview Sunday. That's according to the Saudi television network Al-Arabiyya. It comes almost a month after a lightning insurgency led by HTS overthrew President Bashar Assad’s decades-long rule, ending the country’s uprising-turned civil war that started back in 2011. A fourth infant dies of the winter cold in Gaza as families share blankets in seaside tents DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A fourth infant has died of hypothermia in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by nearly 15 months of war are huddled in tents along the rainy, windswept coast as winter arrives. The baby's father says the 20-day-old child was found with his head as “cold as ice” Sunday morning in their tent. The baby’s twin brother was moved to the intensive care unit of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. Their father says the twins were born one month premature and spent just a day in hospital, which like other Gaza health centers has been overwhelmed and only partially functions. Musk causes uproar for backing Germany's far-right party ahead of key elections BERLIN (AP) — Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has caused uproar after backing Germany’s far-right party in a major newspaper ahead of key parliamentary elections in the Western European country, leading to the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor in protest. Germany is to vote in an early election on Feb. 23 after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party governing coalition collapsed last month in a dispute over how to revitalize the country’s stagnant economy. Musk’s guest opinion piece for Welt am Sonntag, published in German over the weekend, was the second time this month he supported the Alternative for Germany, or AfD.

Josh Allen has confirmed reports that he played with a broken left hand for the majority of the 2024 season. Allen, who is in the midst of a possible MVP campaign, sustained the injury in Week 1. He appeared on the Bills ' injury report with a non-throwing hand injury the following 10 weeks but did not miss a practice or a game. Allen, who was back on the injury report this week with elbow and shoulder injuries, confirmed the report about his hand prior to Buffalo's Week 17 matchup with the New York Jets . "It's the left one, so it don't really matter that much," Allen said . Allen was successfully able to navigate through his broken hand injury. In fact, Allen played some of the best ball of his career during that period while soaring to the front of MVP conversations. That stretch culminated in Week 11 with the Bills handing the Chiefs their only loss of the 2024 season so far. Allen punctuated Buffalo's 30-21 win with a game-clinching 26-yard touchdown run with just over two minutes left. When asked about his current injuries, Allen said he needs to "be smarter and make sure that we're rolling here." Buffalo has already locked up the AFC East division title for a fifth straight year, but it will be playing on Super Wild Card Weekend after Kansas City locked up the No. 1 seed after defeating the Steelers on Christmas Day. Allen, 28, is currently edging out Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson as the favorite to win league MVP. This year, Allen became the first quarterback in NFL history with multiple seasons of at least 25 touchdown passes and 10 touchdown runs in one season. He's one touchdown run away from tying Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas' career franchise record.

Video posted on social media shows protesters in Jaramana, a suburb of Syria’s capital Damascus, tearing down a statue of former President Hafez Al-Assad. Syrian rebels claim to be closing in on Damascus amid a lightning-fast offensive that aims to reclaim territory from government forces. Dec. 7, 2024What Snoop wants: Arizona Bowl gives NIL opportunities to players for Colorado State, Miami (Ohio)

Middle East latest: Israel bombs hundreds of sites across Syria as army pushes into border zoneNEW YORK , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Unisys Corporation (NYSE: UIS) resulting from allegations that Unisys may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. SO WHAT: If you purchased Unisys securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=9648 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On October 22, 2024 , the Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it had charged four companies, including Unisys, with "making materially misleading disclosures regarding cybersecurity risks and intrusions." Further, the SEC also charged Unisys with disclosure controls and procedures violations. On this news, Unisys stock fell 8.6% on October 22, 2024 . WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rosen-top-ranked-investor-counsel-encourages-unisys-corporation-investors-to-inquire-about-securities-class-action-investigation--uis-302328062.html SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.

It's the holiday season, and in the NFL, quarterbacks usually mark the occasion with gifts to the offensive line in front of them. The line does spend the whole season keeping them protected, after all – well, unless you're Caleb Williams on the Bears – so, in many ways, it's the least a QB on a big contract can do. Jalen Hurts and star running back Saquon Barkley had a joint gift for the Eagles' O-line this year: custom golf carts, complete with each respective player's name and number along with Hurts' and Barkley's logo on the back. Eagles' beats spotted the carts lined up at the NovaCare Complex earlier this week, and then on Thursday, the Eagles uploaded the video of the linemen coming out to see their gifts to the team's social media channels. Proceed to watch 300-plus-pound giants all become little kids: The O-Line was a *little* bit excited to get their Christmas gift from Ole St. Jalen and Ole St. Saquon 🤣 pic.twitter.com/ioVLPe96ff "That thing's fully-loaded," said center Cam Jurgens after Thursday's practice. "Stereo system, backup camera, that thing's badass." "I might drive it to work," he joked. 'Tis the season. A couple of other Eagles odds and ends... Coach D-Jax? DeSean Jackson is a college football head coach now. Word broke Thursday that the former Eagles deep threat reached an agreement to take over Delaware State's football program, an HBCU, per ESPN's Pete Thamel , and the university made it official on Friday, with a press release complete with statements from athletic director Tony Tucker, Jackson, and even Andy Reid. Desean Jackson and Delaware State are finalizing an agreement for him to take the head coaching job there, per ESPN sources. He did an on-campus interview in recent days and the sides are expected to come together in the near future. pic.twitter.com/KXO0AvGVbL "HBCUs have much to be proud of in creating a more representative America," read Jackson's statement . "But that story is not simply a historical one. It continues to be written and includes the elevation of HBCU scholars and scholar athletes in every field of human endeavor. "The opportunity for me to help write another chapter here at DSU is a once-in-a-lifetime moment consistent with my journey as a young boy finding his way to manhood through mentorship, accountability, achievement, and discipline," Jackson continued. "If we build that kind of culture at Delaware State University, we will attract the right talent and radically change the trajectory of this program. I cannot wait to get started." From Reid, the former Eagles and current Kansas City Chiefs coach's statement : " I could not be more supportive of his desire to coach Division I football and would stake my career on his success at Delaware State University. We are bound at the hip and are forever family. I cannot wait to see where he takes the University and where the University takes him. Jackson was a rising star receiver for the Eagles in the late-2000s under Reid and then in Chip Kelly's first year as coach in 2013, before he became a casualty of Kelly's infamous re-tooling of the roster that offseason. He returned to Philadelphia for a second stint in 2019, this time as a veteran deep threat for Carson Wentz and Doug Pederson's offense, but was plagued by injuries as that era of Eagles football imploded over the next two years. The now 38-year-old is taking the leap into coaching now, and notably right after journeyman QB Teddy Bridgewater coached his high school alma mater to a state championship, then came out of retirement to join the Detroit Lions . About that Ertz and Sirianni meeting The Commanders came back at the last second and the Eagles lost, but during the postgame handshakes at Northwest Stadium down in Landover, something seemed to have gone wrong in an interaction between head coach Nick Sirianni and former Eagles now Commanders tight end Zach Ertz. Writers and fans at the game spotted it. Neither person involved had much comment about it when asked postgame. A few days later, The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane reported that the handshake between Sirianni and Ertz went awry. Sirianni was agitated, McLane recounted on his "Uncovering the Birds" podcast . Ertz went for a high five, Sirianni didn't appreciate that, and called out that Ertz only had one catch and didn't do much of anything during the game. Ertz didn't appreciate that. The two stood up to one another. Eagles security chief "Big" Dom DiSandro separated the two. Sirianni apologized to Ertz over a Zoom call later on. Video of the encounter was posted following McLane's report, via local DMV station WUSA9 . Our camera caught part of this interaction (apologies for the blurriness). It looks like Ertz goes in for the handshake/high five with Sirianni. Then Sirianni turns his head and says something to Ertz after he walks by. That fired the #Commanders tight end up @wusa9 https://t.co/z9nL8OVYUW pic.twitter.com/2JSDiC8iUL "Just keep all of my conversations with any guys private," Sirianni said during his Thursday press conference about his call with Ertz to apologize . "I got a lot of respect for Zach. Great football player, great person to be around, really got a lot of respect for Zach and all the good things that he's done and my relationship with him. " And Ertz's perspective, via video from The Athletic's Ben Standig and transcription from PHLY's Zach Berman : "Nick and I had a great relationship when I was there — we still have a great relationship. And I think it's definitely been blown way of proportion. We spoke. We're good. There's no ill feelings on my part. ...Him and I are fine. Everyone knows how I feel about that place, that... https://t.co/q8nFielyxu So it seems like an issue that's been patched up and closed up. It's over with. The only thing is this is just the latest incident where Sirianni has rubbed someone the wrong way, and you can't confidently say it'll be the last. 'Tis the season. Follow Nick on Twitter: @itssnick Follow Nick on Bluesky: @itssnick Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Sports

Made in Chelsea star to headline ReBalance Bath Wellbeing Festival( MENAFN - Jordan News Agency) Amman, Dec. 21 (Petra) -- Jordan's strategic pivot toward high-value industries emerges as a cornerstone of its economic modernization vision, with industry leaders and economic experts highlighting its potential to position the Kingdom as a regional manufacturing hub. The initiative encompasses nine key sectors with 104 targeted initiatives, focusing on developing integrated value chains and fostering innovation across the Kingdom's industrial portfolio. This strategic framework aims to enhance productivity and create seamless market synergies across supply chains and knowledge transfer. "The economic modernization vision prioritizes sectors with substantial added value," says Fathi Al-Jaghbir, President of Jordan and Amman Chambers of Industry. These sectors include mining, chemical industries, pharmaceuticals, textiles, food processing, and engineering industries, alongside creative industries development. The textile and garment sector exemplifies this transformation, projecting to triple its current indicators and generate 149,000 jobs in the coming years. According to Ihab Qadri, the sector's representative at the Jordan Chamber of Industry, the industry has demonstrated remarkable growth, achieving a 42 percent value addition rate surpassing both industrial averages and competitor nations. Logistics Integration The initiative's success heavily relies on logistics sector enhancement, according to Nabil Al-Khatib, President of the Jordan Logistics Association. "Advanced logistics infrastructure is crucial for attracting high-value industrial investments and optimizing operational efficiency," he explains, emphasizing its role in reducing operational costs and enhancing competitive advantage. Strategic Implementation The vision outlines several key implementation strategies: - Development of vertical and horizontal value chains - Enhancement of infrastructure in industrial zones - Establishment of research and development centers - Modernization of regulatory frameworks - Implementation of tax and customs incentives Industry experts emphasize that success requires developing skilled local workforce capabilities, particularly in technical education and vocational training. This approach aims to ensure sustainability and competitiveness in regional and global markets. Economic Impact The initiative targets significant economic outcomes: - Achieving 5.6 percent growth rates - Expanding export capabilities - Reducing trade deficit - Attracting foreign direct investment - Advancing technological capabilities Iyad Abu Haltam, President of East Amman Investors Industrial Association, notes that these high-value industries offer unique advantages in avoiding traditional price competition and dumping policies while accessing new, non-traditional markets. MENAFN21122024000117011021ID1109019721 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.bet on lol streamers 。

MAPUTO, Mozambique. (AP) — At least 6,000 inmates escaped from a high-security prison in Mozambique’s capital on Christmas Day after a rebellion, the country's police chief said, as widespread post-election riots and violence are roiling the country. Police chief Bernardino Rafael said 33 prisoners died and 15 others were injured during a confrontation with the security forces. The prisoners fled during violent protests that have seen police cars, stations and infrastructure destroyed after the country’s Constitutional Council confirmed the ruling Frelimo party as the winner of the Oct. 9 elections. The escape from the Maputo Central Prison, located 14 kilometers (9 miles) southwest of the capital, started around midday on Wednesday after “agitation” by a “group of subversive protesters” nearby, Rafael said. Some of the prisoners at the facility snatched weapons from the guards and started freeing other detainees. “A curious fact is that in that prison we had 29 convicted terrorists, who they released. We are worried, as a country, as Mozambicans, as members of the defense and security forces,” said Rafael. “They (protesters) were making noise, demanding that they be able to remove the prisoners who are there serving their sentences”, said Rafael, adding that the protests led to the collapse of a wall, allowing the prisoners to flee. He called on the escaped prisoners to surrender to authorities and for the population to be informed about the fugitives. Videos circulating on social media show the moment inmates left the prison, while other recordings reveal captures made by military personnel and prison guards. Many prisoners tried to hide in homes, but some were unsuccessful and ended up being detained again. In one video, a prisoner still with handcuffs on his right wrist says he was held n the disciplinary section of the prison and was released by other inmates.

DALLAS — Delta and United became the most profitable U.S. airlines by targeting premium customers while also winning back a significant share of travelers on a tight budget. That is squeezing smaller low-fare carriers like Spirit Airlines , which recently filed for bankruptcy protection. Some travel-industry experts think Spirit’s troubles indicate that travelers on a budget will be left with fewer choices and higher prices. Other discount airlines are on much better financial footing than Spirit, but they too are lagging far behind the full-service airlines when it comes to recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic . Most industry experts think Frontier Airlines and other so-called ultra-low-cost carriers will fill the vacuum if Spirit shrinks , and that there is still plenty of competition to prevent prices from spiking. Spirit Airlines lost more than $2.2 billion since the start of 2020. Frontier has not reported a full-year profit since 2019, though that slump might end this year. Allegiant Air’s parent company is still profitable, but less so than before the pandemic. Those kind of numbers led United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby to declare recently that low-cost carriers were using “a fundamentally flawed business model” and customers hate flying on them. Kirby’s touchdown dance might turn out to be premature, but many analysts are wary about the near-term prospects for budget airlines, which charge cheaper fares but more fees than the big airlines. A traveler speaks with a Spirit Airlines agent May 24 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport ahead of Memorial Day in Atlanta. Low-cost airlines grew in the last two decades by undercutting big carriers on ticket prices, thanks in large part to lower costs, including hiring younger workers who were paid less than their counterparts at Delta Air Lines, United and American Airlines . Wages soared across the industry in the past two years, however, narrowing that cost advantage. The big airlines rolled out and refined their no-frills, “basic economy” tickets to compete directly with Spirit, Frontier and other budget carriers for the most price-sensitive travelers. The budget airlines became less efficient at using planes and people. As their growth slowed, they wound up with more of both than they needed. In 2019, Spirit planes were in the air an average of 12.3 hours every day. By this summer, the planes spent an average of two more hours each day sitting on the ground, where they don't make money. Spirit's costs per mile jumped 32% between 2019 and 2023. Another issue is that airlines added too many flights. Budget airlines and Southwest Airlines were among the worst offenders, but full-service airlines piled on. To make up for a drop in business travel, the big carriers added more flights on domestic leisure routes. The result: Too many seats on flights into popular tourist destinations such as Florida and Las Vegas, which drove down prices, especially for economy-class tickets. Rows of seats are shown Sept. 26 on a retrofitted Southwest Airlines jet at Love Field in Dallas. Low-cost airlines are responding by following the old adage that if you can't beat them, join them. That means going premium, following the rapidly growing household wealth among upper-income people. The top one-fifth of U.S. households by income added $35 trillion in wealth since 2019 and holds nearly nine times the wealth of the middle fifth, according to the Federal Reserve . Frontier Airlines organized its fares into four bundles in May, with buyers of higher-priced tickets getting extras such as priority boarding, more legroom and checked bags. The airline dropped ticket-change or cancellation fees except for the cheapest bundle. Spirit followed in August with similar changes, blocking middle seats and charging passengers more for the comfort of aisle and window seats. Spirit Airlines CEO Ted Christie received a $3.8 million retention bonus a week before the Florida-based carrier filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Christie will retain the bonus if he remains with the company for another year. The airline's stock has dropped over 90% this year. It has faced challenges including a blocked $3.8 billion merger with JetBlue and failed talks with Frontier. The pandemic disrupted Spirit's operations and travel patterns, reducing its daily aircraft utilization and increasing costs. Demand has shifted to full-service airlines as higher-income travelers vacation more, while inflation impacts lower-income consumers. JetBlue Airways , which began flying more than 20 years ago as a low-cost carrier but with amenities, is digging out from years of steady losses. Under new CEO Joanna Geraghty, the first woman to lead a major U.S. airline, JetBlue is cutting unprofitable routes, bolstering core markets that include the Northeast and Florida, and delaying deliveries of $3 billion worth of new planes. Starting next year, Southwest Airlines will toss out a half-century tradition of “open seating” — passengers picking their own seat after boarding the plane. Executives say extensive surveying showed 80% of customers preferred an assigned seat, and that's especially true with coveted business travelers. More crowded planes also might be pushing passengers to spend more to escape a middle seat in the back of the plane. A Frontier Airlines jet takes off July 5, 2022, from Denver International Airport in Denver. In other parts of the world, budget carriers are doing just fine. They bounced back from the pandemic just like their more highbrow competitors. Some industry experts say low-cost carriers in Asia and Europe have always attracted a more diverse mix of passengers, while in the U.S., affluent and middle-class travelers look down their noses at low-cost carriers. Jamie Baker, an analyst for JPMorgan, says he has many college friends who work in London and fly Irish airline Ryanair all the time, but he hardly knows anyone who has ever been on a Spirit or Frontier plane. A small plane tows a banner April 13, 2016, over Flint Bishop International Airport as part of ceremonies marking Allegiant Air joining the airport. Delta CEO Ed Bastian is less dismissive of the “lower-end carriers” in the U.S. than United's Kirby. "I don’t see that segment ever disappearing,” Bastian said after Spirit’s bankruptcy filing. “I think there’s a market for it.” At the same time, he said the upscale moves by ultra-low-cost carriers are having no effect on his airline. Delta targets upscale travelers but also introduced basic-economy fares a decade ago, when discounters emerged as a growing threat to poach some of Delta's customers. “Just calling yourself a premium carrier and actually being a premium carrier are two totally different things,” Bastian said “It's not the size of the seat or how much room you have; it's the overall experience.” As frequent flyers know, air travel isn't cheap. With the summer months in full swing, demand for air travel is expected to reach record numbers in 2024 as airlines continue to recover after the COVID-19 pandemic. Luckily for those who are looking for ways to save on travel , one way to cut costs on your next vacation may be in finding the right places to fly in and out of. FinanceBuzz looked at average domestic airfares from the 45 busiest airports in the U.S. to learn which airports are best for travelers on a budget, as well as which ones to avoid if you are trying to travel affordably. Overall, the national average airfare cost decreased by 3.1% from 2022 to 2023 when adjusted for inflation (which translates to a 0.9% increase in non-adjusted dollars). The last time inflation-adjusted airfare costs dropped year-over-year was during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when it fell 18% between 2019 and 2020. Largely, this is good news for consumers who can spend less on airfare and have more room in their budget for hotels , restaurants, and other travel fees. In addition to earning rewards on airfare, most travel credit cards offer rewards for spending in these areas, which can offset overall vacation costs. Based on Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the above chart shows inflation-adjusted average airline fares over the past 25 years. For this report, we compared domestic airfares from the 45 busiest airports in the U.S. using data published by the U.S. Department of Transportation . Orlando International Airport (MCO) had the lowest airfare cost in the country at $265.58 on average. Home to iconic theme parks like Universal Studios, Sea World, and most notably, Walt Disney World, Orlando is one of America's top tourist destinations. This is welcome news for those bracing for expensive park tickets and food prices at the House of Mouse. Beyond saving with a Disney credit card on park-related purchases, visitors can also maximize savings by using a credit card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve which offers an annual travel credit, or even using a 0% APR credit card if you don't want to pay for your entire vacation at once. Another Florida-based airport, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), has the second-lowest average airfare cost in the country — tickets here are only about $5 more expensive than Orlando's. Just a few dollars behind FLL is Las Vegas's Harry Reid International (LAS), where fares cost $272.15 on average. LAS is also the last airport on our list where average airfare costs are less than $300. Oakland International Airport (OAK) has the fourth-lowest average airfare costs in the country at $303.79. And the fifth-least expensive airport, Chicago Midway International (MDW), comes in at $308.27. For the third year in a row, Dulles International Airport (IAD) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) have the two highest average fares in the country. Flights from Dulles cost $488.40 on average in 2023, while flights from San Francisco cost $444.59. Some silver lining for travelers who need to travel through Dulles: IAD is home to some of the best airport lounges in the country, including the recently-opened Capital One Lounge, available to Capital One Venture X or Venture Rewards credit card holders. With free food, drinks, and recharging stations, lounges can be one easy way to offset otherwise-expensive airport costs. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) has the third-highest average airfare in the country, with an average cost of $438.34. Last on our top-five list of the most expensive airports are Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and Detroit Metro Airport (DTW). Average airfare from Charlotte cost $436.80 last year, while flights from Detroit had an average price tag of $427.05. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) was the biggest affordability winner over the last year, dropping prices by more than $18 on average. SEA jumped from 36th most-affordable place last year to 28th place this year — an increase of eight spots. Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) and Portland International Airport (PDX) experienced similar jumps, rising by seven spots each. RDU went from 24th place in 2022 to 17th in 2023, while PDX went from 42nd to 35th. Two different airports fell by eight spots in our affordability rankings, tied for the biggest drop of the year. The average fare at Sacramento International Airport (SMF) rose by $18.66 year-over-year, which led SMF to go from 18th in last year's affordability rankings to 26th this year. Prices rose even more at St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), going up by $19.64 on average from one year to the next. Consequently, STL fell from 21st to 29th place in terms of affordability. As you plan your travel, you'll find costs can vary widely at a single airport. With a little research and smart planning, you can find a deal at any airport. Here are a few tips to save on airfare: We looked at 2023 airfare data released by the U.S. Department of Transportation in May 2024 to compare domestic airfares by origin city. This report calculated average fares based on domestic itinerary fares. "Itinerary fares" consist of round-trip fares, unless only a one-way ticket was purchased. In that case, the one-way fare was used. Fares are based on total ticket value, including the price charged by the airline plus any additional taxes and fees levied at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at booking and do not include fees for optional services like baggage fees. Averages also do not include frequent-flyer or "zero fares" or a few abnormally high reported fares. This stor y was produced by FinanceBuzz and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media. Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!

DALLAS — Delta and United became the most profitable U.S. airlines by targeting premium customers while also winning back a significant share of travelers on a tight budget. That is squeezing smaller low-fare carriers like Spirit Airlines , which recently filed for bankruptcy protection. Some travel-industry experts think Spirit’s troubles indicate that travelers on a budget will be left with fewer choices and higher prices. Other discount airlines are on much better financial footing than Spirit, but they too are lagging far behind the full-service airlines when it comes to recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic . Most industry experts think Frontier Airlines and other so-called ultra-low-cost carriers will fill the vacuum if Spirit shrinks , and that there is still plenty of competition to prevent prices from spiking. Spirit Airlines lost more than $2.2 billion since the start of 2020. Frontier has not reported a full-year profit since 2019, though that slump might end this year. Allegiant Air’s parent company is still profitable, but less so than before the pandemic. Those kind of numbers led United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby to declare recently that low-cost carriers were using “a fundamentally flawed business model” and customers hate flying on them. Kirby’s touchdown dance might turn out to be premature, but many analysts are wary about the near-term prospects for budget airlines, which charge cheaper fares but more fees than the big airlines. A traveler speaks with a Spirit Airlines agent May 24 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport ahead of Memorial Day in Atlanta. Low-cost airlines grew in the last two decades by undercutting big carriers on ticket prices, thanks in large part to lower costs, including hiring younger workers who were paid less than their counterparts at Delta Air Lines, United and American Airlines . Wages soared across the industry in the past two years, however, narrowing that cost advantage. The big airlines rolled out and refined their no-frills, “basic economy” tickets to compete directly with Spirit, Frontier and other budget carriers for the most price-sensitive travelers. The budget airlines became less efficient at using planes and people. As their growth slowed, they wound up with more of both than they needed. In 2019, Spirit planes were in the air an average of 12.3 hours every day. By this summer, the planes spent an average of two more hours each day sitting on the ground, where they don't make money. Spirit's costs per mile jumped 32% between 2019 and 2023. Another issue is that airlines added too many flights. Budget airlines and Southwest Airlines were among the worst offenders, but full-service airlines piled on. To make up for a drop in business travel, the big carriers added more flights on domestic leisure routes. The result: Too many seats on flights into popular tourist destinations such as Florida and Las Vegas, which drove down prices, especially for economy-class tickets. Rows of seats are shown Sept. 26 on a retrofitted Southwest Airlines jet at Love Field in Dallas. Low-cost airlines are responding by following the old adage that if you can't beat them, join them. That means going premium, following the rapidly growing household wealth among upper-income people. The top one-fifth of U.S. households by income added $35 trillion in wealth since 2019 and holds nearly nine times the wealth of the middle fifth, according to the Federal Reserve . Frontier Airlines organized its fares into four bundles in May, with buyers of higher-priced tickets getting extras such as priority boarding, more legroom and checked bags. The airline dropped ticket-change or cancellation fees except for the cheapest bundle. Spirit followed in August with similar changes, blocking middle seats and charging passengers more for the comfort of aisle and window seats. Spirit Airlines CEO Ted Christie received a $3.8 million retention bonus a week before the Florida-based carrier filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Christie will retain the bonus if he remains with the company for another year. The airline's stock has dropped over 90% this year. It has faced challenges including a blocked $3.8 billion merger with JetBlue and failed talks with Frontier. The pandemic disrupted Spirit's operations and travel patterns, reducing its daily aircraft utilization and increasing costs. Demand has shifted to full-service airlines as higher-income travelers vacation more, while inflation impacts lower-income consumers. JetBlue Airways , which began flying more than 20 years ago as a low-cost carrier but with amenities, is digging out from years of steady losses. Under new CEO Joanna Geraghty, the first woman to lead a major U.S. airline, JetBlue is cutting unprofitable routes, bolstering core markets that include the Northeast and Florida, and delaying deliveries of $3 billion worth of new planes. Starting next year, Southwest Airlines will toss out a half-century tradition of “open seating” — passengers picking their own seat after boarding the plane. Executives say extensive surveying showed 80% of customers preferred an assigned seat, and that's especially true with coveted business travelers. More crowded planes also might be pushing passengers to spend more to escape a middle seat in the back of the plane. A Frontier Airlines jet takes off July 5, 2022, from Denver International Airport in Denver. In other parts of the world, budget carriers are doing just fine. They bounced back from the pandemic just like their more highbrow competitors. Some industry experts say low-cost carriers in Asia and Europe have always attracted a more diverse mix of passengers, while in the U.S., affluent and middle-class travelers look down their noses at low-cost carriers. Jamie Baker, an analyst for JPMorgan, says he has many college friends who work in London and fly Irish airline Ryanair all the time, but he hardly knows anyone who has ever been on a Spirit or Frontier plane. A small plane tows a banner April 13, 2016, over Flint Bishop International Airport as part of ceremonies marking Allegiant Air joining the airport. Delta CEO Ed Bastian is less dismissive of the “lower-end carriers” in the U.S. than United's Kirby. "I don’t see that segment ever disappearing,” Bastian said after Spirit’s bankruptcy filing. “I think there’s a market for it.” At the same time, he said the upscale moves by ultra-low-cost carriers are having no effect on his airline. Delta targets upscale travelers but also introduced basic-economy fares a decade ago, when discounters emerged as a growing threat to poach some of Delta's customers. “Just calling yourself a premium carrier and actually being a premium carrier are two totally different things,” Bastian said “It's not the size of the seat or how much room you have; it's the overall experience.” As frequent flyers know, air travel isn't cheap. With the summer months in full swing, demand for air travel is expected to reach record numbers in 2024 as airlines continue to recover after the COVID-19 pandemic. Luckily for those who are looking for ways to save on travel , one way to cut costs on your next vacation may be in finding the right places to fly in and out of. FinanceBuzz looked at average domestic airfares from the 45 busiest airports in the U.S. to learn which airports are best for travelers on a budget, as well as which ones to avoid if you are trying to travel affordably. Overall, the national average airfare cost decreased by 3.1% from 2022 to 2023 when adjusted for inflation (which translates to a 0.9% increase in non-adjusted dollars). The last time inflation-adjusted airfare costs dropped year-over-year was during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when it fell 18% between 2019 and 2020. Largely, this is good news for consumers who can spend less on airfare and have more room in their budget for hotels , restaurants, and other travel fees. In addition to earning rewards on airfare, most travel credit cards offer rewards for spending in these areas, which can offset overall vacation costs. Based on Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the above chart shows inflation-adjusted average airline fares over the past 25 years. For this report, we compared domestic airfares from the 45 busiest airports in the U.S. using data published by the U.S. Department of Transportation . For the third year in a row, Dulles International Airport (IAD) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) have the two highest average fares in the country. Flights from Dulles cost $488.40 on average in 2023, while flights from San Francisco cost $444.59. Some silver lining for travelers who need to travel through Dulles: IAD is home to some of the best airport lounges in the country, including the recently-opened Capital One Lounge, available to Capital One Venture X or Venture Rewards credit card holders. With free food, drinks, and recharging stations, lounges can be one easy way to offset otherwise-expensive airport costs. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) has the third-highest average airfare in the country, with an average cost of $438.34. Last on our top-five list of the most expensive airports are Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and Detroit Metro Airport (DTW). Average airfare from Charlotte cost $436.80 last year, while flights from Detroit had an average price tag of $427.05. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) was the biggest affordability winner over the last year, dropping prices by more than $18 on average. SEA jumped from 36th most-affordable place last year to 28th place this year — an increase of eight spots. Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) and Portland International Airport (PDX) experienced similar jumps, rising by seven spots each. RDU went from 24th place in 2022 to 17th in 2023, while PDX went from 42nd to 35th. Two different airports fell by eight spots in our affordability rankings, tied for the biggest drop of the year. The average fare at Sacramento International Airport (SMF) rose by $18.66 year-over-year, which led SMF to go from 18th in last year's affordability rankings to 26th this year. Prices rose even more at St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), going up by $19.64 on average from one year to the next. Consequently, STL fell from 21st to 29th place in terms of affordability. As you plan your travel, you'll find costs can vary widely at a single airport. With a little research and smart planning, you can find a deal at any airport. Here are a few tips to save on airfare: We looked at 2023 airfare data released by the U.S. Department of Transportation in May 2024 to compare domestic airfares by origin city. This report calculated average fares based on domestic itinerary fares. "Itinerary fares" consist of round-trip fares, unless only a one-way ticket was purchased. In that case, the one-way fare was used. Fares are based on total ticket value, including the price charged by the airline plus any additional taxes and fees levied at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at booking and do not include fees for optional services like baggage fees. Averages also do not include frequent-flyer or "zero fares" or a few abnormally high reported fares. This stor y was produced by FinanceBuzz and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media. Orlando International Airport (MCO) had the lowest airfare cost in the country at $265.58 on average. Home to iconic theme parks like Universal Studios, Sea World, and most notably, Walt Disney World, Orlando is one of America's top tourist destinations. This is welcome news for those bracing for expensive park tickets and food prices at the House of Mouse. Beyond saving with a Disney credit card on park-related purchases, visitors can also maximize savings by using a credit card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve which offers an annual travel credit, or even using a 0% APR credit card if you don't want to pay for your entire vacation at once. Another Florida-based airport, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), has the second-lowest average airfare cost in the country — tickets here are only about $5 more expensive than Orlando's. Just a few dollars behind FLL is Las Vegas's Harry Reid International (LAS), where fares cost $272.15 on average. LAS is also the last airport on our list where average airfare costs are less than $300. Oakland International Airport (OAK) has the fourth-lowest average airfare costs in the country at $303.79. And the fifth-least expensive airport, Chicago Midway International (MDW), comes in at $308.27. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!

OTTAWA — The Liberal government is pulling out the federal wallet to put more money into people's pockets over the holidays, but its recently announced affordability measures create winners and losers. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Thursday that the federal government will remove the goods and services tax on a slew of items for two months, starting Dec. 14. But in provinces where the provincial and federal sales taxes are blended together into a harmonized sales tax, Canadians will get a larger break. The federal government also plans to send $250 cheques to Canadians who were working in 2023 and earned up to $150,000. That means Canadians who were not working in 2023, including those who were receiving social assistance or were in retirement, will not be sent a cheque in April. In the House of Commons on Friday, NDP MP Peter Julian called the government out for not including Canadians with fixed incomes. "Why are Liberals excluding seniors and people with disabilities from the real help they need this holiday season? Why won't Liberals help them, too?" Julian asked during question period. At a news conference on Friday, Trudeau said that the federal government has already stepped up to help the most vulnerable Canadians and that it is now time to give a hand to workers. "Over the past number of years, we have been extraordinarily present in helping the most vulnerable Canadians," Trudeau said, mentioning the boost to old-age security for seniors aged 75 and older and the Canada Child Benefit. "But as I travel across the country, I do regularly hear from working Canadians who are having trouble making ends meet, but saying, 'look, I don't have kids. I'm not a senior yet, and I'm facing challenges.'" The GST break, which is expected to cost the federal government $1.6 billion, will apply to a number of items including children's clothing and shoes, toys, diapers, restaurant meals and beer and wine. It also applies to Christmas trees — both natural and artificial — along with a variety of snack foods and beverages, and video game consoles. Meanwhile, 18.7 million people will receive a check this spring, costing the government about $4.7 billion. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 22, 2024. Nojoud Al Mallees, The Canadian PressWashington state proposes high school sports division for transgenders, separating them from female athletes

Assad's final hours in Syria: Deception, despair and flight

Speeding Ticket KC Traffic Law Firm: Introducing Modern Solutions With A Personal TouchThe NFL wished Taylor Swift a Happy Birthday with a TikTok of her and Travis Kelce’s most memorable moments—on and off the field. Kelce’s employer posted the video of the singer and his relationship, which already has racked up over 1 million views. The caption read, “Karma is the guy on the @Chiefs saying happy bday to me.” The clips showed Kelce and Swift celebrating his wins at games, the pair at her concerts, and her glitzed out in Chiefs gear. “If you told me 2 years ago I would be following the NFL on tiktok and not falling asleep everytime a game is on TV... never would’ve believed it,” wrote one commenter. “Happy birthday Taylor. Thank you for uniting the Swifties and the Football Fans together in the name of art and sport,” another wrote. Swift has been seen at many Chiefs games since the beginning of her relationship with the tight end, with him visiting her at some of her tour dates. karma is the guy on the @Chiefs saying happy bday to me 🎶 #taylorswift #traviskelce #nfl #kansascitychiefs Saturday Night Live alum Pete Davidson , known best to some for his past relationships with Kim Kardashian , Ariana Grande , Kate Beckinsale , and more famous women, now says he doesn’t want to be known as “this f---ing loser who just dates people,” in a new interview for W Magazine . to promote his new role as creative director for colorful sock brand Doublesoul, Davidson told the outlet his feeling that he was one of “a handful of celebs every couple of years” that the media “destroys,” after multiple run-ins with tabloids over his famous exes. “For some reason, I’m one of the people they chose to go after,” he said. But, he added, “It’s actually, in a way, a blessing, because it allowed me to take a step back and evaluate things. What do you want to be? Who are you?” Davidson said he only wants to be seen publicly “when it’s movie, stand-up, charity, or business ventures” and to focus on his stand-up career. “I’m someone who is from Staten Island, wanted to do stand-up, and if I got to do anything else because of stand-up, it was a miracle.” Posters are a great way to celebrate your favorite fandom. But if you’re looking for that real “WOW!” factor, nothing beats Fathead . For 17 years, Fathead has been an industry leader in officially licensed graphic wall art across sports and entertainment. You can even create personalized products, making big-head cutouts and life-size wall decals from your own photos. Installing the decals is a breeze. Unroll the decal and lie it flat. Wipe down your wall with a damp cloth. After the wall is dry, peel off the decal backing and apply it slowly, smoothing out any bubbles as you go. Need to adjust? No problem— Fathead decals can be peeled off and reapplied easily. No matter your favorite football team, Fathead has a wall decal for them . Free Shipping The basketball season has just tipped off. Celebrate your favorite player with a life-size wall decal. Free Shipping From everyone’s favorite web-slinging New Yorker to the fourth-wall breaking merc with a mouth, Fathead’s superhero decals burst with vibrant colors. You’ll marvel at how they bring your walls to life. Free Shipping If you buy something from this post, we may earn a small commission. The iconic sitcom Malcolm in the Middle will hit screens for the first time in 18 years, with a limited run of four episodes set to premiere on Disney+ . Frankie Muniz, who will reprise his role as Malcolm, announced the reboot Friday, along with Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek, who play his parents. The original creator of the show will also return as a writer. The new series follows Malcolm returning home with his daughter for his parents’ 40th wedding anniversary, according to Deadline . Christopher Kennedy Masterson, who played the eldest brother Francis, and Justin Berfield, who played the middle child Reese, are likely to be asked to reprise their roles. Though it’s unlikely that Erik Per Sullivan, who plays the youngest brother Dewey, will make an appearance. He quit acting in 2010 and has not appeared at any reunions. Malcolm in the Middle first premiered on Fox in 2000 and ran for seven seasons. Its success as a family comedy is credited with paving the way for other single-camera sitcoms. Legendary quarterback Aaron Rodgers is finally opening up about his strained relationship with his family. In his new documentary, Aaron Rodgers: Enigma , Rodgers explained that he has “stunted emotional intelligence” because of the lack of open emotion in his home growing up. “I think I saw my dad cry when my grandfather passed. And that might have been it,” Rodgers shared. “There wasn’t space for emotion.” Rodgers’ brother, Jordan, first opened up about the family’s rift during his time on The Bachelorette in 2016. During a hometown date with his now-wife JoJo Fletcher, the family explained that while they “miss” Rodgers, they no longer have a relationship with him. In a 2017 profile with The New York Times , Rodgers’ father, Ed, confirmed that he hadn’t spoken to his son in three years. “Fame can change things,” he said. At the time, Rodgers said he didn’t want to talk about his family publicly. In the doc, Rodgers spoke about his family while participating in an ayahuasca ceremony. The quarterback said the psychedelic drug allows users to “model a new way of thinking about masculinity, or what it means to be a man.” Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. Consuming cannabis as an adult feels very different than doing so as a fresh-faced 21-year-old—so why should your smoking habits make your space feel like a disheveled college dorm room? NWTN Home’s collection of chic smoking essentials offers a more elevated way to enjoy cannabis in the comfort of your home. NWTN Home is a smokeware brand bringing craftsmanship to the cannabis industry by designing what they call “homeware for the high-minded.” Its weed-associated products are built to double as elegant and functional houseware items , helping you upgrade your home into a full smoking sanctuary. Plus, they make the perfect holiday gifts for your favorite creative cannabis connoisseur! This hand-poured, marbled ashtray rests atop a sleek melamine rolling tray and includes a helpful brass tool that can assist in your rolling process, making it the perfect blend of form and function. This standout stackable flower pot ashtray set is a surefire solution to keep your space clean—and your houseguests impressed. No cannabis collection is complete without something to smoke out of! These avant-garde gravity bongs are inspired by vintage housewares and designed to seamlessly blend into your barware and greenware set-ups. Released bodycam footage shows Paris Hilton’s ex-fiancé, Chris Zylka, in a chaotic brawl with police after a failed carjacking. Police in a Cleveland suburb first responded to reports of a shirtless, barefoot man walking in traffic in freezing temperatures on Dec. 4, local outlet WKBN first reported. Zylka was found in the middle of an intersection, where he allegedly tried to break into a woman’s car. He pointed a cell phone at the cops and began foaming at the mouth, leading officers to believe he was under the influence of drugs, according to the police report. Footage shows Zylka struggling with police officers and resisting arrest even after being tasered in the leg twice. He was then put in an ambulance by paramedics. The actor is now facing felony charges of assault and attempt to commit an offense, as well as misdemeanor disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and aggravated menacing. Hilton and Zylka started dating in 2017 after being friends for years. He proposed in early 2018 during a ski trip in Aspen, Colorado, but they called off their engagement in November that same year. Vanderpump Rules alum James Kennedy is refusing to apologize for his domestic violence arrest . “We are in the process of conducting our own investigation into the allegations levied by the Burbank Police Department against James,” Kennedy’s attorneys said in a statement to the Daily Mail . “We understand that there were no injuries and we are hoping that, after careful review, the city’s attorneys will decide not to file formal charges.” Police were called to Kennedy’s home on Tuesday because of an argument between Kennedy and a woman. That night, Kennedy attended Kathy Hilton’s Christmas party with girlfriend Ally Lewber, though it’s unknown if she is the victim. Police told People that after an investigation, they arrested the reality star for misdemeanor domestic violence. He later posted $20,000 bail. A source at the Christmas party told People that Kennedy was acting “super aggressive.” “He was acting so erratic, running back and forth to the bar and body-checking people along the way,” the source alleged. “He appeared inebriated. Spent the evening mostly alone but when he did speak to people, he appeared irritated and rude.” A doctor has rubbished Brandi Glanville’s scary medical theory about her “deflated” face , saying he’s concerned about an infection that started via an injection. The 52-year-old Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum claims doctor s told her that it may have been caused by “a parasite that jumps around my face.” But Dr. Terry Dubrow, from Botched , has said he’s “concerned about an infectious process”. He told TMZ : “It’s an infectious process or a foreign body reaction to something she’s had injected.” A foreign body reaction is the response of biological tissue to any foreign material in the tissue, despite it often being inert and nontoxic, according to ScienceDirect.com Dubrow added: “Brandi needs a diagnosis... she has to figure out if there’s a microorganism in there. It’s not gonna be a parasite, it’s not gonna be something she ate... it’s going to be something that got into her bloodstream though, and seeded some foreign body.” Dubrow thinks Glanville either has a micro bacterium, a type of bacteria, or a fungus, a type of organism. Sick it! pic.twitter.com/hrtAzRwOCW A Buckingham Palace maid was arrested this week after she allegedly went “crazy” following a staff Christmas party which saw glasses and punches thrown in a London bar. A report in The Sun said as many as 50 royal servants gathered for an after-party following drinks at the palace Tuesday when the maid, 24, took a swing at a bar manager, threw glasses, and was ultimately arrested for common assault, criminal damage, and being drunk and disorderly. She was released after 24 hours with a fine. “The group walked in and this one girl just got hysterical,” a source told The Sun . “She started smashing glasses and abusing our staff members, so we had to call the police. I’ve never seen one person get that crazy during a night out. She was on another level.” A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “We are aware of an incident outside the workplace involving a number of Household staff who had previously attended an early evening reception at the Palace. While this was an informal social gathering, not an official palace Christmas party, the facts will be fully investigated, with a robust disciplinary process followed in relation to individual staff and appropriate action taken.” Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. Apparently, boosting prostate health can actually be pleasurable—at least, that’s what premium sexual wellness brand MysteryVibe says. The Molto, an ultra-slim and bendable prostate vibrator designed by a doctor, is engineered to be the same size and width as a doctor’s finger and to mimic similar motions to that performed during an exam, allowing for not only intense prostate (the prostate is often hailed as the male ‘G-spot’) and anal stimulation but also a release of prostatic fluids. According to the brand, some studies have found that excess prostatic fluid can lead to inflammation and pressure, so not only is this a sex toy , but it’s also possibly an investment in your prostate health. Think of it almost like a lymphatic massage for your prostate—except one that can give you intense orgasms, too. Made with body-safe silicone, the multifunctional and gender-fluid vibrator is powered by one “anatomically-placed” motor that delivers potent yet precise vibration to the anus and prostate without feeling bulky or inflexible. It’s a great sex toy for those new to anal play or who are looking for an ultra-sleek vibrator with possible health-boosting benefits. The prostate vibrator is equipped with 16 vibration settings and eight pre-set vibration patterns, allowing for superior control and customization. Plus, the device comes with access to a catalog of vibration patterns with the free MysteryVibe smartphone app. Best of all? Because the Molto vibrator is an FDA-registered class II medical device, it’s also FSA/HSA eligible. Is Melania Trump finally back in action? The incoming first lady is joining Donald Trump on Sunday for a private dinner at Mar-a-Lago with Akie Abe, the widow of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, according to reports. Her husband, who was assassinated at a political rally in 2022, reportedly won over Trump during his first term with the proven combination of golf and flattery. Trump and Akie Abe have stayed close, with the president-elect regularly calling her to check in, a source told CNN. Melania Trump is scheduled to attend Sunday’s dinner, her latest public appearance after being largely absent on the campaign trail earlier this year. She also accompanied her husband to the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday for Trump’s ringing of the opening bell. Melania has always been a somewhat reluctant first lady, and it’s still not clear how much time she plans to spend in Washington after Trump takes office in January. She did, however, tell Fox & Friends last week that at least she knows what to expect this time around. Trump is set to have a private dinner this Sunday with Akie Abie, the widow of the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a person familiar says. The dinner will take place at Mar-a-Lago and Melania Trump is expected to attend. Trump and Mrs. Abe have maintained a close... The woman who accused three Duke University lacrosse players of rape in 2006 has admitted she fabricated the entire story—18 years after her case captivated the nation before quickly falling apart. Crystal Mangum, the woman at the center of the scandal who is serving a prison sentence for the murder of her boyfriend years later, confessed to lying about the assaults in a new podcast interview. “I testified falsely against them by saying that they raped me when they didn’t and that was wrong, and I betrayed the trust of a lot of other people who believed in me, and made up a story that wasn’t true because I wanted validation from people and not from God,” Mangum told the podcast Let’s Talk with Kat . Mangum, who was working as an exotic dancer who performed at a lacrosse team party in March 2006, called the three lacrosse players she previously accused her “brothers,” and asked for their forgiveness. “I hurt my brothers, and I hope that they can forgive me, and I want them to know that I love them and they didn’t deserve it. I hope they can forgive me.” The charges against the three lacrosse players were dropped by then-North Carolina Attorney General (and current Governor) Roy Cooper in 2007. The Durham County prosecutor who charged the Duke students was eventually disbarred and convicted of contempt of court for giving the defense incomplete DNA test results that would have excluded the lacrosse players, local station WRAL reported at the time. More than 18 years after the Duke lacrosse allegations, Crystal Mangum admits that she made it all up. "I testified falsely against [the lacrosse players] by saying that they raped me when they didn't...I made up a story that wasn't true...I hope that they can forgive me." pic.twitter.com/3yMjbQTQXHWASHINGTON — For years, Pat Verhaeghe didn’t think highly of Donald Trump as a leader. Then Verhaeghe began seeing more of Trump’s campaign speeches online and his appearances at sporting events. There was even the former president’s pairing with Bryson DeChambeau as part of the pro golfer’s YouTube channel series to shoot an under-50 round of golf while engaging in chitchat with his partner. “I regret saying this, but a while ago I thought he was an idiot and that he wouldn’t be a good president,” said the 18-year-old first-time voter. “I think he’s a great guy now.” Verhaeghe isn’t alone among his friends in suburban Detroit or young men across America. Although much of the electorate shifted right to varying degrees in 2024, young men were one of the groups that swung sharply toward Trump. More than half of men under 30 supported Trump, according to AP VoteCast , a survey of more than 120,000 voters, while Democrat Joe Biden had won a similar share of this group four years earlier. White men under 30 were solidly in Trump’s camp this year — about 6 in 10 voted for Trump — while young Latino men were split between the two candidates. Most Black men under 30 supported Democrat Kamala Harris, but about one-third were behind Trump. Young Latino men’s views of the Democratic Party were much more negative than in 2020, while young Black men’s views of the party didn’t really move. About 6 in 10 Latino men under 30 had a somewhat or very favorable view of the Democrats in 2020, which fell to about 4 in 10 this year. On the other hand, about two-thirds of young Black men had a favorable view of the Democrats this year, which was almost identical to how they saw the party four years ago. “Young Hispanic men, and really young men in general, they want to feel valued,” said Rafael Struve, deputy communications director for Bienvenido, a conservative group that focused on reaching young Hispanic voters for Republicans this year. “They’re looking for someone who fights for them, who sees their potential and not just their struggles.” Struve cited the attempted assassination of Trump during a July rally in Pennsylvania as one of the catalyzing moments for Trump’s image among many young men. Trump, Struve said, was also able to reach young men more effectively by focusing on nontraditional platforms like podcasts and digital media outlets. “Getting to hear from Trump directly, I think, really made all the difference,” Struve said of the former president’s appearances on digital media platforms and media catering to Latino communities, like town halls and business roundtables Trump attended in Las Vegas and Miami. Not only did Trump spend three hours on Joe Rogan’s chart-topping podcast, but he took up DeChambeau’s “Break 50” challenge for the golfer’s more than 1.6 million YouTube subscribers. Trump already had an edge among young white men four years ago, although he widened the gap this year. About half of white men under 30 supported Trump in 2020, and slightly less than half supported Biden. Trump’s gains among young Latino and Black men were bigger. His support among both groups increased by about 20 percentage points, according to AP VoteCast — and their feelings toward Trump got warmer, too. It wasn’t just Trump. The share of young men who identified as Republicans in 2024 rose as well, mostly aligning with support for Trump across all three groups. “What is most alarming to me is that the election is clear that America has shifted right by a lot,” said William He, founder of Dream For America, a liberal group that works to turn out young voters and supported Harris’ presidential bid. With his bombastic demeanor and a policy agenda centered on a more macho understanding of culture, Trump framed much of his campaign as a pitch to men who felt scorned by the country’s economy, culture and political system. Young women also slightly swung toward the former president, though not to the degree of their male counterparts. It’s unclear how many men simply did not vote this year. But there’s no doubt the last four years brought changes in youth culture and how political campaigns set out to reach younger voters. Democrat Kamala Harris’ campaign rolled out policy agendas tailored to Black and Latino men, and the campaign enlisted a range of leaders in Black and Hispanic communities to make the case for the vice president. Her campaign began with a flurry of enthusiasm from many young voters, epitomized in memes and the campaign’s embrace of pop culture trends like the pop star Charli XCX’s “brat” aesthetic. Democrats hoped to channel that energy into their youth voter mobilization efforts. “I think most young voters just didn’t hear the message,” said Santiago Mayer, executive director of Voters of Tomorrow, a liberal group that engages younger voters. Mayer said the Harris campaign’s pitch to the country was “largely convoluted” and centered on economic messaging that he said wasn’t easily conveyed to younger voters who were not already coming to political media. “And I think that the policies themselves were also very narrow and targeted when what we really needed was a simple, bold economic vision,” said Mayer. Trump also embraced pop culture by appearing at UFC fights, football games and appearing alongside comedians, music stars and social media influencers. His strategists believed that the former president’s ability to grab attention and make his remarks go viral did more for the campaign than paid advertisements or traditional media appearances. Trump’s campaign also heavily cultivated networks of online conservative platforms and personalities supportive of him while also engaging a broader universe of podcasts, streaming sites, digital media channels and meme pages open to hearing him. “The right has been wildly successful in infiltrating youth political culture online and on campus in the last couple of years, thus radicalizing young people towards extremism,” said He, who cited conservative activist groups like Turning Point USA as having an outsize impact in online discourse. “And Democrats have been running campaigns in a very old fashioned way. The battleground these days is cultural and increasingly on the internet.” Republicans may lose their broad support if they don’t deliver on improving Americans’ lives, Struve cautioned. Young men, especially, may drift from the party in a post-Trump era if the party loses the president-elect’s authenticity and bravado. Bienvenido, for one group, will double down in the coming years to solidify and accelerate the voting pattern shifts seen this year, Struve said. “We don’t want this to be a one and done thing,” he said. Associated Press writer Joey Cappelletti in Lansing, Michigan, and AP polling editor Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux contributed to this report.

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MORGANTOWN — West Virginia University has tabbed the football team’s offensive coordinator to take the helm as interim head coach for the Mountaineers’ season finale. Chad Scott was named WVU’s interim coach Monday morning and will coach the Mountaineers in whichever bowl game they play, the university announced. Scott replaces Neal Brown, who was fired Sunday after a 52-15 loss at Texas Tech dropped WVU to 6-6 on the season and 5-4 in the Big 12. “I want to thank Coach Scott for agreeing to lead our team in bowl preparation,” West Virginia University athletic director Wren Baker said. “He has been a strong and great leader for our program, and someone who cares for our student-athletes “I appreciate his willingness to step forward to make for as smooth of a transition as possible,” Baker added. “I have confidence that Coach Scott will have our team prepared and ready to play.” Scott was hired onto Brown’s initial staff in 2019 after spending from 2016-18 as North Carolina’s tight ends/hybrids coach. Scott has overseen WVU’s running backs for six years, was co-offensive coordinator from 2019-21, run game coordinator in 2022 and has been offensive coordinator the last two seasons. One of WVU’s strengths among its struggles in the 2024 season has been its running game. It ranked 27th nationally this season at 192.67 yards per game, and featured a trio of runners with at least 600 yards – running backs Jahiem White and C.J. Donaldson and quarterback Garrett Greene. WVU finished fourth overall in rushing in 2023. WVU will learn its bowl destination Sunday, when the rest of the college football postseason is announced. Coaching changes usually have a ripple effect in recruiting, and it has been no different for WVU following Brown’s dismissal. The Mountaineers have already seen multiple de-commitments since the announcement. The highest profile has been 2026 quarterback commit Brodie McWhorter from Cartersville, Georgia. McWhorter is a four-star prospect considered a top-20 QB prospect for the 2026 class. “When I committed in June, I never thought I would have to write this,” McWhorter wrote in a social media statement. “After talks with my family, due to recent coaching changes, we feel that it is best to decommit at this time. While this decision wasn’t easy, we think it is best for my future.” McWhorter holds offers from 25 schools, according to 247Sports.com, including Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana. Other de-commitments since Sunday include Tampa, Florida, cornerback Serious Stinyard and Huntingtown, Maryland, defensive lineman Evan Powell from the 2025 class and Aliquippa, Pennsylvania linebacker Daiveon Taylor in the 2026 class. Early National Signing Day for football for the 2025 class is Wednesday. WVU has also seen a handful of players already announce they’ll enter the transfer portal – redshirt junior offensive lineman Bryce Biggs, redshirt sophomore safety Raleigh Collins and redshirt freshman safety Josiah Jackson. Biggs played in three games this season. Collins did not see action this year, but played in 12 games the previous two seasons. Jackson played in two games last season, but did not see action this season.AP News Summary at 6:42 p.m. EST

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bet on streamers ranked games NoneBOSTON -- Two men, including a dual Iranian American citizen, have been arrested on charges that they exported sensitive technology to Iran that was used in a drone attack in Jordan that killed three American troops early this year and injured dozens of other service members, the Justice Department said Monday. The criminal case in federal court in Massachusetts charges the men, identified as Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi and Mohammad Abedininajafabadi, with export control violations. U.S. officials blamed the January attack on the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias that includes Kataib Hezbollah. Three Georgia soldiers — Sgt. William Jerome Rivers of Carrollton, Sgt. Breonna Moffett of Savannah and Sgt. Kennedy Sanders of Waycross — were killed in the Jan. 28 drone attack on a U.S. outpost in northeastern Jordan called Tower 22. In the attack, the one-way attack drone may have been mistaken for a U.S. drone that was expected to return back to the logistics base about the same time and was not shot down. Instead, it crashed into living quarters, killing the three soldiers and injuring more than 40. Tower 22 held about 350 U.S. military personnel at the time. It is strategically located between Jordan and Syria, only 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the Iraqi border, and in the months just after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, and Israel’s blistering response in Gaza, Iranian-backed militias intensified their attacks on U.S. military locations in the region. Following the attack, the U.S. launched a huge counterstrike against 85 sites in Iraq and Syria used by Iran's Revolutionary Guard and Iranian-backed militia and bolstered Tower 22’s defenses. ____ Tucker and Copp reported from Washington.

Beyoncé performance on Christmas: Ravens' Lamar Jackson plans to skip halftime meeting to watch showAs President-elect Donald Trump makes his transition to the White House, it’s not just his cabinet picks garnering scrutiny — it’s now also his funding as he’s keeping the donors funding the transition effort a secret. Trump has not yet signed an agreement with the outgoing Biden administration — a requirement laid out in the Presidential Transition Act that places restrictions on the amount of fundraising cash in exchange for more than $7 million in federal funds for the “orderly transfer” of power. Because Trump hasn’t signed the agreement, he doesn’t have to work within the confines of the fundraising limits or disclose what interest groups are funding his transition to the White House, The New York Times first reported. This side-step opens the door for anyone, including foreign nationals, to donate directly to Trump without their identities or potential conflicts of interest ever being brought to the public eye, the outlet noted. The Presidential Transition Act also puts a cap on the amount donors can contribute: $5,000 . “When the money isn’t disclosed, it’s not clear how much everybody is giving, who is giving it and what they are getting in return for their donations,” said Heath Brown, a professor of public policy at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, told The Times . “It’s an area where the vast majority of Americans would agree that they want to know who is paying that bill.” While a Trump adviser told CNN earlier this month that the president-elect plans to sign the documents, a timeline was not provided for when that would be completed. “The Trump-Vance transition lawyers continue to constructively engage with the Biden-Harris administration lawyers regarding all agreements contemplated by the Presidential Transition Act,” Brian Hughes, a Trump transition spokesman, told the Times in a statement. The Independent has reached out to the Trump transition team for more information. The White House confirmed earlier this week that the agreements have not been signed. “Our teams continue to stay in touch,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a press briefing. “As of now, the Trump-Vance transition team has not yet entered into the agreements with the White House and the General Service Administration.” By not signing the required paperwork, Trump “remains unbound by donor contribution limits and disclosure requirements, and is relying on private donors rather than federal funds — opening Trump’s team to financial corruption with no public transparency even before he takes office,” Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren said in a November 21 letter to the Biden administration. Trump’s refusal to sign the agreements is “unprecedented” and “threatens the American public by hamstringing incoming officials’ ability to govern responsibly,” she continued. Warren also noted that the FBI cannot start its background checks of Trump’s nominees for national security roles until the agreement is signed. Another member of Congress sounded the alarm that Trump’s team had missed two mandatory pre-election deadlines. “Federal law creates a process for major party candidates to engage in smooth transition planning,” Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin wrote on X in late October. “Trump and Vance have so far boycotted the process, thus already obstructing prospects for an orderly transition.” The Maryland Democrat also wrote a letter on October 23 to Trump and JD Vance urging their transition team to sign the agreements: “Your actions depart from well-established norms of the federal government and demonstrate a spectacular disregard for the successful continuation of the essential institutions of American democratic government.” Trump has officially nominated all of his top 15 cabinet picks as of Saturday.

At the NeurIPS conference, former OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever forecasted that the integration of reasoning capabilities in AI would lead to unpredictability in technological outcomes. Sutskever, receiving a 'Test of Time' award, discussed the limitations of current pre-training models. Despite achievements like OpenAI's ChatGPT, he noted that data expansion is reaching a plateau due to the finite nature of the internet. He proposed alternatives, such as AI generating new data or refining answers to enhance accuracy. Sutskever co-founded Safe Superintelligence Inc envisioning superintelligent, self-aware machines that can reason like humans, but warned of their inherent unpredictability. (With inputs from agencies.)

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DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic is returning to the Dallas lineup Monday night against the Portland Trail Blazers after missing the Mavericks’ two previous games with a left heel contusion. Doncic won last season’s scoring title with a career-best 33.9 points per game and is fifth in the NBA this season averaging 28.9, and seventh in assists, averaging 8.2. He had triple-doubles in three of his last four games, including his most recent appearance last Sunday with 45 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in a 143-133 win at Golden State. The defending Western Conference champions are 18-10, fourth in the West, and have won 13 of their last 16 games following their only losing streak of the season, a four-game skid from Nov. 8-14. ___ AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nbaThe Kyle Tucker trade is probably going to work out very well for the Houston Astros because of Cam Smith , but at the same time, it’s less than I thought they’d get for Tucker, who played like a superstar in half a season in 2024 and was worth 5-plus WAR for three straight years before that. The Chicago Cubs seemed very happy to build the best team of perfectly cromulent players, with eight position players worth between 2 and 4 bWAR last year, but nobody who was a real star for his position. Tucker is that and more, immediately becoming the Cubs’ best player, and by trading from some surplus, the Cubs don’t lose anything from the 2025 roster they can’t replace internally. Tucker was in the midst of his best season as a hitter when he fouled a ball off his shin bone, fracturing it and putting him on the injured list for just over three months; his OBP was at a career-high .408, his slugging at a career-high .585, and he was putting the ball in the air more often thanks to a small boost in his average launch angle. He’s one of the best fastball hitters in the game if not the best, ranking in the top three in the game in run value per 100 fastballs as a batter (per Baseball Savant), but he recognizes all pitch types and hits them all pretty well. He hasn’t had a whiff rate against any pitch type over 35 percent in either of the past two years; not even Shohei Ohtani or Aaron Judge can say that. His defensive metrics have bounced all over the place since he became a full-time right fielder, but he’s probably a 50 to 55 defender in the end with an above-average arm. He was en route to an MVP-level, 8-9 WAR season when he got hurt, and I expect more of the same — and maybe more if the Cubs don’t extend him right away and this is a walk year for him. Advertisement Smith, a 6-foot-4, athletic infielder, is the jewel for the Astros here, as the Cubs’ first-round pick in 2024 rolled right into pro ball after a full season at Florida State (hitting .387/.488/.654 in 66 games with just a 15 percent strikeout rate) and then hit .313/.396/.609 across Low A, High A and Double A in 32 more games, again keeping his strikeout rate low (18 percent). Smith remade his body and his swing last offseason and went from kind of a power-over-hit guy who might not stay on the dirt as a 19-year-old high schooler to a pure hitter with looser hands and better bat speed for more frequent and harder contact. He’s only played third base in 2024 between college and the minors and could stay there but is more likely to end up at first or in an outfield corner. There’s a chance this is an elite bat regardless of his position, though, and he immediately becomes the Astros’ best prospect. Paredes is a solid regular who gets on base at an above-average clip and puts the ball in play a lot but has never really grown into harder contact as many scouts expected when he was in his early 20s. His batted-ball metrics are pretty bad across the board, ranking in the bottom quartile in MLB in barrel rate and expected average, the bottom 10 percent in hard-hit rate and the bottom 5 percent in average exit velocity. It’s not great bat speed, and if anything seemed a little worse in 2024, as he went from hammering four-seamers to being just adequate against them. He’s a fringy but serviceable defender at third. His on-base skills are good enough to make him a valuable regular despite all of these limitations, peaking at 4.2 bWAR/4.3 fWAR in 2023, but there isn’t much upside here and he’s going to age extremely poorly. He’s under team control through 2027. Right-hander Hayden Wesneski has starter potential but has been extremely homer-prone in the majors, giving up 32 homers in 157 innings over the past two seasons, two-thirds of them coming off fastballs. He relies heavily on his sweeper, possibly throwing too many different pitches for others to be effective. Though he’s been better in relief in the majors, it’s not a massive difference — 14 points of OBP, 33 points of slugging — and he probably has more value as a back-end starter/swingman than a true reliever. It’s just one year of Tucker’s services, so his trade value isn’t as high as you might expect for a player of his caliber. Even acknowledging that, this deal feels like one excellent prospect and some guys. I’m not a big Paredes believer; his value seems to be as the potential everyday third baseman if Alex Bregman walks, and I expect some decline from Paredes even over the three years he has left to free agency. Houston might have been more inclined to take a deal that returned two big leaguers and one prospect than two or three prospects and maybe less help for the 2025 roster, as they’re still in contending mode. That might have returned less total value than they could have gotten if they’d gone strictly for youth. GO DEEPER What Kyle Tucker trade says about Cubs, Astros: Chicago all-in, Houston seeks sustainability (Top photo: Carmen Mandato / Getty Images)

A white Christmas is forecasted for parts of Ontario as winter weather and snowfall sweeps across the province Monday. Snow moving across Ontario is expected to accumulate from about London eastward to the Quebec border, said Environment Canada meteorologist Brad Rousseau. "Whatever snow falls today looks like it should stick around for Christmas," he said. "A white Christmas looks to be almost a certainty." Up to 20 centimetres is in the forecast across a swath of Ontario from Georgian Bay east toward Perth where the snowfall warnings are in effect. The Greater Toronto Area is under a winter weather travel advisory and could see between five and 15 centimetres of snow by early Tuesday morning. On one of the busiest travel days of the holiday season, Toronto Pearson International Airport urged travellers to check their flight status and take "plenty of extra time" to arrive at the airport. The snow advanced on Ottawa Monday afternoon, and Environment Canada warned it could become heavy at times through the night with accumulations between 10 to 15 centimetres. Drivers on Highway 400 and Highway 11, where some cars were stranded around Gravenhurst during a major storm earlier this month, may come up against poor visibility and hazardous road conditions, Rousseau said. As it moves east, the snow was expected to taper off Monday night and into Tuesday. The low-pressure system developed along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, in what forecasters call an Alberta Clipper. The systems, Rousseau said, are generally characterized by smaller winter storms than low-pressure systems that develop out of Texas or Colorado, but they're generally fast-moving and a little drier. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 23, 2024. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. Editor's Picks 10 Family Calendars And Planners That'll Help You Keep Track Of Everything In The New Year Our Guide To The Best Winter Boots You Can Get In Canada 16 Cozy Home Essentials That Cost Less Than $100 Home Our Guide To The Best Snow Shovels In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) 14 Of The Best Home Security Devices You Can Find Online Right Now (And They've Got The Reviews To Prove It) 13 Of The Best Fidget Toys For Adults Gifts The Clock Is Ticking — Shop These 25 Last-Minute Amazon Prime Gifts Now If You Have An Amazon Prime Account, These 70+ Crowd-Pleasing Gifts Will Still Arrive Before Christmas If You Have An Amazon Prime Account, These 50 Brilliant Stocking Stuffers Will Still Arrive Before Christmas Beauty 20 Products Your Dry, Dehydrated Skin Will Thank You For Ordering 14 Hydrating Face Masks That’ll Save Your Skin This December 12 Budget-Friendly Products To Add To Your Winter Skincare Routine Deals The Altitude Sports Boxing Day Sale Has Begun — Here's What We're Shopping For PSA: The Michael Kors Boxing Week Sale Is Happening Right Now The Silk & Snow End Of Year Sale Is Officially On — Here's What To Add To Your Cart London Top Stories NEW | Blast of Ontario snow brings weather warnings, signs of white Christmas 91-year-old harness driver victorious at The Raceway in London, Ont. SIU concludes LPS was justified in striking a man in August arrest Anonymous $2 million donation given to St. Joseph’s Health Care Next chapter for St. Thomas Elevated Park as it joins forces with Railworks Coalition Canada regulator sues Rogers for alleged misleading claims about data offering New Canadians displaced after fire destroys east London townhome Police issue holiday reminders following pair of break and enters CTVNews.ca Top Stories BREAKING | Emergency crews responding to avalanche in Whistler, B.C., area Paramedics and search crews have been dispatched to the scene of an avalanche that struck Monday in the Whistler, B.C., area. Quebec fugitive killed in Mexican resort town, RCMP say RCMP are confirming that a fugitive, Mathieu Belanger, wanted by Quebec provincial police has died in Mexico, in what local media are calling a murder. Bill Clinton hospitalized with a fever but in good spirits, spokesperson says Former President Bill Clinton was admitted Monday to Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington after developing a fever. Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal First it was Canada, then the Panama Canal. Now, Donald Trump again wants Greenland. The president-elect is renewing unsuccessful calls he made during his first term for the U.S. to buy Greenland from Denmark, adding to the list of allied countries with which he's picking fights even before taking office. Pioneering Métis human rights advocate Muriel Stanley Venne dies at 87 Muriel Stanley Venne, a trail-blazing Métis woman known for her Indigenous rights advocacy, has died at 87. King Charles ends royal warrants for Ben & Jerry's owner Unilever and Cadbury chocolatiers King Charles III has ended royal warrants for Cadbury and Unilever, which owns brands including Marmite and Ben & Jerry’s, in a blow to the household names. Man faces murder charges in death of woman who was lit on fire in New York City subway A man is facing murder charges in New York City for allegedly setting a woman on fire inside a subway train and then watching her die after she was engulfed in flames, police said Monday. Canada regulator sues Rogers for alleged misleading claims about data offering Canada's antitrust regulator said on Monday it was suing Rogers Communications Inc, for allegedly misleading consumers about offering unlimited data under some phone plans. Multiple OnlyFans accounts featured suspected child sex abuse, investigator reports An experienced child exploitation investigator told Reuters he reported 26 accounts on the popular adults-only website OnlyFans to authorities, saying they appeared to contain sexual content featuring underage teen girls. Kitchener Parts of southern Ontario under travel advisory Anyone planning to travel today is being urged to be prepared as 5 to 15 cm of snow could hit a large portion of southern Ontario. Beloved bookstore in Uptown Waterloo forced to close for months following fire A beloved bookstore in Uptown Waterloo is bearing the brunt of some holiday misfortune. Must-see moments of 2024: A superstar surprise, roundabout resident and CKCO studios come down From a WWE surprise for a Guelph superfan, to the recovery of a lost aviation artifact, to a reporter getting the story right from the goose's mouth, here are some of our can’t-miss moments from 2024. Barrie Student charged, firearms seized after threats against school: police Police say officers found several firearms during a search at a teen’s home after he allegedly made violent threats against a secondary school. Single-vehicle crash in Springwater Twp. One woman was taken to the hospital following a single-vehicle crash in Springwater Township. Several collisions reported along Highway 11 as driving conditions deteriorate Highway 11 was closed briefly in Oro-Medonte on Monday afternoon as driving conditions deteriorated, causing multiple collisions. Windsor Restaurant staff aid in rescue of two men that fell into the frigid waters of the Detroit River Windsor police say that shortly before 9:00 p.m. on Dec. 20, officers were called after a man fell into the water while standing too close to the marina wall. A second man jumped in to help him. 'It’s really an eye-opener': volunteers bring holiday meals to Chatham residents For the second year in a row, a crew of volunteers is fanning out across Chatham, bringing holiday meals to those who need them most. Child luring investigation sees Windsor resident charged According to Essex OPP, 45-year-old Sean Oulette is facing charges of luring a person under 16 years of age by means of telecommunication. Northern Ontario Fatal snowmobile crash in northern Ont. near Parry Sound A 30-year-old has died following a snowmobile crash near Parry Sound on Sunday. Teen passed out at coffee shop with bottle of booze on the table, northern Ont. police say A 19-year-old from Blind River is facing several charges following incidents at a coffee shop and in jail. Man charged with damaging downtown Sudbury eatery A man free on probation has been charged with causing significant damage to a restaurant on Elgin Street in downtown Sudbury over the weekend. Sault Ste. Marie Northern Ont. hospital to close emergency department for Christmas and Boxing Day A physician shortage is again forcing the closure of the emergency department at the Thessalon Site of the North Shore Health Network – this time for more than 48 hours over the holidays. Suspect charged with headbutting their parent, confining them to a chair in Thessalon, Ont. A member of the family in the northern Ontario community of Thessalon is charged with a vicious assault and forcibly confining their parent. One injured in the Sault after lithium-ion battery starts house fire Sault fire officials have determined a lithium-ion battery to be the cause of a house fire that broke out early this morning. Ottawa Traffic dispute threatens to dampen holiday spirit on Taffy Lane A visit to Ottawa's Taffy Lane in Orléans is a staple this time of year, but a dispute amongst neighbours over traffic congestion is threatening to dim the magic of the holidays for one neighbour. Ottawa mayor speaks on transit funding, federal turmoil in year-end interview Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe spoke with CTV News on a variety of issues, including transit, the city budget and political turmoil on Parliament Hill in a year-end interview. SNOWFALL WARNING | Pre-Christmas storm forecasted in Ottawa with up to 20 cm of snow tonight Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for Ottawa and parts of eastern Ontario with a snowstorm in the forecast Monday afternoon and into the evening. Toronto DEVELOPING | Parts of Ontario under snowfall warning Monday as holiday travellers hit the road Holiday travellers and commuters could be in for a messy drive on Monday morning as a significant round of snowfall moves into the region. Here are live updates on the situation in Toronto. Everything you need to know about what’s open on Christmas in the GTA Here's what you need to know about what's open and closed in the GTA over the Christmas holidays. Toronto takes on New York on 7-game losing streak Toronto Raptors (7-22, 14th in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (18-10, third in the Eastern Conference) Montreal Quebec fugitive killed in Mexican resort town, RCMP say RCMP are confirming that a fugitive, Mathieu Belanger, wanted by Quebec provincial police has died in Mexico, in what local media are calling a murder. Guzzo Group says it wants to protect its 500 employees Although the Guzzo Group is currently in turmoil, it is reassuring its employees and customers about the year ahead. Snow on the way as Montreal is put under weather advisory A weather advisory has been initiated for the Greater Montreal area, with 10 to 15 cm of snow expected to hit the ground. Atlantic Court of appeal certifies class action lawsuit against health authority, former nurse A New Brunswick mother who is the lead plaintiff in a court case has received an early Christmas gift after the province’s top court certified her class-action lawsuit. No need to dream, White Christmas all but assured in the Maritimes An early nor'easter followed by a low-pressure system moving into the region all but ensure a Maritime White Christmas Man and woman from New Canada charged for impaired driving: N.S. RCMP Lunenberg District RCMP has charged a man and a woman, both from New Canada, N.S., with impaired driving. Winnipeg An alleged sniper, pair of animal claims featured on MPI’s top five fraud list for 2024 From hitting animals that weren’t there to a sniper that didn’t exist, Manitoba Public Insurance has released its top five frauds of 2024. Manitoba government to make permanent cut to gas tax Manitobans can expect to see a permanent change at the gas pump as early as next week Winnipeg police arrest corrections officer following sexual assault of a youth A corrections officer at a “youth custody facility” has been arrested following a number of sexual assaults against a youth. Calgary Low Canadian dollar a 'double-edged sword' as more Americans travel north: economist A Calgary economist says the low Canadian dollar is a mixed blessing, with data showing that more Americans are travelling north to make the most of their spending. Taxpayers Federation unveils its annual spending 'Naughty and Nice List' A media president and the Prime Minister have topped the Canadian Taxpayers Federation’s annual 'Taxpayer Naughty List' for 2024. Roughriders acquire quarterback Maier's rights from Stampeders for '25 draft pick The Saskatchewan Roughriders acquired the rights to veteran quarterback Jake Maier from the Calgary Stampeders on Monday for a 2025 eighth-round draft pick. Edmonton 'Serious safety issues': Edmonton building where security guard was killed evacuated An apartment building where a security guard was killed earlier this month has been evacuated. City of Edmonton to lift Phase 1 parking ban Monday evening The City of Edmonton will lift the Phase 1 parking ban on Monday at 5 p.m. 2 Alberta men charged with sex crimes involving children in separate investigations Two registered sex offenders are facing charges after separate investigations in northern Alberta. Regina Dog lost in Saskatchewan during cross-country trip reunited with family A family moving from Ontario to Alberta in November had a scare when their family dog got loose during a stop in Dafoe, Sask. and ran away. Estevan police officer arrested following SIRT investigation An officer of the Estevan Police Service (EPS) is facing several charges following an investigation by the province’s police oversight agency. BREAKING | Emergency crews responding to avalanche in Whistler, B.C., area Paramedics and search crews have been dispatched to the scene of an avalanche that struck Monday in the Whistler, B.C., area. Saskatoon 'There are lines': In year-end interview, NDP leader says Moe went too far in election campaign Saskatchewan’s two main political leaders had agreed before October's provincial election not to target the families of candidates during the campaign, says Opposition NDP Leader Carla Beck. Sask. RCMP on the scene of rollover on Highway 40 The Saskatchewan RCMP said Highway 40 was closed Monday afternoon following a rollover just west of Hafford, a village just under 100 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon. Saskatoon woman arrested following machete attack A 55-year-old woman was arrested following a stabbing with a machete early Monday morning. Vancouver BREAKING | Emergency crews responding to avalanche in Whistler, B.C., area Paramedics and search crews have been dispatched to the scene of an avalanche that struck Monday in the Whistler, B.C., area. Court rules B.C. law to push through Vancouver housing project is unconstitutional The B.C. Court of Appeal says a law passed by the provincial government to stave off opposition to a supportive housing development in the Vancouver neighbourhood of Kitsilano is unconstitutional. Cleanup underway after rockslide derails train in B.C. No injuries were reported after a rockslide derailed a freight train, sending railcars into British Columbia's Fraser River, on Sunday night. Vancouver Island BREAKING | Emergency crews responding to avalanche in Whistler, B.C., area Paramedics and search crews have been dispatched to the scene of an avalanche that struck Monday in the Whistler, B.C., area. Cleanup underway after rockslide derails train in B.C. No injuries were reported after a rockslide derailed a freight train, sending railcars into British Columbia's Fraser River, on Sunday night. Court rules B.C. law to push through Vancouver housing project is unconstitutional The B.C. Court of Appeal says a law passed by the provincial government to stave off opposition to a supportive housing development in the Vancouver neighbourhood of Kitsilano is unconstitutional. Stay ConnectedMaking the grade: Canada unveils world junior roster featuring plenty of youth

Gaetz withdraws as Trump's pick for attorney generalAP News Summary at 12:19 p.m. EST

HUMBOLDT, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee man was convicted Thursday of killing two men and wounding a third in a shooting at a high school basketball game three years ago. Jadon Hardiman, 21, was found guilty in Gibson County of charges including second-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses, district attorney Frederick Agee said in a statement. He faces up to 76 years in prison at sentencing in April. Hardiman, of Jackson, attended a basketball game between Humboldt and North Side high schools on Nov. 30, 2021. Then 18, Hardiman entered the Humboldt gymnasium's crowded concession area and pulled a semi-automatic .40 caliber handgun, prosecutors said. He fired three shots at Justin Pankey, a 21-year-old former Humboldt basketball player. Pankey was hit one time and died within seconds, Agee said. A second bullet hit Xavier Clifton, a former North Side student and basketball player, who was standing in the concession line. Clifton was shot in the neck and paralyzed. He died in March 2022. A third shot struck another man in the back of the head. He survived. “Many people were placed in fear of imminent bodily injury by Hardiman’s shooting, as shown by video footage of their fleeing into the gym, into bathrooms, and other areas of the school,” Agee said. Hardiman ran away and drove to Jackson, disposing of the murder weapon along the way, the district attorney said. The U.S. Marshals Service contacted his family, and he was arrested the next day. Agee said the shooting "frightened every adult, student, and child present, who were only there to support their team and enjoy a good game.” Hardiman's lawyer did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Jamichael Stillwell scores 22 to lead Milwaukee to 69-65 victory over St. Thomas-MinnesotaIndian Bank, which was established on March 5, 1907 and officially started operations on August 15, 1907, has a legacy of over a century. It has navigated several economic crises, becoming a leading financial institution in India. As on September 30, 2024, Indian Bank is the seventh largest public sector bank with a total business of ₹12.44 lakh crore. Public opinion sought On November 2, 1906, a circular went out, inviting people to share their views on starting a “Native Bank in Madras”. The immediate trigger was the failure of the Madras-based Arbuthnot Bank in 1906, which caused misery to depositors, with a cascading effect on the local economy, according to details from the bank. “Also, at the time of the failure of Arbuthnot Bank, the Swadeshi Movement was launched at the Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress in 1906. The establishment of the bank reflected the nationalistic desire for a reliable, Indian-managed financial institution,” say Indian Bank officials. V. Krishnaswamy Iyer, a prominent Madras lawyer, played a pivotal role in the establishment of the bank. S.Rm.M. Ramaswami Chettiar, one of the bank’s first directors, went on to become its inaugural chairman. Raja Sir Annamalai Chettiar, a highly respected leader, joined the board in 1915, contributing significantly to its growth and development. Head office at Parry’s Corner The head office was initially opened in Parry’s Buildings at Parry’s Corner. As the operations grew, the head office was shifted to the Bentinck’s Building on North Beach Road (now Rajaji Salai) in July 1910. Subsequently, it was shifted in May 1970 to 31, Rajaji Salai (now renumbered as 66, Rajaji Salai, Chennai-600001). The bank started out with an initial capital investment of ₹8 lakh. In 1907, the bank’s emblem featured a banyan tree, symbolising overall progress, expansive growth, and continuous prosperity. Another component of the emblem was the frontal view of an elephant, with a long trunk symbolising the bank’s strength. In July 1978, the bank adopted its current logo, featuring three arrows that symbolise savings, investment, and surplus. The bank opened its second branch in Madurai on December 14, 1908, followed by the third in Coimbatore. It expanded internationally with the establishment of its first overseas branch in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 1932. It went on to open a branch in Singapore in 1941. Before Independence, Indian Bank played an important role in financing local businesses. In 1947, the bank had 73 branches with a total business of ₹27.85 crore and a net profit of ₹0.78 crore. After Independence, it financed industries and offered financial services. The bank’s business, which stood at ₹27.85 crore in 1947, grew to ₹161.43 crore by the time of its nationalisation in 1969. Accounts and deposits In the 1950s, the bank introduced savings and current account services, followed by fixed deposits in the 1960s. The 1980s marked the arrival of ATMs and debit cards, and in the 1990s, online banking and home loans were introduced. Over the years, the bank acquired the businesses of Royalaseema Bank, Bank of Alagapuri, Salem Bank, Mannargudi Bank, and Trichy United Bank. In 1990, the bank acquired the Bank of Thanjavur that had a business of ₹114.64 crore. And the most significant recent merger was the amalgamation of Allahabad Bank with Indian Bank. The merger was completed on April 1, 2020. Indian Bank came out with its initial public offering in February 2007. The bank had offered 8.5955 crore equity shares, of which 10% were reserved for the employees. The issue was over-subscribed 32.03 times and the issue price was ₹91. The bank mobilised a total ₹762.14 crore (₹85.95 crore in equity capital and ₹696.9 crore in share premium). After this issue, the Indian government’s holding in the share capital stood at 80%. Indian Bank was officially listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) after the initial public offering. On the listing day, the equity shares of the bank touched a high of ₹105 in the BSE and ₹100.25 in the NSE. The bank took its maiden step in technology adoption during the 1980s by introducing ATMs and electronic fund transfer. In the 1990s, the bank embraced ALM-TBC, taking its first step towards digitisation. It became a forerunner in introducing tele-banking and online banking. During the 2010s, the bank focused on expanding digital services, launching mobile wallets. At the same time, the bank re-doubled its efforts at financial inclusion in rural areas, empowering under-served communities with digital banking tools. And more recently, the bank has embraced artificial intelligence (AI) and partnered with fintech companies. Now, the bank is headed by Shanti Lal Jain, who is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. As on September 30, 2024, the bank has 5,856 domestic branches: 1,983 rural branches, 1,532 semi-urban branches, 1,174 urban branches, and 1,167 metro branches. The bank also operates three overseas branches and has one International Banking Unit at Gift City in Gujarat. The official data show the bank caters to the needs of over 100 million customers with 40,671 employees. Lending to individuals, small businesses, and public sector enterprises is the bank’s major business. Demand may increase The bank also focuses on providing customised solutions to corporates and government departments. In an email, the bank officials told The Hindu that the demand in retail banking and agriculture is expected to rise, driven by the growing economy and increasing financial inclusion in rural areas. Over the next two years, the bank plans to enhance its digital services and continue expanding its mobile banking, internet banking, and other online services. The bank’s net profit, which stood at ₹753 crore (on a stand-alone basis before the amalgamation of e-Allahabad Bank) for the year ending March 31, 2020, surged to ₹8,063 crore for the year ending March 31, 2024. In the first half of the current fiscal (September 2024), the bank reported a net profit of ₹5,110 crore. Published - December 22, 2024 10:51 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit

Egypt’s Petroleum Minister, Karim Badawi, attended the signing of two strategic agreements between ABB Egypt, a leader in energy and technology solutions, and key stakeholders in Egypt’s industrial sector. These agreements aim to improve energy efficiency and promote sustainability within Egypt’s industrial landscape. The first agreement was signed by Ahmed El-Sherbini, Vice President of ABB Egypt’s Cluster for Energy Industries, and Abed Ezz El Regal, Chairman and Managing Director of Abu Qir Fertilizers and Chemicals Industries Company (AFC). The agreement focuses on the installation of an advanced automation control system at Abu Qir Ammonia Plant (1). This system is designed to optimize steam utilization, resulting in a reduction of natural gas consumption for steam boilers by 2% to 4% in the initial phase. The project will also enhance the plant’s overall operational efficiency. El-Sherbini emphasized the importance of the project, stating, “At ABB, we are committed to providing advanced solutions that support efficiency and sustainability across various industrial sectors.” He added, “This project represents a crucial step in enhancing sustainability and maximizing energy resource use at Abu Qir Fertilizers.” Looking forward, the project includes plans to expand the automation control system to Abu Qir Plants (2) and (3). This expansion will further improve operational performance and generate additional energy savings. Such initiatives align with ABB’s long-standing commitment to supporting Egypt’s Vision 2030, ensuring sustainable growth and environmental responsibility in the country’s industrial sector. In addition, a second agreement was signed between El-Sherbini and Bjorn Q. Aaserod, CEO of the U.S. company MPS, in the presence of Eng. Ibrahim Meki, Chairman of the Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company (ECHEM), and Moataz Atef, Undersecretary of the Ministry for the Affairs of the Minister’s Office, Technical Office, and official spokesperson. This agreement focuses on ABB’s role in providing advanced technical solutions—encompassing electrical systems, automation control, and digital technologies—for a green hydrogen project. The initiative will partially replace natural gas in production processes, significantly reducing both natural gas consumption and carbon emissions. El-Sherbini commented: “At ABB, we are dedicated to playing a pivotal role in advancing Egypt’s transition to sustainable energy. We strive to deliver cutting-edge solutions that drive operational efficiency across diverse industries, ensuring a future of enhanced sustainability and innovation.”

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Agora, Inc. API (the "Company"), a pioneer and leader in real-time engagement technology, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024. "Recently, we launched our Conversational AI SDK in collaboration with OpenAI's Realtime API to allow developers to bring voice-driven AI experiences to any app. We believe multimodal AI agents that can interact with human through natural voice will gain widespread adoption across many use cases such as customer support, education and wellness, and Agora is well positioned to become a key infrastructure provider for real-time conversational AI," said Tony Zhao, founder, chairman and CEO of Agora. "To support this vision, we recently made some structural changes, aligning our organization to fully leverage the accelerating conversational AI opportunities, and operate in a faster, leaner, and more responsive fashion. These changes will help us build the next generation real-time engagement technology for the Generative AI era and strengthen our position as the leader in real-time engagement space." Third Quarter 2024 Highlights Total revenues for the quarter were $31.6 million, a decrease of 9.8% from $35.0 million in the third quarter of 2023, which included decreased revenue from certain end-of-sale products of $2.4 million. Agora : $15.7 million for the quarter, an increase of 2.6% from $15.3 million in the third quarter of 2023. Shengwang : RMB112.9 million ($15.9 million) for the quarter, a decrease of 20.0% from RMB141.2 million ($19.7 million) in the third quarter of 2023, which included decreased revenue from certain end-of-sale products of RMB17.5 million ($2.4 million). Active Customers Agora : 1,762 as of September 30, 2024, an increase of 5.9% from 1,664 as of September 30, 2023. Shengwang : 3,641 as of September 30, 2024, a decrease of 9.7% from 4,034 as of September 30, 2023. Dollar-Based Net Retention Rate Agora : 94% for the trailing 12-month period ended September 30, 2024. Shengwang : 78% for the trailing 12-month period ended September 30, 2024. Net loss for the quarter was $24.2 million, which included expenses of $11.4 million in relation to the cancellation of certain employees' equity awards, severance expenses of $4.8 million, and losses from equity in affiliates of $4.2 million, compared to net loss of $22.5 million in the third quarter of 2023. After excluding share-based compensation expenses, acquisition related expenses, amortization expenses of acquired intangible assets and income tax related to acquired intangible assets, non-GAAP net loss for the quarter was $10.4 million, compared to the non-GAAP net loss of $15.6 million in the third quarter of 2023. Total cash, cash equivalents, bank deposits and financial products issued by banks as of September 30, 2024 was $362.6 million. Net cash used in operating activities for the quarter was $4.6 million, compared to $3.0 million in the third quarter of 2023. Free cash flow for the quarter was negative $6.0 million, compared to negative $3.2 million in the third quarter of 2023. Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results Revenues Total revenues were $31.6 million in the third quarter of 2024, a decrease of 9.8% from $35.0 million in the same period last year. Revenues of Agora were $15.7 million in the third quarter of 2024, an increase of 2.6% from $15.3 million in the same period last year, primarily due to our business expansion and usage growth in sectors such as live shopping. Revenues of Shengwang were RMB112.9 million ($15.9 million) in the third quarter of 2024, a decrease of 20.0% from RMB141.2 million ($19.7 million) in the same period last year, primarily due to a decrease in revenues of RMB 17.5 million ($2.4 million) due to the end-of-sale of certain products and reduced usage from customers in certain sectors such as social and entertainment as a result of challenging macroeconomic and regulatory environment. Cost of Revenues Cost of revenues was $10.5 million in the third quarter of 2024, a decrease of 16.4% from $12.6 million in the same period last year, primarily due to the end-of-sale of certain products and the decrease in bandwidth usage and costs, which was offset partially by severance expenses for customer support teams of $0.3 million. Gross Profit and Gross Margin Gross profit was $21.0 million in the third quarter of 2024, a decrease of 6.1% from $22.4 million in the same period last year. Gross margin was 66.7% in the third quarter of 2024, an increase of 2.7% from 64.0% in the same period last year, mainly due to the end-of-sale of certain low-margin products, which was offset partially by higher severance expenses in the third quarter of 2024. Operating Expenses Operating expenses were $45.9 million in the third quarter of 2024, an increase of 24.3% from $36.9 million in the same period last year, primarily due to the increase in restructuring and severance expenses in the third quarter of 2024, which included share-based compensation of $11.4 million as a result of the cancellation of certain employees' equity awards and immediate recognition of relevant remaining unrecognized compensation expenses, as well as severance expenses of $4.4 million. Research and development expenses were $29.3 million in the third quarter of 2024, an increase of 46.1% from $20.0 million in the same period last year, primarily due to restructuring and severance expenses in the third quarter of 2024, including share-based compensation of $9.0 million due to equity award cancellation and severance expenses of $3.6 million. Sales and marketing expenses were $6.9 million in the third quarter of 2024, a decrease of 11.9% from $7.8 million in the same period last year, primarily due to a decrease in personnel costs as the Company optimized its global workforce, which was offset partially by severance expenses of $0.7 million in the third quarter of 2024. General and administrative expenses were $9.7 million in the third quarter of 2024, an increase of 7.4% from $9.1 million in the same period last year, primarily due to restructuring and severance expenses in the third quarter of 2024, including share-based compensation of $2.4 million as a result of the equity award cancellation, which was offset partially by a decrease in personnel costs as the Company optimized its global workforce. Loss from Operations Loss from operations was $24.7 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $13.9 million in the same period last year. Interest Income Interest income was $3.9 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $4.9 million in the same period last year, primarily due to the decrease in the average balance of cash, cash equivalents, bank deposits and financial products issued by banks and the decrease in average interest rate realized. Losses from equity in affiliates Losses from equity in affiliates were $4.2 million in the third quarter of 2024, primarily due to an impairment loss on an investment in certain private company of $4.1 million. Net Loss Net loss was $24.2 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $22.5 million in the same period last year. Net Loss per American Depositary Share attributable to ordinary shareholders Net loss per American Depositary Share ("ADS") 1 attributable to ordinary shareholders was $0.26 in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $0.23 in the same period last year. _____________ 1 One ADS represents four Class A ordinary shares. Share Repurchase Program During the three months ended September 30, 2024, the Company repurchased approximately 6.8 million of its Class A ordinary shares (equivalent to approximately 1.7 million ADSs) for approximately US$3.9 million under its share repurchase program, representing 1.9% of its US$200 million share repurchase program. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had repurchased approximately 129.4 million of its Class A ordinary shares (equivalent to approximately 32.3 million ADSs) for approximately US$113.7 million under its share repurchase program, representing 57% of its US$200 million share repurchase program. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had 368.3 million ordinary shares (equivalent to approximately 92.1 million ADSs) outstanding, compared to 449.8 million ordinary shares (equivalent to approximately 112.5 million ADSs) outstanding as of January 31, 2022 before the share repurchase program commenced. The current share repurchase program will expire at the end of February 2025. Executive Leadership Update Today the Company announced that Chief Security Officer Roger Hale will be leaving the Company, effective immediately. Mr. Hale has served in this role for the past 2.5 years, during which he made significant contributions to enhancing the Company's security, compliance, and data protection protocols. Mr. Hale will work closely with senior leadership to ensure a smooth transition of his responsibilities. Moving forward, Patrick Ferriter and Robbin Liu will assume responsibility for security and compliance, reflecting the Company's commitment to maintaining a strong and effective security framework. Mr. Hale will continue to provide strategic advice as an advisor to the Company. "We are grateful for Roger's dedication and expertise over the past two and a half years. His leadership has been invaluable in strengthening our security & compliance foundation," said Tony Zhao, founder, chairman and CEO of Agora. "Security and compliance remain top priorities for Agora, and we will continue to uphold the highest standards to protect our customers and stakeholders." Financial Outlook Based on currently available information, the Company expects total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2024 to be between $34 million and $36 million, compared to $31.6 million in the third quarter of 2024, and $33.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 if revenues from certain end-of-sale low-margin products were excluded. The Company also expects significant improvement in net income / (loss) in the fourth quarter. This outlook reflects the Company's current and preliminary views on the market and operational conditions, which are subject to change. Earnings Call The Company will host a conference call to discuss the financial results at 5 p.m. Pacific Time / 8 p.m. Eastern Time on November 25, 2024. Details for the conference call are as follows: Event title: Agora, Inc. 3Q 2024 Financial Results The call will be available at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/wie28zvr Investors who want to hear the call should log on at least 15 minutes prior to the broadcast. Participants may register for the call with the link below. https://register.vevent.com/register/BIf58a0b6f500c4362b1a8c64f9fa4cea8 Please visit the Company's investor relations website at https://investor.agora.io on November 25, 2024 to view the earnings release and accompanying slides prior to the conference call. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures The Company has provided in this press release financial information that has not been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"). The Company uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally in analyzing its financial results and believe that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors as an additional tool to evaluate ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing its financial results with other companies in its industry, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures. Besides free cash flow (as defined below), each of these non-GAAP financial measures represents the corresponding GAAP financial measure before share-based compensation expenses, acquisition related expenses, amortization expenses of acquired intangible assets, income tax related to acquired intangible assets and impairment of goodwill. The Company believes that such non-GAAP financial measures help identify underlying trends in its business that could otherwise be distorted by the effects of such share-based compensation expenses, acquisition related expenses, amortization expenses of acquired intangible assets, income tax related to acquired intangible assets and impairment of goodwill that it includes in its cost of revenues, total operating expenses and net income (loss). The Company believes that all such non-GAAP financial measures also provide useful information about its operating results, enhance the overall understanding of its past performance and future prospects and allow for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by its management in its financial and operational decision-making. Non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP financial measures and should be read only in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of its historical non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures has been provided in the tables captioned "Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures" included at the end of this press release, and investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation. Definitions of the Company's non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release are presented below. Non-GAAP Net Income (Loss) Non-GAAP net income (loss) is defined as net income (loss) adjusted to exclude share-based compensation expenses, acquisition related expenses, amortization expenses of acquired intangible assets, income tax related to acquired intangible assets and impairment of goodwill. Free Cash Flow Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property and equipment (excluding the acquisition of land use right and the payment for the headquarters project). The Company considers free cash flow to be a liquidity measure that provides useful information to management and investors regarding net cash provided by operating activities and cash used for investments in property and equipment required to maintain and grow the business. Operating Metrics The Company also uses other operating metrics included in this press release and defined below to assess the performance of its business. Active Customers An active customer at the end of any period is defined as an organization or individual developer from which the Company generated more than $100 of revenue during the preceding 12 months. Customers are counted based on unique customer account identifiers. Generally, one software application uses the same customer account identifier throughout its life cycle while one account may be used for multiple applications. Dollar-Based Net Retention Rate Dollar-Based Net Retention Rate is calculated for a trailing 12-month period by first identifying all customers in the prior 12-month period, and then calculating the quotient from dividing the revenue generated from such customers in the trailing 12-month period by the revenue generated from the same group of customers in the prior 12-month period. As the vast majority of revenue generated from Agora's customers is denominated in U.S. dollars, while the vast majority of revenue generated from Shengwang's customers is denominated in Renminbi, Dollar-Based Net Retention Rate is calculated in U.S. dollars for Agora and in Renminbi for Shengwang, which has substantially removed the impact of foreign currency translations. Shengwang excluded the revenues from certain end-of-sale products, Easemob's CEC business and K12 academic tutoring sector. The Company believes Dollar-Based Net Retention Rate facilitates operating performance comparisons on a period-to-period basis. Safe Harbor Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical or current fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding the Company's financial outlook, beliefs and expectations. Forward-looking statements include statements containing words such as "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "project," "will" and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Among other things, the Financial Outlook in this announcement contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks related to the growth of the RTE-PaaS market; the Company's ability to manage its growth and expand its operations; the continued impact of COVID-19 on global markets and the Company's business, operations and customers; the Company's ability to attract new developers and convert them into customers; the Company's ability to retain existing customers and expand their usage of its platform and products; the Company's ability to drive popularity of existing use cases and enable new use cases, including through quality enhancements and introduction of new products, features and functionalities; the Company's fluctuating operating results; competition; the effect of broader technological and market trends on the Company's business and prospects; general economic conditions and their impact on customer and end-user demand; and other risks and uncertainties included elsewhere in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including, without limitation, the final prospectus related to the IPO filed with the SEC on June 26, 2020. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. About Agora, Inc. Agora, Inc. is the Cayman Islands holding company of two independent divisions, under Agora brand and Shengwang brand, respectively, whose businesses are conducted through separate entities. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, Agora is a pioneer and global leader in Real-Time Engagement Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), providing developers with simple, flexible, and powerful application programming interfaces, or APIs, to embed real-time voice, video, interactive live-streaming, chat, whiteboard, and artificial intelligence capabilities into their applications. Headquartered in Shanghai, China, Shengwang is a pioneer and leading Real-Time Engagement PaaS provider in the China market. For more information on Agora, please visit: www.agora.io For more information on Shengwang, please visit: www.shengwang.cn Agora, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited, in US$ thousands) As of As of September 30, December 31, 2024 2023 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents 32,118 36,894 Short-term bank deposits 161,906 86,924 Short-term financial products issued by banks 106,638 84,853 Short-term investments 3,066 7,983 Accounts receivable, net 37,381 34,668 Prepayments and other current assets 21,087 9,059 Contract assets 1,127 1,048 Total current assets 363,323 261,429 Property and equipment, net 4,238 5,365 Construction in progress for the headquarters project 35,429 17,343 Operating lease right-of-use assets 4,476 4,011 Intangible assets 741 1,274 Long-term bank deposits 20,500 143,127 Long-term financial products issued by banks 41,400 20,000 Long-term investments 41,012 43,893 Land use right, net 166,434 167,246 Other non-current assets 13,943 10,907 Total assets 691,496 674,595 Liabilities and shareholders' equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable 15,196 12,996 Advances from customers 8,155 7,765 Taxes payable 1,686 906 Current operating lease liabilities 1,924 2,447 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 32,148 32,780 Total current liabilities 59,109 56,894 Long-term operating lease liabilities 2,429 1,726 Deferred tax liabilities 113 196 Long-term borrowings for the headquarters project 33,762 11,027 Other non-current liabilities 19,543 3 Total liabilities 114,956 69,846 Shareholders' equity: Class A ordinary shares 39 39 Class B ordinary shares 8 8 Additional paid-in-capital 1,148,502 1,138,346 Treasury shares, at cost (77,316) (79,716) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (7,907) (10,027) Accumulated deficit (486,786) (443,901) Total shareholders' equity 576,540 604,749 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 691,496 674,595 Agora, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss (Unaudited, in US$ thousands, except share and per ADS amounts) Three Month Ended Nine Month Ended September 30, September 30, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Real-time engagement service revenues 30,356 32,718 95,716 100,798 Real-time engagement on-premise solution and other revenues 1,217 2,298 3,087 4,699 Total revenues 31,573 35,016 98,803 105,497 Cost of revenues 10,524 12,594 36,304 38,693 Gross profit 21,049 22,422 62,499 66,804 Operating expenses: Research and development 29,271 20,040 65,551 61,356 Sales and marketing 6,860 7,789 19,944 26,903 General and administrative 9,741 9,070 26,349 27,100 Total operating expenses 45,872 36,899 111,844 115,359 Other operating income 134 620 914 1,515 Impairment of goodwill - - - (31,928 ) Loss from operations (24,689 ) (13,857 ) (48,431 ) (78,968 ) Exchange gain (loss) 43 20 108 (191 ) Interest income 3,924 4,850 13,244 14,006 Interest expense (86 ) - (251 ) - Investment income (loss) 839 (13,356 ) (4,033 ) (18,497 ) Losses from extinguishment of convertible note - - - (1,230 ) Other income - - - 550 Loss before income taxes (19,969 ) (22,343 ) (39,363 ) (84,330 ) Income taxes - (164 ) (149 ) (323 ) (Losses) income from equity in affiliates (4,211 ) (6 ) (3,373 ) 45 Net loss (24,180 ) (22,513 ) (42,885 ) (84,608 ) Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders (24,180 ) (22,513 ) (42,885 ) (84,608 ) Other comprehensive loss: Foreign currency translation adjustments 3,197 1,164 2,119 (6,097 ) Gain on available-for-sale debt securities - - - 1,385 Total comprehensive loss attributable to ordinary shareholders (20,983 ) (21,349 ) (40,766 ) (89,320 ) Net loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders, basic and diluted (0.26 ) (0.23 ) (0.46 ) (0.84 ) Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders, basic and diluted 371,733,050 389,359,207 372,336,342 405,036,312 Share-based compensation expenses included in: Cost of revenues 31 129 184 576 Research and development expenses 10,776 3,769 15,886 10,668 Sales and marketing expenses 241 800 838 3,705 General and administrative expenses 2,599 1,945 4,332 5,953 Agora, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited, in US$ thousands) Three Month Ended Nine Month Ended September 30, September 30, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Cash flows from operating activities: Net loss (24,180 ) (22,513 ) (42,885 ) (84,608 ) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: Share-based compensation expenses 13,647 6,643 21,240 20,902 Allowance for current expected credit losses 2,415 1,857 7,263 5,358 Depreciation of property and equipment 788 1,558 2,726 5,680 Amortization of intangible assets 131 345 533 1,036 Amortization of land use right 856 850 2,572 2,312 Deferred tax benefit (20 ) (53 ) (82 ) (159 ) Amortization of right-of-use asset and interest on lease liabilities 687 704 2,035 2,218 Investment (income) loss (839 ) 13,356 4,033 18,497 Losses from extinguishment of convertible note - - - 1,230 Interest income on debt securities and investments - - - (105 ) Losses (income) from equity in affiliates 4,211 6 3,373 (45 ) Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment 1 34 16 (10 ) Impairments of goodwill - - - 31,928 Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisition: Accounts receivable (1,627 ) (4,503 ) (9,418 ) (7,856 ) Contract assets (38 ) (86 ) (67 ) (942 ) Prepayments and other current assets 347 (659 ) (12,129 ) (1,008 ) Other non-current assets (472 ) (2,104 ) 6,668 (5,160 ) Accounts payable (2,531 ) 2,653 2,042 3,639 Advances from customers (41 ) 100 316 (559 ) Taxes payable 107 31 761 (802 ) Operating lease liabilities (677 ) (324 ) (2,319 ) (1,869 ) Deferred income 256 - 62 (160 ) Accrued expenses and other liabilities 2,357 (928 ) (5,404 ) (6,808 ) Net cash used in operating activities (4,622 ) (3,033 ) (18,664 ) (17,291 ) Cash flows from investing activities: Purchase of property and equipment (1,333 ) (206 ) (2,297 ) (656 ) Purchase of short-term bank deposits - (58,000 ) (43,100 ) (187,521 ) Purchase of short-term financial products issued by banks (50,300 ) (19,525 ) (70,391 ) (29,899 ) Purchase of short-term investments - (789 ) - (789 ) Proceeds from maturity of short-term bank deposits 37,000 86,000 111,241 434,058 Proceeds from maturity of short-term financial products issued by banks 59,482 - 69,511 8,310 Purchase of long-term bank deposits (10,500 ) - (20,500 ) (143,127 ) Purchase of long-term financial products issued by banks (32,000 ) - (41,400 ) (20,000 ) Purchase of long-term investments (562 ) - (562 ) (15 ) Purchase of land use right - - - (5,133 ) Payment for the headquarters project (10,918 ) (1,839 ) (21,895 ) (4,326 ) Cash received for business disposal - - - 5,769 Cash received from disposal of property and equipment 2 36 58 87 Cash paid for a business combination - - - (3,680 ) Cash received from disposal of long-term investments 28 - 155 - Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (9,101 ) 5,677 (19,180 ) 53,078 Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from long-term borrowings for headquarters project 11,123 - 22,177 - Deposits returned for business disposal - - - (1,000 ) Proceeds from exercise of employees' share options 175 74 550 590 Deposit received in relation to headquarters project - - 19,280 - Repurchase of Class A ordinary shares (3,913 ) (12,462 ) (9,667 ) (52,829 ) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 7,385 (12,388 ) 32,340 (53,239 ) Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 819 53 678 (1,286 ) Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (5,519 ) (9,691 ) (4,826 ) (18,738 ) Cash balance recorded in held-for sale assets at beginning of period - - - 1,488 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period * 37,867 38,268 37,174 45,827 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period ** 32,348 28,577 32,348 28,577 Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Income taxes paid 24 33 133 65 Cash payments included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities 677 324 2,319 1,869 Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease obligations 1,812 - 2,325 4,088 Non-cash financing and investing activities: Proceeds receivable from exercise of employees' share options 328 25 328 25 Payables for property and equipment 33 24 33 24 Payables for construction in progress for the headquarters project 11,614 6,458 11,614 6,458 Payables for treasury shares, at cost 24 301 24 301 * includes restricted cash balance 280 280 280 154 ** includes restricted cash balance 230 280 230 280 Agora, Inc. Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures (Unaudited, in US$ thousands, except share and per ADS amounts) Three Month Ended Nine Month Ended September 30, September 30, 2024 2023 2024 2023 GAAP net loss (24,180 ) (22,513 ) (42,885 ) (84,608 ) Add: Share-based compensation expenses 13,647 6,643 21,240 20,902 Acquisition related expenses - 13 - (400 ) Amortization expenses of acquired intangible assets 129 345 531 1,035 Income tax related to acquired intangible assets (20 ) (53 ) (82 ) (159 ) Impairment of goodwill - - - 31,928 Non-GAAP net loss (10,424 ) (15,565 ) (21,196 ) (31,302 ) Net cash used in operating activities (4,622 ) (3,033 ) (18,664 ) (17,291 ) Purchase of property and equipment (1,333 ) (206 ) (2,297 ) (656 ) Free Cash Flow (5,955 ) (3,239 ) (20,961 ) (17,947 ) Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (9,101 ) 5,677 (19,180 ) 53,078 Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 7,385 (12,388 ) 32,340 (53,239 ) © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

When Kim Kardashian held hands with a Tesla Robot, the internet went wild. On November 19, Kardashian posted a series of photos of her with a one-of-a-kind gold Tesla Optimus AI Robot. Why did the internet go wild? These are not just any photos, Kardashian's photoshoot is almost like how people get photographed with their partners. She can be seen holding the robot's hands and even sitting on its lap inside a Tesla Cybercab. Netizens after looking at this photo are going back to the 2016 tweet by The Sun, which said: "Women will be having more sex with ROBOTS than men by 2025". Many are saying that the prophecy is fulfilled and the prediction is now true. But What Does It Really Mean? We asked Ruchi Ruuh, a relationship counsellor why specifically the prediction focuses on women's relationship with a robot, whereas it could be men too. "Robots could offer women a kind of "perfect" partner that might offer predictability and consistency that they might feel are missing in men in general," she explains. Is it because women are unwilling to invest emotionally? " It’s not necessarily that women are unwilling to invest emotionally, but robots may provide a safer alternative without rejection or betrayal. This choice could symbolize a deeper desire to feel safe and secure with the partner," explains Ruuh. She also points out that women are creatures who primarily look for safety and when the world around them seems unsafe, whether physically, sexually, or emotionally, they would be driven to a robot or any alternative that makes them feel safe. Having said that, Ruuh also points out that robots can never replace men or real people. However, the "fatigue from giving too much without reciprocation" is leading to the speculation that women may consider robots as a "less complex and a more manageable solution." "While most people are taking it like a literal sexual intimacy, it's much more than that. It is about safety," point What was the 2016 prediction? Dr Ian Pearson, a futurologist suggested that women will soon be "getting busy with robots rather than men," reports The Sun. Ian's prediction comes from how sexual exploration has evolved around women's body. Women are now more able to have a connection and relationship with their bodies. Also Read: Ministry Of Sex: Russian Government Is Entering Your Bedroom, Wants You To Have More Sex! Toys and massagers, which used to be taboo earlier are now an integral part of women's magazines. A lot of people will still have reservations about sex with robots at first but gradually as they get used to them, as the AI (artificial intelligence) and mechanical behaviour and their feel improve, and they start to become friends with strong emotional bonds, that squeamishness will gradually evaporate," he said in the report, commissioned by Bondara. In fact, there have been cases reported earlier where many have fallen in love with their AI-assistant. Robosexuality Is More Complex Than You Think A new research titled Technically in love: Individual differences relating to sexual and platonic relationships with robots, published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships reveals that robosexuality is an attitude towards and interest in sexual relationship with robots. The study found that there are three broad attitudes which can lead to robosexuality including a sociosexual orientation where someone can invest in a sexual relationship without emotional attachment. The second attitude is called hostile sexism, where people view gender relations as competitive and full of conflict, so choose something that is neither a man nor a woman, so there exists no concept of control over one another. The third attitude is social dominance orientation, which measures a person's desire to support and maintain a ranking of different groups. This means supporting the idea that people from different racial groups or social classes having a certain sexual orientation should be ranked below others. These three measuring units were used to study the role of robosexuality that plays in people's lives. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Relationships, Lifestyle and around the world.

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U.S. District Court Awards 10x Genomics Permanent Injunction in Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Bruker Corporation's GeoMx ProductsMelody Chen Unbabel chief executive Vasco Pedro predicts people will no longer be undertaking translation work in three years. The Portuguese startup, founded by the artificial intelligence expert, used its latest AI model to translate "Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius, with the results holding up well when compared to human translations. The archaic English used in the text posed a considerable challenge. Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor from 161 to 180 CE, wrote the book to record his private notes and ideas on Stoic philosophy. The model was also used to translate a wide range of content, from casual messages to complex legal documents. Pedro said that while AI has developed, human involvement currently remains essential for high-quality translation, which is why humans account for about 95 percent of the global translation industry. Experts in languages and specific fields like legal translators handling contracts currently perform better than machines. But Pedro still believes that it's hard to imagine AI won't completely surpass humans within two or three years. The godfather of AI, Geoffrey Hinton, warned that the pace of technological change is much faster than expected, and there is a 10 to 20 percent chance that artificial intelligence could lead to human extinction within the next 30 years. Hinton said that most experts believe AI that is more intelligent than humans will be developed within the next 20 years, which is a frightening prospect, and he called for stronger government regulation.Little signs statement backing Trump immigration and deportation policies

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The People’s National Movement (PNM), a cornerstone of Trinidad and Tobago’s political fabric, faces a defining moment as the country approaches the 2025 general election. With a legacy spanning decades, the party has demonstrated resilience in overcoming challen­ges. However, as the electorate becomes more discerning and diverse, the PNM must address a new reality: the growing influence of the youth vote. To succeed, the party must reaffirm its core values while reimagining its strategies to connect with younger generations. Trinidad and Tobago’s youth represent a powerful electoral force, defined by digital fluency, awareness of global and local issues, and impatience with traditional political norms. They seek leaders and policies that reflect their aspirations and the complexities of the modern world. For the PNM, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity. To remain competitive, the party must engage this demographic authentically, innovatively and inclusively. Historically, the PNM has relied on its achievements and strongholds to secure victories. While these remain important, they no longer suffice. Young vo­ters prioritise immediate, tangible results over historical narratives. They demand leaders who not only promise change but demonstrate the ability to deliver it. The PNM must shift its messaging to focus on its vision for the future rather than its storied past. Addressing youth concerns is critical to this transformation. High unemployment, limited access to education, mental health challenges, and climate change are just a few pressing issues. Young people want comprehensive policies backed by actionable plans. The PNM must articulate a clear agenda to tackle these challenges and actively involve youth in policy-making. Initiatives such as town halls, digital consultations and youth advisory boards can foster collaboration and a sense of ownership. Digital engagement will also play a pivotal role in the 2025 election. Youth increasingly turn to social media for information, discussion and mobilisation. The PNM must enhance its digital strategy by creating engaging, informative and interactive content on platforms like Instagram, X and TikTok. Effective use of these tools will help the party connect with young voters and present itself as a forward-thinking organisation. The PNM must also embrace the symbolic power of representation. Young voters want to see themselves reflected in the country’s leadership. Elevating dynamic, younger candidates signals a commitment to generational renewal. This approach does not require sidelining experienced leaders but balancing continuity with progress. A leadership team that reflects diversity and innovation will show that the PNM values the contributions of all age groups. Engaging youth is about more than securing votes; it is about shaping a sustainable political future. The PNM should invest in long-term initiatives that empower young people beyond the election cycle. Programmes sup­porting entrepreneurship, skills training, and meaningful employment will resonate deeply. Reforms in education and digital infrastructure can also solidify the party’s image as a progressive force. While the youth vote is crucial, the PNM cannot alienate its traditional base. Bridging generational divides requires crafting a platform that meets the needs of all citizens while emphasi­sing interconnections between age groups. Policies improving education and employment for youth, for example, benefit entire communities. Framing its agenda holistically will help the PNM foster unity across a diverse electorate. The 2025 election is not just a test of the PNM’s ability to win; it is a test of its capacity to adapt. The political landscape is evolving, and the party must evolve with it. This involves embracing new ideas, engaging in difficult conversations, and demonstrating the courage to innovate. The electorate, especially the youth, is watching closely. They want a party that hears their voices and values their contributions. For the PNM, this is a moment to lead by example and prove it is a party of both the present and the future. As the campaign intensifies, the PNM’s actions must speak louder than its words. It must show a genuine commitment to inclusivity, transparency and progress. Doing so will inspire confidence among young voters while reaffirming its relevance to older generations. Paul Sarran political science student, The UWI

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