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fb 777 casino Shohei Ohtani wins third MVP award, first in NL. Aaron Judge earns second AL honor in 3 seasons NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge earned his second American League honor on Thursday. Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was second with 263 points and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte third with 229. Judge was a unanimous pick for the first time. Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points. Alex Ovechkin is expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks with a broken left leg Alex Ovechkin has a broken left fibula and is expected to be out four to six weeks. The Washington Capitals confirmed Ovechkin’s injury and prognosis Thursday after he was evaluated by doctors upon the teams’ return from a three-game road trip. This prolonged absence puts a pause on Ovechkin’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record. He scored 15 goals in his first 18 games this season to move just 27 away of passing Gretzky. Ovechkin was on pace to break the record in February before his shin-on-shin collision with Utah’s Jack McBain on Monday night. NFL issues security alert to teams and the players' union following recent burglaries The NFL has issued a security alert to teams and the players’ union following recent burglaries involving the homes of Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo obtained by The Associated Press, the league says homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.” Law enforcement officials noted these groups target the homes on days the athletes have games. Players were told to take precautions and implement home security measures to reduce the risk of being targeted. Some of the burglary groups have conducted extensive surveillance on targets. QB Daniel Jones disagrees with the Giants' decision to bench him and says he wants to play EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — With tears occasionally welling in his eyes, Daniel Jones disagreed on Thursday with the New York Giants' decision to bench him earlier this week and perhaps end his five-plus tenure as the team’s quarterback. The 27-year-old Jones said he gave the team everything he had after being taken sixth overall in the 2019 draft and he believes he still has a future in the NFL. He held himself accountable for the Giants making the playoffs once in his tenure as the starter. President Biden welcomes 2024 NBA champion Boston Celtics to White House WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden welcomed “Coach Joe” Mazzulla and the Boston Celtics to the White House to celebrate the franchise’s unprecedented 18th NBA championship. The tradition is believed to have begun when Bill Russell’s 1963 Celtics met with President John F. Kennedy. Biden welcomed the NBA’s 2024 champions and gave them a tour of the Oval Office. In all, the league’s most-decorated franchise has won at least one title in eight of the last 13 presidential administrations. Biden noted that his secret service code name is Celtic as a nod to his Irish heritage. Guardiola signs a 2-year contract extension at Man City and eyes 'more trophies' MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Pep Guardiola has committed himself to Manchester City for another two years and he quickly set his sights on adding to his record-breaking reign. Guardiola ended uncertainty about his future by signing a contract extension that would prolong his tenure as City manager to 11 seasons. Guardiola’s contract was due to expire at the end of this season. The four-time defending Premier League champions announced the deal Thursday. The Catalan coach has overseen a period of unprecedented dominance since joining City in 2016. He has gone on to win six Premier League titles in seven years and also lifted the Champions League among 15 major trophies at the club. Jannik Sinner leads Italy back to the Davis Cup semifinals and a rematch against Australia MALAGA, Spain (AP) — No. 1-ranked Jannik Sinner has led defending champion Italy to a comeback victory over Argentina for a return to the Davis Cup semifinals. A rematch of last year's championship matchup against Australia now awaits in the final four on Saturday in Malaga, Spain. Italy fell behind 1-0 in the quarterfinals when Argentina's Francisco Cerúndolo defeated Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-1. But two-time Grand Slam champion Sinner overwhelmed Sebastián Báez 6-2, 6-1. Then Sinner teamed with Matteo Berrettini in the deciding doubles match to win 6-4, 7-5 against Andres Molteni and Maximo Gonzalez. Australia eliminated the U.S. to reach the Davis Cup semifinals for the third consecutive year. Drama surrounds final 3 races of F1 season as drivers voice displeasure with recent FIA decisions LAS VEGAS (AP) — There’s three races remaining in the Formula 1 season and Max Verstappen is inching so close to a fourth consecutive world championship he could wrap it up Saturday night at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. But all is not smooth sailing headed into this final month of racing. There’s a new race director following the shock sacking of Niels Wittich that blindsided the Grand Prix Driver’s Association so badly they created an Instagram account to rebuke the lack of FIA transparency. It’s the lone post on the account. Greg Maffei, the CEO of Liberty Media said last week he was stepping down from his position and F1 furiously denied over the weekend that Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula One Management, was also on the move. St. Petersburg council rejects immediate repair to Rays' ballpark roof after first giving approval ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The St. Petersburg City Council has reversed course on whether to spend more than $23 million to repair the hurricane-shredded roof of the Tampa Bay Rays' ballpark. The council initially voted Thursday to approve the repair and later changed its mind. The reversal came after the council voted to delay consideration of revenue bonds for a proposed new $1.3 billion Rays ballpark. Just two days before, the Pinellas County Commission postponed a vote on its share of the new stadium bonds, leaving that project in limbo. The Rays will play the 2025 season at Steinbrenner Field, spring training home of the New York Yankees in Tampa. It's getting harder to stay on the PGA Tour. Here's why The PGA Tour is making sweeping changes to its eligibility and it's only going to get more difficult to keep a tour card. Since 1983, the top 125 on the money list or the FedEx Cup points list have kept their cards. That changes in 2026 to only the top 100 in the FedEx Cup. Making it even harder is the size of the fields. They're shrinking by about a dozen players depending on the daylight hours available. The PGA Tour believes the changes will give everyone with a card a better chance to compete. The tour also hopes it helps with pace of play.

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. — Kerigan Bergdall scored a game-high 13 points, as Moorefield trounced Berkeley Springs, 44-23, Tuesday to open the season. The Yellow Jackets (1-0) led 8-1, 17-8 and 34-17 at the conclusion of the first three quarters. Bergdall was the lone Moorefield player with double figures, hitting three 3-pointers in the process. CiCi Kump and Sydney Rumer added eight points apiece, and Korbin Keplinger tallied seven. Rumer hit a pair of 3s. Katie Risingler led the way for Berkeley Springs with 11 points, and Kaya Delauter chipped in six. Moorfield is at Liberty on Friday at 6 p.m.The Green New Deal—From BelowA section of the A548 coast road in North Wales has been closed as emergency services are respond to a large fire. North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said crews are currently tackling the blaze in Greenfield, Holywell, North Wales Police said the fire is in a derelict building. The force said the A548 Mostyn Road is shut and drivers are being asked to keep away from the area. This is a breaking news story. Further updates as we have them will be shared in the blog below Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you. If you have some information you can contact us by following our Twitter feed @northwaleslive - the official North Wales Live account - real news in real time. Or like facebook.com/northwaleslive/ - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the North Wales Live. Don't forget you can also keep up to date with the latest via the free North Wales Live app. Download it for Apple devices here and Android devices here . North Wales Live has launched a WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone Roadside sensors show some traffic congestion in the area. At this time of the day, traffic volumes are, of course, typically much lower. Social media reports suggest the building involved is the former Morfa Newydd residential home, which closed in early 2023. However, this has not yet been officially confirmed. North Wales Police also issued a statement, advising people to stay clear.... The road is currently closed on the A548 Mostyn Road, Greenfield, Holywell, due to a fire at a derelict building. Please avoid the area, thank you North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said its crews are at the scene. A spokesperson said.... Firefighters are tackling a large building fire in Greenfield. Please avoid the coast road area whilst emergency services deal with the incident. Good evening, we'll bring you updates on this incident as soon as we have them.

Australia has approved a social media ban for children aged under 16, one of the world's toughest regulations targeting big tech. The laws, which will come into effect from late 2025, will bar under-16s from being able to access social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit and X. Exemptions will apply for health and education services including YouTube, Messenger Kids, WhatsApp, Kids Helpline and Google Classroom. Here is what Australia, European countries and tech companies have been doing to regulate children's access to social media. Australia The new law forces tech giants from Instagram and Facebook owner Meta to TikTok to stop minors logging in or face fines of up to $49.5m. A trial of methods to enforce it will start in January, with the ban to take effect in a year. Tech's own regulation Social media platforms including TikTok, Facebook and Snapchat say people need to be at least 13 to sign up. Child protection advocates say control is insufficient, however, and official data in several European countries show huge numbers of children under 13 have social media accounts. The UK Britain has no current plans for Australia-style restrictions. But the digital minister, Peter Kyle, has said everything is on the... Guardian staff reporter

, one of the greatest of all time, may be considering a return to the ring despite his retirement in 2021 and his political commitments in the Philippines. At 46 years old, " " is still a prominent figure in boxing, and while many thought his career was over, his statements and the intervention of his promoter, , suggest that he may still have one last fight in his future. The return of Pacman Pacquiao, who has been a world champion in eight different divisions, has not fought professionally since his loss to Yordenis Ugas in 2021. However, in a July 2023 exhibition against , he showed signs of being far from his best, raising doubts about his return. Gibbons, his promoter, commented on the exhibition saying: "Manny didn't look so good against Anpo for many reasons behind the scenes that influenced it... he didn't prepare too much for it. He thought he was going to fight someone else and ended up facing a bigger guy." Despite this setback, claimed that is still a figure capable of competing at the highest level, suggesting that a fight against Mario Barrios is still a viable option. Barrios, the current WBC welterweight world champion, has been linked with Pacquiao for much of the year, but after the exhibition with Anpo, the American fighter focused on a title defense against Abel Ramos in November. Gibbons, however, remains confident that the fight with Barrios could happen in 2025. "I told Manny that the fight against Barrios was the perfect fight to make. There were some hurdles with certain people in his environment, but that fight is still possible. It could happen in June, July or August - one last time," the promoter said. Pacquiao's political commitments The political context also influences plans. He is currently and, according to , "he is running for the Senate in the Philippines from February 11 to May 11. If he gets something before January 31, 2025, he's ready to fight." This implies that, if Pacquiao manages to fulfill his political commitments, his return to boxing could be a reality in the coming months. In summary, although time and political commitments seem to be against him, is still a man determined to return to boxing. With the possibility of facing in one last big fight, fans could still see the legendary champion in action once again.

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Jereem “The Dream” Richards emerged as the standout Trinidad and Tobago athlete in 2024, his fourth-place finish in the Men’s 400 metres final at the Paris Olympics setting him apart. Fourth, of course, is the most heart-breaking of positions in sport — just off the podium and agonisingly close to all the glory and rewards that come with a medal performance. That his run was of such a high quality deepened the disappointment for Richards DE GANNES SETS NEW CARIFTA RECORD: Janae De Gannes celebrates her Carifta Games girls’ under-20 long jump gold medal and championship record at the Kirani James Stadium, in Grenada, in April. The Trinidad and Tobago athlete won with a 6.50 metres leap--a new personal best and Carifta record. --Photo: PAUL VOISIN “What hurt the most was that I was so close,” the Point Fortin athlete told the Express after the Olympic final. “To lose a medal on the line...it was very difficult to work so hard for all these years and then to fall just short of a medal. It hurt and I’m disappointed, but at the same time God is good.” Drawn way out in the difficult lane nine, Richards scorched the track in 43.78 seconds — a new national record and the fastest-ever fourth-place time in an Olympic final. He missed out on the podium by just four-hundredths of a second, Zambian Muzala Samukonga grabbing bronze in 43.74. In any other Olympic final in history, 43.78 would have resulted in a medal. Richards would actually have gotten gold with that time in all but four Olympic finals prior to Paris 2024. The clocking also catapulted the T&T sprinter into 16th spot on the all-time Men’s 400m performance list. While his fourth-place finish was a painful experience, Richards had a lot to be thankful for. His clocking in the championship race and the dogged determination he displayed despite the lane nine draw made it absolutely clear that the Florida-based athlete is the real deal at 400, though his first individual success on the global circuit came in the 200 — 2017 World Athletics Championship bronze. Richards has a rock solid foundation to build on as he prepares for World Championship campaigns — indoor and outdoor — in 2025. Keshorn Walcott was impressive too at Paris 2024. Surprise Olympic Men’s javelin champion in 2012 in London, England at the tender age of 19 and a bronze medallist four years later at the Rio Games, Walcott has set the bar very high. But though he did not earn precious metal in Paris, his seventh-place finish was indeed a championship performance. Just being at the Games was an achievement in itself for Walcott after suffering a serious Achilles injury in 2023. It was quite a journey on the Road to Paris for the Toco thrower — from thinking it was a career-ending injury to successful surgery and then a rapid recovery - tells the story of a determined athlete. That Walcott went on to reach the Olympic final was a bonus. And in the final, he actually took an early lead with a big 86.16 metres throw. However, like Richards, his Olympic final was next-level in terms of quality. The two-time medallist had never before landed the spear that far in an Olympic final. In addition to being the best-ever seventh-place Olympic throw, the effort would have earned gold at 14 other Olympics. Not in 2024! The good news is that Walcott is on course to return to 90-metre form in 2025. Portious Warren finished 22nd in the Women’s shot put at Paris 2024 with a 17.22 metres throw. Leah Bertrand exited the Women’s 100m after finishing ninth in her semi-final heat in 11.37 seconds. In the first round, Bertrand claimed third spot in her heat in 11.27 to progress to the semis. Michelle-Lee Ahye was fourth in her heat in 11.33, and did not advance. Akeem Stewart wrote another chapter of Paralympic history, grabbing silver in Paris in the Men’s discus throw F64 event with a 59.66m effort. Janae De Gannes made a huge impact on the regional scene, leaping to Carifta Games Girls Under-20 long jump gold with a record-breaking effort in Grenada. That big 6.50 metres jump was adjudged the most outstanding performance at the regional junior championships, earning De Gannes the Austin Sealy Award. De Gannes is now part of an elite group of T&T athletes to have taken home the coveted award, joining Darrel Brown, who did it in 1999 and again in 2000, Gavyn Nero (2006) and Jehue Gordon (2010). De Gannes was not the only golden star for T&T at Carifta 2024. Che Wickham, Mikhail Byer, Hakeem Chinapoo and Dylan Woodruffe combined for Boys Under-20 4x100m gold in 40.45 seconds, relegating the mighty Jamaicans to silver in 40.55. Hakeem’s younger brother, Kadeem Chinapoo made two strong statements, first on the track and then on television. Chinapoo clocked 21.78 seconds to strike gold in the Boys Under-17 200m, forcing Jamaican Oshane Jervis to settle for silver in 22.16. Chinapoo then told a Sportsmax interviewer: “It means a lot. This is what I’ve been training for; to beat them Jamaicans because them Jamaicans soft.” The good-natured jab drew attention to the young T&T sprinter, and set the stage for what should be an interesting sprint rivalry in the coming years. There is always a need for colourful characters to make sport more marketable. Of course, Chinapoo has put a target on his own back. The southerner, though, is a special talent, and well-equipped to take on the might of Jamaica. Tafari Waldron also set himself apart at Carifta 2024, successfully defending his Boys Under-20 5,000m title. The T&T runner returned a time of 15 minutes, 01.60 seconds for a huge margin of victory, second-placed Jake Brislane of Bermuda getting home in 15:42.42. Waldron also proved his worth on the roads, becoming only the second local runner to win the UWI SPEC International Half-Marathon men’s race, the 19-year-old crossing the finish line in one hour, nine minutes, 53 seconds. Samantha Shukla topped the Women’s field in 1:37:06 for the first-ever T&T sweep. Another T&T runner, Waldron’s training partner Nicholas Romany emerged as the star of the show at the Run Barbados Festival, successfully defending his Men’s mile and 10K titles.In a new lawsuit, a woman has accused embattled rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 2006 at a New York party, where she says she was “lured” through a radio station contest. Latroya Grayson said in the lawsuit she and her half-sibling were flown to New York City from Oklahoma on Oct. 16, 2006, after her relative won a trip for two to attend one of Combs’ parties. At the party, the woman, who was 23 at the time, said she felt sick and became unconscious after she was served two premade drinks by waitresses, according to the complaint filed Dec. 20 in the Southern District of New York. She said she woke up in a hospital with a ripped shirt, missing underwear and shoes, and no recollection of how she got there, the complaint said. She said her vagina hurt for about a week, which she believed was from rough intercourse that she did not remember, the suit says. She said she did not seek medical treatment or report the incident to law enforcement out of fear, according to the complaint. Grayson said in the suit that she later received a call from an unknown woman with a New York number, allegedly threatening her to keep quiet. The caller allegedly said any attempts to pursue anything about the alleged assault “would be futile” because Combs “was a celebrity,” the complaint said. Grayson is suing Combs, as well as others who she claims were involved in the event. Other defendants include Bad Boy Entertainment Holdings, which Combs founded; Atlantic Records, which she said facilitated the event; Mike Savas, a promoter for Atlantic at the time; Delta Airlines, which flew her to New York; KKJamz 105.3, the radio station that she said held the contest; and the Roger Smith Hotel, where she stayed. Ten “John and Jane Does” are also listed as defendants, but the lawsuit says Grayson does not yet know who they are. The lawsuit — which contains photos appearing to show Grayson with other guests at the party — does not mention any interaction with Combs. In a statement, Combs’ attorneys said Grayson’s “allegations against him are pure fiction.” “Ms. Grayson admits she has no memory of the events alleged in her complaint, does not know who was supposedly involved, and has never spoken to Mr. Combs,” the statement said. Combs is currently behind bars at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center in New York and is facing federal criminal charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and other offenses. He has pleaded not guilty and his trial is scheduled for May 5 . His lawyers added in their statement that Combs “has never sexually assaulted anyone or engaged in sex trafficking.” “As we’ve said before, Mr. Combs cannot respond to every baseless lawsuit and lawyer-driven money grab,” they said. “He has faith in the judicial process, in which fact will be separated from opportunistic fabrications like these.” A Delta spokesperson said the airline is “not aware of and did not participate in the unlawful actions alleged in this lawsuit.” Atlantic Records, KKJAMZ 105.3, and Savas did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. The Roger Smith Hotel was reportedly acquired by a timeshare company in 2022. In her lawsuit, Grayson said she “felt betrayed” by Atlantic and the radio station because they allegedly “failed to protect her despite creating, promoting and financing a contest that lead [SIC] to her injuries and lured her to an unsafe place without warning.” The suit accuses all the defendants of allegedly using deception, coercion, force and the threat of violence to “enrich themselves.” “Although all Defendants may not have directly threatened, coerced, forced or violently threatened Plaintiff, they financially benefitted [SIC] from the scheme,” the complaint said. The suit was filed under the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act. Under this law, victims have a two-year window ending in March 2025 to file older claims. Diddy is facing multiple civil lawsuits of a similar nature. Lawyers for Combs have denied the allegations and misconduct. This story first appeared on NBCNews.com. More from NBC News:p777 。

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Financial services provider Choice International Ltd on Thursday said it has received in-principle approval from markets regulator Sebi to launch mutual fund operations. The development positions Choice International to expand financial services portfolio and cater to a broader spectrum of investors. ET Year-end Special Reads Corporate Kalesh: Top family disputes of India Inc in 2024 The world of business lost these eminent people in 2024 Fast, faster, fastest: How 2024 put more speed into your shopping In accordance with Sebi's approval, Choice International will set up an asset management company (AMC) and a trustee company, adhering to all applicable regulations and legal requirements, the financial services firm said in a statement. "This approval marks a significant step forward in our journey to becoming a comprehensive financial services provider. By entering the mutual fund industry, we aim to empower investors with tailored investment products and create value through disciplined and transparent fund management," Choice International CEO and Executive Director Arun Poddar said. Best MF to invest Looking for the best mutual funds to invest? Here are our recommendations. View Details » The final approval for registration will be subject to the fulfilment of all requirements stipulated in the in-principle approval by Sebi. Choice International said it is fully committed to meeting these prerequisites to commence operations in the mutual fund space. Artificial Intelligence(AI) Java Programming with ChatGPT: Learn using Generative AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrows Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program The 45-player mutual fund industry manages assets worth over Rs 68 lakh crore.

Set-pieces changed the game - AmorimImage via Getty Images Brandi Rhodes , who is the spouse of the WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes , recently took to social media to share a delightful and humorous Christmas photograph. This image captures the essence of the family's festive spirit while also showcasing the amusing realities of navigating family life alongside the demands of a high-profile wrestling career but is it even real? Let's find out! Brandi Rhodes Photoshops Cody Into Christmas Family Portrait Amid WWE Absence The photo featured Brandi and their daughter, Liberty, enjoying the festive season. However, the most notable aspect of the image was the inclusion of Cody Rhodes , who was cleverly photoshopped into the picture. Brandi accompanied the post with the caption, "Sorry I'm late... Merry Christmas!!!" a playful acknowledgment of Cody's busy schedule and frequent absences due to his WWE commitments. Cody has been sidelined from WWE television since a brutal attack by Kevin Owens following Saturday Night's Main Event. The attack, which left Cody injured, has kept him away from the ring and forced him to miss out on precious family time during the holiday season. Brandi's creative solution to include Cody in the Christmas photo is a testament to her love and support for her husband. It also highlights the challenges faced by WWE Superstars , who often have to sacrifice family time to fulfill their professional obligations. The photo has resonated with fans, who have praised Brandi's creativity and her ability to find humor in a challenging situation. It serves as a reminder of the sacrifices that WWE Superstars and their families make to entertain millions of fans around the world. ALSO READ: Madison Square Garden Hosts CM Punk: WWE’s Epic Comeback Cody Rhodes is expected to return to WWE television in the near future, and fans are eagerly anticipating his comeback. In the meantime, his family continues to support him and provide him with the love and encouragement he needs to succeed in the ring and beyond.

Share Tweet Share Share Email In the last decade, technology has opened up incredible opportunities for businesses in Chicago. However, keeping up with rapid technological advancements can be challenging, even for companies with an in-house IT team. Managed IT Services providers offer businesses the expertise, support, and resources needed to stay ahead of the curve. Below are the top eight advantages of Managed IT Services for businesses in Chicago that are considering outsourcing or enhancing their IT capabilities with experienced professionals. Streamlined IT Budgeting : Partnering with a Managed IT Services provider simplifies budgeting by offering predictable, fixed monthly fees for IT support. This structure helps businesses plan their finances more effectively, while providers can also scale services to meet evolving needs, ensuring optimal value and avoiding unexpected costs. Access to IT Professionals : Managed IT Services grant businesses access to a team of skilled IT experts who specialize in diverse areas of technology. This expertise ensures businesses receive the right support for their specific needs, whether it’s network management, cybersecurity, software deployment, or troubleshooting. Improved Data Security : With data protection being critical for businesses, Managed IT Services enhance security by offering proactive monitoring, threat detection, and swift incident response. This approach helps safeguard sensitive data and reduce the risks posed by cyber threats. For insights on federal data protection and privacy practices, businesses can refer to Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) for guidelines. Quicker Issue Resolution : Managed IT Services provide fast response times to technical issues and emergencies, minimizing downtime and ensuring smooth operations. Rapid problem-solving leads to better efficiency and enhanced customer satisfaction. Scalable IT Solutions : Managed IT Services offer the flexibility to scale IT resources and infrastructure according to the business’s growth, changing demands, or seasonal fluctuations. This scalability ensures businesses can expand or adjust without the complexity of managing technical resources in-house. Up-to-Date Technology : With Managed IT Services, businesses have continuous access to the latest technology and software solutions, removing the need for constant upgrades and maintenance. Staying current with technology ensures businesses remain competitive and agile in their industries. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers resources on technology adoption for businesses looking to stay ahead. Cost Efficiency : Outsourcing IT services can reduce expenses related to hiring in-house IT staff, training, and purchasing hardware or software. Furthermore, the predictable pricing structures of Managed IT Services allow businesses to better control their IT-related costs. Consistent and Reliable Support : Businesses benefit from having dependable support available, with expert assistance and technical guidance whenever necessary. This reliability boosts confidence in the stability and performance of a company’s IT infrastructure. Embracing Managed IT Services can significantly enhance a business’s IT operations, security, and overall efficiency. These services offer numerous advantages, making them a valuable asset for companies aiming to leverage technology to remain competitive in today’s market. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides additional resources on IT best practices, including cybersecurity frameworks. Conclusion If you’re looking for emergency IT support in Chicago , ITRegulators is here to help. They specialize in providing rapid response solutions to minimize downtime and ensure your business operates smoothly, no matter the IT challenges you face. Their team of experienced professionals is available 24/7 to address urgent issues, offering expert guidance and swift resolutions. Based in Illinois and serving clients across the United States, they offer a range of services, including Managed IT, Cybersecurity, Managed Office Services, Integrated Voice and Data, Physical Security Systems, and Business Process Automation. With them, you can count on reliable, efficient support whenever you need it most. Related Items: Business , Managed IT Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Beyond the Green: Jeremy Poincenot’s Business Growth Workshops Drive Success The Growing Threat of Cybersecurity in Today’s Business Landscape Company Formation UK: A Comprehensive Guide to Starting Your Business CommentsNo, US student ranks didn't plummet after Department of Education creation | Fact checkSo, it pays to know when your particular store might be quietest, when staff will have restocked the shelves and when items get marked down for the best yellow sticker bargains. With nearly 30% of Brits admitting Christmas food shopping is their holiday nightmare, Britsuperstore has analysed the UK's top 10 supermarket chains to find the perfect times to do your Christmas shopping at each one. Monday-Friday 5-6pm, Saturday 12pm, Sunday 3pm Monday-Friday 8-9am and 9-10pm, Saturday 8-9am and 9-10pm, Sunday 11am Before opening and 3pm (Special Buys every Thursday and Sunday) Before 8am and before closing (fresh produce with red stickers typically discounted 30-75%) The exact time of day for reductions will vary from store to store, but most will happen just before the store closes. Fresh products with reduced prices will be marked by a red sticker, and are typically reduced as they are at the end of their shelf life. They will normally be discounted by either 30% or 75%. Dried groceries and tinned food may also be discounted if they have imperfections. Recommended reading: Monday-Friday 12-1pm and 5-6pm, Saturday 12-3pm, Sunday 12pm Monday-Friday 8am and 10-11pm, Saturday 8am and 10-11pm, Sunday 4-5pm Late night and overnight Morning and before closing (they have a two-wave reduction system, first thing in the morning and a few hours before closing) Again, the schedule for price reductions varies from store to store, but the majority of branches operate on a two-wave basis. Products are reduced first thing in the morning and a few hours before the store closes, although some stores may opt to make reductions throughout the day based on the volume of stock and sell-by dates. Monday-Friday 12-1pm, Saturday 1pm, Sunday 12pm Monday-Friday 7-9am and 9-11 pm, Saturday 7-8am and 9-11pm, Sunday 4pm 5-6pm Starts at 3pm (50% off for near-expiry items), followed by a further reduction at 5pm (75% off) with final dramatic reductions on in-store cooked food at 8pm (schedule may vary) Morrison stores typically have several waves of price reductions. Reductions begin at 3pm, with products at the end of their shelf life reduced by 50%. At 5pm, these products are reduced again, retailing at 75% of their original price. If you’re looking for a bargain on in-store cooked food, we recommend visiting the store at 8pm, as items will be dramatically reduced. Remember, the schedule for reductions may vary depending on the branch. Monday-Friday 5-6pm, Saturday 6pm, Sunday 5-6pm Monday-Friday 7am and 9-10pm, Saturday 7-8am and 9-10pm, Sunday 7-8am and 9-10pm Mostly overnight Starts around 6pm (50% off for expiry-date items), with a possible further reduction at 8pm (schedule may vary) Visit your local Co-op at around 6pm to be sure of a discount, although, at some stores, reductions start at 5pm. Items on sale on the day of their expiration date will usually be sold at 50% of their original price Monday-Friday 3-6pm, Saturday 12-2pm, Sunday 12pm Monday-Friday 7am and 8-11pm, Saturday 7-9am and 9-11pm, Sunday 7-8am and 10-11pm 6:30 AM Starts at 9am (around 10% off), with further reductions between 4-5pm (around 30% off). Best reductions around 8pm (schedule may vary) At around 9am, items are reduced by around 10%. Some products are reduced further between 4pm and 5pm, by about 30%. For the best reductions, visit about 8pm, but again, keep in mind discount schedule may vary by store. Monday-Friday 12-4pm, Saturday12 pm, Sunday 3pm Monday-Friday 7-9am and 7-10 pm, Saturday 8-9am and 9pm, Sunday 11pm and 4pm When closed and throughout the day Starts after lunch (biggest discounts between 5-7pm) with significant variations by store (check with your local store) Reduction times at Sainsbury’s varies significantly by store. Make sure to visit after lunch, as this is when most stores begin to reduce their products. The best time to visit is between 5 pm and 7 pm, as this is when the biggest discounts will happen. Monday-Friday 5-6pm, Saturday 1pm, Sunday 12pm Monday 6-8am and 10-2pm, Tuesday-Friday 10pm-7am, Saturday 12-7am, Sunday 11am and 4pm 10 pm Early morning (6-10am), 5pm, and 7:30pm (schedule may vary) Reductions at ASDA typically begin between 6 am and 10 am. There is a second round of reductions takes place at about 5 pm, and final reductions begin at around 7:30 pm. Again, discount schedules may vary from store to store. Monday-Friday 5-6pm, Saturday 4pm, Sunday 1-3pm Monday-Friday 8am and 8-9pm, Saturday 8-9am and 6-7pm, Sunday 5-6pm 7 am Around 9am (10% off), 2pm (30% off), and after 4pm (70-90% off) At most Marks & Spencer stores, there are three waves of reductions. The first wave takes place around 9 am, where some items may be reduced by 10%. The real reductions, however, begin around 2 pm. Here, products are normally reduced by 30%. The final wave of reductions happens after 4 pm, where products are reduced between 70% and 90%. : Monday-Friday 6-7 pm, Saturday 6 pm, Sunday 4 pm Monday-Friday 8-9am and 9-10pm, Saturday 8-9am and 9-10pm, Sunday 12pm 11am Two hours before closing (around 50% off fresh food) The majority of Waitrose branches begin to reduce their products just after the lunchtime rush. For the best shot at reduced items at the best price, however, we recommend visiting stores two hours before closing time, when some stock, and in particular fresh food, is reduced by around 50%. Monday-Friday 5pm, Saturday 1pm, Sunday 1pm Monday-Friday 8-9am, Saturday 8-9am, Sunday 10am Before opening Added to deliveries, plus flash discounts and schemes (check local store) At Iceland, reductions are added to deliveries. Iceland also offers “flash discounts”, and discount schemes, so be on the lookout for these. Last year, for example, they announced a scheme which allowed customers over the age of 60 to get 10% off their groceries with no minimum spend every Tuesday. Reduction schedules may vary by store for every chain, so always check with your local branch. Richard Price, Director of , an online supermarket which specialises in food for expats, shares his seven tips to save this Christmas.

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The 2024 Fantasy Football season is headed straight for the Fantasy Football playoffs in a matter of weeks, depending on how long your league's regular season is, and now is the time to make moves that can set you up for a successful playoff run. In some leagues, your trade deadline hasn't passed yet, and we can find some players to trade for. In leagues where the deadline has passed, we'll focus on difficult start/sits the rest of the way, playoff schedules to target and avoid, and final waiver wire pushes. On Sunday night's Week 12 recap, the Fantasy Football Today team looked into some of the most intriguing players from the Week 12 slate. You can find the full breakdown on the FFT YouTube page. Jaylen Waddle was Jamey's biggest winner in Week 12. "He was a borderline drop candidate, but hopefully, this is a start for him. We saw the big plays, and that could be a sign of things to come." Waddle had not scored double-digit Fantasy points in PPR since Week 1. In Week 12, Waddle racked up 144 receiving yards on eight receptions -- he was targeted nine times. Waddle's playoff schedule does look a bit daunting down the stretch, however. Three road games in cold environments ( Packers , Browns , Jets ) and just two home games remain -- 49ers and Jets. Dave views Anthony Richardson as a Week 12 loser, and it might be best for us to slow our role on the former breakout candidate being a viable starter rest of season at the QB position. "In the second half, Richardson went 4-of-14 passing for 55 yards. 57% of his throws were for 15+ air yards," Dave said on the show. Richardson had a 50% completion rate in the first half despite passing the eye test. Jamey added that Olgetree dropped a TD, which impacted his stats, and Adam mentioned that he was encouraged by how open some Colts receivers were on tape review. Richardson has scored 30+ Fantasy points in two of his last six games, but he hasn't top 14 in the other four. His schedule rest of season: @NE, BYE, @DEN, TEN, @NYG, JAC Bucky Irving was a hot topic among Fantasy Football analysis on FFT last week as Jacob Gibbs and I talked up a breakout coming in Week 12 during Beyond the Boxscore with Ben Gretch (where we broke down rest of season rankings and 30,000-foot view Fantasy concepts). It was great to see him pull through with a breakout performance. Of course, Sean Tucker operated as a goalline back in Week 12 before fumbling. Dave praised Irving as looking the best on tape. "He played the most snaps of any Bucs back," Dave said. "He played 55% of the snaps and two-of-three snaps inside the 3-yard line. Irving had just as many rushing attempts and averaged 4.2 yards per carry more than Rachaad White . How can they watch these guys play and say they are on the same level when Irving is blowing him out as a runner? Irving took the lead among running backs in receptions and receiving yards in the last five games. And their schedule is so good the rest of way." Irving does have a fun schedule rest of season: @CAR, LV, @LAC, @DAL, CAR, NO Speaking of the Fantasy Playoffs, Heath deemed Irving to be a "league winner" the rest of way.WASHINGTON -- WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump said he can't guarantee that his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won't raise prices for American consumers and he suggested once more that some political rivals and federal officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned. The president-elect, in a wide-ranging interview with NBC's “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday, also touched on monetary policy, immigration, abortion and health care, and U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Israel and elsewhere. Trump often mixed declarative statements with caveats, at one point cautioning “things do change.” A look at some of the issues covered: Trump has threatened broad trade penalties, but said he didn’t believe economists' predictions that added costs on those imported goods for American companies would lead to higher domestic prices for consumers. He stopped short of a pledge that U.S. an households won't be paying more as they shop. “I can’t guarantee anything. I can’t guarantee tomorrow,” Trump said, seeming to open the door to accepting the reality of how import levies typically work as goods reach the retail market. That's a different approach from Trump's typical speeches throughout the 2024 campaign, when he framed his election as a sure way to curb inflation. In the interview, Trump defended tariffs generally, saying that tariffs are "going to make us rich.” He has pledged that, on his first day in office in January, he would impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada unless those countries satisfactorily stop illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the United States. He also has threatened tariffs on China to help force that country to crack down on fentanyl production. ”All I want to do is I want to have a level, fast, but fair playing field,” Trump said. He offered conflicting statements on how he would approach the justice system after winning election despite being convicted of 34 felonies in a New York state court and being indicted in other cases for his handling of national security secrets and efforts to overturn his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden. “Honestly, they should go to jail,” Trump said of members of Congress who investigated the Capitol riot by his supporters who wanted him to remain in power. The president-elect underscored his contention that he can use the justice system against others, including special prosecutor Jack Smith, who led the case on Trump’s role in the siege on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump confirmed his plan to pardon supporters who were convicted for their roles in the riot, saying he would take that action on his first day in office. As for the idea of revenge driving potential prosecutions, Trump said: “I have the absolute right. I’m the chief law enforcement officer, you do know that. I’m the president. But I’m not interested in that." At the same time, Trump singled out lawmakers on a special House committee who had investigated the insurrection, citing Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. “Cheney was behind it ... so was Bennie Thompson and everybody on that committee,” Trump said. Asked specifically whether he would direct his administration to pursue cases, he said, “No,” and suggested he did not expect the FBI to quickly undertake investigations into his political enemies. But at another point, Trump said he would leave the matter up to Pam Bondi, his pick as attorney general. “I want her to do what she wants to do,” he said. Such threats, regardless of Trump's inconsistencies, have been taken seriously enough by many top Democrats that Biden is considering issuing blanket, preemptive pardons to protect key members of his outgoing administration. Trump did seemingly back off his campaign rhetoric calling for Biden to be investigated, saying, “I’m not looking to go back into the past.” Trump repeatedly mentioned his promises to seal the U.S.-Mexico border and deport millions of people who are in the U.S. illegally through a mass deportation program. “I think you have to do it,” he said. He suggested he would try to use executive action to end “birthright” citizenship under which people born in the U.S. are considered citizens — although such protections are spelled out in the Constitution. Asked specifically about the future for people who were brought into the country illegally as children and have been shielded from deportation in recent years, Trump said, “I want to work something out,” indicating he might seek a solution with Congress. But Trump also said he does not “want to be breaking up families” of mixed legal status, “so the only way you don’t break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back.” Long a critic of NATO members for not spending more on their own defense, Trump said he “absolutely” would remain in the alliance “if they pay their bills.” Pressed on whether he would withdraw if he were dissatisfied with allies’ commitments, Trump said he wants the U.S. treated “fairly” on trade and defense. He waffled on a NATO priority of containing Russia and President Vladimir Putin. Trump suggested Ukraine should prepare for less U.S. aid in its defense against Putin’s invasion. “Possibly. Yeah, probably. Sure,” Trump said of reducing Ukraine assistance from Washington. Separately, Trump has called for an immediate cease-fire . Asked about Putin, Trump said initially that he has not talked to the Russian leader since Election Day last month, but then hedged: “I haven’t spoken to him recently.” Trump said when pressed, adding that he did not want to “impede the negotiation.” The president-elect said he has no intention, at least for now, of asking Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to step down before Powell's term ends in 2028. Trump said during the campaign that presidents should have more say in Fed policy , including interest rates. Trump did not offer any job assurances for FBI Director Christopher Wray, whose term is to end in 2027. Asked about Wray, Trump said: “Well, I mean, it would sort of seem pretty obvious” that if the Senate confirms Kash Patel as Trump's pick for FBI chief, then “he’s going to be taking somebody’s place, right? Somebody is the man that you’re talking about.” Trump promised that the government efficiency effort led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will not threaten Social Security. “We're not touching Social Security, other than we make it more efficient,” he said. He added that “we're not raising ages or any of that stuff.” He was not so specific about abortion or his long-promised overhaul of the Affordable Care Act. On abortion, Trump continued his inconsistencies and said he would “probably” not move to restrict access to the abortion pills that now account for a majority of pregnancy terminations, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which supports abortion rights. But pressed on whether he would commit to that position, Trump replied, “Well, I commit. I mean, are -- things do -- things change. I think they change.” Reprising a line from his Sept. 10 debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump again said he had “concepts” of a plan to substitute for the 2010 Affordable Care Act, which he called “lousy health care.” He added a promise that any Trump version would maintain insurance protections for Americans with preexisting health conditions. He did not explain how such a design would be different from the status quo or how he could deliver on his desire for “better healthcare for less money.” ___ Barrow reported from Atlanta. Associated Press writers Adriana Gomez Licon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Jill Colvin and Michelle L. Price in New York contributed to this report.

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The suspect in the high-profile killing of a health insurance CEO that has gripped the United States graduated from an Ivy League university, reportedly hails from a wealthy family, and wrote social media posts brimming with cerebral musings. Luigi Mangione, 26, was thrust into the spotlight Monday after police revealed he is their person of interest in the brutal murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a father of two, last week in broad daylight in Manhattan in a case that laid bare deep frustration and anger with America's privatized medical system. News of his capture in Pennsylvania -- following a tip from a McDonald's worker --triggered an explosion of online activity, with Mangione quickly amassing new followers on social media as citizen sleuths and US media tried to understand who he is. While some lauded him as a hero and lamented his arrest, others analyzed his intellectual takes in search of ideological clues. A photo on one of his social media accounts includes an X-ray of an apparently injured spine. No explicit political affiliation has emerged. Meanwhile, memes and jokes proliferated, many riffing on his first name and comparing him to the "Mario Bros." character Luigi, sometimes depicted in AI-altered images wielding a gun or holding a Big Mac. "Godspeed. Please know that we all hear you," wrote one user on Facebook. "I want to donate to your defense fund," added another. According to Mangione's LinkedIn profile, he is employed as a data engineer at TrueCar, a California-based online auto marketplace. A company spokesperson told AFP Mangione "has not been an employee of our company since 2023." Although he had been living in Hawaii ahead of the killing, he originally hails from Towson, Maryland, near Baltimore. He comes from a prominent and wealthy Italian-American family, according to the Baltimore Banner. The family owns local businesses, including the Hayfields Country Club, its website says. A standout student, Mangione graduated at the top of his high school class in 2016. In an interview with his local paper at the time, he praised his teachers for fostering a passion for learning beyond grades and encouraging intellectual curiosity. A former student who knew Mangione at the Gilman School told AFP the suspect struck him as "a normal guy, nice kid." "There was nothing about him that was off, at least from my perception," this person said, asking that their name not be used. "Seemed to just be smiling, and kind of seemed like he was a smart kid. Ended up being valedictorian, which confirmed that," the former student said. Mangione went on to attend the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, where he completed both a bachelor's and master's degree in computer science by 2020, according to a university spokesperson. While at Penn, Mangione co-led a group of 60 undergraduates who collaborated on video game projects, as noted in a now-deleted university webpage, archived on the Wayback Machine. On Instagram, where his following has skyrocketed from hundreds to tens of thousands, Mangione shared snapshots of his travels in Mexico, Puerto Rico and Hawaii. He also posted shirtless photos flaunting a six-pack and appeared in celebratory posts with fellow members of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. However, it is on X (formerly Twitter) that users have scoured Mangione's posts for potential motives. His header photo -- an X-ray of a spine with bolts -- remains cryptic, with no public explanation. Finding a coherent political ideology has also proved elusive, though he had written a review of Ted Kaczynski's manifesto on the online site goodreads, calling it "prescient." Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, carried out a string of bombings in the United States from 1978 to 1995, a campaign he said was aimed at halting the advance of modern society and technology. Mangione called Kaczynski "rightfully imprisoned," while also saying "'violence never solved anything' is a statement uttered by cowards and predators." According to CNN, handwritten documents recovered when Mangione was arrested included the phrase "these parasites had it coming." Mangione has also linked approvingly to posts criticizing secularism as a harmful consequence of Christianity's decline. In April, he wrote, "Horror vacui (nature abhors a vacuum)." The following month, he posted an essay he wrote in high school titled "How Christianity Prospered by Appealing to the Lower Classes of Ancient Rome." In another post from April, he speculated that Japan's low birthrate stems from societal disconnection, adding that "fleshlights" and other vaginal-replica sex toys should be banned. ia/nro/dw

Clarke Reed, who helped Gerald Ford win the 1976 Republican nomination, has died at 96None

AP Sports SummaryBrief at 5:24 p.m. EST

DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria's prime minister said Monday that most cabinet ministers were back at work after rebels overthrew President Bashar Assad, but some state workers failed to return to their jobs, and a United Nations official said the country's public sector came "to a complete and abrupt halt." Meanwhile, streams of refugees crossed back into Syria from neighboring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future and looking for relatives who disappeared during Assad's brutal rule. The rebel alliance now in control of much of the country is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and promises representative government and religious tolerance. The rebel command said Monday they would not tell women how to dress. Syrian citizens stand on a government forces tank that was left on a street Monday as they celebrate in Damascus, Syria. "It is strictly forbidden to interfere with women's dress or impose any request related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty," the command said on social media. People are also reading... Nearly two days after rebels entered the capital, some key government services shut down after state workers ignored calls to go back to their jobs, the U.N. official said, causing issues at airports and borders and slowing the flow of humanitarian aid. Rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was long known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, also met for the first time with Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali, who stayed in Syria when Assad fled. Israel said it carried out airstrikes on suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets to keep them from falling into the hands of extremists. Israel also seized a buffer zone inside Syria after Syrian troops withdrew. Syrians wait to cross into Syria from Turkey on Monday at the Oncupinar border gate near the town of Kilis, southern Turkey. In northern Syria, Turkey said allied opposition forces seized the town of Manbij from Kurdish-led forces backed by the United States, a reminder that even after Assad's departure, the country remains split among armed groups that have fought in the past. The Kremlin said Russia granted political asylum to Assad, a decision made by President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Assad's specific whereabouts and said Putin did not plan to meet with him. Damascus was quiet Monday, with life slowly returning to normal, though most shops and public institutions were closed. In public squares, some people still celebrated. Civilian traffic resumed, but there was no public transport. Long lines formed in front of bakeries and other food stores. There was little sign of any security presence, though in some areas small groups of armed men were stationed in the streets. Syrian citizens celebrate Monday during the second day of the takeover of the city by the insurgents in Damascus, Syria. Across swathes of Syria, families are now waiting outside prisons, security offices and courts, hoping for news of loved ones who were imprisoned or who disappeared. Just north of Damascus in the feared Saydnaya military prison, women detainees, some with their children, screamed as rebels broke locks off their cell doors. Amnesty International and other groups say dozens of people were secretly executed every week in Saydnaya, and they estimate that up to 13,000 Syrians were killed between 2011 and 2016. "Don't be afraid," one rebel said as he ushered women from packed cells. "Bashar Assad has fallen!" In southern Turkey, Mustafa Sultan was among hundreds of Syrian refugees waiting at border crossings to head home. He was searching for his older brother, who was imprisoned under Assad. "I haven't seen him for 13 years," he said. "I am going to go see whether he's alive." Jalali, the prime minister, sought to project normalcy since Assad fled. "We are working so that the transitional period is quick and smooth," he told Sky News Arabia TV on Monday, saying the security situation already improved from the day before. Israeli soldiers sit on top of a tank Monday along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights from Syria, in the town of Majdal Shams. At the court of Justice in Damascus, which was stormed by the rebels to free detainees, Judge Khitam Haddad, an aide to the justice minister in the outgoing government, said Sunday that judges were ready to resume work quickly. "We want to give everyone their rights," Haddad said outside the courthouse. "We want to build a new Syria and to keep the work, but with new methods." But a U.N. official said some government services were paralyzed as worried state employees stayed home. The public sector "has just come to a complete and abrupt halt," said U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria Adam Abdelmoula, noting, for example, that an aid flight carrying urgently needed medical supplies was put on hold after aviation employees abandoned their jobs. "This is a country that has had one government for 53 years and then suddenly all of those who have been demonized by the public media are now in charge in the nation's capital," Abdelmoula told The Associated Press. "I think it will take a couple of days and a lot of assurance on the part of the armed groups for these people to return to work again." World reacts to overthrow of Syria's Assad regime People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) People gather to react following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government, in Trafalgar Square, in London, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) People gather to react following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government, in Trafalgar Square, in London, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Members of the Syrian community in Finland wave a Syrian flag and celebrate in Helsinki, Finland, Dec. 8, 2024. (Roni Rekomaa/Lehtikuva via AP) People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Syrians wave opposition flags and give out sweets during a spontaneous rally in Wuppertal, Germany, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa/dpa via AP) Syrians celebrate the fall of the Assad regime in Syria at a demonstration in Stockholm, Sweden, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Jonas Ekstroemer/TT News Agency via AP) People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Syrians wave Syrian opposition flags at a rally in Wuppertal, Germany, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa/dpa via AP) People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) Syrians living in France gather on Republique square after the Syrian government fell early today in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) People gather to celebrate the Syrian government's fall, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Syrians living in France hug during a rally on Republique square after the Syrian government fell early today in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) People gather to react following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government, in Trafalgar Square, in London, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) A Syrian man waves a flag during a spontaneous demonstration celebrating the fall of the Assad regime in Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) A Syrian man waves a flag during a spontaneous demonstration celebrating the fall of the Assad regime, in Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Newcastle United stumbled to a Monday night defeat against West Ham at St James' Park after some poor defending. West Ham went ahead on 10 minutes when Emerson Palmieri's corner was whipped in and Tomas Soucek was afforded a free header to steer it home near the penalty spot. The Hammers would strengthen their grip two minutes later as Jarrod Bowen slipped in Aaron Wan-Bissaka before the ex-Man United man was allowed to glide his way into the box before drilling the ball home to make it 2-0. Newcastle created very little in the first half and struggled in attack after the break. Unfortunately, they never looked like staging a dramatic comeback. Here's how the Newcastle stars rated overall: Nick Pope 6 Never in danger of a clean sheet with such slack defending in front of him. Tino Livramento 6 A real dip in performance levels despite a bright start. Fabian Schar 6 Not at fault for the opener but rooted to the spot on the second. Lloyd Kelly 5 Switched off for the opener and did not take what was a big opportunity. Dan Burn will walk straight back into the team after his ban. Lewis Hall 6 Always up against it with Jarrod Bowen on the scene. Not his worst game, but far from his best. Sean Longstaff 5 Lost possession a couple of times with ruthless Howe taking him off before the hour mark for Sandro Tonali. Caught ball watching as West Ham sliced through for the second goal. Had 32 touches in all and sent one header on target in the first half. Bruno Guimaraes 5 A real struggle for Brazil star who eventually limped off with an injury. Could easily have been subbed after a poor show by his standards. Joe Willock 6 Never seemed to get over first half knock. One effort flew wide. Anthony Gordon 6 Offered some bite at times but Howe proved nobody is guaranteed to stay on the field with his substitution. Joelinton 6 Started well enough but faded. Another to endure the hook. Alexander Isak 5 The night was set up for him but he lacked impact. Disappeared soon after seeing first half strike ruled offside. Subs Harvey Barnes 5 (for Willock 46) His arrival did not have the desired effect. Did not manage a shot and had just one accurate cross. Sandro Tonali 5 (for Longstaff 57) Not much impact. Callum Wilson 5 (for Gordon 68) Just four touches but was handed the impossible task really. Had a valid penalty shout. Jacob Murphy 4 (for Joelinton 68) No impact. Kieran Trippier (for Bruno 84) *Subs must play 15 minutes to gain a mark

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The New York Giants organization got exactly what it deserved in getting blown out by Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The New York Giants organization got exactly what it deserved in getting blown out by Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The New York Giants organization got exactly what it deserved in getting blown out by Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Giants were embarrassed in Sunday’s 30-7 loss, taunted by Mayfield after a touchdown run just before halftime. And then they saw their fans walk out on them again when the Bucs extended their lead to 30-0 and sent New York (2-9) to its sixth straight loss. The losing streak is the longest for the Giants since 2019, when they dropped a franchise-record nine straight games to finish 4-12. That led to the firing of coach Pat Shurmur after two seasons. Third-year coach Brian Daboll is clearly in trouble, with the Giants guaranteed a second straight losing season. They were 6-11 in a 2023 season that featured a lot of injuries. Daboll, who denies he has lost the team, isn’t the only one whose job is in jeopardy. General manager Joe Schoen is on the hot seat and so is this entire franchise, which is celebrating its 100th year. It’s one thing to lose. It’s quite another to give up, and that’s what the organization did when it decided to bench Daniel Jones a week ago and then release him on Friday after the 27-year-old asked co-owner John Mara to let him walk away. While he wasn’t playing well, Jones was the Giants’ best quarterback. He gave them more a of chance to win than either Tommy DeVito or Drew Lock. Removing him from the picture was all but certain to make the Giants worse, even if it was a good business decision. If Jones was hurt and unable the pass his physical before the 2025 season, the team would have been on the hook for a $23 million cap hit. The problem is the players care about now. By getting rid of Jones and elevating DeVito to the starting role, the front office was telling the team it didn’t care about winning with seven games left in the season. So the players gave a lackluster effort. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence called the team soft. Rookie receiver Malik Nabers said he was sick of losing. Left tackle Jermaine Eluemunor said he saw a lack of effort by some players. What they all were saying was they were angry at being betrayed. Money is never more important than winning, and the Giants made that mistake. What’s working At this point in the season? Nothing. What needs help The offense once again. The Giants have scored a league-low 163 points, including only 60 in six games at MetLife Stadium, where they are winless this season. They have scored in double figures at home twice. Daboll’s team has been held scoreless in the first half in three of 11 games and it has been held without a first-half touchdown seven times. Daboll said he will continue to call the offensive plays. Stock up S Tyler Nubin. The rookie has had a team-high 12 tackles in each of the last two games. His 81 tackles for the season are just two behind team leader Bobby Okereke. Stock down RB Tyrone Tracy. The rookie leads Giants running backs with 587 yards on 116 carries — a 5.1-yard average for the fifth-round pick. But holding onto the ball has been a big issue. Tracy’s fumble in overtime cost New York a chance to win in Germany against Carolina. He also lost the ball in the third quarter at the Bucs 5-yard line with New York down 23-0. It earned him a seat on the bench. Injuries LT Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) and OLB Azeez Ojulari (toe) left Sunday’s game in the first quarter. Chris Hubbard filled in at tackle and the Giants luckily got back DL Kayvon Thibodeaux this past week after he missed five games with a broken wrist. DeVito was banged up but Daboll expects him to start against the Cowboys. Key numbers Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 10 — The Giants have gone 10 consecutive games without an interception, tying the NFL record held by the 1976-77 San Francisco 49ers and the 2017 Oakland — now Las Vegas — Raiders. The Giants and Raiders now share the single-season mark. What’s next A national showcase on Thanksgiving Day for the NFC-worst Giants at Dallas. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Advertisement AdvertisementTESLA'S new and highly anticipated Cybercab will be able to be driven using an X-box-style controller that plugs into the car, according to reports. Elon Musk 's popular electric vehicle company broke the internet when it unveiled its new Cybercab in October. Tesla 's taxi is expected to operate similarly to Waymo and Cruise's autonomous vehicles. However, Musk's new model is distinctive in that, unlike its competitors, the Crybercab has no steering wheel or pedals. But, there will be a way to manually operate the vehicle, which will reportedly involve a kind of gaming controller. Sources at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles , where the Cybercab will be on display until next year, told AutoEvolution that Tesla is working on a "small X-box-like game controller" that "plugs into the car to control steering and pedal inputs." Read more in The U.S. Sun The outlet reported that the Cybercab has "no other hardware installed in the car" to control its steering and pedal functions. "Our sources claim the Cybercab can also be controlled wirelessly, from outside the car.," according to AutoEvolution. The EV giant has not started testing the Cybercab on public roads. But testing of the Cybercab on roads could start as soon as the first quarter of 2025, the outlet reported. Most read in Motors Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The U.S. Sun. TESLA ROBOVAN In October, Musk unveiled Tesla's new Robovan at the company's We, Robot event in Los Angeles. The prototype self-driving EV van could transport goods and fit up to 20 people at a time, Musk said. "We’re going to make this, and it’s going to look like that," the tech billionaire said at the time. "One of the things we want to do – and we’ve done this with the Cybertruck – is to change the look of the roads." Repeating an old manta, Musk added, "The future should look like the future." The prototype Robovan had silver metallic sides with black details and LED strips running along its sides. It also boasted tinted windows and doors that slide out from the middle. Read More on The US Sun But, like the Cybercab, the EV van had no steering wheel but enough room for seats and standing room. Musk did not reveal how much the Robovan would cost or when it would hit Tesla showrooms. Autonomous cars use sensors, algorithms, machine learning systems, and powerful processors. They can create and maintain a map of the area around them based on several sensors situated in different parts of the car. Radar sensors are used to keep track of the positions of other cars. Video cameras can detect traffic lights, read road signs, track other cars, and look out for pedestrians. A sophisticated software processes all of this information and plots a path for the car to take, sending instructions to the car's actuators, which control acceleration, braking, and steering. Hard-coded rules and object recognition help the software follow traffic rules and avoid obstacles. Source: Synopsys

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TORM has increased its share capital by 961,823 shares (corresponding to USD 9,618.23) in connection with delivery of two MR vessels and exercise of Restricted Share Units as part of TORM’s incentive program. With reference to Company Announcement no. 30 dated 15 July 2024 where TORM plc (“TORM”) announced the acquisition of eight second-hand MR vessels, TORM plc has increased its share capital by 951,190 shares (corresponding to USD 9,511.90) as a result of the delivery of the seventh and eight of the eight vessels. The new shares relate to the settlement of a USD 26.1m allocated loan note issued in connection with the vessel delivery and correspond to USD 27.44 per A-share with a nominal value of USD 0.01 each. All of the issued shares will be subject to a lock-up for a period of 40 days commencing on the date such shares are issued (the “Lock-up Period”) provided that during the Lock-up Period, the newly issued shares may be resold outside of the United States in transactions pursuant to and in compliance with Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933, including on Nasdaq Copenhagen, but may not be resold in the United States. Additionally, TORM plc has increased its share capital by 10,633 A-shares (corresponding to a nominal value of USD 106.33) as a result of the exercise of a corresponding number of Restricted Share Units (“RSUs”). All new shares are subscribed for in cash at DKK 149.80 per A-share. The new shares (i) are ordinary shares without any special rights and are negotiable instruments, (ii) give right to dividends and other rights in relation to TORM as of the date of issuance and (iii) are expected to be admitted to trading and official listing on Nasdaq Copenhagen as soon as possible. After the capital increase, TORM’s share capital amounts to USD 978,065.85 divided into 97,806,583 A-shares of USD 0.01 each, one B-share of USD 0.01 and one C-share of USD 0.01. A total of 97,806,583 votes are attached to the A-shares. The B-share and the C-share have specific voting rights. Further, the Board of Directors has as part of a long-term incentive program decided to grant certain employees (“Participants”) adjustment RSUs following exercise of original RSUs granted in 2021-2023 to reflect the payment of dividend since the relevant grant date. The Participants will be granted a total of 7,468 RSUs in the form of restricted stock options. These adjustment RSUs will not be subject to further dividend adjustment and will have to be exercised within the same exercise window as they were issued. They will have a strike price of one US cent. Source: TORM

VOA Correspondent Kane Farabaugh conducted numerous interviews with Jimmy Carter on issues ranging from his time in the White House to his post-presidential career as a promoter of global health and democracy. Highlights of those interviews are contained in this report. Former President Jimmy Carter, a peanut farmer and Georgia state governor before becoming president, has died at the age of 100. When Carter took the oath of office as president of the United States on January 20, 1977, he promised a "government as good as its people." He presided over four turbulent years. Rising inflation and growing unemployment marred the domestic priorities of his administration. He scored victories in foreign policy with a peace agreement between Egypt and Israel and the Panama Canal treaty. However, a hostage crisis in Iran dominated his final years in the White House and contributed to his defeat in the 1980 general election. But Carter liked to say the end of his presidency in 1981 was the beginning of a new life, traveling the world "fighting disease, building hope, and waging peace." "It has turned out to open up for me and my wife, Rosalynn, a new arena of excitement and unpredictability and adventure and challenge and gratification," he told VOA. As the head of the Carter Center, the Carters traveled to more than 80 countries monitoring troubled elections, mediating disputes, and fighting diseases. This active post-White House life eventually led to the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. "I look upon the Carter Center work as an extension of what I tried to do as president. You know, we brought peace between Israel and Egypt. We opened up a humongous relationship with Latin America with the Panama Canal treaty," he said. "So what I have done since then has been kind of an extension. But I do not think there is any doubt that when I won the Nobel Peace Prize, for instance, it was because of the work of the Carter Center. So, I would be perfectly satisfied to have a legacy based on peace and human rights. I mean, who would not?" Carter's journey to the White House began in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he was born October 1, 1924. After serving as an officer in the U.S. Navy, where he helped develop the post-World War II nuclear submarine fleet, Carter returned to his hometown in 1953 to run the family peanut-farming business. He entered politics in the 1960s, serving two terms as a Georgia legislator before becoming the state's 76th governor from 1971 to 1975. In the 1976 presidential election, Carter, a Democrat, ran against Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who assumed the presidency after Richard Nixon resigned in the wake of the Watergate scandal. Carter narrowly defeated Ford to become president. The high point of Carter's presidency came in 1978. Carter brought Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin to the Camp David presidential retreat in rural Maryland to negotiate a peace treaty. "When I became president, there had been four wars between Arabs and Israelis in the previous 25 years, with the Egyptians in the leadership supported by the Soviet Union," he said. "They were the only country that could really challenge Israel militarily. And we had success in getting a treaty between Israel and Egypt ... not a word of which has ever been violated." Carter also negotiated a treaty turning control of the Panama Canal over to the Panamanian government and normalized diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. But in 1979 the primary focus for Carter's administration turned to Iran, where a revolution led by religious clerics toppled the government of the U.S. backed shah, who eventually fled to the United States, where he received treatment for cancer. On November 4, 1979, militants angry with the U.S. for harboring the deposed shah, stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 66 Americans hostage, 13 were released weeks later. Five months into the crisis, in April 1980, Carter authorized a complex military operation to free the remaining hostages. Dubbed Operation Eagle Claw, the plan called for several helicopters and military aircraft to stage at a site in the Iranian desert. Carter, who approved the plan, explained to VOA that the helicopters carrying members of the U.S. military's elite Delta Force, were to fly from there to the U.S. embassy in Tehran, free the hostages and return to the waiting aircraft that would fly them out of Iran. "The minimum number of helicopters required would be six very large helicopters. So I decided to send eight. One of the helicopters, in an inexplicable way, turned around and went back to the aircraft carrier. Another one went down in a sandstorm in the Iranian desert. The third one developed a hydraulic leak and ran into one of the C-130 airplanes," he said. The aborted mission ended in failure. Eight U.S. military members and one Iranian civilian died as a result of the crash. Walter Mondale, Carter’s vice president, told VOA that day was the lowest point of their administration. "When that rescue mission failed and lives were lost. I mean, that was just ... we were just morose that day and for some time after that," Mondale said. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance resigned in protest of the operation. The failure of the mission damaged Carter's credibility with the American public. The incident occurred seven months before the 1980 presidential election and contributed to Carter's defeat to challenger Ronald Reagan. "The exact anniversary of the hostages being taken was Election Day," Carter said. "Of course, the news media were completely obsessed with the anniversary of the hostages being taken and the fact that I had not been able to get them out. That was the number one issue that caused me to fail." The hostages were freed the day Reagan became president. In 1981, Carter returned to Plains, unsure about the direction of his post-presidential life. His plans for a library and museum were initially modest. "I envisioned it to be a tiny thing, where I would have an office and some nice buildings in Atlanta. And that anyone in the world that had an ongoing conflict or potential conflict could come to me and I would help them mediate the dispute and stop a war," he said. The Carter Center, under his direction, monitored more then 80 troubled elections and mediated disputes ranging from a nuclear standoff with North Korea in 1994, to a peace agreement between Uganda and Sudan in 1999. The center is also a leader in promoting health and fighting disease in the poorest parts of the planet. In one of many interviews with Voice of America, Carter reflected on his life in and out of the White House. He said the greatest part of his legacy wasn't his accomplishments as president or the Nobel Peace Prize, but the eradication of Guinea worm disease. "There's only been one disease in the history of humankind, ever eradicated, and that was smallpox,” he said, “So Guinea worm is going to soon be the second disease in history, to be wiped off the face of the earth." Thanks to Carter’s efforts, there were only 13 cases of Guinea worm recorded in 2022. Carter led an active life until the age of 99, surviving brain cancer in 2015. Declining health and the 2020 global coronavirus pandemic kept him confined to his hometown of Plains in his final years. Jimmy Carter last appeared in public during funeral services for his wife, Rosalynn, in November 2023. In one of his last public media appearances, Carter shared with VOA his hopes for the Carter Center’s future. “I would like to see the United States in the future strive to be the number one champion in the world of peace and human rights and environmental quality, and I would say treating everyone equal,” he said. “If we could do that, we would have a real superpower in the country I love very much.” Jimmy Carter lived the longest of any occupant of the White House, and his 76-year marriage to wife Rosalynn is the longest of any president and first lady. Though his final resting place will be on the grounds of his home in Plains, Georgia, the work and the words of Carter live on in the pages of the dozens of books he authored throughout his life. It includes his memoirs, a fiction novel, controversial examinations of the Middle East, and a collection of his favorite poems.Imerys - Mining Value

South Africa’s rand was steady against the dollar on Wednesday, as the greenback eased after the release of a key U.S. inflation report. At 1551 GMT, the rand traded at 18.20 against the dollar , not far from its previous close. Trade in the rand has been volatile this week amid market jitters about the imposition of trade tariffs by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. The dollar index was last down 0.7% against a basket of currencies after data showed the U.S. personal consumption expenditures price index climbed 0.2% in October, matching September’s unrevised gain. South African domestic investor focus will be on monthly producer inflation data on Thursday followed by money supply, trade and budget balance on Friday. On the stock market, the Top-40 (.JTOPI), opens new tab index closed about 0.4% lower. South Africa’s benchmark 2030 government bond was stronger, with the yield down 2.5 basis points at 9.03%. Source: Reuters (Reporting by Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Christina Fincher and Jonathan Oatis)None

The court that upheld a law that could ban TikTok said the US showed no evidence China manipulates content. However, the court said TikTok has manipulated content at China's request elsewhere. TikTok denies content manipulation and says it expects the US Supreme Court to reverse the ban. Advertisement The appeals court that upheld a law that could ban TikTok in the United States said the government offered no evidence that China is manipulating content on the platform in the United States. However, the panel of judges wrote in their opinion that evidence that China has compelled TikTok to manipulate content elsewhere was enough for it to uphold a federal law signed by President Joe Biden that would force TikTok's sale in the United States to an American company or ban it from app stores. Related Video TikTok could be banned in US after House vote The US District Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia found on Friday in a majority opinion that the federal law is constitutional. The law, which was passed in April, requires TikTok's Chinese parent company, Bytedance, to divest from the company by January 19 or face a ban in the United States. US officials across political lines have worried that TikTok poses a national security risk because of its Chinese ownership. Some members of Congress have said they fear that TikTok could be used as a propaganda tool to push narratives favorable to China's Communist Party. In statements supporting the bill, Democratic Massachusetts Rep. Jake Auchincloss called TikTok "a tool of censorship and propaganda" for the Chinese Communist Party, and Republican Nebraska Rep. Mike Flood said the app has "been used as a tool of propaganda in our country." Advertisement Still, the federal appeals court wrote in its majority opinion that the government did not present any evidence that China has tried to manipulate content on TikTok in the United States. "The Government acknowledges that it lacks specific intelligence that shows the PRC has in the past or is now coercing TikTok into manipulating content in the United States," the opinion says, referring to the People's Republic of China. However, the government argued in court that ByteDance and TikTok have censored content at China's request in other countries. The appeals court wrote that TikTok "never squarely denies" that it has ever manipulated content on its platform at China's request, which it says is "striking" given the intelligence community's concerns. The court concluded that Bytedance and TikTok have "a demonstrated history" of manipulating content in other countries, sometimes at the request of China. Advertisement "That conclusion rests on more than mere speculation," the judges wrote in the court opinion. "It is the Government's 'informed judgment' to which we give great weight in this context, even in the absence of 'concrete evidence' on the likelihood of PRC-directed censorship of TikTok in the United States." TikTok argued in court that its "recommendation engine," or algorithm, is not based in China because it is stored in the Oracle cloud . The court said that while this is correct, ByteDance still controls the source code for TikTok, including the recommendation engine. "TikTok is therefore correct to say the recommendation engine 'is stored in the Oracle cloud,' but gains nothing by flyspecking the Government's characterization of the recommendation engine still being in China," the document says. Advertisement A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement to Business Insider that the TikTok ban "was conceived and pushed through based on inaccurate, flawed, and hypothetical information, resulting in outright censorship of the American people." "The Supreme Court has an established historical record of protecting Americans' right to free speech, and we expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue," TikTok said in the statement. Like many social media networks, TikTok has faced intense scrutiny for how the app is used to influence elections. The company this week announced that it removed three "influence networks" on the app that attempted to impact an election in Romania after a probe by the country's defense council. The company said it removed at least 40 similar influence campaigns this year.DALLAS (AP) — The championship vision that led Nathan Eovaldi to sign with Texas as a free agent two years ago is the same one that brought him back to the Rangers. A World Series title in his first season was followed by a losing record this year. “I believe in the guys in the group that we have. We were able to do it in ‘23. I don’t feel a lot has changed,” Eovaldi said Friday, a day after finalizing a $75 million, three-year contract . “We had a down year last year, but I've said it before, you learn a lot from losing seasons.” Eovaldi had declined a $20 million player option to become a free agent again and reached an agreement during the winter meetings in Dallas. Texas also acquired slugging corner infielder Jake Burger in a swap with Miami. Burger had fallen asleep before getting a call late Tuesday night that he had been traded to Texas, where his family is planning to move after the October birth of a daughter with Down syndrome. “The other city that is really good other than Nashville in terms of children's hospital and resources for her Downs is in Dallas," Burger said. “Not just from the baseball spectrum, from the life aspect as well ... I feel like it was meant to be, and we couldn’t be more more excited about that.” In the Nashville area, Burger lives close to Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, whom he plans to visit with soon. His former Marlins manager, Skip Schumaker , was hired last month by the Rangers as a senior adviser for baseball operations, and Luis Urueta, Miami’s bench coach the past two seasons, recently joined Bochy’s on-field coaching staff for 2025. Burger and Rangers pitcher Dane Dunning were once roommates in the Chicago White Sox organization. Burger hit .250 with 29 home runs and 76 RBIs in 137 games for the Marlins last season, when he started 59 games at third base and 50 starts at first. He was with the White Sox in Texas when he got traded to Miami on Aug. 1, 2023, and four days later hit his first homer with the Marlins at Globe Life Field. When the Rangers made the title run in 2023, Eovaldi was 5-0 with a 2.95 ERA in six postseason starts. He was the winning pitcher in their World Series-clinching Game 5 at Arizona. He was also part of Boston’s 2018 title. Eovaldi was 12-8 this year with a 3.80 ERA in 29 starts, the last seven scoreless innings in the regular-season finale. He is 24-13 with a 3.72 ERA in 54 starts for Texas the past two seasons. The new deal for the Texas native, who who turns 35 in February, includes a $12 million signing bonus, half payable on Nov. 15, 2026, and the rest on Jan. 15, 2028, and salaries of $18 million next season, $25 million in 2026 and $20 million in 2027. He gets a full no-trade provision. After being welcomed back by Chris Young, the team's president of baseball operations, the pitcher said he never felt like he really left. The Rangers stayed in contact throughout the process after he declined his option Nov. 4. “Kind of listening to the market and everything, I’m extremely happy to be back. I’m glad we were we were able to make it all work out,” Eovaldi said. “We had a lot of teams reach out right away and we were in contact with most them across the league. Ultimately we were able to make it back here.” ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb Stephen Hawkins, The Associated PressAmazon is currently selling the Doogee S200 for $90 off for Black Friday, making the rugged Android phone even more affordable. Rugged Android smartphones have a reputation for being big, bulky, and unattractive. That said, they don't have to be overly large, cumbersome, or unsightly! They can also incorporate some cool, cutting-edge technology. Also: The best Black Friday deals: Live updates The Doogee S200 packs a lot into a robust yet stylish package. Doogee S200 This smartphone has stuff iPhone owners can only dream of -- two displays, a night vision camera, a 20-day battery, and a super-rugged construction. Doogee S200 tech specs Display : 6.72 inch, 1080 x 2400 pixels (~392ppi density) 120Hz LCD Secondary display : AMOLED, 1.32 inches, 466 x 466 pixels Chipset : MediaTek Dimensity 7050 (6 nm) CPU : Octa-core 2x 2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 plus 6x 2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 GPU : Mali-G68 MC4 Cameras : 100-megapixel AI main camera, 20-megapixel night vision camera, 2-megapixel macro camera, and 20-megapixel front-facing camera Storage : 256GB RAM : 12GB of DDR5 (+20GB extended) OS : Android 14 Battery : 10,100mAh Biometrics : Fingerprint reader Dimensions : 179.5 x 82.5 x 16 mm Weight : 370g Ruggedness rating : IP68, IP69K, MIL-STD-810H I've handled a lot of rugged Android smartphones over the past few years, and I have to admit that most fall into the chunky and heavy category, the sort of phone that drags at your pants pocket all day. While this one is no "thin and light" phone, I've carried heavier -- much heavier -- smartphones. This is not too heavy or thick for a ruggedized smartphone. There's a lot that I like about this smartphone. Coming from an iPhone, I really appreciate the high pixel density display. Some rugged smartphones have displays that feel like everything is made of Minecraft blocks, so having a retina-quality display that runs at a fast refresh rate is a lovely touch. The cameras are also more than acceptable. I'm not sure about the 100-megapixel mode feature because it feels to me like it adds too much sharpening to the image, but the regular modes offer fantastic quality that will satisfy all but the most stringent pixel peepers. There's also an underwater camera feature if you want to take your smartphone on aquatic adventures. I really like the display on the Doogee S200. Also: The best portable power stations you can buy: Expert tested I really like the huge battery that Doogee has crammed into this smartphone. It's rated for almost 500 hours of standby -- that's a whole 20 days -- and half a day of web browsing, and my tests back this up. There's no wireless charging, which is a shame, but it does support 33W wired charging, so the handset isn't going to be attached to a cable all day. There's also a reverse charging feature that lets you use the handset like a power bank, which is a nice touch for those situations where others with smartphones that have smaller batteries are running out of power! There's no wireless charging on this handset. The speed of the handset is also a pleasant surprise, with the octa-core 6nm processor doing a good job of keeping everything humming along smoothly. The base 12GB of RAM is perfectly adequate, but I found a definite boost in the smoothness of the operating system after bumping this up to 32GB by utilizing 20GB of storage as RAM. For me, this is an acceptable trade-off. The rear AMOLED is a nice touch. I haven't forgotten about that rear display, either. It's a nice touch being able to glance at the time and date without being distracted by notifications. The AMOLED is bright enough to see in sunlight and doesn't seem to affect battery life at all. ZDNET's buying advice I really like the Doogee S200 , especially with its current $339 price tag. It's a rarity in that it's a ruggedized smartphone that is stylish enough not to look out of place in the office or at a restaurant. Don't let the looks fool you; this is a smartphone that can take a beating, has a battery that laughs in the face of an iPhone, and an array of cameras to suit the most avid of snappers. The display is excellent, unlike the usual old-school blocky type that you find on many rugged smartphones. Even though I have an iPhone as my daily driver, this display feels nice and comfortable on my eyes. If you want a rugged smartphone that won't look too out of place in civilization and won't weigh down your pockets, the Doogee S200 is a great choice. What are the best Black Friday 2024 deals? ZDNET's experts have been searching through Black Friday sales live now to find the best discounts by category. 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TI Fluid Systems (LON:TIFS) Reaches New 12-Month High – Still a Buy?

– Increased or Maintained Dividend for Over 30 Consecutive Years – GREAT NECK, N.Y., Dec. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- One Liberty Properties, Inc. OLP today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend on the Company's common stock of $0.45 per share. The dividend is payable on January 6, 2025 to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 23, 2024, and represents One Liberty's 128 th consecutive quarterly dividend. One Liberty has increased or maintained its dividend for over 30 consecutive years. About One Liberty Properties, Inc: One Liberty is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust incorporated in Maryland in 1982. The Company acquires, owns and manages a geographically diversified portfolio consisting primarily of industrial properties. Many of these properties are subject to long-term net leases under which the tenant is typically responsible for real estate taxes, insurance and ordinary maintenance and repairs. Additional financial and descriptive information on One Liberty, its operations and its portfolio, is available on its website at: http://1liberty.com . Interested parties are encouraged to review One Liberty's Annual Report on Form 10-K and the other reports it files with the Securities and Exchange Commission for additional information. Contact: One Liberty Properties Investor Relations Phone: (516) 466-3100 http://1liberty.com © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Robert Wickens moving up to IMSA GTD series in 2025 thanks to new Bosch hand controls

To lure Juan Soto, Mets created a video of his statue outside Citi Field next to Tom Seaver's NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets wanted Juan Soto to know his future with them could be set in stone. When the free agent outfielder traveled to owner Steve Cohen’s house in Beverly Hills, California, for a presentation last month, the team unveiled a video that included an image of a future Soto statue outside Citi Field, next to the one erected of franchise great Tom Seaver. Soto put on a New York Mets jersey and cap for the first time Thursday after his record $765 million, 15-year contract was finalized and talked about what made the difference in his decision. Bill Belichick 'always wanted' to give college coaching a try. Now he will at North Carolina New North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick said he had long been interested in coaching in the college ranks. But it had never worked out until now, as he takes over the Tar Heels program. Belichick led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles during a 24-year run there that ended last year. Belichick's five-year deal pays him $10 million in base and supplemental salary per year. It is guaranteed only for the first three years, including for buyout purposes. There is also up to $3.5 million in annual bonuses. Wander Franco's sex abuse trial has been postponed 5 months PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) — The trial against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking, has been postponed until June 2, 2025. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing Thursday at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment. LeBron James ruled out of Lakers' game at Minnesota on Friday with foot soreness LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James has been ruled out of the Los Angeles Lakers’ game at Minnesota on Friday night due to soreness in his left foot. James will miss his second straight game when the Lakers return from a four-day break to face the Timberwolves. The top scorer in NBA history was away from the team this week with an excused absence attributed to “personal reasons,” coach JJ Redick said Wednesday. It’s unclear whether James will even make the quick round trip to Minnesota before the Lakers’ next game at home against Memphis on Sunday. Rape investigation that Swedish media say focused on Kylian Mbappé has been closed STOCKHOLM (AP) — Swedish prosecutors say they have dropped a rape investigation that was launched in connection with soccer star Kylian Mbappé’s visit to Stockholm in October. In a statement, lead investigator Marina Chirakova says there is not enough evidence to continue the investigation into the allegation at a hotel. Prosecutors never publicly named the suspect in the investigation but some Swedish media reported it was Mbappé. The Real Madrid striker visited Stockholm in October during a break in the Spanish league. At the time, Mbappé’s legal team dismissed those reports as false. Travis Hunter, the 2-way standout for Colorado, is the AP college football player of the year BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Colorado two-way standout Travis Hunter is The Associated Press college football player of the year. Hunter received 26 of the 43 votes from a panel of AP Top 25 voters. Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty finished second with 16 votes, and Arizona State running back Cameron Skattebo received one vote. A throwback player who rarely left the field, Hunter had 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns as a receiver. He had four interceptions and 11 passes defensed as a shutdown corner. Hunter helped the the 20th-ranked Buffaloes to a 9-3 record and an appearance in the Alamo Bowl against BYU. 2034 World Cup visitors will live in 'a bubble' and not see real life, Saudi rights activist says LONDON (AP) — A Saudi human rights activist says soccer fans visiting Saudi Arabia for the 2034 World Cup will live in a “bubble” that doesn't reflect real life there. Lina al-Hathloul is a London-based activist whose sister was jailed in Saudi Arabia then banned from travel after campaigning to end a ban on women driving. When FIFA confirmed the kingdom as the 2034 tournament host on Wednesday its president Gianni Infantino acknowledged “the world will be watching” for positive social change. Al-Hathloul says western people “will be very safe” at the World Cup but "will see a bubble of what Saudi Arabia is.” Team claims NASCAR rescinded approval to buy new charter unless federal antitrust suit is dropped CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A new court filing says NASCAR rejected Front Row Motorsports’ agreement to purchase a charter from Stewart-Haas Racing unless the team and 23XI Racing dropped their federal antitrust lawsuit against the stock car series. Front Row and 23XI rejected NASCAR's new revenue sharing agreement and have gone to court. NASCAR now says it will move forward in 2025 with 32 chartered teams and eight open spots, with offers on charters for Front Row and 23XI rescinded and the SHR charters in limbo. Indian teen Gukesh Dommaraju becomes the youngest chess world champion after beating Chinese rival NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju has become the youngest chess world champion after beating the defending champion Ding Liren of China. Dommaraju, 18, secured 7.5 points against 6.5 of his Chinese rival in Thursday's game which was played in Singapore. He has surpassed the achievement of Russia’s Garry Kasparov who won the title at the age of 22. Dommaraju is now also the second Indian to win the title after five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand. The Indian teen prodigy has long been considered a rising star in the chess world after he became a chess grandmaster at 12. He had entered the match as the youngest-ever challenger to the world crown after winning the Candidates tournament earlier this year. Hojlund scores twice for Man United to beat Viktoria Plzen 2-1 in Europa League, Tottenham held 1-1 Rasmus Hojlund scored twice after coming off the bench and Manchester United rallied to beat Viktoria Plzen 2-1 in the Europa League. The Denmark striker netted in the 88th minute after collecting Bruno Fernandes’ pass off a free kick to seal the victory. Hojlund came on in the 56th and scored an equalizer six minutes later. Totenham was held 1-1 at Rangers and Lazio tops the standings after a 3-1 win at Ajax. In the Conference League a youthful Chelsea lineup made the most of a long trip to Kazakhstan by beating Astana 3-1 to stay perfect in the third-tier competition.It's been a long road back to the highest levels of motorsport for Canadian driver Robert Wickens. Six years after he was paralyzed in a violent wreck, Wickens will again be behind the wheel against some of the best drivers in North America. Wickens, from Guelph, Ont., was named the newest driver for DXDT Racing earlier this week, moving the 35-year-old up to IMSA GTD competition for 2025, the highest class on the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series. His promotion was made possible by a new hand control braking system created by Bosch Electronics, with help from GM Motorsports and Corvette Racing/Pratt Miller. "It's not going to be easy but I wanted to get to the highest levels of motorsport again because, frankly, that's where I was when I was injured," said Wickens, who crashed at Pocono Raceway in 2018 during IndyCar's ABC Supply 500. "But not only that, I want to prove to myself and other generations of people with disabilities that you can really do anything. "Maybe you're having a hard time getting back to your place of work after a life-altering accident and — whatever your discipline, it doesn't even have to be athletics — but I know it's possible as long as you align yourself with a strong support system." For Wickens, that's been his wife Karli Wickens, his family and, in his professional life, organizations like Bosch and GM. Wickens's crash left him with a thoracic spinal fracture, a neck fracture, tibia and fibula fractures to both legs, fractures in both hands, a fractured right forearm, a fractured elbow, four fractured ribs, a pulmonary contusion, and an indeterminate spinal injury that combined to make him a paraplegic. As he has slowly recovered some movement in his legs, Wickens has eased back into motor racing. He drove the parade lap of the 2019 Honda Indy Toronto, competed in the IndyCar iRacing Challenge during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, and then in January 2022 it was announced he would drive in the Michelin Pilot Challenge for Bryan Herta Autosport. He and co-driver Mark Wilkins won twice in the Michelin Pilot Challenge's TCR category with three podiums in 2022. In 2023 the pairing didn't win, but they reached the podium seven times to earn the TCR championship. All of Wickens's post-accident cars have been fitted with hand controls. Those conventional systems rely on paddles around the steering wheel that activate pneumatics that then press the foot pedals. Hand controls like that are acceptable for regular road vehicles and even lower levels of motorsports but in the highest classes, like IMSA GTD where cars top out at more than 280 kilometres, the lag between the driver toggling the paddle and the car responding is unacceptably slow. That's where the Bosch electronic system comes in, with the controls linked directly to the car's braking system, removing the pneumatics as an intermediary. "When you hit the brakes to slow the car down for each corner that was always a big challenge for me where (with) the Bosch electronic system, the latency is milliseconds not tenths of a second," said Wickens. "It's basically as accurate as I would be if I was an able-bodied driver wanting to apply the brake. "Honestly, it's just better in every facet imaginable. It's just been a true blessing." Advances in physical rehabilitation from spinal cord injuries as well as the ongoing development of vehicle technology has made Wickens's return to competitive motorsport possible. "I'm very fortunate in the timing of my paralysis and my career," Wickens said Wednesday from Tampa, Fla. "If this was even a decade ago we'd be having a very different conversation today." The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship has four classes of vehicles: two sports prototype categories and two grand tourer classes. GTD is considered the highest of the four classes because each team must have at least a silver or bronze driver and more than one platinum-rated driver on a team is prohibited. "I want to win," said Wickens. "I think the big thing for me on this journey back was I wanted to race again because I truly felt like I could still win. "I want to raise awareness for spinal cord injury and disability, not by just being a participant, but by being the guy. I want to win races, fight for podiums, win championships, every time I'm sitting in the car." Wickens said he won't just be a role model for people living with paralysis or other mobility disabilities, but the technology his car will employ in 2025 will likely become commercially available for use in road vehicles. "Motorsports and the automotive racing industry were founded to be a proving ground for everyday automotive vehicles," he said. "From there you make road cars and road safety better. "Hopefully we can provide the technology and have regularly available components that can make any race car accessible for anyone that needs hand controls or any other form of disability." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2024. Follow jchidleyhill.bsky.social on Bluesky. John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian PressAtlanta wants to get a jump on artificial intelligence via a new commission — a move that could eventually help the city deal with its lean finances and perhaps even have an impact among suppliers of government technology. The city, , recently set up one of the in the country via a . The move came as to other governments and , just two examples of how the quickly growing technology is forcing officials to focus on its uses, risks and possibilities. The creation of the commission also happens as Atlanta faces a — a point brought up by , the City Council member credited by his colleagues with pushing the commission idea. “I want to make sure the city gets better at what it does for the benefit of residents. AI can play a role in that,” he told via email. “For example, we are headed into a lean fiscal year. AI could be used to streamline administrative tasks and improve customer service at a time when we need to tighten our belts.” As he sees it, Atlanta can do more to “leverage AI” for such tasks as infrastructure maintenance and monitoring, customer service and reducing “administrative inefficiencies.” To get from here to there, the commission will gather a “wide array of voices and inputs, both inside and outside the city,” he said. Any recommendations from the commission will have to go to the city’s executive branch and departments before winning approval, Farokhi said. For now, the commission will focus on gaining more knowledge about AI, . “This issue is important to me because AI has power, both good and bad, to transform our lives,” he said. This new commission in Atlanta represents the latest development in “ ,” according to Stefaan Verhulst, co-founder of , which helps governments navigate issues related to technology and data. “Cities are well-positioned to address the challenges and opportunities of AI due to their proximity to local stakeholders and the specific needs of their communities,” he told via email. Similar efforts, he said, have taken place in , , and . is not confined to the U.S.; are taking similar steps. National policies on AI tend to come more slowly than the pace of tech advancements, Verhulst said, sparking the establishment of local bodies to dig into the issue. Those local groups, such as the new one in Atlanta, promise to influence further progress with artificial intelligence. “Local AI commissions provide a platform to experiment with governance approaches that can later be scaled or adapted at higher levels,” he said. But those commissions can also come with significant challenges, he said. They include domination by “industry interests,” a lack of inclusivity and favoring private interests over public needs. “The Toronto Sidewalk Labs case is an example of how inadequate public engagement and transparency can erode trust,” he said, referring to the now cancelled, that was dogged by privacy fears and other concerns. Not only that, Verhulst added, but cities might not have the money or tech resources to follow recommendations from AI commissions. Cities, of course, aren’t the only operations deeply interested in AI guidelines and recommendations. Suppliers of government technology have a keen interest — it can seem that almost every company in that space is touting how its particular products are getting a boost from AI. At least one gov tech executive was generally skeptical of city AI commissions, though he could also see how the commission could provide benefits. “I find often [that] committees are just in name only,” said Parth Shah, CEO and co-founder of , which sells an , among other products. “I do think if they are actually focused on prioritizing customer service, AI solutions can be great.” He worries that with various governments getting into the AI commission and study group business, guidelines might not be consistent or lasting. He said he finds more value in a broader group such as the year-old , which includes about 1,700 people from about 550 agencies — and which just held a . “If they collaborate — and the GovAI Coalition did this — then that’s easier,” Shah told via email. He said such commissions, no matter which agency organizes them, won’t make a difference in the company’s AI research and development. But that doesn’t mean they lack value. “I do think it helps sales and marketing to see which [organizations] are already thinking about AI,” he said. At a company best known for its public safety tools, the company is “encouraged” about the Atlanta commission and the “open dialogue” about how to best use AI, according to a statement from Chris Bennett, director of AI transparency and education. “At the same time, we think it’s strategically important that we maintain a landscape for innovation, and would encourage these forums to prioritize education and awareness as a first step,” he said.

Jimmy Carter, a one-term president who became a globe-trotting elder statesman, dies at 100

Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) Market to grow by USD 3.59 Billion from 2024-2028, driven by improved driving quality and AI-powered market evolution - TechnavioAlpha Modus and Insight Acquisition Corp Close Business Combination and Alpha Modus will Begin Trading Under "AMOD” Ticker

AP News Summary at 4:06 p.m. EST

Senores Pharmaceuticals Share Price Live Updates: Senores Pharmaceuticals shares will make their Dalal Street debut today after high demand for its initial public offering (IPO). Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO listing date is today, December 30, and the equity shares of the company will be listed on both the stock exchanges, BSE and NSE. Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO was open for subscription from December 20 to 24 and the issue was subscribed by a massive 93.69 times. Ahead of the share listing today, Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO GMP today indicates a strong debut. Analysts also expect Senores Pharmaceuticals shares to list at a hefty premium to the issue price. Stay tuned to our Senores Pharmaceuticals Share Price Live Blog for the latest updates. Senores Pharmaceuticals Share Price Live: Issue booked by a massive 93.69 times Senores Pharmaceuticals Share Price Live: Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO was subscribed 93.69 times subscription in total as it garnered bids for 79.95 crore equity shares as against 85.34 lakh shares on the offer. The retail investors portion was booked 90.46 times, while the Non Institutional Investors (NII) portion was subscribed 96.30 times. The Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) category received 94.66 times subscription. Senores Pharmaceuticals Share Price Live: Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO Key Dates Senores Pharmaceuticals Share Price Live: Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO opened for subscription on December 20 and closed on December 24. The IPO allotment was finalized on December 26. Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO listing date is today, December 30 and the stock will be listed on BSE and NSE at 10:00 AM. Senores Pharmaceuticals Share Price Live: Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO listing date today Senores Pharmaceuticals Share Price Live: Senores Pharmaceuticals shares will make their stock market debut today after receiving high demand for its initial public offering (IPO). Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO listing date is today, December 30, and the equity shares of the company will be listed on both the stock exchanges, BSE and NSE.skygaming 。

Republicans gain temporary control of Minnesota House after Democrat decides not to appeal rulingShoppers bemused as Easter eggs hit shop shelves before New Year’s Eve

New Delhi, Dec 30 (IANS): External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar is set to embark on a three-day official visit to the State of Qatar from December 30, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Sunday. The MEA in an official statement said that during his visit, the EAM would meet with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. The visit also aims to review various aspects of bilateral relations between India and Qatar with discussion on key areas, which include political, trade, investment, energy, security, cultural, and people-to-people relations. "EAM's visit will enable both sides to review various aspects of bilateral relations, including political, trade, investment, energy, security, cultural, and people-to-people, as well as the regional and international issues of mutual interest," the MEA said. EAM Jaishankar will depart from Qatar on January 1. India and Qatar share warm and friendly relations, marked by regular high-level interactions to further strengthen their partnership. Their most recent interaction occurred during EAM Jaishankar's official tour to Qatar and Bahrain from December 6 to 9. During the visit, he met Qatar's Minister of Commerce and Industry, Faisal bin Thani Al Thani, and Minister of State, Ahmed Al Sayed, on the sidelines of the Doha Forum. In late October, the two countries held the fifth round of Foreign Office Consultations. Both sides comprehensively reviewed the entire spectrum of India-Qatar bilateral relations, including high-level exchanges, trade, investment, energy, education, culture, and people-to-people ties. Discussions also explored avenues to deepen the relationship in areas such as renewable energy, fintech, start-ups, and technology. They exchanged perspectives on important regional and global issues of mutual interest, as noted by the MEA in a press statement. Earlier, on September 9, EAM Jaishankar met Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Saudi Arabia to discuss advancing bilateral ties. According to the MEA, cooperation between India and Qatar has been steadily growing within an excellent framework provided by their historically close ties and regular, substantive engagement at the highest levels of government. The large, diverse, and accomplished Indian community in Qatar significantly contributes to the country's progress while nurturing the bonds of deep-rooted friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two nations.

Olivia Hussey, star of the 1968 film 'Romeo and Juliet,' dies at 73It’s time to lighten things up. As we exit the holidays, we officially enter bowl-food season. Rich and heavy holiday dinners — featuring cocktails and multiple courses, ribs and roasts, sauces and reductions — will take a New Year’s timeout, replaced by steaming bowls brimming with warm and nourishing soups and stews. And while meat is certainly welcome to join the bowl-fun, the lightness of seafood is a refreshing alternative. It’s time for a cioppino. Cioppino is a San Francisco seafood stew that originated in the 1800s when the Italian and Portuguese fishermen chopped up leftovers from their daily catches to make a robust tomato-based soup. Its name is derived from the Italian term ciuppin, which means to chop. Wine is a key ingredient in the cioppino stock, and recipes gamely call for white or red, depending on the source. I prefer to use red wine, which adds more fruit and less acidity to the broth. As for the fish and shellfish, there is no set rule, except to choose as fresh as possible. Select a variety of shellfish and seafood, such as clams, mussels, shrimp and scallops, and thicken the soup with chunks of firm-fleshed white fish, such as halibut. While many cioppinos include crab, which is local to and abundant in the San Francisco Bay area during the winter season, it can easily be omitted. If you have access to crab, purchase the cracked legs or simply buy the cleaned meat for a splurge. Unlike many stews that taste better with time, this stew is meant to be eaten straight away to capture the freshness of the fish. This rule was heeded with my pot of stew, since I had no time to style a pretty photo before it was devoured, leaving me only with the process shot you see here. Cioppino Active time: 50 minutes Total time: 50 minutes Yield: Serves 6 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 medium yellow onion, chopped 1 medium fennel bulb, halved lengthwise, thinly sliced 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1/4 cup tomato paste 1 (28-ounce) can crushed Italian plum tomatoes 2 cups medium-bodied red wine 2 cups chicken stock 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice 1 bay leaf 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 teaspoon granulated sugar (optional) 12 to 18 littleneck clams 12 to 18 mussels, scrubbed and debearded 1 pound large (18/20) shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails intact optional 1 pound firm white fish, such as halibut, cut into 1-inch chunks Chopped fresh Italian parsley for garnish Heat the oil in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and fennel and cook until the vegetables soften, 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the garlic, oregano and red pepper flakes and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for about 1 minute more, stirring to create a slurry. Add the tomatoes, wine, chicken stock, orange juice, bay leaf, salt and black pepper. Bring to a boil and simmer, partially covered, for 30 minutes. Taste for seasoning and add more salt or the sugar, if desired. Add the clams to the pot, cover and cook over medium heat about 5 minutes. Add the mussels, cover the pot and cook 3 to 4 minutes more. Discard any unopened clams or mussels. Stir in the shrimp and halibut, partially cover the pot, and simmer until the fish is cooked through, about 5 minutes. Ladle the stew into warm serving bowls and garnish with parsley. Serve with crusty bread or garlic bread. This recipe is from Lynda Balslev, a cookbook author, food and travel writer, and recipe developer. She can be found at TasteFoodBlog.com

Scanlan: Time for legislators to protect women

LONDON — Olivia Hussey, the actor who starred as a teenage Juliet in the 1968 film "Romeo and Juliet," died, her family said on social media Saturday. She was 73. Hussey died Friday "peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones," a statement posted to her Instagram account said. Hussey was 15 when director Franco Zeffirelli cast her in his adaptation of the William Shakespeare tragedy after spotting her onstage in the play "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie," which also starred Vanessa Redgrave. "Romeo and Juliet" won two Oscars and Hussey won a Golden Globe for best new actress for her part as Juliet, opposite British actor Leonard Whiting, who was 16 at the time. "Romeo and Juliet" movie director Franco Zeffirelli, left, and actors Olivia Hussey, center, and Leonard Whiting are seen Sept. 25, 1968, in Paris after the Parisian premiere of the film. Decades later Hussey and Whiting brought a lawsuit against Paramount Pictures alleging sexual abuse, sexual harassment and fraud over nude scenes in the film. They alleged they were initially told they would wear flesh-colored undergarments in a bedroom scene, but on the day of the shoot Zeffirelli told the pair they would wear only body makeup and the camera would be positioned in a way that would not show nudity. They alleged they were filmed in the nude without their knowledge. The case was dismissed by a Los Angeles County judge in 2023, who found their depiction could not be considered child pornography and the pair filed their claim too late. Leonard Whiting, left, and Olivia Hussey arrive April 26, 2018, at the screening of "The Producers" at the 2018 TCM Classic Film Festival Opening Night at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. Whiting was among those who paid tribute to Hussey on Saturday. "Rest now my beautiful Juliet no injustices can hurt you now," he wrote. "And the world will remember your beauty inside and out forever." Hussey was born April 17, 1951, in Bueno Aires, Argentina, and moved to London as a child. She studied at the Italia Conti Academy drama school. She also starred as Mary, the mother of Jesus, in the 1977 television series "Jesus of Nazareth," as well as the 1978 adaptation of Agatha Christie's "Death on the Nile" and horror movies "Black Christmas" and "Psycho IV: The Beginning." She is survived by her husband, David Glen Eisley, her three children and a grandson. Glynis Johns, a Tony Award-winning stage and screen star who played the mother opposite Julie Andrews in the classic movie “Mary Poppins” and introduced the world to the bittersweet standard-to-be “Send in the Clowns” by Stephen Sondheim, died, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2023. She was 100. Adan Canto, the Mexican singer and actor best known for his roles in “X-Men: Days of Future Past” and “Agent Game” as well as the TV series “The Cleaning Lady,” “Narcos,” and “Designated Survivor,” died Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, after a private battle with appendiceal cancer. He was 42. Bud Harrelson, the scrappy and sure-handed shortstop who fought Pete Rose on the field during a playoff game and helped the New York Mets win an astonishing championship, died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. He was 79. The Mets said that Harrelson died at a hospice house in East Northport, New York after a long battle with Alzheimer's. Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević, a mentor to two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and a former star player in his native Serbia, died Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, after suffering a heart attack, the team announced. He was 46. Jack Burke Jr., the oldest living Masters champion who staged the greatest comeback ever at Augusta National for one of his two majors, died Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, in Houston. He was 100. Mary Weiss, the lead singer of the 1960s pop group the Shangri-Las, whose hits included “The Leader of the Pack,” died Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, in Palm Springs, Calif. She was 75. Norman Jewison, a three-time Oscar nominee who in 1999 received an Academy Award for lifetime achievement, died “peacefully” Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, according to publicist Jeff Sanderson. He was 97. Charles Osgood, who anchored “CBS Sunday Morning” for more than two decades, hosted the long-running radio program “The Osgood File” and was referred to as CBS News’ poet-in-residence, died Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. He was 91. Melanie, a singer-songwriter behind 1970s hits including “Brand New Key,” died Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. She was 76. Born Melanie Safka, the singer rose through the New York folk scene and was one of only three solo women to perform at Woodstock. Her hits included “Lay Down” and “Look What They've Done to My Song Ma.” Chita Rivera, the dynamic dancer, singer and actress who garnered 10 Tony nominations, winning twice, in a long Broadway career that forged a path for Latina artists, died Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. She was 91. Carl Weathers, a former NFL linebacker who became a Hollywood action movie and comedy star, playing nemesis-turned-ally Apollo Creed in the “Rocky” movies, facing-off against Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Predator” and teaching golf in “Happy Gilmore,” died Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. He was 76. Wayne Kramer, the co-founder of the protopunk Detroit band the MC5 that thrashed out such hardcore anthems as “Kick Out the Jams” and influenced everyone from the Clash to Rage Against the Machine, died Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles, according to Jason Heath, a close friend and executive director of Kramer's charity, Jail Guitar Doors. Heath said the cause of death was pancreatic cancer. He was 75. Actor Ian Lavender, who played a hapless Home Guard soldier in the classic British sitcom “Dad’s Army,” died Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. He was 77. Country music singer-songwriter Toby Keith, whose pro-American anthems were both beloved and criticized, died Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. He was 62. Henry Fambrough, the last surviving original member of the iconic R&B group The Spinners, whose hits included “It’s a Shame,” “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love,” and “The Rubberband Man,” died Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, of natural causes, according to a statement from his spokeswoman. He was 85. Bob Edwards, right, the news anchor many Americans woke up to as founding host of National Public Radio's “Morning Edition” for nearly a quarter-century, died Saturday, Feb. 10, 20243. He was 76. He's shown here with sports announcer Red Barber. Don Gullett, a former major league pitcher and coach who played for four consecutive World Series champions in the 1970s, died Feb. 14. He was 73. He finished his playing career with a 109-50 record playing for the Cincinnati Reds and New York Yankees. Lefty Driesell, the coach whose folksy drawl belied a fiery on-court demeanor that put Maryland on the college basketball map and enabled him to rebuild several struggling programs, died Feb. 17, 2024, at age 92. Germany players celebrate after Andreas Brehme, left on ground, scores the winning goal in the World Cup soccer final match against Argentina, in the Olympic Stadium, in Rome, July 8, 1990. Andreas Brehme, who scored the only goal as West Germany beat Argentina to win the 1990 World Cup final, died Feb. 20, 2024. He was 63. Despite the effort of Denver Broncos defensive back Steve Foley (43), Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Golden Richards hauls in a touchdown pass during NFL football's Super Bowl 12 in New Orleans on Jan 15, 1978. Richards died Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, of congestive heart failure at his home in Murray, Utah. He was 73. Richards' nephew Lance Richards confirmed his death in a post on his Facebook page. Comedian Richard Lewis attends an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles on Dec. 25, 2012. Lewis, an acclaimed comedian known for exploring his neuroses in frantic, stream-of-consciousness diatribes while dressed in all-black, leading to his nickname “The Prince of Pain,” died Feb. 27, 2024. He was 76. He died at his home in Los Angeles on Tuesday night after suffering a heart attack, according to his publicist Jeff Abraham. Former Soviet Prime Minister Nikolai Ryzhkov attends a session of the Federation Council, Russian parliament's upper house, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, June 25, 2014. Ryzhkov, former Soviet prime minister who presided over failed efforts to shore up the crumbling economy in the final years before the collapse of the USSR, died Feb. 28, 2024, at age 94. Brian Mulroney, the former prime minister of Canada, listens during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the Canada-U.S.-Mexico relationship, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Mulroney died at the age of 84 on Feb. 29, 2024. Akira Toriyama is pictured in 1982. Toriyama, the creator of one of Japan's best-selling “Dragon Ball” and other popular anime who influenced Japanese comics, died March 1, 2024. He was 68. Iris Apfel, a textile expert, interior designer and fashion celebrity known for her eccentric style, died March 1, 2024, at 102. Andy Russell, the standout linebacker who was an integral part of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ evolution from perennial losers to champions, died Feb. 29, 2024. He was 82. Russell won two Super Bowls during a 12-year NFL career between 1963-76 that was briefly interrupted by a stint in the military. Russell played in 168 consecutive games and spent 10 years as a team captain. He was named to the Pro Bowl seven times. Russell remained active in the Pittsburgh community after retiring, writing several books and launching the Andy Russell Charitable Foundation. Pittsburgh Pirates' Ed Ott slides across home late out of reach of Orioles catcher Rick Dempsey to score the winning run in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the World Series at Baltimore, Oct. 11, 1979. Ott, a former major league catcher and coach who helped the Pittsburgh Pirates win the 1979 World Series, died March 3, 2024. He was 72. He batted .259 with 33 homers and 195 RBIs in 567 major league games. Ott and Steve Nicosia were the main catchers when the Pirates won it all in 1979. In a photo supplied by ESPN, Chris Mortensen appears on the set of Sunday NFL Countdown at ESPN's studios in Bristol, Conn., on Sept. 22, 2019. Mortensen, the award-winning journalist who covered the NFL for close to four decades, including 32 as a senior analyst at ESPN, died March 3, 2024. He was 72. Mortensen announced in 2016 that he he had been diagnosed with throat cancer. Even while undergoing treatment, he was the first to confirm the retirement of Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning. Mortensen announced his retirement after the NFL draft last year so that he could “focus on my health, family and faith.” Singer Steve Lawrence, left, and his wife Eydie Gorme arrive at a black-tie gala called honoring Frank Sinatra in Las Vegas on May 30, 1998. Lawrence, a singer and top stage act who as a solo performer and in tandem with his wife Gorme kept Tin Pan Alley alive during the rock era, died Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at age 88. Gorme died on Aug. 10, 2013. Martin Luther King III, right, the son of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., walks with his daughter Yolanda, and Naomi Barber King, left, the wife of Rev. King's brother, A.D., through an exhibition devoted to the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to King at the Martin Luther King Jr. Historical Site, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014, in Atlanta. Civil rights activist Naomi Barber King died Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Atlanta, according to family members. She was 92. A Texas man who spent decades using an iron lung after contracting polio as a child died March 11, 2024, at the age of 78. Paul Alexander's longtime friend Daniel Spinks says Alexander died Monday at a Dallas hospital. Spinks called his friend one of the "bright stars of the world.” Friends of Alexander, who graduated from law school and had a career as an attorney, say he was a man who had a great joy for life. Alexander was a child when he began using an iron lung, a cylinder that encased his body as the air pressure in the chamber forced air in and out of his lungs. Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford stands near the NASA Motor Vessel Retriever during training Aug. 23, 1965, in the Gulf of Mexico. Stafford, who commanded a dress rehearsal flight for the 1969 moon landing and the first U.S.-Soviet space linkup, died March 18, 2024, at 93. New York Rangers' Chris Simon celebrates his second-period goal against the New York Islanders, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2004, at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y. Former NHL enforcer Chris Simon has died. He was 52. Simon died March 18, 2024, according to a spokesperson for the NHL Players' Association. M. Emmet Walsh arrives at the 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards, March 1, 2014, in Santa Monica, Calif. Walsh, the character actor who brought his unmistakable face and unsettling presence to films including “Blood Simple” and “Blade Runner,” died March 19, 2024, at age 88, his manager said Wednesday. "Babar" author Laurent de Brunhoff, who revived his father's popular picture book series about an elephant-king, has died at 98 after being in hospice care for two weeks. De Brunhoff was a Paris native who moved to the U.S. in the 1980s. He died March 22, 2024, at his home in Key West, Florida. Just 12 years old when his father, Jean de Brunhoff, died of tuberculosis, Laurent drew upon his own gifts as a painter and storyteller and as an adult released dozens of books about the elephant who reigns over Celesteville, among them "Babar at the Circus" and "Babar's Yoga for Elephants." Longtime Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos has died at the age of 94. His family announced in a statement that Angelos, who had been ill for several years, died March 23, 2024. Angelos was owner of an Orioles team that endured long losing stretches and shrewd proprietor of a law firm that won high-profile cases against industry titans such as tobacco giant Philip Morris. Angelos’ death came as his son, John, was in the process of selling the Orioles to a group headed by Carlyle Group Inc. co-founder David Rubenstein. Peter Angelos purchased the team for $173 million in 1993, at the time the highest for a sports franchise. His public role diminished significantly in his final years. Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore, left, and his running mate, vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, wave to supporters Oct. 25, 2000, at a campaign rally in Jackson, Tenn. Lieberman died March 27, 2024. He was 82 and died Wednesday of complications from a fall. Lieberman nearly won the vice presidency on Democrat Al Gore's ticket in the disputed 2000 White House race. Eight years later, he came close to joining the GOP ticket as John McCain’s running mate. The Democrat-turned-independent stepped down from the Senate in January 2013 after 24 years. His independent streak often irked Senate Democrats he aligned with. Yet his support for gay rights, civil rights, abortion rights and environmental causes at times won him the praise of many liberals over the years. Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries “Roots,” died March 28, 2024. He was 87. Gossett always thought of his early career as a reverse Cinderella story, with success finding him from an early age and propelling him forward, toward his Academy Award for “An Officer and a Gentleman.” He also was a star on Broadway, replacing Billy Daniels in “Golden Boy” with Sammy Davis Jr. in 1964 and recently played an obstinate patriarch in the 2023 remake of “The Color Purple.” Former cast members of SCTV, from left, Dave Thomas, Joe Flaherty, Catherine O'Hara, Andrea Martin, foreground, Harold Ramis, Eugene Levy and Martin Short, pose at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival on March 6, 1999, in Aspen, Colo. Flaherty, a founding member of the Canadian sketch series “SCTV,” died Monday, April 1, 2024 at age 82. John Sinclair talks at the John Sinclair Foundation Café and Coffeeshop, Dec. 26, 2018, in Detroit. Sinclair, a poet, music producer and counterculture figure whose lengthy prison sentence after a series of small-time pot busts inspired a John Lennon song and a star-studded 1971 concert to free him, has died at age 82. Sinclair died Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at Detroit Receiving Hospital of congestive heart failure following an illness, his publicist Matt Lee said. Boston Red Sox president Larry Lucchino, right, tips his cap to fans as majority owner John Henry holds the 2013 World Series championship trophy during a parade in celebration of the baseball team's win, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013, in Boston. Larry Lucchino, the force behind baseball’s retro ballpark revolution and the transformation of the Boston Red Sox from cursed losers to World Series champions, has died. He was 78. Lucchino had suffered from cancer. The Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, his last project in a career that also included three major league baseball franchises and one in the NFL, confirmed his death on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Playwright Christopher Durang appears on stage with producers to accept the award for best play for "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike" at the 67th Annual Tony Awards, on June 9, 2013 in New York. Also on stage are actors, background from left, Shalita Grant, Kristine Nielsen and Billy Magnussen. Durang died Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at his home in Pipersville, Pennsylvania, of complications from logopenic primary progressive aphasia. He was 75. In this Oct. 16, 1969 file photo, New York Mets catcher Jerry Grote, right, embraces pitcher Jerry Koosman as Ed Charles, left, joins the celebration after the Mets defeated the Baltimore Orioles in the Game 5 to win the baseball World Series at New York's Shea Stadium. Grote, the catcher who helped transform the New York Mets from a perennial loser into the 1969 World Series champion, died Sunday, April 7, 2024. He was 81. In this July 8, 2003 photo, Lori, left, and George Schappell, conjoined twins, are photographed in their Reading, Pa., apartment. Lori and George Schappell, who pursued separate careers, interests and relationships during lives that defied medical expectations, died April 7, 2024, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. They were 62. The University of Edinburgh says Nobel prize-winning physicist Peter Higgs, who proposed the existence of a sub-atomic particle that came to be known as the Higgs boson, died April 8, 2024, at 94. Higgs predicted the existence of the particle in 1964. But it would be almost 50 years before the its existence could be confirmed at a particle collider in Switzerland called the Large Hadron Collider. Higgs’ work helps scientists understand of the most fundamental riddles of the universe: how the Big Bang created something out of nothing 13.7 billion years ago. Higgs won the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work, alongside Francois Englert of Belgium. A retired U.S. Army colonel who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Korean War died April 8, 2024, at age 97. A funeral home says that Ralph Puckett Jr. died Monday at his home in Columbus, Georgia. President Joe Biden presented Puckett with the Medal of Honor in 2021, more than seven decades after Puckett was seriously wounded leading an outnumbered company of Army Rangers in battle. Puckett refused a medical discharge and served as an Army officer for another 20 years before retiring in 1971. Puckett received the U.S. military's highest honor from President Joe Biden on May 21, 2021, following a policy change that lifted a requirement for medals to be given within five years of a valorous act. O.J. Simpson, left, grimaces June 15, 1995, in a Los Angeles courtroom as he famously tries on one of the leather gloves prosecutors say he wore the night his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were murdered. Simpson, t he decorated football star who was acquitted of charges he killed his former wife and her friend but wound up in prison years later in an unrelated case, died April 10, 2024. He was 76. His family made an announcement Thursday in a statement on Simpson's X account. Simpson said last year that he was battling prostate cancer. Simpson’s gridiron legacy was forever overshadowed by the 1994 knife slayings of Brown Simpson and Goldman. A criminal court jury found him not guilty of murder, but a separate civil trial jury found him liable. Simpson's nine-year prison stint in Nevada was for the armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers. Francis Coppola and wife, Eleanor, pose July 16, 1991, in Los Angeles. Eleanor Coppola, who documented the making of some of her husband Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic films, including the infamously tortured production of “Apocalypse Now,” and who raised a family of filmmakers, has died. She was 87. Coppola died April 12, 2024, at home in Rutherford, California, her family announced in a statement. Eleanor, who grew in Orange County, California, met Francis while working as an assistant art director on his directorial debut, the Roger Corman-produced 1963 horror film “Dementia 13.” Their first-born, Gian-Carlo, quickly became a regular presence in his father’s films, as did their subsequent children, Roman, and Sofia. After acting in their father’s films and growing up on sets, all would go into the movies. Robert MacNeil, seen in February 1978, who created the even-handed, no-frills PBS newscast “The MacNeil-Lehrer NewsHour” in the 1970s and co-anchored the show for with his late partner, Jim Lehrer, for two decades, died April 12, 2024, at age 93. Artist Faith Ringgold poses for a portrait in front of a painted self-portrait during a press preview of her exhibition, "American People, Black Light: Faith Ringgold's Paintings of the 1960s" at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, June 19, 2013. Ringgold, an award-winning author and artist who broke down barriers for Black female artists and became famous for her richly colored and detailed quilts combining painting, textiles and storytelling, died Friday, April 12, 2024, at her home in Englewood, N.J. She was 93. Alabama coach Bear Bryant, left, talks with his former star quarterback Steve Sloan, right, after practice in Miami for the Orange Bowl game New Years' night against Nebraska, Dec. 29, 1968. Former college coach and administrator Sloan, who played quarterback and served as athletic director at Alabama. has passed away. He was 79. Sloan died Sunday, April 14, 2024, after three months of memory care at Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital, according to an obituary from former Alabama sports information director Wayne Atcheson. Oakland A's pitcher Ken Holtzman poses for a photo in March 1975. Holtzman, who pitched two no-hitters for the Chicago Cubs and helped the Oakland Athletics win three straight World Series championships in the 1970s, died April 14, 2024. He finished with a career record of 174-150 over 15 season with four teams and was the winningest Jewish pitcher in baseball history. Carl Erskine, center, pictured with teammate Duke Snider, left, and manager Charley Dressen in 1952, after beating the Yankees 6-5 in Game 5 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium in New York, Oct. 5, 1952. Erskine, who pitched two no-hitters for the Brooklyn Dodgers and was a 20-game winner in 1953 when he struck out a then-record 14 in the World Series, has died. Among the last survivors from the celebrated Brooklyn teams of the 1950s, Erskine spent his entire major league career with the Dodgers. He helped them win five National League pennants from 1948-59. Erskine won Game 3 of the 1953 World Series, beating the Yankees 3-2. He appeared in five World Series, with the Dodgers beating the Yankees in 1955 for their only championship in Brooklyn. Erksine died April 16 in his hometown of Anderson, Indiana, according to a hospital official. He was 97. St. Louis Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog lets umpire John Shulock, right, know how he feels about Shulock's call on the tag attempt on Kansas City Royals Jim Sundberg by Cardinals catcher Tom Nieto, second from left, in the second inning of Game 5 of the 1985 World Series in St. Louis. Herzog, the gruff and ingenious Hall of Fame manager who guided the St. Louis Cardinals to three pennants and a World Series title and perfected an intricate, nail-biting strategy known as “Whiteyball,” has died. Herzog, affectionately nicknamed “The White Rat,” was a manager for 18 seasons, compiling an overall record of 1,281 wins and 1,125 losses. He was named Manager of the Year in 1985. Under Herzog, the Cardinals won pennants in 1982, 1985 and 1987 and won the World Series in 1982, when they edged the Milwaukee Brewers in seven games. He died April 15, 2024, and was 92. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., gestures as he answers questions regarding the ongoing security hearing on Capitol Hill, June 18, 2002, in Washington. Graham, who chaired the Intelligence Committee following the 2001 terrorist attacks and opposed the Iraq invasion, died April 16, 2024. He was 87. His family announced the death Tuesday in a statement posted on X by his daughter Gwen Graham. Graham served three terms in the Senate and two terms as Florida's governor. He made an unsuccessful bid for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination, emphasizing his opposition to the Iraq invasion. But that bid was delayed by heart surgery in January 2003, and he was never able to gain enough traction with voters to catch up. He didn’t seek re-election in 2004 and was replaced by Republican Mel Martinez. Guitar legend and Allman Brothers Band co-founder Dickey Betts died April 18, 2024, at age 80. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer wrote the band's biggest hit, “Ramblin’ Man.” Manager David Spero told The Associated Press that Betts died early Thursday at his home in Osprey, Florida. He says Betts had been battling cancer for more than a year and had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Betts shared lead guitar duties with Duane Allman in the original Allman Brothers Band to help give the group its distinctive sound and create a new genre: Southern rock. Acts ranging from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Kid Rock were influenced by the Allmans’ music, which combined blues, country, R&B and jazz with ’60s rock. Contemporary Christian singer Mandisa, who appeared on “American Idol” and won a Grammy for her 2013 album “Overcomer,” died April 18, 2024. She was 47. Mandisa gained stardom after finishing ninth on “American Idol” in 2006. In 2014, she won a Grammy for best contemporary Christian music album for “Overcomer,” her fifth album. She spoke openly about her struggles with depression, releasing a memoir that detailed her experiences with severe depression, weight-related challenges, the coronavirus pandemic and her faith. David Pryor, a former Arkansas governor and U.S. senator who was one of the state’s most beloved and active political figures, died April 20, 2024, at the age of 89. His son, former two-term Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, says the Democrat died Saturday of natural causes in Little Rock surrounded by family. David Pryor was considered one of the Democratic party’s giants in Arkansas and remained active in public life after he left office, including serving on the University of Arkansas’s Board of Trustees. Roman Gabriel was known for his big size and big arm. He was the first Filipino-American quarterback in the NFL. And he still holds the Los Angeles Rams record for touchdown passes. Gabriel died April 20, 2024, at age 83. His son posted the news on social media. He says Gabriel died at home of natural causes. Gabriel starred at North Carolina State and was the No. 2 pick by the Rams in the 1962 draft. The Oakland Raider of the rival AFL made him the No. 1 pick. Gabriel signed with the Rams and later played with the Philadelphia Eagles. Andrew Davis, an acclaimed British conductor who was music director of the Lyric Opera of Chicago and orchestras on three continents, died April 20, 2024. He was 80. Davis died Saturday at Rusk Institute in Chicago from leukemia. That is according to his manager, Jonathan Brill of Opus 3 Artists. Davis had been managing the disease for 1 1/2 to 2 years but it became acute shortly after his 80th birthday on Feb. 2. Davis was music director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra from 1975-88, Britain’s Glyndebourne Festival from 1988-2000, chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra from 1989-2000, then was music director of the Lyric Opera from 2000-21. Former hostage Terry Anderson waves to the crowd as he rides in a parade in Lorain, Ohio, June 22, 1992. Anderson, the globe-trotting Associated Press correspondent who became one of America’s longest-held hostages, died April 21, 2024. Anderson was snatched from a street in war-torn Lebanon in 1985 and held for nearly seven years. Anderson, who was tortured and chained to a wall, wrote about his experiences in the best-selling memoir, “Den of Lions.” After returning to the United States in 1991, Anderson gave public speeches, taught journalism and, at various times, operated a blues bar, Cajun restaurant, horse ranch and gourmet restaurant. He also struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder. British army veteran Bill Gladden, who survived a glider landing on D-Day and a bullet that tore through his ankle a few days later, wanted to return to France for the 80th anniversary of the invasion so he could honor the men who didn’t come home. It was not to be. Gladden, one of the dwindling number of veterans who took part in the landings that kicked off the campaign to liberate Western Europe from the Nazis during World War II, died April 24, his family said. He was 100. With fewer and fewer veterans taking part each year, the ceremony may be one of the last big events marking the assault that began on June 6, 1944. Duane Eddy, a pioneering guitar hero whose reverberating electric sound on instrumentals such as “Rebel Rouser,” “Forty Miles of Bad Road" and “Cannonball” helped put the twang in early rock ‘n’ roll and influenced George Harrison, Bruce Springsteen and countless other musicians, died April 30 at age 86. With his raucous rhythms, and backing hollers and hand claps, Eddy sold more than 100 million records worldwide, and mastered a distinctive sound based on the premise that a guitar’s bass strings sounded better on tape than the high ones. Author Paul Auster has died at age 77. Auster was a prolific, prize-winning man of letters and filmmaker known for such inventive narratives and meta-narratives as “The New York Trilogy” and “4 3 2 1." Auster’s death on April 30 was confirmed by his literary representatives. Auster completed more than 30 books, translated into dozens of languages. He never achieved major commercial success in the U.S., but he was widely admired overseas for his cosmopolitan worldview and erudite and introspective style. Auster’s novels were a mix of history, politics, genre experiments, existential quests and self-conscious references to writers and writing. Co-pilots Dick Rutan, right, and Jeana Yeager, no relationship to test pilot Chuck Yeager, pose for a photo after a test flight over the Mojave Desert, Dec. 19, 1985. Rutan, a decorated Vietnam War pilot, who along with copilot Yeager completed one of the greatest milestones in aviation history: the first round-the-world flight with no stops or refueling, died late Friday, May 3, 2024. He was 85. Music producer Steve Albini, seen in his Chicago studio in 2014, produced albums by Nirvana, the Pixies and PJ Harvey. Albini died at 61. Brian Fox, an engineer at Albini’s studio, Electrical Audio, says Albini died after a heart attack May 7. In addition to his work on canonized rock albums such as Nirvana‘s “In Utero,” the Pixies’ breakthrough “Surfer Rosa,” and PJ Harvey’s “Rid of Me,” Albini was the frontman of the underground bands Big Black and Shellac. He dismissed the term “producer” and requested he be credited with “Recorded by Steve Albini." San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame football player Jimmy Johnson, left, is honored by owner Jed York before a 2011 game between against the St. Louis Rams in San Francisco. Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back Jimmy Johnson, a three-time All-Pro and member of the All-Decade Team of the 1970s, has died. He was 86. Johnson's family told the Pro Football Hall of Fame that he died May 8. Johnson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994. He played his entire 16-year pro career with San Francisco. He played in 213 games, more than any other 49ers player at the time of his retirement. San Diego Padres third baseman Sean Burroughs fires a throw to first from his knees but is unable to get Los Angeles Dodgers' D. J. Houlton at first during the third inning of a baseball game June 22, 2005, in San Diego. Burroughs, a two-time Little League World Series champion who won an Olympic gold medal and went on to a major league career that was interrupted by substance abuse, has died. He was 43. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s online records said Burroughs died Thursday, May 9, 2024, with the cause of death deferred. Producer Roger Corman poses in his Los Angeles office, May 8, 2013. Corman, the Oscar-winning “King of the Bs” who helped turn out such low-budget classics as “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Attack of the Crab Monsters” and gave many of Hollywood's most famous actors and directors an early break, died Thursday, May 9, 2024. He was 98. A.J. Smith, a longtime NFL executive who was the winningest general manager in Chargers history, has died. He was 75. His son, Atlanta assistant general manager Kyle Smith, announced in a statement released by the Falcons that his father died May 12. Kyle Smith said his father had been battling prostate cancer for seven years. The Chargers won five division titles during Smith’s 10 seasons as GM. The franchise’s 98 wins, including the playoffs, were the sixth most in the league from 2003-12. Saxophone player David Sanborn performs during his concert at the Stravinski hall at the "Colours of Music night" during the 34th Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland on July 10, 2000. Sanborn, the Grammy-winning saxophonist who played lively solos on such hits as David Bowie's “Young Americans” and James Taylor's “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” and enjoyed his own highly successful recording career as a leading performer of contemporary jazz, died Sunday, May 12, 2024, at age 78. Nobel laureate Alice Munro has died. The Canadian literary giant who became one of the world’s most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history’s most honored short story writers was 92. Munro achieved stature rare for an art form traditionally placed beneath the novel. She was the first lifelong Canadian to win the Nobel and the first recipient cited exclusively for short fiction. Munro was little known beyond Canada until her late 30s but became one of the few short story writers to enjoy ongoing commercial success. A spokesperson for publisher Penguin Random House Canada said Munro died May 13 at home in Port Hope, Ontario. Dabney Coleman, the mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in “9 to 5” and the nasty TV director in “Tootsie,” died May 16. He was 92. For two decades Coleman labored in movies and TV shows as a talented but largely unnoticed performer. That changed abruptly in 1976 when he was cast as the incorrigibly corrupt mayor of the hamlet of Fernwood in “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” a satirical soap opera. He won a Golden Globe for “The Slap Maxwell Story” and an Emmy Award for best supporting actor in Peter Levin’s 1987 small screen legal drama “Sworn to Silence.” Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi listens to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, not in photo, during a joint news conference following their meeting at the Presidential palace in Ankara, Turkey, Jan. 24, 2024. Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi, foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and others were found dead at the site of a helicopter crash site, state media reported Monday, May 20, 2024. Jim Otto, the Hall of Fame center known as Mr. Raider for his durability through a litany of injuries, died May 19. He was 86. The cause of death was not immediately known. Otto joined the Raiders for their inaugural season in the American Football League in 1960 and was a fixture on the team for the next 15 years. He never missed a game because of injuries and competed in 210 consecutive regular-season games and 308 straight total contests despite undergoing nine operations on his knees during his playing career. His right leg was amputated in 2007. Ivan F. Boesky, the flamboyant stock trader whose cooperation with the government cracked open one of the largest insider trading scandals on Wall Street, has died at the age of 87. A representative at the Marianne Boesky Gallery, owned by his daughter, confirmed his death. The son of a Detroit delicatessen owner, Boesky was once considered one of the richest and most influential risk-takers on Wall Street. He had parlayed $700,000 from his late mother-in-law’s estate into a fortune estimated at more than $200 million. Once implicated in insider trading, Boesky cooperated with a brash young U.S. attorney named Rudolph Giuliani, uncovering a scandal that blemished some of the most respected U.S. investment brokerages. Boesky died May 20. Jan. A.P. Kaczmarek poses with the Oscar for best original score for his work on "Finding Neverland" during the 77th Academy Awards, Feb. 27, 2005, in Los Angeles. Polish composer Kaczmarek, who won a 2005 Oscar for the movie “Finding Neverland,” has died on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at age 71. Kaczmarek’s death was announced by Poland’s Music Foundation. Train bassist and founding member Charlie Colin has died at 58. Colin’s sister confirmed the musician's death Wednesday to The Associated Press. Variety reported Colin slipped and fell in the shower while house-sitting for a friend in Brussels. Train formed in San Francisco in the early ’90s. Colin played on Train's first three records, 1998’s self-titled album, 2001’s “Drops of Jupiter” and 2003’s “My Private Nation.” The track “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)” hit No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also earned two Grammys. Colin left the band in 2003. He also worked with the Newport Beach Film Festival. Colin died May 22. Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, an Oscar nominee whose most famous works skewered America’s food industry and who notably ate only at McDonald’s for a month to illustrate the dangers of a fast-food diet, has died of cancer. He was 53. Spurlock made a splash in 2004 with his groundbreaking film “Super Size Me,” and returned in 2019 with “Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!” — a sober look at an industry that processes 9 billion animals a year in America. Spurlock was a gonzo-like filmmaker who leaned into the bizarre and ridiculous. His stylistic touches included zippy graphics and amusing music. Spurlock died May 23. Richard M. Sherman, one half of the prolific, award-winning pair of brothers who helped form millions of childhoods by penning classic Disney tunes, has died. He was 95. Sherman, along with his late brother Robert, wrote hundreds of songs together, including songs for “Mary Poppins,” “The Jungle Book” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” — as well as the most-played tune on Earth, “It’s a Small World (After All).” The Walt Disney Co. announced that Sherman died Saturday due to age-related illness. The brothers won two Academy Awards for Walt Disney’s 1964 smash “Mary Poppins.” Robert Sherman died May 25 in London in 2012. Basketball Hall of Fame legend Bill Walton laughs during a practice session for the NBA All-Star basketball game in Cleveland, Feb. 19, 2022. Walton, who starred for John Wooden's UCLA Bruins before becoming a Basketball Hall of Famer and one of the biggest stars of basketball broadcasting, died Monday, May 27, 2024, the league announced on behalf of his family. He was 71. “The Godfather” producer Albert S. Ruddy died May 25 at 94. The Canadian-born producer and writer won Oscars for “The Godfather” and “Million Dollar Baby,” developed the raucous prison-sports comedy “The Longest Yard” and helped create the hit sitcom “Hogan’s Heroes." A spokesperson says Ruddy died Saturday at the UCLA Medical Center. Ruddy produced more than 30 movies and was on hand for the very top and the very bottom. “The Godfather” and “Million Dollar Baby” were box office hits and winners of best picture Oscars. But Ruddy also helped give us “Cannonball Run II” and “Megaforce,” nominees for Golden Raspberry awards for worst movie of the year. Larry Allen, one of the most dominant offensive linemen in the NFL during a 12-year career spent mostly with the Dallas Cowboys, died June 2. He was 52. The Cowboys say Allen died suddenly on Sunday while on vacation with his family in Mexico. Allen was named an All-Pro six consecutive years from 1996-2001 and was inducted into the Pro Football of Hall of Fame in 2013. He said few words but let his blocking do the talking. Allen once bench-pressed 700 pounds and had the speed to chase down opposing running backs. Bob Hope and Janis Paige hug during the annual Christmas show in Saigon, Vietnam, Dec. 25, 1964. Paige, a popular actor in Hollywood and in Broadway musicals and comedies who danced with Fred Astaire, toured with Bob Hope and continued to perform into her 80s, died Sunday, June 2, 2024, of natural causes at her Los Angeles home, longtime friend Stuart Lampert said Monday, June 3. Parnelli Jones, the 1963 Indianapolis 500 winner, died June 4 at Torrance Memorial Medical Center after a battle with Parkinson’s disease, his son said. Jones was 90. At the time of his death, Jones was the oldest living winner of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Rufus Parnell Jones was born in Texarkana, Arkansas, in 1933 but moved to Torrance as a young child and never left. It was there that he became “Parnelli” because his given name of Rufus was too well known for him to compete without locals knowing that he wasn’t old enough to race. Boston Celtics' John Havlicek (17) is defended by Philadelphia 76ers' Chet Walker (25) during the first half of an NBA basketball playoff game April 14, 1968, in Boston. Walker, a seven-time All-Star forward who helped Wilt Chamberlain and the 76ers win the 1967 NBA title, died June 8. He was 84. The National Basketball Players Association confirmed Walker's death, according to NBA.com . The 76ers, Chicago Bulls and National Basketball Retired Players Association also extended their condolences on social media on Saturday, June 8, 2024. The Rev. James Lawson Jr. speaks Sept. 17, 2015, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Lawson Jr., an apostle of nonviolent protest who schooled activists to withstand brutal reactions from white authorities as the Civil Rights Movement gained traction, has died, his family said Monday. He was 95. His family said Lawson died on Sunday after a short illness in Los Angeles, where he spent decades working as a pastor, labor movement organizer and university professor. Lawson was a close adviser to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who called him “the leading theorist and strategist of nonviolence in the world.” Lawson met King in 1957, after spending three years in India soaking up knowledge about Mohandas K. Gandhi’s independence movement. King would travel to India himself two years later, but at the time, he had only read about Gandhi in books. Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Jerry West, representing the 1960 USA Olympic Team, is seen Aug. 13, 2010, during the enshrinement news conference at the Hall of Fame Museum in Springfield, Mass. Jerry West, who was selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame three times in a storied career as a player and executive, and whose silhouette is considered to be the basis of the NBA logo, died June 12, the Los Angeles Clippers announced. He was 86. West, nicknamed “Mr. Clutch” for his late-game exploits as a player, was an NBA champion who went into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1980 and again as a member of the gold medal-winning 1960 U.S. Olympic Team in 2010. He will be enshrined for a third time later this year as a contributor, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called West “one of the greatest executives in sports history.” Actor and director Ron Simons, seen Jan. 23, 2011, during the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, died June 12. Simons turned into a formidable screen and stage producer, winning four Tony Awards and having several films selected at the Sundance Film Festival. He won Tonys for producing “Porgy and Bess,” “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” and “Jitney.” He also co-produced “Hughie,” with Forest Whitaker, “The Gin Game,” starring Cicely Tyson and James Earl Jones, “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations,” an all-Black production of “A Streetcar Named Desire,” the revival of "for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf" and the original work “Thoughts of a Colored Man.” He was in the films “27 Dresses” and “Mystery Team,” as well as on the small screen in “The Resident,” “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and “Law & Order: SVU.” Bob Schul of West Milton, Ohio, hits the tape Oct. 18, 1964, to win the 5,000 meter run at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Schul, the only American distance runner to win the 5,000 meters at the Olympics, died June 16. He was 86. His death was announced by Miami University in Ohio , where Schul shined on the track and was inducted into the school’s hall of fame in 1973. Schul predicted gold leading into the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and followed through with his promise. On a rainy day in Japan, he finished the final lap in a blistering 54.8 seconds to sprint to the win. His white shorts were covered in mud at the finish. He was inducted into the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1991. He also helped write a book called “In the Long Run.” San Francisco Giants superstar Willie Mays poses for a photo during baseball spring training in 1972. Mays, the electrifying “Say Hey Kid” whose singular combination of talent, drive and exuberance made him one of baseball’s greatest and most beloved players, died June 18. He was 93. The center fielder, who began his professional career in the Negro Leagues in 1948, had been baseball’s oldest living Hall of Famer. He was voted into the Hall in 1979, his first year of eligibility, and in 1999 followed only Babe Ruth on The Sporting News’ list of the game’s top stars. The Giants retired his uniform number, 24, and set their AT&T Park in San Francisco on Willie Mays Plaza. Mays died two days before a game between the Giants and St. Louis Cardinals to honor the Negro Leagues at Rickwood Field in Birmingham , Alabama. Over 23 major league seasons, virtually all with the New York/San Francisco Giants but also including one in the Negro Leagues, Mays batted .301, hit 660 home runs, totaled 3,293 hits, scored more than 2,000 runs and won 12 Gold Gloves. He was Rookie of the Year in 1951, twice was named the Most Valuable Player and finished in the top 10 for the MVP 10 other times. His lightning sprint and over-the-shoulder grab of an apparent extra base hit in the 1954 World Series remains the most celebrated defensive play in baseball history. For millions in the 1950s and ’60s and after, the smiling ballplayer with the friendly, high-pitched voice was a signature athlete and showman during an era when baseball was still the signature pastime. Awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2015, Mays left his fans with countless memories. But a single feat served to capture his magic — one so untoppable it was simply called “The Catch.” Actor Donald Sutherland appears Oct. 13, 2017, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, Calif. Sutherland, the Canadian actor whose wry, arrestingly off-kilter screen presence spanned more than half a century of films from “M.A.S.H.” to “The Hunger Games,” died June 20. He was 88. Kiefer Sutherland said on X he believed his father was one of the most important actors in the history of film: “Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that.” The tall and gaunt Sutherland, who flashed a grin that could be sweet or diabolical, was known for offbeat characters like Hawkeye Pierce in Robert Altman's "M.A.S.H.," the hippie tank commander in "Kelly's Heroes" and the stoned professor in "Animal House." Before transitioning into a long career as a respected character actor, Sutherland epitomized the unpredictable, antiestablishment cinema of the 1970s. He never stopped working, appearing in nearly 200 films and series. Over the decades, Sutherland showed his range in more buttoned-down — but still eccentric — roles in Robert Redford's "Ordinary People" and Oliver Stone's "JFK." More, recently, he starred in the “Hunger Games” films. A memoir, “Made Up, But Still True,” is due out in November. Actor Bill Cobbs, a cast member in "Get Low," arrives July 27, 2010, at the premiere of the film in Beverly Hills, Calif. Cobbs, the veteran character actor who became a ubiquitous and sage screen presence as an older man, died June 25. He was 90. A Cleveland native, Cobbs acted in such films as “The Hudsucker Proxy,” “The Bodyguard” and “Night at the Museum.” He made his first big-screen appearance in a fleeting role in 1974's “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three." He became a lifelong actor with some 200 film and TV credits. The lion share of those came in his 50s, 60s, and 70s, as filmmakers and TV producers turned to him again and again to imbue small but pivotal parts with a wizened and worn soulfulness. Cobbs appeared on television shows including “The Sopranos," “The West Wing,” “Sesame Street” and “Good Times.” He was Whitney Houston's manager in “The Bodyguard” (1992), the mystical clock man of the Coen brothers' “The Hudsucker Proxy” (1994) and the doctor of John Sayles' “Sunshine State” (2002). He played the coach in “Air Bud” (1997), the security guard in “Night at the Museum” (2006) and the father on “The Gregory Hines Show." Cobbs rarely got the kinds of major parts that stand out and win awards. Instead, Cobbs was a familiar and memorable everyman who left an impression on audiences, regardless of screen time. He won a Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding limited performance in a daytime program for the series “Dino Dana” in 2020. Independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman speaks with the media Nov. 7, 2009, at his campaign headquarters in Austin, Texas. The singer, songwriter, satirist and novelist, who led the alt-country band Texas Jewboys, toured with Bob Dylan, sang with Willie Nelson, and dabbled in politics with campaigns for Texas governor and other statewide offices, died June 27. He was 79 and had suffered from Parkinson's disease. Often called “The Kinkster" and sporting sideburns, a thick mustache and cowboy hat, Friedman earned a cult following and reputation as a provocateur throughout his career across musical and literary genres. In the 1970s, his satirical country band Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys wrote songs with titles such as “They Ain't Makin' Jews Like Jesus Anymore” and “Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in Bed.” Friedman joined part of Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue tour in 1976. By the 1980s, Friedman was writing crime novels that often included a version of himself, and he wrote a column for Texas Monthly magazine in the 2000s. Friedman's run at politics brought his brand of irreverence to the serious world of public policy. In 2006, Friedman ran for governor as an independent in a five-way race that included incumbent Republican Rick Perry. Friedman launched his campaign against the backdrop of the Alamo. Martin Mull participates in "The Cool Kids" panel during the Fox Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour on Aug. 2, 2018, at The Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. Mull, whose droll, esoteric comedy and acting made him a hip sensation in the 1970s and later a beloved guest star on sitcoms including “Roseanne” and “Arrested Development,” died June 28. He was 80. Mull, who was also a guitarist and painter, came to national fame with a recurring role on the Norman Lear-created satirical soap opera “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” and the starring role in its spinoff, “Fernwood Tonight." His first foray into show business was as a songwriter, penning the 1970 semi-hit “A Girl Named Johnny Cash” for singer Jane Morgan. He would combine music and comedy in an act that he brought to hip Hollywood clubs in the 1970s. Mull often played slightly sleazy, somewhat slimy and often smarmy characters as he did as Teri Garr's boss and Michael Keaton's foe in 1983's “Mr. Mom.” He played Colonel Mustard in the 1985 movie adaptation of the board game “Clue,” which, like many things Mull appeared in, has become a cult classic. The 1980s also brought what many thought was his best work, “A History of White People in America,” a mockumentary that first aired on Cinemax. Mull co-created the show and starred as a “60 Minutes” style investigative reporter investigating all things milquetoast and mundane. Willard was again a co-star. In the 1990s he was best known for his recurring role on several seasons on “Roseanne,” in which he played a warmer, less sleazy boss to the title character, an openly gay man whose partner was played by Willard, who died in 2020 . Mull would later play private eye Gene Parmesan on “Arrested Development,” a cult-classic character on a cult-classic show, and would be nominated for an Emmy, his first, in 2016 for a guest run on “Veep.” Screenwriter Robert Towne poses at The Regency Hotel, March 7, 2006, in New York. Towne, the Oscar-winning screenplay writer of "Shampoo," "The Last Detail" and other acclaimed films whose work on "Chinatown" became a model of the art form and helped define the jaded allure of his native Los Angeles, died Monday, July 1, 2024, surrounded by family at his home in Los Angeles, said publicist Carri McClure. She declined to comment on any cause of death. Vic Seixas of the United States backhands a volley from Denmark's Jurgen Ulrich in the first round of men's singles match at Wimbledon, England, June 27, 1967. Vic Seixas, a Wimbledon winner and tennis Hall of Famer who was the oldest living Grand Slam champion, has died July 5 at the age of 100. The International Tennis Hall of Fame announced Seixas’ death on Saturday July 6, 2024, based on confirmation from his daughter Tori. In this June 30, 2020, file photo, Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., speaks to reporters following a GOP policy meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington. Former Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma died July 9. He was 89. The family says in a statement that the Republican had a stroke during the July Fourth holiday and died Tuesday morning. Inhofe was a powerful fixture in state politics for decades. He doubted that climate change was caused by human activity, calling the theory “the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.” As Oklahoma’s senior U.S. senator, he was a staunch supporter of the state’s military installations. He was elected to a fifth Senate term in 2020 and stepped down in early 2023. The Oak Ridge Boys, from left, Joe Bonsall, Richard Sterban, Duane Allen and William Lee Golden hold their awards for Top Vocal Group and Best Album of the Year for "Ya'll Come Back Saloon", during the 14th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Los Angeles, Calif., May 3, 1979. Bonsall died on July 9, 2024, from complications of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Hendersonville, Tenn. He was 76. A Philadelphia native and resident of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Bonsall joined the Oak Ridge Boys in 1973, which originally formed in the 1940s. He saw the band through its golden period in the '80s and beyond, which included their signature 1981 song “Elvira.” The hit marked a massive crossover moment for the group, reaching No. 1 on the country chart and No. 5 on Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100. The group is also known for such hits as 1982’s “Bobbie Sue." Shelley Duvall poses for photographers at the 30th Cannes Film Festival in France, May 27, 1977. Duvall, whose wide-eyed, winsome presence was a mainstay in the films of Robert Altman and who co-starred in Stanley Kubrick's “The Shining,” died July 11. She was 75. Dr. Ruth Westheimer holds a copy of her book "Sex for Dummies" at the International Frankfurt Book Fair 'Frankfurter Buchmesse' in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2007. Westheimer, the sex therapist who became a pop icon, media star and best-selling author through her frank talk about once-taboo bedroom topics, died on July 12, 2024. She was 96. Richard Simmons sits for a portrait in Los Angeles, June 23, 1982. Simmons, a fitness guru who urged the overweight to exercise and eat better, died July 13 at the age of 76. Simmons was a court jester of physical fitness who built a mini-empire in his trademark tank tops and short shorts by urging the overweight to exercise and eat better. Simmons was a former 268-pound teen who shared his hard-won weight loss tips as the host of the Emmy-winning daytime “Richard Simmons Show" and the “Sweatin' to the Oldies” line of exercise videos, which became a cultural phenomenon. Former NFL receiver Jacoby Jones died July 14 at age 40. Jones' 108-yard kickoff return in 2013 remains the longest touchdown in Super Bowl history. The Houston Texans were Jones’ team for the first five seasons of his career. They announced his death on Sunday. In a statement released by the NFL Players Association, his family said he died at his home in New Orleans. A cause of death was not given. Jones played from 2007-15 for the Texans, Baltimore Ravens, San Diego Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers. He made several huge plays for the Ravens during their most recent Super Bowl title season, including that kick return. The "Beverly Hills, 90210" star whose life and career were roiled by tabloid stories, Shannen Doherty died July 13 at 53. Doherty's publicist said the actor died Saturday following years with breast cancer. Catapulted to fame as Brenda in “Beverly Hills, 90210,” she worked in big-screen films including "Mallrats" and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" and in TV movies including "A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story," in which she played the "Gone with the Wind" author. Doherty co-starred with Holly Marie Combs and Alyssa Milano in the series “Charmed” from 1998-2001; appeared in the “90210” sequel series seven years later and competed on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2010. Actor James Sikking poses for a photograph at the Los Angeles gala celebrating the 20th anniversary of the National Organization for Women, Dec. 1, 1986. Sikking, who starred as a hardened police lieutenant on “Hill Street Blues” and as the titular character's kindhearted dad on “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” died July 13 of complications from dementia, his publicist Cynthia Snyder said in a statement. He was 90. Pat Williams chats with media before the 2004 NBA draft in Orlando, Fla. Williams, a co-founder of the Orlando Magic and someone who spent more than a half-century working within the NBA, died July 17 from complications related to viral pneumonia. The team announced the death Wednesday. Williams was 84. He started his NBA career as business manager of the Philadelphia 76ers in 1968, then had stints as general manager of the Chicago Bulls, the Atlanta Hawks and the 76ers — helping that franchise win a title in 1983. Williams was later involved in starting the process of bringing an NBA team to Orlando. The league’s board of governors granted an expansion franchise in 1987, and the team began play in 1989. Lou Dobbs speaks Feb. 24, 2017, at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Oxon Hill, Md. Dobbs, the conservative political pundit and veteran cable TV host who was a founding anchor for CNN and later was a nightly presence on Fox Business Network for more than a decade, died July 18. He was 78. His death was announced in a post on his official X account, which called him a “fighter till the very end – fighting for what mattered to him the most, God, his family and the country.” He hosted “Lou Dobbs Tonight” on Fox from 2011 to 2021, following two separate stints at CNN. No cause of death was given. Bob Newhart, center, poses with members of the cast and crew of the "Bob Newhart Show," from top left, Marcia Wallace, Bill Daily, Jack Riley, and, Suzanne Pleshette, foreground left, and Dick Martin at TV Land's 35th anniversary tribute to "The Bob Newhart Show" on Sept. 5, 2007, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Newhart has died at age 94. Jerry Digney, Newhart’s publicist, says the actor died July 18 in Los Angeles after a series of short illnesses. The accountant-turned-comedian gained fame with a smash album and became one of the most popular TV stars of his time. Newhart was a Chicago psychologist in “The Bob Newhart Show” in the 1970s and a Vermont innkeeper on “Newhart” in the 1980s. Both shows featured a low-key Newhart surrounded by eccentric characters. The second had a twist ending in its final show — the whole series was revealed to have been a dream by the psychologist he played in the other show. Cheng Pei-pei, a Chinese-born martial arts film actor who starred in Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” died July 17 at age 78. Her family says Cheng, who had been diagnosed with a rare illness with symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease, passed away Wednesday at home surrounded by her loved ones. The Shanghai-born film star became a household name in Hong Kong, once dubbed the Hollywood of the Far East, for her performances in martial arts movies in the 1960s. She played Jade Fox, who uses poisoned needles, in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” which was released in 2000, grossed $128 million in North America and won four Oscars. Abdul “Duke” Fakir holds his life time achievement award backstage at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 8, 2009, in Los Angeles. The last surviving original member of the Four Tops died July 22. Abdul “Duke” Fakir was 88. He was a charter member of the Motown group along with lead singer Levi Stubbs, Renaldo “Obie" Benson and Lawrence Payton. Between 1964 and 1967, the Tops had 11 top 20 hits and two No. 1′s: “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” and the operatic classic “Reach Out I’ll Be There.” Other songs, often stories of romantic pain and longing, included “Baby I Need Your Loving,” “Standing in the Shadows of Love,” “Bernadette” and “Just Ask the Lonely.” Sculptress Elizabeth Catlett, left, then-Washington D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt Dixon, center, and then-curator, division of community life, Smithsonian institution Bernice Johnson Reagon chat during the reception at the Candace awards on June 25, 1991 in New York. Reagon, a musician and scholar who used her rich, powerful contralto voice in the service of the American Civil Rights Movement and human rights struggles around the world, died on July 16, 2024, according to her daughter's social media post. She was 81. John Mayall, the British blues musician whose influential band the Bluesbreakers was a training ground for Eric Clapton, Mick Fleetwood and many other superstars, died July 22. He was 90. He is credited with helping develop the English take on urban, Chicago-style rhythm and blues that played an important role in the blues revival of the late 1960s. A statement on Mayall's official Instagram page says he died Monday at his home in California. Though Mayall never approached the fame of some of his illustrious alumni, he was still performing in his late 80s, pounding out his version of Chicago blues. Erica Ash, an actor and comedian skilled in sketch comedy who starred in the parody series “Mad TV” and “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” has died. She was 46. Her publicist and a statement by her mother, Diann, says Ash died July 28 in Los Angeles of cancer. Ash impersonated Michelle Obama and Condoleeza Rice on “Mad TV,” a Fox sketch series, and was a key performer on the Rosie O’Donnell-created series “The Big Gay Sketch Show.” Her other credits included “Scary Movie V,” “Uncle Drew” and the LeBron James-produced basketball dramedy “Survivor’s Remorse.” On the BET series “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” Ash played the ex-wife of Kevin Hart’s character. Jack Russell, the lead singer of the bluesy '80s metal band Great White whose hits included “Once Bitten Twice Shy” and “Rock Me” and was fronting his band the night 100 people died in a 2003 nightclub fire in Rhode Island, died Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. He was 63. Juan “Chi Chi” Rodriguez, a Hall of Fame golfer whose antics on the greens and inspiring life story made him among the sport’s most popular players during a long professional career, died Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. Susan Wojcicki, the former YouTube chief executive officer and longtime Google executive, died Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, after suffering with non small cell lung cancer for the past two years. She was 56. Frank Selvy, an All-America guard at Furman who scored an NCAA Division I-record 100 points in a game and later played nine NBA seasons, died Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. He was 91. Wallace “Wally” Amos, the creator of the cookie empire that took his name and made it famous and who went on to become a children’s literacy advocate, died Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, from complications with dementia. He was 88. Gena Rowlands, hailed as one of the greatest actors to ever practice the craft and a guiding light in independent cinema as a star in groundbreaking movies by her director husband, John Cassavetes, and who later charmed audiences in her son's tear-jerker “The Notebook,” died Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. She was 94. Peter Marshall, the actor and singer turned game show host who played straight man to the stars for 16 years on “The Hollywood Squares,” died. Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024 He was 98. Alain Delon, the internationally acclaimed French actor who embodied both the bad guy and the policeman and made hearts throb around the world, died Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. He was 88. Phil Donahue, whose pioneering daytime talk show launched an indelible television genre that brought success to Oprah Winfrey, Montel Williams, Ellen DeGeneres and many others, died Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, after a long illness. He was 88. Al Attles, a Hall of Famer who coached the 1975 NBA champion Warriors and spent more than six decades with the organization as a player, general manager and most recently team ambassador, died Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. He was 87. John Amos, who starred as the family patriarch on the hit 1970s sitcom “Good Times” and earned an Emmy nomination for his role in the seminal 1977 miniseries “Roots,” died Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. He was 84. James Darren, a teen idol who helped ignite the 1960s surfing craze as a charismatic beach boy paired off with Sandra Dee in the hit film “Gidget,” died Monday, Sept. 2, 2024. He was 88. James Earl Jones, who overcame racial prejudice and a severe stutter to become a celebrated icon of stage and screen has died. He was 93. His agent, Barry McPherson, confirmed Jones died Sept. 9 at home. Jones was a pioneering actor who eventually lent his deep, commanding voice to CNN, “The Lion King” and Darth Vader. Working deep into his 80s, he won two Emmys, a Golden Globe, two Tony Awards, a Grammy, the National Medal of Arts, the Kennedy Center Honors and was given an honorary Oscar and a special Tony for lifetime achievement. In 2022, a Broadway theater was renamed in his honor. Frankie Beverly, who with his band Maze inspired generations of fans with his smooth, soulful voice and lasting anthems including “Before I Let Go,” has died. He was 77. His family said in a post on the band’s website and social media accounts that Beverly died Sept. 10. In the post, which asked for privacy, the family said “he lived his life with a pure soul, as one would say, and for us, no one did it better.” The post did not say his cause of death or where he died. Beverly, whose songs include “Joy and Pain,” “Love is the Key,” and “Southern Girl,” finished his farewell “I Wanna Thank You Tour” in his hometown of Philadelphia in July. Joe Schmidt, the Hall of Fame linebacker who helped the Detroit Lions win NFL championships in 1953 and 1957 and later coached the team, has died. He was 92. The Lions said family informed the team Schmidt died Sept. 11. A cause of death was not provided. One of pro football’s first great middle linebackers, Schmidt played his entire NFL career with the Lions from 1953-65. An eight-time All-Pro, he was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973 and the college football version in 2000. Born in Pittsburgh, Schmidt played college football in his hometown at Pitt. Chad McQueen, an actor known for his performances in the “Karate Kid” movies and the son of the late actor and racer Steve McQueen, died Sep. 11. His lawyer confirmed his death at age 63. McQueen's family shared a statement on social media saying he lived a life “filled with love and dedication.” McQueen was a professional race car driver, like his father, and competed in the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona races. He is survived by his wife Jeanie and three children, Chase, Madison and Steven, who is an actor best known for “The Vampire Diaries.” Tito Jackson, one of the brothers who made up the beloved pop group the Jackson 5, died at age 70 on Sept. 15. Jackson was the third of nine children, including global superstars Michael and Janet. The Jackson 5 included brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael. They signed with Berry Gordy’s Motown empire in the 1960s. The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 and produced several No. 1 hits in the 1970s, including “ABC,” “I Want You Back” and “I’ll Be There.” John David “JD” Souther has died. He was a prolific songwriter and musician whose collaborations with the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt helped shape the country-rock sound that took root in Southern California in the 1970s. Souther joined in on some of the Eagles’ biggest hits, such as “Best of My Love,” “New Kid in Town,” and “Heartache Tonight." The Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee also collaborated with James Taylor, Bob Seger, Bonnie Raitt and many more. His biggest hit as a solo artist was “You’re Only Lonely.” He was about to tour with Karla Bonoff. Souther died Sept. 17 at his home in New Mexico, at 78. In this photo, JD Souther and Alison Krauss attend the Songwriters Hall of Fame 44th annual induction and awards gala on Thursday, June 13, 2013 in New York. Sen. Dan Evans stands with his three sons, from left, Mark, Bruce and Dan Jr., after he won the election for Washington's senate seat in Seattle, Nov. 8, 1983. Evans, a former Washington state governor and a U.S. Senator, died Sept. 20. The popular Republican was 98. He served as governor from 1965 to 1977, and he was the keynote speaker at the 1968 National Republican Convention. In 1983, Evans was appointed to served out the term of Democratic Sen. Henry “Scoop” Jackson after he died in office. Evans opted not to stand for election in 1988, citing the “tediousness" of the Senate. He later served as a regent at the University of Washington, where the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance bears his name. Eugene “Mercury” Morris, who starred for the unbeaten 1972 Miami Dolphins as part of a star-studded backfield and helped the team win two Super Bowl titles, died Sept. 21. He was 77. The team on Sunday confirmed the death of Morris, a three-time Pro Bowl selection. In a statement, his family said his “talent and passion left an indelible mark on the sport.” Morris was the starting halfback and one of three go-to runners that Dolphins coach Don Shula utilized in Miami’s back-to-back title seasons of 1972 and 1973, alongside Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick. Morris led the Dolphins in rushing touchdowns in both of those seasons. John Ashton, the veteran character actor who memorably played the gruff but lovable police detective John Taggart in the “Beverly Hills Cop” films, died Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. He was 76. Maggie Smith, who won an Oscar for 1969 film “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” and won new fans in the 21st century as the dowager Countess of Grantham in “Downton Abbey” and Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films, died Sept. 27 at 89. Smith's publicist announced the news Friday. She was frequently rated the preeminent British female performer of a generation that included Vanessa Redgrave and Judi Dench. “Jean Brodie” brought her the Academy Award for best actress in 1969. Smith added a supporting actress Oscar for “California Suite” in 1978. Kris Kristofferson, a Rhodes scholar with a deft writing style and rough charisma who became a country music superstar and an A-list Hollywood actor, died Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. He was 88. Drake Hogestyn, the “Days of Our Lives” star who appeared on the show for 38 years, died Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. He was 70. Ron Ely, the tall, musclebound actor who played the title character in the 1960s NBC series “Tarzan,” died Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, at age 86. Dikembe Mutombo, a Basketball Hall of Famer who was one of the best defensive players in NBA history and a longtime global ambassador for the game, died Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, from brain cancer, the league announced. He was 58. Frank Fritz, left, part of a two-man team who drove around the U.S. looking for antiques and collectibles to buy and resell on the reality show “American Pickers,” died Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. He was 60. He's shown here with co-host Mike Wolfe at the A+E Networks 2015 Upfront in New York on April 30, 2015. Pete Rose, baseball’s career hits leader and fallen idol who undermined his historic achievements and Hall of Fame dreams by gambling on the game he loved and once embodied, died Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. He was 83. Cissy Houston, the mother of Whitney Houston and a two-time Grammy winner who performed alongside superstar musicians like Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin, died Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in her New Jersey home. She was 91. Ethel Kennedy, the wife of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, who raised their 11 children after he was assassinated and remained dedicated to social causes and the family’s legacy for decades thereafter, died on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, her family said. She was 96. Former One Direction singer Liam Payne, 31, whose chart-topping British boy band generated a global following of swooning fans, was found dead Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, local officials said. He was 31. Mitzi Gaynor, among the last survivors of the so-called golden age of the Hollywood musical, died of natural causes in Los Angeles on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. She was 93. Fernando Valenzuela, the Mexican-born phenom for the Los Angeles Dodgers who inspired “Fernandomania” while winning the NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in 1981, died Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. He was 63. Jack Jones, a Grammy-winning crooner known for “The Love Boat” television show theme song, died, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. He was 86. Phil Lesh, a founding member of the Grateful Dead, died Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, at age 84. Teri Garr, the quirky comedy actor who rose from background dancer in Elvis Presley movies to co-star of such favorites as "Young Frankenstein" and "Tootsie," died Tuesday, Oct 29, 2024. She was 79. Quincy Jones, the multitalented music titan whose vast legacy ranged from producing Michael Jackson’s historic “Thriller” album to writing prize-winning film and television scores and collaborating with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and hundreds of other recording artists, died Sunday, Nov 3, 2024. He was 91 Bobby Allison, founder of racing’s “Alabama Gang” and a NASCAR Hall of Famer, died Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. He was 86. Song Jae-lim, a South Korean actor known for his roles in K-dramas “Moon Embracing the Sun” and “Queen Woo,” was found dead at his home in capital Seoul, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. He was 39. British actor Timothy West, who played the classic Shakespeare roles of King Lear and Macbeth and who in recent years along with his wife, Prunella Scales, enchanted millions of people with their boating exploits on Britain's waterways, died Tuesday, Nov 12, 2024. He was 90. Bela Karolyi, the charismatic if polarizing gymnastics coach who turned young women into champions and the United States into an international power in the sport, died Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. He was 82. Arthur Frommer, whose "Europe on 5 Dollars a Day" guidebooks revolutionized leisure travel by convincing average Americans to take budget vacations abroad, died Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. He was 95. Former Chicago Bulls forward Bob Love, a three-time All-Star who spent 11 years in the NBA, died Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. He was 81. Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19, died Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. He was 83. Barbara Taylor Bradford, a British journalist who became a publishing sensation in her 40s with the saga "A Woman of Substance" and wrote more than a dozen other novels that sold tens of millions of copies, died Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. She was 91. Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, the brash speedster who shattered stolen base records and redefined baseball's leadoff position, died Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. He was 65. Greg Gumbel, left, watches as then-Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun talks to Butler head coach Brad Stevens, right, prior to taping a television interview April 3, 2011, for that year's men's NCAA Final Four college basketball championship game in Houston. Gumbel's family announced Dec. 27 that the longtime CBS sportscaster died from cancer at the age of 78. Sign up to get the most recent local obituaries delivered to your inbox.

Percentages: FG .303, FT .643. 3-Point Goals: 1-12, .083 (T.Johnson 1-5, Corrigan 0-1, Crews 0-1, Joppy 0-1, Newman 0-1, Bratcher 0-3). Team Rebounds: 5. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 2 (Corrigan, T.Johnson). Turnovers: 7 (Bratcher 2, Corrigan 2, T.Johnson 2, Newman). Steals: 6 (Bratcher 2, Corrigan, Joppy, Newman, T.Johnson). Technical Fouls: None. Percentages: FG .514, FT .737. 3-Point Goals: 15-38, .395 (Atwell 5-10, Giles 4-9, Polite 2-5, Bailey 1-2, Ahemed 1-3, Davis 1-4, Saizonou 1-4, Reath 0-1). Team Rebounds: 4. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 6 (Davis 2, Reath 2, Giles, Kauzonas). Turnovers: 6 (Breath 2, Ahemed, Henry, Polite, Webb). Steals: 3 (Breath 2, Atwell). Technical Fouls: None. A_462 (23,500).MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Donte DiVincenzo scored 26 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the San Antonio Spurs 112-110 on Sunday night. Rudy Gobert had 17 points and 15 rebounds for the Timberwolves, won won their third straight. Julius Randle had 16 points, while Jaden McDaniels added 12 points and 10 boards for Minnesota. Anthony Edwards, who earlier in the day was fined $100,000 for continued use of profanity in postgame media comments, was held to 14 points, 11 below his season average. After DiVincenzo made one of two free throws with 12.1 seconds left, the Spurs had one more possession down 112-110. San Antonio found a wide-open Jeremy Sochan for 3, but he came up short. Wembanyama led San Antonio with 34 points and eight rebounds. Harrison Barnes had 24 points, Devin Vassell had 22 and Chris Paul dished out 14 assists. Takeaways Spurs: Trailing by 13 early in the third quarter, Wembanyama keyed a 16-4 run by showcasing his diverse offensive skills. He scored in the low post, hit a 3, made a pair of free throws and drained two midrange jumpers. Timberwolves: Minnesota survived a brutal shooting night from 3-point range, making just 11 of 44 attempts from beyond the arc. DiVincenzo was 5 for 10, but Edwards and Randle combined to go 1 for 16. Key moment With 4:44 to play and the game tied at 101, Randle made a driving layup against Wembanyama that was initially whistled for an offensive foul. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch challenged the call, and the basket was allowed to stand. Minnesota didn’t trail the rest of the way. Key stat In the first quarter, the Timberwolves made just 1 of 11 3-point attempts but went 9 for 9 inside the arc. Up next The Spurs host the Clippers, and the Timberwolves visit Oklahoma City on Tuesday. ___ AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Brock Purdy will miss Sunday's game for the 49ers with a shoulder injuryIn today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, the role of technology in addressing social challenges is becoming increasingly significant. Harsh Vaidya, a seasoned Product Manager with expertise in SaaS cloud solutions and Agile methodologies, has been at the forefront of these developments. Specializing in large-scale projects that deliver societal benefits, Harsh’s work spans various industries, with a strong focus on creating platforms that facilitate access to essential services. One of his most impactful projects was the development of a custom Financial Aid Management System (FAMS) for the Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH), as part of a broader Homeowners Assistance Fund aimed at providing relief to homeowners during the economic hardships brought on by COVID-19. Understanding the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) Program The Financial Aid Management System (FAMS) was implemented as part of the U.S. Treasury’s Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) program. This federal initiative was designed to relieve homeowners across the United States who were struggling with financial hardships due to the pandemic. The goal of HAF was to prevent foreclosures and forbearances by providing targeted financial assistance to homeowners in need. Each state had its own responsible body to manage the program—in the case of Arizona, this role fell to the Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH). Harsh’s employer secured contracts to implement FAMS for multiple states, including Arizona. The system was customized to address the unique requirements of each state while adhering to the overarching guidelines set by the U.S. Treasury. Harsh played a pivotal role in managing the implementation of FAMS specifically for Arizona, tailoring the platform to meet ADOH’s operational needs while maintaining compliance with HAF regulations. Leading with Vision and Collaboration As the Product Manager for the Arizona-specific FAMS platform, Harsh led the overall product development, directing three Agile teams to execute a vision that was both ambitious and critical for the well-being of Arizona’s citizens. The project, a collaboration involving ADOH, the Governor’s office, and other key stakeholders, required meticulous planning and execution. Harsh’s leadership was central to ensuring the platform’s success, particularly in integrating third-party solutions and developing a sophisticated case management system. The complexity of the case management system was a defining feature of the project. With multiple financial aid programs available, citizens applied for varying amounts of assistance based on their unique situations. The system was built with a complex business rule engine to accurately adjudicate these cases, following the guidelines provided by the U.S. Treasury for HAF. The engine was further customized to align with ADOH’s specific requirements, ensuring that all applications were processed correctly and efficiently. Implementing Complex Case Management Systems The FAMS platform was designed to handle a variety of scenarios, from mortgage payment assistance to utility disconnects. This flexibility was made possible by the robust case management system, which included a series of complex rules and workflows to guide the adjudication process. For example, the system could differentiate between applicants seeking one-time mortgage assistance and those needing long-term utility payment support. This granular level of control was essential for ensuring that each applicant received the appropriate level of support. Additionally, the system featured a dynamic reporting dashboard that allowed ADOH administrators to monitor the status of applications, track fund disbursements, and generate reports for compliance purposes. Harsh’s oversight ensured that these functionalities were not only technically sound but also aligned with the strategic objectives of both ADOH and the broader HAF program. Enhancing User Experience Through Integration and Automation One of the major challenges of implementing FAMS was ensuring a seamless user experience, given the complexity of the application and adjudication process. To address this, Harsh led the integration of third-party solutions such as ID.me and SmartyStreets. ID.me was used to streamline the identity verification process, making it easier for users to authenticate their identities without lengthy manual procedures. Similarly, SmartyStreets was integrated to validate address data in real-time, reducing errors and ensuring that the platform could deliver aid efficiently to the right recipients. Harsh also played a crucial role in automating several aspects of the platform, reducing the manual workload for ADOH staff and allowing them to focus on higher-priority tasks. For instance, the system automatically flagged incomplete applications and sent follow-up reminders to users, significantly improving completion rates. These enhancements not only improved the overall efficiency of the platform but also contributed to a better user experience, making it easier for citizens to navigate the complex aid application process. Delivering Tangible Benefits to Society The impact of the FAMS platform on Arizona’s citizens was profound. By the time the platform was fully operational, it had processed thousands of applications, helping countless residents avoid foreclosure and maintain their homes during an economically challenging period. The platform’s success was not just a technical achievement—it was a testament to the power of technology in driving social change and improving people’s lives. Moreover, the system’s ability to handle complex cases, automate routine processes, and provide real-time reporting set a new standard for how financial aid management systems should operate. Harsh’s role in this success cannot be overstated. His strategic vision, combined with his hands-on leadership, ensured that the platform delivered on its promise to support those in need. Navigating the Challenges of Cross-Functional Collaboration The successful delivery of the FAMS platform required close collaboration between multiple stakeholders, including state officials, technology partners, and community organizations. Harsh facilitated Joint Application Design (JAD) sessions to bring together the ADOH, the client partner, and housing agencies to identify pain points and refine the platform’s features. These sessions were instrumental in shortening development cycles by approximately 25% and increasing the accuracy of release dates by around 20%, ensuring that the platform met the needs of its users effectively. This emphasis on cross-functional collaboration was a key factor in overcoming the many challenges that arose during the project. From navigating regulatory complexities to balancing the needs of different stakeholders, Harsh’s ability to foster open communication and drive consensus was critical to the platform’s success. Recognition and Future Potential The success of the FAMS platform has had a ripple effect beyond Arizona. As Harsh and his team continue to implement this solution in other states, the lessons learned and best practices developed by Harsh and his team will serve as a blueprint for future deployments. The project’s impact has been recognized both within the company and by its external partners, highlighting the importance of combining technical innovation with a deep understanding of social needs. Leveraging AI and Machine Learning for Enhanced Aid Distribution Building upon his research in AI-driven predictive modeling and bias reduction in financial software systems, Harsh has been exploring ways to enhance the FAMS platform through artificial intelligence integration. His 2024 paper on "The Impact of AI Integration on Efficiency and Performance in Financial Software Development" provides insights into how machine learning algorithms can be implemented to improve the accuracy of aid distribution and reduce processing times. By applying similar principles to those outlined in his work on "AI-Driven Multi-Modal Demand Forecasting," the platforms like these could potentially incorporate predictive analytics to anticipate spikes in aid applications and automatically adjust resource allocation accordingly. This forward-thinking approach aligns with his published research on reducing bias in predictive models, ensuring that automated systems maintain fairness and equity in financial aid distribution. Future Technology Roadmap and Cloud Integration Drawing from his expertise in cloud computing platforms, as demonstrated in his 2020 publication on "Effectiveness and Future Trend of Cloud Computing Platforms," Harsh envisions a more scalable and resilient version of FAMS that leverages distributed cloud architecture. This aligns with his recent work on "The Impact of Emerging Technologies on Conceptualizing and Delivering New Business Offerings" (2024), which explores how blockchain and IoT technologies could be integrated into financial aid systems to enhance security and transparency. The potential implementation of blockchain technology could provide an immutable audit trail for aid disbursement, while IoT integration could streamline the verification process for property-related claims. These technological advancements, combined with his research on managed ETL platforms for improving data integration efficiency, point toward a future where financial aid management systems can operate with greater automation, security, and responsiveness to community needs. About Harsh Vaidya Harsh Vaidya’s journey in product management is characterized by a passion for leveraging technology to solve complex problems and drive positive change. With a strong background in SaaS cloud solutions and Agile project management, Harsh has consistently delivered innovative solutions that meet both business and societal needs. His work on the FAMS platform is just one example of how he blends strategic vision with hands-on leadership to achieve impactful results. Harsh’s career is driven by a commitment to creating products that not only fulfill market demands but also contribute to the greater good. Looking ahead, he aims to continue leading projects that make a tangible difference in people’s lives, inspiring others in the industry to consider the social impact of the products they develop. His dedication to leveraging technology for social good sets him apart as a leader in the field of product management.Easter falls on April 20th in 2025, and as we approach the very end of December 2024, we are four months away from the day. Despite this vast chasm of sixteen weeks to go, Easter eggs are already appearing on the shelves of some supermarkets. In the same manner of selection boxes arriving on shelves before Halloween, shoppers are not too impressed to see the egg-shaped treats this early. Read more: Rosanna Davison ditches Irish weather for North African sun on family Christmas holiday Read more: Fair City star Tara Flynn had a low key Christmas at home with her husband and cat and dog The chocolate eggs have been reportedly spotted in Tesco , as well as UK supermarkets ASDA and Morrisons. Gary Evans shared a picture of Creme Eggs on display at his local Morrisons on Boxing Day, reports Sky News. "I just think it's crazy that everything is so superficial and meaninglessly commercial... [there's] something quite frantic about it," he said. Another shopper named Joseph Robinson saw them at his local Morrisons on Friday evening. "It's funny as they've not even managed to shift the Christmas chocolates off the shelves yet and they're already stocking for Easter," he said. "I wish that supermarkets weren't so blatantly consumerist-driven and would actually allow customers and staff a time to decompress during the Christmas period." One user, called Jingle1991, shared an image of Malteser Bunnies in Sainsbury’s on Christmas Eve and pointed out: “Jesus hasn’t even been born yet.” While some shoppers may be unimpressed, others appreciate the early sales as an opportunity to spread the cost of Easter confectionary.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has selected former White House aide Brooke Rollins to lead the Department of Agriculture in his second administration. Here are some things to know about Trump’s choice and the agency that Rollins would lead if she is confirmed by the Senate. She is a lawyer with agriculture ties — and a strong relationship with Trump Rollins, 52, graduated from Texas A&M University with an undergraduate degree in agricultural development before completing law school at the University of Texas. She served as domestic policy chief during Trump's first term, a portfolio that included agricultural policy. After leaving the White House, she became president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. Over the years, Rollins has forged a strong enough relationship with Trump, who has prized proven loyalty in his Cabinet and top adviser picks , that she was among the people floated as a potential White House chief of staff. That job went to Susie Wiles, Trump's co-campaign manager. Rollins, in an interview earlier this year, called Trump an “amazing boss.” USDA is about more than farms President Abraham Lincoln founded the USDA in 1862, when about half of all Americans lived on farms. The sprawling department now reaches into every American neighborhood, grocery store and school cafeteria. The USDA is the primary agency overseeing the nation’s farming, forestry, ranching, food quality and nutrition. The agency has a dual purpose of promoting and regulating agriculture practice and products. The agency oversees multiple support programs for farmers; animal and plant health; and the safety of meat, poultry and eggs that anchor the nation’s food supply. Its federal nutrition programs provide food to low-income people, pregnant women and young children. And the department sets standards for school meals. The next USDA chief could figure prominently in Trump 2.0 Trump did not offer many specifics about his agriculture policies during the campaign. But if he keeps his pledge to impose sweeping tariffs, farmers could be affected quickly — and potentially harshly. During the first Trump administration, countries like China responded to Trump’s tariffs by imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports like the corn and soybeans routinely sold overseas. Trump countered by offering massive multibillion-dollar aid to farmers to help them weather the trade war. The ripple effects could extend to consumers’ grocery bills, as well. When things are going smoothly, agriculture secretaries are not usually prominent faces of an administration. But when the nation’s food supply is at issue, it could be another story. ___ Gomez Licon reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Bill Barrow And Adriana Gomez Licon, The Associated Press

This was the third Christmas since I lost my Dad. My Dad was the social planner of our family and he made every holiday so special. Christmas hadn't felt right since he left us to go be with Jesus. This year I was looking forward to a bit of Christmas magic. My son is a firefighter and was off this Christmas. He has met a lovely young lady who he will will likely marry soon and my younger daughter had finished her first semester of college successfully. I was happy with the gifts I had carefully selected and was really excited about Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. On Sunday, December 22nd, reality ruined my best laid plans. Hey friends. For those of you who pray, please add my mom Priscilla to your prayer list. She started feeling very off yesterday and I took her to the ER. Her hemoglobin was 5.5. She received two units of blood and it was slightly higher today. They are doing a procedure on... pic.twitter.com/MQglSRWVdQ My mom woke up feeling very weak. She could barely walk to our car. We arrived at the ER to discover her hemoglobin was incredibly low, so low they ran her labs twice. Obviously, she was bleeding internally somewhere. We spent the next few days in the hospital trying to come to terms with various diagnosis. The highest paid people in this hospital (docs and nurses) all seem miserable with the worst bedside manner but the people making the least, housekeepers and nutrition, are so kind and full of joy. It’s the strangest phenomenon. During that time, it was most often the nutritional team and the housekeeping staff who kept our spirits up. They were making the least amount of money, but seemed to understand families in the hospital are just as sad as the people who have to leave their loved ones and come work in the hospital over the holidays. One young man in the hospital cafeteria on Christmas morning boosted my mood for the rest of the day with his kind words and big smile. He wanted to be home with this family, I'm sure, and I wanted my family member home, but he shared humanity with me. We’ve got the world’s smallest Christmas tree and the stockings are hung by the IV with care... and yes, they were knitted by Miss E. pic.twitter.com/UCtaiDuDdx Miss E went into the hospital three weeks ago today, and is still stubbornly hanging on. Meanwhile, oldest son called me this morning to tell me he hit a deer driving back from the hospital last night. Thankfully he’s okay, but his car is probably totaled. Haven’t said it for... Dear friends, I’ll follow up with a proper Christmas salutation from Iron Will, but in the meantime, I’m humbling requesting your prayers. As you know, my mother has Alzheimer’s. And has been fighting valiantly for a long while. But she is nearing her well-earned final rest.... pic.twitter.com/3yAh6bXUuM Wallowing low in my 'woe is me' over our ruined Christmas, I scanned Twitter. I quickly found we were far from the only family spending a sad Christmas in the hospital and many families wouldn't bring their loved one home as I did. Christmas evening, my Mom was stable enough to come home. We received her biopsy results yesterday and her tumor is not cancerous as Doctors had feared. Hi friends! Thank you for all of your prayers. We received good news today. pic.twitter.com/FNgMUCbfFr My mom will need an additional surgery, albeit one without incisions, thankfully, but all in all, this was the best news we could receive. Yes, I missed spending the day with my children, but my extended family loved on them well for me. my family is sending me pics of my kids so I can kind of share their Christmas and it makes my heart happy pic.twitter.com/4pCZORvnMV If this Christmas did not go as planned for you, know you are not alone. Christmas is about a Savior that came to redeem us from all the heartache the world offers us. Thank you to all who prayed for my Mother and know our Risen Savior is closest in our heartache.Authored by Dorothy Li via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), A Chinese man who killed at least 35 people last month by driving his car into a crowd was sentenced to death on Dec. 27, amid growing concerns over a recent wave of deadly attacks across the country. The driver, identified as Fan Weiqiu, acted out of anger stemming from “a broken marriage, personal frustrations, and dissatisfaction with the way financial assets were divided during his divorce,” according to a statement from the intermediate court in Zhuhai, a city in southern China. Fan pleaded guilty to endangering public safety through dangerous methods, according to the court’s announcement. The incident occurred on the evening of Nov. 11, when Fan drove his SUV into a group of people exercising at the Zhuhai Sports Centre. It took nearly 24 hours for Chinese authorities to report on the casualties from the violent attack. According to local police , at least 35 people have died, with 43 others suffering severe injuries as a result of the incident. At the time, the authorities said Fan, who was in a coma and had injuries consistent with self-harm, was apprehended at the scene. On China’s internet, censors responded quickly, suppressing eyewitness accounts and videos related to the incident. By the evening of Nov. 12, searches on the popular microblogging platform Weibo yielded mostly official statements, with little presence of videos or photos of the incident. The sports complex was closed on the day of the attack. On the morning of Nov. 13, members of the public left bouquets at one of the gates, only to see them removed within minutes . Some cleaning staff told AFP that they were following an “order from the top.” Meanwhile, BBC China correspondent Stephen McDonell was shoved by a man while reporting outside the complex on Nov. 12. While the man’s identity remains unclear, the BBC pointed out that such incidents are not uncommon in China, where local Communist Party officials often recruit groups of individuals to act as outraged locals, tasked with obstructing foreign reporters from covering sensitive events. The incident, described by some Western media outlets as the deadliest in a decade, was one of a spate of tragic events that have occurred across China in recent months. On Oct. 28, at least five people, including three children, were severely injured in a stabbing incident , according to local police, who identified the suspect as a 50-year-old man surnamed Tang. On Nov. 16, eight people were killed and 17 others injured during a mass stabbing rampage at a vocational college in eastern China. Arrested at the scene was a 21-year-old male, identified only as Xu—a former student at the Wuxi Vocational College of Arts and Technology in Yixing in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. Police said he later confessed to the killings. On Nov. 19, a driver rammed his vehicle into a crowd outside a primary school in Changde, central Hunan Province, injuring an unspecified number of people. Recent waves of random attacks have sparked concerns among outside observers, with some highlighting a growing desperation under the tight grip of the Chinese Communist Party. “Logically, if someone has a grievance, they should target the person responsible. But he may not even be able to find that person,” Li Yingzhi, an exiled rights activist, previously told The Epoch Times. “Why resort to killing innocent people? Because he has reached complete despair and no longer wants to live.” Li links these violent attacks to systemic issues in China, where people were left with little recourse to seek justice or voice dissent. “First, there is suppression of free speech and a lack of press freedom. Second, the petitioning system is ineffective. Third, the judiciary fails to function properly. These are all systemic issues,” he said. “If there were effective channels to resolve problems, it wouldn’t have come to this.” Katabella Roberts and Cindy Li contributed to this report.Morgan State hopes for end to recent skid with visit to Minnesota

It’s a bedrock fact of the American justice system that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. That being said, unless we’re being lied to on a massive scale by a media that has no reason to lie in this case, Luigi Mangione doesn’t seem especially innocent. He supposedly that seemed to point to a motive in killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City on Dec. 4. He left which would also point to a motive. He, according to reports, also left near the scene of the crime, along with shell casings. The murder was caught on camera, for Pete’s sake. And yet, several experts have noted that he might be found not guilty by a jury — not because the state didn’t prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he killed Thompson, but that a cult of hero worship has sprung up around him, so much so that several legal experts have floated the idea of jury nullification happening in his trial. For instance, take CNN legal commentator Elie Honig; while Honig said he “wouldn’t necessarily lose sleep” over the online fame has garnered, it made him “nervous” about the possibility of jury nullification. For the unfamiliar, this is the process whereby a member or members of a jury — in some cases, entire juries — disregard the facts of the case to either deliberately reach a verdict that doesn’t align with the facts presented in the courtroom or create a deadlock that ends in a mistrial. “For sure, this is the highest risk of nullification that I have seen in a long time, given the fame and fandom that this guy has somehow gained over social media,” Honig said on Tuesday, according to . Free my man Luigi is too fine to be locked away for life let him go he didn’t do nothing 🥴 😭 — 𐚁 (@bemadgirl) “Free Luigi Mangione” seen in Camberwell, London, UK!! International support of Luigi is going strong 💪 — CEO Slayer (@CEO_Slayers) “But it’s important to keep in mind, there are checks in place, first of all, the jury selection process,” he added. “People who are overtly biased in his favor, people who have posted on social media, that kind of thing, they will be weeded out,” Honig said. “They will never even make it onto a jury. The other thing is, the whole trial process has the effect of sort of forcing people to get serious. “It’s really hard to sit through weeks worth of overwhelming evidence that this person shot his victim in the back and then just say, ah, heck with it, I kind of like this guy or I saw some social media meme. So it’s always in play, but I think it’s important to understand we do have processes that sort of filter that kind of thing out.” Former prosecutor and current criminal defense attorney Joel Cohen, a professor at and Cardozo law schools, also expressed his concerns for jury nullification in a piece for published Friday. Cohen worried that those with a secret affection for the alleged killer might, in fact, be able to work their way onto a jury despite being “overtly biased,” as Honig put it. “There are far too many among us whose inner voice allows them to somehow convince themselves that UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson had it coming — that Thompson deserved to be murdered, either because he was himself directly guilty of some insurance coverage denial or was a tangible proxy for a heartless industry that leaves its insured out to dry,” Cohen wrote. “And, if secretly rooting for Luigi Mangione, now charged with murder, is not enough, too many publicly protest the prosecution of Mangione or make deposits to his prison commissary account to help fund his defense. We shouldn’t then be surprised, then, if Mangione admirers somehow manage to steal their way onto a jury slated to try him for the murder. Do we find ourselves in a new moment of the stealth juror, and if we do, what then is the fallout?” Cohen also felt there was “no time in recent history where the media has been as fixated on an arrest and prosecution, and the possibility of nullification lurking as a real potential threat for prosecutors in jury selection.” “Despite the growing mountain of evidence against Mangione, the hold-out juror might calmly drink their burnt coffee in a dusty jury deliberation room and explain to the other ’11 Angry Men’ or women that “I simply don’t believe he shot Thompson and you can’t make me think he did, no matter how hard you try.’ That is, if the nullifier/s even feel the need to utter any defense for their recalcitrance,” he wrote. Furthermore, there’s the undeniable fact that “is young, handsome, fit — not unimportant in this context, given the social media explosion on the topic of his physical appearance,” Cohen wrote. “Make no mistake, jury nullification, like it or not, is as American as apple pie: Courts recognize that jurors surely have the power to nullify, even if not the right,” he wrote. “Let’s hope that the flames now being fanned by social media, fury over health care and somewhat short-sighted prosecutors don’t ultimately leave us engrossed with the rehashing of nullified verdicts, rather than having the opportunity to reflect on the loss of Brian Thompson, a man who, by all accounts, was a good man and father from the Midwest who simply didn’t deserve to be murdered in cold blood.” Hopefully, this is what sinks in to a jury: Social media hagiographies of an alleged psychopathic murderer are one thing, but sitting on a jury and doing it is quite another. This case should be about the facts, not about sickos who have turned their grievances against our broken health care system into an excuse for . Let’s hope and pray that ends up being the case. We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. .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 roughly 22 months 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 Carter 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. What we know about the deadly passenger jet crash in South Korea SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean officials are investigating the crash landing of a passenger jet that's one of the deadliest disasters in that nation's aviation history. Transport Ministry officials said the airport control tower issued a bird strike warning to the plane shortly before it intended to land and gave its pilot permission to land in a different area on Sunday. The Boeing 737-800 skidded off the runway, crashed into a barrier and burst into flames. All but two of the 181 people on board died. The Jeju Air passenger plane was flying from Bangkok to the town of Muan, about 180 miles south of Seoul, when the crash happened. South Korean authorities seek warrant to detain impeached President Yoon in martial law probe SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean law enforcement officials have requested a court warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol as they investigate whether his short-lived martial law decree this month amounted to rebellion. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is leading a joint investigation with police and military authorities into the power grab that lasted only a few hours, confirmed it requested the warrant on Monday. Investigators plan to question Yoon on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion. 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. 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. 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. Azerbaijan's president says crashed jetliner was shot down by Russia unintentionally Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev says the Azerbaijani airliner that crashed last week was shot down by Russia, albeit unintentionally. Aliyev told Azerbaijani state television on Sunday that the aircraft was hit by fire from the ground over Russia and rendered uncontrollable by electronic warfare. He accused Russia of trying to “hush up” the issue for several days. The crash on Wednesday killed 38 of 67 people on board. Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized to Aliyev on Saturday for what he called a “tragic incident” but stopped short of acknowledging Moscow’s responsibility. Croatia's incumbent president gains most votes for re-election, but not enough to avoid a runoff ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Croatia’s incumbent President Zoran Milanovic has swept most votes in the first round of a presidential election, but will have to face a runoff against a ruling party candidate to secure another five-year term. With 99% percent of the vote counted Sunday, Milanovic won 49% while his main challenger Dragan Primorac, a candidate of the ruling HDZ party, trailed far behind with 19%. Pre-election polls had predicted that the two would face off in the second round on Jan. 12, as none of the eight presidential election contenders were projected to get more than 50% of the vote.

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White House announces nearly $1 billion more in military assistance to UkraineFor me, the passing of each year brings memories of athletes, teams and coaches I have covered or watched for the last 12 months. Of all the performances I witnessed over 2024, it is the prep state championship teams I remember most. Each time I have watched state champs celebrate, my eyes tend to well up because I realize that this is a moment these kids will treasure forever. I'll confess, I have a hard time sometimes maintaining composure watching these athletes as they celebrate with their teammates. The team that choked me up the most this past year was undeniably McAuley Catholic High School Boys Cross Country after they captured the MSHSAA Class 1 Boys Cross Country Championships in early November at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia. The win gave McAuley its first-ever state championship in any team sport. That's a day I will not soon forget. I thank the kids and Coach Andy Youngworth for the memories. The day gave plenty of Joplin fans reason to celebrate as the Thomas Jefferson boys finished second and the McAuley girls earned third at the state meet. We've become accustomed to the Lamar Tigers winning state championships in football. But to me, this year's Class 2 title is the most impressive yet for Lamar, because honestly, after starting 3-3, I had kind of written them off as state title contenders. Oh, how wrong I was. The Tigers closed out their season on a six-game win streak, beating previously undefeated Fair Grove 28-25 in the Class 2 title game in Columbia. Coach Jared Beshore's Tigers put on quite the show of grit in their comeback win, scoring the go-ahead touchdown after a 72-yard drive that culminated with quarterback Alex Wilkerson's third touchdown of the game with 42 seconds left on the clock. They proved myself and a whole bunch of other Southwest Missouri doubters wrong on that day. I tip my hat to Lamar and will likely not so easily dismiss their chances ever again. The 2024 Diamond softball team rounds out my list of prep teams that should be remembered as the year comes to an end. The Wildcats finished their season 38-1 after claiming their second Class 2 title in three years by defeating Kennett 8-5 in extra innings in the state title game in May. Diamond rolled over the competition in the first two games of the state tournament, logging an 11-1 win over Forsyth and a 13-3 win over Willow Springs to reach the title game. The Wildcats finished undefeated against Missouri teams, with their lone regular-season loss coming at the hands of Frontenac, Kansas, two games before the district tournament. They were dominant in most of their regular season games, but proved they could also gut out a close one, beating New Heights 2-1 in 17 innings in their final regular season game. The 2024 Wildcats finished as the ninth-ranked team in any class nationally, according to the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association, and were the only Missouri team to finish in the Top 25 nationally. Head Coach Kelsey Parrish was selected as the 2023-24 MSHSAA Softball Coach of the Year. It was the second time in her career that Parrish, a Diamond native, was selected for the award. It's touching when a coach returns to their roots and leads their hometown team to a state title. It's the stuff of movies, and I thank Parrish and all the Wildcats for sharing their talents with us. And while these high school athletes have given us incredible memories going into the New Year, I would be remiss if I didn't point out the accomplishment of Missouri Southern alum and Jamaican team member Rajindra Campbell, who won the bronze medal in the hammer throw at the Paris 2024 Olympics this summer. Like most of us, I had to watch the performance on television. Despite not being there, I will never forget watching him progress through the competition, barely missing out on the silver. I wonder if he remembers me telling him before he left for Paris about the dream I had of seeing him on the pedestal. I hope so. As the first Olympic medalist from MSSU, he is the perfect ambassador for Southern. Soft-spoken and mild mannered, he is a guy I feel truly blessed to have met and I will long remember 2024 as the Year of Rajindra. On the national level, I will treasure most the Kansas City Chiefs 25-22 Superbowl win over the San Francisco 49ers. In true Chiefs' fashion, they fell behind 10-0 in the first half. That 10-point deficit has kind of a magical feel to it, as the Chiefs have proven they play best when trailing. They were behind most of the game before taking a brief lead late in the third quarter. The 49ers regained the lead in the final quarter. KC fought back to tie the game at 16-16 but San Fran again took the lead at 19-16. The Chiefs tied it again with three seconds left to send the game into overtime. I remember feeling that we had them right where we wanted them after holding the 49ers to a field goal. The Chiefs did not disappoint, scoring on a Patrick Mahomes pass to Mercole Hardman, Jr., for the win after a 75-yard drive. Thank you, Chiefs, for another title. I wouldn't mind at all writing those same words next year when I write my 2025 Year in Review. While there are other great performance and finishes I could write about, including the New Height/McAuley soccer team's fourth-place finish at state, it was the McAuley runners, the Lamar football team, the Diamond softball team, Rajindra Campbell and the KC Chiefs that stick out in my mind the most. It's been quite to year and I can't wait to see what 2025 holds in store for all of us.NEW DAWN IN SYRIA

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A lopsided, shutout loss has left the beat-up New Orleans Saints limping into the final two games of a lost season — and into a rather cloudy future beyond that. Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi figured that a visit to playoff-bound Green Bay would be a tall order for his injury-riddled squad, whose prominent missing players included starters at quarterback, running back and receiver. And when New Orleans' mostly healthy defensive front struggled against a Packers ground game led by running back Josh Jacobs, the rout was on. Nothing "stuck out on film other than a lack of execution and lack of playmaking,” Rizzi said Tuesday after reviewing video of Monday night's 34-0 loss at Green Bay . “We played against a playoff team, at their place, that has very few holes on their team,” Rizzi added. “It was a little bit of a perfect storm." Rizzi, a special teams coordinator who has made no secret that he sees his eight-game interim stint as an opportunity to further his head-coaching ambitions, has two more games left in what has been an up-and-down audition. The Saints are 3-3 on his watch, which includes one of New Orleans' most lopsided losses since the turn of the century. With the playoffs unattainable, and with a lot of reserves pressed into service, the final two weeks will serve primarily as a player-evaluation period heading into the offseason, when there are bound to be myriad changes on the roster and perhaps the coaching staff. Rizzi said the Saints, realistically, have been in evaluation mode “for the last month or so,” but added that there maybe be additional young or practice-squad players getting longer looks in the final two games. “My big thing this week is to see how we can respond,” Rizzi said. “We’re going to find out a lot about a lot of people.” What’s working Of the Saints' four punts, three were inside the Green Bay 20 and New Orleans did not allow a single punt return yard. The punt team might have been the only unit that executed its job (even the kickoff unit allowed a 38-yard return). What needs help The Saints had trouble protecting the quarterback (three sacks) and protecting the football (two turnovers). They couldn't run the ball (67 yards). They couldn't stop the run (188 yards allowed). They couldn't pass the ball consistently (129 yards) or stop the pass when they needed to. As former Saints coach Jim Mora once said, they couldn't do “ diddly poo .” Although rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler largely struggled and was responsible for both New Orleans turnovers, he had enough highlights — including a jumping, first-down pass on third-and-long — to keep him penciled in as the starter if the injured Derek Carr remains unable to play, Rizzi said. “It was definitely a performance where we got to take the good with the bad,” Rizzi said. “We've got to get rid of those negative plays.” Stock up New Orleans native Foster Moreau has emerged as one of the Saints' most reliable offensive players. The sixth-year NFL tight end made two catches for a team-high 33 yards on Monday night, giving him 25 catches for 335 yards this season. His four TDs receiving entering the game remain tied for the team lead. Stock down Rizzi was riding high after two wins to start his interim term as head coach, but Monday night's ugly loss is the club's third in four games and took a lot of luster off his candidacy for a longer-term appointment. Injury report Center Erik McCoy left the game with an elbow injury, while guard Lucas Patrick hurt his knee in the closing minutes. Rizzi said McCoy won't need surgery but could miss the rest of the season. The coach said Patrick needs more tests but is not expected to play again this season. While the chances of Carr (non-throwing, left hand) or top running back Alvin Kamara (groin) playing again this season appear slim, the Saints have declined to rule that out. Rizzi said Carr is getting closer to being able to play and wants the opportunity to go against his former team, the Las Vegas Raiders. Meanwhile, Rizzi said Kamara “is working his tail off to try to come back” this season. “Alvin told me this morning, in my office, that he really would like to play again,” Rizzi said. Key number 24 — The number of years since the Saints suffered a more lopsided shutout loss, 38-0 against San Francisco in 2002. Up next The Saints' home finale against lowly Las Vegas will be an anticlimactic affair bound to generate a level of fan interest similar to, if not less than, a preseason game. But the game will be important to the current regime, which needs victories in each of the club's final two games to avoid the franchise's worst record since it was displaced by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and went 3-13. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Brett Martel, The Associated PressBrazil blasts Carrefour over vow to keep Mercosur meat off shelves

Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers was once projected to be a potential first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Now it looks like Ewers has some work to do in order to climb up NFL teams' draft boards. Athlon Sports' Luke Easterling does not have Ewers being selected in the first round in his latest mock draft. It remains to be seen just how far Ewers could fall on draft night, but the Longhorns quarterback is now projected as a potential day three pick. College Football Network's Cam Mellor's NFL mock draft published on Saturday has Ewers being selected by the New Orleans Saints with the No. 112 overall pick in the fourth round. Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Being a fourth-round pick does not assure a rookie of anything but given the Saints' current quarterback situation, Ewers could potentially compete to eventually replace Derek Carr. The four-time Pro Bowler has missed time with injuries in 2024 which has allowed Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler to both get reps. Both players are former day three picks. Carr's four-year, $150 million contract is slated to run through the 2026 season. New Orleans has an out in Carr's deal during the 2025 offseason but would take a massive $50.1 million dead cap hit by releasing the veteran, per Spotrac. Ewers could utilize a potential College Football Playoff berth to boost his draft stock in the coming weeks. Related: Texas Star QB Quinn Ewers' Likely Decision on Transfer Portal RevealedFormer NFL star and Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski has landed a hefty financial win, pocketing an eye-popping $600,000 profit from an Apple stock investment he made back in 2014 and then forgot about. The ex- New England Patriots tight end originally invested $70,000 on the advice of a contractor working at his Massachusetts home. Despite already boasting an estimated net worth of around $45million, according to Celebrity Net Worth , this tech windfall adds a nice cherry on top. Gronkowski's storied career includes three Super Bowl wins and setting records, including the most touchdown receptions by a tight end. Even after signing a six-year, $54m contract extension with the Patriots, Gronk admitted he was a novice in the stock market. "I'd never been involved in stocks. I really didn't know how stocks worked. So I was like, 'Alright, let me do this," he shared with Fortune. Erin Andrews responds to troll who criticized NFL reporter for her appearance Tom Brady makes telling remark about FOX future as he settles into $375m role His gamble on Apple shares has clearly paid off, now yielding a sum well over $600k. The star confessed that he had lost track of his investment while focusing on accumulating a dazzling array of football honors, including Pro Bowl selections and Super Bowl victories. As he was establishing his legendary status on the field, his Apple shares were quietly soaring in value. The sports icon was surprised when he recently reviewed his financial portfolio, revealing: "To this date, I have over $600,000 of Apple stock. Having no idea what I was doing but just listening to the man who built my house here in New England," he said. Back in 2014, when Gronk invested in Apple, the shares were only $24.58 each. Now, nearly a decade later, those same shares are worth a staggering $243.07 each. Throughout his NFL career, Gronk has earned approximately $60m in salary. In his 2015 memoir "It's Good To Be Gronk," the football legend bragged that he hadn't spent a penny of his NFL earnings, instead living off the proceeds from his extensive endorsement deals. Gronkowski's impressive deals include endorsements with well-known brands like Nike, Dunkin' Donuts, Visa, T-Mobile, Lyft, and Cheerios. His personal brand thrived with unique products such as Gronk Flakes by PLB Sports in 2012 and his own hot sauce that hit the shelves in 2015, while Monster Energy introduced a "Gronk" flavor to their line-up in 2016, further enhancing the NFL star's financial portfolio. Don't miss: Georgia QB Carson Beck makes 'crazy' admission before facing Texas Michigan tipped to appoint new offensive coordinator after flipping Bryce Underwood Terry Bradshaw and Rob Gronkowski disagree as FOX NFL Sunday panel torn Apple's valuation also experienced a remarkable surge. From a substantial $578.29bn at the close of 2014, it soared to an impressive $3.551tn, solidifying its status as an industry giant by becoming the first company to surpass the $1trillion mark in 2018. Since launching the iPhone in 2007, the tech behemoth's stock has ballooned by an almost unbelievable 972 percent. While an investment growth wouldn't be life-changing for someone like Gronkowski, it certainly underscores the advantages of steady investing, coupled with a sprinkle of Gronk's unique charisma and luck. Even after selling off some of his Apple investments, Gronkowski still holds a significant portion of his profitable shares. According to CB Insights, the former tight-end's investment acumen spans five ventures, including a stake in Casa Azul Spirits expected for summer 2024.

The FDA expanded the indication for setmelanotide (Imcivree) to include children as young as 2 years with syndromic or monogenic obesity due to Bardet-Biedl syndrome or genetically confirmed pro-opiomelanocortin, said maker Rhythm Pharmaceuticals. Among patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy receiving bremelanotide in the small phase IIb BREAKOUT study, 71% achieved greater than 30% reduction in urine protein to creatinine ratio at 6 months, Palatin Technologies announced. In a draft recommendation, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said that older adults should not take vitamin D and calcium supplements for the primary prevention of falls and fractures. Even after surgery, patients with Cushing's syndrome have an altered gut microbiome, "indicating a possible target for additional probiotic interventions to accelerate convergence to a healthy microbiome," authors of a longitudinal analysis concluded. (Journal of... Kristen Monaco

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The archbishop of Paris re-opened Notre Dame Cathedral on Saturday by symbolically knocking on the doors and entering the 12th-century landmark which has been restored after a devastating fire in 2019. Wearing new designer vestments and carrying a staff cut from one of the roof beams that survived the inferno, Laurent Ulrich joined hundreds of VIPs inside the Gothic masterpiece for a two-hour ceremony. Ulrich commanded the cathedral to “open your doors” and he entered the magnificently-restored edifice. US President-elect Donald Trump sat on the front row as guest of honour next to French President Emmanuel Macron, with invitees marvelling at the freshly cleaned walls, new furniture and state-of-the-art lightening installed as part of the cathedral’s overhaul. Outside, small crowds of Parisians and tourists braved wet weather and high winds to witness the renaissance of a beloved monument which came close to being totally destroyed by the inferno that toppled its roof and spire. “I find it really beautiful, even more so now that the spire has been restored,” Marie Jean, a 27-year-old dentist from southwest France, told AFP outside. The reconstruction effort has cost around 700 million euros ($750 million), financed from donations, with the re-opening achieved within a five-year deadline set by Macron despite predictions it could take decades. Workers had to overcome problems with lead pollution, the Covid-19 epidemic, and the army general overseeing the project falling to his death while hiking in the Pyrenees last year. It is “a cathedral like we have never seen before,” Philippe Jost, who took over as project manager last year, told Franceinfo radio, adding that he was proud to “show the whole world” a “great collective success and a source of pride for all of France”. Saturday’s service will feature prayer, organ music and hymns from the cathedral’s choir. A public concert planned in front of the cathedral featuring Chinese piano virtuoso Lang Lang and possibly US singer and fashion designer Pharrell Williams had to be pre-recorded on Friday night because of the stormy weather. – ‘Do the impossible’ – Held up as an example of French creativity and resilience by Macron, Notre Dame’s renaissance so soon after the fire comes at a difficult time for the country. The sense of national accomplishment in restoring a symbol of Paris has been undercut by political turmoil that has left France without a proper government since last week when prime minister Michel Barnier lost a confidence vote. Macron is hoping the re-opening might provide a fleeting sense of national pride and unity — as the Paris Olympics did in July and August. Related News Paris stock market rises as Macron tackles political crisis Nigeria’s reform agenda will benefit Africa, says Tinubu Explainer: Difference between state, official visits as France hosts Tinubu The scale of the immense security operation also recalls the Olympics — with some 6,000 police officers and gendarmes mobilised. The re-opening “is the proof that we know how to do grand things, we know how to do the impossible” Macron said Thursday in a televised address to the country. He is set to address the congregation during Saturday’s ceremony. – Trump show? – Macron has scored a major coup by attracting incoming US president Donald Trump for his first foreign trip since his re-election. Another 40 heads of state and government are also present, including Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, who was given a round of applause as he entered Notre Dame, as well as British heir to the throne, Prince William. Macron hosted three-way talks with Zelensky and Trump at the presidential palace shortly before the ceremony, with future US military support for Ukraine’s war effort against Russia’s invasion expected to have been discussed. Trump has vowed to force an end to the nearly three-year Ukraine war when he takes office, sparking fears in Kyiv that he will force Ukraine to make territorial concessions to Russia which Zelensky is resisting. “It seems like the world is going a little crazy right now and we will be talking about that,” Trump told reporters as he prepared to sit down for talks with Macron. One surprising absentee on Saturday was Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church. He sent a message addressed to the French people which is set to be read out. The exact cause of the 2019 blaze has never been identified despite a forensic investigation by prosecutors, who believe an accident such as an electrical fault was the most likely reason. On Sunday, the first mass with 170 bishops and more than 100 Paris priests will take place at 10:30 am (0930 GMT), followed by a second service in the evening at 6:30 pm which will be open to the public. AFPNoneWednesday, December 25, 2024 Facebook Instagram Twitter WhatsApp Youtube Personal Finance Education Entertainment Jobs Alert Sports Hindi Technology Complaint Redressal. Fact-Checking Policy Correction policy Authors and Team DNPA Code of Ethics Onwership and Funding Cookie Policy Terms of Service Disclaimer Contact US About Us More Search Home Personal Finance YouTube Earning Tax: How much tax is levied on the earnings from... Personal Finance YouTube Earning Tax: How much tax is levied on the earnings from YouTube, what are the government rules related to it By Shyamu Maurya December 25, 2024 0 6 Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Telegram YouTube Earning Tax: How much tax is levied on the earnings from YouTube, what are the government rules related to it YouTube Earning Tax: How much tax will be levied on earnings from YouTube depends on whether it is classified under “Income from other sources” or “Income from business and profession”. YouTube Earning Tax: In today’s time, running a YouTube channel has become a big source of income. There are millions of people in India who run their YouTube channel. There are many people who earn lakhs of rupees every month from this work. But, do you know that the government has to pay tax on this income as well. Let us know today that if you are earning from YouTube, then how much tax you will have to pay on it. Tax rules How much tax will be levied on the earnings from YouTube depends on whether it is kept in “income from other sources” or “income from business and profession”. In most cases it is considered business income and the provisions of the Income Tax Act 1961 apply to it. Tax on income less than 1 crore If the total income is less than 1 crore, then the taxpayer has to follow the normal tax procedure. It is necessary to keep financial records, but tax audit is not required. On income of more than 1 crore But if the income is more than 1 crore, then it is mandatory to get a tax audit done under section 44AB. In such a case, the channel owner has to get the audit done through a chartered accountant. Net taxable income is calculated after deducting business expenses and depreciation. GST is also applicable 18% GST (9% CGST and 9% SGST) is applicable on advertising income from YouTube. For this, YouTube creators are required to get GST registration. Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Telegram Previous article License Free Scooter: You can drive this electric scooter without driving license and registration, check list here Shyamu Maurya Shyamu has done Degree in Fine Arts and has knowledge about bollywood industry. He started writing in 2018. Since then he has been associated with Informalnewz. 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