casino slot play FERGUS FALLS, Minn. (AP) — A jury convicted two men on Friday of charges related to human smuggling for their roles in an international operation that led to the deaths of a family of Indian migrants who froze while trying to cross the Canada-U.S. border during a 2022 blizzard. Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, an Indian national who prosecutors say went by the alias “Dirty Harry,” and Steve Shand, 50, an American from Florida, were part of a sophisticated illegal operation that has brought increasing numbers of Indians into the U.S., prosecutors said. They were each convicted on four counts related to human smuggling, including conspiracy to bring migrants into the country illegally. “This trial exposed the unthinkable cruelty of human smuggling and of those criminal organizations that value profit and greed over humanity,” Minnesota U.S. Attorney Andy Luger said. “To earn a few thousand dollars, these traffickers put men, women and children in extraordinary peril leading to the horrific and tragic deaths of an entire family. Because of this unimaginable greed, a father, a mother and two children froze to death in sub-zero temperatures on the Minnesota-Canadian border,” Luger added. The most serious counts carry maximum sentences of up to 20 years in prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office told The Associated Press before the trial. But federal sentencing guidelines rely on complicated formulas. Luger said Friday that various factors will be considered in determining what sentences prosecutors will recommend. Federal prosecutors said 39-year-old Jagdish Patel; his wife, Vaishaliben, who was in her mid-30s; their 11-year-old daughter, Vihangi; and 3-year-old son, Dharmik, froze to death Jan. 19, 2022, while trying to cross the border into Minnesota in a scheme Patel and Shand organized. Patel is a common Indian surname, and the victims were not related to Harshkumar Patel. The couple were schoolteachers, local news reports said. The family was fairly well off by local standards, living in a well-kept, two-story house with a front patio and a wide veranda. Experts say illegal immigration from India is driven by everything from political repression to a dysfunctional American immigration system that can take years, if not decades, to navigate legally. Much is rooted in economics and how even low-wage jobs in the West can ignite hopes for a better life. Before the jury’s conviction on Friday, the federal trial in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, saw testimony from an alleged participant in the smuggling ring, a survivor of the treacherous journey across the northern border, border patrol agents and forensic experts. Defense attorneys were pitted against each other, with Shand’s team arguing that he was unwittingly roped into the scheme by Patel. Patel’s lawyers, The Canadian Press reported , said their client had been misidentified. They said “Dirty Hary,” the alleged nickname for Patel found in Shand’s phone, is a different person. Bank records and witness testimony from those who encountered Shand near the border didn’t tie him to the crime, they added. Prosecutors said Patel coordinated the operation while Shand was a driver. Shand was to pick up 11 Indian migrants on the Minnesota side of the border, prosecutors said. Only seven survived the foot crossing. Canadian authorities found two parents and their young children later that morning, dead from the cold. The trial included an inside account of how the international smuggling ring allegedly works and who it targets. Rajinder Singh, 51, testified that he made over $400,000 smuggling over 500 people through the same network that included Patel and Shand. Singh said most of the people he smuggled came from Gujarat state. He said the migrants would often pay smugglers about $100,000 to get them from India to the U.S., where they would work to pay off their debts at low-wage jobs in cities around the country. Singh said the smugglers would run their finances through “hawala,” an informal money transfer system that relies on trust. The pipeline of illegal immigration from India has long existed but has increased sharply along the U.S.-Canada border. The U.S. Border Patrol arrested more than 14,000 Indians on the Canadian border in the year ending Sept. 30, which amounted to 60% of all arrests along that border and more than 10 times the number two years ago. By 2022, the Pew Research Center estimates more than 725,000 Indians were living illegally in the U.S., behind only Mexicans and El Salvadorans. Jamie Holt, a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations, said the case is a stark reminder of the realities victims of human smuggling face. “Human smuggling is a vile crime that preys on the most vulnerable, exploiting their desperation and dreams for a better life,” Holt said. “The suffering endured by this family is unimaginable and it is our duty to ensure that such atrocities are met with the full force of the law.” One juror Kevin Paul, of Clearwater, Minnesota, told reporters afterward that it was hard for the jurors to see the pictures of the family’s bodies. He said he grew up in North Dakota and is familiar with the kind of conditions that led to their deaths. “It’s pretty brutal,” Paul said. “I couldn’t imagine having to do what they had to do out there in the middle of nowhere.”FREMONT, Calif. , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lam Research Corp. (Nasdaq: LRCX) today announced that Doug Bettinger , Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will participate in the following upcoming investor events: UBS Global Technology and AI Conference, December 3, 2024 , at 1:15 p.m. Pacific Time ( 2:15 p.m. Mountain Time ) Barclays 22 nd Annual Global Technology Conference, December 11, 2024 , at 8:40 a.m. Pacific Time Live audio webcasts of these presentations will be available to the public and can be accessed from the Investors' section of Lam's website at www.lamresearch.com . A replay of the audio webcasts will be available for two weeks after the presentation date. About Lam Research Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ: LRCX) is a global supplier of innovative wafer fabrication equipment and services to the semiconductor industry. Lam's equipment and services allow customers to build smaller and better performing devices. In fact, today, nearly every advanced chip is built with Lam technology. We combine superior systems engineering, technology leadership, and a strong values-based culture, with an unwavering commitment to our customers. Lam Research is a FORTUNE 500 ® company headquartered in Fremont, California , with operations around the globe. Learn more at www.lamresearch.com (LRCX). IR Contact: Ram Ganesh Investor Relations (510) 572-1615 investor.relations@lamresearch.com Source: Lam Research Corporation, (Nasdaq: LRCX) View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lam-research-corporation-announces-participation-at-upcoming-conferences-302313593.html SOURCE Lam Research Corporation

Big Ten could place four teams in playoff, thanks to IU's riseBy now, everyone knows about Jada Williams’ grit. The sophomore will go head-to-head with anyone on the court – even if they are nearly a foot taller than her 5-8 inch frame. Nothing and no one scares her on the court. That’s a fact. We’ve seen her leap up to grab a rebound against the trees, go after a 50/50 ball with abandon, take a charge no matter who is coming directly at her – and each time bounces back up and claps. Williams is always ready to go. That’s why when she rolled her ankle and was down on the far end of the court against GCU in the fourth quarter Thursday with a little more than seven minutes left in the game, and took a beat, everyone in McKale Center collectively held their breath. It was even more nerve-wracking when UA performance coach Chris Allen picked up Williams and carried her into the locker room so UA trainer Bart Jameson could work on that right ankle. However, for Williams, it was all part of the game. She wasn’t worried at all and just wanted to get back on the court and do what she does best to help her teammates. Arizona Wildcats guard Jada Williams (2) gets pumped after drawing a foul off of a UT Arlington player in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 4, 2024. “My end goal is I’ll deal with it later, like the last five minutes of the game, it’s five minutes. I can do anything for five minutes,” Williams said. “I can play for my team for five minutes. That’s my thought process.” As Arizona (7-4) hosts CSU Bakersfield (0-8) Tuesday, her teammates will once again rely on their point guard to run the offense and just about everything else. Williams did come back for the last five minutes and change, that’s exactly what she told Jameson and Allen. Basically, “Tape me up, there’s a lot I can do in five minutes.” That play was typical Williams. She was boxing out on a free throw and her opponent fell over her. Williams said it was a normal old ankle sprain. Williams spent the summer working on her ankle strength. Part of this is connected to a nagging right Achilles – which she called tendonitis from last season. There are many games when Williams comes off the court just to get re-tapped by Jameson. Part of this is finding the right tape job to support her ankle, but not bother her Achilles. It’s a balancing act. Tarleton State forward Alani Fluker (23) crashes down on Arizona guard Jada Williams (2) after getting beat on the race to the loose ball in the third quarter of their game, Tucson, Ariz., Nov. 7, 2024. “I’m just trying to do different tape jobs to where my Achilles doesn’t get swollen, basically,” Williams said. “Right now, I’m just taking the chance of rolling an ankle and not having Achilles pain 99% of the time. I take that chance of rolling an ankle, and I know that. (I’m) just going in getting re-taped (as) it just keeps my ankle still, I guess, and prevents that.” Just like most basketball players, once the season starts, they just figure out a way to play with the little nagging things. This includes Williams’ teammate Paulina Paris, who shared that it’s taking longer to heal her broken nose because the games and practices just keep coming. Paris is not alone as Sue Bird, former WNBA player – and former teammate of Adia Barnes on the 2004 Seattle Storm Championship squad – played with a mask multiple times during her career after breaking her nose. Rafael Nadal may be one of the most noticeable athletes who played with foot tendonitis. He adapted how he played and even utilized different recovery and training methods to help. Many athletes don’t talk about what ails them, but just as Williams is the communicator on the court, she is off the court, as well. Arizona guard Jada Williams (2) gets in a foot race to the ball with UNLV guard Kiara Jackson (3) late in their game, Tucson, Ariz., Nov. 12, 2024. For Williams, she does a lot to get ready to play a game, practice and for recovery. All for the love of the game, as well as her teammates and coaches. “I do toe yoga, things like that, just trying to strengthen my feet, strengthen the muscles, the bones around my feet, so that’s something I always work on,” Williams said. “I’m in the training room every single day for a couple hours just trying to take care of my body. I do play a lot of minutes. So cold tubs, cryotherapy, I’m living in there every single day.” Cryotherapy is known to reduce swelling, pain and increase circulation to, in Williams’ case, her entire foot. Williams also has a routine after the game. She admits that on Friday morning her right ankle was swollen, “but I’ve got a good support system.” “I have a little puppy at home (Deuce), so I get to go home to him and kind of forget about basketball for a little bit,” Williams said. “I go home, decompress, I try not to think about the game. Sometimes I’ll come in here (McKale) and shoot. If I miss a lot of free throws or something like that, I’ll come in and get shots up. But injury wise, just go home, decompress and then watch the film the next day.” Arizona Wildcats guard Jada Williams (2) sinks the ball in the net during the match against GCU at the McKale Center, Dec. 5, 2024. Williams has adjusted to all of it – the taping and the re-taping, the different types of recovery and even not putting in a ton of extra reps. While she said the tendonitis hasn’t affected her shot – and if you look at her feet when she shoots a free throw, takes a 3, a jumper or even a layup, nothing has changed – she is putting up fewer of those extra shots outside of practice like she did in the offseason. During that time, she was hitting 45% or so of her attempts in practice. Williams said her goal is just to be on the court, “because my leadership carries over, and my leadership being out there, even if I’m not scoring, I know I got heart on defense, and I talk a lot and things like that. Just help my teammate any way I can.” On those charges, Williams just shrugs and says that she’s been taking charges since she was in fourth or fifth grade and just knows how to do it and knows whatever hurts “don’t fall like that again.” “That’s my heart, my mental toughness,” Williams said. “I’ll sacrifice my body if that’s what I have to do. That’s just something that I’ve always done, no matter if it’s a board game, anything like that. I’m just competitive. So that’s what I got to do to win, I’ll do it.” Contact sports reporter PJ Brown at pjbrown@tucson.com . On X(Twitter): @PJBrown09 Who: Arizona Wildcats (7-4) vs. CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners (0-8) When: 6 p.m. Where: McKale Center Watch: ESPN+ Listen: 1400-AM Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Reporter

Frustrations grow over mysterious U.S. drone sightings, lack of answers

Big Ten could place four teams in playoff, thanks to IU's riseApple’s Vision Pro headset is an incredible piece of technology, but even Apple’s design and marketing magic convince many people to don a VR headset for an entire day. Instead, people seem more willing to use discreet wearables like Bluetooth headphones, smartwatches, and products like the Ray-Ban Meta glasses — so Apple’s headset isn’t making the waves the company would have wanted. Of course, an instant transformation of the computing landscape wasn’t exactly the point of the Vision Pro. Apple was clearly launching its headset for Apple enthusiasts, first adopters, and people who love VR. At a starting price of $3,499, the barrier of entry was just too high to expect the device to be a hit from the jump. Even CEO Tim Cook called it Nearly a year from launch, though, Apple hasn’t done enough to demonstrate why the Vision Pro should be a potential showcase of the future of computing. It’s taking a long time to put together its immersive content library, and while those are great demonstrations of what’s possible, the videos have been . There aren’t many great games, either. Yes, Apple keeps adding cool new software features. The for using a Mac display seem exceptionally useful. But those are pretty specific options for pretty specific use cases. There still isn’t an immediate, obvious reason to buy a Vision Pro the way there usually is with the company’s newest iPhones and Macs. If I bought a Vision Pro today, I wouldn’t know what to do with it besides give myself a bigger Mac screen or watch movies, and I don’t think either of those are worth the exorbitant price. It seems Apple may have already acknowledged that the Vision Pro might not be the future, either. The company has reportedly scaled back production and focused efforts on (perhaps just called Apple Vision?). If Apple still wants to make a splash in VR, the company might need to race to get its next product out the door. It can be argued that Meta has the best VR headsets and ecosystem on the market right now — and a very clear lineup for consumers to consider. Its most affordable offering is the , which has the same chip as the , meaning you can access the same experiences across both headsets. The price difference between the two largely comes down to displays and storage, and I’d argue that the cheaper Quest 3S is an excellent VR headset for most people. But like the Vision Pro, Meta hasn’t really found a way to make its headsets much more than a great way to play VR games. The , which Meta pitched in part as a headset for work, was such a flop that the company discontinued it only . , the company’s 3D social network, still feels amateur and barren, despite the company’s efforts to make it a better place to hang out. When I put on a Meta headset, I find that I just want to play games, either serious titles like or lighter fare like , where you conduct a virtual orchestra. I don’t care about the mixed reality features except to glance at my phone or computer screen to make a note or check notifications. You can make a pretty solid living selling game consoles, as Sony and Nintendo know very well, but it’s a far cry from the full-fledged computing platform Mark Zuckerberg once promised. I just don’t know if any tech company is going to crack the code on how to make VR headsets anything but solo technology. Yes, you can use VR headsets to interact with other people over the internet. But putting on a VR headset at home means I can’t look my wife in the eye; if I’m going to look at a screen, I’d prefer to look at one that we can share or that I can easily put off to the side. And even if you’re fine with VR being mostly a solo thing, VR headsets don’t fit neatly into everyday life unless you have a good amount of space in your home for them. (And hopefully your controllers haven’t run out of battery power!) Perhaps that’s why glasses seem like a much more promising option for computers that you wear on your face. Augmented reality glasses have been an aspirational goal for a long time, and you can see why. It’s much easier to make eye contact with somebody while you’re wearing glasses. Meta may have already proved that the glasses form factor works: its relatively simple , which have a camera, speakers, and look fashionable, are already . If glasses-equipped cameras do truly go mainstream, I have some concerns . But I also wrote about the immediate appeal of the tech: whenever I wear the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, I find myself snapping tons of photos because it’s so much fun to capture my point of view without holding up a phone. And because they look like regular glasses, I can walk around and most people will think that they’re glasses, unlike a VR headset, . It seems that Apple might be eyeing computer glasses as well; the company an internal study about the market. I think even glasses with some basic tech would make more sense for Apple than a VR headset, especially if they let you easily snap photos and listen to podcasts. These devices could be years off, though, meaning that, right now, Apple is stuck selling VR headsets that . Apple’s Vision Pro headset is an incredible piece of technology, but even Apple’s design and marketing magic convince many people to don a VR headset for an entire day. Instead, people seem more willing to use discreet wearables like Bluetooth headphones, smartwatches, and products like the Ray-Ban Meta glasses — so Apple’s headset isn’t making the waves the company would have wanted. Of course, an instant transformation of the computing landscape wasn’t exactly the point of the Vision Pro. Apple was clearly launching its headset for Apple enthusiasts, first adopters, and people who love VR. At a starting price of $3,499, the barrier of entry was just too high to expect the device to be a hit from the jump. Even CEO Tim Cook called it Nearly a year from launch, though, Apple hasn’t done enough to demonstrate why the Vision Pro should be a potential showcase of the future of computing. It’s taking a long time to put together its immersive content library, and while those are great demonstrations of what’s possible, the videos have been . There aren’t many great games, either. Yes, Apple keeps adding cool new software features. The for using a Mac display seem exceptionally useful. But those are pretty specific options for pretty specific use cases. There still isn’t an immediate, obvious reason to buy a Vision Pro the way there usually is with the company’s newest iPhones and Macs. If I bought a Vision Pro today, I wouldn’t know what to do with it besides give myself a bigger Mac screen or watch movies, and I don’t think either of those are worth the exorbitant price. It seems Apple may have already acknowledged that the Vision Pro might not be the future, either. The company has reportedly scaled back production and focused efforts on (perhaps just called Apple Vision?). If Apple still wants to make a splash in VR, the company might need to race to get its next product out the door. It can be argued that Meta has the best VR headsets and ecosystem on the market right now — and a very clear lineup for consumers to consider. Its most affordable offering is the , which has the same chip as the , meaning you can access the same experiences across both headsets. The price difference between the two largely comes down to displays and storage, and I’d argue that the cheaper Quest 3S is an excellent VR headset for most people. But like the Vision Pro, Meta hasn’t really found a way to make its headsets much more than a great way to play VR games. The , which Meta pitched in part as a headset for work, was such a flop that the company discontinued it only . , the company’s 3D social network, still feels amateur and barren, despite the company’s efforts to make it a better place to hang out. When I put on a Meta headset, I find that I just want to play games, either serious titles like or lighter fare like , where you conduct a virtual orchestra. I don’t care about the mixed reality features except to glance at my phone or computer screen to make a note or check notifications. You can make a pretty solid living selling game consoles, as Sony and Nintendo know very well, but it’s a far cry from the full-fledged computing platform Mark Zuckerberg once promised. I just don’t know if any tech company is going to crack the code on how to make VR headsets anything but solo technology. Yes, you can use VR headsets to interact with other people over the internet. But putting on a VR headset at home means I can’t look my wife in the eye; if I’m going to look at a screen, I’d prefer to look at one that we can share or that I can easily put off to the side. And even if you’re fine with VR being mostly a solo thing, VR headsets don’t fit neatly into everyday life unless you have a good amount of space in your home for them. (And hopefully your controllers haven’t run out of battery power!) Perhaps that’s why glasses seem like a much more promising option for computers that you wear on your face. Augmented reality glasses have been an aspirational goal for a long time, and you can see why. It’s much easier to make eye contact with somebody while you’re wearing glasses. Meta may have already proved that the glasses form factor works: its relatively simple , which have a camera, speakers, and look fashionable, are already . If glasses-equipped cameras do truly go mainstream, I have some concerns . But I also wrote about the immediate appeal of the tech: whenever I wear the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, I find myself snapping tons of photos because it’s so much fun to capture my point of view without holding up a phone. And because they look like regular glasses, I can walk around and most people will think that they’re glasses, unlike a VR headset, . It seems that Apple might be eyeing computer glasses as well; the company an internal study about the market. I think even glasses with some basic tech would make more sense for Apple than a VR headset, especially if they let you easily snap photos and listen to podcasts. These devices could be years off, though, meaning that, right now, Apple is stuck selling VR headsets that .CVS Health Corporation Announces Pricing of Maximum Tender Offer

Latest count finds 2,371 people experiencing homelessness in Waterloo RegionAsia’s middle distillates market activity were slightly muted, with price fluctutations also minimal, though January refiner sales were ongoing. January discussions remained underway for some northeast Asia spot cargoes, with traders saying that buying interest remains mostly at discounted levels. More refiner spot sales could emerge in the next few trading sessions from northeast Asia, though trading activity is still likely to slow ahead of the holiday season. India refiners were the main sellers in action today, with both MRPL and Nayara Energy offering their January cargoes via sale tenders that close the next two days. Refining margins closed the trading session little changed at two-week high levels, slightly above $16 a barrel. Cash differentials dipped 11 cents from the previous session to 42 cents a barrel, a reflection of the narrower market backwardation and roll over in assessment months. Regrade for January widened back to a discount of 60 cents a barrel. – No deals for both markets – China’s refinery throughput in November recorded its first rise in eight months, official data showed on Monday, as Beijing’s stimulus underpinned manufacturing activities and oil demand. – China’s industrial output growth quickened slightly in November, while retail sales disappointed, keeping pressure on Beijing to ramp up stimulus for a fragile economy as it braces for more U.S. trade tariffs under a second Trump administration. – Fires that broke out in a number of reservoirs in Libya’s Zawiya refinery have been brought under control, Khaled Abulgasem Gulam, spokesperson for the country’s National Oil Corporation (NOC), said in a statement on Sunday. – Singapore’s ChemOne Group has delayed the start of its Pengerang Energy Complex (PEC) to the fourth quarter of 2028, with construction set to begin by mid-2025, it said on Monday, after securing more financing for the project. – China’s refined oil consumption peaked in 2023 at 399 million metric tons (7.98 million barrels per day) and is expected to fall 1.3% to 394 million tons in 2024, CNPC Economics & Technology Research Institute said on Friday. – Two Russian tankers that spilled oil into the Kerch Strait after sustaining serious damage during a heavy storm on Sunday were carrying 9,200 metric tons (62,000 barrels) of oil products at the time, the state TASS news agency reported. Source: Reuters (Reporting by Trixie Yap; Editing by Mohammed Safi Shamsi)

Trump to Name Hassett National Economic Council Chief

They’ve had enough. A movement in a myriad of rural counties across deep blue states such as Illinois and California to split off and form new states appears to be gaining some steam in the wake of the Nov. 5 election. Conservative residents of the rural regions are taking note of their peers fleeing to lower-taxed and less-regulated red states but they are ready to stay put — pining for a divorce with the urban sectors of their state. A group dubbed the New Illinois State has drafted a new constitution and championed plans to “Leave Illinois Without Moving.” On Election Day, seven rural counties in Illinois voted to contemplate splitting off from the state. “There’s a lot of people in Chicago, and I think that they make a lot of decisions that affect people downstate,” Phil Gioja, from Iroquois County, told the Wall Street Journal. “It’s just sending a message that, ‘Hey, you know, there’s people that would like to be part of the conversation, and often aren’t.’” In Iroquois County, about 73% of voters backed the idea of banding together with other counties in Illinois, except Cook County, which encompasses Chicago and forming a new state. Chicago is home to about 40% of Illinois’ population. While Gioja doesn’t anticipate a separation soon, some backers of a rural divorce think that an opening will come. “We always believed that our best opportunity to negotiate our way out of Illinois was when Illinois was approaching that financial cliff — it’s been on a path toward it for years,” G.H. Merritt, who chairs New Illinois State told the outlet. Out in California, a similar movement has taken root as well. The New California State organization hopes to splinter off the counties outside the Bay Area, Sacramento and Los Angeles. “I’m so flipping excited,” Paul Preston, who founded New California State, told the Wall Street Journal. Preston bashed the Golden State to the outlet as a “one-party communist state, and technically, they have seceded from the Union already.” But his and other like-minded movements face an uphill battle. To win statehood, they would need the green light from state legislatures — difficult to lock down from the states where they’d like to splinter off. Hawaii was the last state formally added to the US. There have been efforts by Puerto Rico and Washington DC to attain statehood, but none of them have garnered much steam. Following the Nov. 5 election, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has visited red counties and told voters: “Message received.” “I don’t care who you voted for. I care about Trump supporters, I care about Robert Kennedy Jr supporters, I care about Tucker Carlson supporters, I care about Charlie Kirk supporters, I care about Ben Shapiro supporters, I care about all people,” Newsom said during one of his stops. Out in Oregon, the Greater Idaho movement is hoping to reconfigure state lines so that rural counties past the Cascade mountain range can join their conservative-run neighbor Idaho. “The State of Oregon has said we’re not going to talk about it and are basically holding people in Eastern Oregon captive against our wishes,” Matt McCaw, executive director of Greater Idaho, told the outlet. A similar movement had taken place in three Maryland counties — Garrett, Allegany and Washington — which asked to join West Virginia and got support from Gov. Jim Justice (R) back in 2021. None of those counties have moved over. The urban-rural divide has long had ripple effects in domestic politics. President-elect Donald Trump enjoyed a major advantage over Vice President Kamala Harris in rural areas. Trump, 78, also managed to chip away at the Democrats’ long-held grip on urban centers, dramatically reducing the margins in traditionally blue states relative to the 2020 election. Throughout his campaign, the 45th and soon-to-be 47th president assailed liberal-run cities, claiming that they were overtaxed, rife with crime and falling apart. Originally published as Rural counties in California, Illinois push to secede from Democrat states to separate from liberal-run cities after Trump’s win: ‘so flipping excited’SHANGHAI and HONG KONG, Dec. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NETCLASS TECHNOLOGY INC. (the "Company” or "NETCLASS”), a leading B2B smart education IT solutions provider with offices in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Singapore, today announced the closing of its initial public offering (the "Offering”) of 1,800,000 Class A ordinary shares at a public offering price of $5.00 per ordinary share, for total gross proceeds of $9,000,000, before deducting underwriting discounts, commissions, and other related expenses. The Company has granted the underwriters an option, exercisable within 45 days from the closing date of the Offering, to purchase up to an additional 270,000 Class A ordinary shares at the initial public offering price, less underwriting discounts to cover over-allotments, if any. Shares of the Company's stock began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol "NTCL” on December 13, 2024. The Offering was conducted on a firm commitment basis. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Offering for the courseware and online technology platform development, expansion of application development service and subscription services, marketing and brand building, along with working capital and general corporate purposes. Newbridge Securities Corporation and Revere Securities, LLC (the "Underwriters”) acted as Underwriters to the Offering. Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP acted as U.S. counsel to the Company, and Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel LLP acted as U.S. counsel to Newbridge Securities Corporation, who acted as the representative of the Underwriters in connection with the Offering. A registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-278224) was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC”) and was declared effective by the SEC on December 12, 2024. A final prospectus relating to the offering was filed with the SEC is available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Electronic copies of the final prospectus relating to this offering may be obtained from Newbridge Securities Corporation, Attention: Equity Syndicate Department, 1200 North Federal Highway, Suite 400, Boca Raton, FL 33432, by email at [email protected] or by telephone at (877) 447-9625. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus and other documents the Company has filed or will file with the SEC for more information about the Company and the Offering. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About NETCLASS TECHNOLOGY INC. NETCLASS TECHNOLOGY INC. is a leading B2B smart education specialist with offices in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Singapore, providing innovative IT solutions to schools, training institutions, corporations, public agencies, and other organizations. Our services include SaaS subscription services and application software development, with solutions spanning teaching and campus management, online teaching, examinations, epidemic prevention, data storage, EDC (Education Credit) blockchain systems, and lecturer evaluation services. Our mission is to deliver reliable, high-quality products that drive sustainable growth for our customers. For more information, please visit the Company's website: https://ir.netclasstech.com Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the Company's proposed Offering. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company's current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs, including the expectation that the Offering will be successfully completed. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "approximates,” "believes,” "hopes,” "expects,” "anticipates,” "estimates,” "projects,” "intends,” "plans,” "will,” "would,” "should,” "could,” "may” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company's registration statement and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: NETCLASS TECHNOLOGY INC. Investor Relations Email: [email protected] Jackson Lin Lambert by LLYC Phone: +1 (646) 717-4593 Email: [email protected]Dec 16, 2024 Researchers create microchips capable of detecting and diagnosing diseases ( Nanowerk News ) In a world grappling with a multitude of health threats — ranging from fast-spreading viruses to chronic diseases and drug-resistant bacteria — the need for quick, reliable, and easy-to-use home diagnostic tests has never been greater. Imagine a future where these tests can be done anywhere, by anyone, using a device as small and portable as your smartwatch. To do that, you need microchips capable of detecting miniscule concentrations of viruses or bacteria in the air. Now, new research from NYU Tandon faculty including Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Davood Shahrjerdi; Herman F. Mark Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Elisa Riedo; and Giuseppe de Peppo, Industry Associate Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and who was previously at Mirimus, shows it’s possible to develop and build microchips that can not only identify multiple diseases from a single cough or air sample, but can also be produced at scale. “This study opens new horizons in the field of biosensing. Microchips, the backbone of smartphones, computers, and other smart devices, have transformed the way people communicate, entertain, and work. Similarly, today, our technology will allow microchips to revolutionize healthcare, from medical diagnostics, to environmental health” says Riedo, “The innovative technology demonstrated in this article uses field-effect transistors (FETs) — miniature electronic sensors that directly detect biological markers and convert them into digital signals — offering an alternative to traditional color-based chemical diagnostic tests like home pregnancy tests,” said Shahrjerdi. “This advanced approach enables faster results, testing for multiple diseases simultaneously, and immediate data transmission to healthcare providers” says Sharjerdi, who is also the Director of the NYU Nanofabrication Cleanroom, a state-of-the-art facility where some of the chips used in this study were fabricated. Riedo and Shahrjerdi are also the co-directors of the NYU NanoBioX initiative. Field-effect transistors, a staple of modern electronics, are emerging as powerful tools in this quest for diagnostic instruments. These tiny devices can be adapted to function as biosensors, detecting specific pathogens or biomarkers in real time, without the need for chemical labels or lengthy lab procedures. By converting biological interactions into measurable electrical signals, FET-based biosensors offer a rapid and versatile platform for diagnostics. Recent advancements have pushed the detection capabilities of FET biosensors to incredibly small levels — down to femtomolar concentrations, or one quadrillionth of a mole — by incorporating nanoscale materials such as nanowires, indium oxide, and graphene. Yet, despite their potential, FET-based sensors still face a significant challenge: they struggle to detect multiple pathogens or biomarkers simultaneously on the same chip. Current methods for customizing these sensors, such as drop-casting bioreceptors like antibodies onto the FET’s surface, lack the precision and scalability required for more complex diagnostic tasks. To address this, these researchers are exploring new ways to modify FET surfaces, allowing each transistor on a chip to be tailored to detect a different biomarker. This would enable parallel detection of multiple pathogens. Enter thermal scanning probe lithography (tSPL), a breakthrough technology that may hold the key to overcoming these barriers. This technique allows for the precise chemical patterning of a polymer-coated chip, enabling the functionalization of individual FETs with different bioreceptors, such as antibodies or aptamers, at resolutions as fine as 20 nanometers. This is on par with the tiny size of transistors in today’s advanced semiconductor chips. By allowing for highly selective modification of each transistor, this method opens the door to the development of FET-based sensors that can detect a wide variety of pathogens on a single chip, with unparalleled sensitivity. Riedo, who was instrumental in the development and proliferation of tSPL technology, sees its use here to be further evidence of the groundbreaking way this nanofabrication technique can be used in practical applications. “tSPL, now a commercially available lithographic technology, has been key to functionalize each FET with different bio-receptors in order to achieve multiplexing,” she says. In tests, FET sensors functionalized using tSPL have shown remarkable performance, detecting as few as 3 attomolar (aM) concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins and as little as 10 live virus particles per milliliter, while effectively distinguishing between different types of viruses, including influenza A. The ability to reliably detect such minute quantities of pathogens with high specificity is a critical step toward creating portable diagnostic devices that could one day be used in a variety of settings, from hospitals to homes. The study, now published by the Royal Society of Chemistry in Nanoscale ( "Nanoscale-localized multiplexed biological activation of field effect transistors for biosensing applications" ), was supported by Mirimus, a Brooklyn-based biotechnology company, and LendLease, a multinational construction and real estate company based in Australia. They are working with the NYU Tandon team to develop illness-detecting wearables and home devices, respectively. “This research shows off the power of the collaboration between industry and academia, and how it can change the face of modern medicine,” says Prem Premsrirut, President and CEO of Mirimus. “NYU Tandon’s researchers are producing work that will play a large role in the future of disease detection.” “Companies such as Lendlease and other developers involved in urban regeneration are searching for innovative solutions like this to sense biological threats in buildings.” says Alberto Sangiovanni Vincentelli of UC Berkeley, a collaborator on the Project. “Biodefense measures like this will be a new infrastructural layer for the buildings of the future” As semiconductor manufacturing continues to advance, integrating billions of nanoscale FETs onto microchips, the potential for using these chips in biosensing applications is becoming increasingly feasible. A universal, scalable method for functionalizing FET surfaces at nanoscale precision would enable the creation of sophisticated diagnostic tools, capable of detecting multiple diseases in real time, with the kind of speed and accuracy that could transform modern medicine. Source: NYU Tandon School of Engineering (Note: Content may be edited for style and length)November 24, 2024 (PORT SUDAN) – Sudan accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Sunday of committing at least 500 rapes and other abuses, including sexual slavery, against women and girls since the conflict erupted in April. In a statement marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Sudan’s foreign ministry said “official authorities and relevant organizations” had documented the crimes, adding that the actual number of victims was likely far higher. The ministry said the RSF had not conducted credible investigations into the abuses committed by its fighters, which also included genocide, forced displacement and attacks on civilians. “The militia uses rape as a weapon of war to force citizens to evacuate their villages and homes, to settle its mercenaries and punish communities that reject its presence,” the statement said. It accused the RSF of kidnapping and holding hundreds of women hostage, subjecting them to sexual exploitation and forced domestic labour. Girls were also being trafficked within and outside of Sudan, it said. The RSF did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Sudan Tribune was unable to verify the ministry’s claims independently. The conflict between the RSF and Sudan’s army has raged since April 15, killing thousands and displacing millions. Both sides have traded accusations of atrocities, but the RSF has been widely documented committing abuses against civilians. The foreign ministry called on the international community to take action against the RSF and its backers, accusing them of providing military, financial and political support. “The countries and groups supporting the militia... are partners in these crimes,” the statement said. Sudan has filed a complaint with the U.N. Security Council against the United Arab Emirates, accusing it of supplying the RSF with weapons, mercenaries and funding via Chad. Chad has also faced a similar complaint before the African Union.

Still fighting for a spot in the playoffs, the Seattle Seahawks will have to finish out the regular season without one of their top playmakers. Running back Kenneth Walker has been placed on injured reserve after suffering an ankle injury Sunday against Minnesota. Walker’s regular season is done and will not be eligible to return until well into the playoffs, most likely around the NFC Championship Game. Seattle faces Chicago on Thursday Night Football, needing a win to keep slim odds of making the NFC field alive. “Seahawks placed RB Kenneth Walker III on injured reserve, the result of an ankle injury he suffered late in last weekend’s game,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said via X. Just 11 games were played by Walker this season, dealing with injuries throughout. His numbers were not what we had been accustomed to during his previous two years. Walker ran for 573 yards and seven touchdowns on 153 carries while averaging under 4.0 yards per carry for the first time in his career. Zach Charbonnet will take over as Seattle’s main running back. Rookie George Holani has been signed off the practice squad as well, potentially making his fourth-ever appearance with the team against Chicago. The Seahawks currently have just a 14% chance of making the playoffs. Even with a win against the Bears, Seattle would see their odds bump up by one to 15%. Two consecutive losses have put them in the position. Even so, people inside the organization know all they can do is try to get a win on Thursday. “We all understand what situation we’re in, the focus is on going to win this football game,” head coach Mike Macdonald said. “So do what it takes to do that and play our best football, that’s what we’re focused on right now.” There is still a chance to win the NFC West, with the Los Angeles Rams currently having control of the situation. Seattle will head to SoFi Stadium on the final day of the regular season, potentially figuring out who gets the division crown and a home game when the playoffs begin. Unfortunately, all of this will be done without Walker. The running back will treat his ankle and be prepared in case there is a surprising playoff run from his teammates. This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

DT Kenneth Grant to leave Michigan for NFL DraftSyracuse, Albany each hoping to get right at expense of the other