ubet63 registration (Bloomberg) — After years of lagging returns and more recent concerns over US office loans, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has turned a corner with investors. Chief Executive Officer Victor Dodig says he won’t put that at risk with acquisitions that reduce shareholder value. “The investor sentiment fundamentally says that CIBC is a changed bank,” Dodig said in an interview with Bloomberg News. This, he said, comes after a steady focus on courting affluent Canadians as clients, investing in technology and digitization and targeting privately owned businesses and entrepreneurs in the US. Dodig, 59, who has led Canada’s fifth-largest bank for more than a decade, laid out the bank’s relatively straightforward strategy at CIBC’s most recent investor day in June 2022. “We don’t want to be doing something large that would make us take a step back,” Dodig said last week, adding that he remains open to an “interesting” acquisition that improves return on equity. “But it really is focused on organic growth and tuck-in acquisitions, particularly in the wealth-management space, which are capital light and would strengthen our hand in a business that we’re very good at,” he said. Office Drag CIBC’s revamped strategy wasn’t an immediate success. The lender was initially dogged by a reputation for costly mistakes in the past — it was caught up in Enron Corp.’s bankruptcy and took big writedowns on securities linked to US subprime mortgages during the financial crisis. By the middle of 2023, signs of distress emerged in its US commercial lending book. The lender had a higher exposure to the troubled US office space than its peers and took a series of large provisions against potentially bad loans in the sector. But after taking steps to reduce its exposure to such debt, CIBC’s credit performance has been strong for most of this year. With that in hand, investors have turned their focus to the bank’s revenue growth, cost controls and strong execution, sending the stock to new all-time highs. “CIBC put up the best results this earnings season, followed by Royal Bank, both of which continued to deliver solid and consistent numbers along with strong guidance for next year,” Bank of Nova Scotia analyst Meny Grauman wrote to clients last week. Grauman has a buy rating on the stock and a one-year price target of C$114, or about $80, significantly higher than the consensus among analysts of C$97.73. CIBC’s shares have been hovering above C$94.None

December 16, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked trusted source proofread by Nancy W. Stauffer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology As the world looks for ways to stop climate change, much discussion focuses on using hydrogen instead of fossil fuels, which emit climate-warming greenhouse gases (GHGs) when they're burned. The idea is appealing. Burning hydrogen doesn't emit GHGs to the atmosphere, and hydrogen is well-suited for a variety of uses, notably as a replacement for natural gas in industrial processes, power generation, and home heating. But while burning hydrogen won't emit GHGs, any hydrogen that's leaked from pipelines or storage or fueling facilities can indirectly cause climate change by affecting other compounds that are GHGs, including tropospheric ozone and methane , with methane impacts being the dominant effect. A much-cited 2022 modeling study analyzing hydrogen's effects on chemical compounds in the atmosphere concluded that these climate impacts could be considerable. Now, a team of MIT researchers has taken a more detailed look at the specific chemistry that poses the risks of using hydrogen as a fuel if it leaks. The researchers developed a model that tracks many more chemical reactions that may be affected by hydrogen and includes interactions among chemicals. Their results, published in Frontiers in Energy Research , showed that while the impact of leaked hydrogen on the climate wouldn't be as large as the 2022 study predicted, and that it would be about a third of the impact of any natural gas that escapes today—leaked hydrogen will impact the climate. Leak prevention should therefore be a top priority as the hydrogen infrastructure is built, state the researchers. Hydrogen's impact on the 'detergent' that cleans our atmosphere Global three-dimensional climate-chemistry models using a large number of chemical reactions have also been used to evaluate hydrogen's potential climate impacts, but results vary from one model to another, motivating the MIT study to analyze the chemistry. Most studies of the climate effects of using hydrogen consider only the GHGs that are emitted during the production of the hydrogen fuel. Different approaches may make "blue hydrogen" or "green hydrogen," a label that relates to the GHGs emitted. Regardless of the process used to make the hydrogen, the fuel itself can threaten the climate. For widespread use, hydrogen will need to be transported, distributed, and stored—in short, there will be many opportunities for leakage. The question is, what happens to that leaked hydrogen when it reaches the atmosphere? The 2022 study predicting large climate impacts from leaked hydrogen was based on reactions between pairs of just four chemical compounds in the atmosphere. The results showed that the hydrogen would deplete a chemical species that atmospheric chemists call the "detergent of the atmosphere," explains Candice Chen, a Ph.D. candidate in MIT's Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS). "It goes around zapping greenhouse gases, pollutants, all sorts of bad things in the atmosphere. So it's cleaning our air," she adds. Best of all, that detergent—the hydroxyl radical, abbreviated as OH—removes methane, which is an extremely potent GHG in the atmosphere. OH thus plays an important role in slowing the rate at which global temperatures rise. But any hydrogen leaked to the atmosphere would reduce the amount of OH available to clean up methane, so the concentration of methane would increase. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matter— daily or weekly . However, chemical reactions among compounds in the atmosphere are notoriously complicated. While the 2022 study used a "four-equation model," Chen and her colleagues—Susan Solomon, the Lee and Geraldine Martin Professor of Environmental Studies and Chemistry; and Kane Stone, a research scientist in EAPS—developed a model that includes 66 chemical reactions. Analyses using their 66-equation model showed that the four-equation system didn't capture a critical feedback involving OH—a feedback that acts to protect the methane-removal process. Here's how that feedback works: As the hydrogen decreases the concentration of OH, the cleanup of methane slows down, so the methane concentration increases. However, that methane undergoes chemical reactions that can produce new OH radicals. "So the methane that's being produced can make more of the OH detergent," says Chen. "There's a small countering effect. Indirectly, the methane helps produce the thing that's getting rid of it." That's a key difference between their 66-equation model and the four-equation one. "The simple model uses a constant value for the production of OH, so it misses that key OH-production feedback," she says. To explore the importance of including that feedback effect, the MIT researchers performed the following analysis: They assumed that a single pulse of hydrogen was injected into the atmosphere and predicted the change in methane concentration over the next 100 years, first using four-equation model and then using the 66-equation model. With the four-equation system, the additional methane concentration peaked at nearly 2 parts per billion (ppb); with the 66-equation system, it peaked at just over 1 ppb. Because the four-equation analysis assumes only that the injected hydrogen destroys the OH, the methane concentration increases unchecked for the first 10 years or so. In contrast, the 66-equation analysis goes one step further: the methane concentration does increase, but as the system re-equilibrates, more OH forms and removes methane. By not accounting for that feedback, the four-equation analysis overestimates the peak increase in methane due to the hydrogen pulse by about 85%. Spread over time, the simple model doubles the amount of methane that forms in response to the hydrogen pulse. Chen cautions that the point of their work is not to present their result as "a solid estimate" of the impact of hydrogen. Their analysis is based on a simple "box" model that represents global average conditions and assumes that all the chemical species present are well mixed. Thus, the species can vary over time—that is, they can be formed and destroyed—but any species that are present are always perfectly mixed. As a result, a box model does not account for the impact of, say, wind on the distribution of species. "The point we're trying to make is that you can go too simple," says Chen. "If you're going simpler than what we're representing, you will get further from the right answer. The utility of a relatively simple model like ours is that all of the knobs and levers are very clear. That means you can explore the system and see what affects a value of interest." Leaked hydrogen versus leaked natural gas: A climate comparison Burning natural gas produces fewer GHG emissions than does burning coal or oil; but as with hydrogen, any natural gas that's leaked from wells, pipelines, and processing facilities can have climate impacts, negating some of the perceived benefits of using natural gas in place of other fossil fuels. After all, natural gas consists largely of methane, the highly potent GHG in the atmosphere that's cleaned up by the OH detergent. Given its potency, even small leaks of methane can have a large climate impact. So when thinking about replacing natural gas fuel—essentially methane—with hydrogen fuel, it's important to consider how the climate impacts of the two fuels compare if and when they're leaked. The usual way to compare the climate impacts of two chemicals is using a measure called the global warming potential, or GWP. The GWP combines two measures: the radiative forcing of a gas—that is, its heat-trapping ability—with its lifetime in the atmosphere. Since the lifetimes of gases differ widely, to compare the climate impacts of two gases, the convention is to relate the GWP of each one to the GWP of carbon dioxide. But hydrogen and methane leakage cause increases in methane, and that methane decays according to its lifetime. Chen and her colleagues therefore realized that an unconventional procedure would work: they could compare the impacts of the two leaked gases directly. What they found was that the climate impact of hydrogen is about three times less than that of methane (on a per mass basis). So switching from natural gas to hydrogen would not only eliminate combustion emissions, but also potentially reduce the climate effects, depending on how much leaks. Key takeaways In summary, Chen highlights some of what she views as the key findings of the study. First on her list is the following: "We show that a really simple four-equation system is not what should be used to project out the atmospheric response to more hydrogen leakages in the future." The researchers believe that their 66-equation model is a good compromise for the number of chemical reactions to include. It generates estimates for the GWP of methane "pretty much in line with the lower end of the numbers that most other groups are getting using much more sophisticated climate chemistry models," says Chen. It's also sufficiently transparent to use in exploring various options for protecting the climate. Indeed, the MIT researchers plan to use their model to examine scenarios that involve replacing other fossil fuels with hydrogen to estimate the climate benefits of making the switch in coming decades. The study also demonstrates a valuable new way to compare the greenhouse effects of two gases. As long as their effects exist on similar time scales, a direct comparison is possible—and preferable to comparing each with carbon dioxide, which is extremely long-lived in the atmosphere. In this work, the direct comparison generates a simple look at the relative climate impacts of leaked hydrogen and leaked methane—valuable information to take into account when considering switching from natural gas to hydrogen. Finally, the researchers offer practical guidance for infrastructure development and use for both hydrogen and natural gas. Their analyses determine that hydrogen fuel itself has a "non-negligible" GWP, as does natural gas , which is mostly methane. Therefore, minimizing leakage of both fuels will be necessary to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the goal set by both the European Commission and the U.S. Department of State. Their paper concludes, "If used nearly leak-free, hydrogen is an excellent option. Otherwise, hydrogen should only be a temporary step in the energy transition, or it must be used in tandem with carbon-removal steps [elsewhere] to counter its warming effects." More information: Candice Chen et al, On the chemistry of the global warming potential of hydrogen, Frontiers in Energy Research (2024). DOI: 10.3389/fenrg.2024.1463450 Provided by Massachusetts Institute of Technology This story is republished courtesy of MIT News ( web.mit.edu/newsoffice/ ), a popular site that covers news about MIT research, innovation and teaching.KENT, Ohio (AP) — Jalen Sullinger led Kent State with 25 points and secured the victory with a 3-pointer with 43 seconds remaining as the Golden Flashes knocked off Heidelberg 84-80 on Sunday night. Sullinger shot 9 of 20 from the field, including 4 for 10 from 3-point range, and went 3 for 4 from the line for the Golden Flashes (9-3). VonCameron Davis scored 21 points while shooting 8 for 13 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line and added five rebounds and five assists. Mike Bekelja had 14 points and shot 4 for 5 from beyond the arc and 2 of 4 from the free-throw line. Eric Panning finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and two steals for the Student Princes. Manny Hill added 15 points and seven rebounds for Heidelberg. Elijah Harden had 15 points. Sullinger scored 11 points in the first half and Kent State went into halftime trailing 42-36. Davis scored 15 points in the second half. Kent State outscored Heidelberg by 10 points over the final half. Kent State hosts Ball State in its next matchup on Saturday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Arkansas defensive end Landon Jackson was carted off the field and taken to a hospital with a neck injury late in the first half of Saturday's game at No. 24 Missouri. Jackson appeared to injure his neck while trying to tackle Missouri running back Jamal Roberts. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Rice builds up big lead early, hangs on to beat USF 35-28

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Confirms pathway to profitability in late 2025 based on record quarterly revenues and materially reduced expenses MONROE TOWNSHIP, N.J., Dec. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. ("OPT" or "the Company") (NYSE American: OPTT), today announced financial results for the second quarter ended October 31, 2024 (Q2FY25). Q2FY25 Financial Highlights Strategic partnerships continue to expand our market presence: The Company reaffirms its previously issued guidance that it believes it will reach profitability (excluding unanticipated extraordinary expenses) during the fourth quarter of calendar 2025. Performance to date reflects strong demand for products, effective cost management, and progress on our strategic initiatives. Recent achievements, including previously announced partnerships, operational milestones, successful exercises and continued customer deliveries, evidence the Company's trajectory toward achieving this stated objective. On August 12, 2024, Paragon Technologies announced via press release that its Board of Directors had resolved to terminate its shareholder campaign and all related activities targeting OPT and had terminated Hesham M. Gad as Chairman and CEO. Furthermore, on December 5, 2024, Paragon disclosed that its Audit Committee engaged legal counsel from Holland & Knight LLP to conduct an independent investigation into the conduct of Mr. Gad. These developments validate our position that the dissident shareholder campaign lacked merit. With this matter resolved, OPT can now fully focus on advancing its mission and delivering sustainable, long-term value for all shareholders. Philipp Stratmann, OPT's CEO and President, stated "I'm incredibly proud of the progress we've made this quarter. Our strategic emphasis on national security, critical infrastructure, and international market expansion continues to deliver results. This reflects not just broader macro-economic trends but our ability to penetrate diverse markets and execute for new customers. We're successfully solving problems for our customers and thus capturing a market versus creating a market while converting our expanding pipeline into revenue, driven by increasing domestic and international demand. Our ability to scale and deliver on large contracts positions us for sustained growth, and we're confident in our ability to capitalize and build on this momentum. We deliver science, not fiction. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Income Statement: A conference call to discuss OPT's financial results will be held on Tuesday December 17, 2024 at 9:00 AM EDT. Philipp Stratmann, CEO, and Bob Powers, CFO will host the call. In an effort to increase relations with institutional investors, OPT management has dedicated time to hosting individual meetings with portfolio managers and analysts. If you are interested in scheduling a meeting with OPT management, please contact: OPT provides intelligent maritime solutions and services that enable safer, cleaner, and more productive ocean operations for the defense and security, oil and gas, science and research, and offshore wind markets, including Merrows, which provides AI capable seamless integration of Maritime Domain Awareness Systems across platforms. Our PowerBuoy® platforms provide clean and reliable electric power and real-time data communications for remote maritime and subsea applications. We also provide WAM-V® autonomous surface vessels (ASVs) and marine robotics services. The Company's headquarters is in Monroe Township, New Jersey, with an additional office in Richmond, California. To learn more, visit www.OceanPowerTechnologies.com . FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This release may contain forward-looking statements that are within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are identified by certain words or phrases such as "may", "will", "aim", "will likely result", "believe", "expect", "will continue", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "contemplate", "seek to", "future", "objective", "goal", "project", "should", "will pursue" and similar expressions or variations of such expressions. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectations about its future plans and performance. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions and estimates that could be inaccurate and subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could vary materially from those anticipated or expressed in any forward-looking statement made by the Company. Please refer to the Company's most recent Forms 10-Q and 10-K and subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for further discussion of these risks and uncertainties. The Company disclaims any obligation or intent to update the forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to provide further interim updates in the future. Consolidated Balance Sheets (in $000's, except share data) 2024 2024 Consolidated Statements of Operations (in $000's, except per share data) October 31, October 31,Donald Trump Jr’s friends worried about ‘social climbing’ new girlfriend: report

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Wade Taylor IV poured in 24 points, Manny Obaseki put his team ahead for good with a fastbreak dunk and No. 20 Texas A&M staved off Rutgers 81-77 to take fifth place at the Players Era Festival on Saturday in Las Vegas. In a game with seven ties and 10 lead changes, the Aggies (6-2) took a 78-77 lead when Solomon Washington pulled out a defensive rebound and heaved it up court for Obaseki to convert a two-handed slam with 2:12 to play. Rutgers lost a pass out of bounds, and Taylor made two free throws for a three-point game. Rutgers freshman star Dylan Harper went to the rim in the final seconds but had his shot blocked by Washington. Washington had 11 points, five rebounds and four blocks for Texas A&M. Henry Coleman III and Obaseki also finished with 11 points. For Rutgers (5-3), Ace Bailey led the way with 24 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Jeremiah Williams scored 20 points on 7-of-8 shooting and Harper had 18 points. Centers Emmanuel Ogbole and Lathan Sommerville each fouled out. Texas A&M scored nine of the last 12 points of the game after trailing by as many as nine earlier in the half. A 10-0 run early in the first half, capped by Washington's three-point play, gave the Aggies a 17-9 lead. Rutgers ensured Texas A&M would not lead by more than eight, as Bailey (13) and Harper (eight) combined for 21 of Rutgers' 34 first-half points. After Sommerville put up five straight points for Rutgers, the Aggies made three free throws in the final minute for a 40-34 halftime lead. Rutgers' 13-0 sprint early in the second half flipped the lead to 47-42 in its favor. Harper made a 3-pointer to get things going and Williams scored three straight buckets -- a dunk in transition, an easy layup and an offensive rebound and putback. Bailey's second 3-pointer at 12:51 put the Scarlet Knights up 63-54, but Texas A&M scored the next eight points. Then, down 65-62, Taylor made the Aggies' first 3-pointer of the game to tie it at the 8:21 mark. His team had missed its first 11 tries from long range. Texas A&M won despite going 2 of 15 from the arc (Rutgers was 6 for 26) and being outrebounded 42-35. --Field Level MediaTrump’s plans for EV program cuts, global tariffs and more: report

State creation: Tinubu told 1 thing that must be doneAs millions of Americans finalize their holiday travel plans, an unprecedented weather system ... [+] threatens to upend holiday logistics across multiple regions. As millions of Americans finalize their holiday travel plans, an unprecedented weather system threatens to upend holiday logistics across multiple regions. The historic bomb cyclone , which has already claimed two lives, downed trees, and triggered widespread power outages in the Pacific Northwest, now presents a complex challenge for travelers across the country. This weather system, along with other major weather events, will challenge transportation departments, as well as aviation and airport managers. Record Numbers Planning Holiday Travel Record levels of travel are expected for Thanksgiving beginning this Tuesday before the holiday. More than 80 million Americans plan to travel by car and airplane this year, with air travel up two percent over last year. Millions of others will travel via train, bus, and even cruise ship, where bookings are up 20 percent compared to last Thanksgiving. With this many people planning to travel, the weather forecast presents equally daunting challenges. Bomb Cyclone Root of Many Potential Issues The confluence of this recent bomb cyclone with an atmospheric river system in the Pacific Northwest sets up a particularly unsettled scenario in that region of the country and moving eastward. The bomb cyclone brought wind speeds of over 100 mph near Seattle and gusts up to 80 mph in Northern California with winter snow warnings in the Sierra Nevadas, seeing snow conditions make mountain travel nearly impossible. The weekend may just continue the active pattern, and the days leading up to the Thursday holiday could still see travel disrupted by the weather. The atmospheric river that brought the bomb cyclone to the Northwest region of the country may bring a new storm that could impact travelers, bringing coastal rain and mountain snow a bit farther south than last week. Depending on this storm’s timing, it could impact the rest of the country as it makes its way eastward. The situation is further complicated by a separate weather front along the Gulf Coast, riding the remnants of Tropical Storm Sara. What makes this system particularly challenging is its persistence. Weather service forecasters indicate that a second, albeit weaker, bomb cyclone could develop off the West Coast by Friday. This pattern suggests that even as the initial system weakens, travel disruptions could extend well into the holiday weekend, and we will also have to watch the remnants of these storms coming together along the East Coast, bringing challenges to travelers in that area as well. The 50 Best Black Friday Deals So Far, According To Our Deals Editors Brooklinen’s Black Friday Sale Is Already Live—Save Up To 50% Predictive Weather Technologies for Ground, Air Travel This type of weather volatility puts meteorologists and others on alert to ensure that travel happens smoothly and safely, whether on the road or in the air. Keeping roads safe during these early-season ice or snow events can be challenging for transportation agencies. Hyperlocal road forecasts are particularly beneficial in early-season weather events because of consistent freezing along the road network. Often in November and December, the subsurface temperatures will keep pavement temperatures warm and create icy conditions when met with colder air and surface temperatures. At night, when temperatures cool, or even when environmental factors such as tall buildings, vegetation, or valleys impact roads, the road can ice in certain sections. Using hyperlocal weather forecasts to inform decision-making ensures that transportation agencies are prepared for cold weather, which can come quickly, as we have already seen this autumn. Resource planning is also important for airport operations. Much like the transportation agencies, airport operations teams need to prepare for the inevitable extreme weather. The cold weather presents many challenges, especially when layered on top of the record travel that will happen in the coming weeks. Airports are checking to ensure deicing solution storage is accessible and the right supply level is on hand in the right locations. Operations leaders are also looking at forecasts and working to provide extra crews, and contractors are on call for snow-clearing and deicing efforts if needed. Whether traveling by car or air, those working to make travel safe and efficient will monitor weather conditions and make real-time decisions to ensure the routes are as efficient as possible. Thanksgiving weekend is just the start of the winter season, and this early-season volatility may bring some more unexpected weather. Those tasked with keeping the public safe while traveling will closely monitor the forecast as we head into winter.Rice builds up big lead early, hangs on to beat USF 35-28

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Artificial intelligence, or AI for short, is one of the most talked-about technologies of recent times. From self-driving cars to tailoring shopping experiences, the future of AI integration is gradually muddying the waters in so many aspects of our lives. However, a bigger picture begins: "Artificial Intelligence of Everything," or AIoE. It's no more about how AI will alter this and that specific industry; it's about how AI will organically integrate all aspects of our world. But what does AIoE mean? Let's take a closer look. Artificial Intelligence of Everything is the name given to describe the concept where AI is embedded in all those devices, systems, and processes that surround us. Just imagine smart cities, places of work or residence, or even other everyday objects making decisions independently without a human guiding them. It is about continuous data exchange between AI-driven systems, increasing efficiency while improving decision-making and creating unique experiences. AIoE transformation includes living spaces with connected devices anticipating needs and workplaces, integrating AI-driven tools that increase productivity and creativity. It automates tasks, schedules, and data-driven decision-making to improve productivity and efficiency. With 72% of business leaders considering Artificial Intelligence of Everything as an advantage, the industry is adopting AI across sectors, pushing the boundaries for innovation and how we live and work. AIoE is redesigning the face of healthcare, as patients can be seen in real-time, treatments are individualized, and interventions are timely due to AI devices. Technologies that diagnose patients by assisting doctors with personalized care plans enhance outcomes and efficiency by a notch. Wearable AI alerts for timely action as it monitors vital signs. Artificial Intelligence of Everything will revolutionize the healthcare spectrum by 2026 and bring an estimated $150 billion in savings. AIoE transformation includes transportation through self-driving cars, smart traffic systems, drones, and much more into smoother, safer commutes. The International Transport Forum has envisioned an autonomous vehicle that, if tested, could reduce up to 90% of road accidents and save 300,000 US lives annually. AIoE is changing the retail and entertainment worlds by predicting taste and personalizing experiences. Using AIoE technology, retail hosts customized product recommendations and will optimize inventory. Entertainment uses AI to host personalized music, movies, and show tracks based on user habits. Since the global Artificial Intelligence of Everything market is projected to reach $190 billion in 2025, the effect of AI on day-to-day life cannot be denied in its influences across retail, entertainment, and healthcare. AIoE impact is changing lives and enhancing homes, healthcare, and transportation. The more AIoE technology is integrated, the more the future of AI integration changes how people live, work, and connect, hence innovating and making everything somewhat efficient everywhere. AIoE impact will saturate everything, not as technology perceived outside of life per se, but as an integral part of it all. It will enhance and make systems in the most natural and intuitive ways possible.Since the rapid collapse of the Assad government and the takeover of Damascus by US-designated terror group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) on December 8, Syrians by the hundreds or even thousands have been filmed in city streets celebrating, expressing hope for a new era. But for every scene of hundreds gathered in a city square in front of Al Jazeera or CNN cameras, the reality is that there are many tens of thousands more families holed up in their homes, deeply fearful of venturing outside , with the more fortunate ones having stocked up on supplies just prior to Abu Mohammad al-Jolani's army of mujahideen fighters entering the capital. With the basically overnight and shock collapse of a state system earlier this month which had been in place for over a half-century, Syrians whether in Aleppo, Hama, Homs, Latakia, or Damascus have no clue which armed factions might be patrolling the neighborhoods just around the corner from their apartments . A big looming dark fear is the possibility of "reprisal" killings meted out by the jihadists against any community, especially along religious lines, merely perceived as 'loyalist' or at least which never came out openly against the Assad government. We and others have been documenting that this is already taking place . Political alignment aside, all communities of the capital have historically been "Syria first"—that is, the common populace tends to frame identity foremost along nationalistic lines. The ideology of the conquerors, in their own words and patches/symbols on their tactical vests, are without doubt Takfirism, Salafism, and Wahhabism . This has been exhaustively documented over many, many years of the tragic proxy war in Syria - yet now suddenly Western leaders and media lackeys have 'forgotten' it all. Non-Sunni Muslims are especially being targeted, for nothing else other than religion and identity Mainstream media cameras in Damascus have been carefully trying to hide or at least downplay this reality. They present the euphoria of those few on the streets praising the 'revolution' and downfall of Assad while ignoring the many more who are bracing for a sectarian bloodbath at the hands of the jihadists. American correspondents have even been caught 'coaching' bearded militants waring ISIS patches on how to improve their image in front of an international audience... Watch: Syrian 'Moderate Rebel' Removes ISIS Patch At Prompting Of American Journalist . HTS goons open fire on demonstrators protesting extrajudicial revenge killings and the destruction of Alawite shrines just days after Jolani received friendly delegations of US and UK diplomats and journos pic.twitter.com/nVWA49wNgK This fear of being targeted for ethno-religious genocide is perhaps greatest among Christians, Alawites, and Druze. Dread or anxiety at what tomorrow will bring is also a reality among some business-oriented Sunnis of Aleppo and Damascus. Major urban centers in Syria had always had a definite secular and pluralist public vibe—with liquor stores and nightclubs a common sight in central areas—and women in the Islamic veil a little bit more of a rarity. Some liquor stores especially in Aleppo and the north have already been smashed and destroyed . Now, for the first time in Syria's modern history, women who dare to venture out in the city center of Damascus are being asked their sectarian affiliation: Are you Sunni, Shia, Christian, Druze? Or else they are being told to put on the Islamic veil, by bearded militants from outside cities or villages, or worse who are from other countries . Latakia, as well as parts of the countryside, are already witnessing armed jihadist gangs conducting summary executions. Syria: “When we build the Islamic caliphate, Christians will pay Jizya under Islamic Sharia.” - Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, HTS Islamist leader and new ruler of Syria Forcing Christians to become second-class citizens and be extorted through a protection tax is not moderate. pic.twitter.com/BGvnvM8w3C Gruesome videos (too horrific to link to) are filling up social media platforms like X and Telegram, in some instances with unidentified victims being dragged to death behind vehicles . Others show HTS-linked factions or else foreign jihadist groups cleansing entire villages of 'Nusayris' —a derogatory term for Alawites, which is ethno-religious background of the Assad family. Jolani's officials have recently tried to urge for militants to not film their atrocities or upload them to the internet . * * * Rania Khalek is an independent journalist who has long reported from the region. Her contacts across Syria are telling her that the jihadists are killing civilians in various places far away from CNN or Al-Jazeera cameras. Below is a report she posted to X [emphasis ZH]... Some concerning developments in Syria that were being largely ignored or dismissed until horrific videos of sectarian violence and executions began emerging in recent days... In some mixed Syrian towns and villages as well as minority neighborhoods around Homs, Hama and on the coast, security was breaking down and people felt scared to speak about it, according to multiple contacts. The Hama-Homs highway had decapitated bodies strewn about , according to one contact. He wanted to take pictures of the bodies on the highway but he didn’t dare out of fear. At one roadblock they forced him to open his phone and they went through it. He said they spoke Arabic but it was a hybrid fusha accent he could barely understand. A contact reported being stopped by HTS at a barricade. He then had to wait for his business partner who is Sunni to come and vouch for him. Not a good sign. Flyers have been disbursed in multiple areas informing women how they should dress and act . Minorities in mixed villages have been subjected to robberies, killings, kidnappings , etc. Some have responded by organizing armed men to protect their neighborhoods from raids. This is not everyone’s experience of course. But these sorts of incidents were increasing. And they reached a fever pitch after the video of the destruction of an Alawite shrine surfaced. While the random violence and score settling speaks to the chaos that comes with a regime change like this, the sectarian violence is much more concerning. There are militias HTS either has no control over because they’re spread too thin or they don’t care to stop them. Some expressed that they suspect HTS is secretly calling the shots and then playing dumb . Whatever the case, there is deep distrust of HTS in many minority communities due to their past violence combined with recent events. "I don't trust them at all, the fact that they are so insistent on collecting guns from people is so worrying, they even want licensed guns, and this is actually scary. They are always trying to appear as nice people talking about peace, but yet every day someone gets killed and they do nothing about it ," said one contact in Latakia. The sectarian violence is reminiscent of post 2011 days when the regime would be kicked out of an area and extremist militias would quickly take over and then chaos and sectarian violence would ensue. The pro-HTS side is framing any pushback or measure of self defense in vulnerable communities as Iranian-provoked or Assadist, which isn’t helpful and exacerbates the sectarianism. As the gun battles heat up, it’s hard to ignore the signs of potential civil unrest to come with violent zones of state collapse. I hope stability wins the day but it doesn’t look good .

Rice builds up big lead early, hangs on to beat USF 35-28Martin scores 17, Southeast Missouri State beats Westminster (MO) 88-39

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The bitterly cold temperatures across Chicago are not stopping people from enjoying the city. The Fighting Illini beat the Wildcats 38-28 Saturday at Wrigley Field while many fans and holiday-season revelers dealt with the weather. "It's very fun out here, but cold," Kevin Klocker said. Thousand of people packed Wrigley Field for some Big Ten football as plenty of other stuff was going on across the city. People were braving the cold. "It was really cold. I can't feel my feet, but Illinois is winning, so it's worth it," a fan named Maggie said. SEE ALSO | Chicago Nativity Scene on display in Daley Plaza ahead of Christmas With wind chills in the single-digits, people are trying to find any way to stay warm. "Hand warmers literally everywhere," Kelset Magad said. "Two jackets... I have like three pants on. We're doing amazing." Despite the cold, the city was still jam packed with action from Wrigleyville to the lakefront. People said their plans Saturday night may have to move indoors, though. READ MORE | What to know about Small Business Saturday discounts, promotions in Lincoln Square, Ravenswood "I think we're gonna go to Christmas bars and see where the night takes us," Maggie said. Warning centers are also prepared across the city, available to all residents in need of shelter. RELATED | Chicago weather: City opens warming centers as bitterly cold temperatures move in The first wave of freezing temperatures is always hardest for Chicagoans, but some say they're ready for it. "I think I'm just gonna power through it and do the best I can," a woman named Kelsey said.Rucker's 27 lead Army past UTSA 78-75

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks fell broadly on Friday as Wall Street closed out a holiday-shortened week on a down note. The losses were made worse by sharp declines for the Big Tech stocks known as the “Magnificent 7”, which can heavily influence the direction of the market because of their large size. The S&P 500 fell 66.75 points, or 1.1%, to 5,970.84. Roughly 90% of stocks in the benchmark index lost ground, but it managed to hold onto a modest gain of 0.7% for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 333.59 points, or 0.8%, to 42,992.21. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite fell 298.33 points, or 1.5%, to 19,722.03. Semiconductor giant Nvidia slumped 2.1%. Microsoft declined 1.7%. Each has a market value above $3 trillion, giving the companies outsized sway on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq. A wide range of retailers also fell. Amazon fell 1.5% and Best Buy slipped 1.5%. The sector is being closely watched for clues on how it performed during the holiday shopping season. Energy stocks held up better than the rest of the market, with a loss of less than 0.1% as crude oil prices rose. “There’s just some uncertainty over this relief rally we’ve witnessed since last week,” said Adam Turnquist, chief technical strategist for LPL Financial. The S&P 500 gained nearly 3% over a 3-day stretch before breaking for the Christmas holiday. On Thursday, the index posted a small decline. Despite Friday's drop, the market is moving closer to another standout annual finish . The S&P 500 is on track for a gain of around 25% in 2024. That would mark a second consecutive yearly gain of more than 20%, the first time that has happened since 1997-1998. The gains have been driven partly by upbeat economic data showing that consumers continued spending and the labor market remained strong. Inflation, while still high, has also been steadily easing. A report on Friday showed that sales and inventory estimates for the wholesales trade industry fell 0.2% in November, following a slight gain in October. That weaker-than-expected report follows an update on the labor market Thursday that showed unemployment benefits held steady last week. The stream of upbeat economic data and easing inflation helped prompt a reversal in the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy this year. Expectations for interest rate cuts also helped drive market gains. The central bank recently delivered its third cut to interest rates in 2024. Even though inflation has come closer to the central bank's target of 2%, it remains stubbornly above that mark and worries about it heating up again have tempered the forecast for more interest rate cuts. Inflation concerns have added to uncertainties heading into 2025, which include the labor market’s path ahead and shifting economic policies under incoming President Donald Trump. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Amedisys rose 4.7% after the home health care and hospice services provider agreed to extend the deadline for its sale to UnitedHealth Group. The Justice Department had sued to block the $3.3 billion deal, citing concerns the combination would hinder access to home health and hospice services in the U.S. The move to extend the deadline comes ahead of an expected shift in regulatory policy under Trump. The incoming administration is expected to have a more permissive approach to dealmaking and is less likely to raise antitrust concerns. In Asia, Japan’s benchmark index surged as the yen remained weak against the dollar. Stocks in South Korea fell after the main opposition party voted to impeach the country’s acting leader. Markets in Europe gained ground. Bond yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.62% from 4.59% late Thursday. The yield on the two-year Treasury remained at 4.33% from late Thursday. Wall Street will have more economic updates to look forward to next week, including reports on pending home sales and home prices. There will also be reports on U.S. construction spending and snapshots of manufacturing activity.From Astro Bot to Prince of Persia: 15 best video games of 2024BOSTON — More suspected drone sightings in the eastern U.S. led to a temporary airspace shutdown at an Air Force base in Ohio and arrests near Boston’s Logan International Airport, as elected officials increased their push for action to identify and stop the unmanned flights. Drones flying around Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, forced base officials to close the airspace for about four hours late Friday into early Saturday, said Robert Purtiman, a base spokesperson. It is the first time drones have been spotted at the base, one of the largest in the world, and no sightings were reported since early Saturday, Purtiman said Monday. He would not say how many drones were flying in the area, adding that they ranged in size and that they did not impact any base facilities. In Boston, city police arrested two men accused of operating a drone “dangerously close” to Logan Airport on Saturday night. Authorities said an officer using drone monitoring technology detected the aircraft and the location of the operators. A third man who fled police remains at large. Authorities said the two men face trespassing charges. Get local news delivered to your inbox!